Living Out of Love

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. - Mark 12:30

What does this verse mean to you personally?

The first thought I had for myself is that I need to let go of fear in order to love God with all of me!

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. – 1 John 4:18

There are things that seem like they should have easy, clean cut answers. But why doesn’t God’s command of us have those always? What does loving God with all of you mean to you? I personally still feel like I am asking myself this question & awaiting God’s easy answer, when there probably is no quick & easy answer.

I can get caught up trying to earn God’s love, which also for me relates to the verse above from 1 John 4. I’m struggling to truly understand & live what it means to love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind & strength but avoiding getting caught up in trying to/feeling like I must earn that love & the stress, fear, etc. that come with such.

& so again I ask for those who would be willing to share: What does this verse mean to you, in your life, or just in general?

Filed under: Christian, Faith, God's Word, Heart's Cry, Worship , 1 John 4, bible, christian living, commandments, God, God's Word, jesus, Life, love, loving God, scripture

Stop Looking Back

I found this post via Nathan’s blog very relevant for many. I felt this would hit home with some of you, including some of you I know outside of the blogsphere.

If we cling to the past when God has previously moved, we will miss what He’s doing NOW. If we spend all our time wishing we could be back there, doing whatever, we’ll miss the moments and opportunities that God lays before us on a daily basis. Sometimes we catch ourselves wondering out loud, “God, why don’t you ever show up like you used to?” We’re so busy waiting for a repeat of a previous chapter that our current page remains blank.

This is so true. Personally, I have to admit that as a very emotionally-geared individual, I struggle with being stuck more on feelings than faith sometimes. Also, I know this is true for our church in a different way as well, as a friend once shared what God woke her early one morning to remind her of (& in turn for her to share with our church family), which was strikingly similar to Nathan’s comment above.

In essence, we can’t keep looking back to past moves of God or past successes or we’ll never be on board with what God is doing in the here & now. We may even miss seeing it entirely, our focus stuck years or months back missing what we once had. We’ve got to instead start looking at what God’s doing now & either get involved in it or get out of the way.

Go read the rest of Nathan’s blog entry here.

Filed under: Christian, Encouragement, Faith, Worship

Amazing Grace – Which Verses?

Amazing Grace is a hymn with at least seven verses (or more?) One verse that is now common in our hymnals, was first found in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s book Uncle Tom’s Cabin:

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’ve first begun.

A few others aren’t in our church’s particular hymnal, such as a favorite verse of mine:

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call’d me here below,
Will be forever mine.

I’m debating on this lately, I’d love to do all the verses!

So… why not share which verses you sing most often in services?

Filed under: Christian, Worship , amazing grace, Church, church music, favorite hymns, hymns, Music, Worship Leading, worship music

The Songs or the Instrumentation?

Do any others out there (particularly worship leaders, choir & team members) notice that it isn’t the type of songs that matters so much when it comes to “contemporary” versus “traditional” worship “styles” as much as the configuration of singers, instrumentalists, & how worship is led?

For example, we have a traditional [music] service as well as a contemporary [music] service, but we use both hymns & more modern songs in both at times. In fact, the traditional service enjoys the praise choruses (often these are older contemporary songs however), & the contemporary service enjoys hymns in a more contemporary style.

What matters, or so it seems, is the configuration of singers & instrumentalists, as I mentioned above. For the contemporary service, just about anything is okay — 4-6 singers (sometimes a choir also), guitars, bass, drums, keys, & one person leading, usually from guitar & singing; as for the traditional, it’s a full choir, piano, sometimes organ, & one person up front singing or conducting to lead both congregation & choir. If we do a song such as, He Knows My Name or I Stand Amazed (How Marvelous), it could work in either service without much issue.

I’ve noticed this in many churches that have separate services of differing musical styles, or churches that are trying to go more contemporary. I must honestly admit that I don’t have enough exposure of checking out or asking about what too many other churches do in such configurations though to know for sure — I don’t know of many churches with both styles of music doing separate services that I hear about knowingly.

Probably other churches will do the services completely differently in every aspect… & of course, this could just be how most like things at our church.

All this aside, it personally doesn’t bother me either way — the point is to be worshiping & glorifying God first & foremost.

