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The Heart of Worship

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by Graham Mol

The Heart of Worship by Matt Redman is one of those timeless classic worship songs that many of us love and sing today. The combination of sincere heartfelt words and the simple melody has spoken to so many believers, reminding them of what is actually important when it comes to worshipping the Lord. It is no wonder that such a song has a meaningful story behind it.

Back in the 1990s, Matt Redman’s home church, Soul Survivor, in Watford, England was experience a period of apathy. A musical worship revival was happening in the country and they were struggling to find meaning in their own music at the time.

“There was a dynamic missing, so the pastor did a pretty brave thing,” [Redman] recalls. “He decided to get rid of the sound system and band for a season, and we gathered together with just our voices. His point was that we’d lost our way in worship, and the way to get back to the heart would be to strip everything away.”

Reminding his church family to be producers in worship, not just consumers, the pastor, Mike Pilavachi, asked, “When you come through the doors on a Sunday, what are you bringing as your offering to God?”

(D. Schrader, Song Story: Matt Redman’s “The Heart of Worship”)

In grappling with an answer to this challenging question people broke into a cappella songs and prayers. They experienced the Lord in new way. This began a new journey of worship as they added back the other elements, not losing sight of the fact that worship is all about Jesus. Worship is our response to Him, who He is and His incredible love for us.

Matt Redman went to write a song about his experience of what had happened to their congregation. This song would become what we know today: The Heart of Worship.

Although it was never the intention, the song went on to be sung in thousands of churches as people connected with the simple truth of the words. It voiced what we all long for – to bring something that is of worth, more than a song itself but true heartfelt worship.

I have often found it helpful to sing The Heart of Worship reminding me of what is truly important when we come to worship the Lord. When all the extra stuff is stripped away, and we simply come before Jesus. It’s all about Him, that is the heart of worship.

God Bless
Graham

The Heart of Worship

When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that’s of worth
That will bless Your heart

I’ll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You’re looking into my heart

I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about You, it’s all about You, Jesus
I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it
When it’s all about You, it’s all about You, Jesus

King of endless worth
No one could express
How much you deserve
Though I’m weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Every single breath!

I’ll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You’re looking into my heart, yeah

I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about You, it’s all about You, Jesus
I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it
When it’s all about You, it’s all about You, Jesus
I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about You, it’s all about You, Jesus
I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it
When it’s all about You, it’s all about You, Jesus

Continue ReadingThe Heart of Worship

Live Where You Live

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by Calven Celliers

There is apparently an old proverb that says, “The goat must browse where she is tied.” Can’t say I have ever heard it before, but it was quoted in an article that I recently read, and my blog today is based primarily on that article by Scott Hubbard because it really challenged me about how distant I can be to those around me, even when I’m present and in their midst.

“Once upon a time, people had no choice but to live where they lived. Humans in the past, finding themselves bound to a local place and local people, lived and laughed and loved there. They spent their seventy or eighty years within limits that would feel to us remarkably narrow. The world was a much smaller place than it is today. This is not meant to make us nostalgic of a bygone time, it’s meant to challenge us about how we get to the point where we know our neighbours on social media better than our neighbours next door? Why are we often more aware of the happenings in far off places than the happenings in our church or community? And what are the consequences of browsing where we’re not tied — of living where we aren’t?

Many of us strain our eyes toward the ends of the earth — and miss this little patch of earth called here. Like a man who mistakes binoculars for eyeglasses, we often know more about distant matters than about the needs, struggles, joys, and griefs of the ordinary people nearby; we become strangers at home. Trying to live both here and there causes us to end up living nowhere well. We all know the frustration of being with someone whose phone seems strapped to their hand. Every minute or so, their eyes dart down, their thumb scrolls, their laughter and grunts of acknowledgment to what we’re saying go on autopilot. Their body is here, but their mind is there.

We walk with heads down trotting the globe on our devices while trampling flowers at home. Living where we are makes the world big again. It awakens us to the everyday wonders in our homes, neighbourhoods, and churches. It reminds us that the most exciting and urgent matters happen not on screens, but in the successes and struggles of the ordinary brothers and sisters in our small group. It frees us to finally explore the galaxy of glories found here, in this small frame of God’s creation, where the heavens declare his glory, creation chants his praise, and immortal souls live and walk and laugh and weep.

“So live where you are: not because home is the most remarkable place on earth, but because God placed you there.”
(Scott Hubbard – Live where you live)

The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence. What really challenged me about this article is that it revealed something about me: I am no longer accustomed to an unplugged life. While I stay entertained, informed, and socially connected, I miss the people right in front of me. With the world at my fingertips, life happens around me, and I stand the risk of missing out on the world before me. And I suspect I’m not alone. Do you find it difficult to be fully present? Do pings and flashing messages draw you away from your people? And it needn’t just be your phone that is distracting you from truly living where you are. For some it might be television, or a jam-packed schedule.

Even without modern technology, distractions were inherent in Jesus’s ministry. Go and read Matthew 9 for yourself. It gives us an example of Jesus’ typical day. While in the middle of a discussion about His identity with John’s disciples, a local ruler named Jairus cut in and asked Him to heal his sick daughter. He was interrupted again as He travelled to Jairus’s house. A sick woman touched His hem. He stopped and spoke to her. After healing the woman, Jesus went to Jairus’s house, where He took the dead girl’s hand and told her to wake up. As He left the house, two blind men followed Him and cried out for healing. Instead of offering them healing on the spot, He went to their house and healed them. Next a demon-possessed, mute man came to Him. Jesus cast that demon out. That’s not all, Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. But you know what really struck me as I read through that chapter? In each situation, Jesus was fully present with the people in front of Him. He made eye contact, He listened to them, He journeyed with them, and He met their needs. He offered them the gift of His presence.  

