Living a life of Worship.

Deeper relationship with God grows as our worship grows.

Worship! What are your first thoughts when you see the word? Is it corporate singing and adoration of our Father? You most definitely aren’t wrong, it is that, but it is so much more than just that! Worship is total submission to the plans and purposes that God has for each and every one of us. In other words it starts with obedience in many different aspects of our life. Worship lies in reading the word, praying in tongues, praying in your own language, reading Spirit filled books, throughout the day just acknowledging Him for His greatness and love, just saying “I love you Holy Spirit”, doing any and all tasks to the glory of God.

You see worship is one of the keys to moving into a deeper relationship with God, it is one of the keys to walking in the Spirit as scripture tells us. The psalmist in Ps 22:3 says that God inhabits the praises of His people; this means that our spirits are constantly being filled by God’s Spirit when we worship Him and in effect we grow in relationship and intimacy with our Father. So much growth happens within us as we constantly walk in the Spirit. You see the Holy Spirit within us produce the fruit of the Spirit, which are Godly characteristics and this in turn then enables us to live and shine like Jesus.

What happens if we don’t live a life of worship? Gal 5:16 “I say then: Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”  This verse explains it very well, short and sweet and in my own words I will also try to explain it short and sweet. When we worship God and then walk in the Spirit, we are constantly being filled by the Spirit of Grace who produces the fruit of the Spirit within us(Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control), but when we don’t live a life of worship, we walk and live in the flesh and all its worldly desires, then this can only produce the works of the flesh(adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, murder, drunkenness, revelries), characteristics of Satan.

So my wish for you today, for the rest of 2011 and for 2012, is that you will learn to live a life of worship unto God for He is truly worthy. Your relationship and intimacy with Him will grow, you will start to discern His voice much easier and you will experience more of His Love, Joy and Peace in your life. You will also find that you live in His will for your life much easier. Please don’t get discouraged when you find it difficult in the beginning, it is all part of the process and He loves to see you try and you will exceed, for we have the following promise in James 4:8 “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”

Now go out, live a life of worship and teach others to do the same.

…. remember Lions Lead.

Jos 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Liebster Blog Award nomination.

Thank you very much to Bernadette de Boucherville, My Journey with God for nominating my blog for a “Liebster Blog” Award. I feel I need to re-nominate her as her blog is a huge inspiration to me and I have seen her grow in huge leaps. The other Blogs I’m nominating are all an inspiration in their own unique ways and I find food for thought in each one. Visit their blogs as I am sure their stories wil do the same for you.

The “Liebster Blog” Award is given to blogs that have less than 200 followers and deserve more recognition and encouragement (sometimes it’s hard to tell so my apologies if those listed below are larger.) There are some guidelines while giving or receiving this award which are as follows:

1. Thank the blogger who gave you the award and link back to them.

2. Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.

3. Copy and paste the award to your own blog.

I gratefully accept this nomination and wish to pass this award along by nominating the following 5 blogs in no particular order:

 My Journey with God

All Things Beautifull

Twirling Girl

Truth Pressure

One thing 4 Che

 

May each and every one of you have the most blessed day. Keep doing what you’re doing, because the harvest is big.

In rhythm with His heartbeat.

When you wake up in the morning, what is the first thought that crosses your minute? Yes, take a minute and think about it……

Is your first thought about your beautiful wife or loving husband, the problems you might be facing today,  maybe what you will wear today, or maybe your kids and all their needs? Which of course are all valid thoughts, some positive some negative wouldn’t you say, depending on the situation. I do seriously believe though, that you should start your day with positive thoughts.

Now imagine this!!What if your first thoughts were “Good morning Holy Spirit” and you just smile, because you know that He has been waiting to hear those words coming out of YOUR mouth for the last few hours. I promise you He will be smiling, and if your heart is quiet you will hear him say “Good morning my son, Good morning my daughter”, now tell me that doesn’t make you smile….. Your first thought is a positive one. Now I can just imagine some saying, “not possible”. How about “Good morning Holy Spirit, I love You”? If you do this and your heart is really in to what you are saying, you almost get the sense that you are starting to build a relationship, ‘cause these are the type of thoughts and words you would use in a relationship. Still some of you say “nope, not possible, you are on the fringe of insanity”

Well I’m going to tell you a shocking thing; it is absolutely possible to have this type of relationship with God the Holy Spirit. The Amplified Bible says it best in John 13:23 “One of His disciples whom Jesus loved (whom He esteemed and delighted in), was reclining (next to Him) on Jesus ‘bosom”

Reclining or put his head on Jesus’ bosom? Does this mean…..?No…..!!!It does, you, me, anyone can have this same close relationship with the Holy Spirit, the same Spirit that was present in Jesus and who allowed John an ordinary man to put his head on the bosom of Jesus. In my book this sounds like a close relationship and again I say we can have it to.

