Tag: worship

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Leftovers

Daily Reading

Malachi 1-4

Daily Thought

It is a shaming question: the gifts you present to God, would you give to the king? “‘When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor?’ says the Lord of hosts” (Malachi 1:8). 

Overheard at a garage sale, “Why are you selling the barbecue?” “Just built a backyard kitchen. Don’t need this anymore.” “Anything wrong with it?” “The auto-igniter doesn’t work and the flames are a bit uneven. It could use some TLC.” “How much?” “We’re asking $25. If it doesn’t sell, I’m donating it to my church.”

God gets leftovers, and he calls it robbery. “But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ And God says, ‘In your tithes and contributions’” (Malachi 3:8). Essential to our offering is faith, and faith is letting go, so either owe God everything or give him nothing, but do not offer him leftovers. Or tips. “That was a good service today,” and an extra five is dropped in the offering, as if God should perform for our pleasure to earn his keep.

It is a full faith, however, when we empty our hands and trust in the Lord. “Put me to the test,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need” (Malachi 3:10). 

“For every beast of the forest is mine,
the cattle on a thousand hills.
I know all the birds of the hills,
and all that moves in the field is mine.
If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
for the world and its fullness are mine.” ~Isaiah 50:10-12

We give to God, not because God needs, but because we need and God gives–but he will not until our hands are empty and open and ready to receive.

Daily Prayer

My God, may You fill my life with Your desires, Your passions, Your wisdom. May I love You first, most, and always. May my love for You be reflected in what I do, what I buy, what I keep, and what I give. May the words of my mouth, the meditations of my heart, and the actions of my self be a testimony of Your goodness and Your greatness, and of my devotion to You.

Amen

Daily Question

What does your bank statement say about your faith?

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God First

Daily Reading

Haggai 1-2

Daily Thought

The people of Judah had returned from exile in Babylon, commissioned by the Persian king Cyrus to rebuild the city of Jerusalem and its Temple. They half completed the project before they became half-hearted and the work stopped. For almost two decades the work had been ignored and the Temple remained in ruins when Haggai stood before the people and berated them, “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?” (Haggai 1:4). It was not that Judah did not have the means to finish the Temple because they had the means to finish their homes. It was a choice, and it was me first, which is always what we choose when it is not God.

The irony is “me first” serves me least. “Consider your ways. You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes” (Haggai 1:5-6). God saves the best for last, and those who put him first will feast at his table. This time, the people listened to their God and obeyed, “and they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God” (Haggai 1:14).

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” ~Matthew 6:33

Daily Prayer

My God, I love You with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. My life is committed fully to You. May the life I live reflect my devotion to You. Where I work, may I serve You by serving others. In my home, may I build my house on the solid foundation of Your Word. In my neighborhood, may I love my neighbor as myself.

May the things I do be for You first and bring You praise and glory.

Amen

Daily Question

Who do you think of first, yourself or God?

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The Heart of Worship

Daily Reading

Amos 1-5

Daily Thought

Amos has a knack for straightforward simplicity. He is clear and to the point. “Seek good, and not evil” (Amos 5:14), Amos demands of Israel, “Hate evil, and love good” (Amos 5:15). It is a two-pronged approach, with gusto. Good health is not merely the absence of illness, but the presence of wellness. The bad must be expunged and the body must be strengthened. Israel needed a radical remedy.

“Take away from me the noise of your songs;
to the melody of your harps I will not listen.” ~Amos 5:23

Mike Pilavachi, pastor of Soul Survivor Church in London, England, realized his church had lost focus, “We seemed to be going through the motions. Our hearts were far from Him. We needed to take drastic action.” So he fired the band and the band leader, Matt Redman. 

When the music fades,
All is stripped away, and I simply come.

Out of this time of silence arose a beautiful song of praise, “The Heart of Worship.”

I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about you, all about you Jesus.
~Matt Redman, fired (then rehired) band leader, Soul Survivor Church, London, England

It is not music that praises, but the heart, and a dark heart cannot illuminate God’s glory. 

