God wants us

He wants all of us.

Whole heartedly.

He wants our time.

Our money.

Our talents used for Him.

Our resources.

He wants our worship.

Our praise.

Our friendship.

Our love.

He wants conversations with us.

He simply wants us.

There are no regrets when you give your life to Jesus.

Just Dance

In a current bible study Julie, Tiffany and I are working on together, we are reading about The Ark of God. (2 Sam 6:1-11)*The Ark of God was Israels National Treasure. A place that the Lord Dwells* In part of our study we came across a scripture I have heard quoted many times. Either it be in songs, sermons or bible studies, we all have heard it. You know the one I am talking about, David dancing before the Lord.

2 Samuel 6:14

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁴ And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. (cloth/apron worn for religious ceremonies)

I especially love this verse because I LOVE worship. I love to watch the church congregation receive their blessings. I love the feeling I myself get during worship. Worship can be life changing...

When I was 13, I attended a church youth camp up in the mountains. TONS of kids went. From ages
7-18. I tell you what...it was some of the best worship I had ever been involved in. I had the opportunity to be involved in the junior choir and we sang during the night services (every night). The worship was so powerful. It still gives me goose bumps thinking back at the swift move of God during worship.

Still to this day...I am a hot.mess.after.worship. Mascara drippings, half of my makeup gone, tear stains on my collar...a wreck. But that is my time to let it all go. Raise my hands...surrender it all to him.

Tiffany, Teryn and I attend the same church. There is this one gentlemen who is so AWESOME during worship service. His attitude is JUST DANCE! He spins, he leaps, he claps, he shouts, he fist pumps, he MOONWALKS. I mean this dude is all sorts of inspiring to me. When I see him during worship...I think of 2 Sam 6:14...and David danced before the lord with all his MIGHT.

If you think about it...we shout and dance at a concert, in the clubs, at weddings. We shout and dance for a touch down. We shout and dance over a winning lotto. (never happened for me, but hey some people are that lucky) Isn't he worthy of our praise?

In our study Beth Moore states:
"I'm not sure we will ever be released to fully "dance" before the Lord until we've learned to wail." 

Psalm 30:11-12

New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
¹² that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
Lord my God, I will praise you forever. 

 

In text, she is talking about David dancing before the Lord even after Uzzahs death. He may not of understood Gods reasoning for the circumstances he was facing, but through those circumstances he learned to understand God.

"I will celebrate and dance before the Lord,

whether or not my FAMILY does,

whether or not my FRIENDS do,

whether or not this NATION does, I will CELEBRATE!"

 

Just dance!

Everybody loves to dance.

 

 

 

 

The Importance of Love

“Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. 

You only need a heart full of grace. 

A soul generated by love.”

 Martin Luther King, Jr.

So I don't know about you but music speaks to me in a big way.  It has the power to evoke powerful emotions in me.  (Interesting that Kelly's post yesterday was also about music!) Recently I was thinking of a song we had sung in church several months ago.  It was a sung that grabbed me and reached deep into my heart.  My prayer for a long time has been that my heart would be broken for what breaks the Lord's heart.  This past Sunday we sang this song in church again and I was so excited!  I want to share it with you.  

Lincoln Brewster - The Power of Your Name

Surely children weren't made for the streets
And fathers were not made to leave
Surely this isn't how it should be
Let Your Kingdom come

Surely nations were not made for war
Or the broken meant to be ignored
Surely this just can't be what You saw
Let Your Kingdom come
Here in my heart

And I will live
To carry Your compassion
To love a world that's broken
To be Your hands and feet
And I will give
With the life that I've been given
And go beyond religion
To see the world be changed
By the power of Your name

Surely life wasn't made to regret
And the lost were not made to forget
Surely faith without action is dead
Let Your Kingdom come
Lord break this heart

Jesus Your name
Is a shelter for the hurting
and Your name
Is a refuge for the weak
Only Your name
Can redeem the undeserving
Jesus Your name
Holds everything I need

The chorus is my heart's desire.  That my life would reflect his compassion.  That I could love those that are broken and that I could go beyond just religion to see lives changed.  With all of the political happenings lately I've been more conscious than ever that we cannot rely on our government alone (regardless of party affiliation) to care for this world in need.

We as Christ followers are responsible for faith with ACTION!  It's what we were born to do!  What are you doing to live out your faith?  There is a verse in the Bible that cuts straight to my conscience every time...

Revelation 3:16 But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!

Yikes!  I know it sounds severe but God makes it clear - he doesn't want us to be lukewarm Christians because if we are, we are ineffective for his kingdom and we miss out on the full life that he has planned for us.  There have been plenty of times in my life where I have been lukewarm, going about life as usual, always having God in my heart but not doing much beyond warming my seat in church on Sunday morning and praying over my meals.  God wants SO much more for us and for others through us.  It's not about church (although church gives us a place to go to learn and grow and fellowship with others).  It's not about a set of rules to follow (although the Lord's commands are there to protect and guide us).  It's about LOVING others.

1 Corinthians 13 [ Love Is the Greatest ] If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. ...

Wow! According to God's word we can be brilliant, we can have amazing faith - even sacrifice ourselves and give to the poor but if we do it out of obligation instead of love, we are missing the point.

