I love singing songs from Fanny Crosby, because she worshiped God in every area of her life. She was a blind woman living in the 1800s and wrote over 8,000 hymns, but what is more encouraging to me is her devotional life. She wrote a song for everything, even to the point when her neighbors would come to her when they needed a song for an event. Talk about loving your relational world (Oikos). Her songs are filled with personal testimony thanking God for what he has done for her and praising His name. How often do I praise God throughout the day? How often do we notice God in our day?
Pray through these scriptures in preparation for worship this week
Romans 15:5-6
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Psalm 29:2
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.
Romans 11:36
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Galatians 1:3-5
Grace and peace to you form God our Father and Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:21
to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
In our response song this week we are going to sing the famous song It is Well by Horatio Spafford.
Horatio’s story is a sad one. He lost his family as the boat sank coming from England to America. He wrote this lyric when he passed over that place in the ocean, “When sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot Thou hast taught me to say it is well, it is well with my soul”. The story that we don’t see is how he dealt with this grief, but what we do know is at the end of the anger, frustration and sadness he placed His hope firmly in Christ. Lets remember from last week that “when times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made one as well as the other” (Ecc. 7:14a). He does not promise us a life of prosperity, but he promises us His presence in adversity. Worship for Horatio meant taking all of his emotion before God.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Devotional Scripture
"Praise the Lord! Praise God in His Sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty heavens.
Praise Him for His acts of power;
Praise Him for His surpassing greatness.
Praise Him with the sounding trumpet;
Praise Him with the harp and lyre.
Praise Him with the tambourine and dancing;
Praise Him with the stringed instruments and flutes.
Praise Him with the clash of cymbals,
Praise Him with the resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord."
(Psalm 150:1-6)
Lord, we pray that we will come Sunday ready to celebrate Your greatness and may You be glorified in our hearts.
Lyrical Prayers
Blessed be Your name
In the land that is plentiful; where the streams of abundance flow.
Blessed be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place; though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shinning down on me; when the world's all as it should be.
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering; though there is pain in the offering.
Every blessing you pour out I'll turn back to praise
And when the darkness closes in still I will say blessed be Your name
You give and take away;
My heart will choose to say, blessed be Your name.
(Redman, Blessed Be Your Name)
Father let me dedicate all this life to you in whatever worldly state Thou would have me be. Not from sorrow, pain or care, freedom dare I claim.
This alone shall be my prayer, glorify Thy name.
Can a child presume to choose where or how to live?
Can a Father's love refuse all the best to give?
Let my glad heart while it sings, Thee in all proclaim
And whatever future brings glorify Thy name.
(Lawrence Tuttiett, 1864)
Response
Ecclesiates 7:14
"When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about the future."
Both prosperity and adversity come from a Sovereign God. That is a hard concept and the lyrics this week are challenging. How can I train my heart to sing "blessed be Your name" when times are bad? Do I really trust God with my future even if that means it may not be comfortable? I think the important thing is to remember that we are in an intimate relationship with the Father and to bring our honest worries to him. That relationship is worship. We bring glory to Him when we come to Him first with our concerns.
God be glorified in us as we learn to put you first in our hearts and trust You for our future.
Phil. 4:6-7
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Be Our Vision
Devotional Scripture
Psalm 8
1 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
above the heavens.
2 From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.
3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?
Isaiah 6
1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:
"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory."
Praying through the Lyrics
Be Thou my vision O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me save that Thou art
Thou my best thought by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light
Riches I heed not nor man's empty praise
Thou mine inheritance now and always (through all my days)
Thou and Thou only the first in my heart
High King of heaven my treasure Thou art
(Be Thou My Vision; Irish Poem, 700)
See from His head His hands His feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown
Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing so divine
Demands my soul my life my all
(When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, Isaacs Watts, 1707)
Response
The lyrics from “Be Thou My Vision” written so long ago tells of a heart that is fully devoted to Christ. The author, like the author of Ecclesiastes, understands that he cannot find meaning in riches or the praise of others. These things can become our identity and we can place our hope in them, but we are called to find our identity in the cross of Christ and He is our hope of glory.
What things do I put my hope in?
What does it mean to find my identity in Christ?
Philippians 1:20-21
20I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Colossians 1:27
27To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Psalm 8
1 O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
above the heavens.
2 From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.
3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?
Isaiah 6
1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:
"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory."
Praying through the Lyrics
Be Thou my vision O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me save that Thou art
Thou my best thought by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light
Riches I heed not nor man's empty praise
Thou mine inheritance now and always (through all my days)
Thou and Thou only the first in my heart
High King of heaven my treasure Thou art
(Be Thou My Vision; Irish Poem, 700)
See from His head His hands His feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown
Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing so divine
Demands my soul my life my all
(When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, Isaacs Watts, 1707)
Response
The lyrics from “Be Thou My Vision” written so long ago tells of a heart that is fully devoted to Christ. The author, like the author of Ecclesiastes, understands that he cannot find meaning in riches or the praise of others. These things can become our identity and we can place our hope in them, but we are called to find our identity in the cross of Christ and He is our hope of glory.