“But let justice roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” ~Amos 5:24

Then you can sing.

Daily Prayer

My Lord and My God, if my words mean anything, it will be because they are a reflection of my actions. May my life display your lordship. With gusto. 

I know what that looks like, it looks like the cross. Jesus showed me the heart of worship when he said, “Not my will, but yours be done.” It is such a better way to live. 

Amen

Daily Question

What is the purpose of singing songs of worship when Christians gather together?

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The Lord is There

Daily Reading

Ezekiel 46-48

Daily Thought

Ezekiel was a prophet to a nation that had forgotten God, but a nation that forgets God destroys not God, but itself. Had God forgotten Israel became Israel’s true fear. He had not, and Ezekiel, a book of hope, closes with the prophet’s final word, “And the name of the city from that time on shall be, ‘The Lord Is There’” (Ezekiel 48:35).

A nation that had forgotten God was first to space in 1961. “Why should you clutch at God?” Nikita Khrushchev, Premier of the Soviet Union, challenged any who believe. “We have flown into space and saw no God.” 

United States astronaut William Anders responded on Christmas Eve, 1968, as Apollo 8 entered lunar orbit on the first manned mission to the Moon, “We are now approaching lunar sunrise and, for all the people back on Earth, the crew of Apollo 8 has a message that we would like to send to you. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.”

Astronaut Jim Lovell continued, “And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.”

Astronaut Frank Borman closed, “And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good. And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas – and God bless all of you, all of you on the good Earth.”

Seven months later, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin step onto the surface of the moon. “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou has ordained,” read Aldrin from Psalm 8, “What is man that thou art mindful of him? And the Son of Man, that thou visitest Him?”

“For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” ~Romans 1:20

Astronaut John Glenn, who had circled the earth three times on a space flight in 1963, did it again in 1998 aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery. At age 77, he took time to reflect as he observed the heavens and earth from the windows of Discovery, “To look out at this kind of creation and not believe in God is to me impossible.”

“The Lord Is There” ~Ezekiel 48:35

Daily Prayer

God of Heavens, Your glory shines in all that I see. The whole world speaks of You. Your majesty is seen in the depth of sea and the breadth of space. The world is in Your palm, and You breathe life into me. It makes sense that my thoughts turn to You, but I am amazed that Your thoughts turn to me. Who am I? And yet You delight in me.

God, may I find my pleasure and purpose in following You.

Amen

Daily Question

Do you agree with John Glenn, when looking down at earth from the space shuttle, he remarked, “To look out at this kind of creation and not believe in God is to me impossible”? Why or why not?

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The Concert of Creation

Daily Reading

Ezekiel 28-30

Daily Thought

“The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.” ~Psalm 19:1-4

Creation is dazzling and delightful, grand and good, loudly and clearly trumpeting the splendor of God. You cannot miss it.

Yet somehow we do.  

Instead, we worship idols. We worship things. We worship ourselves. Presented with the concert of creation declaring the majesty of the Creator, we pick up a mirror and admire ourselves, and Ezekiel calls out the prince of Tyre as a most egregious example. “Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor,” accuses Ezekiel (Ezekiel 28:17). 

This was the sin of Tyre; it is the ruin of all who exchange the Creator for the created. Our sin is our self obsession. The worship of idols is the worship of self, for they are made in our image. 

Say to the prince of Tyre, “Thus says the Lord God:
‘Because your heart is proud,
and you have said, ‘I am a god,
I sit in the seat of the gods,
in the heart of the seas,’
yet you are but a man, and no god.’” ~Ezekiel 28:1

The prophet’s purpose is to correct us, to remind us again and again what creation speaks everyday, “Then they will know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 28:23, 24, 26; 29:9, 16, 21; 30:8, 19, 26). These are an echo of the first words of the Bible, “In the beginning God” (Genesis 1:1), and once should have been enough. There is but one God, and it is not me.

