Praise God {Intentional Spiritual Growth}

January 23, 2020 by Jennifer Hong 1 Comment

As we reflect on intentional spiritual growth this month, let’s take a closer look at praise. What role does praise play in your daily life?

A year ago, I was leading a woman through prayer at the conclusion of a workshop we’d attended on spiritual and emotional healing. There were so many burdens on Lisa’s heart that she wanted to give to the Lord, but she was stuck. The freedom I had seen in many others over the past few days wasn’t coming to Lisa.

As we sat quietly listening for the leading of the Spirit, one of the workshop facilitators turned on a praise song. After a few moments, Lisa stood up. She began to softly sing the familiar words. Then she raised her hands. At the chorus, she began to march circles around our chairs as she sang.

When the song finished, Lisa returned to her chair beside me. Her face was streaked with tears, but she was ready to continue. We returned to the shame and hurt she had struggled to give over to the Lord. Now, everything had changed. She laid it all at the feet of her Lord and readily received His forgiveness, acceptance, and blessing. It was amazing to see her transformation over the next hour. She walked out of the church with a new peace.

Witnessing the power that followed Lisa’s worship made a profound impression on me. In the months that followed, the Lord began teaching me more about praise.

Praise as Battle Strategy

The role of praise is so significant that it was King Jehoshaphat’s front-line military strategy in a battle described in 2 Chronicles 20. The praise singers were sent out ahead of the army.

This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.”

…As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.”

As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.
(2 Chronicles 20:15b, 20b-22)

What a great battle cry! “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.” Read the last verse again. As they were singing and praising, the LORD set ambushes against their enemies. The battle itself was not their responsibility. Worship was.

For the Lord is Good

Why do we praise God? The following verses give a few of the reasons the Bible tells us to praise God.

“Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!

For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.
(Psalm 100:3-5)

Sing to the Lord; praise the Lord!
For he has delivered the life of the needy from the hand of evildoers.
(Jeremiah 20:13)

We proclaim His glory, His goodness, His everlasting love, His righteousness, His faithfulness, His mercy, and His deliverance. In short, we praise God for Who He is and for what He has done. This simple recognition has helped me examine the motives of my heart as I approach the Lord. Apart from intercession, aside from asking anything of God, am I spending substantial time in pure adoration?

Daily Praise

Praise is as vital to our daily walk with God as prayer. As we follow Jesus with intention this year, how can we add more praise to our lives? Following Lisa’s example, I’ve let myself become a bit more vocal and a bit more active in my praise. I moved my quiet reading and writing time from a local coffee shop to our guest room to allow my self to stand, to sing, maybe to dance.

What can you do to make worship a bigger part of your life?
Consider one of these possibilities in the next week:

Sing Psalm 118 with Shane and Shane
Recite or read aloud Psalm 100 as your day begins or before quiet time with the Lord.
Have you ever been on a prayer walk around a neighborhood or a building? Try taking a praise walk. Sing the Lord’s praises through your home. Sing in the kitchen, praise Him in the living room, and declare His goodness in the bedrooms of your home.

Worship and Practical Theology – How do they Relate?

February 7, 2019 by Ali Shaw 1 Comment

In today’s post, we’ll look at the connection between our worship and our theology. How does our view of God’s character affect the way we worship? Let’s examine this question together!

Last year, my eyeglasses broke and I hurried off to the eye doctor. When my new lenses came in, I realized that my prescription just wasn’t strong enough. Because of extenuating circumstances, I was stuck with them.

Recently, I misplaced them but needed to drive. Hurriedly, I dug around and found a very old, almost forgotten pair. Low and behold, the old glasses cleared my vision right up! How differently things looked!

With a clearer view, I “operated” better. I could see further and the things with blurred edges became crisp again.

Similarly, when we have a clearer view of who God is, we operate better, too. When we know His character, our worship becomes confident and well placed. (Hebrews 4:16)

What is Worship

Do you know what worship really is? Some Christians are surprised to learn that worship comprises more than just singing songs to God.

Worship is expressed any time God is revered by the worshiper.

Worship can be done through prayer, song, playing an instrument, walking in obedience, reading God’s word, declaring His lordship, and so on. Hands can be lifted or heads bowed and hands folded. Revering our God can take various forms.

There are two Greek main words for worship. The primary is proskuneo, which means “to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand” and the other is latreuo, which means “to serve, and in the New Testament, to render religious service or homage.”

Of proskuneo, Charles Ryrie (in his Basic Theology) says:

“This primary word for worship [proskuneo] is connected with the idea of kissing (as kissing the earth to honor the deities of the earth); then came to connote prostrating oneself in reverence. This showed that the worshiper considered the object worthy of whatever he was offering. Even the English word “worship” (a shortened form of “worthship”) means to attribute worth to the object worshiped.”

How Our Theology Affects Our Worship

Knowing God accurately affects our worship. Like I stated above, when we know His character, our worship becomes confident and well placed.

How do the following challenge you to worship God accurately? Do you need to grow or develop in any of these truths? Have conversations with God and ask Him to reveal any areas where He is calling you to believe better and practice confidently.

God is Always Available

I love this passage that reminds me that God is always watching over us:

“I lift up my eyes to the hills.

From where does my help come?

My help comes from the LORD,

who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved;

he who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, he who keeps Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.” (Psalm 121:1-4)

We can come to God anytime! He is never too busy for His beloved children. We don’t have to feel like we’re a bother to God. He can keep the universe in balance all while caring for our most detailed needs. Night or day, we can come to Him.

God is Near

In John 4, Jesus meets with the woman at the well. In the longest recorded dialogue in the Gospels, Jesus tells her that though her people (the Samaritans) used to worship on Mount Gerazim, while the Jews worshipped in Jerusalem, the day was coming where God’s worshipers could worship anywhere as long as they offered it in spirit and truth!

