In the old testament, I remember that the priest were responsible for making sure that a certain fire never went out. In good weather and in bad, they had to tend that thing and make sure it survived no matter what. I feel like my hunger and love for God is the same sort of fire. I have to watch over it, and make sure that it's well fed, and roaring! A good song can act like nice, dry firewood on a windy day. My spirit seizes it and my soul is refreshed! So on those lines, here's one of my favorite songs by Barlowgirl, compliments of YouTube. (Please forgive the quality of video, seemed like all the other videos with this song featured Harry Potter!! Hahaha!!)
Showing posts with label Worship Music Praise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Worship Music Praise. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Burning Barlowgirl??? (Teasing, of course!)
I've been going through a period of change recently. It's cool actually, when I'm not exhausted! Haha!! But during these times of transition, it's easy to lose focus and forget the reason behind all the diligence, patience, and hard work. When I'm completely exhausted, a little depressed, and feeling spent, I like to listen to music! Songs with powerful lyrics that speak directly to my situation or what I've left behind work as a quick charge for my batteries.
In the old testament, I remember that the priest were responsible for making sure that a certain fire never went out. In good weather and in bad, they had to tend that thing and make sure it survived no matter what. I feel like my hunger and love for God is the same sort of fire. I have to watch over it, and make sure that it's well fed, and roaring! A good song can act like nice, dry firewood on a windy day. My spirit seizes it and my soul is refreshed! So on those lines, here's one of my favorite songs by Barlowgirl, compliments of YouTube. (Please forgive the quality of video, seemed like all the other videos with this song featured Harry Potter!! Hahaha!!)
In the old testament, I remember that the priest were responsible for making sure that a certain fire never went out. In good weather and in bad, they had to tend that thing and make sure it survived no matter what. I feel like my hunger and love for God is the same sort of fire. I have to watch over it, and make sure that it's well fed, and roaring! A good song can act like nice, dry firewood on a windy day. My spirit seizes it and my soul is refreshed! So on those lines, here's one of my favorite songs by Barlowgirl, compliments of YouTube. (Please forgive the quality of video, seemed like all the other videos with this song featured Harry Potter!! Hahaha!!)
Monday, July 9, 2007
A Word On Worship
When bad things happen, it's so tempting to stare down the problem. To weigh it, measure it, analyze it, dissect it, and then try to come up with a solution. I can get so absorbed in my mental processes that I can't see anything but the problem. When this obsessing gets crazy, I've found that the best thing I can do when things go wrong is to worship God.
See, worship isn't just singing songs and feeling solemn inside. It's a way to change what I'm paying attention to. It's redirecting my focus off of MYSELF and MY PROBLEMS onto God.
When I'm consumed with my stuff and myself, I believe it's a form of worship. The problem has first dibs on my attention, it consumes my thoughts, I might change my normal routine to give extra attention to the problem, and I'll expend any amount of energy in deference to the problem. That's really messed up!
I've been reading this book by Bill Johnson called "Strengthen Yourself In The Lord" (another book I highly recommend!!) and here's what he says on the subject:
"Instead of focusing on God's greatness in my life, I was focusing on myself. I was actually agreeing with the enemy by making my own problems bigger than God's promises. And my agreement invited that cloud of oppression to hover over me."
Worshiping God forcibly changes my focus. Instead of magnifying the problem, I magnify God (who is worthy of all honor and attention). And it's not about worshiping God to change the situation, it's just focusing on the truth! I have a Father who loves me, who is looking out for my best, and if I keep my eyes on Him and listen for Him in all situations, I can't help but be blessed!! No weapon formed against me or my loved ones can prosper!
This is the truth. Instead of focusing on facts, I'll focus on truth. As my pastor says, "Facts can't affect the truth, but the truth can always change the facts!"
See, worship isn't just singing songs and feeling solemn inside. It's a way to change what I'm paying attention to. It's redirecting my focus off of MYSELF and MY PROBLEMS onto God.
When I'm consumed with my stuff and myself, I believe it's a form of worship. The problem has first dibs on my attention, it consumes my thoughts, I might change my normal routine to give extra attention to the problem, and I'll expend any amount of energy in deference to the problem. That's really messed up!
