There is Power in Praise. God inhabits the praise of His people. The Lord reminds us that when we are feeling down or discouraged or hopeless, we do have a rememdy. We can CHOOSE to put on the Garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.
For me, this means that no matter how I feel, I put on my praise. God is more than able to shake off illness, sickneess, discouragement, and depression. When I praise Him – He goes to work and defeats my enemies!
Remember the Israelites? When they s came to the promised land God gave them they marched Jerico around 7 days. 7 days without saying a word. Just march around the city. They saw those walls, they heard the people laughing at them and mocking them I am sure. They didn’t fight back. They just did what God told them. And then, on the 7th day:
“So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.”- Joshua 6:20
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. – Hebrews 11:30
Today, I speak to the mountains of depression, cancer, illness, lack and command them to fall down. Like my husband reminded us today, “If it didn’t want to bow, it shouldn’t have given us a name – because now it has to bow!” We know a NAME that is above ALL NAMES – JESUS!
“For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. “- Mark 11:23-24
“This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” – Psalm 118:24
If you need some tunes, here are the newest ones our Church, Janesville Apostolic Ministry are going to learn! Come on, crank it up and put on some PRAISE!
There is power in harmony. When everyone works together and does their part to contribute to the whole. I am blessed to be part of an amazing worship team. We have sang together for 8 years now. It is so fun!
According to the Dictionary,
HARMONY is:
noun, plural harmonies.
1.agreement; accord; harmonious relations.
2.a consistent, orderly, or pleasing arrangement of parts; congruity.
3.Music.
any simultaneous combination of tones.
the simultaneous combination of tones, especially when blended into chords pleasing to the ear; chordal structure, as distinguished from melody and rhythm.
the science of the structure, relations, and practical combination of chords.
4.an arrangement of the contents of the Gospels, either of all four or of the first three, designed to show their parallelism, mutual relations, and differences
Our drummer Doug Anderson compiled this MP3 of some of our worship songs. Thanks Doug! We are blessed to sing four part harmony many times.
Being in a worship band is one of the best things ever. Using music to lead people in the presence of God and worship the King of Kings together. People get healed, tears fall, hearts are renewed, hope is reborn. I am so blessed to be able to sing with my husband and my friends. We are not professional musicians, we are just seekers who love to encounter a great God! It is an honor and a priviledge to lead people into the presence of God. God inhabits the praise of all who seek Him. Come and worship with us, no matter what country you are in!
“One thing I have desired of the Lord,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord,
and inquire at His temple.” (Psalm 27:4 NKJV)
We pray with one another aloud because the Bible tells us, “They lifted up their voice to God with one accord” (Acts 4:24)
We lift up our hands in worship because in the Bible it says, “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.” (Psalm 134:2)
We sing because in the Bible it tells us to, “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.” (Psalm 98:4)
We clap and shout unto our God because in the Bible we read, “O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.” (Psalm 47:1)
“Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.” (Psalm 150:4)
We play musical instruments because the Bible declares, “And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments” (II Samuel 6:5)
We testify publicly of God’s goodness because in the Bible we read, “I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.” (Psalm 22:22)
We anoint with oil for divine healing because the in the Bible we read, “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:” (James 5:14)
We allow the operation of spiritual gifts because in the Bible we read, “When ye come together, everyone of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.” (I Corinthians 14:26)
Currents of possibilities
Flowing through invisibility
Surging Energy in between what is and what will be
Bringing the Kingdom from Heaven to Earth
Lighting the darkness of disbelief
God inhabits the praises of His people
Empowering victory through a song
Currents of Dunamis Power
Supercharged Praise Flows!
Dunamis Power – The Greek word is dunamis, which comes from dunamai (where the word dynamite comes from), and means force, miraculous and inerent power, strength, ability, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth.
“When we lift our hands in praise and worship, we break spiritual jars of perfume over JESUS. The fragrance of our praise fills the whole earth and touches the heart of God.”
