Journey of Worship

 2 Corinthians 5:17  If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone the new has come!   Ephesians 5:15 Be very careful then, how you live--not as unwise, but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.  Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.  Instead, be filled with hymns and spiritual songs.  Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Your spirit, when it is given over to God, is one with God (John 17:21).  When we seek Him we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13) and He desires to give us wisdom (Proverbs 2:3-5 & James 1:5) and guidance (1 John 5:14).  When we allow the spirit that is one with God to call the shots, the soul and body will follow.  What we give the most attention to will become the most influent...

Look what He's done.... Yesterday was a lot of preparation in order to host a celebration of what God's done in the last year.  As I reflected after with a few close friends, the process of surrendering unfolded.  What happened in the last year or so that brought us to this spiritual and physical mountain?   Immersing myself in the Word Surrounding myself with influential "saints" (my spiritual family, books and podcasts).   Believing that I am called, healed, whole.  (even when....) Believing Christ in me makes me complete. Self-discipline: recognizing God must be my priority, and I am second. There's a lot to unpack in all of those things.  And God is still working on me.   Psalm 119:165-7 has become truth:  "Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing came make them stumble.   I wait for your salvation, O Lord, and I follow your commands.   I obey your statutes, for I love them greatly.   I ...

 Have you ever considered that you can choose to be a willing and active participant in your spiritual sanctification?  "How long this process takes depends on our willingness to engage with the Word of God, accept it as absolute truth in our lives, and apply it to all of our circumstances." (Freedom pg 37) Are there circumstances in your life that you want to hold on to?  Maybe out of self-pity, you think you are justified to mourn something or someone  that you lost.  Maybe it's a physical pain that you can't get past feeling.  Maybe it's an accomplishment that you want to sit in and you think gives you value.  Wow, this is really meddling... but have you ever considered that what you say of your self, your circumstance, what gives you value or what doesn't, what someone else said over you, or what you think you heard and are holding on to, the things of the past, the trajectory of your future, all these are either praising God or not?  And if...

Exodus 33:12-13 Moses said to the Lord, "You have been telling me, 'lead these people,' but you have not let me know whom you will send with me.  You have said, 'I know you by name and you have found favor with me.' if you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you.  Remember that this nation is your people." Wow, as I embrace the next step of launching Our Village Hands, I stumble back over these verses.  I think of how I've come to God asking and repeating back to Him what He's told me.  "Lord, you said to care for the orphans, and you put it on my heart as a child to adopt.  You said you'd never leave me or forsake me and that I would always have what I need.  You further said that you want to bless me with overflowing blessings when I am walking in Your will.  I didn't expect it to be easy, working with brokenness is exhausting, and we've taken in a lot of difficult kids.  We'v...

What an incredible weekend.  I got to spend the better part of Thursday through Saturday with my youngest 3, including my incredible Aliya, while my eldest son went on a men's retreat with Chris.  Aliya and I mommed together, enjoyed a day in Guntersville at the lakeside city park.  Perfect temperatures for getting hot enough after rollerblading the greenway to frolick in the water after.  It was a delight for both of us to see little Elizabeth walk in the sand (and then ask for her shoes back), splash in the water, and get her legs covered up in sand.  Jaxon was "The biggest man in the family" for the weekend, and whew, does he ever want to exercise some alpha power!  We finished our unpacking and found a little time to do some girly things (a crammed in spa session with our jet-tub, and some beading).  That speaks to this momma- especially being able to relax because my house is in order. There's a new centerpiece on our mantle now.  It's a mode...

  God's word teaches us that  God desires health and wholeness for His people . He  encourages us to choose a lifestyle of proper care for the body as He created it, to be used how He created it to be used.  Our bodies are to be seen as a temple to honor Him, and a gift for us to present back to Him.  Through good nutrition, (the whole foods He created for us and spells out in His word as He instructed His people), exercise (work), and rest (a command), all done with self-control and for God's glory. He acknowledged our needs  beyond physical health to encompass mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.  To think that we are "forgiven and therefore no longer bound to the laws of Old Testament", will lead us to suffering in the present with hope only in eternity.  Jesus did not come to abolish the law, but to be God in flesh demonstrating His desire for us.  Our bodies are bound to the laws of the Old Testament, because God's original desig...

