Showing posts with label adoration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label adoration. Show all posts
Sunday, January 14, 2018
Here We Are to WORSHIP
Here I Am to Worship
My word of the day is: WORSHIP -- the feeling or expression of reverence, adoration, exaltation, honor for God (the dictionary says for a diety, but in my case – the only ONE who deserves WORSHIP is our ONE TRUE GOD).
This morning my Christmas season is officially over as I return home from caring for my two youngest grandsons in Austin while their Mom and Dad have been celebrating their annual “anniversary honeymoon” trip that takes place after Christmas each year. I’ve savored these precious times with my boys, but now it’s back to God and me in my everyday of life.
I can’t resist – just one more post about those very wise, Wise Men. Last Sunday was the celebration of the Epiphany of the Lord when they arrived at the Holy Family's home to WORSHIP the child-king. The final scriptures of the magi’s visit give us our basis for WORSHIP – my word for today. After they had WORSHIPPED the newborn King, “Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.” Matthew 2:12.
That verse has two great points: One, they had been WORSHIPPING the child-king and out of that intimacy, God spoke to them and revealed dangers up ahead. After all, King Herod’s plans were to kill all the little boys because he suspected one of them would take his throne. God looked out for the magi because they gave their best in WORSHIP to His Son.
What about us? When we go into that secret place with God and we honor Him by our WORSHIP, aren’t we being wise children, men and women of the Most High? God is no respecter of persons. Why wouldn’t He give us wisdom for our future and the dangers that could lie up ahead and why wouldn’t He instruct us to go another way instead of the way we had planned if our way proved to be dangerous, off course or even the longest route. Just think about the Hebrews wandering around in the desert for 40 years and in reality, it was only an 11-day trip (Dueteronomy 1:2) – had they stopped to spend more time WORSHIPPING than complaining?
The second point in Matthew 2:12 is the Wise Men did go a different way. What about the plans we make for ourselves – those goals, resolutions and plans? Proverbs 16:9 says “A man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.” When we live a faith-filled life of trusting and WORSHIPING God, we can count on His wisdom and direction.
Psalm 37:23 says “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and He delights in his way.” If the Wise Men had a dream that sent them another direction, we can be confident that if our plans are altered, it will be for our good and in our best interest to take that different path. Just maybe our plans are not God’s plans, and if we are willing to be tweaked, then like the Wise Men, we, too, will be wise enough to listen and walk in the steps He lays out for us. Imagine the pitfalls, detours, side roads and other off track places God could keep us from, as we surrender to follow Him.
Like the Wise Men, may we WORSHIP our King of all Kings, and then listen for His voice. After all He knows shortcuts and secret passageways to get us to where we need to go -- safe and sound. After all, Father KNOWS best!
Monday, February 8, 2016
Take Joy, My King, in What You Hear
Last week I posted about the love songs we enjoyed with our significant other, the love songs we sang to our babies, and the love songs God sings to us, but doesn't He Who is THE originator of music desire to hear love songs from us? The ONE who deserves our praise, adoration and our love.... because He FIRST loved us? Christianity is a singing faith. Why? Because it’s not about religion! It’s about a love affair; it’s about a relationship with God— God loves us so much that He sent His Son to die for us and He wants us to love Him back.
Here's one of the love songs I sing to Him:
"I love you, Lord, and I lift my voice, to worship You. Oh my soul, rejoice.
Take joy, my King, in what you hear. May it be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear."
Nothing makes us more aware of God’s love and presence in our life than singing and praising. I know you may be thinking, “But you don’t understand. I can’t sing.” God doesn't look for virtuoso singing. He's quite okay with being off-key. “Make a joyful noise” (Psalm 66:1). We can all do that. When we cheer our favorite teams and players on, we make a joyful noise. So let's just let it out! We don’t have to hit the right notes; we just have to make a joyful noise of love and praise to God.
When we really think about all that God has done for us, we won’t be able to help ourselves. Those are the sweet times of intimacy (in-to-me-see) when we bare our hearts and souls to Him who knows us so completely anyway. Those are the times when we are so tight in our love for each other, that we can barely put into words all that He means to us. Quite naturally, our love songs will come pouring out of us like a fountain of unending flow. "I love you, Lord, and I lift my voice, to worship You. Oh my soul, rejoice. Take joy, my King, in what you hear. May it be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear."
