"Jesus answered by telling a story. "There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man." - Luke 10 (the Message Bible)
this story that Jesus told was stirred in my heart this morning. it's about a man who has been hurt, beaten, robbed and desperately in need of help. the first person to pass him by is a priest - a spiritual leader. we don't know why, but for whatever reason, this "Christian" crosses over to the other side. the second man to pass the beaten man is a "Levite religious man".... but Scripture says he "avoided the injured man."
sadly, and shamefully, this is often so true of my life
and the lives of so many believers.
we are too busy.
we are on our way to somewhere really important.
we have responsibilities.
we have an agenda.
we have our program.
how often do we, the Church, walk right past those who are hurt, beaten, robbed and desperately in need of help... so often, we don't even have the eyes to see them. if we DO see them, then we don't have the "time" to meet the need...we're too busy....
how often do we "avoid the injured" and find it easier to look for those who won't cost us too much time, finances or personal sacrifice/involvement.
by our actions, we can so easily send this message:
"i know i have the power to put a smile on your face.
i know i am capable of meeting your need.
i know that if i just took a few minutes out of my day,
i could make your day so much better,
i could encourage you and strengthen you.
i know you've probably been ignored, looked down on,
rejected, pushed aside and you're questioning if anyone sees you.
i know i could make a difference...
...i'm sorry...i'm just too busy."
while i may not have the resources at my disposal to radically invest in turning someone's life totally around, i can do SOMETHING - i can buy one extra loaf of bread at the store and give it out to someone in need, or take a few flowers home to my mama, or smile at the kid who's begging at my window and find out his name...i can speak life. i can remind someone that they are VALUABLE, that they matter... i can do something.
there was once a man who was so distraught at seeing the blind, the beggars, the crippled and the orphaned in the streets that he cried out, "oh Great God! how can Thou,
being a Good Creator, do nothing about this horrible suffering?"
and God's answer?
"I did do something. I made you."
"Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing
because he could only do a little." ~Edmund Burke
you can do something.
you can make someone's world a better place TODAY!
you can SHOW the love of Jesus TODAY!
you can warm someone's heart TODAY!
you can be the answer to someone's prayer...
if you see the need, then most likely, you're the one God put there to meet it.
don't pass by... don't look the other way...
"Act as if what you do makes a difference.
It does."
~William James
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
...come higher...
something way down deep inside you knows
beyond every nagging voice of doubt, disappointment and fear
that there is meant to be MORE in this life...
more than frustrated, dull days of repetitious duties,
pointless conversations,
shallow love,
petty issues,
making ends meet....
something way down deep inside you is crying out for LIFE, ADVENTURE, PURPOSE and MAJESTY.
that is the voice of God.
that is Him saying, "I created you for something GREATER.
I did not create you to exist... I created you to LIVE!
see past what your eyes tell you... look into My realm...
see things from My perspective...
you are called to make a difference.
you are called to BE different."
your circumstances don't need to change...
it's time for YOU to change....
rise UP!!! rise UP!!! RISE UP!!!!!!
there is so much more!!
there is so much more than confused attempts at significance!
there is so much more than horrid cycles of sin!
there is so much more than human wisdom, earthly perspective and fleshly pursuits!
come higher...come higher....
COME HIGHER!!!
listen to that little voice...listen to the whisper
listen to the yearning desire that you so easily wave away as lofty ambitions
DREAM AGAIN.
DREAM AGAIN!
DREAM AGAIN!!!!!!
come on! you KNOW you were meant for more!
the past may tell you don't qualify,
the present may tell you it's impossible,
and even the future may tell you it's hopeless...
but the Cross of Calvary is shouting out,
there. is. a. way.
it may be a quiet shout, but it's persistent...
when the voices of failure, hurt, bitterness and hopelesness stop to catch their breath
the TRUTH is still speaking, for HE never stops.
you were made for more...
you were made for more...
you can be more...
....come higher.....
beyond every nagging voice of doubt, disappointment and fear
that there is meant to be MORE in this life...
more than frustrated, dull days of repetitious duties,
pointless conversations,
shallow love,
petty issues,
making ends meet....
something way down deep inside you is crying out for LIFE, ADVENTURE, PURPOSE and MAJESTY.
that is the voice of God.
that is Him saying, "I created you for something GREATER.