What are your thoughts? How are services done at your church if any differently service-to-service? Has anyone else ever noticed this also?

Filed under: Christian, Worship , choir, choruses, Church, church services, contemporary worship style, hymns, instrumentation, musicians, praise and worship, praise music, praise team, singers, songs, traditional versus contemporary, traditional worship style, Worship, worship leaders, Worship Leading, worship music, worship music styles, worship team

Poetry: I Step Into the River

I step into the river
to follow after You -
letting all my fears wither,
putting all my faith in You.

You lead the way,
& I follow in faith,
not knowing exactly where,
but knowing You’ll take me just where

You know to lead me
as You guide me on this journey;
our horses are swift,
Your Spirit showing the way.

as we cross the river, now dry & clear,
protected & accepted,
with You I embark
on the path of Light –

You – the Way,
You – the Truth,
You – the Light,
the Saviour of my life.

Filed under: Christian, Encouragement, Faith, Heart's Cry, Poetry, Worship, Writing , Faith, faithful, jesus, light, poem, Poetry, psalms, Savior, Saviour, the way, trust, truth, Worship, Writing

First Step into the River

Give this command to the priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant: ‘When you reach the banks of the Jordan River, take a few steps into the river and stop there.’ - Joshua 3:8 (NLT)

This has been quite a week. One of learning to step out on faith & learning to listen to the Holy Spirit, & it’s been quite an adventure!

I put in my two weeks’ notice at the library. Since mid-December, I’ve been working three jobs. In January, I found out I have to have wisdom teeth removal surgery, & thought I would have to stay with all three jobs financially, but it quickly became apparent to me that I needed to purify myself of some things.

All week I have been second guessing myself & what God was communicating to me. Looking back, I see it all clearly:

On break at work Tuesday, I opened my Bible, wanting to seek God in all this. God brought Joshua to my mind, an Old Testament chapter that I honestly had never read or thought anything of! Chapter 3 really stuck out to me, as well as the instances of the Israelites having to merely obey God to see victory, & the time that they did not where they failed. Yet when they did fail, God gave them a second chance & upon obeying Him, victory was won.

But Israel violated the instructions about the things set apart for the Lord. A man named Achan had stolen some of these dedicated things…

Joshua sent some of his men from Jericho to spy out the town of Ai… When they returned, they told Joshua, “There’s no need for all of us to go up there; it won’t take more than two or three thousand men to attack Ai…” …they were soundly defeated.

Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid or discouraged. Take all your fighting men and attack Ai, for I have given you the king of Ai, his people, his town, and his land. – Joshua 7:1-4, 8:1

God was asking me to step out on faith & trust Him with everything. My worries told me this was risky, that even though I’d be fine financially in normal circumstances, the coming surgery costs loomed over me; despite this, my body was physically screaming as it has been for many months, & it was affecting my ability to do all that I have at this time with the little energy & time available.

In all honesty, compared to other times, I didn’t feel like God was being as clear, but yet I now see that He was as clear as necessary, teaching me to live more deeply by faith & trust in Him. While reading & reflecting on Joshua, & also through wise counsel God provided, I was still afraid to make the decision to leave that job, but also felt it was the only sensible thing to do.

I felt the Holy Spirit nudging me to put in my notice at work on Thursday evening, but didn’t because I was blinded by my worry & wasn’t for sure if it was God. Planning to give my notice on Friday afternoon, I arrived at work only to find that my supervisor had left early for the day!

But our God is so incredibly merciful & faithful, & just as God gave the Israelites a second chance at victory, He gave me a second chance: My supervisor returned briefly before close & I was able to give my notice!

God is so good! He has loved on me so much this week, been so faithful. I don’t know why I doubt as I do, when He always comes through & even provides second chances, too! Burdens have been lifted from my back, praise You, God!

GOD IS SO GOOD!

Filed under: Christian, Encouragement, Faith, God's Word , bible, Faith, God, God's Word, Holy Spirit, hope, jesus, joshua, learning, Old Testament, Second chances, trust

God Is Perfect Love

You are My child.

Thank You, God!! You are good. You are GREAT! You are love…. perfect love!

I really have no words, but I needed what this weekend has brought via a retreat with many of the women from our church. We did Beth Moore’s Loving Well series, & God used it mightily in us.

