Category: Worship

Posted on

God’s Chosen Fathers…June 16th

kids early yearsOn a clear Sunday afternoon in the mid-1990’s our family went to eat lunch after morning services.  As we were getting our children out of their car seats and into the restaurant, Logan, then three, asked, “Since we celebrate mommy’s on Mother’s Day and daddy’s on Father’s Day, when do we celebrate ‘Son Day’?”  My response; “Every day…is son’s day.”

But if the truth be know, every day we should be recognizing the Son of God and celebrate Him.  This past month we took some time to honor our mothers, and this Sunday we’ll take a minute and consider our dads.  Father’s Day and Mother’s Day were designed by our country to honor our parents (Ephesians 6:1, 2).  But men we must remember our responsibility as dads.  Join us as we consider the idea that God has chosen us to be fathers.

“…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.”  I Corinthians 14:15

Sunday morning, June 16, 2013

The following songs are found in the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.

“Restore My Soul” – no book

As we sing this song to God we’re asking Him to restore us, revive us and renew us.  The text for this hymn is Psalm 80, “O God, restore us and cause Your face to shine upon us…”   Surely we have all felt weary, empty and ‘cold’ in our zeal for God.  But this morning as we sing, we’ll be calling on Him to renew our love for Him, rebuild our faith in Him and restore our soul.

“Night with Ebon Pinion” – no book

This is an old spiritual song that dates back to the mid-1800’s, with some very strong Biblical applications.  The poetry from this song has caused many to abandon it, but in so doing we lose a beautiful message about the last hours of Christ’s life on earth.  Terms like “ebon pinion” and “brooded o’re the vale’ have perplexed many Christians into leaving this hymn behind, but consider what we’re singing.  Ebon means ‘black in color’ while pinions are the wings/feathers of a bird.  To ‘brood’ is to hover or sit upon, and the ‘vale’ is the valley.  Now pull them all together with this translation; The dark night had settled and was hovering over the valley like the wings of bird…  We have an obligation to take the time to understand what we’re singing.  Maybe that’s why some of our older hymns have been tossed out; we would rather not think about the words.


“God is So Good” – 83

A simple song with a complex message.  God is good, He answers prayer and He cares for me.  Would that be the reason we sing the final verse, “I love Him so…” or is our faithfulness unconditional?  He died for us when we were undeserving.  Do you love Him because He’s good and answers your prayers?  Simple, but complex…

“Walk with Me” – 394

Less than 50 years old, we sing this hymn asking for God’s guidance and presence in our daily lives.  The refrain is a personal plea that I will follow in His footsteps from Galilee to Gethsemane.  Fathers, remember our responsibility to lead our families; we’ll do it best when we walk with Jesus.Faith of our Fathers

“Faith of Our Fathers” – 754

Fredrick Faber captured the message here of a godly heritage.  When our father’s are faithful and pass that faith down to their children, we are blessed.  But fathers, have you ever been confined to the dungeon, or faced the fire and sword?  Who of us have been chained in prisons dark?  Hebrews 11:32-38 gives us the remembrance of these faithful (fore)fathers as we look at verses 1 & 2, “Now faith, is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  For by it the men of old gained approval.”  “Faith of our fathers!  Holy faith!  We will be true to Thee (God) till death!”

“Step by Step” – 15

Before our lesson we’ll medley Faith of Our Fathers with Step by Step.  Song leaders, since the key signatures are the same and the message is sequential,  the flow of these two songs make a beautiful combination.  The tradition followed by the contemporary makes for a powerful reminder that our faith in God will seek Him in the daily.  Each step toward God shows our families, and this lost world, that we are devoted to walking in His ways.

“I Am Coming, Lord” – 923

“I hear Thy welcome voice that calls me, Lord, to Thee…”  As our invitation song we open the door, so to speak, for those who are lost or struggling in hear the voice of Godtheir faith to come back to God.  An invitation song isn’t the only time we seek the lost, but it’s a great opportunity.  In our hymnals, Faith & Praise, only the first verse is provided.  But this Sunday morning we’ll revisit Louis Hartsough’s original writing; ” ‘Tis (It is) Jesus (who) calls me on to perfect faith and love, to perfect hope and peace and trust, for earth and heav’n above…”  To those who are hurting, sad and lost in sin, there is peace in the blood that flowed from Calvary.


“To Christ Be True” – 736

What better way to end the service this morning than to reconfirm our faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  We’ll join our voices and sing to encourage each other to be true to Christ.  Why, ‘…for He will go with you, and help you’  through all your conflicts.  But more importantly, because we have been chosen to lead our children to Him.

 

Posted on

Jesus’ Plan For Drawing Us to God…June 9th

bronze serpentThe scripture reading on Sunday morning at Waterview will be coming from John chapter 3, verses 9-15.  Notice the words of Jesus as He says, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up…”  The text of this reading is the basis for our lesson.