I did not create you to exist... I created you to LIVE!
see past what your eyes tell you... look into My realm...
see things from My perspective...
you are called to make a difference.
you are called to BE different."
your circumstances don't need to change...
it's time for YOU to change....
rise UP!!! rise UP!!! RISE UP!!!!!!
there is so much more!!
there is so much more than confused attempts at significance!
there is so much more than horrid cycles of sin!
there is so much more than human wisdom, earthly perspective and fleshly pursuits!
come higher...come higher....
COME HIGHER!!!
listen to that little voice...listen to the whisper
listen to the yearning desire that you so easily wave away as lofty ambitions
DREAM AGAIN.
DREAM AGAIN!
DREAM AGAIN!!!!!!
come on! you KNOW you were meant for more!
the past may tell you don't qualify,
the present may tell you it's impossible,
and even the future may tell you it's hopeless...
but the Cross of Calvary is shouting out,
there. is. a. way.
it may be a quiet shout, but it's persistent...
when the voices of failure, hurt, bitterness and hopelesness stop to catch their breath
the TRUTH is still speaking, for HE never stops.
you were made for more...
you were made for more...
you can be more...
....come higher.....
Thursday, August 25, 2011
..but without love...
when you stop to think about what marks us as followers of Jesus Christ, it's not signs and wonders, miracles, amazing giftings, talent or abilities...
"your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples.”
- john 13:35 (new living translation)
love is the hallmark of the believer of Jesus.
love is what sets us apart as His.
love is what identifies us as His followers.
love is the proof and the evidence that we belong to Him.
love - a word we so often mistake for romance, lust, fluttery feelings, comfort, ease, preferences...
love is giving when it's easier to keep.
forgiving when we'd rather hold a grudge.
believing when it's easier to give up.
smiling when we'd rather frown.
serving when it's easier to demand.
sacrificing when we'd rather hold back.
showing kindness when it's easier to show justice.
in fact... 1 corinthians says that i could do AMAZING THINGS for God (eg. give away EVERYTHING i have to the poor, even be a martyr!), BUT without love... it's nothing.
the absence of love negates whatever i've done...
if i give without love, the gift is nothing from His point of view.
wow.
"...if i could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, i would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
if i had the gift of prophecy, and if i understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if i had such faith that i could move mountains, but didn’t love others, i would be nothing.
if i gave everything i have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, i could boast about it; but if i didn’t love others, i would have gained nothing.
love is patient and kind.
love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.
it does not demand its own way.
it is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.
it does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins...
love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful,
and endures through every circumstance..."
- 1 corinthians 13 (new living translation)
so take a moment and ask yourself...
if i was to be judged by love alone, how i treat people, my attitude and actions towards others...would the world know i belong to Jesus?
"go after a life of love as if your life depended on it — because it does."
- 1 corinthians 14:1
Thursday, July 14, 2011
...He knows you're hungry...
i love Jesus. as in, a LOT! He is so in tune with what we need. in matthew 15, one of the most beautiful stories of Jesus is told - one that shows how real He is.
"they came...all sorts of people in need...He healed them...but Jesus wasn't finished with them. He called His disciples and said, 'I hurt for these people...they have nothing to eat. I can't send them away without a meal - they'd probably collapse on the road.'" (from matt. 15, the message)
"'I am deeply moved for the crowd...I am not willing to send them away hungry...'" (amplified bible)
honestly, that is one of the most beautiful, caring scriptures in the whole bible to me...He's not willing to send me away hungry. Jesus had been healing people, but, as the message puts it, He wasn't finished them after healing the disabilities... He knew and was aware of the fact that they were hungry. and it stirred sympathy and concern in His heart towards the people.
their hunger caused Him to be moved. not their deep spiritual needs - their fleshly, natural needs. He payed attention. He wasn't disconnected from their reality - yes, they are excited and blessed to be healed...yes, they are willing to follow Him, to walk after Him, to seek and find Him in order to be healed... but that requires energy. and energy is found in food. :)
Jesus knew that without sustenance, their pursuit would be cut short. they would collapse, they would falter....
that's my God. that is my Lord!! He's so AWESOME! He KNOWS we get tired. He KNOWS we are hungry. He KNOWS that even though we are thrilled to be a part of the miraculous, we have everyday, ordinary needs that can distract us from receiving the extraordinary - He knows we need daily bread. rent, school fees, a husband, a wife, a business contract, groceries, parking fees, bus fare, an encouraging word, a smile, a hug.... the basics. the "not so spiritual but still REALLY important" needs! :)
Jesus is not willing to send you away hungry. He's not finished with you. even though big things might be happening, He hurts for you, knowing that you truly want the big things but still need the "small things"... He's not going to finish with the "big stuff" and then leave you frustrated and your needs unmet.
