Tag Archives: worship

Promises in the Rain

“Mommy, mommy!” Samantha raced into my bathroom where I was comfortably relaxing in the shower.

“What is it?” I poked my head out thinking someone or something was on fire.

“Mommy, it’s raining!”

“Ohhhhh….” was the resignated realization of a promise I had made to her the previous weekend. The weather report had predicted rain, and she had begged me to let her play in the mud puddles. I agreed. Then the clouds opened up and it didn’t rain. I had succesfully dodged that bullet, until today.

“Fantastic,” I thought, “I have so many things to do today, and standing in the pouring rain while my 4 year old jumps in the mud isn’t on my list.”

You need to honor your promise.

Sigh. “Ok, Lord, I will honor my promise.”

I got out of the shower and ready to stand in the rain. It occured to me I should bring my camera and record the one time I agreed to let my little girl splash in the mud. Samantha was in her pajamas and flip-flops and we set out. I was immediately overwhelmed by the beauty of my surroundings. The pouring rain, the trees bending under the wind, the smells of fresh moisture, and even my daughter covered in mud. It was like viewing a movie in 3D for the first time, everything came alive to my senses.

rain

I lifted my camera and began snapping pictures, thankful for the marvelous beauty God was showering despite my reluctant obedience.

puddles

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17

Samantha, discovering her dirty feet, decided two hops was enough and wanted a shower.

muddy flip flops

I took that time to catalogue the beautiful treasures God had given me through my camera lens. If I hadn’t obeyed the Spirit’s prompting, I would have missed out on a glorious experience; an opportunity for reflection, praise, worship and teaching my daughter that she can trust me to follow through on my promises.

fresh pathway

“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.” Psalm 30:11-12

I learned a valuable lesson this morning. I need to slow down and take time to reflect on the treasures around me:

birds nesting,

birds nesting

flowers resting,

flowers resting

trees growing,

trees growing

and children playing.

muddy Samantha

There’s more to my world then finishing the next project, making the next phone call, or cooking another meal. I need to remember God’s faithfulness and love and delight in his handiwork and maybe the day won’t seem so hectic after all. Sometimes I just need to throw that “list” in the wind and dance in the rain.

“It is good to praise the Lord.” Psalm 92:1

pink flowers

Inner Sanctuary….Outer Court

Psalm 91:1 “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High.”

“The blessings here promised are not for all believers, but for those who live in close fellowship with God. Every child of God looks toward the inner sanctuary and the mercyseat, yet all do not dwell in the most holy place; they run to it at times, and enjoy occasional approaches, but they do not habitually reside in the mysterious presence. Those who through rich grace obtain unusual and continuous communion with God, so as to benefits, which are missed by those who follow afar off, and grieve the Holy Spirit of God. Into the secret place those only come who know the love of God in Christ Jesus, and those only dwell there to whom to live is Christ.

Outer court worshippers little know what belongs to the inner sanctuary, or surely they would press until the place of nearness and divine familiarity became theirs. Those who are the Lord’s constant guests shall find that he will never suffer any to be injured within his gates; he has eaten the covenant salt with them, and is pledged for their protection. Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. The Omnipotent Lord will shield all those who dwell with him, they shall remain under his care as guests under the protection of their host….Those who commune with God are safe with Him, no evil can reach them, for the outstretched wings of His power and love cover them from all harm. This protection is constant- they abide under it, and it is all sufficient, for it is the shadow of the Almighty, whose omnipotence will surely screen them from all attack. No shelter can be imagined at all comparable to the protection of Jehovah’s own shadow.

The more closely we cling to our Almighty Father the more confident we may be.”

-Charles H Spurgeon, (Treasury of David, Vol 5 pp 71-72)

There is most definitely a difference in relationship amongst believers with the Almighty God. We have the choice of what our relationship with Him will look like. Will we choose to fellowship with Him in His inner sanctuary of ultimate safety, peace, and protection? This is the promise He gives to us, and what a wonderful promise it is! Yet the entanglements of the world often overtake many believers, and while they do not lose their postion as family members with Christ as their Heavenly Father, they do lose out on the special fellowship that He had planned, truly that He had designed for each and every one of them. What a disheartening thought! All of these wonderful promises He openly gives us, and yet many still choose another way. As the story of the prodigal son tells us, the “son” never ceased to be a son, his relationship and place in the family was always secure despite the fact that he did not act like the father’s son, or respect the father’s gift. Yet he always remained the son. Just the same we see here that we are safe under the protection of the Almighty’s hand, IF we choose to dwell in His secret place! This place is not something all believers choose for themselves, yet they are no less believers, and still remain a part of the kingdom, but the fellowship they have with the Father is much different then with those who have chosen to dwell in this sacred secret place and His inner sanctuary. This intimate relationship with Christ Himself truly is a special treasure that only a small portion of believers ever experience, which is why there are seperate areas of worship. The inner sanctuary for those who have chosen to dwell closely to Him, and the outer courts for those who have chosen to look on in apathy all their lives. God loves us all the same, and all who put their trust in Jesus work on the cross to cleanse their sin are truly safe forever in His hand, never to be plucked out. (Romans 8:38-39) But we see here, very clearly, that there are varying levels of relationship with Him, and as God is no respecter of persons, that means this relationship is up to us and how we decide to pursue it. He offers it all equally and freely and desires we all experience His perfect peace, and protection. How it must grieve the Spirit when we choose other gods before HIM! Do you dwell in the inner sanctuary of the Most High? Are you abdiding in that secret place with your Almighty Father? He offers it freely, He promises you safety, protection, peace, and calm amidst the many storms of life. Whether or not you abide in those promises is up to YOU.

“He wishes us to know Him, and by His Word and by His Spirit He puts Himself before us. Ah! it is not His fault if we do not know Him. It is our own carelessness.” Mary B. M. Duncan, in “Under the Shadow” 1867

Delight, Desire…Worship

Delight, Desire….Worship

 “I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in My name.

Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”

John 16:13 (NIV)

 “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalm 37:4 (NIV)

 “Whom have I in heaven but You?

I desire You more than anything.”

Psalm 73:25 (NLT)

“Only as we truly delight in God is it safe to give us our desires, for then they are not likely to become idols. And by our delighting in God, He heals our false desires as our souls come true in light of their Maker. Worship becomes the means by which we most deeply heal our desire.

Worship is the act of the abandoned heart adoring its God.

Simply showing up for church on Sunday is not even close to worship. Neither does singing songs with religious content pass for worship. What counts is the posture of the soul involved, the open heart pouring forth its love toward God and communing with Him. It is a question of desire.

Worship occurs when we say to God, from the bottom of our hearts, ‘You are the One whom I desire.'” –

John Eldredge (Desire)

As we come together week after week to bring “worship” to the congregation I believe it becomes imperative that we must first ask God to search our own hearts and motives and show us our inner most desires. Can we say to God, in all honesty that He is our only desire, above all else? How can we express true worship to our brothers and sisters in the congregation if our own hearts are not in the right place? It becomes clearer that just showing up on Sunday (and Wednesday) with our “talents” is not enough. The people need to see us fully abandoned before God, every Sunday. The only way we can do that is if we are delighting in Him every other day of the week.