Yesterday I spent the day getting to know a new friend who is in our small group. She is a remarkable young lady...and WOW such a hidden tremendous talent!! She is a student at our local college, and a nutritionist. Most of all, she is so generous and caring!
One of the best parts of our day was when she sat at our keyboard to play for us, and she opened up her beautiful voice to sing. Amazing!!! She is so modest about her talent and gifts. What was so neat...she happens to be a beautiful and "young" girl, who so loves and even prefers the older, slower traditional/contemporary worship songs. It was so precious to see how personal and sincere her heart is for the things of God.
This is where "Heart of Worship" was brought back to me. We went through so many songs together, and this one came to the forefront for both of us. I'm going to ask her to work on that one, just so we can sing it in my living room to worship!! :)
She brought with her a few different worship songbooks, and I shared mine with her as well. We both enjoy so many of the same songs. Kind of neat! She sat at the piano, and we had worship in it's truest form...simple, and honest.
It was a sweet reminder to me that no matter where we are in our day, we can be in an attitude of worship. Not only in song, but in our thoughts toward God, reading His word, praying, singing with a friend, singing in the car or shower...it is all such a wonderful part of worship.
There is a lot of uncertainty that we get hit with in our lives and in the church too. However, in the midst of it all, if we can stand real still, and sharpen the focus of our lens back onto Jesus, He will teach us things as we go and as we grow in Him. We will see things clearer too...we will notice the beauty and not the imperfections.
In photography, even the slightest movement can throw off the focus, lighting, mood, even lack of knowledge...it takes all of the elements working together. In our lives, it is the same way...adjust, recompose, readjust, pull in better lighting, sharpen that focus back onto God...
I'm constantly getting my focus blurred, I have to step back and readjust. Sometimes walk away completely and come back to it later to gain a different perspective. I'm not sure we are ever supposed to get it completely right at any point in time of our lives. If we did, we wouldn't need to completely rely on Jesus, and we wouldn't have such appreciation and gratitude for His grace, mercy, love...for the cross and what Jesus did out of pure love for us.
So, this is where I am today.
I love this song "The Heart of Worship" so much, and I love that it was born out of wanting to truly get back to the simplicity of worship. You can read the story HERE about how Matt Redmon was led to write this. He definitely seems to "get it". I've posted a few songs he has written below...awesome lyrics for the Glory of God.
John 4:23-25 (The Message)
23-24"It's who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That's the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration." 25The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."
Here are a few songs in video that have Matt Redmon's God inspired writing involved. I hope you will take the time to watch all three videos and may God encourage your heart today. You are loved.
The Heart of Worship - Written and sung by Matt Redmon:
Let My Words Be Few - Writings Matt Redmon, sung by Phillips, Craig and Dean:
Better is One Day - Writings by and sung by Matt Redmon
Here is one that I just love written by a dear friend of ours, Travis Cottrell. Out of Ashes- by Travis Cottrell - sung by 3:16 Numbers of Hope Easter Musical
No comments:
Post a Comment