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Who Has Your Heart?
What prompts a 15-year old to post this to his Instagram yesterday? If I was still focusing on finding photo inspirations for each day of the year, like I did last year, this one would have surely made today's post. It made it anyway.
This is my grandson, Payton Wallace. To say "I'm smiling and rejoicing" puts it mildly. Payton is an extraordinary young man. He could care less what someone thinks about his extravagant love for God. In fact, he wakes up each day, gets his school work out of the way (he's home schooled) so that he can get to his church. He would rather hang out at the church and his fellow musicans and crew members (the guys that set up the stage, props, and tear down) than anything else. Really. You see, their youth group are in the middle of a tremendous time of refocus. They desire to center on Jesus, His love, and applying His Word in a fresh, uncompromising way. It is truly remarkable. When I hear about all the negatives in this world, I only wish that more focus would be placed on kids like this who are about making a difference in their generation.
When I see this photo, it reminds me of a true heart for worship.So what's the big deal about this kind of praising and worshipping God where people of all ages raise their hands during praise/worship songs in church or at Christian concerts? Among the reasons are: to show surrender, submission, humility, or dependence to God, to give God reverence or adoration, to give their all to God, or to be filled by God.
I always heard two great examples that I love: First, the universal act that a person is surrendering is to put both hands up in the air. Second, is the picture of a child lifting both of his arms above his head for his father to carry him.
The Bible says that God looks at the heart of each person (1 Samuel 16:7). I honestly don't think God cares one bit if a person is standing in place, arms at side, or raising hands and moving around. He doesn't care if we are worshipping with hymns or choruses. He DOES care if we are TRULY worshipping Him. In defense of hand raising in worship (and prayer), there are numerous places in the Bible that speak of this: Nehemiah 8:6 , Psalm 28:2, Psalm 134:2, Psalm 63:3-4, Psalm 88:9, Luke 24:50, and more.
God looks at OUR heart in worship, and most importantly, that He has our hearts -- surrendered, pliable, and tender toward the ONE Who gave His all for us. Acts 13:22 -- "After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’" And those are words I want God to say about me -- "Donna is a woman after my own heart; she will do everything I want her to do." How about you?
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Unplugged
I just returned home from a 3-day; 3-night ACTS Retreat where I was completely unplugged from technology -- can you even imagine that I could survive without my computer, social media or my phone OR a clock or watch for that long?
Most of you know I'm ALWAYS on my phone, talking about mobile services, texting, checking emails -- it's my business. You know I'm always on social media -- it's my mission to bring light to the world. And, probably most importantly, is my watch -- that provides my ability to be on-time for this and that -- for when I get up, when I'm at my next meeting, when I eat, when I go to bed. But, this weekend -- it was all about ESSENTIALS -- essentials like meeting with other women, meeting with God, and giving devotion and 100% focus on Him. And it was exactly what I needed.
There are no adequate words to describe the refreshing I received just from cutting lose of the chains that held me captive......and I didn't even realize it. My heart is full to overflowing of the awe and wonder and absolute life-transformation that took place in me and the others. Indeed, the acronym for ACTS: adoration, community, theology and service -- all became so tangibly real to me by beautiful women who welcomed us into a place of all-out abandonment from distractions for full-on pursuing of intimate time with God.
Now that I'm back home -- unpacking and getting reaquainted with business-as- usual, routines, expectations from others, dealing with life and all the stuff that life brings, I still will draw from the peaceful waters of peace, reflection, simplicity of listening to His still small voice even in the noisy chaos of this busy world. I know I'll find Him there -- because it's not about the noise or the lack of it -- it's about Him and me -- finding a moment here and a moment there to continue whispering sweet words into each other's ears -- recognizing Him in the wind, the snow, the savory smells in the air and in a warm home, in the bustling of little children running around, in the smile and touch of a friend. I will still find a place to BE STILL and KNOW HE IS GOD.
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