Golly Gosh, exciting don’t you think?

Personally I feel this is the game changer. As soon as people realise they can have an active intimate and loving relationship with the Lord, who is Love, then the world will change. This love I’m talking about you’ll soon realise is not just about you, it is also for meant for others. When we realise and accepted this, we then have the responsibility to show people the God loves them and He wants to form the same relationship with them. We can all recline and put our heads so close to the Lord Jesus’ bosom, that we can hear His heartbeat for each and every one of us.

Let’s carry the flame and ignite other people’s hearts, so they may realise, God loves them and He wants an intimate and unique relationship with each and every one and then, just maybe we can all live in rhythm with His heartbeat, which is love.

…. remember Lions to lead.

Jos 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Pierced by your loving gaze.

Cry…. Who me? Never!!

I use to be like that guy, but nowadays as was the case this morning, with tears in my eyes I just stood listening to the following song sung by Michael W. Smith “Deep in Love with You”. This is one of my favourites, a song I never grow tired off. It just touches my heart in the most tender and loving way.

Usually my tears start flowing uncontrollably at the following lyrics……

“I’m deep in love with You, Abba Father

I’m deep in love with You Lord

My heart, it beats for You, precious Jesus

I’m deep in love with You Lord”

…..but, this morning the Holy Spirit opened up the most amazing lyrics. In the beginning of the song where is says “…. enamoured by your gaze” I received this vision of Jesus gazing over at me, with tender, loving and focussed eyes.

Definition: Enamoured – in love with, taken with, charmed by, fascinated by, entranced by, fond of, enchanted by, captivated by, enthralled by, smitten with, besotted with, bewitched by, crazy about (informal), infatuated with, enraptured by, wild about (informal), swept off your feet by, nuts on.

Let me try and make you understand, you remember that first time that awesome guy or girl you were interested in, looked at you and I do mean, really looked at you and for a split second it’s almost like you had the same thought racing through your mind “I LOVE YOU”, your heart beats faster, your excitedly nervous, butterflies, the whole shebang. Well the feeling is like that, just more intense.

I see Jesus, His tender eyes looking at me and I just know I am loved and it’s a love I can never lose. I come to realise that He loves me so intensely; it feels like His gaze pierces my inner being, He knows everything about me and still His love for me, for you, is unending and it will consume us if we just let it. He wants our hearts, He will take our pain and show us a love so piercing, our beings will collapse, because of the glory.

Do you want to know the irony in all this?

Let me tell you, that once you have tasted, seen and felt just a little of this love you will want more and more and then you will want others to experience that same love, that same person, Jesus Christ.

If you want to, go listen to the song, it’s so powerful, close your eyes and take in every word, receive from the Holy Spirit. Then GO….. Help others to experience the love Jesus has for them.

…. and remember Lions Lead.

Jos 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Lions Lead …..

Lions Lead ….

What do I mean with this statement ?

I have these words repeated in my mind all the time “Lions lead ….”. We were all made unique, we all have the desire in our heart to make a difference, but what we don’t realise is that we can !!It takes one determined decision and the knowledge that the cost will be high.

You see unique does mean that you were made different from the next person in every way and with very good reason.I started thinking about being unique, about life and the reason I’m entrusted to live this life.I asked myself the question, am I here to follow others, their example and the standards they set, especially when their standards are self-centred or am I here to set the example, live the standard and help others live to those standards  ? You see the example and standards I am talking about you would only see Jesus Christ living and those who truly follow Him.

When Jesus walked the earth He came to set the standard, a new and unique example, one to follow, a loving, relationship based, passionate, all in example. So many of us know He is called the “Lion of Judah” and this is no coincidence, it makes me think that it takes the strength and courage of a Lion to lead the way Jesus did. In Joshua 1:9 God says to Joshua and us “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous, do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

This then brings me to the question, are you going to Lead like a Lion which takes courage and strength or follow like sheep in a world where standards are pretty low and courage and strength isn’t needed. Again I say, Jesus Christ came to set the standard and He said you will do far more than what He did. His disciples did and we need to as well. Today we are His disciples, chosen to go out and make more disciples with the same principles, standards and to be the examples.

You and I are Lions, made to lead in our respective areas of influence, work, family life, social circles etc.

The Challenge !!?Are we going to take up the Authority we have received in the King of kings and start living the way we are meant to live. If you say “YES” to this then I only have one thing left to say.

LEAD LIKE A LION !!!