Day Three: To Whom Are You Praying?

As I enter into prayer, there's nothing that changes my heart more than beginning with worship. Why? I worship because of Who I am praying to. Do you know the One who hears you? Do you know how worthy He is to receive your praise and honour? (Revelation 4:8) Please watch this video and remember that as your prayers commence with the typical, Dear Lord, or Heavenly Father, that you are truly having a conversation with the Creator and Master of the universe; the One who made you and loves you. He sent His Spirit to live in you so you could know Him more, be comforted, be taught,  and be guided through this crazy life. Worship is a good place to start. Once you tell Jesus all the reasons you think He's amazing, you can then commence your list of petitions to Him. I guarantee you'll have new perspective post-worship, before ever making a single request. (John 4:23, Matthew 6:5-14)

As The Deer

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God." (Psalm 42:1)  There was nowhere more fitting for that realization than our vacation high in the Laurentian mountains. Clouds hung low like smoke spiraling up from rich-green mountain forests. An early morning chill made me shiver as I read the Word, sipped my earl grey and gazed at this new scenery. We hadn't ever stayed at such an elevation and it brought me to worship over and over throughout the week. A regal buck or a gentle doe might be spotted grazing near our walking path or on the way to the pool--us, immersed in creation like we'd never experienced before. And that sweet, thin, little one who visited a couple of times... my soul giving praise for her beauty and the gift I was given to be so close. 

Music As Worship

Praise the Lord!

Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty firmament!

 Praise Him for His mighty acts;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!

Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;
Praise Him with the lute and harp!
Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with clashing cymbals!

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord!

 

Psalm 150

 

It's His desire that we worship Him through music and through dance. His vey Word tells us!

Our sanctuary choir sang a few songs on this Music Finale Sunday. Terry had a duet.  

 My mom joined the Seniors' Choir even though she's not technically a senior yet. She's a senior-lover :)

They sing a lot about heaven :)

 

The BGT kids' choir always draws people to worship... and to laugh.

 

 All three choirs and the band join in one amazing throng!

kids waiting patiently

Praise the Lord!

Hunting For God

If He is revealed in His creation, surely we'll find Him here.

We closed the science book that educated us about the world's tiniest frogs and set out for the marsh in search for anything special. I always pray for God to uncover some sort of treasure, whether we're shell-hunting at the ocean or picking wildflowers in a field. We'd come here many times before but not with the intent of looking for frogs. What we found thrilled our hearts and caused us to honour our Creator. In a matter of minutes, we discovered three of those full-grown but tiny frogs. There, in a mucky marsh, with the red-winged blackbird singing above our heads and grasshoppers perching on stiff bullrushes, was our real education. He was there with us that day and our treasure revealed a little more of who He is. He desires to make us wonder over His works and draw us to worship Him. And, it's in the searching that we find Him.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1 

When I consider your heavens,

the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,

human beings that you care for them?

O Lord, our Lord how majestic is Your name in all the earth.

Psalm 8:3,4,9

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
Isaiah 55:6

What Do I Know Of Holy?

Last year I discovered the music of Addison Road, the song below being the one that makes me melt into a puddle of love for the Lord. Turn it up, close your eyes and drink in His Holiness.



(Thanks, Traci, for the reminder.)

Her Hope For 2011

She left a Happy New Year, fan-folded card for her Daddy and I with these words:

2011 is...
*Blessed

*Green

*uses all the fruits (of the Spirit)

*the year we sharpen our skills more

*"Getting closer to Jehovah" time

*Fantastic, Amazing, New (Hey, that's spells out F.A.N.! I didn't even know I did that!)

Meg: I believe this year indeed will be all those things with you drawing close to God and planning and setting goals. You go, Girl! :)

Random Act Of Culture

With the proposal for change of the Canadian anthem and other ways the media has led us to believe that Christianity is no longer appreciated, there comes something called the effect of the Holy Spirit, which no one can deny. If you haven't viewed this incredibly moving scene of shoppers at Macy's, stopping to take part in the Hallelujah chorus (with the choir), watch it and see how an enormous amount of people know the words to this famous piece that proclaims Jesus as King of Kings and Lord of Lords! It brought me to tears. Every knee shall bow!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp_RHnQ-jgU&feature=share

Praise Drawing

We make ourselves quiet and listen closely to the words of the praise music.