"everyone ate. they had all they wanted." (from matt. 15, the message bible)
isn't He just wonderful?? :)
"they came...all sorts of people in need...He healed them...but Jesus wasn't finished with them. He called His disciples and said, 'I hurt for these people...they have nothing to eat. I can't send them away without a meal - they'd probably collapse on the road.'" (from matt. 15, the message)
"'I am deeply moved for the crowd...I am not willing to send them away hungry...'" (amplified bible)
honestly, that is one of the most beautiful, caring scriptures in the whole bible to me...He's not willing to send me away hungry. Jesus had been healing people, but, as the message puts it, He wasn't finished them after healing the disabilities... He knew and was aware of the fact that they were hungry. and it stirred sympathy and concern in His heart towards the people.
their hunger caused Him to be moved. not their deep spiritual needs - their fleshly, natural needs. He payed attention. He wasn't disconnected from their reality - yes, they are excited and blessed to be healed...yes, they are willing to follow Him, to walk after Him, to seek and find Him in order to be healed... but that requires energy. and energy is found in food. :)
Jesus knew that without sustenance, their pursuit would be cut short. they would collapse, they would falter....
that's my God. that is my Lord!! He's so AWESOME! He KNOWS we get tired. He KNOWS we are hungry. He KNOWS that even though we are thrilled to be a part of the miraculous, we have everyday, ordinary needs that can distract us from receiving the extraordinary - He knows we need daily bread. rent, school fees, a husband, a wife, a business contract, groceries, parking fees, bus fare, an encouraging word, a smile, a hug.... the basics. the "not so spiritual but still REALLY important" needs! :)
Jesus is not willing to send you away hungry. He's not finished with you. even though big things might be happening, He hurts for you, knowing that you truly want the big things but still need the "small things"... He's not going to finish with the "big stuff" and then leave you frustrated and your needs unmet.
"everyone ate. they had all they wanted." (from matt. 15, the message bible)
isn't He just wonderful?? :)
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
don't dig up the beans!
"there is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
...He has made everything beautiful in its time..." - ecc. 3:1-8 & 11
a few days ago, kirk franklin posted this via twitter : "remember: fruit out of season will kill you!" wow.
the one thing that differentiates fruit from being sweet, refreshing, juicy and delicious or being bitter and poisonous is this : the season. the timing.
i've really been challenged in this area of late... allowing God to make things beautiful in their time. it's easy for me to want to rush the process and try to hurry things along... i often feel i have a better sense of timing than God does! ;)
i remember when i was young, i planted some beans in a small pot of soil and placed the pot on my window sill. after a couple of days of faithfully watering and waiting, i couldn't stand the suspense any longer, so i dug around to find the beans so that i could check on the progress. needless to say, not much had happened in two days. i buried them in the soil and again waited...for maybe a day, then i dug around and looked again. this kept going on until finally i killed the all the little plants whose process kept being interupted by this little eager yet ignorant farmer! :) the point is, i wasn't willing to wait for the process to happen naturally... i kept feeling like i could help things along.
this often happens in my life... i sow the seed, and water it but after some days, i start feeling the need to "check on things"...to hurry them along. or, maybe as SOON as i start seeing buds, i harvest too early and instead of yummy fruit, i've got bitter, useless or even dangerous fruit.
it's important to let time do its work. there's a time for everything. and we can make it happen, but only HE can make it beautiful. the right thing at the wrong time is the wrong thing. timing is critical. timing is essential. timing is everything.
"in due time".... a phrase we've heard so often before. how often do you see an expectant mother, who's around her 5th month of pregnancy say, "you know, i'm very tired of morning sickness and swollen ankles - it's time for this baby to come." ??? no, we see mothers valiantly brave every season of carrying that child until the due time.
the baby's arrival is not dependent on the mother's (or father's, for that matter ;)) feelings... the arrival is dependent on the due time for the child... when the process in the womb is complete. it's a process we guard and protect and monitor closely...
i don't know what things you are waiting for...but i do know this... there is a flow when the right time comes. there is a sweetness when the right time comes. there is BEAUTY in the right timing...
and hurrying the process, pushing something out before time, uprooting and replanting over and over will only harm what God intends you to have. don't dig up the beans!! you do your part... plant, water, pull out the weeds, make sure there is sunlight... the rest is up to Him.
daniel 2:20-21a "...blessed be the name of God forever and ever! for wisdom and might are His...He changes the times and the seasons..."
oh Lord, give me the grace to wait patiently for the seeds to grow and mature. give me the wisdom to know the right time to harvest. i pray that i won't despise what i was meant to enjoy simply because i didn't wait for the right timing. You are the Gardener. wisdom and might are Yours. You know what to do... may i follow You. amen.
