Psalm 66: A Liturgy

Psalm 66 has really been a blessing and challenge to my personal worship lately. I love finding the passages in Psalm that I can rest in for a period of time in my life. Psalm 66 starts with a great call to worship. So many action words describing the "how" of our worship. Phrases like:

• Shout for joy
• Sing the glory of his name
• Give Him glorious praise
• Say to God

The first four verses of Psalm 66 are filled with the example, the call, even the command to praise the name of Jesus! 

I particularly like the moments in this Psalm where the Selah's are placed.  A selah is often thought of as a pause or moment of reflection. As I was reading this passage again more recently, I wrote down some words beside each moment of selah that have helped to lead my worship within the liturgy of Psalm 66.

REMEMBER (vs. 5-7)

• Much of our recognition of God, often comes from what we've seen to be true about him in our past experiences. The Psalmist recounts the many acts of faithfulness that God used to deliver His people. 

RECOGNIZE (vs. 8-12)

• The Psalmist recognizes God's sovereign hand in the trials and hardships that we face. This is counter-cultural, but as the Psalmist reflects, the Lord often allows trials, and puts a weight upon our backs, but a place of abundance is there for those who endure. Endurance produces worship... 

RESPOND (vs. 13-15)

• Verses 13-15 speak of the sacrifices and offerings and vows that are offered up to a Holy God. This is the worship that was produced in the endured trial. To lean on the Lord is to find His faithfulness...To find His faithfulness is to surrender to His plans, His will, His glory. Whether our response is a burnt offering or a song, it comes from recognizing God's hand in our suffering, and faithfulness in our deliverance. 

RETELL (vs. 16-20)

• Perhaps the lack of a better "R" word, I love how the Psalmist wraps up this passage. He says, come and hear, and I will tell you what he has done for my soul. He relives, recounts, or retells the stories of God's faithfulness and deliverance. God who comforts us in our own affliction, often opens the doors that we might comfort others in theirs. 

All of this, so beautifully works to produce the "how" of our worship seen in verses 1-4. Through remembering God's faithfulness, recognizing God's hand in our trials, responding in sacrifice, and retelling of God's deliverance, our joy will be loud, our praise will be sung, and the Lord will be worshiped.

Ascriptive, Vertical Prayer

At my church we've been focusing a lot on prayer. Specifically how our prayer life should be more of a rhythm than random. 

I don't know about you, but often my prayers are best when I'm struggling with something, or burdened by something, or consulting the Lord on something, but for certain there is more. 

If prayer is boldly going before God's throne, there must be some kind of response to His holiness, His worthiness, and His glory.

Ascribing worth to the Lord in our prayer life, can ignite worship in our hearts!

For sure it's not easy. Often our prayer lives are so seasoned by what we are focused on, that fully devoting our prayers to adoration is a challenge.

Last week, I had the challenge of writing an ascriptive, vertical prayer. As I put time into this prayer that had nothing to do with what I wanted, or what God could do for me, my heart was stirred in worship. I found that writing out this prayer was such a helpful practice that blessed my own prayer time, and challenged me to go beyond the prayers for help, thanks, and intercession.  

“Almighty God,

It is you alone who stands above all the rest. There is none that can compare to you. You are high and lifted up, exalted above the heavens, and your renown resounds over all the earth! The gods of this world are worthless idols. You are living, and moving, and acting in our day. The heavens declare your glory; every living creature sings your praise; The universe declares your fame, and you alone are worthy of it all.

Your steadfast love O Lord extends to the heavens; your faithfulness stretches to the skies, and your righteousness is like the mighty mountains. Who can compare to you? You alone are Holy! Sin cannot dwell in your presence. Your light pierces the darkness and evil of our day. You are set apart from all kings, all rulers, and all kingdoms. Every tribe, tongue and nation will declare that you are Holy, Holy, Holy, and the Lord of all!

Your perfect Grace, and abounding mercy is perfectly seen in the manifestation of Jesus; Your only begotten son upon whom you poured out your wrath in order to make a way for mankind! Jesus, YOU are the way, the truth, and the life. You are the radiance of the glory of God. You are the Lamb who was slain, worthy of all the glory, and the honor, and the power, and the praise. May you be glorified. May you be magnified. May you be exalted and lifted up, high above all else that fights for the attention of man, because you alone are God.

Splendor and majesty are yours. Strength and beauty are yours. All the earth is yours because you made it. You were before all things, and in you all things hold together. To you alone great God, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority before all time and now and forever.

In your matchless and mighty name,

AMEN”

A Terrible Sign, and a Great Reminder

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I was out with my family at a local retail store recently. I enjoy looking through the art at these stores every now and then. You never really know what you might find, and if it can steal my attention away from being in a shopping establishment, I'm all for it. 

