37"When Jesus came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
38"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!"[b]
"Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"
39Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!"
40"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."Luke 19:37-40
Jesus is worthy to be praised. In fact, it is impossible for Him not to be praised and worshiped. His desire is to be praised by His people, whom he sacrificed His life for on the cross, but we fall short. It's hard to worship God sometimes. We get so caught up in our stress, our doubts, confusion. Our joy and freedom leave us at times and we have nothing to give. But, when we fail to praise Him, He remains the same. His very own creation never ceases to praise Him. God is always there. He never tires. He never gets sick of hearing our praises, He desperately longs for them. Let us never cease to give God the praise He so much deserves!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Worship Style Craze!
When it comes to the topic of worship style in the church, Joe Horness has some great things to say in the book "Exploring the Worship Spectrum." Here is what he says:
"...if I'm really honest, I do not think that God is overly concerned about whether we are singing a chorus or a hymn. And I do not think he really cares whether you are playing the organ or the drums..." "What I think He cares about is the disengaged heart. I do not think that he is particularly interested in our theories or techniques of worship except as they are effective in genuinely drawing hearts to him. Worship that is not heartfelt and authentic simply does not interest him." (pg.102)
He goes on the explain the heart behind the contemporary worship style:
"This passion to see hearts fully engaged, to radically eliminate dutiful, going-through-the-motions song times, and to bring people into a powerful time of relationship with our living God is what is at the heart of contemporary worship renewal. At its best, contemporary worship was born not simply out a of a desire to swap the organ for a guitar, but out of an intense longing to somehow move from the casual, disinterested reciting of creeds and singing hymns into an authentic time of loving and grateful interaction with the One who shed his blood for us."
To me this reminds me that worship is ultimately about the heart. God is pleased when our heart and mind are engaged with Him and loving on Him. So, what if that means that God gives us the ability to worship Him through any kind of worship music style we find ourselves in?
Food for thought...more to come...
"...if I'm really honest, I do not think that God is overly concerned about whether we are singing a chorus or a hymn. And I do not think he really cares whether you are playing the organ or the drums..." "What I think He cares about is the disengaged heart. I do not think that he is particularly interested in our theories or techniques of worship except as they are effective in genuinely drawing hearts to him. Worship that is not heartfelt and authentic simply does not interest him." (pg.102)
He goes on the explain the heart behind the contemporary worship style:
"This passion to see hearts fully engaged, to radically eliminate dutiful, going-through-the-motions song times, and to bring people into a powerful time of relationship with our living God is what is at the heart of contemporary worship renewal. At its best, contemporary worship was born not simply out a of a desire to swap the organ for a guitar, but out of an intense longing to somehow move from the casual, disinterested reciting of creeds and singing hymns into an authentic time of loving and grateful interaction with the One who shed his blood for us."
To me this reminds me that worship is ultimately about the heart. God is pleased when our heart and mind are engaged with Him and loving on Him. So, what if that means that God gives us the ability to worship Him through any kind of worship music style we find ourselves in?
Food for thought...more to come...
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Sarah Reeves
Sarah Reeves is a young musician/songwriter/worship leader whom I admire and relate with. Check out her music and her story on her MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/sarahreevesmusic
She has such an anointing and testimony! One of my favorite songs is "Sweet Sweet Sound"
Worshiper of Influence,
Esther Joy
She has such an anointing and testimony! One of my favorite songs is "Sweet Sweet Sound"
Worshiper of Influence,
Esther Joy
Thursday, November 19, 2009
How Should We Worship?
Okay I know this is a lot of info, but it is so crucial. It is so easy to get distracted from what worship is supposed to be. These scriptures are what we should base our purpose and direction for worship as the body of Christ. I posted some scriptures and some points I got from them. I encourage you to do your own study on these scriptures.
1Corinthians 14:26-40 ORDERLY WORSHIP
-EVERYONE has a hymn, word revelation, tongue, interpretation for the purpose of strengthening the church (v.26)
-tongues musn't be without interpretation (v.28)
-we must take turns so everyone may benefit (v.31)
-"God is not a God of disorder, but of peace" (v.33)
-be EAGER to prophesy, don't forbid tongues (v.39)
-everything must be orderly (v.40)
1 Corinthians 12:1-11 SPIRITUAL GIFTS
-different gifts (given at special times) same spirit (v.4)
-EACH ONE (everyone) is given the manifestation of the spirit
-to one there is given message of wisdom, message of knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, distinguishing of spirits, tongues, interpretation (v.8-10)
-gives to EACH ONE as He determines (v.11)
-one body, many parts (v.12 on) seems to be saying God isn't going to give one gift to all people, it seems He gives everyone a different gift so they may work together as one body
In John 4:23,24 Jesus tells the Samaritan woman: "Yet a time is coming and has NOW come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
This is how we are to worship God. In His Spirit (sometimes this means testings spirits that aren't from the Lord, see: 1 Jn 4:1 and 1 Thes 5:21) Also, in truth everything we say and do must line up with scripture!
There are many more scriptures on worship, but the one on spiritual gifts is especially important in this ministry because it speaks to the fact that EVERYONE has been given a gift that they should be eager to use!!!!
With this in mind I want to allow more opportunity for people to bring their gifts forward in a corporate worship setting. I think there are people with things to offer who haven't had the chance to offer them! This can't be!
Lets keep these things in mind as we unfold how God teaches us to worship!
1Corinthians 14:26-40 ORDERLY WORSHIP
-EVERYONE has a hymn, word revelation, tongue, interpretation for the purpose of strengthening the church (v.26)
-tongues musn't be without interpretation (v.28)
-we must take turns so everyone may benefit (v.31)
-"God is not a God of disorder, but of peace" (v.33)
-be EAGER to prophesy, don't forbid tongues (v.39)
-everything must be orderly (v.40)
1 Corinthians 12:1-11 SPIRITUAL GIFTS
-different gifts (given at special times) same spirit (v.4)
-EACH ONE (everyone) is given the manifestation of the spirit
-to one there is given message of wisdom, message of knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, distinguishing of spirits, tongues, interpretation (v.8-10)
-gives to EACH ONE as He determines (v.11)
-one body, many parts (v.12 on) seems to be saying God isn't going to give one gift to all people, it seems He gives everyone a different gift so they may work together as one body
In John 4:23,24 Jesus tells the Samaritan woman: "Yet a time is coming and has NOW come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
This is how we are to worship God. In His Spirit (sometimes this means testings spirits that aren't from the Lord, see: 1 Jn 4:1 and 1 Thes 5:21) Also, in truth everything we say and do must line up with scripture!
There are many more scriptures on worship, but the one on spiritual gifts is especially important in this ministry because it speaks to the fact that EVERYONE has been given a gift that they should be eager to use!!!!
With this in mind I want to allow more opportunity for people to bring their gifts forward in a corporate worship setting. I think there are people with things to offer who haven't had the chance to offer them! This can't be!
Lets keep these things in mind as we unfold how God teaches us to worship!
Singing starts in the head
If there was one thing I would tell someone who wanted to learn to sing, or improve their singing it would be that it starts with your thoughts. Watch this great video!!!
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