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
...He has made everything beautiful in its time..." - ecc. 3:1-8 & 11
a few days ago, kirk franklin posted this via twitter : "remember: fruit out of season will kill you!" wow.
the one thing that differentiates fruit from being sweet, refreshing, juicy and delicious or being bitter and poisonous is this : the season. the timing.
i've really been challenged in this area of late... allowing God to make things beautiful in their time. it's easy for me to want to rush the process and try to hurry things along... i often feel i have a better sense of timing than God does! ;)
i remember when i was young, i planted some beans in a small pot of soil and placed the pot on my window sill. after a couple of days of faithfully watering and waiting, i couldn't stand the suspense any longer, so i dug around to find the beans so that i could check on the progress. needless to say, not much had happened in two days. i buried them in the soil and again waited...for maybe a day, then i dug around and looked again. this kept going on until finally i killed the all the little plants whose process kept being interupted by this little eager yet ignorant farmer! :) the point is, i wasn't willing to wait for the process to happen naturally... i kept feeling like i could help things along.
this often happens in my life... i sow the seed, and water it but after some days, i start feeling the need to "check on things"...to hurry them along. or, maybe as SOON as i start seeing buds, i harvest too early and instead of yummy fruit, i've got bitter, useless or even dangerous fruit.
it's important to let time do its work. there's a time for everything. and we can make it happen, but only HE can make it beautiful. the right thing at the wrong time is the wrong thing. timing is critical. timing is essential. timing is everything.
"in due time".... a phrase we've heard so often before. how often do you see an expectant mother, who's around her 5th month of pregnancy say, "you know, i'm very tired of morning sickness and swollen ankles - it's time for this baby to come." ??? no, we see mothers valiantly brave every season of carrying that child until the due time.
the baby's arrival is not dependent on the mother's (or father's, for that matter ;)) feelings... the arrival is dependent on the due time for the child... when the process in the womb is complete. it's a process we guard and protect and monitor closely...
i don't know what things you are waiting for...but i do know this... there is a flow when the right time comes. there is a sweetness when the right time comes. there is BEAUTY in the right timing...
and hurrying the process, pushing something out before time, uprooting and replanting over and over will only harm what God intends you to have. don't dig up the beans!! you do your part... plant, water, pull out the weeds, make sure there is sunlight... the rest is up to Him.
daniel 2:20-21a "...blessed be the name of God forever and ever! for wisdom and might are His...He changes the times and the seasons..."
oh Lord, give me the grace to wait patiently for the seeds to grow and mature. give me the wisdom to know the right time to harvest. i pray that i won't despise what i was meant to enjoy simply because i didn't wait for the right timing. You are the Gardener. wisdom and might are Yours. You know what to do... may i follow You. amen.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
expand your praise language
a few weeks ago, in one of our sunday morning services, we had a guest speaker who really challenged me... the word he ministered was powerful, but there was one moment in the service that really stood out to me. he was just describing the Lord, and the words and phrases he used were so fresh and alive and new and i was so impacted and inspired hearing him.
you might be different, but i find that, for me, it's easy to get into a rut of always saying the same things to the Lord. whenever it's time to "sing a new song," i find myself singing the same things over and over... "i love You, Lord. i glorify Your Name. i say that You are worthy. You're an awesome God. You're a faithful God... hallelujah! hallelujah!"
understand, i MEAN what i'm saying... it's very genuine and very sincere... but in hearing this man of God use so many beautiful words and phrases, i was challenged to expand my praise language. to think of new things to say... or new ways to say them...or really understand what i've been saying all this time.
often we can say POWERFUL THINGS without really thinking (or maybe even knowing) what exactly we're saying... we don't take time to PONDER the POWER of our proclamations.
for example... the word "magnify." we say this a lot in worship. but do we really think about what it means? the definition is "to make great, or greater than; to amplify; to enlarge; to increase the importance of; to increase in significance; to maximize."
wow. so when we say, "i magnify You, Lord," THIS is what we're saying...
