Wiseman Still Seek Him:Thoughts on Worship

I know it's not Christmas but I recently watched The Nativity Story with my daughter (her favorite). It triggered some questions and thoughts on worship in me. So what do the lowly shepards, the wisemen, and later, the woman who poured her life savings in perfume over Jesus' feet have in common?

To them, worship is not at all about "getting", it's about "giving". It's not even about a song or a particular style-vibe. They model tremendous personal sacrifice and a worship that always comes back to our heart position before Father-God.

It's so true! Sometimes worship is giving adoration to God as a complete act of our "will". Perhaps it's exhaustion or concerns of the day. At this point, it is a matter of choice to give Him our "sacrifice" of praise. In the good, the bad, and the ugly! He deserves the praise of our lips and adoration of our heart, even if we don't "feel" it. It's not about me, its about Him.

Once again, It's not about me, yet my response in worship ultimately affects me. To clarify, worshipping Him wholeheartedly, regardless of my present emotional state, only opens the door to His joy and strength anyway. "In His presence is fullness of joy...Ps.16:11"
In taking my eyes off of me His Presence shows up to make all the difference.

No matter the situation, He is worthy, He is good, He is working things out on my behalf, He loves me, He died for me and He rose again to give me the victory in every area. When I truly believe to act on this, it changes everything (or it changes me to deal with the everything ha ha).

From scripture we can see that God wants his children to emphasize certain things over others in His House. Think of it, it's His house. It's not like the courthouse, it's not like the public library, and it's not Wal-Mart. It's where we go as family to collectively love on God and each other. Warmth, acceptance, forgiveness, singleness of purpose to make Him famous should be the hallmarks.

On an individual level, its coming before him with child-like trust and humility... Keeping our heart open to the penetrating power of His Spirit to teach and to guide us.

On a corporate-worship level, its that the Lord's worth and character remain under the main spotlight...not parading a particular talent or music as having the "corner".

Getting back to "giving" versus "getting" in worship. In this American Idol generation, the emphasis can often be "entertain and enthrall me". It's up to the next generation of worshippers to model God's heart, and show the people coming in the purpose and power behind "giving". We give God our praise and worship simply because He is worthy to receive it.

This is aided by worship that provides opportunity, unscheduled time, to freely "give". Lingering time where we lay our offering of worship before Him. We relinquish control, and let Him move in any way He wants to. In His loving kindness, He then clears the dust of our everyday life away. The sweet fragrance of His presence fills us, illuminating the Word as it applies to our lives

Our childhood pastor use to say with as big grin before practice, "Guys, the worship song could be Kumbaya, but sung in sincerity from our hearts as an offering to the Lord...He is well pleased!" I will never forget that. The anointing (His presence and power to overcome anything) makes all the difference!

A Swim Day and Fun at the Cave

Cool cousins, blue water, a big slide, and a Native American cave site

My arm is missing...Thoughts while I wait

I feel like my arm is missing...my computer is being repaired and I have not been able to write...Writing was in many ways my vocation for ten years as a teacher. But long before that, I was always writing. Writing to really see, writing to cope, writing to reflect. It is a little known fact that my eye begins to twitch if I go too long without it. Stacks of dusty journals line our personal bookshelves...some from high school... And this place has become like a virtual classroom of sorts...once a teacher, always a teacher I guess. The desire to impart never leaves.

So in the process of my waiting to write I revisited the classic movie Chariots of Fire. It is the true story of two British athletes, one a Jew, the other a Christian. They compete in the 1924 Olympics and win the gold. And great musical score might I add. The single, repeated bass line was my piano favorite as a kid.

Early on in the story, someone near and dear to our Olympian did not agree with his choice of vocation. You want to do what? You want to run? Instead, this person wanted to cookie-cutter his life into ministry....persuading him towards that end. This young man's heart's passion was, and had always been, running. I love the line in the movie where he says something to the effect of (paraphrased)

...I feel God's presence when I run, His smile of approval...

Gotta give him credit. He stays true to that. He is right. Life is too short, too precious to let another dictate your destiny in Christ..No one should speak on behalf of God what He does not confirm in your heart through an inner witness. Friend, do not let others place you in a box saying,..Well..you only fit here and there... Do not let others become your Holy Spirit or string you up like a marionette for whatever suits their purpose. Is it God's purpose? Are you left wondering? Have you sought the Lord like Daniel on your knees...Have you wrestled like Jacob?

For me the answer was along the journey. Every journey must begin with a step. Faith takes action...Faith without works is dead...I Pray, journal, dream...receive Godly counsel. God is teaching me to replace feelings of limitation with an unshakable faith in God. "Bull-dog faith" as I once heard it called. It holds on and will not let go...even in the face of persecution..even if your closest friend walked away, even when there is so much work left to do.

I trust God, I trust the covenant promises in His Word, I trust His precious Spirit. What? Did I just say that? Yes! I trust His Spirit. So sad that so many pulpits excommunicate God's Spirit to keep their purses lines with profit... to steer clear of the controversial is to deprive God's people of the very power to overcome sin. Jesus called the Holy Spirit our Helper. He sent Him as the fulfillment to the promise. So if Jesus put His trust in Him, I know I can too.

Eyes Up, Chin Up

Everything made a little more sense after I was thirty...Why is this? Did the electrical wiring of my brain finally charge? I felt like I'd been staring at one of those 3-D illusion posters, and the picture finally popped.

