It Starts With Worship

All week I've been humming or singing the words from a song by Matt Redmond. It's called "The Heart of Worship" and it is a powerful reminder to me of what Worship is... and what it isn't.

It is absolutely true that God deserves our worship. Scripture says if we don't praise Him, the rocks will cry out. And when you look around at creation, a crashing wave, a soaring eagle, a mountain splendor, can't you see the glory of God? Does your heart swell like mine does, in giving thanks and praise to Him for creating such wonders? 

Over and over in the bible we find verses on worship, of praising God. Like most people, I first and foremost tend to think of singing  when I hear the word worship. I read somewhere the other day that music is the one thing that affects more parts of our brain than anything else. Music stirs the heart and emotions and stimulates the brain and becomes imprinted in ways like nothing else. So it's no wonder than that we often think of music and worship simultaneously. 

The story about the song "Heart of Worship" goes something like this: the pastor of the church where songwriter Matt Redman attended, deeply concerned with an attitude of apathy sweeping through the church, got rid of the sound system and instruments for a season. For many Sundays it was just the voices of the people being lifted as they gathered.  The idea was to find their way back to the true heart of Worship and the only way to do it was to strip everything away. The pastor began asking the congregation "When you come through the doors on Sunday what are you bringing as your offering to God?" Initially that led to some awkward silence but eventually people began to break out in spontaneous, genuine, heartfelt praise to God. They found their way back to the True Heart of Worship.

When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless your heart

Worship is all about the position of my heart.

When I have challenges or things just don't seem to be very positive, it's very easy to lose focus and go the way of the grumpies. From there it's a slippery slope into cranky-ville. But having the right position in my heart allows me to put my focus on God rather than the difficulties I'm having.

One of the best depression-busters I've found is to put on worship and praise music and flood my soul with it. When I step into worshipping Him, it reminds me of His faithfulness. It also reminds me that worship does not stop when the music does.

Everything I do as a Christian, can --and should be-- done as an Act of Worship. For me that equates out to taking care of my household in ways that honor God. Living within our budget. Serving others with love. Being responsible with the things God has given me to care for. Valuing friendship. Honoring marriage and my husband. Even, yes, even taking my anti-depressant can be an Act of Worship.

We all worship something. I want what I worship to be Jesus.

King of endless worth
No one could express
How much you deserve
Though I'm weak and poor
All I have is yours
Every single breath

Worship sets the stage for me to walk forward with Jesus.

Our pastor asked the question last week, "When was the last time you had a planning session with God about your future?" It brought me up short, because, even as I start my day with devotions and prayer, my goals are usually short term-- 'help me get through this day' seems to be the MO of most of my morning pleas. But if I am going to live the life of a true worshipper, who has Christ at the center, I must think and plan strategically about my future. At my age that might seem a little late to the game, but until Christ calls me home, I have work here to do on earth and I want it to count for something. I don't need to map out the rest of my life, or even the rest of my year but I do feel I need to submit daily to whatever calling He has on my life today. And if He has stuff for me to do (which I am sure He does!) I need to be in a position that is ready and willing to do it. The positioning starts with Worship.


I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You
It's all about You, Jesus

Yes. It's all about You, Jesus.

Answered Prayer; A Healing Touch

"God is seldom early, but He is never late" ~

 Terry "Mateo" Mattson

I believe in the power of prayer. I am never reluctant to ask someone to pray for me when I am in need, nor am I likely to withhold a prayer for someone else who needs it.  This morning was one of those times where the need for healing prayer was my desperate request.

 I was singing on the Worship Team at our church this morning and in the middle of rehearsal something awful happened. I couldn't open my mouth all the way without experiencing shooting pain through my jaw! Now, it's a little hard to sing if you can't open your mouth, and I'm not trying to be funny. Some notes require a more mouth action than others and as I continued singing along, I found my jaw stubbornly and painfully refusing to cooperate. This was not good! 

I have had TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder) episodes a few times over the years but is has been a long time since it's caused my jaw to lock or refuse to open wider than needed. When rehearsal was done, several of us gathered, as we do every Sunday morning before service, to pray. I made my plea for prayer for myself and explained the reason. My church family quickly gathered around me and prayed specifically for a healing touch, in order that I could sing.  

I didn't feel anything in that moment, nothing to indicate to me that healing had occurred. In fact the pain was still present and my jaw still stubbornly refusing to cooperate. But I was confident. I believed that God could and would take care of this for me. I really felt like I could handle this little painful episode; I just wanted to be able to open my mouth during singing in order to really make the joyful noise I'd been recruited for!  