Daily Prayer

God, I love You and praise You, and my praise comes first from hearing it in Your creation. The beauty and majesty, the order and truth that is seen in the heavens and the earth make known that there is God. It is You who deserves my allegiance, my trust, my life.

May my life display sacrifice and love toward You. My actions will sing Your praise before my voice does. You are my God; may I live a life that backs it up.

Amen

Daily Question

Why do people worship idols instead of the very real God?

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True Love

Daily Reading

Jeremiah 18-22

Daily Thought

God makes as a condition of Judah’s judgment their goodness to others, that they will treat well those who are lost, harmed, poor, and abused. “Thus says the Lord: ‘Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place’” (Jeremiah 22:3). Yet later, when asked why they are being judged, the answer is, “Because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord their God and worshiped other gods and served them” (Jeremiah 22:9). So, which is it that brings judgment against Judah, their indifference toward others or their idolatry against God?

Jesus was asked which commandment is greatest. He said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.” But he wasn’t finished, “And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39). Two commandments, together the greatest, essential to each other, neither stands alone. Indifference is idolatry; compassion is worship.

“The righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” ~Matthew 25:37-40

Our love for God is only as true as it is displayed in our love for others, and our love for others is only as true as our devotion to God and his ways. 

Daily Prayer

Wonderful God, I am learning to love You better by learning to love others more. You are teaching me humility and service by doing it Yourself first. I would not know You unless You had sacrificed Yourself for me; You loved me that much. May I love that much.

I cannot worship my Creator without caring for those You created, those who bear Your very image. May I love actively, seeking opportunities to serve and to share. May others find You in my actions toward them, recognizing Your grace and goodness in all I do.

Amen

Daily Question

When is it most difficult to love people? When is it most difficult to love God? How are these two questions related to each other?

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God Knows

Daily Reading

Isaiah 42-44

Daily Thought

“To infinity and beyond,” proclaims Buzz Lightyear. The distance from the earth to the sun is 93 million miles, to reach the nearest star, 4.3 light years, and a light year is 5.88 million million miles. Our galaxy, the Milky Way is 100,000 light years across and has 200 billion stars. The Milky Way is 1 of 500 billion galaxies (our best guess). How big is the universe? Who knows?

“I am the Lord, who made all things,
who alone stretched out the heavens,
who spread out the earth by myself.” ~Isaiah 44:24

To infinity and beyond? God will still be there. He knows how big is the universe, but that does not amaze me nearly as much as, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1). God knows me.

“Bring out the people who are blind, yet have eyes,
who are deaf, yet have ears!” ~Isaiah 43:8

Worship opens my eyes and ears, provides perspective, heightens appreciation. Life still happens, God does not keep me from trouble, but…

“…when you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” ~Isaiah 43:2-3

Who better by my side?

Daily Prayer

My God, my Savior, You are always present, an ever-present help in time of trouble. In good and bad, may I remember You. That secret of contentment, whether I’m high or low, in plenty or in need, safety or trouble, in any and every circumstance, I can do all things through You who gives me the strength.

I know when it feels like You are not there, it’s me that left. I need to stop doing that, to stay on Your path and walk beside You. Thank You, though, for coming after me when I stray and being there when I get back. You are my God, my Savior. There is none like You.

Amen

Daily Question

Why do you worship God?

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Praise God

Daily Reading

Psalm 146-150

Daily Thought

Twelve of the 13 lines of the final psalm begin with the word “praise.” The one that doesn’t ends with “praise the Lord,” and tells everything that has breath to do it. Jesus says even the rocks would cry out if the things that breathe did not (see Luke 19:40).

Look to the past, the stars, the sky, this vast universe, “He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names” (Psalm 147:4); “he commanded and they were created” (Psalm 148:5). Peer into the future, “The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations” (Psalm 146:10). And in between, break out the band; “Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!” (Psalm 150:3-5).

