Monday Musings: Why I love worship.

Why do I love worship? Because though the room is full of people, noisy impatient broken people, in worship the storm is calmed.  Its where we all still hope.  In a world that seems hopeless, messy, complicated, we still know that He is the God of goodness, love, mercy and grace.

It's why we reach our hands to heaven.  It is why we close our eyes. We hope that we might shut out the world, and catch a glimpse of the God who saves, to touch the hem of His garment.  Whether we feel the mighty rushing wind when his Holy Spirit enters,  hear His voice whisper to us, or feel his breathe as He speaks, we come to experience His Presence. 

Worship is where we gather as a community and together, in one mind and spirit, ask God to reveal himself to us. Worship is where His Holy Spirit still descends, filling a room until thick with His Presence, mercy embraces each member, peace settles on every head, and healing and restoration take place.

There is no place I'd rather be.

Got Talents?

We were all gifted with strengths, abilities, or what the Bible would call  talents.   Beautiful lights to share with the world, we were designed to flourish in certain areas.

There are those in life at the 5 talent level, and those at the 2 talent level.  And instead of treasuring, appreciating and making the most of those two talents we were blessed with, we often are consumed with those with 5 talents.  We admire, covet,  and can even be envious of the talents or number of talents others have been given.

Meanwhile, the God given dreams and desires of your heart, for which you were specifically crafted, go neglected and lose their brilliance.  All the potential, all the beauty, the great and wondrous things God packed inside of you when He created you go unrealized.  The glory your life could bring to Him never seen.

This weekend's sermon asked the question:

Do you use what God gave you?

Is there something that you do well that God is urging you to step into?  What ministry, act, or service does he want to develop through you?  What lives will be touched by you holding your talent before you?  What is that one thing that you would do if you knew you wouldn't fail?  Are you too afraid to fail to try?


Let me be the person
that you would desire
A light to be seen
Breakdown our pride
And all the walls
we built up inside
Our earthly crowns
And all our desires
We lay at your feet

With Everything.  If you want to live your best life, then use your talents with everything you have.  Pursue your dreams with purpose.  Step out and trust God to meet you halfway, and fuel the life you were meant to live.

Use what God gave you.

Your Voice

Life can sometimes turn upside down on us. Sickness, hurt, disappointment, they can shatter our perception of life, our trust in others, and our vision of God and his intentions for us.

What we once could count on is no more. What we once took for fact, is no longer true. We no longer recognize anyone or anything around us, and soon we are not even familiar to ourselves.

He allows us to be broken, so that he can raise us up stronger, better.

I've just walked that valley. Everything I thought I was, or thought I should do was crushed. Who I was or what I should do was like dust in my hands.

A true "Paul on the road to Damascus" experience,  I thought I had it together. I thought I knew the path that was right.

Then God. Then God.

Then God intercepted and revealed his glorious grace to me. I was rocked to my very core. As if the very earth shook beneath me it took me by surprise and unraveled me.

"....and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him (Paul) And falling to the ground he heard a voice..." (Acts 9:3-4)

I was right where he wanted me. He has been about the work of taking the unraveled pieces of me and entwining them in the knowledge of Him.

In this time I have been awestruck.  I have had no voice.  I could speak, but I had nothing to say, nothing to share, no where to start. 

My life has been one of worship, wonderful public worship. But when he shook me, everything fell inward, my worship collapsed into tears, beautiful cleansing tears, but tears I could not explain. I have had no voice, except in the moments when I cry out to Him.

So we cry out Your name El Shaddai,
God of grace Lord most high,
Jesus Christ
We rely on Your grace Adonai,
crowned in praise Lord most high,
Jesus Christ

In my silence I have acquired new knowledge of the beauty of his grace and mercy, of His never-ending love and forgiveness, of His full and complete presence.

Submerged in the process of knowing Him, He changed my song.

So new, so unfamiliar, yet I grow in confidence each day to use my voice again, and I only desire to speak of His incredible, unfailing grace. 

"...the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight." Acts 9:17-18

Monday Musing

 

Have I mentioned how much I love Sunday's?  On Sunday's I am literally in the deep of God's grace.  Surrounded with God's people, consumed by and swept away in worship, with His words penetrating my heart, mind and soul. 

In the glass bowl of Sunday morning, its like I'm underwater.  The noise of the world is muffled, the calm and peace and beauty of God and all his creation envelopes me. 

The world makes sense.  My path is clear, and destination is in sight.  I know He loves me.  I am fully aware of His plans and promises for me.  I believe Him and trust Him.

But somehow in the valley of the week, I can get lost in the busyness and challenges of my daily responsibilities.  Fatigued and discouraged, I soon find myself sitting along the side of the road, having lost sight of Him.  And every week He seeks me out, again.  He calls me to his house, even when I'm reluctant, tired and just plain stubborn.

Then He restores me.  He surrounds me with His love, reminds me who I am in Him and sends me out again.

I love my Father's house!

Let not your hearts be troubled. Trust in God: trust in me also. In my Father's house there are many resting-places. John 14:1-2

"You are the Shepherd Giving what I could not afford, Leaving the many You sought to find me Lord. I will remember You are the reason for my song, Blessed Redeemer You love me as Your own. In the deep of Your grace, All my sins are washed away. Here I know the power of forgiveness, Here I know the power of Your blood. All I am will I lay down, All I have before Your cross Lord."

Monday Musing

Monday's are filled with the vibrations and base tones of Sunday worship, where the words and music settle into my thoughts, stir up self-examination and ignite conviction. 

This is the song and these are the lyrics that resonate with me today: 

"I want to take Your Word and shine it all around. First help me just to live it Lord. And when I'm doing well help me to never seek a crown, for my reward is giving GLORY to You."

The rhythm ebbs and flows across my sub-conscious and speaks the words of my very soul as I start my week.