He is always near His worshipers! When we reach out to Him, He is there for us, no matter our mode of reverence.

“The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. Psalm 145:18

God never runs away from us. He isn’t unreachable; He is always, always near. Whether we feel guilty, lonely, hurt, ashamed, or desperate, God is present!

He Loves Us

As His children, we are adopted by a loving Father. (God is love. 1 John 4:8) He loves us so much, He sent Jesus to us.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

“In love he predestined usb for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.” Ephesians 1:4-6

Because God loves us so much, we do not have to be afraid. After all, “perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). We can approach Him in worship knowing that He loves us immensely and will never reject us. There is nothing we can do to push ourselves beyond His love!

God is Good

Look at this beautiful passage (and read all of Psalm 145 if you have time):

“The LORD is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

The LORD is good to all,

and his mercy is over all that he has made.” Psalm 145:8-9

God is loving and He is also good. Because of God’s goodness, we don’t have to fear condemnation or think He is withholding good from us. He is merciful, even when we deserve the opposite. We can approach Him confidently, hands lifted or folded in reverence, knowing that He will give us His very best!

He is Sovereign

Sovereignty is defined as having supreme power and authority. Our God is most definitely sovereign!

“For nothing will be impossible with God.” Luke 1:37

“My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure.” Isaiah 46:10 b

“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” Zepheniah 3:17

As we offer our worship to the Lord, we can remember to place our trust in His position and power. We serve a mighty God! He is above all and has complete authority over heaven and earth. God has complete control over all our circumstances, no matter the earthly outlook. He is totally trustworthy, all the time.

He is Truth

Because God is truth, we can always trust Him.

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” John 14:6

Truth is always true. In other words, it is consistent.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8

“For I the LORD do not change…” Malachi 3:6 a

Part of God’s truth is that He is always, consistently faithful.

“Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.” Psalm 36:5

I’m so thankful to worship a God that doesn’t change. We live in an unstable world. Landmarks change, culture changes, technology moves at the speed of light, it seems. But God is a constant truth. He does not vary, waver, or deviate. He is the solid rock we can count on when the sand beneath us shifts (Matthew 7:24-27).

We worship God, our Rock and Redeemer, trusting that He will be a sure foundation in times of trouble. We can be certain that our Sympathizer (Hebrews 4:15) understands our hearts and minds and wants us to be secure in His refuge!

When we know God well, we can’t help but elevate Him in our hearts! We see Him for who He is. Then, we see ourselves in the shadow of His greatness.

We learn: “More of Him, less of me.”

And our worship is all the richer!

What Else?

What other attributes of God do you appreciate? Think about them in terms of worship. How do they affect how you worship and approach God? How do they affect your confidence in coming to Him in reverence?

Let us know your thoughts by sharing here in the comments or in our Facebook group.

Blessings,

Ali

Want a richer worship experience? Know God well. #PracticalTheology

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What is worship, really? Learn how the attributes of God help us approach Him with confidence! #PracticalTheology

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How Do You Live a Good, Long Life?

November 15, 2018 by Lisa Burgess 19 Comments

When we are having a good day, we wish it would last forever.

But how do we string those good days together to make a whole life?

And what does that have to do with worshiping God?

Join in as we continue to study Psalm 34. See in verses 11-14 that worshiping God is the good life.

Our Happiness and Our Worship

When my grandmother made it to her 90s, she wanted to put in her mouth whatever tasted good to her. Cheetos. Chocolate. Candy.

We all want to be happy. And sometimes we think we’ve earned the right to be happy, either because of our age or our current position or previous circumstances.

But we don’t always know how to make ourselves happy past the moment, how to build a desirable life year after year.

And even more rarely, we don’t always see the connection between our own happiness and our reverence for God.

Listen to David

In Psalm 34, David connects the dots. Like a father gathering his children around him, he says, “Come here. Pay attention.”

“Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good?”
Psalm 34:11-12

Do you want to love life and see good things?

Worship the Lord.

And how do we do that, David? How do we worship an invisible being?

David keeps it simple.

“Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.”
Psalm 33:13-14

In other words:
Mind your mouth.
Discipline your doings.

What words are we taking in?
What words are we speaking out?
Are we running away from bad things?
Are we running toward good things?

Begin Now

The good life requires sustained intention as we reverence the Lord.

When we intentionally shield our tongues from hate, keep our lips from lies, we will honor the Lord.

When we intentionally choose life over death, pursue peace over chaos, we are respecting the Lord.

It may not guarantee we live to see our 90s like my grandmother did. And it doesn’t mean our lives will be easy.

But living our lives to honor the Lord will help us see more goodness.

A holy life begun now will continue forever into the afterlife.

It’s No Secret

In the last months of my grandmother’s life, she could no longer live alone. She moved in with my aunt. And her diet got healthier again. What she put into her mouth was more nutritious.

And what came out of my grandmother’s mouth? She continued to give praise to her Creator.

The secret to a long life may be complex and dependent on many things.

But the secret to a good life doesn’t have to be a secret.

Respect the Lord.
Mind your mouth.
Discipline your doings.

For Study and Reflection:

Read Psalm 34:11-14. What is David promising to teach?
Make a list of good things you see on a daily basis.
Say a prayer of thanks for those good things, and ask God to show you even more.
Study the following passages: Luke 6:45; Romans 12:18; Proverbs 8:13. How do they fit in with Psalm 34:11-14?
Put up a special effort the next few days to live in peace. Use your words only for good, not for harm.

How do you live a good, long life? Here is David’s answer. #Psalm34TasteAndSee

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How long did your grandparents live?
What good things have you seen in your life this week?
We’d love to hear.

