Connection

You are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household. Ephesians 2:19

I've been asked to lead the prayer ministry for the worship team at Grace. What an honor it is to pray for others. I'm looking forward to this fall season and to try some new ideas in regards to a more prayerful focus. I've been with the worship team for about 10 years now and it has blessed my life so much to sing on the team to glorify the Lord & to pray for those on the team. I realized a few months ago that it is the one ministry that has been a staple for me. It's like I gotta have it. I've been involved in other ministries but this one is the one that has been continuous for me. When I'm up there in the choir singing with everyone it feels so good and so natural. I know the Lord is pleased and something so pleasurable becomes apart of who you are. There always seems to be a song in my heart as I go about my day. I can sing anytime I want to the Lord and I do ALL THE TIME! Prayer is another thing that touches my heart about the same way...but in another way. Prayer is talking to Him. Plain and simple. Prayer is listening to Him. Prayer and worship are two links to connection that are so powerful. Both become a response to His presence. The worship team choir has been off all summer long and it seems so long. I'm looking forward to our reunion and for it to reestablish our family connection. Isn't that what connecting is really all about- being like family? We have a strong link connecting us!

spiritual act of worship

This week I have been doing a nutritive cleanse. I wanted to do this because I thought it would be a good start to better health. I haven't been feeling physically well due to some weight gain and poor eating habits. The first two days were pretty rough. The shake I've been drinking has 11 grams of fiber. I noticed I wasn't hungry but I was having food cravings for the junk I normally eat. By the fourth day, I was feeling really good and noticed an increase in my energy level & I had better mental clarity. I tell you what, I'm so glad I finally did this. It took me 3 weeks to take this plunge. It's hard to give up eating all that stuff you know is not good for you.

I realize now that food is a temptation for me to sin. I let it get the better of me. By giving up and putting good things in my body, I have gained much more than the loss of 6 lbs. I'm releasing this to Jesus to help me through. I don't want to live a double life. I want what I know to match up on the outside of me. I'm all about health and wellness. I'm all about wanting what the Lord wants for me. I want my body to be a living sacrifice means how I take care of the physical body he has given me.

It's time for me to sacrifice the food that stands in the way of total commitment to God.

The picture here is the place called Skull Hill. They call it that because of the indentation of the skull face within the rock....This is also Golgotha & a stones throw from the garden tomb where they put Christ's body. Abraham was here with Isaac. I want to be like Abraham who sacrificed his own son Isaac. He was whole heartedly committed to God knowing full well that it is God who will provide for all of his needs. God provides all my needs. Could God be testing me? I think he is. Lay it down . Lay it down at the altar.

To Truly Worship God

THE BIRTHPLACE OF JESUS

I heard a preacher on the radio and his message has stuck with me all day. He was preaching about worship. He had 5 points he was going to talk about but he only had enough time to share 3 of them. Here they are:

In order to truly worship God :

1. WE ENGAGE WITH OUR FULL BLOODED EMOTIONS

He mentioned Thomas. This disciple had some doubts about Jesus's resurrection. He couldn't fully engage because of his mistrust. If we have any doubts or mistrust in who or what Jesus is or what he can do, we can not fully worship him with our full blooded emotions. Jesus asks us to trust him. Delighting in Him is conforming our lives in commmitment to His will and His way.

Delight yourself in the Lord & he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to him and he will do it. Psalm 37:4-5

2. WE ENGAGE WITH OUR INTELLECT OR MIND

He mentioned Paul talking to the roman citizens about their faith & how he wished to impart to them mutual encouragement to keep one another strong in the faith. Not like some who had supressed the truth by their wickedness. The bible says in (Romans 1: 21) that although they knew God, they neither glorifed him as God, nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. They stopped using their mind to worship the Lord and it became useless. Our efforts at any attempt to worship the Lord without our mind, will be wasted. Our bodies follow suite to what comes out of our minds.

Romans 12:1 says it best:

"Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is- his good and pleasing perfect will.

3. WE ENGAGE IN RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHERS

He talked about Matthew 5: 23-24. "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother, then come and offer your gift." We can't fully worship the Lord in full surrender and with a humble heart when our relationships are cluttered with unforgiveness, anger, resentment, jealousy, and the like. Jesus said "Love one another as I have loved you." When we take the bread and wine in communion our earthly relationships must be restored so we can fully engage in worship to the Lord. If not, our ability to engage is not pure.
Worship is all about Him and seeking His heart. Devoted, simple, & obedient

How is your time with the Lord these days?

More than Skin (deep) Condition

I'm feeling a little down dooby do down down right now. When I woke up this morning I had decided I'd had enough. I did all I could do. The rash I've had on my body for the last 2 weeks was starting to go up to my face. It turns out I have a chronic skin condition called Eczema. No one knows for sure what causes it. Some findings conclude that it is hereditary, is some kind of allergic reaction possibly from certain food, circulatory problems in the legs, or allergens in the environment. Some studies show that stress may exasperate the condition.
I went to my doctor and he gave me a powerful cream to put on the areas two times a day. About two hours later I could see it was diminishing. Thank goodness! It was really getting to me. I don't know why I waited so long...actually I do know...I thought it would eventually go away and I was treating it myself. Boy, I sure can relate this to my flesh in a deeper way... intently as I look in the mirror....