"Lord... in this moment of worship, i'm putting the focus on You. i am choosing to increase Your importance in my estimation... You are more important than the situations i'm facing right now. You're more significant than the bills. You are larger than those things. You are greater than the sickness i'm battling. i'm amplifying Your provision over my need. i'm maximizing Your power over every problem. You are bigger. You are greater. You are stronger. You are HUGE, God..."
another thing is the names of God... we often call Him Lord, God, Jesus, Master, Father, Father God, Holy, Worthy....
and again, they are all TRUE and GOOD and RIGHT...
but sometimes i need to remember that He is...
my Advocate (1 John 2:1)... i worship You today as my Advocate, Jesus! thank You for defending me from the opposition that has risen against me. thank You for representing me!
my Foundation (Isaiah 28:16)... Jesus, the winds of change and the storms of trial are blowing against me, but i can still REJOICE ("be glad, happy, jubilant, and celebrate") because You are my FOUNDATION... You are my ROCK (1 Corinthians 10:4) and You cannot be shaken... because i'm fixed on You, even I will not be shaken!!!
i want to challenge you to do the same... it'll make your praise so much more ALIVE!! involve your mind and consciously THINK about what you're saying to God when you sing a new song, or when you're just loving on Him... don't repeat the same phrases over and over simply because it's what you grew up hearing and it's just "what you say." even those phrases, take time to think through the POWER of what you're declaring.
simply saying, "dear Heavenly Father," when you start to pray...
did you hear what you just declared???
DEAR - "beloved, adored, cherished, precious, esteemed, close, intimate"
HEAVENLY - "not of this world, perfect"
FATHER - "a man who has continuous care of a child, esp. by adoption; a man who gives care and protection to someone or something"
because of the precious blood of Jesus, you now can call the Creator of stars and the Maker of galaxies your DAD!!! He's PERFECT... don't judge your Heavenly Father by your earthly experiences or human encounters. He will CONTINUOUSLY care for you, He's adopted you into His family, He'll protect You, He's intimately acquainted with you and your personality!! He's worthy of being adored and cherished and esteemed! He's a Father Who is CLOSE to you... not far off and uninvolved...
stop and THINK about the things you always say. and learn some new "love language" to tell Him!! it'll bring REVIVAL to your relationship with the Lord.
to start you off, i've copied and pasted what i've been using the past few days... i hope it helps you!
much love,
rebekah
(by the way... these are 100 different names/attributes of God (though there are more in Scripture)... if you spent just five minutes appreciating and thinking about each one, that would be almost 8 1/2 hours of praising different aspects of God!! or if you took one a day to focus on, you'd praise for about 3 months without repeating!!)
NAMES OF GOD
Advocate - 1 John 2:1
Almighty - Revelation 1:8
Author and Finisher of our Faith - Hebrews 12:2
Bread of Life - John 6:48
Bright and Morning Star - Revelation 22:16
Captain of The Lord's Army - Joshua 5:14
Captain of Salvation - Hebrews 2:10
Chief Shepherd - 1 Peter 5:4
Cornerstone - 1 Peter 2:6; Ephesians 2:20
Commander - Isaiah 55:4
Counselor - Isaiah 9:6
Deliverer - Romans 11:26
Desire of the Nations - Haggai 2:7
The Door - John 10:7
Emmanuel - Isaiah 7:14
Eternal Life - 1 John 5:20
Everlasting Father - Isaiah 9:6
Faithful and True - Revelations 19:11
The Faithful Witness - Revelations 1:5
First and Last - Revelation 1:17
Foundation - Isaiah 28:16
Friend of sinners - Matther 11:19
Gift of God - John 4:10
God of the whole earth - Isaiah 45:15
God with us - Matthew 1:23
Good Master - Matthew 19:16
High Priest - Hebrews 4:14
Holy One - Psalms 16:10
Our Hope - 1 Timothy 1:1
I AM - John 8:58
Judge - Acts 10:42
Lamb of God - John 1:29
Leader - Isaiah 55:4
Everlasting Light - Isaiah 60:20
Light of the world - John 8:12
The Living Bread - John 6:51
The Living Stone - 1 Peter 2:4
The Lord of All - Acts 10:36
Lord of all Lords - Revelation 17:14
The Lord, mighty in battle - Paslms 24:8
Lord God Almighty - Revelation 15:3
The Lord of Glory - James 2:1
The Lord, Strong and Mighty - Psalms 24:8
The Lord, my Redeemer - Isaiah 43:14
Master - Matthew 23:8
The Only Mediator - 1 Timothy 2:5
Messiah - John 1:41
Mighty God - Isaiah 9:6
