Even though this was many years ago, I still remember walking through the campus of Miami University (Ohio) on a spring day and having a sense of awe overcome me - the day was sunny, the trees were in bloom, the air was fresh and all of that was a gift of God to me. I wanted to cry and shout to Him for all that He had given to me.
Now I am busy with work, church, home, school, family....whatever. And many times I find it hard to recognize all that God has provided me. Yet, once in a while, I still see His glory in a moment. It can come in the words that someone says, it can be seen in people agreeing to disagree but yet respecting the other person's opinion, it can be seen on the face of someone as they ask for prayer, or it can be in the small child that reaches out to a stranger to bless her with a hug...
God does not want us to limit ourselves to an hour of worship a week. He wants us to worship Him every day, in all things. For those things are provided to us by Him. Our time in church each Sunday should be our time to share our other daily worship time with others - to show those around us how we have experienced God's love in our lives since we last saw them and to praise Him for those gifts He has bestowed upon us. It is time for us to pray for and with those who may not have been so fortunate as ourselves.
Jesus told the woman of Samaria that "...when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth." John 4: 23-24
God also tells us in Romans 12:1-2 to offer ourselves as living sacrifices, to not be conformed by the world but to be renewed of our minds so that we may discern the will of God. This is to be reflected in the way we live our daily lives, not just how we present ourselves in a church service.
Please pray: Lord, help me to worship you in all that I am and all that I do, every day, in every way. Help me see your wonders in all that is around me and to see your glory shine. Amen.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
Thoughts on Worship
I have been attending church worship services, well, since forever that I can remember. My Mother was a Sunday School teacher. My fraternal grandparents attended that same church every Sunday. So I really don't remember, with the exception my college years, not being in church almost every Sunday morning.
However, as I have been re-evaluating my role in the music program of The American Baptist church of Westerville, I found that I really didn't have a good idea of what "worship". It's just something you do once a week, isn't it?
Michael Morrison, of the Worldwide Church of God, wrote a paper entitled, "What Is Worship? A Survey of Scripture", that I found very enlightening(a). In it mentions that worship has three
components, 1) upward - giving God all glory and and honor, 2) inward - listening for instruction and obeying God's direction as His servant and 3) outward - carrying out His instructions to the world around us. In Nehemiah 8:6, Ezra leads the Israelites in worship and "Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands (upward). Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground (inward). And in verse 10, Ezra tells them to enjoy their meal but to share it with "those for whom nothing is prepared" (outward).
As I read this, as well as other books/papers, and began to study the scriptures, I began to see worship in a much different light. I plan to share my "awakening" in my next several posts that will include:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPWq8eM4lu8
(a) (www.wcg.org/lit/spiritual/worship/worship1.htm)
However, as I have been re-evaluating my role in the music program of The American Baptist church of Westerville, I found that I really didn't have a good idea of what "worship". It's just something you do once a week, isn't it?
Michael Morrison, of the Worldwide Church of God, wrote a paper entitled, "What Is Worship? A Survey of Scripture", that I found very enlightening(a). In it mentions that worship has three
components, 1) upward - giving God all glory and and honor, 2) inward - listening for instruction and obeying God's direction as His servant and 3) outward - carrying out His instructions to the world around us. In Nehemiah 8:6, Ezra leads the Israelites in worship and "Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands (upward). Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground (inward). And in verse 10, Ezra tells them to enjoy their meal but to share it with "those for whom nothing is prepared" (outward).
As I read this, as well as other books/papers, and began to study the scriptures, I began to see worship in a much different light. I plan to share my "awakening" in my next several posts that will include:
- Worship - Not Just on Sunday Morning
- Worship - It's not about me
- Worship - It's not just an adult thing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPWq8eM4lu8
(a) (www.wcg.org/lit/spiritual/worship/worship1.htm)
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Children of the Heavenly Father
1 John 3:2 Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this; when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. (NRSV)
Take a minute to reflect on a moment in your childhood when the world was a magical place - you were a dancer, a superhero, a cowboy, a princess. Or spend time with your children, not just watching them, but instead looking through their eyes. There is nothing a child cannot do.
The same is true as adults. We never stop being children of God. He stands beside us, in good times and bad. He guides and nourishes us. He has a path for us, a path that will be revealed to us in His time. As part of your family devotion today, gather together and spend time thinking magically. Ask your children to share the wonders of their world. Share with them the wonders of your world.