So, find a way that you can love on others with your own gifts!  I'll share some ideas and I would love to hear what yours are!

-Be a greeter at church, your smile may break the ice for a first time visitor
-Write a note of encouragement for a family member, co-worker, neighbor, friend, and leave it somewhere to surprise them
-Pay for someone's drink or meal at a restaurant/drive through
-Leave a little bag of candy on a neighbor's doorknob
doorknob gift
-Make a blanket for a child in the hospital or an elderly person in a nursing home
-Make a mix CD of worship songs for someone who could use a pick-me-up
-Find a program that matches you as a penpal with a woman in prison (Fresno's Samaritan Women program does this - it is a really neat opportunity!), or volunteer with a prison ministry.  
Samaritan Women

Little things done in love can have a huge impact.  I would encourage you also to say a little prayer over each gift for the person who will receive it.  You never know what it may do for them!

What are some of your ideas?  Please share!!!

Hymns of Old

I grew up in a very conservative country church where there were usually no more than 100 people in attendance. The youth group was some what small and the church services were very traditional. When it came to the worship service, it was rigid. Stand up, turn to page ... in your hymnal, sing all 4 verses of the hymn, sit down, prayer, stand up, sing this hymn again, etc, etc, etc. Music was and is a huge piece of my life and a staple in my spiritual life. During my time in the youth group, several other youth members and myself wanted a chance to use our musical talents on Sunday mornings. However the minute a guitar or set of drums were on stage, people in the congregation wouldn't even stand up and sing. Yes, many of our church go-ers were of the older generation, but it was very disappointing and frustrating to not have support. I grew to dislike those hymns, because that was the only thing that was acceptable. I was made when we had to stand up, sing all 4 verse and sit down with what seemed like no heart felt worship. I was annoyed when we sang hymns. I didn't want to sing them. Why couldn't everyone progress in worship? Why couldn't people learn to be okay with modern worship songs and accept worship bands on stage? I grew angry.

It took me a while and time away from that old church to realize that those hymns I knew every word of... I needed in my life. Those 4 verses and that chorus brought so much comfort and meaning for my toughest circumstances. And it was up to me, not everyone else around me, to use those songs for my personal worship. I would sing them when I need God's presence the most. When I lost my Great-Grandpa, over and over I sang "It Is Well With My Soul." When my sister went through a very rebellious time in high school, I sang "I Need Thee Every Hour." On my wedding day, "Be Thou My Vision."When my son was born, "Jesus Loves Me." These hymns are written by men or women that had felt the Holy Spirit, who went through horrible circumstances and needed to express their love for Christ and their need for Him.

Here are some pieces of my favorites:

1. I Need Thee Every Hour
2. I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
   No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.
   • I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
     Every hour I need Thee;
     Oh, bless me now, my Savior,
     I come to Thee.
3. I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;
   Come quickly and abide, or life is vain.
4. I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;
   And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.
5. Be Thou My Vision

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one

1. It Is Well With My Soul
2. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
   When sorrows like sea billows roll;
   Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
   It is well, it is well, with my soul.
   • Refrain:
     It is well, with my soul,
     It is well, it is well, with my soul.
3. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
   Let this blest assurance control,
   That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
   And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
4. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
   My sin, not in part but the whole,
   Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
   Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
5. And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
   The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
   The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
   Even so, it is well with my soul.
6. 
   

At the feet of Jesus

 

 

Everything we ever need is at His feet. In His presence. Worshiping, praising, taking all the expensive oil that you have and washing His feet. That expensive oil represents what means the most to us and laying it at His feet.

 

What would you give up for Him? Would it be the last drop of your perfume?

 

I have found that by constantly being at his feet, there is peace and a love that you cannot explain. Understanding and revelation. You cannot find these things anywhere else.

 

At His feet there is forgiveness, healing and miracles.

 

 

What is so important about being at his feet? By living at His feet you are positioned for success and God does not let anyone miss their mark when they are at the feet of Jesus.

 

 We can learn so much from Mary of Bethany.

 

She positioned herself at Jesus' feet and gave her most fragrant expensive oil that she had.

 

When you read the story of Martha & Mary in Luke 10: 38-42 you notice 3 things.

 

1. Martha hears & listens

2. Martha asks

3. Martha gives.

 

When Martha gave she gave what was costly and broken for her. She gave a very fragrant offering so that meant everyone had to smell it. This costly offering was prized by Jesus.

 

She sits and hears

She sits and asks

She sits and gives

 

These are the 3 things we should be doing at His feet.

 

Jesus wasn't as concerned with what she was giving him but the time she was spending with Him. Yes it was costly but it's not what you give but the time you spend with God.

 

People rebuked her for giving such a costly thing... Mark 14:4

They didn't understand and thought it was wasteful.

Jesus got on to them saying, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me." Matthew 26:10

 

When we give something to God like our time, praise, worship and money, many people do not understand. They see it as too costly... but when you are at the feet of Jesus nothing is too good for Him! We are willing to do anything because we know he will always take care of us.

 

We can stay at the feet by worshiping, praising, worshiping and seeking his face all the time. Be in a state of constant communion. Remember it's about a relationship with Him.

 

So I remind you to LIVE AT THE FEET OF JESUS because at the feet of Jesus that is where we find our strength.