God Created, you, He knit you together in your mother's womb (Psalm 139:13), knew you before you were born (Jeremiah 1:5), and cares very deeply not just about your soul (Colossians 1:16-23), but about your physical well-being (1 Timothy 4:8).  He cares as your creator, and for your ability to do His will, which gives you purpose (Jeremiah 1:5), draws you closer to Him, and brings unity with Him and fellow believers in the present (John 15:12-17, and 17:6-26).    If you consider the original sin (Genesis 3), Satan uses our drive to "taste and pleasure" to pull Eve and Adam away from fellowship with God.  Their, and our, drive to seek self-satisfaction is not evil alone, but when we question God's boundaries, test them, and think we know better and can control the outcome of disobedience because we are above reproach, we have elevated ourselves.  We somehow think with Adam and Eve, even though we have their example, that we might have more wisdom by experiencing ...

  Chapter 8: Surrendering Our Health and Bodies When you got your driver's license, do you realize that it was a gift and a responsibility?  That license is supposed to show that you have learned what you need to know to drive safely with others and conduct a vehicle responsibly.  With that license presentation, there is an understanding that you probably won't always drive perfectly.  Whether others are able to safely correct you (with a horn honk), or a policeman has to get your attention and you pay consequences, there is also grace, that you will get back on the road.   When I was 18 I insisted on getting my driver's license, though I would not graduate and move out until I was 19.  I had a good job, I was getting good grades, I was involved in some extra-curriculars at school, and I was being responsible.  I just wanted some independence.  After I got that license, I needed a car to drive.  My dad would often let me use his car; dr...

 As I come off a much-anticipated day with my family of fast planes and cars at the North Alabama Airfield, I re-center.  Going into the day, I had my amazing time with God, followed by prepping lunches for our day out.  That was interrupted by Aliya's frantic call for attention to her rabbit, Queen Anne, who has been getting skinnier, and was really struggling this morning.  I went out with Aliya and checked the rabbit,prayers over both of them, and spent a little extra time just observing and speaking words of comfort (and reality), the best I could.  Then it was a more rushed return to making lunches because we wanted to get to the show, and we had heard they were expecting 30,000 people and Chris does not do crowds well.... I did not want us to be in the midst of a herd of chaos whether in parking or getting to our spot.   Well, after the hour drive, gas station stops, included, we were easily enough directed to a parking spot, and made it through ...

The world is not depressed because of the circumstances of their present, they are depressed because we as Christians do not actually live the hope we "believe" and instead live like we're depressed, in poverty, and groveling at death's door as if there is only hope there.  May we stand up, as we are called, to the hope that is in this life with Christ , because we have the Holy Spirit in us, and we are victors ! John Wesley said it this way, "Catch on fire with enthusiasm and people will come for miles to watch you burn." We are to be the light of Christ, the city on a hill (Matthew 5:14). Don't you enjoy talking to someone else who is enthusiastic about life?  And why would we realistically not be?  When we have the power in us of The One  who created the world, and we are connected in relationship with that creator, we are unstoppable.  I love a good fellowship fire; literally and figuratively.  Whether we are actually enjoying the warmth of a fire,...

If you are allowing someone to make you angry, you have given them the key to conquer your soul: take it back!  When we are able to deflect anger and bitterness in response to offense, we are living the peace that comes from God: He is in control, He will judge, and His banner is over me.   Maybe you can relate with this, maybe this is a fair proposal for depression:  Depression is the conflict within, when I was not submitted  to God and clear in my vision, when I was deflecting my discomfort and blaming those around me as if I had no power. What lead you into this place of struggle?  May I suggest a victim mentality: one of the many poisons Satan offers the wounded. Are you struggling to connect with others?  Do you think you might get hurt if you get too close?  This could mean you have a tendency to submit to others, and whether you know their expectations or not, that unrest is because you've given the wrong one lordship and power over us....