What things do I put my hope in?
What does it mean to find my identity in Christ?
Philippians 1:20-21
20I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Colossians 1:27
27To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
O Worship the King
Scripture that we are singing...
This week as we prepare our hearts for worship Sunday, I thought it would be good if I simply wrote the scripture that we are singing this week. In your worship time this weekend, pray through these scriptures. On Sunday morning we can proclaim together that God is the Defender, Redeemer, Shield, Ancient of Days and Friend.
Everlasting God - Brown
Isaiah 40:27-31
27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God"?
28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
O Worship the King - Robert Grant (1778-1838) Tomlin
Psalm 104
1 Praise the LORD, O my soul.O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty.
2 He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent
3 and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind.
King of Glory - Tomlin
Psalm 24:7-15 (New International Version)
7 Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD Almighty— he is the King of glory. Selah
God of this City - McCann
This is a response song where we as a church can agree that our great God is active and has a plan for the University City area. The love of Christ that we have declared together should be demonstrated and announced to those God has brought in our relational world (our Oikos). This is our spiritual act of worship.
Romans 12:1
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
This week as we prepare our hearts for worship Sunday, I thought it would be good if I simply wrote the scripture that we are singing this week. In your worship time this weekend, pray through these scriptures. On Sunday morning we can proclaim together that God is the Defender, Redeemer, Shield, Ancient of Days and Friend.
Everlasting God - Brown
Isaiah 40:27-31
27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God"?
28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
O Worship the King - Robert Grant (1778-1838) Tomlin
Psalm 104
1 Praise the LORD, O my soul.O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty.
2 He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent
3 and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind.
King of Glory - Tomlin
Psalm 24:7-15 (New International Version)
7 Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD Almighty— he is the King of glory. Selah
God of this City - McCann
This is a response song where we as a church can agree that our great God is active and has a plan for the University City area. The love of Christ that we have declared together should be demonstrated and announced to those God has brought in our relational world (our Oikos). This is our spiritual act of worship.
Romans 12:1
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Morning Worship Thoughts
This week we introduced a new/old song, "O Worship the King" which is a great model for why we worship. It was written by Robert Grant in the early 1800's and comes from Psalm 104.
"Praise the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty. He wraps himself in the light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent." (vv.1-2)
The hymn uses great names of God; King, Ancient of Days, Shield, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend. It also uses great imagery found in the Psalm as well. The first verse reminds us of God’s glory, power and love. It uses phrases like “Pavilioned in splendor” which our modern translation would say clothed in splendor, and in verse 2 it describes His robe as the light and canopy space. In the final verse, the hymn uses the word "ineffable" which means, "too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words". That is a great attitude of worship, when you run out of words in trying to describe who God is.
Personally, I love how this starts out with the Psalmist telling his soul to praise God. Often times we get caught up in doing life and we forget to praise God. This is why Paul instructs us encourage each other with Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19). This is true for us because songs can remind us of the characteristics of God and even teach us what it means to live in communion with Him.
Chorus 1
You alone are the matchless King
To You alone be all majesty
Your glories and wonders
What tongue can recite
You breathe in the air
You shine in the light
Verse 1
O worship the King all glorious above
O gratefully sing His wonderful love
Our Shield and Defender the Ancient of Days
Pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise
Verse 2
O tell of His might O sing of His grace
Whose robe is the light and canopy space
His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form
And dark is His path on the wings of the storm
Verse 3
O measureless might ineffable love
While angels delight to worship above
Thy mercies how tender how firm to the end
Our Maker Defender Redeemer and Friend
"Praise the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty. He wraps himself in the light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent." (vv.1-2)
The hymn uses great names of God; King, Ancient of Days, Shield, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend. It also uses great imagery found in the Psalm as well. The first verse reminds us of God’s glory, power and love. It uses phrases like “Pavilioned in splendor” which our modern translation would say clothed in splendor, and in verse 2 it describes His robe as the light and canopy space. In the final verse, the hymn uses the word "ineffable" which means, "too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words". That is a great attitude of worship, when you run out of words in trying to describe who God is.
Personally, I love how this starts out with the Psalmist telling his soul to praise God. Often times we get caught up in doing life and we forget to praise God. This is why Paul instructs us encourage each other with Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19). This is true for us because songs can remind us of the characteristics of God and even teach us what it means to live in communion with Him.
Chorus 1
You alone are the matchless King
To You alone be all majesty
Your glories and wonders
What tongue can recite
You breathe in the air
You shine in the light
Verse 1
O worship the King all glorious above
O gratefully sing His wonderful love
Our Shield and Defender the Ancient of Days
Pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise
Verse 2
O tell of His might O sing of His grace
Whose robe is the light and canopy space
His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form
And dark is His path on the wings of the storm
Verse 3
O measureless might ineffable love
While angels delight to worship above
Thy mercies how tender how firm to the end
Our Maker Defender Redeemer and Friend
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