Currently Reading Jesus I Never Knew, The By Philip Yancey see related

God's plan is not thwarted or moved by our own ideologies about the way things should be. Instead, He moves unswervingly forwardin a seemingly wreckless manner to accomplish absolutely everything He had planned before our minds could even formulate anopinion on the subject. Jesus proved this tunnel vision throughout His life, as Satan tempted Him in the desert, as Peter questioned His predicted death, and as scoffers taunted Him to come down from the cross. The easy way out was just a snap away. but as God, He had a greater attirbute: the resolve to complete the will of the Father.

As I am perfected into the image of Christ and the imago Dei becomes clearer in my life, I too am called to this resolve. Temptation calls me to the easy road. Logic calls me to have my mind on the things of man. Scoffing tugs at my emotions until I obsessively long to prove myselft to everyone watching. But resolve tells me to persevere to the greatest good: the will of the Father. Praise God for His resolve!

Currently Reading Worship: Rediscovering the Missing Jewel By Ronald Allen, Gordon Borror see related

"... we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His." Romans 6:5b

My 3-year-old "nephew" Tihair has a habit of learning a phrase and then repeating it every single day. For example, while he still lived with us, he would ask me every night if I was going to sit next to him at dinner (something that I did every night anyway), to which he would respond with seeming surprise, "You're gonna sit next to me!" This may sound cute, and it sort of is, but it can also get a little annoying. However, one of his more endearing statements goes like this. Every morning he wakes up around 6:30, looks at his mom and exclaims, "Mom, today I woked up to the morning!" It seems like such an obvious statement, but he really means it. In his announcement, he testifies to the fact that he is ready to go, prepared to face the day with all the vigor and energy a 3-year-old can muster.

Today in Romans class we were talking about the significance of our current state of resurrection with Christ. We have been awakened to new life as we have participated with His resurrection. This may seem obvious; however, how often do we live like it? Here Paul is asking why we don't live like we have died to sin, allowing it to continue to be our masters. How often do we live in a sleepy stupor, allowing the death of sin to cloud our days, when in fact we have been awakened to new life in Christ? How often do we proclaim with fervor, "I woked up to the morning," and then carry out our days with all the freedom and energy His grace can afford?

"For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law, but grace."
-Romans 6:14

Currently Reading The Heart of Worship Files (The Worship Series) see related

Here is an interesting insight. I learned today that the Hebrew word most commonly translated "worship" in the NIV Old Testament is "hawah." What is interesting is that for the 75 times it is translated "worship," it is almost equally translated "bow down" in other occurances. The word carries with it a sense of lowly reverence when relating to God. The heart action behind this is service and honor. Some may say this has little or no implication on our worship as New Testament believers because in the Old Testament, "fear of the Lord" drove their worship. Under the New Covenant, "we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place" (Hebrews 4). (By the way, I don't believe these two actually stand opposed to each other, but that's another topic.) However, this argument is foiled when we find that the most common used word for worship in the New Testament is "proskuneo." It carries with it a sense of submission and service, as well as the external act of prostration. There is a continual correlation between humble respect (shown physically) and worship throughout the Bible.

My point is this: how often do we find ourselves bowed down or prostrate before God? If worship is described in the Bible in terms of physical lowliness that pays respect, are we following this command? Even in the worship service we most often find ourselves standing with hands raised, or seated comfortably in our chairs. In fact, often these actions have become scheduled so that people don't have to stand too long and can remain comfortable. Week after week we begin standing, then sit, then stand for the closing song. Have we lost the meaning of physicality in worship? I want to challenge you with the thought that we have.

All facts are from Chris Jack in his addition to the book, The Heart of Worship Files.

Currently Listening Revival In Belfast By Robin Mark see related

"John answered, 'A person cannot recieve even one thing unless it is given him from heaven... The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.'"

Currently Reading Heart of the Artist, The By Rory Noland see related

I had this thought the other day, and wasn't able to put it on here until now.

So often when we consider the attribute of God's justice, we associate it with God's wrath and maybe, on a rare occasion, cite it as the antithesis of God's grace. Yet, I realized a different aspect of God's justice: his pardon. So often the Bible uses this judicial language, when we think of God as judge, Jesus as our ransom, and God as just. I guess I just never thought about the fact that the pardon (also a judicial concept) of a just God is sure. If God was unjust, I would expect he would defer on His pardon contract. I would expect that though he claimed to set me free from sin's imprisonment, he would somehow leave me to rot behind it's bars. However, because I know God is just, I know that His pardon is sure and fast-bound. Glory, Hallelujah!

"Because my sinless Savior died,
My sinful soul is counted free,
For God, the just, is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me!"