In Numbers 21 we read of the rebellion among the people against God.  He sends ‘fiery serpents’ that plague the people, and many died because of their rebellion.  The Lord’s instruction however was clear, “Make a fiery (bronze) serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live.”  The Jews were told if they wanted healing, they simply needed to come to ‘the standard’ that was raised in the wilderness.  The songs this morning are designed to focus us on the saving power of Christ and His plan to draw us toward God.

 

“…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.”  I Corinthians 14:15

Sunday morning, June 9, 2013

The following songs are found in the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.

“To God Be the Glory” – 4

One of several great songs of praise, this hymn was written by Fanny J. Crosby in 1875.  It always amazes me when I read the words of this woman who was blind from birth.  In this hymn she writes, ‘…let the earth hear His voice…’ and obvious statement coming from someone whose sense of hearing was likely well developed.  But I’m more intrigued by her words in the last verse.  Never having seen the light of day, Fanny Crosby writes, “…But purer and higher, and greater will be our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we SEE.”   Praise the Lord!

“My Only Hope is You” – no book

The beauty of this song comes as it builds upon each verse.  Some may consider this a ‘7-11 song’ (7 words sung 11 times), yet the repetition and development of the thought should take precedence.  From early in the morning, until late at night, Jesus is my only HOPE, PEACE, and JOY.  The fourth verse sums it up best… “All that I need is You, Jesus, all that I need is You…”  Listen to the song below, but Sunday we’ll sing it without the soloist.

“More Precious Than Silver” – 273

A simple hymn that implores us to consider how we view (yes, spend) our wealth.  To what, in this life, do you  dedicate your prosperity?  Another song that’s easy to sing…but perhaps not so easy to fulfill.  Really, what is it that you desire?

“I Come to the Garden Alone” – 595

Written from the perspective of Mary as she comes to the garden after Christ burial, you can see her emotional pull to be with Jesus, the soothing comfort of His voice and the longing to stay with Him.  C. Austin Miles captures the feeling Mary may have felt as we read John chapter 20.  Perhaps with that understand we can sing this song differently; “…and He walks with me and He talks with me and He tells me I am His own, and the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has every know.”  From Mary’s eyes, truer than we may have previously thought.

“We Saw Thee Not” – 342

An older hymn (again this is sung to our God) that brings the saints to a clearer understanding of Jesus life here on earth.  None of us ever saw Christ or His ‘cottage home.’  We didn’t stand on Golgotha’s hill and see the soldiers ‘lift Him up’ on the cross, and none of us stooped down to look into the empty tomb.  But together we’ll sing, “But we believe the deed was done, that shook the earth and veiled the sun.” 

“Lift Him Up” – 631

How do we reach the masses?  What can we do to show Jesus to a lost and dying world?  Jesus told us that He would be lifted up so all men could come to Him. “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” John 12:32  How do we reach men with Christ?  Perhaps we start by lifting Him up in our own lives.

“I Am Thine, O Lord” – 666looking up

Our song before the lesson implores us to draw nearer to God.  Do we really long to rise in our faith, and truly seek to be closer drawn to Jesus?  In the second verse we’ll sing that our souls look up with a steadfast faith, and our will be lost in Jesus.  He was lifted up to draw us to Him…now will you look up to Him as you draw nearer in faith?

“Come to Jesus” – no book

In the chorus of this invitation song we’ll sing,“Come to Jesus!”   Repeated more than 6 times, this old spiritual song implores the lost to seek His salvation.  And like the Jews who were rebellious and bitten by the fiery serpents, we need to look up to the cross.  But notice the admonition, “…Oh delay not till the morrow, lest thy coming be too late.”

“The Greatest Command” – 448

Though we sing with simplicity we sing with the scripture… “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.  The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” I John 4:7, 8 It’s easy to love the loveable, but what about those who persecute you and refuse to love you back?  We can better understand how to love when we draw near to the One who was lifted up.

Posted on

Three Things God Wants From Us…June 2nd

what God wantsWe often ask God for safe travel and healing for the sick.  Ever notice how our prayers are often saturated with what we want from God?  But how much do we think about what God wants from us?  Does He have any expectations of His children?

Sunday morning at Waterview church of Christ we’ll examine some things that God desires from His children.  Consider how much you give to God when it comes to justice, kindness and humility.  We often are prepared to travel to foreign mission fields and sign up for mission trips to comfort those who are suffering. But is our justice and kindness reserved only for those who are ‘afar off?’  How willing are we to be just, kind and humble to those we see every day, or maybe… every Sunday?

“…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.” I Corinthians 14:15

Sunday morning, June 2, 2013

The following songs are found in the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.

