Worship - It's not just for Sunday Morning

The exciting thing about life with the Lord and our relationship with Jesus is that it is real and it pleases Him. We know that prayer is more than just reading off a list of needs, it is about a two way communication, it is about communion with the Lord. When we are active and involved with our relationship, when we really “enter in” we can find that it is not just only about praying. There comes a point when we realize that we have entered into the heavenly realm, and we have begun to worship Him.

The word worship comes from "worth-ship" which speaks of His worth - it's all about Jesus, He is worthy. As we read in Revelation we see that heaven is filled with worship and the focus is on the lamb who is on the throne. As we enter into worship, we actually experience a little bit of heaven on earth.

When King David set up what is called the Tabernacle of David, 1 Chron 15 tells about bringing the ark back, 1 Chron 16 tells about setting up 24/7 worship. Many of the Psalms (written by David and by Asaph) were written at the Tabernacle of David. If you keep a journal and write our thought and prayers to the Lord, you have probably already found that there can be a “psalm type” quality to some of the writings.

Worship is more than singing, it is about lifestyle and it is about obedience - and is about devotion and delight. It is about presenting ourselves to God as living sacrifices, which is our spiritual worship (Rom 12:1-2).

He is worthy, and as we live our lives focused on Him we honor Him and we give Him glory. Worship is not limited to a church service or to what many see as something spiritual. As we are walking in the grace He has provided and as we are faithful to what He has called us to, we are able to be a worship to Him. It's about entering into and living more in the Spirit, in the heavenly realm; and that is what we are made for. Heb 11:13-16 tells us that we are not of this world, but that we are strangers and pilgrims here on this earth - for we are part of His heavenly country.

Worship is about the Lord, it's all about Jesus, and we have such a privilege to be a part of His Kingdom. Each and every day we have the opportunity to experience this heaven on earth and worship Him. We have the opportunity to join in with the heavenly hosts, to focus on Jesus and to join in with the acknowledgment that He is worthy.

God bless you all.

Oh Taste and See

Ps 34:8 Taste and See that the Lord is good

Taste, perceive, and experience the Lord, who He is and what He is all about. For He is good - He is pleasant, agreeable, excellent, valuable, appropriate, becoming, kind, and right.

David, as the writer of this psalm wants to describe the Lord and his experience of the Lord. David expresses what is to desire the Lord in Ps 42:1,2 where he writes, As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

When we taste something that is good we remember it, and if it is really good, something that really "hits the spot" than we not only remember it, but we then use that taste, that experience as a measure to compare other things against. When we have a really good meal, when we taste something wonderfully delicious, the ordinary stuff pales in comparison.

I am one of those who loves chocolate, but not just any chocolate, I am talking about rich dark chocolate. Years ago I was exposed to the wonder of Belgium chocolate; with its rich, smooth, and strong chocolate flavor. What this experience did was spoil me for this type of chocolate. Now, when I taste other chocolate, such as basic milk chocolate, it just does not compare to the rich dark chocolate taste I have come to love (all of you chocolate lovers can relate to what I am describing). I have now had enough of this dark chocolate that I don't eat other "lesser" chocolates anymore. I am totally spoiled for this taste, and have become as some describe, a chocolate snob.

Most of you can relate this to some kind of favorite food or drink, and can identify with having developed a "taste" for only the best.

Well, this is just exactly what David is speaking about in this verse. He is sharing that he has developed such a taste for the Lord, that he has become spoiled for the best. He is saying that only the Lord will bring him satisfaction, nothing else compares.

The Lord wants to spoil us. He wants us to taste Him and experience Him in such a real way that nothing else will satisfy. He wants to have the preeminent place in our life so that we will be fully satisfied in Him.God has given us so much, and He wants each and every one of us to know His love and His goodness in such a way that the things of the world will just not compare. This is not talking about a kind of religious works or will power that we can practice and do well enough to avoid the temptation in the world around us. Rather, this is talking about the reality and the power of the love of Christ that can forever change us.

