Tempus fugit

Time flies. 

This seems to be my struggle right now. Even though it is summer and the demands on my time should be fewer I am struggling to find the time to do things I think matter. There is still the 40-hour per week demand from my job, that is unchanging, though the urgency of projects is less in the summer. It is the other things that I think are important that I am struggling to find time for. I am spending time in the Word and prayer every morning when I wake up. In fact, this year is the fourth time I am reading through the Bible in a year. I am right on pace, doing well, and enjoying it. I am doing a decent job getting exercise into the schedule. Four weight sessions per week, two 2-mile walks per week and a day off. (Though it often feel fruitless and I am sure it will get more difficult once the school year starts back up!) Small group on Mondays, band rehearsal on Wednesdays, serving at the church three weekends a month. It is the "smaller" things I am not getting done. Upkeep on the house (yes honey, I know the mower needs to get put back together, yes I know the grass is getting longer.) is probably something that needs to get done; it is not. I really want to spend more time writing: this blog, songs, books; I am not. I want to spend more time practicing and becoming a better bass player; I am not. Is it too much to ask for 32-hour days?

I considered calling this post A Lament. I know that God knows my heart and the things that I struggle with. I know that many of the psalms vent the authors' frustrations to God and He appreciates the honesty and does not shy away from the questioning. I suppose that in itself is an act of worship; recognizing that He already knows and so opening my heart to Him about those things deepens our relationship. I suppose simply writing this out is an act of worship. 

Thank you God that even when I don't see it You're working. Even when I don't feel it You're working. Open my eyes to see where You are working and let me join You there.

Blessings

Chris

What Heaven Sounds Like

We have recently introduced a new song at church, We Praise You by Bethel. Our pastor touched on a line from the first verse that impacted him. It says, "Let praise be a weapon that overcomes anxiety." Yes and Amen! There is a different line that impacted me. The bridge says:

This is what living looks like

This is what freedom feels like

This is what heaven sounds like

We Praise You    We Praise You

I know not everyone is as into music as I am, but for me there is something exciting about thinking ahead to what Heaven will be like. Revelation 4 and 5 depict "four living creatures" and angels crying out "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty" and "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing." To think, one day we will get to add our voices to those in praise! Wow! But why wait? We can get started right now. As a worship leader there is no greater joy for me than to hear the people I am leading sing at the top of their lungs to their Creator. 

Now I have had people tell me all the time, "Oh I have a terrible voice, you don't want to hear me sing." I have two typical responses to that:

1. God made your voice and you better believe He wants to hear it singing praises to Him. Psalm 33:3 tells the musicians, "...play skillfully on the strings..." But Psalm 95:1 says to everyone, "Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!" A joyful NOISE! God doesn't care what you think your voice sounds like, He wants to hear it!

2. At our church, this is why we play the music at the volume we do, so you can sing out and most of the noise you make will be covered by the sound from the speakers. Feel free to let go and praise God, that's what you are gathered for!

Sing out! Raise your hands to God. Worship Him with all your might. When we praise Him, this IS what living looks like; this IS what freedom feels like; and if this is what Heaven sounds like, let's get this party started!

Blessings,

Chris

On Worship Footing

I've been looking for a new creative outlet to get back to more regular writing but I just could not decide where I wanted to go with it. Then yesterday I was listening to the Hillsong Creative Podcast and worship leader Jad Gillies was talking about living on a worship footing, being prepared to worship in every situation of life. I decided that was it! As I thought about it, it made perfect sense. For over 20 years I have believed that my purpose is "To honor God by living a life that encourages others to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth." Here was yet another way I could do that. So I am going to do my very best to write weekly in this space about topics related to worshiping the God of the Bible and living a life of worship in relationship with Him. I don't have a plan for upcoming topics but they will likely come from podcasts I am listening to, books I am reading, relationships I am living in, and the worship life of my local church. 

Since Jad's teaching on this subject spurred this idea, I thought I would start by sharing a part of that teaching that really impacted me. I hope it will you as well. You've probably heard the idea of being on a war footing. This is when tensions in a country are very high and the country is prepared for the attack, knowing it will come but never know quite when. They are prepared and ready for what is to come. Isn't the spiritual life like that. "In this world you WILL have troubles..." So Jad asks:

What Does It Look Like to Be On A Worship Footing?

- It looks like making time for Devotion

- It looks like depending on Jesus before troubles arise

- It's declaring that Jesus is my protector before I need protection

- It's confessing that Jesus is my provider before I need provision

- It's professing that Jesus is my healer before I need healing

- That He is my hope before I'm disappointed or hurt

- Calling Him my best friend before I'm lonely

- Declaring Him my peace before I am in turmoil

- Finding my rest in Him before I am weary

- It means making time for Him when nobody is watching

- It means daily believing in my heart and confessing with my lips that He is Lord

That's what being on a worship footing is.

- It means not waiting until you need Him to call upon His Name

- It means not waiting "until I feel it."

Can we talk about "feeling it" for a minute? Like, "I didn't really feel worship today"...Newsflash, it ain't about you champ!

I would love to hear what you have to say about living on a worship footing. Continue the conversation here on this blog.

Until next time...Blessings!