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via emailDo Not Be Silent (Part 1)
Monday, August 17th, 2009
No One But You
A few weeks ago, the Lord reminded me of the vast importance of worshiping God, and along with that came a reminder: no one else can love God for us, or give Him the glory that WE were created to give Him.
Having great friends in our lives who visibly love God in what they do, how they talk and how they worship Him is a blessing, for sure. But that’s not the same as actually doing it! Listening to our favorite worship artist is not the same as loving God. Attending church where the worship team pours out their hearts to God doesn’t mean that we do it. I’m the only one in my life who can worship God for me. I’m the only one who can deliberately live my life for the glory of God.
If you’ve gotten stuck vicariously living out your relationship with God through others, can I encourage you to step back into it? Get out of your comfort zone and walk by faith. God’s looking for you, and He’s ready to walk with you again.
It’s the difference between looking at a postcard of the Grand Canyon and standing on its rim.
Read full post...
No One But You
A few weeks ago, the Lord reminded me of the vast importance of worshiping God, and along with that came a reminder: no one else can love God for us, or give Him the glory that WE were created to give Him.
Having great friends in our lives who visibly love God in what they do, how they talk and how they worship Him is a blessing, for sure. But that’s not the same as actually doing it! Listening to our favorite worship artist is not the same as loving God. Attending church where the worship team pours out their hearts to God doesn’t mean that we do it. I’m the only one in my life who can worship God for me. I’m the only one who can deliberately live my life for the glory of God.
If you’ve gotten stuck vicariously living out your relationship with God through others, can I encourage you to step back into it? Get out of your comfort zone and walk by faith. God’s looking for you, and He’s ready to walk with you again.
It’s the difference between looking at a postcard of the Grand Canyon and standing on its rim.
With Your Whole Heart
Friday, August 7th, 2009
I’ve been preparing to introduce a new song to the church by reading Psalm 9:1-2 and the verses have really captivated my heart.
Psalm 9:1-2 (ESV)
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
I don’t think about my relationship with God in terms like this as much as I would like to. I want to live in response to the glorious worth of God and the mercy He has poured out on me with urgent, humble gratitude. I’m pretty sure God was really talking to me because as I meditated on it, a whole bunch of other verses flooded my mind.
Psalm 86:11 (NIV)
Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.
Jeremiah 29:13 (ESV)
You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
Mark 12:30 (ESV)
“‘And you shall 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 7:6-7 (ESV)
…’This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
in vain do they worship me…’”
Anybody have any reflections on these verses? I know my heart’s hearing a calling…
P.S., You’ll find out what that new song is on Sunday!
Read full post...
I’ve been preparing to introduce a new song to the church by reading Psalm 9:1-2 and the verses have really captivated my heart.
Psalm 9:1-2 (ESV)
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
I don’t think about my relationship with God in terms like this as much as I would like to. I want to live in response to the glorious worth of God and the mercy He has poured out on me with urgent, humble gratitude. I’m pretty sure God was really talking to me because as I meditated on it, a whole bunch of other verses flooded my mind.
Psalm 86:11 (NIV)
Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.
Jeremiah 29:13 (ESV)
You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
Mark 12:30 (ESV)
“‘And you shall 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 7:6-7 (ESV)
…’This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
in vain do they worship me…’”
Anybody have any reflections on these verses? I know my heart’s hearing a calling…
P.S., You’ll find out what that new song is on Sunday!
No Substitute For Loving God
Saturday, August 1st, 2009
“Do you love me?” The words probably haunted Peter on the beach that day. And, frankly, I hear the hesitation and humility in his voice when he answered. The man who would have once answered quickly with self-assurance simply says, “You know, Lord.”
Maybe Peter isn’t the only one getting asked that question today.
“‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.’” Revelation 2:2-5 (ESV)
Even as we read this, some of us are forming arguments in our minds to defend our works and busyness, and preparing to offer a definition of love that accomodates where we’re living today. But in the end, we will offer no excuses, no rationalizations, nor will we explain the original meaning of the word “love” to Jesus. Maybe it’s not that difficult, anyway. Maybe it’s our pride and self-adulation that makes it that kind of difficult.
“Do you love me?” I think it’s a question I’m going to be asking myself a lot more because nobody can worship God for me, and there is, apparently, no substitute for loving God.
Read full post...
“Do you love me?” The words probably haunted Peter on the beach that day. And, frankly, I hear the hesitation and humility in his voice when he answered. The man who would have once answered quickly with self-assurance simply says, “You know, Lord.”
Maybe Peter isn’t the only one getting asked that question today.
“‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.’” Revelation 2:2-5 (ESV)
Even as we read this, some of us are forming arguments in our minds to defend our works and busyness, and preparing to offer a definition of love that accomodates where we’re living today. But in the end, we will offer no excuses, no rationalizations, nor will we explain the original meaning of the word “love” to Jesus. Maybe it’s not that difficult, anyway. Maybe it’s our pride and self-adulation that makes it that kind of difficult.
“Do you love me?” I think it’s a question I’m going to be asking myself a lot more because nobody can worship God for me, and there is, apparently, no substitute for loving God.