Good Morning, Sunshine!

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them He hath set a tabernacle for the sun, which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race...

Psalm 19:1-5

Pondering Worship #2

(Disclaimer: I do not mean this to be at all judgemental. It is merely a glimpse into some things that I have been thinking about lately. I'm on a wild search to find out what worship really is, what it looks like, and what it should be. )

---------------------------------------------------------------------

On a wide stage, she stood singing. She was helping lead worship in a little church for the youth group. About halfway through the third song, she looked out at the young people. Some were slouched in the pew with their feet on the pew in front of them. Many looked down at something in their laps, fiddling with their cell phones. Even the ones who should have known better sat whispering to each other, giggling and fidgeting. Faces stared glumly downward. Many of the lips showed no sign of movement. Only a handful looked like they were taking part.

Suddenly she didn't feel like singing. She wanted to cry, to yell, to do something.

And yet all she could do was sing louder, clearer, bolder. Maybe they would hear. Maybe they would hear what He is like, this King named Jesus. Maybe all these words about His love, about knowing Him and finding life and joy in Him would not go in one ear and out the other; maybe they would be heard. Even believed.

She couldn't help but wonder what these young people lived like in their private lives. Did they ever worship when they were alone? Wouldn't that affect the way in which they worshipped in public? They did not even look like they were trying to appear to be taking part. Did they even know what it is like to worship God? Did they know that this is what they were created for? If only it were possible to show them! But she could not. Oh, why was she even here?

And then she remembered. She remembered her own cold, hard, heart. Her own stiff, lazy spirit, so long unresponsive to her Lord's gentle bidding. Her slouching, fiddling, glum self grieving the Lord who bought her with His blood. She remembered what HE HAD DONE, how all her life He had pursued her, wooed her, yearned to be with her, and done everything He could to draw her. He had ever been the perfect gentleman, never forcing, but always ever tenderly calling, "Come unto Me". He had washed her and cleansed her, filled her and refreshed her. He had looked on her with love and said, "Live", and given her the amazing gift of His Spirit. He was constantly whispering, "You are Mine", "I have called you", "I have chosen you", "I will never leave you", "I will be with you ALWAYS". When she was faithless, He was ALWAYS FAITHFUL. When she doubted and questioned, He just whispered, "Trust Me...Love Me...Worship Me". He had showered her with inconceivable blessings.

How could she now think Him unable to change them also? Look what He had done in her! He was more than able to breath His life into dead bones if He wanted to. Of course He could change anyone! And He will. He has. He does.

We were created to worship.

You have been chosen to proclaim His excellencies. May God enable you to do so with every breath that you breathe. He is worthy.

YES

"For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us."

-2 Cor. 1:20

What are these feelings these tears, these disabling fears. This appearance of pain unseen. What are these questions, these doubts, that I can't figure out. Confusion as to what this is all about.
What is this burden, this weight, that I underestimate? I will wait for Your answer, whatever it may be.
Whatever it may be, a Yes, No, or a Maybe, it's OK with me; all is Yes with You. Whatever You say to me will surely set me free despite my wanderings, for all is Yes with You. All is Yes with You.
You hold these feelings these tears, these disabling fears, this appearance of pain unseen. You are the silence to these doubts that I can't figure out, as You show me what this is all about. You bear this burden, this weight, that I underestimate. I will wait for Your answer, whatever it may be
Whatever it may be, a Yes, No, or a Maybe, it's OK with me; all is Yes with YOU. Whatever You say to me will surely set me free despite my wanderings, for all is Yes with YOU. All is Yes with YOU.

-Whatever It May Be by Lindsey Kane
-------------------------------------------------------------
Today I laid out my fleece. Have you ever done that? It's scary. Whatever it may be, it will be BEST. All is YES in Jesus Christ.
Preparing for rain...

Pondering Worship #1

In a little home, a girl sat with several elderly faces looking at her. She tried to sing, but with each breath her throat continued to constrict and give out. Sure, it was just because she had been sick and her lungs were not quite back to normal, but would she have to leave after just beginning their songs? The battle began. It may seem odd, but this girl believes that spiritual battles are fought even over the most commonplace circumstances. Even over a throat tickle.

