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Archive for the ‘Worship’ Category

The Daddy/Daughter Dance

Posted in Blessings, God's Delight, God's Goodness, God's Grace, God's Love, Joy, Praise, Worship, tagged , , , , , , on September 30, 2013| 15 Comments »

Our granddaughter, Elena, is now seven months old, and already her personality is evident.

For example, when she awakens in the morning, Elena plays contentedly in her crib for ten minutes or so.  She chews on her pacifier from every angle, rolls around,  practices her pike position, and plays with a snuggle toy or the zipper on her sleep sack.  Elena may also struggle to crawl or even pull herself up into a standing position, in spite of the confines of the sleep sack.  Eventually she lets the household know that crib-playtime is over and she’d like to be rescued.

The rescuer receives rich reward–a big 1000-watt smile, a few squeals of pleasure, and panting excitement at what the new day might hold.

And though she enjoys songs and stories, Johnny Jump-Up and toys, her favorite activity has to be dancing with her daddy.  Eric, our son, has created a playlist specifically for this activity, many tunes from Disney musicals.

Daddy Daughter Dance

I recently had the pleasure of watching Eric and Elena  perform this ritual.  Eric tucks her firmly in one arm, while holding her hand out with the other.  True ballroom style.  And though they may begin with a gentle waltz, Eric soon takes off with gentle jogging and polka steps.  He adds his voice to Angela Lansbury’s and David Tomslinson’s.

But the other morning, my pleasure in watching them dance turned to uproarious laughter, as Eric mimicked a few of the chimney sweeps’ moves from Mary Poppins.  Knees rising high with each step, and dips in between, he marched across the dining room.  Then with broad, high kicks he pranced in the other direction.  Elena bobbed in his arms, beaming and squealing.

And I thought, O, Lord, this is such supreme pleasure–to watch a daddy and his daughter do a silly dance, reveling in the music, the movement, and each other.  Do you, Father, take joy in watching us, your children, delighting in all the pleasures you’ve given?  Surely so. Otherwise, why would you have provided spectacular colors, intricate patterns, and incredible variety in creation?  Why would serendipity  blessings suddenly drop into our laps? Yes, we need to keep pleasure in its proper place, and not let the pursuit of it consume us.  But I glory in those delights you have ordained.  And I worship you for your gracious love, motivating you to make us laugh and smile.  Thank you, God.    

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Crowns of Glory

Posted in Encouragement, Holiness, Service, Uncategorized, Worship, tagged , , , , , , , , , on September 12, 2013| 11 Comments »

Can you remember back to your childhood Sunday School days?  Did you ever make crowns of yellow construction paper, symbolizing the crowns we’d someday wear in heaven?

In my class, we were encouraged to add colorful cut-out jewels, to represent all the good deeds we would do for Jesus.  The idea was he would reward us for our obedience.  And didn’t we all want beautiful, sparkling crowns to wear when we got to heaven?

My teachers may be commended for encouraging us to make wise choices.  But I’m not sure where the scripture supports jewel awards for righteous behavior. Was it inferred from Isaiah 61:10b?  “As a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”

You probably remember:  the bridegroom is an image used several times in scripture to represent Jesus (Matthew 9:15), and the bride represents God’s people (Revelation 19:6-8).  But that still doesn’t explain decisively what the jewels are.

On the other hand, there are passages that mention crowns.  Crowns that…

English: The Imperial Crown of India

…will last forever, won by running the race of the Christian life with perseverance (1 Corinthians 9:24-27).

…represent those believers who are in heaven as the result of our efforts.  They will be our crown—our glory and joy (1 Thessalonians 2:19).

…God has promised—a crown of life to those who love him (James 1:12).  Revelation 2:10 also speaks of this crown.

…we’ll receive when Jesus appears—crowns of glory (1 Peter 5:4)!

But nothing about jewels in those passages.  And to be honest, the crown references are more than likely imagery and metaphors—not actual crowns.

