"Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns. I am thankful that thorns have roses."
Alphonse Kerr
Ps 91 (NKJV)
3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler, and from the perilous pestilence.4 He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day,6 nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
Yesterday Rita Springer led worship for us. We are blessed because she is friends with our pastors, and visits out church regularly. Below are the songs she blessed us with.
Since it's probably illegal for me to post the lyrics for them, I will give links if the words are not on the videos. Take a listen to this very gifted singer/songwriter. Note: Not all of the below songs were available on you tube sung by Rita, so I found the ones that most closely resembled yesterday's worship.
For the last month our church--The Rock Family Worship Center--has been doing a series on worship. Several powerful messages have touched my heart and recentered my focus on God. The series has been titled The Prize and can be viewed here (it doesn't look like they're all there yet, but I'm sure they will be soon).
In essence, worship is what we present to God--our sacrifice of praise (Hebrews 13:15). It's not just about songs, or hymns, or musical scores. It's what we do when no one is looking, how we think, speak, and live our lives outside of the four walls of the church building.
Is what you do Monday through Saturday consistent with your performance on Sunday? Or Sunday through Friday, if you attend services on Saturday? Do you live your everyday life as an act of worship to God?
Just something to think about.
As has become my custom, I'm adding a youtube video of a song we did yesterday. (I know I didn't last week. I had stayed home with a sick child and forgot.)
Take a listen to this one. I hope you like it.
I'm not going to ask anymore questions to incite a response. My goal of this blog post was to get you to think about your personal relationship with Jesus.
He's the same yesterday, today, and forever and is waiting for you.
Lately, God has been really speaking to me through music. Yesterday was no exception. As a member of our worship choir, I'd sung this piece a few times, but I'd really not paid much attention to the verses as we aren't responsible for singing those. But yesterday, oh man...
Let me explain. I think I mentioned that I felt it was time to sell my horses. As much as I loved them, I just didn't have time to spend riding them like they needed. Well, Saturday they went to their new family. It was a bittersweet moment, and I feel no shame in saying I shed a few tears.
Then yesterday, we sang this song. I know this might, or might not be to your music tastes, but listen to the above song. Really listen.
You see, I've been wondering over the last few weeks whether writing is really where God is calling me to spend my time. Not that I wouldn't write, I would. I couldn't not write. I just wouldn't pursue publication. But I received some great encouragement from some facebook friends (who happen to be real-life friends, too).
Then God confirmed his word to me yesterday. Read this verse:
I know it's dark just before dawn
This might just be the hardest season you've experienced
I know it hurts; it won't be too long
You're closer than you think you are
You're closer than you've been before
And it just hit me. God allowed me to have horses for a season. It was what I needed a few years ago, so I could know that in HIS timing, He would answer my prayers. As of Saturday that season was over and a new one is just about to begin. Look at the last two lines again..."you're closer than you think you are, you're closer than you've been before."
It reminds me of a picture I've seen on facebook. The guy is mining for diamonds and he quits and walks away one strike away from breaking through. :)
Okay, back to the song. Here's verse two.
Something is moving, turning around
Seasons are changing; everything is different now
Here comes the sun piercing the clouds
You're closer than you think you are
You're closer than you've been before
*Sigh* Seasons are changing; everything is different now.
Now the chorus:
It's not over, it's not finished
It's not ending; it's only the beginning
When God is in it, all things are new
When God is in it. Is God in your writing or your everyday life? Sad to say, I have neglected to keep Him in mine each day. But that's changing. Everyday I'm going to ask for His help, His words, His message to come through me. I'm going to ask, seek and knock.
Okay, so now you know how God touched my yesterday during worship. How has he spoken to you recently?