“Let God Arise” – 471

Our call to worship is a contemporary song with roots from the 68th Psalm.  A simple statement Christians should always remember, “May God arise, may His enemies be scattered…”  How will it look when God’s enemies are scattered.  Will you be standing with Him or His enemies?

“Higher Ground” – no book

An adaptation from the original by Johnson Oatman, this arrangement features the same music (for the most part) and the same words, yet with a slight twist.  The above YouTube video follows the format that we’ll be singing this Sunday morning at Waterview.  Enjoy the adjustment, but don’t miss the message; “I’m pressing on the upward way,”…stilling praying that the Lord will, “…plant my feet on higher ground.”

“In Memory of the Savior’s Love” – 335 & “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” – 315

These two songs will serve as a medley for the Lord’s supper.  Verse one from the first song will proceed verse two from the second.  Notice the flow; “…where every humble, contrite (penitent) heart is made a welcome guest.”  “Forbid it Lord that I should boast, save in the death of Christ my Lord…”  We’ll sing this will be before the bread, then before the fruit of the vine we’ll sing verses 2 & 3 from this medley.  The songs will flow like this: “…The cup in token of His blood that was for sinner’s shed.”  “See from His head, His hands, His feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down…”  And as we close our time of remembrance we’ll switch the order of the songs and begin with verse 4 and close with verse 3.  The message: “…Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.”  “Beneath the banner thus we sing the wonders of His love…”

“Pierce My Ear” – no bookbondservant...awl

Taken from Exodus 21:1-6, and yet many tend to shy away from this song because of the misunderstanding of (or disagreement with) the title.  But when we understand the Biblical reference behind this psalm (we are singing scripture) we can better understand that for a Hebrew slave to have his ear pierced was not a glamorous sign of independence.  Instead, it meant a permanent, visual contract that displayed his prearranged bondage.  To say you ‘wanted your ear pierced’ was a step toward giving up your every freedom to a life of slavery.  Read the text,  “If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free, without paying anything. If he comes alone, he is to go free alone; but if he has a wife when he comes, she is to go with him. If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and only the man shall go free.“But if the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,’then his master must take him before the judges.  He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life.”  Now who is willing to sing?

 

“Where He Leads I’ll Follow” – 417

In keeping with our theme for this lesson we need to look no further than the last phrase from the first two verses of this song; “He the great example is the pattern for me…”  When we truly Follow Jesus, we’ll be kind to the erring ones and faith like He is.

what God wants...1“‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus” – 679

Our invitation song calls us to trust Him.  Personally, the second verse means more as we understand we’re singing about baptism.  Notice it again, “O how sweet to trust in Jesus, just to trust His cleansing blood, just in simple faith to plunge me ‘neath (beneath) the healing, cleansing flood.”  Sometimes I wonder how many have sung this song over the years and missed that critical message of baptism.

“Oh, to Be Like Thee” – 429

As we draw this song service to a close, this hymn reminds us of what God wants from us; to be like Him.  Again, see the second verse; “Oh, to be like Thee!  Full of compassion, loving, forgiving, tender and kind, helping the helpless, cheering the fainting, seeking the wandering sinner to find…”  Is Jesus stamped on your heart?

Posted on

I Knew You’d Come…May 26th

Moore tornadoMonday afternoon, May 20th, a tornado of unprecedented strength, swept through an urban neighborhood of Moore, Oklahoma.  With a mere 16-min. warning, businesses, schools and families desperately fled for shelter.

This month alone, we have seen devastation from storms in the Texas towns of Granbury and Cleburne, as well as in the community in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

How do we hold up in the face of such destruction and death?  What sense can we make in this manifested display of God’s power?  This morning Robert Oglesby will direct our hearts and minds as we come to better understand the comfort offered in Christ during these difficult times.  Just as the rescue workers came into Moore, Oklahoma to add those in despair, Jesus also comes to our rescue as we face the storms of life.  The following song selection is designed to focus our minds on Christ’s comfort in times of trials.

I Corinthians 14:15, “…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.”

All Things Praise Thee – 43

Coming off the reading of Psalm 84:4, “How blessed are those who dwell in Your house! They are ever praising You.” we sing the verse verse of this old hymn; “All things praise Thee, Lord most high…”  What a beautiful message as we sing this hymn of praise.  Concluding each verse we echo the plea, “…all things praise Thee – Lord, may we!”  Notice, this isn’t a question but an acclamation.  Would that we all give God our praise!

Great Are You, Lord – no book

As we sing this contemporary song of praise we’ll begin with just the men sing, “Holy Lord, most holy Lord.  You alone are worthy of our praise…”  The chorus breaks forth with every voice giving glory to God.  JESUS CAMEUnderstanding this hymn to our Father we sing, “Great are You, Lord!”