See all our posts on Psalm 34 here.

Don’t look directly at the sun! But the Son?

July 16, 2015 by Lisa Burgess 19 Comments

DON’T LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN

Were you told as a child, “Never look directly at the sun! You’ll go blind!”?

I was. It made me skittish to look toward the sun at all, lest I accidentally linger too long on that ball of fire and live in darkness forever.

The sun is the brightest and most prominent object in our sky. Everyone depends on it. Our lives are scheduled around it. We get our energy from it.

King David knew that too, albeit in a different way than we know now through scientific knowledge. He wrote poetically in Psalm 19:4-6 that God uses the sky as a tent for the sun. The sun sets out each morning, and like a strong man, it runs its course with joy, always on the move, from one end of the heavens to the other.

But as it turns out, our mama’s advice about not looking at the sun IS valid. We should NOT look directly at the sun, because, well, we really could go blind. Just like setting fire to paper by focusing sunlight through a lens, the same thing can happen to the lens of our eyes. And once our retina cells are killed, they don’t regenerate.

So instead we give quick glances toward the sun or look through other mediums or settle for images from high-resolution telescopes.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE SON?

Does the same advice apply: Don’t look directly at the Son?

By our actions, we sometimes imply the answer is yes.

Instead of looking directly at Jesus, we may give Him quick glances. Or we think our work FOR Him is the same thing as gazing at Him. Or we are satisfied with simply hearing what others say about Him.

What happens when we look directly at other things (even good, godly things!) instead of on Jesus?

When we focus on church, we become discouraged by flawed people
When we focus on culture, we lose hope that good always wins in the end
When we focus on ministries, we turn them into idols

Anything other than Jesus placed at the center of our lives will eventually create blind spots. And if those things are stared at long enough, they can cause us to lose our true vision altogether.

SO WHAT ARE WE TO DO?

Look directly at the Son!

Continue to love your church, work among your culture, minister with your gifts, but stay centered on Jesus.

Talk to Him
Praise Him
Thank Him
Confess to Him
Worship Him

As you do, you’ll discover in your daily circle around the earthly sun that your spiritual vision is becoming clearer and stronger.

May the eternal Son always stay the brightest and most prominent object in your atmosphere.

Should you stare directly at the Son? You won’t go blind. #BeautifulWorldPerfectWord

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Have you ever been tempted to stare at the sun?
How do you keep yourself focused on Jesus the Son?
Please share in the comments.

We’re studying Psalm 19 all month. Read it often throughout July. Check out our other posts here.

Need to catch your breath? Try His

June 11, 2015 by Lisa Burgess 16 Comments

A BREATHLESS SUMMER?

It’s summer, traditionally a season for less stress and more relaxation, more time off. But are you already out of breath? Is your schedule running you instead of you running your schedule?

When we leave too little breathing room in our lives, we feel drained. Near the end of my father’s death with lung cancer, it hurt to watch him breathe. The in-and-out of air was slow and tiring. Instead of invigorating his body with fresh oxygen, breathing seemed like dreary work.

Our lives can become that way as well when we don’t guard our spiritual breathing.

BREATH IS SPIRIT

Our breath is a gift from God, one of our very first.

Then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.
Genesis 2:7

In the New Testament, Paul taught the Athenians about our marvelous Creator who gives us life and breath and everything (Acts 17:25). In the Greek, “breath” here is from pnoe (G4157). It also means a breeze, wind.

In John 3:8 the root word pneo (G4154—to breathe hard, breeze, blow) and its more common derivative pneuma (G4151—a current of air, breath, breeze, spirit) are both used.

The wind [G4151] blows [G4154] where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit [4151].
John 3:8

A literal translation could be:
The breath breathes hard. . . . We are brought forth from the Breath.

We are born of that Breath. That Wind. That Spirit. Just as we live physically by breathing in oxygen 10-20 times per minute, so we breathe in God continually for sustained spiritual life.

LET THE WIND REMIND US

So when you’re outside this week, pay attention to the wind. Look for signs of it around you.

Are tree limbs dancing in praise to its rhythm?
Are birds resting their wings in its current?
Do you feel it blowing away your sweat, cooling down your body?

Let the wind remind you to breathe in God’s grace. And breathe out His praise.

Awaken to God’s Spirit breathing through your world. Look for signs of His movement.

Do you see evidence of His grace in people you live or work with?
Are you breathing in His gifts with each lungful of air?
Can you breathe out honor to Him through your mouth for His provisions?

Just as we can’t see the wind, neither can we physically see God. But we know both are here through other ways.

God is very real, leaving His fingerprints all over our world and hearts to remind us of His presence. Pause periodically to notice and praise.

Each day we take around 26,000 breaths. Can we use a few this week to give God thanks for them?

Praise Him for His splendor
Honor Him for His goodness
Bless Him for His love

BIBLE STUDY SUGGESTIONS

Take your Bible (outside, if possible!) and slowly read Psalm 145.
Look up wind/spirit/breath in a concordance.
Close your eyes. Do you feel any wind on your face? Tune in to your breathing.
Pray. Thank God for how He is breathing through your life, in ways you feel and in ways you don’t.
More verses to read: Job 33:4; Psalm 34:1-7; Psalm 51:15; Psalm 67:3-5; Psalm 71:5-8; Psalm 150; Ezekiel 37:5; Amos 4:13; Mark 4:36-41; John 2:21-22.
Pick up a physical object to bring inside. Perhaps a leaf blowing across the lawn. Or a rock that stayed put through a storm. Or a wildflower that sways when you blow it. Let this object remind you this week to stay aware of the invisible Spirit breathing through you.