Mighty One of Israel - Isaiah 30:29
Mighty to save - Isaiah 63:1
Most mighty - Psalms 45:3
Only wise God - Jude 1:25
Physician - Matthew 9:12
Priest - Hebrews 7:17
Prince of Life - Acts 3:15
Propitiation (our sin-offering) - 1 John 2:2
Ransom - 1 Timonthy 2:6
The Resurrection and the Life - John 11:25
Our Redemption and Righteousness - 1 Corinthians 1:30
Righteous Servant - Isaiah 53:11
Rock - 1 Corinthians 10:4
Salvation - Luke 2:30
Sanctification - 1 Corinthians 1:30
Savior - Luke 2:11
Savior of the world - 1 John 4:14
Seed of David - 2 Timothy 2:8
Servant - Isaiah 42:1
Shepherd - Mark 14:27
Shepherd and Overseer of our souls - 1 Peter 2:25
Chief Shepherd - 1 Peter 5:4
Good Shepherd - John 10:11
Great Shepherd - Hebrews 13:20
Surety (Guarantee) - Hebrews 7:22
Teacher - John 3:2
True God - 1 John 5:20
True Vine - John 15:1
The Truth - John 14:6
Unspeakable Gift - 2 Corinthians 9:15
The Way - John 14:6
Wisdom - Proverbs 8:12
Witness - Revelation 1:5
Wonderful - Isaiah 9:6
The Word - John 1:1
Word of God - Revelation 19:13
Word of Life - 1 John 1:1
Adonai-Jehovah -- The Lord our Sovereign
El-Elyon -- The Lord Most High
El-Olam -- The Everlasting God
El-Shaddai -- The God Who is Sufficient for the Needs of His People
Jehovah-Elohim -- The Eternal Creator
Jehovah-Jireh -- The Lord our Provider
Jehovah-Nissi -- The Lord our Banner
Jehovah-Rapha -- The Lord our Healer
Jehovah-Shalom -- The Lord our Peace
Jehovah-M'Kaddesh -- The Lord our Sanctifier
Jehovah-Sabaoth -- The Lord of Hosts
Jehovah-Shammah -- The Lord is Present
Jehovah-Rohi -- The Lord our Shepherd
Jehovah-Hoseenu -- The Lord our Maker
Jehovah-Eloheenu -- The Lord our God
you might be different, but i find that, for me, it's easy to get into a rut of always saying the same things to the Lord. whenever it's time to "sing a new song," i find myself singing the same things over and over... "i love You, Lord. i glorify Your Name. i say that You are worthy. You're an awesome God. You're a faithful God... hallelujah! hallelujah!"
understand, i MEAN what i'm saying... it's very genuine and very sincere... but in hearing this man of God use so many beautiful words and phrases, i was challenged to expand my praise language. to think of new things to say... or new ways to say them...or really understand what i've been saying all this time.
often we can say POWERFUL THINGS without really thinking (or maybe even knowing) what exactly we're saying... we don't take time to PONDER the POWER of our proclamations.
for example... the word "magnify." we say this a lot in worship. but do we really think about what it means? the definition is "to make great, or greater than; to amplify; to enlarge; to increase the importance of; to increase in significance; to maximize."
wow. so when we say, "i magnify You, Lord," THIS is what we're saying...
"Lord... in this moment of worship, i'm putting the focus on You. i am choosing to increase Your importance in my estimation... You are more important than the situations i'm facing right now. You're more significant than the bills. You are larger than those things. You are greater than the sickness i'm battling. i'm amplifying Your provision over my need. i'm maximizing Your power over every problem. You are bigger. You are greater. You are stronger. You are HUGE, God..."
another thing is the names of God... we often call Him Lord, God, Jesus, Master, Father, Father God, Holy, Worthy....
and again, they are all TRUE and GOOD and RIGHT...
but sometimes i need to remember that He is...
my Advocate (1 John 2:1)... i worship You today as my Advocate, Jesus! thank You for defending me from the opposition that has risen against me. thank You for representing me!
my Foundation (Isaiah 28:16)... Jesus, the winds of change and the storms of trial are blowing against me, but i can still REJOICE ("be glad, happy, jubilant, and celebrate") because You are my FOUNDATION... You are my ROCK (1 Corinthians 10:4) and You cannot be shaken... because i'm fixed on You, even I will not be shaken!!!
i want to challenge you to do the same... it'll make your praise so much more ALIVE!! involve your mind and consciously THINK about what you're saying to God when you sing a new song, or when you're just loving on Him... don't repeat the same phrases over and over simply because it's what you grew up hearing and it's just "what you say." even those phrases, take time to think through the POWER of what you're declaring.
simply saying, "dear Heavenly Father," when you start to pray...
did you hear what you just declared???