Today is a great day to be fully present and truly engage with the people around you — live where you live!

 

God bless,

Calven

Continue ReadingLive Where You Live

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

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by John Doyle

“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves…but I have called you FRIENDS, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit… ”
John 15:13-16

Joseph Scriven faced real tragedies. Born in Ireland in 1819, as a young man he fell in love. But, tragically, on the night before he was to be married, his fiancée drowned.

Later, after moving to Canada, Scriven fell in love again and became engaged. But his second fiancée also died before they were married.

We cannot imagine how these painful experiences might have made him bitter. But Scriven decided to become devoted to serving others and sharing the Love of Jesus. He gave freely of his possessions and he always was ready to help those who were in need.

In 1855, when he learned that his mother was ill, Scriven wrote a poem for her called, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” This later became a powerful hymn that many of us still sing today. Scriven in the song described what Jesus meant to him: “What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!”

Because of the difficult experiences he had faced, he wrote with conviction, “What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!” He knew that God could bring peace to troubled hearts who seek Him: “O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.”

In these difficult times of Covid19 and Lockdown Instead of becoming discouraged when we face trials, and troubles, lets take the words written and simply “take it to the Lord in prayer.”

Am sure like Barbara and I you have some wonderful Family and friends that the Lord has placed into your life over many years and you are thankful for them especially when you went through those difficult times of trials and troubles that we have all gone through. A Godly Friend is a Friend for life and for all eternity.

Lets always remember that Jesus is your Friend for life and because “He layed down His life for us” He will never “leave you or forsake you” or give up on you unlike some friends and family that may have done that to you in your life. Take your problems to Him. Talk with Him. Spend time with Him. He loves you and has such a desire for you to walk with Him through these tough times and display to the World that you have a Friend called Jesus that has “appointed you to go and bear fruit” v16

Lets be a people that Lovingly thank the Lord Jesus for being our Friend and lets build a strong desire to know Him more, to Love Him more and to serve Him more because as a Friend He “Layed down His Life for us and has therefore become our friend FOREVER.
 
Its time to sing with me:
 
What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer
 

Oh, what peace we often forfeit
Oh, what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged
Take it to the Lord in prayer

Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness
Take it to the Lord in prayer

Continue ReadingWhat a Friend We Have in Jesus

Dream Big

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by Calven Celliers

I just love this song by Casting Crowns, it’s called Dream For You. Before you carry on reading this post, take a listen, let the lyrics ignite the excitement of potential in your spirit, and then let’s share in some of my thoughts on God-sized dreams…

As I listened to that song, I was reminded of the apostle Paul’s words to the Corinthians when he quoted the prophet Isaiah to them saying, “9 However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him…”” (1 Corinthians 2:9NIV)

That itch in your heart to live for something greater was put there for a reason, to draw you closer to God and to enlarge the boundaries of His Kingdom. We all long to live with more purpose, passion, and joy. Yet in the middle of our hectic lives, the God-sized dreams that have the potential to lead us into the fulfilment of all that God has planned for us are the very ones that tend to get lost.

If you’re anything like me, you find it easy to dismiss them as impossible before you even start. There are many roadblocks that can prevent us from  pursuing our God-sized dreams, including fear, doubt, procrastination and confusion. 

The first step to pursuing your God-sized dreams, however, is to quite simply acknowledge them, no matter how big and unlikely they may seem. Remember this, if God has put a desire in your heart, He will provide everything that you need to achieve it. It is a process that usually starts and ends with prayer. Pray as often and as much as you can. Pray for clarity of purpose, for wisdom to do the right thing and for strength to do it at the right time. There are times when we can’t see the full story and don’t know what’s around the next bend, that is where our obedience and faith come into play. You have to believe that God, who placed this dream in your heart, will provide all that you need at the right time.

Pursuing God-sized dreams ensure your growth. God is not just interested in what you can accomplish for Him, but in who you are becoming along the way.

 God-size dreams also force us to invite others into a bigger story. The gap between God’s calling and our ability allows us to include others in a significant way; enabling them and us to experience the power of the body of Christ like never before. An integral part of realizing our dreams, is to seek wise counsel. It’s not enough to just ask for advice, you also have to consider what you have been told. Review it in line with what you believe God has placed in your heart and His Word.

God-sized dreams always bring God glory, not us. You know God is up to something big when He plants His dreams in our hearts, and it’s so much bigger than us. If we were able to achieve our dreams in our own strength, we would readily take and receive the glory. But when we stand at the base of an impossible mountain, shaking in our boots, knowing full well our legs could never carry us to the summit, we are forced to rely on God and praise Him for every step he enables us to take along the way. In the end, our calling shines the light on an infinitely powerful God who is enlarging His Kingdom through us day by day.

 “Let Me show you what I can do, when I dream for you. I have a dream for you.”
(Dream For You – Casting Crowns)

God bless,

Calven

Continue ReadingDream Big