Our leader for our Worship Team asked me if I was going to be okay and I nodded emphatically and told her I believed God would give me the ability to do what I needed to do, just when I needed it. 

Guess what? HE DID. 

We went into our worship set and I was able to open my mouth, to sing from my heart and there was no pain in my jaw. It cooperated beautifully. 

When we finished singing and I went to find my seat, I experimented a little by forcing some "yawn" action. OOooOh! Pain! And a limited amount of movement. Just as it had happened during rehearsal. 

I was actually somewhat amused that the pain and lack of mobility had departed just long enough to do what had been asked of me that morning. I mean, we did pray specifically for me to be able to sing and sing well and without pain! At the end of the service when we went back up for one last song I grabbed my mic with confidence that I would once again be able to do my part. 

Yep. No problem. 

After church we had potluck and I found it difficult to eat as once again the jaw was being stiff. but I was happy to report to those who had prayed for me that our prayers had been answered! 

As the day went on I did find the pain slowly subsiding and the ability to open my jaw returning.

In my lifetime I have witnessed and experienced God working in our lives.I have learned that He can do things in an instance and He can do things over a period of time. I don't understand it, but I believe that His timing is perfect and there is a reason only He knows as to why things happen the way they do. I don't understand it but I guess that's not my job. My job is to trust.  

(p.s. as an added bonus, this healing prayer episode seems to have also served as a breakthrough in a case of writer's block that's been plaguing me for a few weeks. So, Yay God!! Thank you!!)

Sunday Morning

cork from Mad Housewife Wine bottle

I had a rough night. Perhaps I was still jazzed from the work-day event on Saturday, though I did allow myself a long hot soak in a scented bubble bath, along with candles, wine, chocolate and special music... But still sleep was late in coming. Then...around 2am I woke up itching.

I have one finger that seems to love to do a little hives-break out every now and again, usually after exposure to any chemicals. (Probably the bubble bath). The itching didn't subside so up I got to put some anti-itch cream on it. Nestled back down under the covers and was just about back to la-la land when my cell phone started buzzing and ringing.

What the heck? It's that new smart phone that I still have not figured all out yet and apparently it has some alarms set to alert me to danger! This was an Amber Alert for the Montana area and while I was irritated by the alarms waking me up even more, I said a prayer for rescue and safety and disarmed my phone. And once the adrenaline had stopped pumping tried again to find sleep.

lurking cat plotting evil

Then the unmistakable sounds of my cat alerted me to the fact that he had something to show me. Toddy makes this low-throated rumbly noise when he wants attention. This was an ongoing rumbly noise and I knew he was up to something. flicked on the light and saw the 'toy' he'd caught lying there beside him. I tried at first to ignore it all but as soon as I laid down and closed my eyes some very raucous playing ensued. I realized my only hope was to catch the 'toy'.

sister reacts to sight of giant spider on ceiling

Oh, husband, where art thou? I muttered, thinking of the engine light that came on the night I dropped him off at the shuttle bus and the giant moth the cat brought in and released that first night.Thinking of the ginormous spider that terrorized my sister and I one morning as we sat in the living room and the hair-rising rescue that took place in ensuring our safety. Thinking, husband, you so owe me, I set about to capture the mouse... and I will admit it was a teeny tiny mouse, but a rodent nonetheless and one I wanted G.O.N.E.

Without any help from Toddy, I caught the 'toy' using an empty nut container and it's lid, moved quickly and efficiently to the front door where it had a little flying lesson out into the night. Toddy was of course right at my heels wondering what Momma was doing with HIS Toy.... I scooped Toddy up and deposited him in the garage, locking his pet-door into the house. Oh what a mean momma I am but in the middle of the night this momma don't mess around.

This morning, all is calm and quiet. I have had a sweet email from my hubby, followed by my coffee and watched the morning unfurl before me as I sipped it. I have listened to an amazing choir of birds greet the day and also enjoyed the song "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord O My Soul) by Matt Redmond on YouTube. Soon I will mosey up the mountain to join my amazing brothers and sisters in Christ as we worship together. I know my beloved is likely doing the same in Honduras and I pray for his safety and blessings. May you all have a blessed Sunday.

when we worship

My friend Chris worships with every thing that is in him. Legs spread apart, feet planted firmly on the ground, arms lifted high, face turned towards heaven, making a joyful noise, regardless of what others may think. Watching his face is like seeing a little bit of Heaven coming down. Pure Joy pours forth from his inner being, total awe, total surrender coming from his heart.