Pray together: Lord, help us see the world through the eyes of a child for we are indeed one of your special children. Help us be all that you want us to be. We know that you are always with us. To you we give all praise and glory. Amen.
Click on "Child of God Medley" in the side bar to listen to my arrangement of two songs - Children of the Heavenly Father and A Child of the King. This arrangement is written in 4-parts for C instruments. To receive a copy of the score, please send a request to lc5419@yahoo.com. I have also included links to the lyrics and history of both songs below:
Take a minute to reflect on a moment in your childhood when the world was a magical place - you were a dancer, a superhero, a cowboy, a princess. Or spend time with your children, not just watching them, but instead looking through their eyes. There is nothing a child cannot do.
The same is true as adults. We never stop being children of God. He stands beside us, in good times and bad. He guides and nourishes us. He has a path for us, a path that will be revealed to us in His time. As part of your family devotion today, gather together and spend time thinking magically. Ask your children to share the wonders of their world. Share with them the wonders of your world.
Pray together: Lord, help us see the world through the eyes of a child for we are indeed one of your special children. Help us be all that you want us to be. We know that you are always with us. To you we give all praise and glory. Amen.
Click on "Child of God Medley" in the side bar to listen to my arrangement of two songs - Children of the Heavenly Father and A Child of the King. This arrangement is written in 4-parts for C instruments. To receive a copy of the score, please send a request to lc5419@yahoo.com. I have also included links to the lyrics and history of both songs below:
Children of the Heavenly Father: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/c/o/cofthehf.htm
A Child of the King: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/c/h/childkin.htm
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
More on The Servant Song
I found this information on the American Bible Society website. Wow! When I began this project, I didn't know fully where it was leading me. Ask for direction and the Lord will provide. It will be an interesting journey...
http://www.americanbible.org/brcpages/servantsongsinisaiah
"Four passages in Isaiah are often identified as "the Servant Songs" because they focus on the call and work of "the Lord's servant" (or "God's servant"): 42:1-4; 49:1-6; 50:4-9; and 52:13—53:12. These songs (or poems) describe the servant as the one God chose to "bring justice to the nations" (42:1) and "to lead back the people of Israel" to God (49:5). But the servant will also be "a light" so that other nations will recognize God's "saving power" (49:6). Unlike others in the Jewish Scriptures who are called the Lord's servant (for example, Abraham, Jacob, and Moses), the servant in Isaiah suffers physical pain and humiliation (50:6; 52:14; 53:3-5,7) in the work the Lord called him to do. The last of these songs, however, recognizes that the suffering of the servant will help accomplish the work he was called to do. In other words, his own suffering will ultimately take away the sins and guilt of others (53:4,5,10,11), and the Lord will reward the servant for sacrificing his life for others (53:12).
As the early followers of Jesus read the Servant Songs, they clearly connected "the servant" with Jesus the Messiah (Christ). For example, Matthew states that the predictions of Isaiah 42:1-4 were fulfilled in the life and work of Jesus (see Matt 12:18-21). Similarly, the early church leader Philip explained to an Ethiopian official that the words of Isaiah 53:7,8 referred to Jesus (Acts 8:26-35). Jesus identifies himself as the servant who will "give his life to rescue many people" (Mark 10:45) and offers his work as a model of servanthood for his followers to imitate."
http://www.americanbible.org/brcpages/servantsongsinisaiah
"Four passages in Isaiah are often identified as "the Servant Songs" because they focus on the call and work of "the Lord's servant" (or "God's servant"): 42:1-4; 49:1-6; 50:4-9; and 52:13—53:12. These songs (or poems) describe the servant as the one God chose to "bring justice to the nations" (42:1) and "to lead back the people of Israel" to God (49:5). But the servant will also be "a light" so that other nations will recognize God's "saving power" (49:6). Unlike others in the Jewish Scriptures who are called the Lord's servant (for example, Abraham, Jacob, and Moses), the servant in Isaiah suffers physical pain and humiliation (50:6; 52:14; 53:3-5,7) in the work the Lord called him to do. The last of these songs, however, recognizes that the suffering of the servant will help accomplish the work he was called to do. In other words, his own suffering will ultimately take away the sins and guilt of others (53:4,5,10,11), and the Lord will reward the servant for sacrificing his life for others (53:12).