As I’ve gotten older, even the teaching that “crowns await us in heaven” has bothered me.  Striving for obedience and bringing others toward commitment to Jesus for crowns seems so selfishly motivated, so mercenary.  Jesus has already given me eternal life, his loving care, his Word, and countless other blessings.

How dare I say, “Oh, and one more thing.  Please honor me for my good deeds with some lovely gold crowns, alright?”

I don’t want to be like the child who sits under the Christmas tree, surrounded by mountains of crumpled gift wrap and new toys, who says, “Is that all?”

Then I came across Revelation 4:9-11 and discovered…

IF we receive crowns, we won’t be wearing them.

And we won’t be needing lovely showcases in which to display our crowns either.

Instead, perhaps we will be privileged to follow the example of the twenty-four elders:

“Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him…and worship him…They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

This totally changes my motivation for earning crowns.  They aren’t trophies at all.  They may become objects of praise, with which to honor our Savior!

That moment will be the epitome of worship–total immersion in the awesome presence of holy God.  Our hearts will be bursting with ecstatic joy, way beyond any former worship experience, as we reverence Jesus supremely.

And cast down our golden crowns for his glory.

Can you picture it?

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(photo credits: http://www.collaborationenglish.com ; http://www.flickr.com ; http://www.baby.marry.vn )

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Walking with God

Posted in God, God's Presence, Intimacy with God, Uncategorized, Worship, tagged , , , , , , , on September 5, 2013| 14 Comments »

Back in July we looked at the question, “What does it mean to seek God?”  That phrase, seek God, turns up rather frequently in scripture.   Jeremiah 29:13 is a perfect example:  “ ‘You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord.”

In that post, we considered our experiences of searching for people to discover principles that might guide our search for God.

The same strategy can give us insight for another instruction seen often in scripture:  walk with God.  Micah 6:8 is one example:  “What does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

What does that mean exactly, to walk with God?  Again, understanding may be expanded by examining what happens when we walk in the physical realm.

First of all, learning to walk doesn’t happen in a moment.  The late Howard Hendricks, professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, used to make this point with a humorous illustration:

A baby does not sit in his playpen and suddenly say to himself:  “My, oh my!  Observe these family members ambulating on two feet!  What an amazing maneuver for forward locomotion!  I think I shall try it!”

No, a baby cannot simply get up and start to walk.  It is a process that happens over time.  That brings us to…

Principle #1:  Walking with God is a learned behavior that happens over time.

 “Come to me,” Jesus says.  “Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace” (Matthew 11:28-29, The Message).

Slowly but surely, as we bring Jesus into our daily routines to be our guide and confidante, we take on his attributes.  A glorious side effect will be:  the fullness of joy that comes when we walk in his presence (Psalm 16:11).  And day by day that fullness grows.

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

Not long ago, my friend, Cindy, invited me to go on a walk in a nearby state park.  It was not an aerobic workout!  Cindy and I chatted away as we leisurely made our way through the woods.  We probably missed some critter sightings because we were more focused on our conversation than the beauty around us.

However, occasionally something would catch our attention, and one would point it out to the other, such as…

“Oh!  Look at those sweet purple flowers!”  Two people saying “ooh” and “aah” is so much more fun than one!

Principle #2:  Walking with God is simply friendship with God.

 God is beside each one of us as we progress through each day.  At any moment we can share our hearts with Him, much as Cindy and I did on that walk.  As his gifts and blessings seize our attention, we can thank and praise him—share our “oohs” and “aahs” with him.

A. W. Tozer suggests we “live in a state of unbroken worship.”  Might that just be like a walk in the woods with a friend?

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

A couple of years ago I accompanied two of our three adult children, their spouses, and one granddaughter to a theme park.  Of course, the young adults wanted to ride at least one roller coaster.   So little Sophie and I went to one of the shows while they waited in line.