In Loving-Kindness Jesus Came – 504

Though not found in the ‘Savior’s Sacrifice’ section, this spiritual song reminds us of the death Christ suffered on the cross.  Understanding the grace of God we sing, “In loving-kindness Jesus came…” to reclaim my sinful soul.  Notice verse 3, “His brow was pierced with many a thorn, His hands by cruel nails were torn…”  Thus we find the focus for the Lord’s Supper.  But read verse 3 with a clearer understanding; “Now on a higher plane I dwell, and with my soul I know ’tis (it is) well; Yet how or why, I cannot tell, He should have lifted me…”  Don’t misunderstand the message here.  We are not singing “He should have lifted me”; we’re singing “I don’t know why He lifted me…but He did!”

I Gave My Life for Thee – 354

We sing as if we’re saying the words of Christ.  Poetically Jesus reminds us; 1) I gave My life for you, 2) I left it all for you, 3) I’ve borne it all for you, and 4) I bring rich gifts (salvation, love and pardon) to you.  Then we’re left with the question…What have you given, left, borne and brought to Jesus?

Whispering Hope – 497

“Soft as the voice of an angel…”  The author of this old spiritual song encourages us to hold fast to the hope which we find in Christ, even as the ‘night is upon us.’  Consider the third verse and the poetry found in this line, “Hope, as an anchor so steadfast rends (completely shreds) the dark veil for the soul whither (Where) the Master has entered, robbing the grave of its goal.  Come then, O come, glad fruition (realization), come to my sad weary heart. Come, O Thou blest hope of glory never, O never depart…”  Where is YOUR hope in stormy weather?

‘Til the Storm Passes By – 546

Have you ever felt struggles to the point of despair?  Does it seem Satan is tearing you down?  “Many times Satan whispers, ‘There is no need to try.  For there’s no end to sorrow, there’s no hope by and by…”  Really?  Don’t forget those are the words of the great deceiver.  Jesus is the hope of all the world, Matthew 12:21.

Standing on the Promises – 452

Where are you standing, “when the howling storms of doubt and fear assail…?”  Before our lesson we’ll repeat this confirmation, ‘we are standing on the promises of God’, sixteen times.  It’s common for people to call on God during the storms, but as we sing, ‘through eternal ages let His praises ring…’ and continue to stand on the promises God has given you.

I Need Thee Every Hour – 837

Written by Annie Hawks in 1837, a Brooklyn housewife wrote this poem in a hour of joy, not pain.  However, God is our helpduring the next several years many found comfort from these words.  We’ll sing this as our invitation song, and as the call goes forth let us realize just how much we need Him…every hour!

O God, Our Help in Ages Past – 522

God has been our help in ages past, and as we consider the message from this lesson, He will be our hope for years to come!  We know God has sent His Son to rescue us, and my prayer is that we will all be eager to retreat to His shelter during the storm.  Though the world stands in fear of the stormy blast, God reaches down and we say…I knew He’d come!

Posted on

Can We Improve the Service?

What makes service good and or bad?  Perhaps the best example of ‘service’ OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAcomes when you consider your waiter or waitress.  They offer a service for the customer that can either be useful or not.

Have you ever visited an elegant restaurant?  As you walked in you receive a gracious welcome from your host.  You are seated quickly, but then wait, and wait and wait for your menu.  Throughout the evening your glass goes unfilled, and your questions unanswered.  Most would consider this ‘poor’ service.  Some might even say this is rotten service.  Regardless, you are anticipating someone from this establishment to ‘serve’ you.

Another type of ‘service’ comes each Sunday morning many of us join together to worship our God.  We sing and pray, partake of the Lord’s Supper and listen to a message from God’s word.  We call this time together the “worship service.”  But who are we serving during this time?  Is this time of worship designed to serve men or God?  We certainly should be trying to ‘get something’ out of the sermon, and be admonished from the psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Colossians 3), but is this ‘service’ more than just a personal exercise?  Ask yourself…am I looking to be served, or am I preparing myself to serve?

Before you come together with the saints for ‘services’, I encourage you to think about your attitude toward worship.  What draws you to join the congregation of God’s people on the first day of the week?  Would that our attitude reflect that of the Psalmist who wrote, “I was glad  when they said to me, ‘Let us enter into the house of the Lord’.” Psalm 122:1

Psalm 122

 

If we’re truthful about the matter, people view worship services in a various ways.  God meant this time to be an opportunity to grow closer to Him.  This is an opportunity to give our best to the Creator.  A chance to show Him how much we love Him by uniting in songs of praise and offering prayers in Jesus’ name.  We should respect our Heavenly Father, and the method in which we serve and worship Him.


Consider some ideas as to how we might ‘improve’ our service when we come together to worship:

1) Attend every time the doors are open.  Others will see that worship is a priority to you.  You’ll be demonstrating your desire to be with the family of God and not ‘forsaking’ the assembly (Hebrews 10:25).