God whispers pictures to us of His love. That's how we just know what to draw.

It's not just a regular art time.

We want to know Him and the Scripture in the songs inspires us to draw who He is or who we are in Him.

How precious are Your thoughts unto me, O God. (Psalm 139:17a)

Day Twenty-One (of 31 Days)

Last night I purged my heart to a dear friend and mentor and she encouraged me to soak myself in worship and listening to God's voice. I was to wrap myself in a blanket and lie down (after the kids were in bed) and be still. She told me to play some praise and worship and to just listen. She knew I needed this.

Well, I couldn't wait until the munchkins were asleep so I could draw close in the way she suggested. I played http://www.allworship.com/ on my computer and laid on the couch, covered in a warm blanket. I was determined to have this time with the Lord to wash away the day and all it's yuckiness. In the first few minutes I was crying; the words of the worship music were powerful and effective because they were full of Scripture. A little while later, I fell into a peaceful sleep and awoke to worshiping some more. My on-going list I had been rehearsing all day, began to fade and slowly I became more restful and relaxed. The Lord was reminding me of His importance and His rightful place in my priorities.

Won't you take some time out to drench yourself in worship and in listening to His voice? Perhaps even tonight, if you are able. You won't regret it.

How To Become Rich

The sun spread its rays against the eastern sky and a cheerful blue reflected back like slow-spilling paint. The blossoms reached up to drink in the goodness and I raised my lens to capture a beauty I could never explain with a thousand words. A perfect indigo backdrop, a sun-kissed glisten, a cool breeze, a fragrance I wanted to bottle forever. I lowered my camera and with tears brimming, I worshiped the Creator who loved me so much that He drew me outside to share it with Him.

It's a couple days later, our Sabbath, and we rest inside and rejuvenate for the coming week. It's supposed to thunder-shower today and we sit quietly and feel pre-rain humidity wafting in through the open window. Then I remember the blossoms. Molly and I venture outdoors with pruners in hand and accept the gift of a few dangly twigs from Him. Since this girl is my collector, she relishes in the activity and excitedly helps me arrange them into vases and Great-Mama's slightly chipped, antique jug (my favourite). Molly prunes unneeded leaves and dips the stems into place. She carries them each to the proper table or window.

We stand back and admire His handiwork. Suddenly a grey day is brightened while pink and lilac blossomy joy fills dreary places.

And in the silence Molly exclaims, "Now we're rich!"

Imagery From Psalm 23

We recite the Psalm together and then I repeat it; their eyes are closed.

They imagine David, the pastures, the lambs, God's arms in the valley.
We talk of the waywardness of sheep, how we're like them, how God, the Good Shepherd, gently guides.

They brush their papers quietly and I observe how He speaks to each of them differently as they work out their thoughts of the Word onto blank "canvases".

One is dissatisfied with her strokes and we try to fix them over and over, finally relating back to the sheep--we just can't find our way without Him.

Remind me, Lord, when I get frustrated at my inadequacies. I am nothing without You. I must sit at the feet of the Shepherd before I can wander the pastures of life, looking for food (the spiritual kind), nudging my little ones.

Quiet Worship

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

James 4:8

(My three youngest worshipping by creating in Creation.

Art is one of our favourite ways of drawing near to God.)

Worship Painting

This morning I marveled at my children's art spreading freely from the ends of their brushes as we worshipped simultaneously. I played worship music while they responded through painting. Molly was frustrated, at first, when her idea didn't work out and then, when I encouraged her to let God show her something new, she stood silently for a minute. Soon, she smiled and began sweeping her strokes into a totally different scene that was clearly from Him. They began to enjoy the flow that came as a result of their quiet meditation. In the end, both girls had "stories" that they felt accompanied their pictures. It was an invigorating experience.

Lord, let every part of our lives be worship to You. Let us always marvel at Your works and share with the world how we feel about our Great God through our creativity.