Because of the crowd, I held tightly to Sophie’s hand as we made our way to the theater.  But there were patches of thick crowds around some of the attractions.  At those points, I carried her, to make sure we weren’t separated.

I wasn’t about to let anything happen to her.  She is much too precious to me.

Principle #3:  Walking with God provides glorious blessings.  Among them, protection and care.

  • His protective presence.  No doubt you remember this affirmation from David:  “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).
  • And Isaiah presents a beautiful image of God’s loving care.  “He tends his flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart” (Isaiah 40:11).

Heavenly Father, how incredible it is that you—the majestic Lord of the universe–would want to walk with us!  What an amazing privilege that you desire to grace us with your all-wise, all-powerful, supremely loving presence!  What wonderful benefits you bestow as we walk close to your side!

Why would I ever want to walk alone?

(photo and art credits:  www.squiddo.com ; http://www.wallpaperfreehd.com ; sarahhamill.wordpress.com ; http://www.sfgate.com ; tomverenna.wordpress.com )

 

 

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Let It Go!

Posted in Appreciation, Encouragement, Praise, Renewing the Mind, Uncategorized, Worship, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on September 2, 2013| 17 Comments »

I don’t listen to my car radio anymore.  The fuzzy sound coming from the twelve-year old speakers is annoying.

But the silence has turned into a gift, a time for prayer and worship.

As I leave our neighborhood and pass the ponds and large live oak trees draped with Spanish moss, I praise God for the beauty of creation, within steps of our home:

  • The glassy surface of the ponds, reflecting blue sky and mounds of clouds
  • The stately trees, with branches spread wide, as if to praise God with me
  • The family of sandhill cranes, stretching their graceful necks to the ground in search of  breakfast
  • The rich green grass, arrayed in dew-diamonds

And with the psalmist I want to add my enthusiastic voice.

“Praise the Lord, O my soul.  O Lord my God, you are very great;  You are clothed with splendor and majesty…How many are your works, O Lord!  In wisdom you made them all, the earth is full of your creatures.  I will sing praise…as I rejoice in the Lord (Psalm 104:1, 24, 33-34).

Oh, yes!

On the way to my hair appointment the other day, that’s exactly what I was doing:  praising God for the beauty around me.

And then, boom.  My mind veered off to a troubling event that happened years ago.  Before I even realized what was happening, my thoughts were swirling around in a cesspool of negativity.

When I caught myself, I said out loud in a firm but frustrated voice:  “LET. IT. GO!”

And just as suddenly as that cesspool opened up, I found myself singing an old chorus from my childhood, but with new words.  Do you remember:

“Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelujah!  Praise ye the Lord?”

My altered rendition went like this:

Let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go now!

Praise ye the Lord!  (Repeat.)

Praise ye the Lord!  Let it go, now!  (Repeat three times.)

PRAISE YE THE LORD!

Did you figure out the tune?  Do you remember this song?

Well, no sooner did I start singing that silly song, than I was smiling to myself.  My spirit was downright laughing!

And the cesspool drained away.

I don’t know how ugly matters can flood into my mind, even as I’m praising God.  I don’t know how to keep the mess out once and for all.

What I am learning is this:

As soon as I recognize that the floodgates of negativity have opened, my best offensive move to close them up again is praise and gratitude.

And why does it work?

“Satan so hates genuine praise that his fiery darts of discouragement are not effective against us when we respond in praise” – Bill Thrasher  (A Journey to Victorious Praying, Moody, 2003, p. 206).

Evidently, Satan hasn’t given up on me yet; he’s still firing darts of discouragement to render me ineffective.  You know–reduce me to one of those people who revels in self-pity and the pity of others.

I do not want him to score a single point, much less win the victory!

My aim is to adopt David’s attitude:

“My heart is steadfast, O God,  my heart is steadfast: I will sing and give praise” (Psalm 57:7).

Note that David wrote this psalm when he had to flee for his life from murderous King Saul (1 Samuel 22-24).