-Dennis Ignaius
“Without worship, we go about miserable.”
-AW Tozer
“It is in the process of being worshiped that God communicates His presence to men.”
-CS Lewis
“Worship changes the worshiper into the image of the One worshiped.”
-Jack Hayford
“When you sing something that you believe with all your heart, people will feel that – it’s contagious.”
-Jenn Johnson
“Wherever His people gather and worship Him, God promises He will make His prescience known in their midst. On the other hand, where God’s people consistently neglect true spiritual worship, His manifest presence is rarely experienced.”
-Ralph Mahoney
“Worship is love on its knees before the beloved; just as mission is love on its feet to serve the beloved.”
-NT Wright
“Worship songs can’t just be rooted in culture – they won’t be deep enough. They have to be rooted in scripture.”
-Matt Redman
“As we see the beauty of God and feel His weightiness in our hearts, our hearts begin to desire God more than we desire sin. Before the Bible says, “stop sinning,” it says “Behold your God.”
-JD Greear
“Worship is our response to the overtures of love from the heart of the Father.”
-Richard J Foster
“We pursue God because, and only because He has first put an urge within us that spurs us to the pursuit.”
-AW Tozer
He will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV)
Earlier this week God lead me to this verse. Can I tell you that every day this week I have woken up with a snippet of a praise song in my head. Right when I woke up. I had to sit for a minute at the edge of the bed to let it sink in. It is true. God does sing over us – I heard it! Hallelujah, thank you Jesus!
Ask God to show you this. And He will. He is faithful to His Word. Hold onto it. Cherish it. HIs love quiets us, brings us peace. He is singing love songs over you right now!
Here are some of the snippets I have heard God sing to me this week:
Tell us about the last experience you had that left you feeling fresh, energized, and rejuvenated. What was it that had such a positive effect on you?
That would be yesterday morning – playing Worship Music at church with my husband Bob, our Worship Team and our Church Family. Worship with our church family at Janesville Apostolic Ministries always brings me back to the place where I belong. No matter what my worries, trials, tribulations, etc. When a body of believers gets together and worship Jesus in Spirit and Truth He invades our present. He is there, you can touch Him, you can receive from Him – just by looking at His face and lavishing your love on Him.
Quotes on Worship
“When we lift our hands in praise and worship, we break spiritual jars of perfume over Jesus. The fragrance of our praise fills the whole earth and touches the heart of God.”
― Dennis Ignatius
“Worship gatherings are not always spectacular, but they are always supernatural. And if a church looks for or works for the spectacular, she may miss the supernatural. If a person enters a gathering to be wowed with something impressive, with a style that fits him just right, with an order of service and song selection designed just the right way, that person may miss the supernatural presence of God. Worship is supernatural whenever people come hungry to respond, react, and receive from God for who He is and what He has done. A church worshipping as a Creature of the Word doesn’t show up to perform or be entertained; she comes desperate and needy, thirsty for grace, receiving from the Lord and the body of Christ, and then gratefully receiving what she needs as she offers her praise-the only proper response to the God who saves us.”
― Matt Chandler, Creature of the Word: The Jesus-Centered Church
“As John 4:23 says, Its time, as worshipers of God, to give him all we have. For when he is exalted, everything about me is decreased. So many times we stand in the
way of really stepping into the secret place of worship with God. Just abandon tradition and the “expected” ways of Praise & Worship and get lost in the holy of holies with the
sole intention of blessing the Fathers heart.”
―Jessica Leah Springer
“Corporate worship is a regular gracious reminder that it’s not about you. You’ve been born into a life that is a celebration of another.”
―Paul David Tripp
“When we worship together as a community of living Christians, we do not worship
alone, we worship ‘with all the company of heaven.”
