Worship

Today's "Beyond Words" devotional was on the word, "worship". And during this time of celebration of the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ, I think it's very appropriate. I wanted to share it here (page 414 if you have the book... day 357).

Worship
Phrases like worship service and service of worship are tautologies. To worship God means to serve God. Basically there are two ways to do it. One way is to do things for God that God needs to have done - run errands for God, carry messages for God, fight on God's side, feed God's lambs, and so on. The other way is to do things for God that you need to do - sing songs for God, create beautiful things for God, give things up for God, tell God what's on your mind and in your heart, in general rejoice in God and make a fool of yourself for God the way lovers have always made fools of themselves for the one they love.

A Quaker meeting, a pontifical High Mass, the family service at Zion Episcopal, a Holy Roller happening - unless there is an element of joy and foolishness in the proceedings, the time would have better spent doing something useful.

All for now,
Lisa

Not the First Time I've Listened to this Song

But maybe the first time I've heard it.

Every Season
by Nichole Nordeman

Every evening sky, an invitation
To trace the patterned stars
And early in July, a celebration
For freedom that is ours
And I notice You
In children’s games
In those who watch them from the shade
Every drop of sun is full of fun and wonder
You are summer

And even when the trees have just surrendered
To the harvest time
Forfeiting their leaves in late September
And sending us inside
Still I notice You when change begins
And I am braced for colder winds
I will offer thanks for what has been and was to come
You are autumn

And everything in time and under heaven
Finally falls asleep
Wrapped in blankets white, all creation
Shivers underneath
And still I notice you
When branches crack
And in my breath on frosted glass
Even now in death, You open doors for life to enter
You are winter

And everything that’s new has bravely surfaced
Teaching us to breathe
What was frozen through is newly purposed
Turning all things green
So it is with You And how You make me new
With every season’s change
And so it will be
As You are re-creating me
Summer, autumn, winter, spring

All for now,
Lisa

First Time I've Heard This Song

While I'm Waiting
By John Waller

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Takeing every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You While I'm waiting
I will worship While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

All for now,
Lisa

Emmanuel, God is with Us
El Shaddai, All Sufficient

Our Hope Endures
by Natalie Grant

You would think only so much can go wrong
Calamity only strikes once
And you assume this one has suffered her share
Life will be kinder from here
Oh, but sometimes the sun stays hidden for years
Sometimes the sky rains night after night
When will it clear?

But our Hope endures the worst of conditions
It's more than our optimism
Let the earth quake
Our Hope is unchanged

How do we comprehend peace within pain?
Or joy at a good man's wake?
Walk a mile with the woman whose body is racked
With illness, oh how can she laugh?
Oh, 'cause sometimes the sun stays hidden for years
Sometimes the sky rains night after night
When will it clear?

But our Hope endures the worst of conditions
It's more than our optimism
Let the earth quake
Our Hope is unchanged

Emmanuel, God is with us
El Shaddai, all sufficient
We never walk alone
And this is our hope

But our Hope endures the worst of conditions
It's more than our optimism
Let the earth quake
Our Hope is unchanged

All for now,
Lisa

Thy Will Be Done

I believe we are all aware of our own sinfulness. I don't believe that comes as a surprise to anyone. If it does, then there's a lot more we need to chat about. But I do believe we need to realize the depravity, pervasiveness, and grievousness of our sins. And that things we don't think of as sin are really sin indeed. We've numbed ourselves to sin to be able to cope with it. And I don't think that's the best way to deal with it.

Stealing, lying, killing are obvious sins. Encouraging my self-will, my independence, my over-wrought passions, my inner selfish, arrogant, or prideful thought-life are a little less obvious. And those are where the stealing, lying, and killing begin. Don't you see it?

I'm realizing over and over again that it always comes down to a heart issue. And that's where it really sits. Jesus told us that over and over again. Somehow we think we can put rules of order around our heart to protect it. But we can't. Sin creeps in. It gets to us, even when we have the best intentions. After all, have you ever rationalized doing the wrong thing for the right reason? The wrong thing is always the wrong thing. Truth is truth. It doesn't EVER change. Right is right. It never moves.

But let's focus in on the more insidious. Our own piety. Scripture says to do things with excellence. But do you realize that that very command, when we do it and yet not surrendered to God, can be sinful in itself?! The minute we think we are good, or have done right, we've failed. We've sinned. Because we have not denied ourself! We have glorified ourselves over glorifying God. And that's idolatry.

Moreover, the minute we pray and ask for something (for ourselves or for someone else) and do not end the prayer with something to the effect of "not my will, but thy will" then we are in sin.

After all, that's what Jesus did, even in Gethsemene - at probably one of the most grievous moments, "... Yet not as I will, but you will".

And that's even what He taught us to pray:

9"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
11Give us today our daily bread.
12Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.[a]'
14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.


Our supplication must always be followed by our submission.

All for now,
Lisa

The Message of Redemption and the Cross of Christ

I've been pondering lately about the message of redemption and the cross of Christ. I think we all know WHAT He did paid for our horrible, messy, ugly sins. But WHY did He do what He did?

Did He do it just for me as I often hear?
Did He do it only for love as I often hear?
Did He do it out of complete and absolute obedience to the one who called Him (which is love, but love for the Father, not for me). (by the way, it does say that "For God so love the world"...)

Again, I know I benefit. I know all believers benefit. But I don't think He did it "mainly" for me, you, or anyone in particular. I think He knew why He was sent. Again, it's not about us. It's about God. So the message of redemption and the cross of Christ is not about us, it is about God. We benefit. Glory to God we benefit.

Just thoughts... but it made me really think: What was Jesus thinking about when He was up on the cross? I looked back to John (chapter 19), Matthew (chapter 27), Mark (chapter 15), and Luke (chapter 23).

In all four accounts, the focus of His attention is on God Himself.

I would think the He had His Father on His mind. Makes sense, because that's why He did it. For His Father.

I also keyed into this passage (bolded areas mine):

1 Corinthians 1:18-31


18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."[c]
20Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
26Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29so that no one may boast before him. 30It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."[d]

All for now,
Lisa