Tag Archives: worship

Intimacy

What if a married couple was passionately intimate with each other every morning and every night, without fail?

Do you know how SATISFIED that dude would be? He would never have reason to think about anything or anyone else. He would be satisfied, content, at PEACE constantly.

What if our relationship with God were that way? What if we truly followed the Psalmist’s example of meditating on God day and night? You’d be constant, unwavering, solid, like an oak.

Intimacy creates a bond like none other. There’s a deepness that I cannot put into words, but a lightness that de-stresses and gives peace.

I think about the way I feel after an incredible time of passionate intimacy with my wife and how wonderfully exhausted I am afterward and that feeling is extremely similar to the way I feel when I give my all in worship–when I let go of everything else and give God my entire self, it wears me out.

Intimacy.

It is a good thing.

Yea. I said it! ;)

ATTIC,
Steve

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Worship Music and S.O.B.’s

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I listened to the Relevant Podcast, which included some worship music by Daniel Bashta on the way to work this morning. To be honest, I listened because Rita Springer was singing with Bashta and she is one of my faves.

Anyways, I arrived at work and proceeded to get all my junk out of the car: two water bottles, a bowl of soup, a cup of coffee, a piece of cornbread, my time sheet, iPhone, and a banana.

And I didn’t have a bag.

See where this one’s headed?

Water down the shirt.

Coffee down the pants.

Yea. The crotch.

And me, placing everything on the sidewalk and whispering under my breath, “son of a b!+€h”!

Ugh.

Why did I say that?

So here’s my question, did that phrase of three words cancel out my 45 minutes of worship on the way to work?

Can a few words, uttered in frustration, nullify the work and the relationship I have with Abba?

UH-OH. I FEEL A SOAPBOX COMING ON…

CS Lewis said, “We can no more diminish God’s glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling ‘darkness’ in his cell”.

If you think for one second that we have the power to nullify our relationship with God by a few silly words or deeds, you are sadly mistaken.

I go back to unconditional love.

RADICAL grace.

News flash: you are NOT that powerful.

If you think that your words or deeds are more dynamic than the amazing love and mercy of God, you are sadly mistaken.

His love knows no bounds.

His mercy never fails.

His grace is unending.

ATTIC,
Steve

Mighty Wave

Current favorite song:

Mighty Wave by Sarah Reeves

You know me in and out and lovely are your thoughts about me.
How great is mercy. You chose me though I am unworthy.
All that is within me – cries you are holy.

Even when I’m walking through the valley of death.
Even when I’m broken and nothing is left – you lead me on… you lead me on.

So I’ll pour my tears in the ocean. And I’ll leave my pain by the shore.
With your mighty wave you’ll sweep them away, till they are no more.

You hide me – in your wings and carry, – all my fears and worries -You lift the lowly.
You wrap me in your arms of safety – When the battle’s raging – you’re fighting for me.

Even when I’m walking through the valley of death.
Even when I’m broken and nothing is left – you lead me on… you lead me on.

So I’ll pour my tears in the ocean. And I’ll leave my pain by the shore.
With your mighty wave you’ll sweep them away, till they are no more.

There’s freedom from my past – And there’s hope in my future
You are my today and you are my forever!

So I’ll pour my tears in the ocean And I’ll leave my pain by the shore.
And with a mighty wave, you’ll sweep them away, till they are no more.
You’ll sweep them to the ocean floor.

Happy Sunday!

–Steve

GOD LOVES TEENAGERS!

Raped Worship

A pastor friend of mine coined this phrase, “raped worship”, so I can’t take credit for it.

Why did it make enough of an impact on me to share it with all of you?

Because he was exactly right!

My friend told a story of leading worship in a contemporary worship service for the youth group one night.  He typically would encourage the teenagers in various forms of worship, such as, “stand with me” or “put your hands together” or “praise the Lord with me” or “raise your hands”…

But one night, it was different.  He felt as if he heard the voice of God saying…

“Stop raping my children!” 

“What, God?!  What on earth do You mean?!”, he responded.

“Stop telling them how to worship Me.  Forced love is rape.”

Have you ever been in a worship service like that, where the worship leader would strongly encourage (or almost command) you to do a certain thing during the praise and worship time?  I must confess: I’m a rebel.  If someone tells me what I should be doing, I will refuse all-the-more.

Abba knows my heart.

Your Heavenly Father knows your heart.

Man looks at the outward appearance, but God is only concerned with your level of intimacy with Him on a personal level, no matter what that looks like.

So don’t stress yourself over feeling like your worship has to look a certain way.

God knows your heart.

Matthew 11:28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

–Steve

GOD LOVES TEENAGERS

Not Stealing My Worship

Remember, Wednesday, we talked about Job and how conflict proves your character?

Studying more about Job this week and thinking more about one statement I made Wednesday night, I have an idea about why Satan killed Job’s animals first.

Why is it significant?  Who really cares about cows, horses, sheep, etc.?  We just think of them for food….but back in the day, animals were their food, their transportation, a huge part of their economy…and MORE IMPORTANTLY, for a righteous man like Job, animals were a HUGE part of his WORSHIP.

Remember, this is long before Jesus’ beautiful exchange on the Cross…this is during the time of animal sacrifice.  So my thought is this…it’s possible that Satan thought that if he could steal Job’s animals, he could quiet his song and rob Job of his worship!  IT DIDN’T WORK!!!

Would Satan be successful in stealing your worship?  When hard times come, you’re bummed up, beat up, and burned out, do you stop worshipping?  Do you cease to sing your songs of joy and praise in God?

SATAN IS NOT STEALING MY WORSHIP!!!