―Marianne H. Micks
My husband and I are blessed and privileged to lead the worship team at our local church. I am humbled how God can and does meet us where we are at. And how God can overcome our inadequacies. Pastor Jeff Hanson taught an amazing lesson on how God doesn’t make mistakes. How all things work together for good, and how some things just happen so God can get the glory. I’ll put the link up when it’s ready.
From: blueeyedennis-siempre.blogspot.com
About a year or so ago our Church bought an iPad to record the sermons and worship to share with the world. It has been an amazing outreach and God has blessed it. We have been recording the Worship service and the Sermon as separate videos. The sermons are on Vimeo. We have not put up the Praise and Worship Service yet. And right now I don’t think we can. Recently I have been watching the Worship Service Videos and noticing a few things. It makes me so sad. I weep over it.
Can I tell you that not everyone who comes to church wants to worship God? Really. There are some who just want to make noise and distract the true worshipers. I have seen it – on the video.
I have been honored to be a part of Christian Praise & Worship for over 10 years now. I have served at 4 different churches during that time. 3 of the four churches have chosen to broadcast video. It has been my experience that every church that chooses to share the Word with a larger audience will have these same challenges.But it breaks my heart.
12 Distractions During Praise and a Worship Service
1. People talking so loudly while we are worshiping God. Or people will be overly vocal to distract you from an intimate conversation with God.
2. People walking right in front of camera and making funny gestures while you are recording a service. We are recording this to bless others, not to give you a stage for your inappropriate behavior. Grow up – it’s not about you.
3. People walking up to you or someone else and interrupting your worship of God. For me, my worship is intimate. I pour my heart out before my God with my fellow brothers and sisters. I don’t want to hear about your personal things right now – I am talking to God. Please wait until later to tell me whatever you think is so important.
4. Busy bodies going from person to person getting them to talk about whatever. There are those who go from person to person during a worship service and just get them talking to take the focus off God. Just watch. You will see it. All when we are supposed to be talking to God.
5 People who get up and leave when the presence of God is present. This breaks my heart. He came to meet us here, and they just walk out. I pray they meet Him in the parking lot and He floods them with love and healing.
6. People who run into camera to distract others. It’s on the tape. Really.
7. People who stand in front of camera to distract others. Some will pace back and forth right in front of the camera just to be seen.
8. People who walk up to those who are worshiping God at the alter of His Presence and start talking to them about whatever. They walk right up to the Alter of Grace and Mercy and interrupt other people’s prayer and conversation with God.
9. Singers who get so caught up in the music and push so hard they go flat. Musicians who play every note – loud. None of us is perfect. We do the best with what we have. But can we get rid of the ego? None of us should sing every note. None of us should play every note. This is not a performance. It’s worship. We are a team and we should take turns. Let others lead, follow sometimes. Again, it’s not all about you. The best leaders are those who know how to follow.
10. There are people who will run the computer in back and not keep up with the words so the congregation gets lost. Or they will put up the wrong song. Anything to bring confusion and chaos. Some people will mess with the sound board to mess things up. Really. It has happened everywhere I have been.
11. Some people will talk all during the Worship Service and they position themselves right by the camera. I wonder if they realize that every idle word they are saying is being recorded?
12. Disrespect is disrespect. Whether it is to me, to our worship team, or to God. God knows. God sees. God hears. And you aren’t stopping me or our team from worshiping the King of Kings. I love my Lord and I will lavish my love on Him, whether others choose to or not. I am not better than you. But I am not worse either. I am a fellow sister in Christ. And just like you, I need this time to talk to God. So please – shut up for a minute ok?
P.S. I think the camera will be off during worship now. No more stage for the enemy. No more microphone. I will not magnify that. I rebuke it, in Jesus Name. Let the Lord be magnified, in Jesus Name.
Fireflies in Psalms? Yes! They are dancing all around as the Heavens and the Earth rejoice in the Glory of God. Enjoy my newest production from Prayers and Promises!
Did you ever have a day where God just “wowed” you? Where His presence just floods over you like a river? And you find yourself in the Throne room. And you just can’t talk? That’s Ms. D today. Flooded with Him, speechless worship, and loving it!
