~Archive - Number Thirty Eight~
Sacrifice
of
Praise!
Our church (like many others) assembles together in the evening several times a year. The purpose we gather is to be in unity as we worship the Lord and lift up our requests to Him. It is always such a pure, sweet, and uplifting time. This time was no different, although I have to admit, I struggled to convince myself to go. Being overtired, low on gas, having so many things to do around the house, and needing to wake up early…blah - blah –blah. I had so many excuses. Have you been there? Have you had those same kinds of conversations with yourself?
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I bravely forged on, pressing on while all the time thinking about the verse from Hebrews 13:15: “Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God…” I was going to sacrifice my time to God. If I am to be brutally honest here, I kind of felt a bit smug as I was driving and thinking what I was giving up so I could be a part of the “other worshipers”. Oh my, was I ever mortified once I realized I had even had that thought. I humbly repented to Christ (who sacrificed everything for me!!). Here I was given the opportunity to come away with other believers, to share the love we have for our Lord, our church, and one another, and I surely didn’t want my tainted thinking to spoil this moment in time. Repentance is so cleansing for the soul. I wonder how often that old ugly pride creeps into our thinking and we find ourselves patting ourselves on the back for the “things” we do. Yuck!
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Well, there we were, carried to the mountaintop. For a moment in time, we had shed and left behind our affairs, afflictions, and affections of this earthly world in order to allow God’s Spirit to awaken and breathe life into our own eternal spirit that we joined with His. The evening songs were sung, our voices reached the Throne Room of Grace and God’s presence hovered over, embraced, and unified us with Him. I didn’t want to leave there. I can’t believe I fought against going. I wonder, was there a holy hush in heaven from the joy of that precious moment? Was the Lord well pleased? And let me tell you, that it is possible to have heaven on earth, as we learn to live more in the spirit.
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My prayer is to be more aware when I have mistakenly chosen to live detached or divided from God, and not determining to choose to live in harmony with God’s own will for my life. I must quickly choose to repent (turn around) and then move forward again. Even the fact that God allows us chance after chance, is so very humbling. It is never a sacrifice to praise His Holy Name. I like what A. W. Tozer says from his book, Renewed Day by Day, “When the eyes of the soul looking out meet the eyes of God looking in, heaven has begun right here on earth!” Amen.
And All Creation Bows
When I wake in the early morning, it is good to reflect that You have commanded the dawn to rise and that it knows its very place within the outstretched heavenly curtains— It was You who was there to hear the first morning stars sing and shout with joy at Your golden splendor with creating such magnificence. You alone cause the spring to come forth to warm away the frost of heaven … and so I must ponder… have I an arm like the Bright Morning Star and Son of God?
Did I remember it was You my Lord over all creation… and not I, that has measured the ocean waters in the hollow part of Your hand? No one but You can walk in search of the sea depths-or divide them with Your strength and command the proud waves to rise and be still or to even fall back again. You alone can decide to place a river in the desert or say to it, “Be dry”… and it is solely from You that we can by grace receive the fountain of Living Water.
Oh Lord, refresh my thoughts as I stand on such dusty ground that You exclusively have calculated and truly have weighed each mountain. With such little effort You may appoint each island to rise to any degree of Your choosing with just the power of Your voice… and can lay them waste again. It is with delight You have prepared green pastures and paths throughout the wilderness way. You stretched the line, and laid the cornerstone, and determined all measurements… and it is You, the Rock of all ages that we stand firmly upon.
And when I consider how you walk on the wings of the wind and ride the heavens to reign and look down from Your throne room- I have to ask, who is like You, God? Out of the whirlwind You speak and ask the questions and with Your mighty thunderous voice cedars break and flames of fire divide and broken hearts are comforted. Your understanding is unsearchable… how could we even think to direct Your Spirit? Everything under heaven is Yours and we are covered by the splendor of Your Glory.
Simple Blessings KM
**verses taken from Job/Isaiah in order to teach us to stand still
and consider the wondrous works of God.**
May it be our desire that we be women who live in the present and are aware of the world around us. May we take notice of the blessings God gifts to each of us, and always long to hear His whispers. Shall we also pray with a more purposeful focus on God’s will? And as we stay connected in our relationship with Christ, we will become more thankful followers. Let us commit to doing this together! Close your eyes…Open your heart, let God’s Spirit empower you today.