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