Song Series: Glorious

Glorious

1Shout for joy to God, all the earth!

2Sing the glory of his name;

make His praise glorious. – Psalm 66:1-2

I’ve led worship for a quarter century now and have enjoyed seeing the growth, changes, and various manifestations of the worship arts. One change that is bitter sweet is the waning use of choirs for leading worship. 

The reason choirs are in decline is undoubtedly pragmatic: cost, time, and lack of church member participation. However, most would agree that there are few things more moving than a mass vocal ensemble obstreperously magnifying the Lord of Hosts.

David wrote Psalm 66 as a choral. He wanted to insure that the message in the music was presented in a grand and awe inspiring celebration of who God is: Creator, Provider, and Dispenser of blessings, giver of the Gospel, Messiah; the one true God, King, and Lord over all.

Three words challenge us to fully and unashamedly worship God through song: 

Shout: ruwa`  (roo-ah') figuratively, to split the ears (with sound), i.e. shout (for alarm or joy)

Sing: zamar  (zaw-mar') give praise, sing forth praises, psalms.

Make: suwm  (soom) to put wholly (all in), to work.

So, let me ask you; when was the last time you actually worked hard at placing God’s praise whole heartedly at the center of your personal Sunday morning worship time? When did you last sing God’s praise so loudly that it almost felt like you were too loud? 

Frankly, I think the problem may be that, sometimes we are more aware of those around us than the Holy Spirit within us. 

Singing is a spirit lifting experience, not just for us, but for those around us. 

You cannot be too loud for God’s ears

Sing loud – sing proud and make His praise glorious!

More verses about singing His praises:

Ephesians 5:19, Psalm 95:2, Acts 16:25, 1 Corinthians 14:15 & 26, Colossians 3:16

GLORIOUS by BJ Putnam: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVlECDpWyHE 

BJ Putnam official website:  http://bjputnam.com/

Quiet Time: Personal Convictions

Personal Convictions

"I will take nothing except what the young men have eaten, and the share of the men who went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their share."- Genesis 14:22-23

Personal convictions are, well, personal. It is frustrating to expect others to keep your creed.

During a battle between several kings in and around the region of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abram’s nephew, Lott, and everyone in his household were taken captive. 

Abram found out about the raid from an escaped prisoner and immediately took off after them with a few of his neighbors and several of his own trained fighting men. 

A battle ensued, Abram and his allies prevailed, and not long afterward the king of Sodom, who was still licking his wounds from the defeat suffered at the hands of the army Abram just conquered, came forward to thank Abram for his help in knocking off his enemies. Naturally, this king wanted to lavish gifts upon him for his bravery. (Again, everyone loves a winner)

What the king of Sodom didn’t realize was that Abram was a God fearing man who had already made up his mind (Gen. 14:22) not to take any of the spoil from his defeated enemies (which, by the way, was common practice back in those days). 

Interestingly, Abram, who was obviously the leader of the rescue party, made it very clear to the king that these were his personal convictions, and although he didn’t want anything from anyone, he still expected his allies to receive the customary spoils of war (Gen. 14:24).

Principles are powerful tools in helping us give glory to God. But, when we expect others to live according to our creed, we’ve crossed the line from teacher to tyrant. God changes the heart; not us.

Do you have a personal conviction? 

Live it out for the glory of God. Perhaps He will use you to help others develop their own biblical  world view as well.

Quiet Time: Build An Altar

Build An Altar

The LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your descendants I will give this land." So he built an altar there to the LORD who had appeared to him. – Genesis 12:7

One of the most difficult things to do is move from our comfort zone into the unknown. Abram fully understood the challenge of facing the future with faith. He followed God without knowing exactly where God was taking him; and, that is indeed inspiring. But, what caught my attention was how Abram responded to God’s guidance: he built altars (Gen. 12:7, 8; 13:18). Abram settled his heart by seeking the heart of God through worship.

24% of Americans move every 5 years (2013 Gallop Survey). That’s a lot of unsettled people! 

A practical way to calm ourselves in the midst of change is to praise Him through  the challenge.

Do you have a place in your house or apartment where you regularly meet with God? If not, why not create a spot, an altar if you will, where you can spend a moment with God every day and settle your heart by seeking the heart of God through a personal time of worship.

Build an altar:  God promises there: You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13).

Quiet Time: First Things First

First Things First

Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar – Genesis 8:20

He begins well who begins with God – Matthew Henry

The first thing Noah did upon leaving the arc was to worship God. 

According to survival books, the primary concern for humans is food, shelter, and clothing, but Noah chose to stop and acknowledge from Whom his existence was found. 

Man has changed little from Noah's day (Gen. 8:21). From the time we’re born we are self-centered and prone to sin. Perhaps that’s why so many of us no longer feel the need to set aside time each week to worship God.

What better way to begin each week than with a group of people who are heaven bent on serving their Creator?

Putting God first makes us happy at last.

See yah at worship tomorrow!

TEAM DEVOTIONS: Full Bodied Music

Full Bodied Music

What a beautiful thing, God, to give thanks,
    to sing an anthem to you, the High God! To announce your love each daybreak,
    sing your faithful presence all through the night, Accompanied by dulcimer and harp,
    the full-bodied music of strings.,- Psalm 92:1-3 (The Message)

“Holding nothing back” should be every worship team’s motto.

We practice hard and play from the heart not just for God, although He is our primary reason for singing; we also do it to help God’s people praise Him for all He’s worth. 

We help them (and us) remember that He is high above anything this world can offer . To declare his love for us, His faithful presence, and the wondrous works of His hands.

Every Sunday we help God’s people hold nothing back because He held nothing back for us.

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? – Romans 8:32