Well, the other day, I found the sign in the picture posted above. I always like reading those black and white signs for whatever reason. When I saw this one, I had to read it twice to make sure I was reading it correctly.

Let me first say, doesn't that sound absolutely horrible?!? "No one to lean on!" "No one to rely on!" 

But beyond that, I could not help but think how sad it is that much of our world thinks this way. In a world of people who are searching for happiness, or completion, or identity, many put their trust in the false gospel of this world that says, I am the center. I am responsible. I am in control. The sinful nature, alive in all of us, that fights to be the god of our world is perfectly highlighted on this sign; And many have adopted such a statement as their mantra, using it as inspiration in offices, and homes, and bedrooms...A constant reminder that My life is my own, and I am in control. 

2 Corinthians 4:4 says, "the god of this world has blinded the mind of unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." 

The Gospel of Jesus Christ could not be more contrary to the sign I found at the store. The Gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ came and died an innocent death in our sinful place. The Gospel not only demands, but made a way for man to no longer seek their identity in this world or themselves, but for once be able to proclaim, My life is not my own! The Gospel places my identity in Christ Jesus, so whether good or bad, prosperity or suffering, my trust and example is in Jesus who for the joy set before Him endured the cross.  

So, if I could, I'd burn all of those signs that I could find. I can't do that, but I will re-write it below. Sadly, our world is full of people living out the very words on that sign. They need Jesus. And they need God's people to take it to them. 

The best day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is not your own. Your apologies, forgiven, all your sins washed white as snow. You have Christ to lean on, rely on, and trust. This gift is free. It is an amazing journey, and he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.     

Homeless, Stoned, and Searching Steve

 (RePost from last Winter @ Project WARM) 

I met a dude named Steve tonight.

He is 21, homeless, and came in off the street for warmth and a place to sleep at a local outreach center.

He was baked out of his mind...(That's code for high on marijuana.)

We talked about basketball, art, hip hop, and eventually Jesus and the Bible.

Steve said he found fulfillment in girls, alcohol, and drugs.  His current goal was to get into the mental institution because they had free ice cream, TV, and it was a great place to pick up "the ladies" digits.

I asked Steve if he knew anyone who was perfect. He claimed that He was perfect.

 He claimed that living on the streets helped teach Him not to judge people."People are for the most part, good at heart..." He claimed.He said he didn't buy what the Bible had to say about not inheriting God's kingdom as drunkards, swindlers, and sexually immoral.

 Yet in all the confidence shown in explaining His thoughts and immorality, I saw the emptiness that He feels and lives with everyday...As I shared with Steve, he time and time again leaked out that the life He was living was not all he made it out to seem.

Steve is searching.

I'm no different than Steve. God in His mercy spared me from the road that Steve has traveled down, but our hearts are the same apart from Jesus.

As I shared with Steve tonight, though he claimed to be perfect, I am far from it, and it's only by the perfect, sinless life of Jesus that a price was paid in full that all might come to the Father through Christ alone. More important than any of our ability to stop smoking dope, or getting drunk, or sleeping around, or even getting angry, is the right understanding that God is Holy and I fall short of that holiness...The realization that I don't have it all together, and the surrender and belief in Christ's perfect life crucified in my place so I might have life is the only thing the will leave an empty life satisfied.

With Christ, immorality loses it's taste more and more.

 Without Christ, the searching never stops; The void is never filled; The road will always lead to destruction.

 It's hard to think that anything I may have said tonight got past Steve's glazed over pupils.

 But I take away these thoughts:

• I praise the Lord for His undeserved grace that saved my sinful soul from searching and searching the world for nothing that will satisfy.
• I have faith in God that He can take a guy like Steve, crush His heart of stone, and bring Him to His kingdom. I believe the Gospel can do that for anyone.
• Sin leads to some of the most unimaginable places, lifestyles, and tragic affairs; it always disappoints, but will keep you looking further and further down it's road.
• Even the most prideful, sin-infested facade can be softened when we show the love and hope of Jesus.

Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good works, and glorify their Father who is in heaven.

Project: GO

The Lord is growing my heart in compassion and service towards those around me. As a church this past Summer, we tried to collect 7,500 man-hours of service. The video below is full of what God is teaching me about serving others, and is a celebration of our church collecting 8,130 hours of service this past summer. 

FAMILY.

| 1 Timothy 2:5 |

"...for if someone does not know how to manage his own household how will he care for God's church?"

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The older I get, and even more, the more I see my family grow, I am finding that my goals, aspirations, and desires change more and more. Or maybe my focus for discipleship is being challenged and shifted the more I see my kids begin to grow. 

Ultimately, the verse above is such a challenge to me, and one that I desire to faithfully uphold. 