God, thank You for loving me unconditionally, for ministering Your love to me. Help me to truly let You love me with Your perfect, unchanging love.

Perfect love casts out ALL fear.

How many times You’ve spoken this to me, & how I’ve only seemed to half-get it, or something. It’s time to stop this once & for all. Stop letting the enemy fool me into thinking I have to earn this & will be punished if I’m not “perfect” enough, stop feeling guilty when I don’t do as well in anything as I think I should. Stop condemning myself & being so hard on myself.

I’ve been fighting this far too long. It’s time I just trust You & let go of all this bogus junk, & just let Your love overflow into me without fear! It’s based not on what I do, but it’s based on You, Your mercy, Your grace, Your love!

Filed under: Christian, Encouragement, Faith, God's Word , Christ, Christian, everlasting love, Faith, fear, God, God's Word, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, love, perfect love, promise, pure love, salvation, unfailing love

I AM – Who Am I?

I’ve gotten so behind in this study, but finally I’m on to the next lesson in I AM – Your Sufficiency: See Lisa’s I AM So You Don’t Have To Be Bible Study

An excerpt:

But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” – Exodus 3:11 (NIV)

“Who am I?”

That, girls, is a loaded question. The world tells us our identity is defined by our appearance and possessions. In a sense, the world is correct in identifying our worth as something outside ourselves. However, notice when Moses asked the question in the above referenced passage, God did not respond with a list of all Moses’ qualifications. Instead He said, “I will be with you.”

… God is asking no less of us today than to believe He is sufficient to accomplish any and everything He could ever ask of us. He doesn’t choose us because we are qualified, but because He wants to trust us with His Wonders. The thing about Wonders is that they aren’t very wonderful if they do not originate from the ordinary. Let’s explore this a bit in our Discussion.

Discussion Questions:

1. How would you answer the questions, “Who Am I?”

I am, more & more each day, becoming who God wants & made me to be, despite backwards steps, failing, or success.

2. Have you ever been in a situation where you felt inadequate because of your lack of a ‘tagline’?

I just began leading worship as a part-time interim worship leader at church, & though I’m not feeling completely inadequate in an overwhelmed sense of things, I know that without God I couldn’t do it at all (& would never have ended up here in the first place!) I do feel inadequate though, when thinking too far into the future of where God may (or may not!) take me with the abilities & gifts He has blessed me with & how He may use them & stretch me in how He uses me for His own purposes.

3. Do you have skills or position that you believe God could use mightily if only He would?

Not really, honestly. I feel like I’m in a waiting, experience-gaining & learning process sort of time with both my relationship with God & what entails this season of my life right now. & patience isn’t my best characteristic, but I am thankful so much for all the experience God is bringing my way — it could always be worse!

4. Have you ever lost a position or station in life you believe could have ‘helped God out’ with something He has asked you to do? If you haven’t lost out, do you perhaps feel you have to gain this in order to be useful to the Kingdom?

I’m not honestly sure I have an experience with which to answer this one, but I believe there may become a time — who knows when or how soon or late but God though!

5. How are you with your dialogue vs. doubt conversations with God? Which does God hear most from you?

This is a hard one, probably the doubt reflected even in how I live sometimes from day-to-day. At the same time, I know He is up to something, & this gives me great hope — I think it’s my patience & my endurance running thin some days or moments that allows the doubt to creep in.

6. Do you believe God’s Wonders become more wonderful if they originate in the ordinary? Any Scripture references come to mind?

Totally. I feel like one of those wonders sometimes, in looking at how far God has already brought me since before I was a Christian & how much He has done in me. It also makes me think of all those God uses — the flawed & failed according to the world’s standards — to use in amazing ways. I count myself among those, & know quite a few others who fit this as well. God uses the ordinary to show His glory & power strong!

Biblically, I think of Paul in the New Testament for one, when he was at first a Jew bent on destroying Christ’s followers, & then he was used by God to be an intense catalyst in bringing the Gospel to so many. I also think of Peter, who after denying Christ before His crucifixion, was restored by Jesus & also became another most important influence of the church’s beginning.

Filed under: Christian , Bible Study, Christian, christian living, God's Word, I AM Bible Study