M-m-m.  Surely David had to avoid a few cesspools of negativity under such circumstances.  Those words, “My heart is steadfast,” may have been spoken through gritted teeth.

But even when praise is more of a forced discipline than a natural delight, God is undoubtedly pleased.  Perhaps even more so.  Like a parent especially appreciative when the teenager loads the dishwasher.   Even when he doesn’t want to.

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So, here I am, Lord –my toes a bit soiled from getting too close to that cesspool again.  But thanks to you, thanks to the power you’ve given me through praise, it’s only my toes!  Thank you for pulling me away from the brink.  Thank you for turning me around and refocusing me on your glorious wonders.  May “my mouth be filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long” (Psalm 71:8)!  Amen. 

(Photo credits:  www.rajschoolofmotoring.co.uk ; http://www.laradunning.wordpress.com ; http://www.istockphoto.com ; http://www.ourhealingmoments.com )

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Mr. Chump

Posted in Appreciation, God's Wisdom, Praise, Uncategorized, Worship, tagged , , , , , , , on August 26, 2013| 12 Comments »

Mr. Chump thinks he’s pretty smart.

He doesn’t need experts; he already knows what’s best.

He doesn’t need repairmen; he fixes things himself.  Of course, many items turn out to be very poorly made, so parts don’t go back together the way they’re supposed to.  Frequently he’s forced to replace such items.  It never dawns on him how often that scenario occurs.

Mr. Chump also thinks he knows better than God.

“So many things in this world just don’t make sense,” he loudly complains to his neighbor.  “For example, why did God create mosquitoes?  And what’s up with the rain?  Sometimes we get too much, and sometimes not enough.  What would be wrong with a little balance?  And why does winter have to be so cold?

“And look at this tall, strong oak tree here, with all of its tiny acorns,” Mr. Chump continues.  “And then over there, on that puny, limp vine lying on the ground, huge, heavy pumpkins grow.  It makes no sense.

“People talk about an all-wise God in control of the universe, but there are just too many inane situations in nature for me to believe in Intelligent Design, much less God.”

And then an acorn falls on his head.  And his neighbor quietly remarks:

“What if that had been a pumpkin?”

Poor Mr. Chump.  Little does he realize that:

“God is exalted in his power.   Who is a teacher like him?  Who has prescribed his ways for him,  Or said to him, ‘You have done wrong?’  (Job 36:22-23).

Or…

“What a wonderful God we have!  How great are his wisdom and knowledge and riches!  How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his methods!  For who among us can know the mind of the Lord?  Who knows enough to be his counselor and guide?…For everything comes from God alone.  Everything lives by his power, and everything is for his glory.  To him be glory evermore (Romans 11:33-36 TLB).

I begin to shake my head in pity for Mr. Chump, who doesn’t understand that God most certainly knows what he is doing.

Then I realize:  there are times when I am no different from Mr. Chump.  Oh, I may not complain that acorns should grow on vines and pumpkins on trees.  But I allow negative thoughts to swirl around in my mind that sound an awful lot like complaining.  Thoughts like…

…This situation is unbearable, Lord.  When will you intervene?

…I don’t know why I keep hoping for such-and-such to happen.  It would appear I’ve been working and waiting for nothing.  Am I wasting my time, God?

…I’m frightened, Lord.  What is going on?  Where are you?

So what can I do to avoid behaving like Mr. Chump?

Paul’s idea in the Romans passage above is a great place to start.  Paul confesses he’s at a loss, that the depths of God are beyond his reach.  So he humbly sits down at the brink, and adores the depth.*

Worship.  That’s the answer.

Move over Mr. Chump.  Make room for adoration, gratitude, and trust.

Amend that.  Move out, Mr. Chump.  Your foolishness is not welcome here.