Need to catch your breath? Let the wind remind you: Pause and praise. #MarvelousCreator

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QUESTION
When is the last time you’ve been really out of breath, physically or spiritually? Please leave a comment below of how God breathes through your life. We’d love to hear.

More:
5 things I learned from my “Year of Deep Breathing”

The Wise Men: A Gift of Worship

December 4, 2014 by Ali Shaw 1 Comment

It’s so important that our hearts be behind our actions.

I remember when my children were little and they would bicker. I’d tell them to apologize to one another, and mean it. I’m not sure if the “and mean it” part really helped, but I couldn’t stand to hear that begrudgingly offered “Sorry!” murmured only because they had to say it, not because it came from the heart. We would spend time discussing their heart-attitude and how much that meant to one another, and how much it meant to me as their momma.

Life is really all about the heart.

The Wise Men: The Gift of Worship at www.donotdepart.com — photo credit

The wise men give us a good lesson that. In Matthew 2:1-12 we find the story of the Magi who watched the skies and noticed an unusual star. We aren’t sure how they knew this star meant the King of the Jews had been born, but they knew. And they followed it to King Herod. (I wonder if they thought a son had been born to him?) They were then pointed in the direction of Bethlehem.

And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. ~ Matt 2:11

The gifts they offered were fit for royalty, yet given to baby born into poverty. Yes, they gave great gifts to this child they’d traveled so far to see. And, they gave Him their hearts. They worshiped.

And rather than head back to Herod and disclose the location of this perfect, God-in-human form baby , like he’d requested, they went home another way after being warned to do so in a dream.

What do the Magi teach us?

As they were hopeful of a newborn king, we can place our hope in the King of Kings.
As they were expectant, we can come to God in worship, being expectant that He will respond in love.
As they prepared for a journey, we should take time to prepare our hearts to worship and give praise to God.
As they were doers, we should worship God by our doing and by living our lives for Him.
As they sought Him at all costs, we should seek our Lord eagerly- with our whole hearts!
As they gave kingly gifts, we should give the Lord our very best gifts—our hearts! (See Isa 29:13)

We can use their obedient, heartfelt worship to inspire us to do likewise.

Many scholars have various ideas on the meaning and symbolism behind the Wise Men’s gifts. But one thing upon which they agree is that in the very least, the gifts acted as a fund to help Mary and Joseph travel to Egypt to keep Jesus safe from being killed by Herod. And this of course fulfilled the prophecy, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” (Matt 2:15)

Had the Magi not come to worship and bestow gifts upon Jesus, events may have been different. Instead, they gave sacrificially—their worship and treasure—and thereby secured protection of our Holy Savior. They followed their hearts and worshiped. In in their obedience, they became a crucial part of God’s plan.

And just like I’ve seen with my children, life is about the heart. Worship is about the heart!

Here’s a free printable of verses to help you give God the uncommon gift of heartfelt worship. Hang it somewhere you can read over the verses and meditate on them throughout the day.

How does the response of the Wise Men to the Kingship of Jesus inspire you to worship the Lord? How can you demonstrate the uncommon gift of worship throughout December and beyond?

The Wise Men can teach us much about heartfelt worship. #UncommonGifts @DoNotDepart

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A free printable of verses to inspire a worshipful heart. #UncommonGifts @DoNotDepart

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Songs Revealing Beauty and Grace Out of Brokenness

April 17, 2014 by Caroline 3 Comments

I sometimes get lost in my brokenness.

I focus too deeply on my problems. Sit too long on my mistakes. Refuse grace-given love too frequently.

I’m broken and don’t deserve love, but that’s the point of grace.

Depths of Music

As much as I love words (and, like Ali, I really do), music (and dance) can express depths where words sometimes cannot breach.

When you think of brokenness and grace, you might think of the song “Amazing Grace”:

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost,

But now am found.

Was blind but now I see.

John Newton, the author of this song, saw numerous trial and tribulations, many at his own doing. Even after a breakthrough moment for him during a literal storm, his faith grew gradually into a healed and powerful force.

The song “I Saw the Light” brings more, well, light to brokenness:

Just like a blind man I wandered along
Worries and fears I claimed for my own
Then like the blind man that God gave back his sight
Praise the Lord I saw the light.

I saw the light I saw the light
No more darkness no more night
Now I’m so happy no sorrow in sight
Praise the Lord I saw the light.

This song, originally by Hank Williams in 1948, has been covered numerous times. I love this version from David Crowder Band. As soon as I sing or hear this song, I remember that I’m not stuck in my past mistakes.

I sang those two to my children as babies when they cried and I was weary. Soothing balms to our souls.

I also replay “I Am New,” a contemporary song from Jason Gray, when I need yet another reminder:

Now I won’t deny
The worst you could say about me
But I’m not defined
By mistakes that I’ve made
Because God says of me

I am not who I was
I am being remade
I am new
I am chosen and holy
And I’m dearly loved
I am new

Do you need to hear that again like I do?

We are not defined by our mistakes. We are chosen and holy and dearly loved. We are new.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” – Colossians 3:12

How These Songs Heal

These songs are just a few of those that both wreck my heart and fill it to overflowing with joy at the same time.

Sometimes a song draws my attention back to renewal when just a thought won’t. Sometimes a song (music and words together) reaches farther into our hearts than words alone. Music combines multiple modes of expression together. Mutliple ways to explore, learn, turn, remember, and praise.

As this article on the significance of the Psalms (and song) from Bible.org states: “The greatest calling of the church and of individual Christians is not to be evangelists or teachers or exhorters or comforters, but worshippers.” Song helps us do just that.