I've been reading this book by Bill Johnson called "Strengthen Yourself In The Lord" (another book I highly recommend!!) and here's what he says on the subject:
"Instead of focusing on God's greatness in my life, I was focusing on myself. I was actually agreeing with the enemy by making my own problems bigger than God's promises. And my agreement invited that cloud of oppression to hover over me."
Worshiping God forcibly changes my focus. Instead of magnifying the problem, I magnify God (who is worthy of all honor and attention). And it's not about worshiping God to change the situation, it's just focusing on the truth! I have a Father who loves me, who is looking out for my best, and if I keep my eyes on Him and listen for Him in all situations, I can't help but be blessed!! No weapon formed against me or my loved ones can prosper!
This is the truth. Instead of focusing on facts, I'll focus on truth. As my pastor says, "Facts can't affect the truth, but the truth can always change the facts!"
Sunday, April 22, 2007
God Wants His People Flambe!
As I start this blog post, I'm not even sure what I'm going to talk about. I had a few ideas yesterday, but the day has brought new topics of discussion. (This post could also be called "The Mental Wanderings of Sam"!) So, I'm just going to type and see what comes out!
I was thinking about worship the other night. My ideas of worship have been overhauled several times now. I used to think that a really good worship service meant it was easy to get swept up into the singing. Somewhere along the way, that idea was discarded. I'm not even sure how I stopped thinking that way. I began to feel like I should step out more in the singing; stop being so conscious of the people around me and focus more on Jesus. When I started doing that, I found that it didn't matter how good the musicians were or how touching the music was, I got something from thinking about how wonderful Jesus is!
Good right? Very good! (I'm not "grading" myself, or saying it was wrong to feel that way. I just want to present another veiwpoint.) But what if worship isn't about "getting" something from God?
I was listening to a sermon in the car on the way to my brother's school. The minister was talking about how when the Israelites went into the temple to meet with God, they always took a sacrifice. They wouldn't think of going without having something to burn for God. Later they found out that God didn't really care about the burnt offerings, it was their hearts He was watching as they came before Him.
How's your heart as you come before Him? On Sundays, or whenever you've got some time set aside for worshiping God, do you lay everything else down and devote yourself to Him? Maybe you have a bunch of kids who hang on you and bug you all the time, or maybe you have money issues that are clamoring for your attention, or maybe you're struggling with some emotional problems? Lay it all down.
Worship isn't "needs" focused. Worship isn't "me" focused. Worship is an offering to God before you accept the word He has provided for you through your pastor's preaching. It's saying, "God, I love you. I think you're amazing. I don't care about anything else right now; I just want you to know how wonderful I think you are!"
It's not always easy. But, that's why it's called sacrifice of praise!
Hebrews 13:14&15
For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name.
Sometimes, putting all the distractions out of your mind is an uphill battle through a flesh forest while it's pouring emotional rain. But when you push beyond your comfort zone, God will come and set you ablaze!
Remember Elijah and that bunch of baal priests? They were trying to decide whose god was the true god. The priests of baal had spent all day trying to get baal to burn up the animal on the altar, with hilarious commentary from Elijah. Nothing happened. When it was Elijah's turn, he decided to make things interesting.
1Kings 18:32-35
With the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed. He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, "Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood." "Do it again," he said, and they did it again. "Do it a third time," he ordered, and they did it the third time. The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.
The wood was soaked. The whole thing would probably take days to dry out naturally. But in verse 38, we see what happened when after Elijah called on the Lord:
Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.
Our God is big into bringing more than enough! No squabble with your mother-in-law can put out the fire He starts in you! Nothing your boss says can dampen your wood to the point of making a spiritual blaze impossible! If we trust Him, He'll bring the increase! Get out of your comfort zone, and you're into the supernatural!
So there we are. That's what I've been thinking about. Since I've been having a.....um.....a growing season (>_<), this message is for me too! To be completely honest, all of my posts challenge me, so don't feel badly if you've got some things to work on!
Hope this helps and have a GREAT week!
