October 28, 2008 at 4:07 pm (praise, worship)
Tags: praise, rest, revival, worship
These last few months have been very hard for me. I lost someone very dear to me. But I know that even in death, God is glorified. He prepared her for what was to come. I also am in school, the summer months are gone, the fall is here, lots of trials and tribulations have come to those close to me. My spirit feels tired. I feel like my soul needs a revival. During this time of despair, I realize that God is still at work in me!
I go to a Women’s Bible Study on Alternate Saturdays and we are reading a book called, “Resting In Him” by Women of Faith. It’s been an eye opener for me. It talks about the different seasons you go through in your life. There are fall, spring, summer and winter seasons in our life. Just as the natural seasons change, our spiritual life changes. We talked about the times we felt closest to God. And oddly enough, the times that I felt closest to God were the times that I was in deep despair. I felt that He was right there because I needed Him. I couldn’t go on without Him. Anyway, I said all of this to say that I feel that God is doing something new in me, something new in my church and in the hearts of His people. I have hope that He will revive my spirit. I know that everything is not going to be good all of the time, but I have hope that He is at work in me. I have no other choice.
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July 26, 2008 at 4:58 am (praise, worship)
Tags: praise, servanthood, worship
I don’t wanna do it!
It’s so hard to think of servanthood as worship. But it is. He calls us to be servants just as Jesus was. I know that it’s in my make-up to be a servant. Some people find it difficult, most of the time I find it easy. Sometimes, however, I need to put serving into perspective. I start to resent. I start to grumble. I start to complain. “Why do I have to be the one doing it all…why can’t someone just invite me to a party, do I have to PLAN it all the time?” Once I start letting those thoughts in, I become unhappy. My life takes a weird turn. I start shutting everyone off and I stew and pout. God says to be a servant, and not to serve to be seen. He wants us to have a fully committed heart and serve with no expectations. This is worship.
Galatians 6:9-10 says, “Let us not grow tired of doing good, for, unless we throw in our hand, the ultimate harvest is assured. Let us then do good to all men as opportunity offers, especially to those who belong to the Christian household.”
1 Peter 4:10-11 says, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
God is the one who deserves the glory. HE is the only one that should get recognition through all we do. We need to do it in His honor.
I’m talking to myself when I write this blog…this means to wash those cars with gratitude tomorrow at the youth car wash. This means to not complain about how tired I am. This means to serve and know that all we do will be to uplift the Kingdom of God. This is worship.
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July 23, 2008 at 7:11 pm (praise, worship)
Tags: God's wholeness, perfect peace, prayer, worry
I was thinking about a song that we sing at church called, “He’s A Keepa’” by Rodnie Bryant and The Christian Community Mass Choir. Simple lyrics: He’ll keep you in perfect peace, just keep your mind stayed on Him, He’ll keep you in perfect peace, if you keep your mind on Him. He’s a keepa’, yes He is, He’s a keepa’, oh yes He is.
Whenever my Pastor’s Wife prays, she always adds something about God giving us the “peace that passes all understanding”. I understand now what she means.
Sometimes we try to “fix” our situations on our own. When we do that, our minds become troubled. Just ask God and He will fix it and He will put your mind at ease. James 1: 6-8 says 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. This man has no peace. Phillipians 4:6-8 says 6-7Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
I desire God to keep me in His perfect peace as I keep my mind on things from above. It’s hard for me not to worry about what is to come, but it’s a decision I am willing to make in order to have a pure praise and a perfect peace. Let’s remember that on our Sabbath when we are gathered and during our worship time. We don’t have to worry if we don’t want, He can keep our minds in perfect peace.
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