He wasn't always like this. He's rather a new believer actually. I think he accepted Christ as Lord of his life about 3 years ago. It's been absolutely wonderful to watch the changes take place in him since that time. He is a sponge, soaking up the word of God, asking questions, seeking for better understanding. He buys study guides and wants to be more familiar with the books of the bible so he can find them quickly and follow along with the pastor as he reads it on Sunday Mornings. Clean and Sober for 6 years now, Chris greets each day fully aware of the fact that THIS IS A NEW DAY. He always has a smile and a cheerful "Good Morning, And how are you today" greeting for each person he meets. His philosophy of life seems to personify that scripture that encourages us to "do everything as unto the Lord."

I love corporate worship. Being gathered together with like minded believers, our hearts all tuned to the Holy Spirit, giving all the praise, glory and honor to the One Who Sits on the Throne. Whether its on Sunday Morning in our places of Worship, or a Concert at the Fair or a Praise Gathering in the Park, it gives me goosebumps.... it overwhelms me to the point that some times I cannot sing. I just stand and listen to the sounds of the voices reverberating around me. I look around and see men and women, faces lifted, palms open, eager to give it over to God. I am both humbled and proud as I watch, listen, observe.

Singing has always been as closely linked to my worship life as writing. I worship best through singing. Talking often trips me up.... I fumble for the words when I am praying, or trying to describe my feelings. But give me pen and paper and I am able to extract words and phrases that explain and describe so much better than my tongue can. And when I run out of things to say, it is comforting and exhilarating to know I can use the words of someone like Michael W. Smith or Chris Tomlin, to praise God, connect with Him and feel him in ways I never can otherwise.

Last year in Dream School, we had a module on Worship and Joel the Worship Guy led us in some simple songs of worship. He encouraged us to try worshiping in a different way-- perhaps on our knees or even on our faces. I was surprised to find myself leaning against the wall, knees tucked under my chin, just listening. I am usually bouncing up and down on my toes, singing exuberantly, with all that is in me. But not that night. That night I was silent.

Lately I find myself doing this more and more. I really think the Holy Spirit told me that night to just listen. Rest in the moment of the worship around me, be aware and be thoughtfully engaged, without opening my mouth.

there's a mighty lesson in that. 

When we worship, God want's our ALL. And I think sometimes I make it more about me and my voice and my actions, not totally loosing myself in worship but really being more caught up in the ACT OF worship.

Does that make sense?

And so it seems for right now, God is teaching me more about listening and feeling His Presence through  the stillness of worship (be still and know that HE is GOD) than through the act of worship.  Chris Tomlin wrapped up his concert Wed. night by singing a well known song written by Matt Redmond. It's been playing softly in my heart ever since and it's lyrics serve to remind me to do an attitude check on my act of worship every now and again....
I leave with these beautiful thought provoking words, from the song, "Heart of Worship"

 Verse 1
When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless your heart

Bridge
I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

Chorus
I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You
It's all about You, Jesus

Verse 2
King of endless worth
No one could express
How much you deserve
Though I'm weak and poor
All I have is yours
Every single breath

breaking out

 there is nothing like getting outside. taking a hike.

 seeing the town we live in from a different perspective....

 it's sunny.

 it's raining. no it's snowing.

 it's warm. 

 it's cold

 it's winter. it's spring.

 

 time to think. talk. reflect.

 time to breathe. find balance.

 breaking out. breaking away.

experiencing God's Glory.

Joy and More Joy

I have the Joy~Joy~Joy~Joy, 

down in my heart~

down in my heart~

down in my heart~

I have the Joy~ Joy~Joy~Joy

down in my heart~

down in my heart~~to stay! 

Who doesn't remember this song from Sunday School? We had lots of verses to it... 'love of Jesus down in my heart', 'peace that passes understanding' was another. 'beautiful belief that baffles the Buddhists' was a popular verse in the 70's and the one that made us all giggle was the finishing verse "and if the devil doesn't like it he can sit on a tack~sit on a tack~sit on a tack~sit on a tack and stay!" 

Ah, sunday school songs. My sister and I harmonized on many and we'd weave some of them together, singing as we did chores, out in the berry field, as we rode in the car.... we sang because we loved it... we sang because we DID indeed have Joy in our hearts! 

