not a typical christmas post…

i have been challenged over the last few weeks to really simplify and understand the heart of God. to get back to a place of deep love affection. to live a life of holiness.

those are all BIG DEEP thoughts. They are things that keep me rolling along, and right now give me a hope that I need.

in this journey of cleaning out some things to make room for new things, God have been implanting some truth in me that is undeniable and real and simple and lovely and fabulous and a little romantic if you want to know the truth….

let me explain……

every morning i have been waking up and asking for strength in spite of myself. To get a new understanding of who I am and where I am going.

As I am getting ready to leave my house, I have found myself singing scripture. (praise God for worship leaders who take it straight from SCRIPTURE!)

everyday it is a new song. everyday a new promise. everyday a new way to love me.

I do not remember all the songs from everyday, but I do cling to it for the day.

Today’s hit me like a ton a bricks while I was at work. it is my song for the next few days.

Great is Thy faithfulness;

great is Thy faithfulness,

morning by morning new mercies I see.

All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided;
great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.

he is ever faithful.

he is ever true.

he is my God.

he is my strength.

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what are you reading?

a recent butt kicking read-a-thon has lead me on quit a journey.  i have been reading like crazy since i got back from China.    Some thing happened in my heart.  Something was awakened.   I was reading Christian fiction as an outlet escape from a sitauation in my life. It all started with Redeming Love.  A fantastic look at forgiveness and love. My heart was craving a romance.  But through all of the reading, God has opened my heart to something new. I hate going to bed without reading. It is my release at night, an escape.

After reading a lot of love books, I felt it was time for a change. I have been feeling a deeper stirring in my heart for a something bigger, something deeper.

a friend recommended a book to me. at the time i was not interested for whatever reason, but stored the name in the notes section of my blackberry.  when i finished my book on Sunday after a read a thon, I make a trip to my favorite book store to pick up another escape. But I drifted toward the real :Christan book: section. I perused the offerings and could not get inspired.  Then i thought about Cham and his suggestion.   I picked it up and walked out of the store. Without reading a word of it.

Holy Cow……it is rocking my world.  it is challenging the way that i encounter my God and bring honor and praise to His Holy name.

:the wise man comes to God without saying a word and stands in awe of Him:  pg25

:i sometimes struggle with how to properly respond to God’s magnitude in a world bent on ignoring or merely tolerating Him. But know this…God will not be tolerated. He instructs us to worship and fear Him:   pg28

:no matter how many fascinating details we learn about God’s creation, no matter how many pictures we see of galaxies, and no matter how many sunsets we watch, we still forget: pg29

:[our] dissatification transfers over to our thinking about God: pg30

:…God takes time to know all the little details about each of us. He does not have to know us well, but he chooses to: pg32

this is just the first chapter and God is already challenging my heart for more. To see the glorious magninfience of God.

what are you [have you read] that is kicking your butt?

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what is worship?

last night i went to a worship concert @ a local club downtown.  first time i had been there and was quite excited.  Daniel Bashta and Jason Morant.  Having had a rough couple of days I would have taken any chance to forget about it all and boldly come into his presence.

as i was worshipping i began to think……this happens quit often…..but i was trying to push it out and let God love me…..it wasn’t working (or so i thought)

i got out my Blackberry and started typing as fast as i could

here are my thoughts…..

What is worship?
There are many styles..many expressions..but what is it?
Is it singing songs?
Is it praying?
Is it dancing?
Is it proclaiming His name in the streets?
Is it taking one for the team?
Is it giving everything up to live some where that no one knows your name?
Is it choosing to live and not die?
Is it simply waking up in the morning when there is nothing to live for?
Is it choosing joy?
Is it living in spite of yourself?
Are we only able to worship when things are good and the music is loud and the WORD is brought?
Can we worship where there is no stringed lyre?
When there is no one preaching the word?
Can we truly find God in a dark dungeon?
Can we cling to HIS life and promised when there is no hope?
No light? No air to breathe?
In your closet can you meet with the mighty one?
What are your experiences in worship?
Where has God been the most real?
When has heaven fallen on you the hardest?
When was the last time that you were breathless after worship….not from dancing or jumping…..but from meeting with the one that we call King??

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