“My heart, O God, is steadfast; I will sing and make music with all my soul.
Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.
I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.” – Psalm 108:1-3

Other Songs for Beauty in Brokenness

My husband and I are big fans of Switchfoot. Intelligent lyrics with a sincere faith foundation. Take a look at “The Shadow Proves the Sunshine” off the [amazon_link id=”B000CDG5AY” target=”_blank” ]Nothing is Sound album[/amazon_link].
Our family loves basically anything from [amazon_link id=”B001MIFVIK” target=”_blank” ]Seeds Family Worship[/amazon_link]. Every song verses as lyrics, accompanied by varied and interesting music (not at all hokey). I love the song using John 16:33 as lyrics.
If you need a song to bounce and sing to, try “Happy Day” from Tim Hughes.
If you like learning the history and affects of songs and hymns, take a look at the [amazon_link id=”078523182X” target=”_blank” ]Then Sings My Soul book series[/amazon_link] from Robert Morgan.

Sing praise with me. What are some of your favorite songs to remind you of His grace that covers brokenness?

Tweetables:

“Music (and dance) can express depths where words sometimes cannot breach: http://wp.me/p1Su7F-2TE #SingPraise via @DoNotDepart” – Click here to tweet this.

“What are some of your favorite songs to remind you of His grace? http://wp.me/p1Su7F-2TE #SingPraise with @DoNotDepart” – Click here to tweet this.

Come thou Fount: a song for wanderers

April 15, 2014 by Julie 3 Comments

Mighty truths and stirring melodies often meld in the forge of pain. Englishman Robert Robinson wasn’t the first boy to habitually wander from the narrow path. He only went to a meeting to hear George Whitefield so he could mock it, but instead, he changed. As a young adult trying to etch out a new path for life, he wrote down the anthem of his heart. It’s an invitation, a declaration, and a confession that resonates with anyone likely to drift off course and long to return.

Invitation to COME

Having learned Jesus is the Fountain of every blessing and the changer of hearts, Robert invites Him to “Come” tune his heart to produce a song of God’s grace and mercy. Though writing in the 18th century, Robert recognized that God’s character calls “for songs of loudest praise.” This is the chorus of those who want more Jesus, who long to have the Living Water fill them to an overflow of praise. Robert longed to produce a song of praise.

“Come, Thou Fount of ev’ry blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace.”

Declaration of FAITH

“Jesus sought me when a stranger,” Robert admitted, but he declared recognition of how God helped him in his times of trouble. He had been wandering and in danger, but the blood of Jesus rescued him. In the Old Testament, Samuel set up an “Ebenezer stone” after God delivered the nation of Israel. Robert’s hymn was an “Ebenezer stone” of God’s rescue in his life. If you’ve experienced personal rescue, the words to this song may give your heart the voice of expression you long for.

“Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the Lord has helped us.” (1 Samuel 7:12)

Confession of NEED

Truth and music often meld in the forge of pain. This hymn is no different, revealing the writer’s desperate need for grace and his struggle not to wander from His Lord. No matter how much I want to cling to the Fount of every blessing, I know that I have a tendency to leave the Lord I love, to wander from the close fellowship I’m meant to have with Him.

“Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it; prone to leave the God I love,” he wrote.
Robert Robinson did stray from the Fount of every blessing after he wrote this hymn. He later recognized his folly, and in reflecting on the words he once penned, he confessed, “I would give a thousand worlds to enjoy the feelings I had then.”

Mighty truths and stirring melodies often meld in the forge of pain.

Every day must bring a fresh invitation for the Fount to “Come” tune our hearts to his praise.
Every day must resound with a declaration of our faith in God’s help for our trouble.
Every day must bring us down on a bended knee, where we beg God to come.

“Let that grace, Lord, like a fetter, bind my wand’ring heart to Thee. Here’s my heart; Lord, take and seal it; seal it for thy courts above.”

Download a printable Worship Worksheet: Come Thou Fount Bible Study Tool.

Click to TWEET and share this > Mighty truths and stirring melodies often meld in the forge of pain. http://wp.me/p1Su7F-2Tp #ComeThouFount #WanderersSong

What are you singing? And why?

April 10, 2014 by Lisa Burgess 13 Comments

You’ve got a song in your heart. I know because I do, too. These songs can come out when we reminisce about a past experience, or run into an old friend, or uncover a new challenge.

If it’s a good song, it will help us. God will see to that. But if it’s not, it becomes a hindrance, a soundtrack we can’t turn off, bringing up negative emotions and unhealthy thoughts.

Music can use us. Or we can use music. The songs we listen to today matter not only for today, but also for tomorrow.

While we rarely can choose which new songs will come our way (although we can choose genres, artists, radio stations), among those available, we can choose which ones we’ll listen to over and over.

Here are 3 WAYS TO USE MUSIC to build our faith, using the song “Cornerstone” as a model. It’s a modern hymn (2012, Hillsong) based on an older hymn (1834, “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less” by Edward Mote).

[Worship with it here. Also hear why it was written.]

1. TEST THE LYRICS
While some songs appeal to us immediately because we love the tune, we don’t want to embed them in our hearts if the lyrics are bad. Examine the words you’re singing to make sure they are true and God-honoring.

In “Cornerstone,” these verses remind us to depend solely on Christ’s righteousness. Even in our doubts, these are lyrics we can sing to bolster our faith in what Christ has done, not in our own works.

Verse 1
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus’ name

Verse 2
When darkness seems to hide His face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil
My anchor holds within the veil

2. DO A BIBLE STUDY
Often the writers use a Bible passage as a base text. Look it up in context. But even without specific references, we can study general themes to flood our hearts with God’s truths.

Writers Reuben Morgan, Jonas Myrin, and Eric Liljero likely pulled from Ephesians 2:20 (“Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone”) for their chorus and theme of “Cornerstone.”