DEAR - "beloved, adored, cherished, precious, esteemed, close, intimate"
HEAVENLY - "not of this world, perfect"
FATHER - "a man who has continuous care of a child, esp. by adoption; a man who gives care and protection to someone or something"
because of the precious blood of Jesus, you now can call the Creator of stars and the Maker of galaxies your DAD!!! He's PERFECT... don't judge your Heavenly Father by your earthly experiences or human encounters. He will CONTINUOUSLY care for you, He's adopted you into His family, He'll protect You, He's intimately acquainted with you and your personality!! He's worthy of being adored and cherished and esteemed! He's a Father Who is CLOSE to you... not far off and uninvolved...
stop and THINK about the things you always say. and learn some new "love language" to tell Him!! it'll bring REVIVAL to your relationship with the Lord.
to start you off, i've copied and pasted what i've been using the past few days... i hope it helps you!
much love,
rebekah
(by the way... these are 100 different names/attributes of God (though there are more in Scripture)... if you spent just five minutes appreciating and thinking about each one, that would be almost 8 1/2 hours of praising different aspects of God!! or if you took one a day to focus on, you'd praise for about 3 months without repeating!!)
NAMES OF GOD
Advocate - 1 John 2:1
Almighty - Revelation 1:8
Author and Finisher of our Faith - Hebrews 12:2
Bread of Life - John 6:48
Bright and Morning Star - Revelation 22:16
Captain of The Lord's Army - Joshua 5:14
Captain of Salvation - Hebrews 2:10
Chief Shepherd - 1 Peter 5:4
Cornerstone - 1 Peter 2:6; Ephesians 2:20
Commander - Isaiah 55:4
Counselor - Isaiah 9:6
Deliverer - Romans 11:26
Desire of the Nations - Haggai 2:7
The Door - John 10:7
Emmanuel - Isaiah 7:14
Eternal Life - 1 John 5:20
Everlasting Father - Isaiah 9:6
Faithful and True - Revelations 19:11
The Faithful Witness - Revelations 1:5
First and Last - Revelation 1:17
Foundation - Isaiah 28:16
Friend of sinners - Matther 11:19
Gift of God - John 4:10
God of the whole earth - Isaiah 45:15
God with us - Matthew 1:23
Good Master - Matthew 19:16
High Priest - Hebrews 4:14
Holy One - Psalms 16:10
Our Hope - 1 Timothy 1:1
I AM - John 8:58
Judge - Acts 10:42
Lamb of God - John 1:29
Leader - Isaiah 55:4
Everlasting Light - Isaiah 60:20
Light of the world - John 8:12
The Living Bread - John 6:51
The Living Stone - 1 Peter 2:4
The Lord of All - Acts 10:36
Lord of all Lords - Revelation 17:14
The Lord, mighty in battle - Paslms 24:8
Lord God Almighty - Revelation 15:3
The Lord of Glory - James 2:1
The Lord, Strong and Mighty - Psalms 24:8
The Lord, my Redeemer - Isaiah 43:14
Master - Matthew 23:8
The Only Mediator - 1 Timothy 2:5
Messiah - John 1:41
Mighty God - Isaiah 9:6
Mighty One of Israel - Isaiah 30:29
Mighty to save - Isaiah 63:1
Most mighty - Psalms 45:3
Only wise God - Jude 1:25
Physician - Matthew 9:12
Priest - Hebrews 7:17
Prince of Life - Acts 3:15
Propitiation (our sin-offering) - 1 John 2:2
Ransom - 1 Timonthy 2:6
The Resurrection and the Life - John 11:25
Our Redemption and Righteousness - 1 Corinthians 1:30
Righteous Servant - Isaiah 53:11
Rock - 1 Corinthians 10:4
Salvation - Luke 2:30
Sanctification - 1 Corinthians 1:30
Savior - Luke 2:11
Savior of the world - 1 John 4:14
Seed of David - 2 Timothy 2:8
Servant - Isaiah 42:1
Shepherd - Mark 14:27
Shepherd and Overseer of our souls - 1 Peter 2:25
Chief Shepherd - 1 Peter 5:4
Good Shepherd - John 10:11
Great Shepherd - Hebrews 13:20
Surety (Guarantee) - Hebrews 7:22
Teacher - John 3:2
True God - 1 John 5:20
True Vine - John 15:1
The Truth - John 14:6
Unspeakable Gift - 2 Corinthians 9:15
The Way - John 14:6
Wisdom - Proverbs 8:12
Witness - Revelation 1:5
Wonderful - Isaiah 9:6
The Word - John 1:1
Word of God - Revelation 19:13
Word of Life - 1 John 1:1
Adonai-Jehovah -- The Lord our Sovereign
El-Elyon -- The Lord Most High
El-Olam -- The Everlasting God
El-Shaddai -- The God Who is Sufficient for the Needs of His People