2) Arrive early and when possible, stay late.  This will show your brothers and sisters in Christ that you really want to be there.  It also helps as we encourage others .  Much of what we do is really not for ourselves, but for others.  (Remember…we’ve come to serve!)  By coming early and staying late you might be the one who helps someone in need of encouragement.

3) Be positive with other Christians about the worship time and about one another.  No place is ever going to be perfect, and rarely do all worship services meet all of our expectations and desires.  But then again remember, we’ve come to serve…WHO?

4) Take more responsibility (and pride) as you participate.  Bringing excitement and enthusiasm to the service will strengthen everyone involved.  Consider this, do you like it when your waitress serves you with a smile?

5) Believe that spending time in worship is worthwhile.  Sing and pray with all your heart.  It is not how well we sing that matters to God, it’s our attitude about singing that counts.  I truly believe that while we listen to the voice of the singer, God listens to the singer’s heart.

giving receivingPerhaps these five points will help us as we consider our worship service next Sunday.  Remember, often what we receive depends on how much we are willing to give.  Most would agree it comes down to answering the following question,

“What can we do to improve the service?”

Posted on

The Sound of Silence…May 19th

Logan sleepingAsk any parent who has young children and they will assure you the sound of silence is best experienced when those angelic children are sleeping.  As the parent of three teens the sound of silence is harder to find, but it’s still best when they sleep.  Yet the question remains, are there other times when silence reigns?

This Sunday morning, May 19th, we will talk about another time for silence.  Often we’re silent when we are humbled and have nothing say.  Other times we hear nothing but silence when we’re wrong or ashamed.  But consider those who are righteous; could they demonstrate the sound of silence?

“…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.” I Corinthians 14:15

Sunday morning, May 19, 2013

The following songs are found in the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.

“Praise Him! Praise Him” – 300
“He’s My King” -166
“O Worship the King” – 144

This three-song medley will open our time of worship as we transition between each of the first verses of these hymns. The intent of placing these three hymns back-to-back is to build upon the message.  Notice how we conclude with, “…Praise Him! Praise Him! Ever in joyful song.” and then begin with “All day long of Jesus I am singing…”  Would that we keep a song always in our hearts, ‘all day long.’  The second concludes with “…He’s my Savior He’s my King.”  and then fittingly we pick up with, “O Worship the King, all glorious above…” Notice how verse one concludes, “…Pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.”  Pavilion is a covering and to gird something is to surround or wrap it up.  So we conclude this medley as we sing that our ‘Shield and our Defender’ is covered with splendor (majesty) and surrounded with praise.  Indeed…”Praise Him!  Praise Him!”

“We Give Thee But Thine Own” – 663

As we prepare for an opportunity to give (contribution), we’ll sing this old hymn that echoes the thoughts of First Chronicles 29:14, “We have given You only what comes from Your hand.” You’ll need to listen carefully to the old English in verse one; “All that we have is Thine alone, a trust, O Lord, from Thee.”

“When He Cometh” – 714

This morning the children will bring their quarters to the front as we collect for the Breakfast Program in Nicaragua.  We’ll sing “Jesus Loves the Little Children” as they come forward, but then transition to the third verse of the song “When He Cometh.”  Written in the 1860’s the sentiment it timeless, “Little children, little children who love their Redeemer are the jewels, precious jewels, His loved and His own…”

An extra song (though not being sung this morning) to help share the idea of how we can experience ‘the sound of silence.’  This song is compliments of the McCoy Family Singers, Have a Quiet Time with God Every Day

Our song before the lesson…
“O Listen to the Wondrous Story” – 496

The questions (conversation) in the chorus remind us that many still don’t know the answer to the basic question of salvation.  As the singers remind us, “…Yet, One came down from heaven’s glory, saving us at (an) awful cost… The ladies continue into the chorus: “Who saved us from eternal loss!’  (not a question) But the men do respond with a rhetorical question; “Who but God’s Son upon the cross?”  Now listen to the Q&A that goes back and forth… “What did He do?  He died for you!  Where is He now? Believe it… (in unison) In heaven interceding!”  As the voices swell, so does the message!

“Be Still and Know” – 31

As we conclude the Lord’s Supper we’ll sing the words of God from Psalm 46:10, “Cease striving and know that I am God…” Maybe when we do that (stop striving, translated ‘let go and relax’) we’ll hear the sound of silence.

“Jesus is Coming Soon” – 712

“Troublesome times are here filling men’s hearts with fear, freedom we all hold dear now is at stake…”  Interesting to note, this song dates back to the early 1940’s, just shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, as our country struggled from an unprovoked attack, R.E. Winsett penned these words.  In the face of disaster we so often turn to God.  This time in our country’s history was no different.  Only with this spiritual song we sing to encourage and remind the listener that, “Jesus is coming soon.”