I'll be honest. Leading a family is hard work. I thank God that He has counted me faithful to serve His church full time in ministry, but with that comes the understanding that my family is the primary focus of my discipling. And in all truth, that can be hard to remember. Sometimes I can be reminded of my role of discipleship, probably because of my lack of discipleship. You know what I mean? Like when I see my flaws and sinful qualities displayed in my little girls. Sin creeps in, can corrupt easily, and Satan desires nothing more than to see my house fall apart...Because if we can't lead those closest to us, how can we expect to impact those around us? Especially those in the church?! 

This summer has been in full swing. We have kept our family busy. It seems like every weekend we've been going and doing. We've laughed a lot, had a lot of fun, had some melt downs, had some frustrations, but the Lord is challenging and capturing my heart more and more for the sake of my family.

What a blessing it is to be entrusted with a wife who desires to follow me as I follow Christ. What a privilege it is to be entrusted with the hearts of two little girls, who will either be impacted by the world or by the gospel of Jesus! There is no greater call, and I know that the greatest joy I could ever imagine would be to see that my children are walking with the Lord. 

So...sorry for the mushiness, but I have had some incredible weeks with these beautiful girls, and the Lord is using them to show me my weaknesses, and challenging me to love them more, pray for them more, and to prioritize the worship that takes place in my own home before worrying about the worship taking place in my church. 

I am praising God today for the blessing that is my family, my disciples, my church. May my worship leading start with them, and together our hearts praise the name of Jesus. 

KEEP YOUR HEART

Proverbs 4:20-23~

My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

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I have been thinking on that verse for the past few weeks. I listened to some messages about it on vacation, I taught a devotion on it, and shared it in worship yesterday. It's simply stated, yet so profound concerning the life of anyone who calls themselves a Christ follower.  

There is work to be done!

The enemy of this world comes to seek, kill, and destroy; and that enemy is after our hearts. With more vigilance than we would provide over our homes, our cars, or even our families, we should be working to protect our hearts!

WHY SHOULD WE PROTECT OUR HEARTS?

1. Ultimately, like a spring of water flows, so do the attitudes of our hearts. The quality of your moral and spiritual impact is flowing like a stream of water to impact others. What's in your heart, will eventually come out, and it has the ability to impact others for the good or for the bad. Are you protecting your heart?
2. The testing of your heart is dependent on you protecting it! The circumstances and even trials that we face are opportunities in our sanctification to bring glory to God. When the pressure is on, often what comes out is less than glorifying to God. Keeping our hearts means hiding God's word in our hearts, so when the pressure is on we will not sin against him. Keeping our hearts is putting off attitudes that aren't godly, doing away with gossip, and anger, and bitterness...all the things that tend to fuel our ungodliness when the pressure is on. Are you protecting your heart?
3. Finally, our worship is dependent on the keeping of our hearts. Before God desires the outward response that we easily can bring and go through the motions with, God desires our hearts. More than our songs, our prayers, our raised hands, or good deeds, God desires our hearts. Are you protecting your heart?

HOW DO YOU PROTECT YOUR HEART?

1. Hide God's Word in Your heart. It has all you need for life and godliness, and the power to defeat temptation and sin!
2. Don't pollute it! What you put in will definitely come out. What you watch, what you look at online, what you read, what you are entertained by, and the kind of conversations you have all shape your heart! Let your light shine in darkness, rather than the darkness creep into your light! 
3. Learn to sense the conviction of the Holy Spirit. God's Spirit reveals that which we need to repent of, as well as gives us a sense to flee from evil.

These are just the things I've been working on. I could give you a list of areas where I have left my heart unprotected, and the Lord is constantly teaching me and shaping me and convicting me in those areas. But what an incredible challenge it is to know, that we can protect our hearts from the things that do not honor God! It takes work, but greater is the power in us, than he that is in the world.  

Are you protecting your heart?

Perfect Wisdom

Proverbs 8:28-29

WISDOM WAS THERE:

When God made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep; When he assigned to the sea it's limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command...

When I'm at the beach, the vastness and "bigness" of God is always so surreal to me. I mean, look at that picture that I get to wake up to each morning! 

This morning in Proverbs 8, I read about wisdom. Not only does wisdom guide steps, direct paths, put off childish things; but wisdom was there in perfection when God created the foundations of the earth.  

As massive and mighty as the ocean can be, there is not a wave that crashes outside God's command. I love that the scripture says, so that the waters might not transgress his command...What seems so unpredictable, wreckless, and tide-changing to me, is only a shift in creativity from my God as he commands the sea and all that is in it! 

There are a lot of things that we as humans find to give worth to on this earth. None can compare to the greatness, and the majesty, and glory of our creative, all-knowing, sea commanding God! Worship Him today. He is all around.

Stop. Notice. And worship.