Jehovah-Elohim -- The Eternal Creator
Jehovah-Jireh -- The Lord our Provider
Jehovah-Nissi -- The Lord our Banner
Jehovah-Rapha -- The Lord our Healer
Jehovah-Shalom -- The Lord our Peace
Jehovah-M'Kaddesh -- The Lord our Sanctifier
Jehovah-Sabaoth -- The Lord of Hosts
Jehovah-Shammah -- The Lord is Present
Jehovah-Rohi -- The Lord our Shepherd
Jehovah-Hoseenu -- The Lord our Maker
Jehovah-Eloheenu -- The Lord our God
Thursday, March 10, 2011
the power of perspective
it's nothing new - i've heard it many times, yet i always need to be reminded when facing something big. everything is relative. if you're standing in front of a massive boulder that weighs a thousand pounds, well...it could be intimidating. and make you feel weak. and small. and insignificant. but if you're taken up to the top of mount kilimanjaro and then look at the boulder from THAT perspective...well first of all, can you even SEE the boulder from that high up? if you could, it would be a speck! a tiny dot! that huge thing that had freaked you out before is now laughable and not worth bothering over.
all it takes is a change of perspective.
to change your perspective, change your position.
"look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ...see things from His perspective."
- colossians 3:3 (the message)
look up...look up... see things from His perspective. that's powerful. and simple.
this is one of the reasons i LOVE and NEED to worship and praise God. psalm 100:2 says "...sing yourselves into His presence." (the message) on my own, looking at bills, broken relationships, sickness, hurt, confusion... well, it's the big boulder in front of me. it's a LOT of big boulders. all too big for me to do much about... all intimidating, all making me feel weak and overwhelmed.
but in the arms of Jesus...standing by the Maker of Stars, the One who just SPEAKS and worlds are formed, the One Who cures blindness with mud, the One Who defeated death itself, the One Who is Good and Goodness, the Amazing Counselor, Strong God, Eternal Father, Prince of Wholeness (is.9:2) ... now it's different. now what was once too big is DWARFED by the shadow of Who is BIGGEST.
look up.
sing yourself into His presence.
in His presence is FULLNESS of joy.
everything changes when you see it from His perspective...
everything is relative.
what you're facing may be huge.
God is bigger. by far.
He wins.
don't let the bully on the school playground mess with you anymore...
the Principal of the whole school is your Dad!
:)
all it takes is a change of perspective.
to change your perspective, change your position.
"look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ...see things from His perspective."
- colossians 3:3 (the message)
look up...look up... see things from His perspective. that's powerful. and simple.
this is one of the reasons i LOVE and NEED to worship and praise God. psalm 100:2 says "...sing yourselves into His presence." (the message) on my own, looking at bills, broken relationships, sickness, hurt, confusion... well, it's the big boulder in front of me. it's a LOT of big boulders. all too big for me to do much about... all intimidating, all making me feel weak and overwhelmed.
but in the arms of Jesus...standing by the Maker of Stars, the One who just SPEAKS and worlds are formed, the One Who cures blindness with mud, the One Who defeated death itself, the One Who is Good and Goodness, the Amazing Counselor, Strong God, Eternal Father, Prince of Wholeness (is.9:2) ... now it's different. now what was once too big is DWARFED by the shadow of Who is BIGGEST.
look up.
sing yourself into His presence.
in His presence is FULLNESS of joy.
everything changes when you see it from His perspective...
everything is relative.
what you're facing may be huge.
God is bigger. by far.
He wins.
don't let the bully on the school playground mess with you anymore...
the Principal of the whole school is your Dad!
:)
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