 

 

*paraphrased from Matthew Henry’s Commentary

 

 

(photo credits:  www.alexandriavaappliancerepair.com ; http://www.onlineathens.com ; http://www.flickr.com ; http://www.godmeandacupofcoffee.blogspot.com )

 

 

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The Five Senses of the Heart

Posted in God's Presence, Intimacy with God, Meditation, Seeking God, Uncategorized, Worship, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 22, 2013| 27 Comments »

Think of the last time you . . .

. . . gazed in wonder at a blazing sunset,

. . . marveled at the heavenly aroma of lilacs or orange blossoms, or

. . . listened to a melody that brought tears to your eyes.

God has equipped us with amazing physical senses, enabling us to experience and enjoy the display of his creative genius.

But physical manifestations are not his only outlet of expression.  God also revels in displaying his fullness in our hearts.  The question is:  how do we become aware of such revelations in the abstract realm of our spirits?

A.W. Tozer presents a possibility in his classic, The Pursuit of God.  He suggests we use the senses of our hearts.

The Bible gives us glimpses of how these internal senses might work.

1.  TASTE

David urges us to “taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8).  That verse reminds me of a father urging his child to try a bite of some new food.  “Try it—you’ll like it!” he says.

As Christians, we can “try” God—offer him a prayer, believe in a promise, trust in his love and care.  He will not ignore such efforts!  When we come near to God, he will come near to us (James 4:7).

2.  SMELL

Although Psalm 45 was written as a wedding song, perhaps for King Solomon, it also has prophetic qualities, looking forward to the day when Christ and his bride, the church, will be united forever.  Verse 8 mentions the groom’s fragrant robes:

“All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia,” wrote the psalmist.

Think of a favorite candle with a delightful aroma.  Do you light it and then leave it?  No, more than likely you place that candle in close proximity, so you can breathe in deeply the lovely fragrance and relish the pleasure.

We can draw near to God and relish the pleasure of his presence—the fragrance of his peace, joy, and comfort.

3.  HEARING

Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).

His voice represents wisdom, guidance, encouragement, and security.  Our primary source for those benefits?  The Bible.  But God also speaks to his children in other ways:  through creation, other people, events, even inner impressions.

Times of stillness are necessary.  If every moment is filled with chatter, we will not be able to hear God.

4.  TOUCH

Talk to those who have sought God during a crisis and without exception they will attest to sensing God’s presence with them.  For me, it’s like a holy heart-hug, infusing me with peace of mind and strength of heart.  Not that I am impervious to hurt or discouragement, but the touch of God provides respite and hope.

How?  Through praise and worship, especially as I meditate in the psalms.

5.  SIGHT

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8).

The verb tense used here is called “future continuous.”  The verse could read:  “They shall be continually seeing God for themselves.”

I’m reminded of a time Steve and I visited friends at their new home.  We turned off a familiar busy street and were almost immediately surrounded by tall trees.  The homes were set back from the road, barely visible.  The neighborhood was a bit of country set down in the middle of our metropolis.

 

“Who knew this area even existed?” I said to Steve.  He agreed.

We had both passed that street numerous times, but never saw it.

Isn’t that how it is with God?  We’re so busy, dashing from one task to the next, we never see God at work around us.  We aren’t looking for him so we miss him.

But!  When we are attentive for evidence of God’s presence and power, we will see him!

“When the habit of inwardly gazing Godward 

becomes fixed within us,

we shall be ushered onto

a new level of spiritual life.”

– A.W. Tozer

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Thank you, loving Father, that you do expand my understanding as I seek to know you more and strive to comprehend more fully the greatness of your glory.  Teach me to use the five senses of my heart to accomplish those goals.  With great anticipation, I look forward to the new levels of spiritual life to which you will guide me!    

(Photo credits:  www.flickr.com (2); www.roshchodeshnewmoon; http://www.canva.com http://www.pixabay.com; www.flickr.com.)

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Satisfaction Guaranteed

Posted in Appreciation, Blessings, Encouragement, God's Goodness, Praise, Renewing the Mind, Uncategorized, Worship, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on July 29, 2013| 13 Comments »

Why is it we’re never satisfied?

