Inspired by . . . silence the stones

In my memories, Easter is a wash of pastel colors; fresh greens, robin eggs, lavender buds, and sunshine.

It was a time for dressing up and going to church.  We knew about the cross but the concept of sacrifice was lost somewhere in the Easter baskets that were overflowing with gifts and candy.

Peanut butter eggs may be the best thing since sliced bread but the real gift of Easter is the sacrifice.

Sacrifice.

It's an unpopular concept in our world today. Prosperity is a gospel loudly proclaimed and universally accepted but someone giving out of their need rather than their excess is scarcely mentioned and rarely celebrated.

How can a world of instant, personal gratification understand a God who laid aside all His glory and power to become a man? A man who allowed Himself to be tortured and killed to save the very people who shouted, "Crucify!"?

I don't know. 

But I do know that those of us who believe live a life woven with the reality of this Truth. We are the heralds of His sacrifice. Our lives: a canvas to display His glory. Our lips: an instrument to praise His name.

And silence the stones.

Shalom,

Inspired by . . . Psalm 134

I'm wrapping up my Psalms of ascent series and getting back on track with my posting schedule -that's the plan anyway!

As usual, God's word is perfect in timing and substance.

A Song of Ascents. Behold, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, who stand by night in the house of the LORD! Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the LORD! May the LORD bless you from Zion, He who made heaven and earth! (Psa 134:1-3)

As this psalm suggests, even those who watch diligently over the house of the Lord day and night need a reminder to lift up their hands and praise His holy name. 

In this, the final psalm of ascents, the pilgrims have finally reached their destination - Jerusalem! They had been singing of His faithfulness during their long journey and they were now ready to worship and praise Him in the temple!

I wonder, did they find the night-watchmen sleeping? Or had the watchmen just grown bored? 

The pilgrims are neither bored nor sleeping. They cry out, filled with joy, "Behold! Raise your hands! Bless the Lord!" and then they pronounce a blessing upon the Lord's servants, "May the Lord bless you."

I wonder if our worship has become a bit mundane? A trifle bored? Are we beginning to see God as ordinary? rather than seeing His wondrous works IN the ordinary?

There's no doubt the cares of this world can weigh us down. Especially when we try to carry them ourselves. We weren't made to do that, friend.

Hand them over, those heavy trials, give them up. 

Surrender. 

Take on the easy yoke. Close your weary eyes and rest in Him. Trusting Him to renew your spirit.

Then, walk forth in the JOY of your salvation. See Him as He really is - in all His wonder and glory - with freshly opened eyes.

Behold! and praise Him!

Shalom,

Sharing inspiration here:
Small Wonders, Testimony Tuesday, #TellHisStory,
Thought Provoking Thursday, Grace & Truth, Let Us Walk Worthy,
Inspire Me Monday, RaRa Link Up, Intentional Tuesday,
#WordswithWinter, Titus 2 Tuesday, Thoughtful Thursdays,
Encourage Me Monday, Wholehearted Wednesday,
Women with Intention Wednesdays, Word Filled Wednesday,
#GiveMeGrace, Sitting Among Friends

Inspired by . . . Psalm 126

What's your story?

We all have one. What we tell, and how we tell our stories is as unique as the stories themselves. All stories have a beginning and an end. But some have more than one beginning.

Although Jesus had me in mind from the beginning of time, for me, my story began the day I was born. Thus the story of my life began to unfold. Over time, I experienced the good, the bad and the ugly.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Rom 3:23)

Then, one day, Jesus opened my eyes to His truth. I became aware of my sin, confessed it, turned away from it, and asked Him to forgive me. He did. He already had.

But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom 5:8)

A new beginning.

Jesus created in me a new heart. He put His Spirit in me and made me, is making me, the person I am today.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new had come. (2 Cor 5:17)

Still flawed, yet new, being transformed, bit-by-bit, into His likeness.

And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Php 1:6)

Maybe this is true of you, too. If so, you can relate to the JOY of Psalm 126.

A Song of Ascents. When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. (Psa 126:1-6)

The psalmist sings Israel's story. But it is a story we, as believers, can share.

Don't let the term "turn{ed} again" confuse you. It's the Hebrew word shûb, and it means to restore, to bring back home. Isn't that a wonderful picture? The Israelis thought so. They had been long years in captivity. The very idea of being free was like a dream to them.

“Is this a dream? O, if it be a dream,
Let me sleep on, and do not wake me yet.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Psalm 126 praises God for His deliverance from captivity. God's people had been taken from their homes and held captive in a foreign land. Our captivity is not a physical, but a spiritual one. We were once held captive by sin.

We can't defeat sin on our own. It took the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross to conquer sin, once, for all.

"O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1Co 15:55-57)

We can all sing this song of mercy's sweetness.

Have you tasted it?

Oh, how sweet it is to be freed from the bonds of sin! To be restored - - made new!

Rejoice!

Shall we not sing of the Lord's deliverance? 

Shall we not praise Him for the great things He has done?