I was thinking about worship the other night. My ideas of worship have been overhauled several times now. I used to think that a really good worship service meant it was easy to get swept up into the singing. Somewhere along the way, that idea was discarded. I'm not even sure how I stopped thinking that way. I began to feel like I should step out more in the singing; stop being so conscious of the people around me and focus more on Jesus. When I started doing that, I found that it didn't matter how good the musicians were or how touching the music was, I got something from thinking about how wonderful Jesus is!
Good right? Very good! (I'm not "grading" myself, or saying it was wrong to feel that way. I just want to present another veiwpoint.) But what if worship isn't about "getting" something from God?
I was listening to a sermon in the car on the way to my brother's school. The minister was talking about how when the Israelites went into the temple to meet with God, they always took a sacrifice. They wouldn't think of going without having something to burn for God. Later they found out that God didn't really care about the burnt offerings, it was their hearts He was watching as they came before Him.
How's your heart as you come before Him? On Sundays, or whenever you've got some time set aside for worshiping God, do you lay everything else down and devote yourself to Him? Maybe you have a bunch of kids who hang on you and bug you all the time, or maybe you have money issues that are clamoring for your attention, or maybe you're struggling with some emotional problems? Lay it all down.
Worship isn't "needs" focused. Worship isn't "me" focused. Worship is an offering to God before you accept the word He has provided for you through your pastor's preaching. It's saying, "God, I love you. I think you're amazing. I don't care about anything else right now; I just want you to know how wonderful I think you are!"
It's not always easy. But, that's why it's called sacrifice of praise!
Hebrews 13:14&15
For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name.
Sometimes, putting all the distractions out of your mind is an uphill battle through a flesh forest while it's pouring emotional rain. But when you push beyond your comfort zone, God will come and set you ablaze!
Remember Elijah and that bunch of baal priests? They were trying to decide whose god was the true god. The priests of baal had spent all day trying to get baal to burn up the animal on the altar, with hilarious commentary from Elijah. Nothing happened. When it was Elijah's turn, he decided to make things interesting.
1Kings 18:32-35
With the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed. He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, "Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood." "Do it again," he said, and they did it again. "Do it a third time," he ordered, and they did it the third time. The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.
The wood was soaked. The whole thing would probably take days to dry out naturally. But in verse 38, we see what happened when after Elijah called on the Lord:
Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.
Our God is big into bringing more than enough! No squabble with your mother-in-law can put out the fire He starts in you! Nothing your boss says can dampen your wood to the point of making a spiritual blaze impossible! If we trust Him, He'll bring the increase! Get out of your comfort zone, and you're into the supernatural!
So there we are. That's what I've been thinking about. Since I've been having a.....um.....a growing season (>_<), this message is for me too! To be completely honest, all of my posts challenge me, so don't feel badly if you've got some things to work on!
Hope this helps and have a GREAT week!
Saturday, March 17, 2007
My Current Favorite Song
Hey All!
I've had to do a lot of driving recently, so I get to listen to a LOT of Klove radio. =) They were playing this one song by MercyMe that expresses almost everything I've been feeling towards God. It's become my current favorite! When I told my sister, it turned out that this song is old!! Hee hee, I guess I'm not up with the times. Oh well.
I've posted the lyrics since I don't know how to post song clips. I hope you enjoy it!
MercyMe - Here With Me
From the album Undone
I long for your embrace
Every single day
To meet you in this place
And see you face to face
Will you show me?
Reveal yourself to me
Because of your mercy
I fall down on my knees
And I can feel your presence here with me
Suddenly I’m lost within your beauty
Caught up in the wonder of your touch
Here in this moment I surrender to your love
You’re everywhere I go
I am not alone
You call me as your own
To know you and be known
You are holy
And I fall down on my knees
I can feel your presence here with me
Suddenly I’m lost within your beauty
Caught up in the wonder of your touch
Here in this moment I surrender to your love
I surrender to your grace
I surrender to the one who took my place
I can feel your presence here with me
Suddenly I’m lost within your beauty
Caught up in the wonder of your touch
Here in this moment I surrender…
I can feel your presence here with me
Suddenly I’m lost within your beauty
Caught up in the wonder of your touch
Here in this moment I surrender to your love
Label: Integrity Music
Label: Integrity Music
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