When it finally sinks in that we have a problem, alot of damage has already taken place. We agonize and suffer needlessly thinking we got all the answers. We bring alot upon ourselves and others when we try to take care of everything we aren't meant to take care of. Self sufficiency hurts us and hurts others. Self sufficiency is saying we don't need God or others, but his seed planted in us from creation says that's impossible.
We were made to love and be loved in relationship to care for one another. It is the greatest commandment. How could we live without love? I can only imagine what Adam must have felt the first time he saw Eve. I would think he felt an instant connection and enormous love. She was part of him and he received life by the breath of God. That's relationship! But further still...the reality is "We love because He first loved us"

I want to look around at God's creation today in a new way. Think about all the details we can't even fathom... What a master plan he created and designed and how everything fits into place.
God created us to be in a loving & eternal relationship with Him....God created us to help one another. God created man & woman together to love one another. God created the heavens and the earth for us to have communion....
God gave us a choice....to return that love....
to remove the choice....would be to remove the love.


Thank you dear Lord for giving us the opportunity to have a relationship with you & to worship you. Thank you Lord for teaching us how to love one another & may we get better and better at loving one another the way that you love us. Help us remove the blinders we sometimes have on our eyes & to see into the heart of others rather than looking from outward appearances only. For it is only true love when it is given away and true love when it is freely received.
In the name of Jesus
Amen

Burning the midnight oil

You're far away
someplace so in need
in unfamiliar land

I pray tonight for great courage
strength beyond what you think you have
plenty of rest
Stillness and listening and obeying
to only what you know is coming from Him
for protection of angels
to guard your way
and safety in tight passages
I pray for your skin to be protected
from the heat, disease, and cool clean water to drink

I pray for you dear brave soldier & all those with you
fighting the good fight
of faith proclaiming his word fearlessly
to those who are in desperate need of a savior
May many be saved & lives and relationships be
restored & healed.
I also pray for a new church to emerge in the area
& many step up in leadership due to your example of love,
mercy, and grace.
In the name of precious Jesus
Amen

Fish Story

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this is not from yourselves,-it is the gift of God- not by works, so no one can boast" Ephesians 2:8

ALIVE IN CHRIST
I mentioned in an earlier post about getting a fish tank. I've been taking good care of them by feeding them everday, changing the filter, & adding conditioned water to the tank on occasion. What I wasn't expecting was green algae growing on the sea shells I have in the tank for decoration. Something needed to be done before the algae got out of hand.
I went down to the pet store to inquire what I could do. Two interesting things the young man who worked in the fish department told me. First he asked me if I was consistant in turning the light out. He told me in scientific terms that by leaving the light on for longs hours only increased the algae growth. Secondly, he asked me if I had an algae eater. I have become consistant with turning the light out at night and I bought an algae eater. I gave the little fish a name and I call him "shrimpy" because he is the smallest fish in the tank.

No matter what I do, the Lord seems to let me know he is there. Even cleaning a fish tank and caring for fish. I focused in at looking at all the algae growing in the fish tank and I got a visual of what sin does to us. It keeps multiplying & clings to us and makes us dirty. But as I looked more intently I realized my focus was on me. That 's what sin is: a focus on me. And even further still,I realized If I kept it there I'd never be able to really know him & there would be distance in our relationship.

That brings me back to the fish tank. I put the algae eater in the tank and it wasn't long before he started eating up the algae, loving it as he did. When we let Jesus in to clean us up, loving us as he does, it changes our whole environment. It doesn't come automatic and yet he still loves us dirty or clean. It's not about what we do, or the work we do for him, but it's about knowing him as the apostle Paul wrote in Phillipians 3:10....We see Jesus in everyday tasks....He is in every thing we do...we are made alive in Christ....& everthing becomes about him. He gives us the gifts of grace & faith. So I will boast for what he does everyday for me to know him better. I will boast on the gift of grace and each day come to a better understanding of who he is.

AMBIANCE

I marked my calendar free of everything to spend quality time with my best friend. When we get together, it is mostly at her house because she lives on a lake. It's comforting for her and its like I'm on a retreat. The lake to her is where her soul feels at home. We usually go for long walks and long talks. She packed a backpack and we headed for the lake. It is a special spot because it is her "special place". It is under a huge tree. Shortly after we arrived, we saw in the sky a "double" rainbow...It was the best one either one of us had ever seen. With all the recent rain, the water was getting really close to the retaining wall to her new home being built. I prayed a breath prayer that the "double rainbow" was a sign it wouldn't flood and reach the wall.
The setting couldn't be better. We had two comfortable chairs, 2 bottles of red wine, gazpacho, cheese and homemade bread. For ambiance, she started a fire; which in turn kept the mosquitos away. The wind was blowing just right. It was a great night! The neighbors next door started shooting off fireworks and we had a front row seat!
I know my friend pretty well. I learned something about her I pieced together in her creating this "ambiance" for us. It's not like I didn't know, I've just begun to see it in a new way. I started thinking of words to describe "ambiance" and it fit her so well.....words like atmosphere, environment, setting, flavor, feeling or mood. This place (the lake) is her ambiance....it means everything to creating peace and balance & well being in her life. And for her, it starts with AMBIANCE & I know she wouldn't want anything less! I love her so and I love this about her! I love the ambiance in her and where her heart is at home at the lake!

Love one another deeply, from the heart.
1 Peter1:22

Joy breaks

We had a going away party last night for one of the massage therapist who is moving. We all really like her and will all greatly miss her. The gift that she gave to us as I see it, is her gift of bringing simple joy to each of our lives. Joy didn't seem to slip by her & she certainly brought it to us! When we would have short breaks in between clients, she told stories alot about her daily life and she always put a funny twist in the story. The more I think about it, she found the JOY in each moment regardless of the situation. She was the kind of person everyone wants to be around & she never met a stranger.

Dear Lord-
Thank you for this dear friend who has come into our lives for a little while. May what she gave each of us help us widen our vision for bringing joy into any situation...especially during breaks! Thank you dear Lord for the blessing of laughter & Joy she brought to our hearts. May it help us to see the ways we can bring this JOY to others.