Other Biblical references related to this song for study might include: Psalm 118:21-23; Isaiah 28:16-17; Matthew 21:41-43; 1 Corinthians 10:4; Hebrews 11:1; 1 Peter 2:6.

Chorus:
Christ alone Cornerstone
Weak made strong in the Savior’s love
Through the storm He is Lord
Lord of all

3. WORSHIP THROUGH IT
Whether you sing it with others or in the car with your kids or at home alone, use the words as personal worship to God. If you know an instrument, learn the chords so you can play it. Introduce it to your church’s worship team. Download it to your iPod.

When our church sings “Cornerstone” on Sunday mornings, the praise is powerful. Who can’t relate to times of darkness, or the need for more faith, or the profound truth that we stand faultless through Jesus’s righteousness?

Verse 3
When He shall come with trumpet sound
Oh may I then in Him be found
Dressed in His righteousness alone
Faultless stand before the throne

Music touches us in places that words alone cannot. Let’s use those connections wisely to praise our Lord in every way we can. He is something to sing about!

Tweetables:

“The songs we listen to matter not only today, but also for tomorrow. http://wp.me/p1Su7F-2SK @DoNotDepart #SingPraise”
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“Music can use us. Or we can use music. http://wp.me/p1Su7F-2SK @DoNotDepart #SingPraise”
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QUESTION:
What song will you put in your heart this week? What is one of your favorite worship songs? Please share here.

Praising God… Just As I Am

April 3, 2014 by Ali Shaw 3 Comments

I love music. I guess I come by it naturally. My paternal grandfather (who passed away well before I was born) was a musician who started out playing for his preacher-father’s tent revivals and later played with Tommy Dorsey’s orchestra. My father, being the son of a professional musician, began playing guitar at the age of four. He and my mother, who also grew up singing in a musical family, introduced my siblings and I to music before we were even born.

And, I grew up singing. Lots and lots. I’ve always loved the intricacies in the sounds of chords, harmonies, and arrangements, but nothing reaches in and touches my heart like lyrics. I’m a word girl… a logophile at heart.

Just As I Am

As Julie wrote recently, “Songs speak to our hearts when only music can be heard above the noise, the pain, the questions, or the confusion. God uses worship music to help us grow.” One song that makes me feel completely overwhelmed and humbled by God’s grace is Just as I Am, by Charlotte Elliott. I especially like the version by Brenton Brown that includes a new chorus. I love the reminder of God’s graciousness in reaching out to this sinner just the way I am. He loves me far too much to leave me where He finds me, so I am ever journeying this path of sanctification. But the good news is that He will accept my repentant heart (and yours, too) even when it’s grimy with fresh sin. It’s absolutely overwhelming how much God loves us, isn’t it?

Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou biddest me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, Thou will receive,
Will welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promises I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Jesus take all of me
I run to You, I run to You,
I lay everything at Your feet
Let my life be Yours

God wants His children to come to Him. He doesn’t expect us to go and get cleaned up and picture perfect before we come running to Him for salvation, for forgiveness, for help, for love, or even for service. The truth is that we could never do that anyway. We aren’t capable of cleansing our own sin. We need the blood of Jesus to do that! And that’s why He bids us to come to Him.

“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” (Psa 51:7)

“…and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” (Heb 9:22 b)

Yes, we need the precious blood of the Lamb to remove the dark spots from our souls and wash us whiter than snow! He meets us where we are, and pardons, cleanses, and relieves us of the heavy burden of sin. Christ covers all our ugly sinfulness with His beautiful righteousness. To get that, all we have to do is come in faith.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

And this sacrificial act of love is exactly why we can raise our hands in praise and cry out,

“Jesus, take all of me… I run to you, I run to you! I lay everything at your feet. Let my life be yours!”

I’m praising God for His grace today and how such beautiful lyrics can illustrate His Holy Word! Thank you, Lord, for the love that reaches out to your children wherever we are! And, thank you that I can come to you… Just As I Am!

How does God speak to you, and even enrich your Bible study, through music?

Tweetables:

“Just as I am. We don’t need to get picture perfect before we come to Him.” http://wp.me/p1Su7F-2So @DoNotDepart #SingPraise” ~ Click here to tweet this.

“Just as I Am. Christ covers all our ugly sinfulness with His beautiful righteousness.” http://wp.me/p1Su7F-2So @DoNotDepart #SingPraise” ~ Click here to tweet this.

“Just as I am. Beautiful lyrics can illustrate God’s Word.” http://wp.me/p1Su7F-2So @DoNotDepart #SingPraise” ~ Click here to tweet this.

Songs, hymns & spiritual songs as Bible study tools

April 1, 2014 by Julie 3 Comments

So many events in our lives are accompanied by a background track. Songs speak to our hearts when only music can be heard above the noise, the pain, the questions, or the confusion. God uses worship music to help us grow. Has God used a song to help you find Him, know Him, follow Him, or worship Him?

The Do Not Depart team knows what it is to experience songs, hymns, and spiritual songs as powerful tools for truth in our lives. Our Bible study is better because of the faith-filled music playing in our lives.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16)

This month join us as we look at how God uses music to richly plant His word in us. We’ll share songs that teach and admonish us through the depth of their true messages. We’ll talk about the lyrics and sounds that have given gratitude a means of expression in our own lives. As we do, we pray you will be inspired to use songs, hymns, and spiritual songs as Bible study tools in your own life.

#BibleStudy is better because of faith-filled music playing in our lives. http://bit.ly/1i1mgzk @DoNotDepart #SingPraise < Click to TWEET & share!

Understanding God’s Ways

March 18, 2014 by Julie 4 Comments

I don’t understand the pattern Lisa talked about last week, but I’m so grateful for it, just the same. “We need; God provides. That’s the gospel.” I want that, even if I can’t grasp it all.

