DO NOT BE DECEIVED
I GOT UP SUPER EARLY THIS MORNING, AND WENT FOR A LITTLE DRIVE BY MYSELF. DYLAN AND DARRYL WERE ASLEEP…AND STILL ARE. IT WAS VERY REFRESHING TO WATCH THE SKY TURN BRIGHT AFTER BEING SO DARK. PRETTY SIGHT.
SOMETHING I’VE HEARD SOOOOOOOO MANY PEOPLE TALK ABOUT BEFORE, (MYSELF INCLUDED,) IS WORSHIP SERVICES…AND HOW GOD IS OR ISN’T MOVING, HOW THEY DO OR DO NOT “FEEL THE SPIRIT”. IT’S TAKEN ME YEARS TO ARRIVE WHERE I AM NOW ON THIS MATTER, AND I ONLY HOPE IT HELPS SOMEONE GET THROUGH THE DECEPTION THAT I, MYSELF, WAS IN YEARS AGO.
OUR GENERATION, ESPECIALLY, IS SO WRAPPED UP MUSIC. SO WRAPPED UP TO THE POINT WHERE WE SAY WE CAN’T “WORSHIP” AT A CHURCH THAT DOESN’T HAVE OUR STYLE OF MUSIC…WE CAN’T “FEEL” THE SPIRIT THERE, SO WE CONTINUE TO CHURCH HOP, NOT NOTICING THE HANDFUL OF MINISTRIES AVAILABLE AT THAT CHURCH FOR US TO LEARN, GROW, AND SERVE. THIS MAKES ME SO SAD. WHO SAYS THE HOLY SPIRIT ISN’T MOVING WHEN A 26-YEAR OLD, OR 62-YEAR OLD ARE SINGING “COME YE SINNERS, POOR AND NEEDY” TO THE TUNE OF AN ORGAN WITH A MUSIC LEADER WHO DOESN’T NECESARRILY SOUND LIKE WHITNEY HOUSTON? HOW DARE SOMEONE PUT A LIMIT ON THE SPIRIT OF GOD! I, MYSELF, HAVE DONE THIS, LONG AGO.
FRIENDS, BROTHERS, SISTERS, THE SPIRIT OF GOD WILL MOVE HOWEVER HE SO CHOOSES…WHETHER IT BE IN A CONGREGATION OF AN OLD BAPTIST, METHODIST, CATHOLIC, OR WHATEVER DENOMINATION CHURCH SINGING ALL OFF-KEY TOGETHER TO AN OLD HYMN WITH NO MUSIC, OR A 16 OR 60-YEAR SINGING TOGETHER WITH A CONGREGATION OF “CONTEMPORARY” CHRISTIANS BELTING OUT THE NEWEST, LATEST, MOST HIP SOUNDING WORSHIP SONG, COMPLETE WITH BIG WORDS ON THE WALL, FULL BAND, AND OUTSTANDING SOUNDING WORSHIP LEADERS. LORD, FORGIVE OUR GENERATION FOR MAKING CHRISTIANITY A TREND. THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES NOT ONLY “MOVE” IN A GROUP OF PEOPLE SINGING A SONG. IT MOVES IN SO MANY OTHER PLACES…AND SHAME ON US FOR TRYING TO HINDER THAT.
“SOMETHING SPIRITUAL IS FOLDING THE LAUNDRY AT THE END OF THE DAY, OR TAKING DINNER TO A SHUT-IN, OR RAKING SOMEONE’S LAWN WHO CAN’T DO IT THEMSELVES…IT’S NOT JUST A FEELING YOU GET AFTER HEARING THE ACOUSTICS FROM A WORSHIP BAND, MISTAKING THE LOUD SOUNDS THAT JUST AFFECTED YOUR BODY FOR THE SPIRIT OF GOD MOVING IN YOURSELF…” (PARAPHRASED) -RICH MULLINS-
“BECAUSE YOUR LOVINGKINDNESS IS BETTER THAN LIFE, MY LIPS WILL PRAISE YOU.” *PSALM 63:3*
“THE MORNING HOUR HAS GOLD IN ITS HAND.” -BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
Monday, September 17, 2007
OUR INTERNET'S BEEN DOWN...THIS WAS FROM SAT. MORNING...ENJOY
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4 comments:
We just finished a study in Sunday School along the lines of what you're talking about. That's a huge pet peeve of mine too, when people say, 'I just didn't feel God today.' What a ridiculous cop-out!
Aren't mornings great? One of the reasons I get up so early (about 5:30) is so I can have true quiet time with the Lord. I watch the sun come up every morning, and always think about Psalm 19:1 and Psalm 97:6.
Thanks for tagging me! I just noticed ... I'll get on that soon!
in His wonderful Name,
~Brea
Have you been reading my brain! Not fair. Have you read Parenting in the Pew? The author in that book talks about that very thing. I love the saying "Worship is an outward expression of your inward faith." How on earth, if you read your hymns, could you not worship to "Worthy of worship. Worthy of Praise, Worthy of Love and Devotion." or "I will cling to that Old Rugged Cross and Exchange it someday for a crown." Even the obscure hymns like, "Here we are marching to Zion." or "On the Jericho road there's room for just two." Old hymns are old for a reason. :)
Misssed you tonight.
I grew up in a church that did not include instrumental music in the worship service. People sang from their hearts. Thank You for the post and reminding us just exactly where you are supposed to feel the Lord. I bet you felt Him in that sunrise. :)
Good post...I just read a book by Francine Rivers that had to do with this (kind of). Anyway, I've been thinking about it a lot lately! I, myself, enjoy singing the old hymns anyway :) And, can God not speak to us anywhere? Or, do we have to be in a certain environment, or "modern" church to feel his presence?!?
LOVE YOU!!!
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