I find myself another year older. My intention is not to sound smug, but I am glad to have gleaned some new found wisdom from this year. I stepped out of the rat-race and all that was normal...to let God reform me, our family, our goals into a 'new' normal.

No over-planned schedules, no senseless drama, no unreasonable expectations...just a back-to-basics kind of life. (Big sigh here) The simplicity of resting in Christ.

I'm not going to lie to you and say it was all roses and chocolates.
It has been hard forging new ground. I picture Charles Ingles, sweating profusely, plowing up chunks of sod for his Little House on the Prairie.

We decided early on to commit in faith and walk it through come rain or shine. I am excited about the next step which requires looking forward, not looking back. Wait. Another visual. It's a sparkling bust of Lot's wife crystallized into salt... One day I looked back. Okay! Many days I looked back! And the outcome was NOT favorable.

Then the Holy Spirit showed me that when my eyes are up (meaning fixed on Christ), then my chin automatically goes up, a metaphor for keeping the right attitude. As I wrap up another year, I realize that this is my year's motto.

One other thing, if you are reading this and God has put something big in your heart to do, ask yourself what it is worth to you. He most likely placed the desire there in the first place. Then go stand in a cemetery and pray. It may change some things.

Receive Godly counsel, run prayerfully with it, and never look back... Together let's remember, especially on the cloudy days...eyes up, chin up.

Loved Across Time

We attended an exquisite little wedding ceremony today. Round bouquets of red and white roses hung from the ceiling. Each one was draped between satin panels. Votive candles twinkled like stars against the warmly lit room. The sweet cries of a violin tugged at heart strings, as Father hugged daughter and then lovingly let go...His gentle kiss on her tear-stained cheek...


Then the vows. Simple. Intimate. Charged with the wisdom of the ages...We were witnesses to a holy, heavenly exchange~the merging of two destinies into one.

What made this wedding so different? Was it the twinkle in the brides eyes as she gazed lovingly into his? Was it the reassuring nod of the groom as he promised to always fight for their love? No. It was something sweeter. It was the realization of God's presence surrounding all of us in that place.

Is it possible to feel God's presence during a wedding? I did not expect it, but there it was. So much so, that the minister could not speak for the tender sob caught in his throat. With eyes closed and voice trembling, He prayed that their love stay ever centered in Christ. I saw couples seasoned by a life-time of experience wipe tears from their eyes. Such a beautiful fragrance, God's smile of approval.

Oh the sweetness of a dream realized...to hold the one you love, and to choose that lover in the sight of God and man... without shame. Amazing that this is the picture of God's love for his beloved, the church. You and I.

He chose us, knowing who and what we are, yet without shame! And he says, "I love you! I fought for this love on the cross." He sees the good, the potential, and on our worst days has loved each of us across time...

Little Pictures in Frames

I just put some of our Grand Canyon pictures in frames up on the piano. They remind me of beautiful moments with my children. Sacred moments in God's presence. Such tremendous healing and love was released from hugging and playing with my kids in the canyon snow. From becoming a mere speck in a place that confounds comprehension... Each time I look at these pictures, I am reminded of God's immense grace.... that the expanse of who He is exceeds all the little check-off boxes people put Him in. He is as wide and limitless as the canyon..

In Protest of the Gong

“I never knew how to worship until I knew how to love.”
~Henry Ward Beecher

Years ago I heard a minister over a prayer group call hurting, needy people “nut-cases”. That got under my skin a bit. Through time I observed a consistent “us” verses “them” mentality emerge. He would often speak in arrogance about “them” as if he were higher on the totem pole of life…

So many have it backwards these days. They quote the Bible inside and out, know theology like a Bible Professor, bedazzle with amazing talents, but if we do not know how to love, we are nothing. I am reminding myself today…

Paul wrote:

Without love, we are an empty, annoying sound like an obnoxious gong!
(1 Cor. 13: 1 paraphrased)

I am glad I am still learning to love. We have all stumbled many times, but I know now that on a journey, it is okay to stumble! You can brush off the dirt, bandage the wound…sit back and catch your breath…smell a flower, give thanks, and then start hiking the trail again. You make mental notes of what made you stumble in the first place. Then it is time to press on…

Don’t let people or those who sell empty religion for personal gain fool you. This walk of faith is not a one-time event or collection of quippy sayings.

It is constant growth and a process of becoming…and then becoming again…learning to love the unlovely… learning to love like Jesus. If it costs me nothing, I am surely fooling myself. "I will not give to the Lord that which costs me nothing...(David, 1 Sam 24;24)"

Is love just giving a needy person a bag of fast-food on the highway? Perhaps. Many would agree that the deed is at least charitable. The kind of love God wants his children to have? Giving the food even with the knowledge that it is your last meal...

That is why the Christian faith really is a journey. We do not just wake up with that kind of love. We do not suddenly “arrive” to it. It is a process of the Holy Spirit who shows us how to strip away the old man and embrace the new man. We have to humble ourselves to see others the way God does. Talent, money, status, celebrity and power do not make us greater than another. We are all God’s children; naked before him when we stand before the throne.

I am grateful that His mercies are new every morning. He knew we would need that dose of reality-mercy daily…. I never knew how to worship until I knew how to love.

And I never knew how to love until I let it cost me something.