Here is one of my favs. John Thurlow knows how to worship – it’s all about Jesus!
By John Thurlow of IHOP-KC
A STORM ALL AROUND YOU
Revelation
I know there are creatures all around you,
I know there are lightnings and thunderings
I know there’s a storm all around you,
Holy, Holy, Holy
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
I see seven lamps of fire burning and I,
I see a sea of glass mingled with fire burning,
I see the Son of man with eyes of fire burning,
Burning, burning, burning
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa
Halle-halle-halleluja
For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns
Everyone in the temple cries Glory
Everyone in the temple cries Holy
There is no one like You in all the heavens
No one like You, in all of the earth
We’re reaching for that open door, Lord show me more
Put your praise on for 2014! We are anointed with the oil of gladness from God and our cup overflows. Think of PRAISE as a garment, something you have to choose to put on or not. Like a jacket. The world is cold outside, and sometimes life can get you down. Will you pick up your praise and put it on anyway? God inhabits the praises of his people. There are those you will meet today who need a breath of fresh air. I challenge you and me, let’s put on our praise and watch and see what God will do!
101 Ways to put Your Praise On!
Isaiah 61:3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.
Exodus 15:2 “The LORD is my strength and my defense ; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
Deuteronomy 26:19 He has declared that he will set you in praise, fame and honor high above all the nations he has made and that you will be a people holy to the LORD your God, as he promised.
2 Samuel 22:4 “I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and have been saved from my enemies.
2 Samuel 22:47 “The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be my God, the Rock, my Savior!
2 Samuel 22:50 Therefore I will praise you, LORD, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name.
1 Kings 8:56 “Praise be to the LORD, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses.
1 Chronicles 16:8 Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done.
1 Chronicles 16:36 Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the LORD.”
1 Chronicles 23:5 Four thousand are to be gatekeepers and four thousand are to praise the LORD with the musical instruments I have provided for that purpose.”
1 Chronicles 23:30 They were also to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD. They were to do the same in the evening
1 Chronicles 29:20 Then David said to the whole assembly, “Praise the LORD your God.” So they all praised the LORD, the God of their fathers; they bowed down, prostrating themselves before the LORD and the king.
2 Chronicles 5:13 The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang: “He is good; his love endures forever.” Then the temple of the LORD was filled with the cloud,
Nehemiah 8:6 Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
Job 1:21 and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.”
Psalm 7:17 I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the LORD Most High.
Psalm 9:11 Sing the praises of the LORD, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done.
Psalm 13:6 I will sing the LORD’s praise, for he has been good to me.
Psalm 16:7 I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.
Psalm 18:3 I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies.
Psalm 28:6 Praise be to the LORD, for he has heard my cry for mercy.
Psalm 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.
Psalm 30:4 Sing the praises of the LORD, you his faithful people; praise his holy name.
Psalm 31:21 Praise be to the LORD, for he showed me the wonders of his love when I was in a city under siege.
Psalm 33:1 Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
Psalm 33:2 Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
Psalm 40:3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him.
Psalm 41:13 Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.
Psalm 57:9 I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.
Psalm 68:4 Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds ; rejoice before him—his name is the LORD.
Psalm 68:19 Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.
Psalm 68:26 Praise God in the great congregation; praise the LORD in the assembly of Israel.
Psalm 68:32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord,
Psalm 72:18 Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.
Psalm 78:4 We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.
Psalm 89:5 The heavens praise your wonders, LORD, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.
Praise be to the LORD forever! Amen and Amen.
Psalm 96:2 Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.
Psalm 96:4 For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.
Psalm 97:12 Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name.
Psalm 100:1 A psalm. For giving grateful praise. Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Psalm 102:18 Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the LORD:
Psalm 104:1 Praise the LORD, my soul. LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty.
