The Power of Worship!

In the background, I am listening to and watching Jonathan Butler sing "Falling In-love with Jesus." He is accompanied by a full orchestra and a featured violinist who makes me feel as if I am truly resting in the arms of Jesus! It is an incredible presentation of human worship through song, bodily movement, and instrumentation! I tell you that this song ushered me to a place of complete focus on God's goodness and power to the point that I was no longer negatively affected by any of the issues that bothered me before I heard it. The goodness and power of God as sung about and felt through this song was more powerful than anything else! Beloved, worship changes us! It changes the state of our minds and the state of our souls. It can transport us from a place of pain to a place of peace, from a place of anguish to a place of praise, from a place of spiritual blindness to spiritual insight. When Jesus was on the cross he uttered in Aramaic, words transliterated in English, to mean "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me." Scholars have attributed these words of Jesus, in part, to the first verse of Psalm 22, a song or psalm of David. Jesus was believed to have quoted a psalm that was often sung as a reminder of the power of God to transition personal pain into public praise. WOW! How does this transition happen? It seems to happen as the psalmist reflects on the reality of his story through the lens of the God factor. It seems to happen when he acknowledges the reality of his pain whilst acknowledging that God's power and goodness is greater.  "In  God's arms," Jonathan sings, "I feel protected. In these arms, never disconnected...there is no place I'd rather be... " Transport yourself into the arms of God through praise and feel the protection, peace and comfort of the God who loves you eternally. Nothing is too hard for God!! Much Love, S

When the Going Gets Tough....

Life is filled with surprises-- some wonderful and some of great challenge. It is filled with valleys and mountains; yet, the Good Shepherd is there to lead us through them all. Life is filled with underserved persecutions, overwhelming joy, days of bright sunshine, and often nights of uncertainty. Nevertheless in spite of the days behind and ahead of us, isn't it comforting to know that there is a safe place to be found in God? I am writing this post today because something in my spirit is telling me to remind you that your fears are not greater than your future/the uncertainties of life. One of the most powerful lessons of the Resurrection Encounter is that what surprised others (even those with special gifts and warning), did not surprise God nor limit God's power on earth or in heaven! No matter how dark the night, daylight must break forth. No matter how great the sufferings of this present life, a resurrection (a standing up again) must come to those who live in him. God is able to give strength to those who are weary because God says so and God's grace is amazing. Remember in the resurrection story, some through the prompting of the Holy Spirit, knew that Jesus' time was drawing near. Others, remembered Jesus' words about his death. Some grieved at the foot of the cross. Some came to the tomb with burial spices. Yet, not one of them fully understood the power of God's strength and love to overcome evil, death, and the sufferings of this present age to embrace the glory of our God. Their fear was not strong enough to silence the acts of God! Our fears are not more powerful than God's spirit at work in us for it is in Christ that we live move and have our being. We have found a new life in Christ. We have a new mission and greater hope. So, remember when the going gets tough, the tough get going. The tough, those who exchange their strength for God's strength, get to forgiving. The tough get to loving God with all of their being and loving their neighbor as they love their selves. Beloved, you are strong because God is strong in you. May the strength of God embrace you and cause you to rise again. May God be BIG in you --big enough to embrace the future unafraid, big enough to forgive those who hurt you and BIG ENOUGH to heal every pain in your heart. I'm not saying that life is easy. I'm not saying that it's easy to live without or beyond fear. But, I am saying that with God all things are possible to those who believe. I believe in the God in you, do you? Much Love, S