Let us taste and see that the Lord is good. Let us experience on a daily basis the richness and satisfaction of a close and personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This will enrich your life, add vitality to your prayers, and make you an effective witness of His love – because you will be a testimony of the truth of His goodness.

God bless you all.

They Had Been With Jesus

Prayer in its basic form is simply communication, or communion, with God. Another way to say this is talking with God or just spending time with Him. It is about relationship and letting Him share His love and heart with us. Prayer is so much more than working through a "shopping list" or "wish list" with the Lord; it is about being with Him. Rom 12;1-2 tells us that as we present ourselves to God He transforms us, or starts changing us to be more like Him.

In Acts 4 there is an account of one of Peter's sermons where he proclaimed the message of the resurrection. Verse 12 – "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

Verse 13 provides a powerful insight from those who were listening to the preaching, it reads; "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus."

What a powerful observation, the people who were listening knew that Peter and John had been with Jesus. This realization got the crowd's attention and the result was more people coming to Jesus. Because Peter and John had spent time with Jesus, their lives had been changed, people saw it, and it helped to change them too.

This happens with us too! As we spend time with Jesus it makes a difference in our lives, and the result can be eternal changes in the lives of people we come in contact with. God moves in many ways and answers prayers differently – and one of those ways can be the change He brings about in our lives.

Take some time to apply this, present yourself to God, spend time with Jesus, and see what He will do. Think of the powerful testimony and the powerful working of the Holy Spirit that can come forth from the people of God. May people be able to look at us and see that we have been with Jesus.

Let's make a difference by letting Jesus change us and show forth His love through our lives.

Praying Scary Prayers

I was recently in an online discussion about what it means to pray a scary prayer. Here is what I shared;

I think that any prayer that addresses loss of our own control and depending more on the Lord can be a frightening experience. Those situations and promptings from the Lord where we need to step out of our comfort zone. Any situation that means we have to "step off the cliff" of our perceived safety or step away from the safe routine that we can live in.

However, while it can seem to be scary, aren't these types of prayers the very ones that the Lord wants us to pray? Doesn't He want to draw us more and more into a close relationship with Him where we learn to depend on Him more than the circumstances or our own wisdom?

Yes, this can be a scary process, to start learning about increased dependence and greater obedience - but I would submit that it is as we lose our life that we will find our life. As we give up our selfish and limited ways we will start to experience a whole new level of relationship with Jesus.

I think this is a little bit like learning to fly; we have to step out of a comfortable frame of reference and into one that is not so familiar - but one that is so much more wonderful and awe inspiring than we have ever known before.

I think this process is about learning to walk in the Spirit, really walking in the Spirit and learning to depend on Jesus and not on ourselves. On face value this may be scary, but as we enter into a greater dependence on the Lord there is a whole new dynamic and depth we can enter into. That is where we start experiencing the faithfulness and wonder of the Lord, and start seeing the miraculous more and more.

These, "I will do your will, not my will" or ""what ever you want Lord" type of prayers are not easy for any of us. They may be scary, or seem scary, but they are the way for us to really start living and experiencing the abundant life (John 10:10) that Jesus has for us.

The Little Things

In this world today many of us set high expectations and put pressure on ourselves to do the right thing, or to do something big that impacts many lives. This pressure to do something significant can be pretty big at times. I know I will often look for clear results or some kind of big response from the people around me.

However, what I find works best is focusing on the little things- things like being faithful, being honest, being kind, showing up to work on time, being willing to help another, praying for people and situations, and of course hearing the Lord and doing what He leads us to do. Each of us could develop a long list of the little things that we can do, because chances are most of us are doing several of these little things. Yet, many of us do not look at these little things as significant. Rather, we look for the big things, the big impacts, and when we don't see them we can become disappointed.

The truth is that these little things are in fact big things, or they add up and create a big thing. Doing what is right and honorable, being faithful, showing kindness, and being willing to do for others will always make a difference. In Matt 5:16 Jesus told us to let our good works shine before others, because this brings glory to God. When Jesus said this He did not qualify it and teach that only big and important things make a difference – He simply said to let our good works shine.