As kids, we could hardly wait to grow up—to stay up late, drive a car, and never have to go to school.

As adults, we sometimes wish we were kids again—to play all day, take a nap, and never have to go to work.

As kids, time seemed to move slowly—especially when looking forward to a special event.  Remember how L-O-O-O-N-G it took for Christmas to come?

As adults, time seems to move extremely fast—especially as Christmas approaches and the cards haven’t been sent, the gifts haven’t all been purchased yet, and the tree still sits in a bucket of water on the back porch.

We might go shopping and come home with a new bedspread and pillows.  For a while we’re delighted over the difference those items make to the decor.

In no time, though, our focus shifts from those lovely things to other needs we identify around the house.

Reminds me of what oil tycoon, John D. Rockefeller (1837-1939) said.  He was asked, “How much is enough?” And he answered, “A little bit more.”

Español: John D. ...

John D. Rockefeller, ca 1875

This from a man with an estimated fortune of $1.4 billion.  In fact, Rockefeller was one of the wealthiest persons of all history.  Not even Bill Gates or Sam Walton come close.

But before we dismiss Mr. Rockefeller as selfish and greedy, it’s important to know he was generous with his fortune.  His financial records indicate that $550 million were donated to schools, health organizations, scientific research, and the arts.

But his comment (perhaps spoken with a twinkle of humor in his eye) speaks to the attitude of many.  We believe that with just a little more, we’d be content.

That’s a lie.

So what is the truth of the matter?  What’s the real reason we’re never satisfied?

The answer might be that contentment is the result of our focus.  Our attitude is impacted by what occupies our thoughts.  Therefore, we would be wise to:

 1.  Stay focused on who we are right now, and where we are right now.  Every age and stage has its advantages and disadvantages.

2.  Stay focused on what God is providing, what we have currently. 

3.  Stay focused on God’s attributes and blessings.  “The fear of the Lord leads to life:  then one rests content, untouched by trouble” (Proverbs 19:23).

To fear the Lord means to have reverence and awe for him.  Such an attitude leads to many benefits in life, including:

  • peace of mind, because our powerful and loving God is in control
  • joy of heart, because of the pleasure in his bountiful blessings,
  • contentment of spirit, because we’ve already received so much.

That’s how I want to live—totally satisfied, in complete serenity, as a worshipful tribute to my gracious God.

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Thank you, Heavenly Father, for the gifts of serenity and satisfaction, when I focus on you.  May my days be filled with your praise!

Photo credits: http://www.flickr.com; http://www.rawpixel.com; http://www.commons.wikipedia.org; http://www.wallpaperflare.com (2).

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Palms, Cedars, and Helen Hayes

Posted in Blessings, Faith, God's Faithfulness, God's Love, God's Promises, Godly Character, Maturity, Praise, Uncategorized, Worship, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 18, 2013| 10 Comments »

Back in the 1970s I saw Helen Hayes in a made-for-TV movie.  Some of you may recognize her.  She was known as the “First Lady of the American Theater,” beginning her career on Broadway in 1905, when she was only five years old.  In the 1930s, Helen expanded her stardom to films, and finally to television.

The reason she comes to mind now and then is the impression she made upon me, as an energetic, sparkly eyed senior citizen.  I remember thinking, “When I get old, I want to be like that!”

Poof.  Four decades have passed, and I am indeed getting old!  I don’t feel like it, but that doesn’t stop the incessant turning of the calendar pages.

So I was delighted to come across these verses from Psalm 92 that cast aging in a positive light:

“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God.  They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; He is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in Him” (vs. 12-15).

Palm trees do indeed flourish, living up to 100 years.  Withstanding heat, drought, and high winds, these trees stand tall and strong; their leaves fresh and green all year long.

 

What a perfect picture of an energetic, sparkly eyed senior citizen! 