Psalm 104:33 I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
Psalm 106:1 Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Psalm 106:2 Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the LORD or fully declare his praise?
Psalm 106:47 Save us, LORD our God, and gather us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.
Psalm 106:48 Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the LORD.
Psalm 108:3 I will praise you, LORD, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.
Psalm 109:30 With my mouth I will greatly extol the LORD; in the great throng of worshipers I will praise him.
Psalm 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.
Psalm 112:1 Praise the LORD. Blessed are those who fear the LORD, who find great delight in his commands.
Psalm 113:1 Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD, you his servants; praise the name of the LORD.
Psalm 113:2 Let the name of the LORD be praised, both now and forevermore.
Psalm 113:3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised.
Psalm 113:9 He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the LORD.
Psalm 115:17 It is not the dead who praise the LORD, those who go down to the place of silence;
Psalm 115:18 it is we who extol the LORD, both now and forevermore. Praise the LORD.
Psalm 116:19 in the courts of the house of the LORD— in your midst, Jerusalem. Praise the LORD.
Psalm 117:2 For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD.
Psalm 119:108 Accept, LORD, the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me your laws.
Psalm 122:4 That is where the tribes go up— the tribes of the LORD— to praise the name of the LORD according to the statute given to Israel.
Psalm 134:1 A song of ascents. Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who minister by night in the house of the LORD.
Psalm 134:2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD.
Psalm 135:1 Praise the LORD. Praise the name of the LORD; praise him, you servants of the LORD,
Psalm 135:3 Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant.
Psalm 144:1 Of David. Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.
Psalm 145:3 Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.
Psalm 145:21 My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.
Psalm 146:2 I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
Psalm 146:10 The LORD reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the LORD.
Psalm 147:1 Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!
Psalm 147:7 Sing to the LORD with grateful praise; make music to our God on the harp.
Psalm 147:12 Extol the LORD, Jerusalem; praise your God, Zion.
Psalm 148:1 Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights above.
Psalm 148:5 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for at his command they were created,
Psalm 148:7 Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
Psalm 148:13 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
Psalm 148:14 And he has raised up for his people a horn, the praise of all his faithful servants, of Israel, the people close to his heart. Praise the LORD.
Psalm 149:1 Praise the LORD. Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of his faithful people.
Psalm 150:1 Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.
Psalm 150:6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.
Isaiah 12:4 In that day you will say: “Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted.
Isaiah 25:1 [ Praise to the LORD ] LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.
Isaiah 42:10 [ Song of Praise to the LORD ] Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live in them.
Isaiah 57:19 creating praise on their lips. Peace, peace, to those far and near,” says the LORD. “And I will heal them.”
Isaiah 61:11 For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.
Isaiah 63:7 [ Praise and Prayer ] I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us— yes, the many good things he has done for Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses.
Jeremiah 17:14 Heal me, LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.
Jeremiah 20:13 Sing to the LORD! Give praise to the LORD! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked.
Jeremiah 31:7 This is what the LORD says: “Sing with joy for Jacob; shout for the foremost of the nations. Make your praises heard, and say, ‘LORD, save your people, the remnant of Israel.’
Joel 2:26 You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has worked wonders for you; never again will my people be shamed.
Jonah 2:9 But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the LORD.’”
Zephaniah 3:20 At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes,” says the LORD.
Matthew 11:25 [ The Father Revealed in the Son ] At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
Matthew 21:16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’ ?”
Luke 1:68 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
Luke 10:21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
2 Corinthians 1:3 [ Praise to the God of All Comfort ] Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
Ephesians 1:3 [ Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ ] Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
1 Peter 1:3 [ Praise to God for a Living Hope ] Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
I don’t know why God always speaks to me when I am tired. Maybe it’s cuz I’m finally quiet. Last night I went to our local coffee shop to sing a few songs and participate in the Open Mic. I was amazed at what local talent we have – and mostly from the 20 something generation. They are singing cover songs and originals, and some of them just blow me away. And then my friend Charile Petittsat down at the piano at the end of the night. He sang this beautiful old hymn. And the presence of God fell in the place. There were some who tuned it out, but others were hanging onto his every word. I sat in awe. How the Word of God just does that when put to music. I know, it shouldn’t surprise me.