Understanding God’s Ways

How could the holy God doze away barriers to make way for ever-fallen, failing me?
How could the One who delights to give rain down grace on ever-receiving me?
How could the Father give the Son for the orphans who didn’t love back … yet?

How?

To demonstrate His intimate knowledge of us, God anticipated our bewilderment. He tenderly sheds light on our confusion in the verses following the crazy declaration that if we seek Him, “He will abundantly pardon.” ( from Isaiah 55:7) Not just adequately forgiven, but abundantly forgiven. The only right response is to worship Him.

How?

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

His thoughts are His purposes, His plans, and His intentions. And His thoughts are so unlike ours. I wouldn’t pardon abundantly, but that’s His plan.
His ways are His path, His direction, His journey, and His manner. And His manner is so unlike ours. I wouldn’t invite opposers to seek me out, but that’s His manner.

Our ways and our thoughts are so different from God’s that we can compare the contrast to the distance of heaven to earth. There are many ways to define how far space is from earth, but the International Space Station orbits at 400 km from earth; a constant boost is necessary since it is constantly “scraping” the atmosphere of the world. From earth to heaven is higher than high. But “higher” here exceeds an earthly sense of distance. Instead, it refers to lofty in deserving exaltation.

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:12)

There will be a day when God reveals how He could extend His abundant pardon to us. For now, His lofty plans and His higher manner is to be exalted above my small understanding. I don’t understand His great mercy that invites those far off to “Seek the Lord while He may be found,” but I’m so glad He invites. You?

Recap: Good tidings in modern times

December 31, 2013 by Julie Leave a Comment

In the past month we’ve celebrated the Word who became flesh and lived among us. We’ve talked about how to use our gift of words to display God’s glory and to share His truth. It’s all about Good Tidings in Modern Times.

Good tidings tools we’ve shared

Daily scriptures to help tame the tongue (An awesome printable calendar)
Using words for purposeful praise (Christmas praise cards)
How to send our words responsibly in modern times full of social media
How to use our words to incorporate Christ into our conversations
Advent activities and Christmas crafts for the hearts of our children
A visual reminder for Celebrating the Word with our words
How to repeat the joy of Jesus’ coming in our words
Christmas: What to do when it’s over

Though most ribbons are untied and most gifts are unwrapped, it’s still the right time to use our gift of language to reflect and share about the Word. In him is life itself!

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:1-4)

We’re grateful to have you reading with us at Do Not Depart as we share tools and encouragement to abide in the Word.

If your thoughts have already turned to a new year and you just can’t wait for January inspiration, take a look at last year’s theme about Spiritual Disciplines.

How to Grow in Spiritual Disciplines

(from January 2013)

Mentoring, are you ready? Mentoring
Serving Others: Service
Staying in the Word: Reading the Bible
Following the knee-worn path: prayer
Let’s mean it – God bless you!
Giving God His due: worship
Finding quiet in an incredibly loud world: silence & solitude

Christmas: What to do when it’s over

December 26, 2013 by Julie 4 Comments

Before Christmas, there are designated songs to sing, appropriate decorations to display, and even timely tasks to do. But when it’s suddenly “done,” people sometimes flounder and ask, “What now?”

Life’s challenges didn’t pause for Christmas, and it doesn’t take long for leftovers and laundry to pile up. So “What now?” What do we do AFTER Christmas? Some of the most humble earthly characters of the incarnation story left a not-so-humble example for us to follow.

“And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.” (Luke 2:20)

If our attention and our hearts were truly turned afresh to the coming of Christ as a babe in swaddling clothes as the hope of all men, then it should show on the day after Christmas.

The shepherds went back to their regular lives.
The shepherds went back as changed people.
The shepherds continued to believe what they had heard and seen.
The shepherds glorified and praised God.

Most of our readers (and all of our team!) fit more closely into the “shepherds” category than the wise men/kings category. We can take our after Christmas cues from the common folk of old who experienced the not-so-common birth of God’s Son, Jesus.

Get back to regular life. What we celebrated changes life today!
Get back to work, but be changed because of what you know.
Keep on believing in the truth of Christ’s coming.
Let your heart be full of praise and overflow in words of praise.

Everyone who heard what the shepherds had to share wondered at the news. As the cultural distractions of the season fade, let’s give our world reason to “wonder” at how Christ’s coming changes every day of our year!

Other “After Christmas posts” from our team you might enjoy:

5 Tips for Setting Spiritual Growth Goals for the New Year with Kathy Howard

The Most Important Thing to Do This Christmas with Lindsey Bell

After Christmas Instructions with Julie

The ACTS Model – A Simple Method of Prayer

August 14, 2013 by Guest Post 10 Comments

We are pleased to have Julie Reynolds guest-posting with us today. Julie is a seasoned women’s ministry leader who is very active in her local church and online. She has been involved with the HelloMornings ministry for several years. Today she joins us to share the ACTS method of praying, a simple framework that can help guide your prayer time. – Patti

How you pray is a very personal matter. I would not dare tell someone how to have a relationship with their best friend, so I won’t tell you how you need to have conversation/relationship with your most important friend, Jesus. But you can’t have a relationship with someone you never talk to, or take the time to listen to.

Still, sometimes it is hard to know where to start in prayer. The ACTS model is a simple method of prayer that I have used in my own quiet time.

With the ACTS model, we start by focusing on who God is, and praising Him for that (adoration). Then we move into confessing our sins and thanking Him for all He has given us. We conclude with our requests for others and for ourselves (supplication).

Adoration

We adore God and worship Him as we seek to fulfill the commandment to love him with all of our heart, mind and soul.