I love singing so much that, when at the age of 35 I decided I had wanted a tattoo long enough to know I was serious about getting one, I chose a heart with musical notes coming out of it representing that I did indeed have a song in my heart. I have used that tattoo to share my faith as people have asked what my tattoo stands for and I say "Jesus put a song in my heart"

I guess my parents knew what they were doing when they chose my name.

when Bruce and I were on vacation last month, and we came across the little chapel~on~the~hill in Curlew, it was a given we'd go inside and upon settling into a pew, start to sing. (the acoustics were great by the way) 

We attended Catalyst the other night at church, which is a monthly event where we gather to sing praise and worship songs to our Lord and King. It's powerful.

This morning I woke up, foggy-headed and froggy-throated but still with a song in my heart for all the goodness God brings to our lives. Living in faith is stretching us but the joy we come to know as a by-product is beyond measure.

Sundays Are Beautiful

Arms raised in worship~lifting our voices in praise~Hold nothing back~give Him all the glory~Worship Christ the King!~Sunday Morning~Beautiful!


Passionate preaching~we listen attentively~agreeing wholeheartedly~We serve an awesome King~Family of God~Beautiful.



Lunch with friends~mexican food~ early birthday celebration~wear a sombrero and blow out the candle~walk in the rain~quiet evening at home~ Sunday~ Beautiful.

Being Thankful Day 14

Sundays... that begin with Worship. I am so blessed by the praise we lift up with our voices and our hands, our love song to God. For a church that teaches Truth. For my husband who loves God with all his heart and aspires to be the spiritual head of our household, and for his commitment to serving regardless of the cost or sacrifice. I am thankful for this evening, a quiet night at home, with music and love surrounding me.

Thoughts on Worship

What picture or visual comes into your mind when you hear the word “worship”?

If you said ‘singing praise’ or ‘going to church’ that would be how I would first answer too. And it is a correct answer. It’s just not the only answer.

There are lots of ways in which we practice Worship and singing praise songs to God is certainly the way I connect to God most often and most meaningfully. But here are some things God has revealed to me as I thought and studied on the word ‘worship.’ 

Think about what you might see people doing in their time of worshipping. Arms upraised, palms outstretched. It’s a pretty common practice for a lot of church goers, however, the church I was raised in did nothing like that. For me, those practices were best left to the Pentecostals, Holy Rollers and such. I was raised much too strictly to entertain thoughts of losing myself in the act of worship.

So, it was an incredibly freeing and powerful moment the first time I was brave enough to let my guard down and raise my arms up. And in that physical movement I realized what was at the heart of worship. 

Surrender. 

You see, worship begins with the attitude of the heart. We know from the very beginning what can happen when you bring an offering to God with the wrong heart attitude. (Remember Cain and Abel?)

What God wants most from us is our heart and the heart of worship is surrender. That is why we raise our arms as we worship. We are physically offering ourselves up to the One who Created us. We surrender ourselves. 

Romans 12.1 says “Offer your body to God as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God—This is your spiritual act of Worship.”

So, while my most natural way of worship is through giving God praise through music, I have come to discover other ways… 

*When I write. God created me with a gift for writing and to paraphrase Eric Liddell,  “When I write, I feel God’s pleasure.”

*Nature/ His Creation. Some of the best conversations of the heart and spirit that I have ever experienced have occurred when Bruce and I are out in the woods, hiking. We reveal in God’s creation and see His fingerprints on everything we see. (now we also experience some mighty deeply theological discussions while we drive to the dump too so….. safe to say, God is in everything!)

* Using my spiritual gifts. Acts of service, compassion, leadership… when I do it for the glory of God, it becomes my spiritual act of worship. Today God said, “bake brownies for the class tonight and tell them it’s from me.” (unfortunately  'burnt offerings' was not what either of us really had in mind.... oh dear!)

So, while worship thru' music is still my favorite, I see now that everything I do, when I do it with the right attitude of the heart, is worship. 

And God says, “That is what I created you for.”

We're not quitting, we're just regrouping.

After a tremendous time of Worship and Praise, and strong biblical teaching, after a special time of Holy Communion, at our little campus in Deming, we faced the news that today was the last service for time time being.  the turn out has not been what we had hoped. We started out with high hopes and a strong team of volunteers at Easter. We had Sundays where we saw people come to the Lord. Seeds were planted. It was good. And then, slowly things began to dwindle. Those who had signed up to help finished their time commitments and went back to their own campus. Only a few stayed. And so then we had a more accurate count. And it was small. It got smaller.