“Humble Thyself” – 745

Not a typical invitation song, but one that perhaps will help us focus on the message from this morning’s lesson.  Another psalm (I Peter 5) that entreats us to turn our busy lives and troubled hearts over to God.  When we are humbled and relying on Him (in silence) He will lift us up!

the foundation

“Sweet Peace” – 115

What is your foundation set upon?  Do you take peace in knowing that God is in control?  Our closing song tells us that because of Christ’s sacrifice (on the cross) we can have peace. “Through Christ on the cross, peace was made, my debt by His death was all paid. No other foundation is laid, for peace…”  Now that’s the sound of silence!

Posted on

Come into the House of the Lord and Worship

King David mourning“So David arose from the ground, washed, anointed himself and changed his clothes; and he came into the house of the Lord and worshiped.” II Samuel 12:20

A complete review of this passage finds no songs of praise, no musical attributes and no reference to singing.  But let the focus from this passage be the simple statement of what David did, “…he came into the house of the Lord and worshiped.”  To understand the importance of this passage look at the context of the chapter.

David has been informed by Nathan the prophet that his son, by Bathsheba, would die.  Any parent would recognize this to be heart-wrenching, devastating news.  The death of a loved one hurts and leaves a void in our hearts, but the death of child has no comparison.  In this passage, David pleads for the life of his child, and according to the scriptures he “…fasted and went and lay all night on the ground.”  During this first (and only) week of the child’s life David pleads to God for mercy and refuses any comfort from the elders of his household.  His hope is that God will renew the child’s health and let him live.  But when the child dies, because of the extreme grief shown by David, the servants are afraid to tell him the painful news.

It’s interesting that though David isn’t informed of his sons death, he, “…perceived that the child was dead…”. Seeing the actions of his servants told him all he needed to know.  But why did David’s demeanor change after his son died?  Why wouldn’t he have mourned all the more?  Most of us experience the depth of sorrow after our loved one’s death.  But instead, David goes into the house of the Lord to worship.  (Note: Most likely this was a demonstration of his acceptance to God’s disciplinary action for the death of his sin…the child born of Bathsheba was illegitimate.  Nathan prophesied the child’s death.)funeral

When we face the death of a loved one, we don’t see this as punishment or retribution from God’s hand.   We see it for what it is, a loss.  Whether anticipated at the end of a long life or unexpected in the earliest days of life, death is bitter for those left behind.  When death comes, we feel its sting (I Corinthians 15:55).  Perhaps that is one of the reasons why we mourn at a loved one’s death.  But for the Christian, when he dies, we might consider the approach that David took in 2 Samuel 12.  The Christian can worship when facing death, because of the hope we have in Christ.  The loss we feel in death is temporary for the child of God because we know, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones.” Psalm 116:15

Recently we have experienced several deaths at our home congregation.  Some are extended family members who had been struggling with health issues and some were older, faithful servants who had lived a long life for God.  But recently a young family lost their baby 8 days before she was due.  Such a loss is heart wrenching and leaves us at a loss for words.  How do you comfort a young couple who was excited to begin their family?  What can be said to console a young lady who had hoped to celebrate Mother’s Day with her baby girl?  My only consultation is to remember the words and actions of a man ‘…after (God’s) own heart…’ Acts 13:22.  David said in 2 Samuel 12:23, “But now he has died; why should I fast?  Can I bring him back again?  I will go to him, but he will not return to me.” 

cloudsThe faithful child of God realizes that this life is temporary.  We grieve when we loss a family member, but we also understand that ‘this world is not my home.’  If you are a child of God and death knocks at your door, your loved ones will have the blessed assurance of your victory.  They’ll see death for what it is; precious in the sight of the Lord.  Painful?  For us, yes.  Filled with sorrow at the loss?  Certainly, but also a time for all believers to ‘come into the house of the Lord and worship.’

Posted on

Mother Power…May 12th

dynamite

Power is described in many ways.  Often we think of power coming from the strong and stout.  But it can also be found in some unexpected areas.  Someone once said, “Dynamite comes in small packages…”  This Sunday morning, May 12th, we’ll consider the ‘power’ found in mothers.

 

In mid-May, each year we set aside time to honor our mothers, shower them with gifts and tell them we love them.  This year will be no different.  But as we worship this coming Sunday morning, we’ll explore motherhood in another light.  We’ll honor our mothers, but worship our God.

“…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.” I Corinthians 14:15

Sunday morning, May 12, 2013

The following songs are found in the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.

“We Shall Assemble” – 718

This call to worship is a song inspired by the pen of Twila Paris.  We’ll add a second verse which calls for us to consider the journey’s end.  “And at the ending of our journey, we will bow down on bended knee.  And with the angels up in heaven, we’ll sing a song of victory…”  With confidence we know the redeemed will sing to the King; “Glory and honor and dominion…”

“We Have Come into His House” – 296

This spiritual song comes as a follow up (medley) with “We Shall Assemble”.  Though the words may seem repetitive, as we sing we hear a strong case for worship.  Verse 2… “Let’s forget about ourselves and magnify His name and worship Him!”  The original words were changed from ‘Let’s forget about ourselves, concentrated on Him and worship Him…”  Don’t think we can go wrong with either one, as long as we will worship Him!