As the early followers of Jesus read the Servant Songs, they clearly connected "the servant" with Jesus the Messiah (Christ). For example, Matthew states that the predictions of Isaiah 42:1-4 were fulfilled in the life and work of Jesus (see Matt 12:18-21). Similarly, the early church leader Philip explained to an Ethiopian official that the words of Isaiah 53:7,8 referred to Jesus (Acts 8:26-35). Jesus identifies himself as the servant who will "give his life to rescue many people" (Mark 10:45) and offers his work as a model of servanthood for his followers to imitate."
Monday, June 9, 2008
Why Am I Doing This?
You know how there are things that once they get into your mind, they just won't go away? A month or so ago I thought it would be nice to put together a website on which I could share my calling to a music ministry for the Lord. I wanted to have a place that I could post some of my music, create devotions, and share ideas I have for music within a church. But I kept getting so distracted by my work, church, and home responsibilities that I couldn't find time to make this happen. Last week I attended a class, Building a Parish Music Ministry, at Trinity Lutheran Seminary http://www.trinitylutheranseminary.edu/ and am required to complete a class project. This is the result. Let's just say that when the Lord lays something on your heart, He really does remove all obstacles. Thanks to May Schwartz for her encouragement. She is truly one of the Lord's instruments.
When setting up a blog, the first thing you need to do is to give it a name. Most of the common names that came to mind were not available - Now Sings My Soul, Music Ministry, etc. So I got out my hymnal to look for inspiration and was drawn to a song that I have used numerous times in church over the past year. I am intrigued by the melodies from The Sacred Harp as well as Southern Harmony and the words written by Richard Gillard to this Beach Spring melody speak to the calling I have in my heart.
(For more on the history and background of The Sacred Harp, go to http://www.his.com/~sabol/SHhistory.html)
Title: The Servant Song
Tune: Beach Spring
Music: The Sacred Harp 1844
Words: Richard Gillard, 1953 -
We are trav'lers on a journey,
Fellow pilgrims on the road;
We are here to help each other
Walk the mile and bear the load.
I will hold the Christ-light for you
In the night-time of your fear;
I will hold my hand out to you,
Speak the peace you long to hear.
Sister, let me be your servant,
Let me be as Christ to you;
Pray that I may have the grace to
Let you be my servant, too.
Brother, let me be your servant,
Let me be as Christ to you;
Pray that I may have the grace to
Let you be my servant, too.
I will weep when you are weeping,
When you laugh, I'll laugh with you;
I will share your joy and sorrow,
Till we've seen this journey thro'.
When we sing to God in heaven,
We shall find such harmony,
Born of all we've known together
Of Christ's love and agony.
(Recommended piano arrangement: Mark Hayes, Glory, Honor and Praise, Genevox ISBN 0-6330-1495-8)
Prayer: Dear Lord, we are your instruments. Allow us to open our hearts so that we may hear your calling for us. Remove the distractions. Keep us focused. Give us direction. We give you all honor and glory. Through your Son, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
When setting up a blog, the first thing you need to do is to give it a name. Most of the common names that came to mind were not available - Now Sings My Soul, Music Ministry, etc. So I got out my hymnal to look for inspiration and was drawn to a song that I have used numerous times in church over the past year. I am intrigued by the melodies from The Sacred Harp as well as Southern Harmony and the words written by Richard Gillard to this Beach Spring melody speak to the calling I have in my heart.
(For more on the history and background of The Sacred Harp, go to http://www.his.com/~sabol/SHhistory.html)
Title: The Servant Song
Tune: Beach Spring
Music: The Sacred Harp 1844
Words: Richard Gillard, 1953 -
We are trav'lers on a journey,
Fellow pilgrims on the road;
We are here to help each other
Walk the mile and bear the load.
I will hold the Christ-light for you
In the night-time of your fear;
I will hold my hand out to you,
Speak the peace you long to hear.
Sister, let me be your servant,
Let me be as Christ to you;
Pray that I may have the grace to
Let you be my servant, too.
Brother, let me be your servant,
Let me be as Christ to you;
Pray that I may have the grace to
Let you be my servant, too.
I will weep when you are weeping,
When you laugh, I'll laugh with you;
I will share your joy and sorrow,
Till we've seen this journey thro'.
When we sing to God in heaven,
We shall find such harmony,
Born of all we've known together
Of Christ's love and agony.
(Recommended piano arrangement: Mark Hayes, Glory, Honor and Praise, Genevox ISBN 0-6330-1495-8)
Prayer: Dear Lord, we are your instruments. Allow us to open our hearts so that we may hear your calling for us. Remove the distractions. Keep us focused. Give us direction. We give you all honor and glory. Through your Son, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
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