How do we achieve such age-defying qualities? 

First, notice that the righteous will flourish.  When our faith is grounded in God, when we follow his principles for a prosperous life, we flourish.

Like the palm tree that grows straight up toward heaven, the righteous reach for the God of heaven.  That’s how they’re able to stand strong through the winds of change and difficult circumstances.

The psalmist then continues:  “The righteous will…grow like a cedar of Lebanon.”

Majestic cedar trees grow to 120 feet in height and up to 30 feet in circumference.  They provide the perfect picture of a firm, stable person.  Just as the cedar’s roots go deep into the soil, so the righteous person is rooted and grounded in God’s love (Ephesians 3:17).  From those roots comes the nourishment needed to remain strong and spiritually healthy.

Second, notice where these trees are planted:  in the house of the Lord.  They flourish in the courts of our God.

Charles Spurgeon, that eloquent preacher and writer of the 1800s, had this to say about those who dwell in habitual fellowship with God:  “They shall become men [and women] of full growth, rich in grace, happy in experience, mighty in influence, honored and honorable.”  Now that sounds like a very satisfying way to live—so much better than the opposite!

Think of a complaining oldster whose mouth turns down from constant disgruntlement.  His bottom lip protrudes from perpetual pouting, and his brow is permanently lowered into a frown because anger often rules his emotions.  All this negativity has stunted the growth of his maturity.  He’s unhappy much of the time, and is not held in high regard by others.  Do you suppose he ever considers that his way of life is terribly unsatisfying?   

However!  When our lives are centered upon worship of God, as we express gratitude for his blessings, praise for his attributes, contentment for where he’s placed us, and joy in the midst of trials, we become those admirable men and women Dr. Spurgeon described above:  mature, gracious, and happy.

Dr. Spurgeon also added “mighty in influence and honored.”  God rewards the righteous aged with “fruit.”  In other words, we may still bring glory to God by our words and actions—well into old age.

We can be:

  • Energetic—with the power of the Holy Spirit
  • sparkly-eyed—with the indwelling of God’s peace
  • grace-filled—with continual demonstrations of God’s love to others
  • joyful—with hearts focused on God’s blessings

These kinds of saints provide a powerful example of God’s faithfulness—through pleasant times and challenges, through plenty and want, year after year.

May we continue to grow deep and stand tall—all the days of our lives.

(photo credits:  www.pachd.com, www.captainkimo.com, www.forestertreeservice.com, www.centrifueleadership.com, www.seniors.ovetoknow.com)

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God’s Blessing on All Things

Posted in Appreciation, Blessings, God, God's Goodness, Praise, Uncategorized, Worship, tagged , , , , , , , on July 11, 2013| 9 Comments »

“Worship the Lord your God and his blessing will be on your food and water” (Exodus 23:25a).

Food and water.  Common, everyday things.  But this verse promises God’s blessing on them.  In other words, even the mundane things of life can put smiles on our faces.

Mundane things like:

  • The graceful dance of tree limbs in a soft breeze
  • The tapping of rain on the roof, while cozied up in bed
  • The spontaneous hug of a child

Such delightful gifts are embarrassingly easy to overlook.  Most of us are much too busy and moving too fast.

So how do we take hold of these subtle blessings and treasure them?  The first five words of the verse give the answer.  It happens when we worship the Lord our God.

I’m not talking about the hour or two we may spend in church sometime on Saturday or Sunday.

Worship means expressing to God his worth—his worth-ship.  And it’s something we can enjoy all day, every day.

Yes, I said “enjoy,” because worship should be celebratory.

One means of celebrating our God is to express appreciation. “Always give thanks to God the Father for everything,” Paul recommended (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

As we begin to notice and appreciate all the delights God has bestowed, we experience a contentment and steadiness of spirit that defies explanation.  And to be contented and steady is a very blessed way to live!