“Tell Me the Story of Jesus” – 387

Most have sung this old spiritual song their whole life (considering it was written in 1880).  As we ‘forget about ourselves’ we hear the singer pleading for you to tell of the cross Christ was hung.  And to tell of the grave were Christ was ‘buried’.  But in the same line we hear of the promise of His resurrection, “…tell how He liveth again.”  (We’re singing the gospel, the death, burial and resurrection.)  We’ll conclude the third verse as we sing the emotional plea to let me stay, and weep as the story teller whispers, “Love paid the ransom for me.”  Ask yourself this question, ‘Do I weep when I hear the story of Jesus?’

“Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” – 226

“Here I raise my Ebeneezer, hither by Thy help I’ve come.”  Don’t be fooled, this isn’t a song about Ebeneezer Scrooge, this is a reference back to 1 Samuel when the sons of Israel defeated the Philistines.  This verse is almost a direct quote from 1 Samuel 7:12 (KJV) “…hither by Thy help I’ve come.”  But there’s more to this hymn, “O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be.  Let Thy goodness like a fetter bind my wandering heart to Thee…”  Have you thought about chaining your heart to God?  Let God’s goodness chain your heart to Him.  Why?  The answer comes in the next verse, “prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love…”

“Hear Me When I Call” – no book

Though not at all new, this song of comfort is a call for us to seek God in times of struggle.  How often have we wished someone would hear our call for help.  To hear our cry, our voice, our prayer.  Does God hear us and know how we feel?  Certainly He does, but still we ask that He will “hold my trembling hand, lest helpless I should fall…” I’m so thankful God hears me when I call…

365050.TIF“Faithful Love” – no book

As we sing this song before the lesson, we’ll sing of the faithfulness of God.  Our understanding of how His love is flowing down to make us whole and to save our souls.  Look around this world and you see the love of God.  He is faithful to us and we can see Him all around, if we’ll only take the initiative.  Do we realize that it is He who holds our hands when we can’t stand on our own?  His love is faithful!

“Nearer, Still Nearer” – 478

Perhaps not designed to be an invitation song, this hymn is sung as we desire to stay ‘close to (His) Thy heart…’  But you’ll notice the realization that as we come nearer to God, by design, we draw further away from sin and its folly (foolishness).  Are you willing to resign all of life’s pleasures, pomp and pride?  The call is for us to draw nearer…still nearer.

“Stand Up and Bless the Lord” – {to the tune of: “This is My Father’s World”}

A familiar tune to a song perhaps not as familiar.  This is one of those examples of using the meter to form a new song.  This song (found on page 192) is a call to glorify God.  So whatever tune you choose to sing it, you have to ask yourself the question… Am I willing to stand up and bless the Lord?

Posted on

Jesus Loves Me…May 5th

With a lesson entitled “Jesus Loves Me”, you might think it’s too under-developed for a Sunday morning sermon in the presence of mature adults.  Then again, how much more basic is the message of God…John 3:16!

jesus loves meOften when life is filled with worry and doubt our hearts can become dispirited and distressed.  Anxiety and fear can cause not only emotional problems but physical struggles as well.   But you know someone cares about you!  When you’re happy or sad, there is someone who notices.  This morning our scripture reference is Matthew 9:35, 36.  Jesus felt compassion when He saw the people who were, “…like sheep without a shepherd.”  Singing Jesus Loves Me is more than just singing a child’s song; it’s an encouraging, God-given fact!

 

“…I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.”  I Corinthians 14:15

Sunday morning, May 5, 2013

The following songs are found in the hymnal, Songs of Faith & Praise.

“The Battle Belongs to the Lord” – 749

Written in the 1980’s, this song of victory is the modern version of “Soldier’s of Christ, Arise”.  We sing of heavenly armor and the power of darkness, and we know He’s raised up a standard.  We can take courage because the battle has already been won.  I John 5:4, “…And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.”

“Holy, Holy, Holy” – 47

As this ‘hymn’ echoes from Isaiah 6, we will sing each verse adding separate parts.  The soprano voices will sing verse one then we’ll add the altos with verse two, tenors to verse three and finally the bass voice will join in verse four.  But apart from the musical emphasis listen to (and read) this message of praise to our God.

“Til My Faith Becomes Sight” – 836

As we read the scriptures we find numerous titles given to our Lord and Savior.  This hymn, to God, identifies four ‘titles’ for Jesus…1) Bread of Life, 2) Living Water, 3) Lamb of God and 4) Savior crucified.  As we honor our Lord and King we proclaim that we will keep our eyes on Him; though we live or though we die.