Each and every day we do things that bless others and help to make a difference in the lives around us. We may not remember them, but as we walk in the love of Christ, as we are kind, as we listen, as we take a moment to help, as we do something as simple as smile and say good morning – as we do these things we make a difference.

Hang in there, don't give up, and keep on doing what you know to do, for it will make a difference. When we do something in love, no matter how little it may look, it is big.

Little things make a big difference.

God bless you all

Put on your Required Attire

Paul speaks clearly in Eph 6:10-20 about spiritual warfare and about being clothed with the armor of God, or "the required attire" as a friend of mine recently called it.

Paul tells us what the armor is;

The Belt of Truth

The Breastplate of Righteousness

Having our feet shod with preparation of Gospel of Peace

The Shield of Faith

The Helmet of Salvation

The Sword of the Spirit - which is the Word of God

We are to put it all on, and we are to stand. It's about being equipped and it's about being ready. Having done all, to stand - having put on all the armor, having received all that the Lord has given us, and putting it to use.

Stand and pray, stand at the ready, and be ever perseverant to enforce the victory that Christ has already won. The sense here is that we are to be on duty as soldiers. We are to be watchmen on the wall, we are to understand that our life and our faith is not just for our own personal benefit, rather we have been commissioned to proclaim the Gospel (Matt 28 and Mark 16 the great commission) , to bring reconciliation (2 Cor 5, new creatures in Christ and ambassadors), and to minister freedom and release (see Is 61:1-2 and Luke 4:18-19 the ministry of Jesus).

What a wonderful opportunity and privilege, to be called and equipped, and be able to serve the Lord. Oh that more Christians would recognize we are to be active and be ministering, we are to be serving and praying and proclaiming. This is about being on the offense. When Jesus talked about the gates of hell not even being able to prevail against the church, He was not talking about the church being defensive and the devil not being able to get us. Rather, He was saying that the Church will be able to expand and have influence, authority, and dominion - that ultimately not even hell will be able to stand. We will see ultimate victory walked out, but for now we are to get ready, to stay ready, and stand.

God bless you all.

Yes, let's put on our "required attire" and be active and engaged as men and women of God.

A New Revelation of the Love of the Father

There are so many who do not know or do not understand the free and flowing love of God the Father. So many, including many of His followers (believers, Christians), only see the requiring and judging side of the Lord. So many walk in guilt and shame because of their sin, and wind up in bondage and condemnation because they think they have to live a certain way, or have to do certain “religious things” to get the Lord’s favor.

Lord, open our eyes and help us to bring revelation to those around us. Help us to bring a new understanding of Your love and the freedom you want all to walk in.

God so loved that He gave.... (John 3:16) – He lives to give out of His love

God demonstrated His love to us that while we were enemies Christ died for us (Rom 5:8) - it is not about being good enough to receive, it is about simply receiving.

Our Father encourages all to ask and lavishes good things to those who come to Him (Matt 7:7-11)

Our Father gives out freely of the Holy Spirit to all who ask (Luke 11:9-13)

The ministry that Jesus was sent to do was to bring freedom to the captives, He came not to rally the healthy, but to gather all the hurting, the sick, and those who need healing. The anointing on Jesus is to preach the gospel to the poor, to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, to bring sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. (Luke 4:18-19; Is 61:1,2)

So many need to simply know that they are loved and accepted. People need to see that the Lord is not a stern and mean God who is always looking for what is wrong in their life. Instead, people need see the love and compassion of a Father who desperately longs for His children to return to Him. May people see the Lord as the father in Luke 15, who daily looked for, hoped for, and prayed for the return of his son. The father’s heart was poised for reconciliation and reunion - He was not there to judge or require.

Let a revelation come forth, let people see, really see and really understand the love of God.

The best way for us to be able to deliver this message to a needy world is for each of us to receive a fresh new understanding and revelation of the love of the Father. As we experience this and as the love of our Father God embraces us we will be able to minister with a new level of power and effectiveness – because He has made us to be ambassadors of His love.

God bless you all.