Teens and Contemporary Worship

Tonight I had an opportunity to share with teenagers the love of Christ. We were talking about how and if we hear God talking to us, and I shared that while praying after the worship music that God touched my heart and revealed to me that I should love everyone who was there...as nobody was there against their will. To my surprise, when I shared that God spoke to me, inquiring minds wanted to know what God sounded like. I believe that in sharing that experience with the kids some were moved to listen to that quiet voice, discounting it as not being mere conscience...but the actual voice of God. A few hung around afterwards sharing how they thought they were nuts thinking they heard God telling them to do this or that...or refrain from things. It was awesome. I found myself cultivating a new, deep love for fellow worshipers, regardless of age. It was too cool.

In Awe of The Christ Child

December 25 is the day we celebrate the birth of Our Saviour. It is the day we recognize that the world would never be the same without Him. For me, it is as if I'm there, a shepherd, spoken to by angels, rushing to behold first hand this great moment. Jesus is born.

Two thousand years later, it is as if I'm there. The miracle of birth. The miracle of miracles, that God would become man...no...a vulnerable infant. At a time when most newborns barely have a chance, this child comes to the world triumphant from the moment of birth...no...conception. The prophecies are fulfilled this night.

With His birth, comes a rebirth in me. With His birth, comes new hope, new direction, a new future...because God became man at this time. And the Gospels of Matthew and Luke give every detail.

May we all gain a new, refreshed, perspective on Christmas this year. May we be humbled by the reminder that God became flesh so that He could better appreciate our lots in life. May we be drawn closer to Him by virtue of Him trusting Himself to mere humans for nurturing and upbringing. I am renewed at this very Christmas. I am renewed in 2007. God became man for me...and for you. Let us not forget this.

May the joy of being a Christian envelope, surround, and uplift each of us in our faith, and move us to share this glorious event to those who do not know of it.

In the name of The Most Holy One I pray....on Christmas day...I pray.
Amen.

We take a back seat to God's itenerary

Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above.
With wisdom, power and love,
Our God is an awesome God.

Those were the words sung at tonight's praise and worship service. They were sang at the beginning and the end...and they are so true! Our God is an awesome God.

What can be added to that? I can add that two people were changed forevermore with their love for Christ. They came to the alter and prayed. They prayed like they never-before have prayed. I was moved to pray with them both and each said that they have lived without Christ in their lives until now. I'm so awed by how He shows Himself to each individual, one at a time. Our God, is an awesome God.
In the love of Christ..
Marty

To Whom Do We Pray

In a discussion group the other day we were studying how and to whom we pray...or should pray. It was interesting to draw distinctions about the triune godhead, and in making that distinction, coming to some conclusion as to where our prayers should be directed. The upshot to all this is that we pray to God, the father, in the name of the son, Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit. In the past that was a difficult notion for me having been raised Roman Catholic, where it is common practice to pray to saints, that they will appeal to Jesus, who in turn appeals to The Father on our behalf. Those RC roots instill a sense of timidity such that one may not feel worthy of appealing to God, the father, directly.

As a proud protestant, I now look to Jesus as my high priest. I no longer feel timid such that I need anyone other than Jesus to intervene on my behalf. Most of the time I hearken back to the words of Christ when he said that when I ask things of The Father, in His name, my prayers will be heard. That tells me to direct my prayers to God, the father, in the name of Jesus.

There's a freedom that comes from this realization. And a power. If one embraces the words of Christ, He always said that nothing He did was of himself, rather, it was doing the will of The Father. And when asked, "how should we pray", the prayer we call The Lord's Prayer was His response.

This contemplation may seem juvenile but for me, of late, it's been a revelation in my spirit...an empowerment in my ministry...and an enlightenment in my intellect that has been long overdue. Praise God, the father, in the name of Jesus Christ, the son, through the power of the Holy Spirit...amen.

Moved by Praise and Worship

Tonight, I saw the faces of young and old, praising and worshiping our Risen Saviour. I was moved to see arms lifted in praise, arms lifted in worship, arms lifted in deep, personal praise. Did I say I was moved?

Our little church has opened it's doors to those who want to come together in praise and worship. I saw it again tonight. There were only 40 there, but it could have been hundreds and the feeling of praise for Jesus would have not been anyway diminished. I was awed.

I encourage all who may read this blog to open your doors to praise and worship experiences. They are wonderful and at the same time without explanation. Praising God is a wonderful thing. It is never without the expression of glory to the name....glory to the purpose...never without granting that God loves us more than we can know. Praise and worship HIM...and you will never fall short. Praise Him!