Spend time praising the Lord and adoring Him for who He is (Matthew 6:9)
Use scripture to praise Him (Psalm 103, Psalm 145, Psalm 150; Revelation 4:8, Revelation 5:12-14)
Be still before Him and enjoy His presence (Psalm 46:10, Psalm 16:11). Use this time to allow God to speak to you through His Word and Spirit (Psalm 40:1-3; Psalm 90:12-17)
Praise the Lord by praying scripture or hymns back to Him (Psalm 84; Revelation 4:8; Revelation 5:9-10, and “Great is Thy Faithfulness”)

Confession

Confession allows you to clear away the things in your relationship with God which are displeasing to Him. Confession should be an ongoing part of your walk with Christ (Matthew 6:9-13).

Spend time asking Jesus to search your heart for areas that displease Him (Psalm 139:23-24)
Spend time confessing and repenting of (turning away from) specific sins. All of us have sinned. John writes “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8-9)
Allow God to cleanse your heart of any unconfessed sin (Psalm 51:10-13)
Accept His forgiveness and cleansing (Jeremiah 31:34)

Thanksgiving

God is blessing us constantly. Every minute we can recall the wonderful things that God has done for us, and the gifts that we have been given.

Giving thanks for all things should be a part of our everyday lives as God’s people (Philippians 4:6-7)
This includes thanking God for specific things such as blessings, people, open doors, guidance, etc. (Ephesians 5:20)
Also give thanks for His salvation and the privilege to serve such a wonderful Savior (1 Chronicles 16:23, Psalm 118:21, Acts 4:12)
Thank Him for his goodness, loving-kindness, and faithfulness (Psalm 100:4-6)

Supplication

Finally we ask God for our needs and the needs of others. We call this supplication, or intercession. There are many demands on our prayer time – many topics and issues that we could pray for, so we need to choose, and to be specific.

We are called as believers to intercessory prayer (Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 18:1; Colossians 4:2; 1 Timothy 2:1-4). Thus, we are to come before God on behalf of others (Hebrews 10:19-25; Revelation 1:4-6)
Spend time praying for specific people, events, states, countries, missionaries, etc. (Acts 12:5; Romans 10:1)
Spend time praying for personal needs (see Matthew 6:11-13)
Make prayer lists for your time of supplication. Be sure to include a place for answers to be recorded. Recorded answers can become items for praise and thanksgiving!

Whether you use the ACTS model or some other framework for prayer, remember this: God doesn’t want to give us something else for our do list. He desires relationship with us. Prayer is the doorway to that relationship, to open communication, and to hearing His voice.

Julie Reynolds is a bible study teacher, retreat speaker, and women’s ministry leader. She says “I love to see the look in a woman’s face when she gets it – that the Bible is alive and active for her too!” Julie is a working mom of three, and Gran to one amazing and adorable boy.

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Giving God His Due

January 15, 2013 by Kathy Howard 5 Comments

I know what’s happening in God’s throne room right now.

Space — Forming galaxy captured by NASA’s Hubble Telescope

And no, I haven’t had been granted a vision of heaven, but the Apostle John got a glimpse and he told us all about it.

God is being worshiped. Continually. Day and night. The citizens of heaven never stop saying:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is, and is to come.

You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power,

For you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

Revelation 4:8, 11, NIV

God created us to glorify – or worship – Him (Isaiah 43:7). Worship is our earthly purpose and our eternal destiny. Because we were wired to worship God, we can only find true joy, peace, and contentment when we worship Him. People who “serve and worship created things rather than the Creator” (Romans 1:25) will never be fully content.

“Worship” is considered a spiritual discipline we can practice to pursue a godly life. Do you purposefully practice worship?

What is worship?

“Worship” is recognizing the greatness and majesty of the one, true God and responding to Him in a way He deserves. It begins with an inward attitude of repentance, submission, reverence, and honor and can be seen in an outward response of obedience and service. Worship can also be physically expressed with actions such as kneeling, laying prostrate, or raising your hands to heaven.

Worship is the proper response to our holy God. Worship focuses all of who we are on all of who God is.

In his book [amazon_link id=”1576830276″ target=”_blank” ]Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life[/amazon_link], Donald Whitney makes this connection between worship and spiritual discipline:

“But is we would be Godly, we must focus on God. Godliness requires disciplined worship.”

How can we foster worship?

If worship is the proper response to who God is – to His holiness, then one of the best ways to foster worship in our own heart and lives to is study the nature of God. Although we can never fully comprehend our unfathomable God, we can grow in our understanding. And as our understanding grows, so will our worship.

If you are serious about growing your understanding of God, I have some reading recommendations for you:

Of course, His own Word, the Bible
[amazon_link id=”0060684127″ target=”_blank” ]The Knowledge of the Holy,[/amazon_link] A.W.Tozer
[amazon_link id=”084992085X” target=”_blank” ]Holiness,[/amazon_link] Henry Blackaby
[amazon_link id=”0842339655″ target=”_blank” ]The Holiness of God,[/amazon_link] R.C. Sproul

How do we practice worship?

God gives us a picture of worship in Isaiah 6. Like John, Isaiah had a vision of God seated on His throne. When Isaiah saw God in all His holiness, he was impacted with the reality of his own sin. Here’s what Isaiah did to respond to God in appropriate worship:

Confession and repentance
Submission to God’s will and ways
Obedient service

Worship is unique among the spiritual disciplines. To properly practice any of the others we should also be engaging in worship. If worship is “focusing on who God is and responding appropriately,” then we should be worshipping when we’re praying, when we’re serving, when we’re reading our Bible, and so forth.

Let’s focus on God and respond to Him with everything He deserves!

What do your outward expressions of worship look like?