“My Jesus I Love Thee” – 701

Written in the late 1800’s by W. R. Featherston, this song (again…a hymn) speaks to Jesus saying, I love You and I know You are mine.  The song continues as we proclaim our decision to walk away from our sinful life (“…all the follies of sin I resign.”)  The refrain concludes with the simple statement, “If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis (it is) now.”

“Jesus Loves Me” – 1014

A child’s song of praise that has been sung for years by young and old, our sermon bears the title of this song.  Anna Warner is credited for penning these simple, yet profound words in 1860; ironically, the year before the start of our Civil War.  Perhaps we can understand the meaning behind such a simple tune when we consider the words of Jesus in Matthew 18, “…unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

“He Loves Me” – 386

This morning we’ll use this ‘communion’ song as the song before our lesson.  With an upbeat tempo and a message fit for our lesson we’ll turn from singing of Jesus love for us to our love for Him.  Why did Jesus leave Heaven and come to earth, where He knew men would reject Him?  Why would He endure the garden’s ‘dreadful dross’ and allow wicked men to sentence Him to death?  Why suffer death on a cross?  Though we sing with simplisty we sing with the scripture… “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son…” John 3:16 “…Because He loved Me so.”

“Love Lifted Me” – 453Peter walking on the water

Not a typical invitation song, but the words are indeed a call to repentance.  Notice verse 3, “Souls in danger, look above, Jesus completely saves…He your Savior wants to be (translated: He wants to be your Savior) Be saved today.”  With shades of Matthew 14 when Peter walked on the water, in this song we sing of the angry waves. Certainly we can understand how Peter might have felt; sinking to rise no more.  The question; are you crying for Him to lift you?  Remember, He’s the Master of the sea…

“I Love My Savior Too” – 610

Those familiar with this spiritual song will remember the refrain.  As the lead voices sing “I love my Savior; He loves me too…”  The supporting parts (alto, tenor and bass) echo, “Yes, I truly love my blessed Savior, blessed Savior; and He ever loves me, yes He loves me too…”  But as always, don’t get lost in the music…stay focused on the message.  Are you honestly trying to do His will always and never complain?  My prayer is that you will sincerely strive to, “…seek His grace and favor in everything I (you) do?“

Posted on

God With Us…Part One

John 1...1Part 1 of 2…Immanuel; God with Us!

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1, 2, 14

Incarnation, by simple definition is, “God in the flesh!”  The scripture explains it, and for years we have sung about it.  Perhaps you’ll remember some of these old hymns:

  • Come Thou Almighty King (“Come, Thou incarnate Word…”)
  • Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (“…veiled in flesh the Godhead see;hail the incarnate Deity; pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Immanuel…”)
  • One Day (“…one day when sin was a black as could be, Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin, dwelt among men, my example is He!”)
  • We Saw Thee Not (“We saw Thee not when Thou dids’t come to this poor world of sin and death, nor yet beheld Thy cottage home, in that despised Nazareth…”)we believe

So how do we explain such a miracle in time?  Certainly numerous questions come to mind when we consider incarnation.  “How can God become flesh?”  “What is the natural, logical property involved with incarnation?”  Read the words of God as we consider this holy phenomenon.  Paul writes in Colossians 3:9, “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form…”  Earlier in Colossians, Paul confirms the supremacy of Christ, “He is the image of the invisible God, the first born of all creation.” (Colossians 1:15)  Jesus the Christ was not 50% god and 50% man.  He came to earth 100% divine and 100% flesh.  Though the ‘logical properties’ may be unknown to us, for the believer we have blessed assurance that this mystery of Godliness is great.  We believe that He still came to earth, and everything we need to know about salvation and reconciliation with God is found in Christ Jesus.  We wasn’t born in palace as would be expected of royalty, his birth was in a lowly stable.  Royal recognition was gone and He came to experience royal rejection even by His kinsmen (Mark 3:21).  But still…He came.  The video below is a song from Donna Douglas and Pam Thumb that proclamations our faith. Listen to the message as you read the words.

Do we truly understand the sacrifice Jesus made in becoming our Immanuel?  “He left all heaven’s glory to fulfill the Father’s plan.”  A plan that was necessary for our salvation.  We might sing about it and we might know it’s ramifications, but do we truly appreciate it?  There was no out, no substitute as we read in Hebrews 9, “For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it.  For a covenant is valid only when men are dead…” (NAS)  But as the song continues, “…the hope of what He offered so out weighed what must be done.”  We have a means by which we are saved; through the incarnation of Jesus Christ.  His death, burial and resurrection.

The follow up to this study (part 2) will explore the “WHY” behind the incarnation.
Look for part 2 in late May, 2013…