And then this morning. I opened up my e-mail. I am a member of LinkedIn. I lead the praise team at our church and some of the Groups I belong to are for Worship Leading, Praise and Worship, Music Ministers etc. So I get this e-mail with the title, “What Makes A Good Worship Leader?” So I go there. And read. And cry. Here is a forum of the people God has chosen to lead worship at His church and they are arguing online. We do this, we don’t do that, big churches reek, little churches don’t do it right, blah, blah, blah. I didn’t even respond. I didn’t want to join the argument. Contemporary or Hymns – there is another argument. I have seen churches divide over that one.
And then God spoke to me. “What are you teaching my kids to sing?”
I had to stop and ask myself. Especially today, tonight we are starting a Children’s Choir at our church. A beautiful woman of the Lord, Jean has asked to lead it, I offered to play piano for her. Jean is awesome, she always brings a boatload of kids to church with her. God bless her Lord. So I have been asking myself this same question, “what am I teaching the younger generation to sing?” One of the Pastors asked us to learn some Christmas Carols. So we will start there. And honestly, Idk after that.
From: en.wikipedia.org
Then, on the way running errands, I thought of all the songs that are ‘out there’. We have hymns, Contemporary Christian, Country, Rock, Rap, Jazz, World, New Age, etc.
In looking at the “World’s Music” we don’t want to sing those. Last night was the CMA’s and its all about drinking in my opinion. And the Rock songs, well lets just teach our kids to be their own God there, again my opinion.
Here, let me show you what I mean. Here are a few of the lyrics/Top 10’s:
Round Here – Florida Georgia Line The moon comes up and the sun goes down
“We find a little spot on the edge of town
Twist off, sip a little, pass it around
Dance in the dust, turn the radio up
And that fireball whiskey whispers
Temptation in my ear
It’s a feelin’ alright Saturday night
And that’s how we do it ’round here
Yeah that’s how we do it ’round here”
Royals – Lorde “And we’ll never be royals (royals).
It don’t run in our blood,
That kind of luxe just ain’t for us.
We crave a different kind of buzz.
Let me be your ruler (ruler),
You can call me queen Bee
And baby I’ll rule, I’ll rule, I’ll rule, I’ll rule.
Let me live that fantasy.
(You can check the TOP 50 Hymns and TOP 40 Contemporary Christian Songs on the link above)
Many churches have abandoned the old hymns entirely. There may be a whole generation growing up without ever singing “The Old Rugged Cross”. I am so grieved today. I feel like I have dishonored my Spiritual Parents; the generations upon generations of our Spiritual Fathers and Mothers who sang to You with all their heart with what they had. Who am I to criticize the way another person or church worships YOU? Their worship is between them and You. Forgive me Lord. They are your children, not mine. Thank you for my lesson today.
So – thinking ‘out of the box’ , I wondered – what if I was that old Hymnal? Hence, my poem today:
I’m the book you threw away
The song you never sang
Thought I was old and outdated
Just garbage in your hands
But I brought tears to Grandpa’s eyes
every time he sang Amazing Grace
Grandma smiled when she got to Fly Away
Even that old Preacher Man
with the Word in his hand
Went to The Old Rugged Cross at Calvary
I may not be in the Radio Top 40
But can I ask,
Are You Washed in the Blood?
When your kids look for Blessed Assurance
How will they know How Great Thou Art?
Every page was a new testimony
to All Creatures Of Our God And King
No more singing It Is Well With My Soul
the hearts that lived upon each note – dishonored
This Little Light of Mine, stuffed in a dumpster
Faith Of Our Fathers, just thrown away
But hey, Jesus Loves Me This I Know
So Take My Life And Let It Be