Another means of celebrating our God is to express praise.  Gratitude expresses appreciation for what he’s done in the past, what he’s doing in the present, and what he will do in the future. Praise expresses admiration for who he is and honors him for his glorious attributes.

Attributes like:

  • Creativity, inspiring him to design tree branches that dance and sway in the breeze
  • Loving kindness, expressed with pleasurable gifts like raindrops rapping on the rooftop
  • Comfort, offered through the spontaneous hug of a child

As we begin to praise God for his attributes, we experience a change of perspective.  Our attention moves from personal circumstances to God Almighty.  He is:

  • Glorious in the splendor of his majesty
  • Capable of awesome works
  • Abundant in his goodness and compassionate on all he has made
  • Faithful to all his promises and righteous in all his ways

Interested in more descriptors?  See Psalm 145!

Bottom line:  When worship is an integral part of our lives, joy abounds, because God’s blessing rests upon us in all things!

“Worship the Lord your God and his blessing will be on your food and water” (Exodus 23:25a).

Such a simple exercise to implement;  yet such astounding results.

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

(Art & photo credits: http://www.lawlessgallery.com  ; http://www.godwordistruth.wordpress.com ; http://www.lessonsinashell.blogspot.com )

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When Disaster Strikes

Posted in Faith, God, Perseverance, Suffering, Uncategorized, Worship, tagged , , , , , , , on June 17, 2013| 6 Comments »

Conventional wisdom teaches that we are in control of our own destinies, that hard work and perseverance will assure achievement of goals.  To a point that’s true.  Laziness and a lack of follow-through do not lead to success.

But.  Those truisms fail when disaster strikes.

Ask Job; he’ll tell you.  He was an extremely wealthy man.  In fact, he was the greatest man among all the people of the East.

Job also enjoyed a large, loving family.  His children liked each other so much they partied together.

Job was also a blameless and upright man—totally undeserving of what happened to him (Job 1:1-4).

He was stripped of everything.  All of his wealth.  All of his wonderful children.

Recent tornado victims know the magnitude of such horror. Home and all its contents, gone.  Family members, gone.  I can only imagine their emotional pain and heartache.

And what was Job’s reaction?

If you had asked me that question a couple of years ago, I would have answered that Job was incredibly accepting, that he did not blame God.  And those statements are true.

But there’s more:

“Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head” (1:20a).  OK, that makes sense.  Those were customs of the day for expressing grief.

And then do you know what Job did?

“He fell to the ground in worship” (v. 20b).

What?!  How can a person possibly worship at a time like that, when your whole world comes collapsing down around you?

All Job had left was his foundation—a foundation of faith in God.

Worship was his expression of that faith, declaring God’s worth to him—in spite of horrific calamity.  For Job, God was enough.

From Job we learn that true worship is not reliant upon circumstances.  We don’t have to be on top of the world to worship.  In fact, a sacrifice of praise (Hebrews 13:15) is surely very precious in God’s view.

Second, true worship is not reliant upon emotions.  We don’t have to be filled with joy in order to worship.  We can worship God with our tears, expressing our trust in spite of the pain.

Job couldn’t rely on answers that would give meaning for his suffering.  God gave him none.  What Job did rely upon was God’s character:

  • “His wisdom is profound, his power is vast” (9:4a).
  • “He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted” (9:10).
  • “If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty!  And if it is a matter of justice who will summon him?”  (9:19).
  • “You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit” (10:12).
  • “To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his (12:13).
  • “Can anyone teaching knowledge to God, since he judges even the highest?” (21:22).

In the end, knowing God is more important than knowing answers.

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *

Heavenly Father, I shake my head in wonder as people of faith such as Job neither blame you nor give up on you in the face of calamity.  Instead, they rely upon you all the more tenaciously.  They worship, affirming that you are still their sovereign, loving God.  They testify of your strength and peace.  Thank you for being a God who comes alongside us with your wisdom and grace, especially when we’re hurting.  Thank you for powerful examples to follow, such as Job.

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