The Psalms, Israel’s songbook, close with five songs of praise. Only praise. These 150 psalms teach me to pray, to speak with God, to ask questions, to complain, to celebrate, to share my troubles and my victories, to open my heart, to seek help; but always and ultimately at the end, to stop everything else and praise the Lord. All things begin and end with God.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! ~Psalm 150:6

Daily Prayer

My Creator, my God, when I star-gaze, I look at Your handiwork. Amazed by the universe, I am awed by You. You explode the universe into existence by Your Word, by Your breath. All things were designed and created by You and for You. May all creation glorify its Creator.

I worship and praise You.

Amen

Daily Question

What is your favorite song of worship, and why?

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Sunday Church

Daily Reading

Psalm 120-132

Daily Thought

Fifteen psalms, Psalm 120-134, are each called a “Song of Ascents,” sung by the Hebrews as they pilgrimed uphill to Jerusalem three times a year for the great feasts, the gatherings of God’s people. These psalms are short, mostly cheerful, always hopeful—except the first, Psalm 120. It is short, but begins with distress, ends with war, and is filled with deceit. This low, all-too-real beginning, turns our eyes upward to seek salvation:

“I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.” ~Psalm 121:1-2

Thus begins a steady climb upward: 

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy.” ~Psalm 126:1-2

As the Hebrew people ascended to Jerusalem to celebrate and worship God, so the Sunday gathering each week of God’s church is our high point–the city of God rising above the city of man. Jesus has an elevated vision of his church, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14). Sunday church is a celebration of God’s salvation, not a “have to go,” but a “get to go,” the people of God going up and gathering in one place to worship the Lord, who made heaven and earth–and why would we not sing on the way there?

I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the Lord!” ~Psalm 122:1

Daily Prayer

To You, O God, I lift my heart in praise. Out of chaos, You created a life overflowing with peace and hope and love. You did it once in the beginning of the world, You did it again at the cross and the empty tomb. You give me life everlasting, an eternity which has already begun. I am a citizen of Your Kingdom today and forever. My heart is glad and I will sing Your praises so all may hear of so great a salvation.

May I never be shy about it!

Amen

Daily Question

Is the Sunday gathering of the church something you look forward to? Why or why not?

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Que Sara Sara

Daily Reading

Psalm 115-118

Daily Thought

Why, the psalmist wonders, would anyone put their trust in things that know nothing, with “mouths, but do not speak” and “eyes, but do not see” and “ears, but do not hear” and “noses, but do not smell” and “hands, but do not feel” and “feet, but do not walk” (Psalm 115:4-7). We worship idols of silver and gold and follow the stars or fate.

We trust our math, but math does not think. It’s mechanical: 2 plus 2 is always 4. Math leads a dull life. Que sera sera–what will be, will be. The same with science. We use science to do wonderful things, and we should, but science itself simply observes. Why would you trust it with your life? Science does not love you. It cares nothing for you at all.

Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. ~Romans 1:22-23

Life is neither random nor wooden; it is personal. Science and math and fate and the stars do what they are told, but “our God does all that he pleases” (Psalm 115:3). He made the stars in the heaven, and he made the butterfly flap. He made everything and knows every one, and he loves “you and your children! May you be blessed by the Lord, who made heaven and earth!” (Psalm 115:14-15).

Math and science explain a lot, but cannot explain love–but the apostle John can because he met Jesus: “We love because he first loved us” (1John 4:19). It’s personal and we follow God for his pleasure. And ours.

Daily Prayer

My God and Savior, You are good. Your Son even said, “No one is good, but God alone.” Certainly not me. Yet, you have given me righteousness. Not mine, but the righteousness of Jesus Christ. What a gift. Thank you God. Why in the world do You care about me? Because You do what You please and You chose to love me. I certainly didn’t do anything to deserve it. Thank You!!

May the Name of Jesus be praised, be honored, be worshiped. My God and Savior. May my life point to salvation through Your Son, the One who cares, who gave His all for me.

Amen

Daily Question

Why do you worship God?