As she continued trying to breath evenly and keep singing normally, she reflected on why she was even in this little home. Why did she even take a portion of her day to worship God in front of these people? Because the King of kings is worthy of all praise, worthy of being proclaimed to all people. She thought about these people looking at her. Did they know what it is like to worship God? Did they know that this is what they were created for? If only it were possible to show them! But she could not. As she fought just to keep singing, she realized her own weakness. Every breath is given from Him. Even singing is impossible without His allowing it, without Him giving the strength. This makes us quite dependent, doesn't it? Completely dependent. And yet, as we seek to proclaim His great name, how often do we rely on our own (seeming) strength? In our pride we forget just how dependant we are.

This girl learned quite the lesson as she began to cry out to God that He might sing through her, that He would be her "strength and song". Satan would have stolen her voice and made her leave right then and there. But he can't win. Not when one is calling on Jesus Christ. God is so gracious, and as the people sat listening, she saw their faces turn from uncertainty and distraction into smiles of understanding. What an amazing God we serve! He inhabits the praises of His people, showing Himself strong through their weaknesses. We cannot make Him known to them, but we sure can rely on Him to come and show Himself. And He will. He has. He does.



Worship is a clue to meaning in life.



You have been chosen to proclaim His excellencies. Never forget that He gives you the very strength to do so. Today, as you praise our King, remember to sing clearly, boldly, joyfully, and sincerely. He is worthy.

Signs of Purity

"Holy friendship has no looks but what are simple and modest,

no caresses but those that are pure and sincere,

no sighs but for heaven,

no familiarities but those of the soul,

no complaints but that God is not loved,

the infallible signs of purity."

-St. Francis de Sales

(Note: I'm not recommending anything by this man; I merely found this quote in a book by Elisabeth Elliot and thought it was beautiful)
(picture: yesterday's incredible sunrise!)

Will We Be Sleeping?

Recently I was listening to an audio of a message by a man named Paul Washer. The whole thing was excellent, and well worth hearing. (You can find it here under courtship series. I would definitely recommend that you listen to it! Pay no attention to the title, it is for everyone; just please listen to it!) One specific thought really stuck in my mind from what Mr. Washer was saying. Here it is:
"I hear people, because I've lived so many years in third-world countries, they'll say, 'Well, you know, we don't even know what it's like. It's so easy to live as a Christian in the United States of America.'
That is one of the largest lies that exist! It is so much easier to live for Jesus Christ in the jungles of Peru than it is [here in America] that you can't even compare the two things! I knew two Russians who when they were young men in church saw the KGB come in, slam their pastor against a wall, pull out his tongue and cut it off. And yet those two young Russians told me it's much more difficult to live for Jesus Christ in America than in Russia.
It's easy to live as an unconverted church member. It's easy to live like most people who call themselves Christians. But to be a Biblical disciple of Jesus Christ, this place, the Bible Belt, is the most difficult place to do it on the face of the earth! The question is, are you going to follow Jesus? Or are you going to have a form of godliness that denies the power thereof."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What shocking words!
But they shouldn't be. Of course they are true. I had just never thought of it like that. I consider those words as a challenge. We are called to be salt and light to a dying world. We are called to be in this world but not of it. And we have been given everything we need for life and godliness.
We live in Sodom. There is no doubt about that. And I sure hope that there are many Abraham's out there who are pleading, clinging, wrestling in prayer on behalf of a righteous few. Because this nation is on the path to destruction.
I once thought that the reason Sodom was wiped out was because of homosexuality. It was not. Ezekiel tells us the reason:
"Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: she and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy." -Ezekiel 16:49
This describes America exactly.
Pride...fullness of food...abundance of idleness... "neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and the needy."

"If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. " -2 Chron. 7:14

America,what will we miss while we are sleeping?

Will Jesus come again and leave us slumbering where we lay?

America, we will go down in history

As a nation with no room for its King.

Will we be sleeping?

Will we be sleeping?

-"While You Were Sleeping" by Casting Crowns