Summer came and it took many people away. We changed the time of worship hoping it would help bring the people in.  the numbers were still small. and it got smaller.
what were we doing wrong? what were we not doing? why were we struggling?

we may never have answers to those questions. it comes down to this... our ways are not God's ways. So we trust Him. He has a plan for good and not for evil.

We suspended Sunday services as of today. Our goal will be to build back up, with a stronger core, using small groups as one way to do this. it breaks my heart to see our sunday worship time halted. but I didn't cry alone this morning. and I take encouragement in that. I believe those who were there today are committed to finding a way to build things back up.

many thoughts have run thru my mind this week as we wrestled with the decision.
all from scripture...
unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies it will not bear fruit.
Jesus wept over the city, saying how he had longed to gather the people as a hen gathers her chicks but the people rejected him.
trust in the Lord with all my heart and not lean on my understanding.

i thought about the spiritual oppression we battle in this area. we fight the demons of gambling and alcohol, drug abuse and violence. we battle against demonic presence, the smokehouse traditions, spiritual warfare of every kind.

and then we celebrated communion, remembering that although Jesus died, he rose again. He lives! and because He lives, hope lives!

I feel like I have been in mourning all week since I learned of the decision to suspend services. We poured so much into making it happen. I can understand a church that dies because of apathy, but i didn't see apathy in the people who were attending here. We just didn't see enough people. we want to win souls for Christ-- it's the main reason the church exists, is it not? And it's harder to do when there are so few present.

So I am grieving. I will continue to grieve and i pray it serves as a motivator to seek new ways, to seek God's leading and to continue to trust in Him.

In His Arms


Yesterday morning during our worship time, I had the opportunity to witness a beautiful illustration of how our Heavenly Father loves us.

Our worship leader was in the midst of a song when one of her 3 children had a wee melt down. He wanted his mommy and he wanted her RIGHT NOW! Regardless of the people singing, and regardless of the fact that his mommy was at the piano and leading us in the song, he ran down the center aisle (having escaped the nursery) straight to the front of the church, wailing as he went. he climbed up on the stage and even above the music we could hear him screaming in frustration and need. "mommmmmeeeeeeee!!!"

what happened next was so beautiful....

without missing a beat, his mommy reached out one arm and drew him into her lap, pulling him close to her. He immediately nestled up against her and his crying stopped. She was still singing, still playing the piano (granted, one handed) but she was there for him at his moment of need.
it didn't matter what was causing his tears., it didn't matter that she was in the middle of something else... she just pulled him into her lap and allowed him to know her closeness and comfort.

what a beautiful illustration of what Jesus does for us. when i come running to him, upset or angry, crying or yelling, he never says 'not now--I'm busy" He just pulls me on to his lap and sweetens my disposition with his peaceful loving presence.

may we all know that peace and comfort in our moments of distress and need.

~MOUNTAIN MOVERS~

other wise known as.... vacation bible school.... has been going on in Deming this week. Tomorrow is the last day followed by a community wide bbq-party.

the first day we had 9 or 10 kids. I was excited about that. I know some of the teachers were a little discouraged, because they really wanted twice that amount, and this morning one of them shared her feelings of discouragement and how God had spoken to her heart about it that morning, that no matter how many came or did not come, the ones who were there, were there for a reason and it was important to love and teach them.

today we had almost twice the amount at the day before! 7 new kids arrived! it was a fun filled day. Beautiful sunshine -- glorious sunshine- heavenly sunshine! And homemade tortillas --- oooooh my! fresh, hot off the griddle with some butter.... heavenly!!

I have been working in the background as a support person. A good spot for me. the kids are great but I think it's okay to admit that my strengths, my giftings, are not teaching or leading a group of kids

Still, I love listening and watching them as they play and sing and display such sweet exuberance for life and learning.

its also been a real treat to watch the leaders--- now here are a group of ladies who are gifted in teaching and working with kids! And what an awesome team they are. you can tell they have worked together before. they have this VBS thing down! it's amazing!

so tomorrow is the final morning and then a fun time thursday night with the BBQ. Hoping we get a great turn out from the community-- the outreach to Deming is a strong desire of our hearts and I believe God loves to give us the desires of our hearts.

in fact.... He delights in it.