Blessings,

Sharing inspiration here:
Small Wonders, Testimony Tuesday, #TellHisStory,
Thought Provoking Thursday, Grace & Truth, Weekend Whispers,
Inspire Me Monday, RaRa Link Up, Intentional Tuesday,
#WordswithWinter, Titus 2 Tuesday, Thoughtful Thursdays,
Encourage Me Monday, Wholehearted Wednesday,
Women with Intention Wednesdays, Word Filled Wednesday,
#GiveMeGrace

Inspired by . . . worship

Some of you may remember the book club I mentioned a few weeks ago. The book we're reading, The Yada Yada Prayer Group, by Neta Jackson, is about a multi-cultural prayer group, how it gets started, and how the group impacts {mainly} the main character of the book. 

One of the things I really liked about the book was the portrayal of the diversity of Christian worship. Most of the women attended different churches, had different ways they prayed and worshiped, and different comfort levels in doing so. 

Yet, they were all united in Christ.

From almost the first scene of the book, the main character was impacted by the style of worship at a Christian conference she attended with a friend. She was struck by the music itself, the worshiper's response, and the length of time spent worshiping, all of which were very different from her church experience. Ultimately, it was through the words of this style of music, a CD given to her by a member of Yada Yada, that God chose to speak to her heart, and she received a measure of His grace in a time of great need.

Most churches begin with a time of worship. The style of music, the nature of expression {raising of hands, or not, etc}, and the length of time spent in worship varies greatly from congregation to congregation.

But I wonder how often worship is a part of our personal "quiet" time spent with God. Up until a few weeks ago, I'm sorry to say it wasn't a part of mine.

But God is dong a new thing. I enJOY music, but it's never been a huge part of my life. As I've said before, quiet is my chocolate. But God is doing a new thing. He's changing the way I relate to Him, and to others. Breaking down barriers of tradition in my mind that have constrained brave thinking.

One of the women who shared during Jeanne Oliver's online course, Listening / Finding the Quiet shared a song by Lauren Daigle. Some of her words echo the longings of my heart. Words I've prayed, and sang back to God. Things surrendered, and proclaimed.

I've found that incorporating worship into the beginning of my quiet time is often the conduit I need to quiet and focus my spirit away from the chaos of life. 

Certainly, there is a need to, literally, sit quietly with God. But there is also a time to dance before Him, as David did, when our hearts are full to overflowing with praise.

This behavior feels awkward at times, I admit. This white-girl has about as much rhythm as a stick-bug. I'm not an overly demonstrative person, and come from a conservative church background, but there is something about praising God in song that calls to my spirit. 

[D]uring my first “quiet time” of the summer, it occurred to me that that was an odd phrase. “Quiet time.” That’s what they called it at church camp when I was a kid, what every pastor or teen group leader or Bible study I’d ever been part of had called it— that, or “personal devotions.” No wonder I had never included out-loud praises to God in my devotions, or turned up the music and danced. Jackson, Neta (2013-12-17). The Yada Yada Prayer Group: Book 1 (Yada Yada Series) (pp. 297-298). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. 

Have you ever watched the Hasidic Jews sing the psalms? I can't understand a word they're saying - but it doesn't matter. My spirit is praising our Lord right along with them!

God is spirit, and we are to worship Him in spirit and truth. We should not feel as if we have to confine our worship to a particular style or tradition. I think, too, as we grow in our relationship with God our intentional time with Him, and the way we relate to Him changes.

As individuals we all have our own way of communing with God. As children of God, we can learn and grow from watching how others, from different church backgrounds, and different cultural backgrounds praise and worship the One true God.

Do you incorporate praise into 

your private time with God?

What style or expression of worship do you feel drawn to,

that you're not currently engaging in?

Shalom,

Sharing inspiration here:
Playdates with God, Testimony Tuesday, #TellHisStory,
Thought Provoking Thursday, Grace & Truth, Weekend Whispers,
Inspire Me Monday, RaRa Link Up, Intentional Tuesday,
#WordswithWinter, Titus 2 Tuesday, Thoughtful Thursdays,
Encourage Me Monday, Wholehearted Wednesday,
Women with Intention Wednesdays, Word Filled Wednesday,
#GiveMeGrace, Still Saturday

Inspired by . . . Grateful Series IV: Every Blessing Turned to Praise

So I will bless You as long as I live; in Your name I will lift up my hands. Psa 63:4

Being able to praise God in both trial and blessing is evidence of a grateful heart.

In moments of difficulty, when He is all we have, hopefully we come to realize that He is all we need.

Failure to give praise can open the door to pride and feelings of entitlement. We can start thinking that we deserve, or have earned our blessings on our own merit.

This is a dangerous path, my friend.

Instead, when we give praise to God, and acknowledge Him as the Giver of all good gifts, we open the door wide for Him to do abundantly more than we could ever ask or imagine!

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Eph 3:20-21

 

 

Wishing you and your

family a blessed Thanksgiving!

 

 

 

Sharing inspiration here:

Playdates with God, Testimony Tuesday, #TellHisStory,

Thought Provoking Thursday, Grace & Truth, Weekend Whispers,

Inspire Me Monday, RaRa Link Up, Intentional Tuesday,

#WordswithWinter, Titus 2 Tuesday, Thoughtful Thursdays,

Encourage Me Monday, Wholehearted Wednesday,

Women with Intention Wednesdays, Word Filled Wednesday,

#GiveMeGrace, Still Saturday