My God And King

My God and King
To You alone I sing
You're the face I seek
For all eternity

You'd be my dream come true
Just to be with You
How I'd see brand new
With eyes for only You

My God and King
Through the storm I sing
Covered by Your wing
This song of love I bring

You are my dream come true
Just to be with You
Now I see brand new
With eyes for only You

I love modern rock band worship. It has an energy and passion for God that is infectious, but I came to the Lord in the 80's and this intimate style of worship still presses all my buttons! Maybe it was the amazing freshness of discovering that God wanted to be present in His Holy Spirit that brought this worship alive to me. Many have criticised these intimate love songs to Jesus and call for songwriters to focus on His transcendence and holiness, noting particularly that men in the church find it difficult to sing these 'love songs'. That might be the case, and I certainly agree that we need to see God as completely 'other' to us. But I also hope we don't lose intimacy in our worship. The ability to let Jesus love us lavishly and to be in a place where we ask for nothing but just enjoy Him.

Skywatch #129

St Peter's Iver, originally uploaded by duopastorale.

We've had some nice skies this week as you can see, which has been a huge relief! This is the church where 2 of my grandparents and an uncle are buried. A beautiful church...

Getting Out Of A Spiritual Slump (1)

As soon as they began singing...

2 Chronicles 20:22

Here's a simple but effective formula for handling a spiritual slump. Praise your way out! David starts Psalm 22 by asking, 'God, why have You forsaken me?' and ends it saying, '...You... dwell... [where]... praises... [are offered]' (Psalm 22:3 AMP). You won't always feel like praising God - that's why it's called '...the sacrifice of praise...' (Hebrews 13:15). But when you're in a slump you need the discipline of praise more than ever. It brings a sense of God's power and presence like nothing else does. That's why the Psalmist wrote, 'I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth' (Psalm 34:1). By praising God in advance for the victory, you open a channel for Him to intervene in your circumstances, hope rises in your soul, and it's impossible to stay down and defeated. 

And praise fits every personality, so you've no excuse! You can clap and shout (Psalm 47:1), use music and dance (Psalm 150:4), sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:19-20), make a joyful noise (Psalm 98:4), lift your hands (Psalm 134:2), be still before God (Psalm 4:3-5), and you can even be loud! (Psalm 33:3, 95:1-6). Your praises thwart the enemy's best-laid plan! When the Israelites were outnumbered, they prayed and God told them the battle was His and that He would do the fighting. Judah (which means 'praise') went out ahead of the army, and 'As soon as they began singing, the Lord confused the enemy... and... they turned against each other'. The minute you start praising God He releases His power to start working on your behalf.

Used with permission from UCB Word for Today. Free issues are available here for the UK and Republic of Ireland.

My Saving Grace

And I will rise on wings like eagles... I will walk and not faint...

Skywatch #128

Wakehurst House, originally uploaded by duopastorale.

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? 

Isaiah 43.19

Highly Esteemed

“Do not be afraid, O man highly esteemed,” he said. “Peace! Be strong now; be strong.”

Daniel 10:19

Do What You're Called To Do

''..A man must be content to receive the gift... given him from heaven...'' 

John 3:27

We love to quote the promise, 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me' (Philippians 4:13 NKJV). But that promise doesn't mean you can do whatever you want, or what somebody else does. No, Paul is saying you can do anything God calls you to do, for with each of His assignments comes His assistance. This verse actually teaches you to stay within the boundaries of what God's called you to do, and not try to undertake things that are not part of His will for you. That's not negativism, it's wisdom. God wants you looking to Him for your answers, not others. That doesn't mean you can't learn from others, it just means the plan that will lead you to success must come from God. What is God's will for your life? Find it, do it, otherwise you'll live in frustration, competing and comparing yourself with others. 

John the Baptist said, 'A man must be content to receive the gift which is given him from heaven.' Read the previous verses and you'll discover that some of John's disciples were getting upset because Jesus was baptising too, and the crowds were leaving John and flocking to Him. If John hadn't been secure in his God-given identity and calling, he might have become fearful and jealous. But he displayed a different attitude - one you need to take to heart. He said, '[I] can receive nothing [he can claim nothing, he can take unto himself nothing] except as it has been granted to him from heaven. [A man must be content to receive the gift which is given him from heaven...]' (John 3:27-29).

Used with permission from UCB Word for Today. Free issues are available here for the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Let It Rain

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus.

Acts 3:19-20

Let it rain, let it rain.
Open the floodgates of Heaven.

I feel the rains of Your Love,
I feel the winds of Your Spirit,
And now the heartbeat of Heaven,
Let us hear.

There is nothing that compares to being in the Presence of Jesus. Something happens there that makes all the pain, searching and hunger worth every minute. It's life, joy, fulfillment, peace, excitement. It's a million other words that I can't think of. It's what I seek every day of my life and what my deepest heart longs for. LORD, it's Your Presence we need, it's the rain of Your Spirit. Send the rain on us. Let the trickle become a flood. Open the hearts of your people. Have mercy on your world and open blind eyes to see Your glory! Send revival!

Related articles

• Thirsting For God? (thisido.blogspot.com)

How To Have A Personal Revival (2)

'...Revive us, and we will call upon Your name.'

Psalm 80:18

A. W. Tozer gives us four more steps to personal revival that we must take: '

(1) Bring your life into accord with such scriptures as are designed to instruct us in the way of righteousness. An honest man with an open Bible, a pad and a pencil, is sure to find out what is wrong with him very quickly. I recommend that self-examination be made on your knees, rising to obey God's commandments

as they are revealed to us.

(2) Be serious-minded. You can well afford to see fewer shows on TV. Unless you can break away, every spiritual impression will continue to be lost to your heart. The world used to go to the movies to escape serious thinking about God. You would not join them there, but you now enjoy spiritual communion with them in your own home. The devil's ideals, moral standards and mental attitudes are being accepted by you without your knowledge.

(3) Deliberately narrow your interests. Too many projects use up time and energy without bringing us nearer to God.

(4) Have faith in God. Begin to expect. Look up toward the throne where your advocate sits at the right hand of God. All of heaven is on your side. God will not disappoint you.' The Psalmist writes, 'Restore us... and we shall be saved!' (Psalm 80:19 NKJV). You say, 'Saved from what?' From ourselves! Saved from the influences that pull us away from God and towards this world. Saved to fulfil the purposes for which we have been redeemed and called into His kingdom. If you desire it, you can have a personal revival.

Used with permission from UCB Word for Today. Free issues are available here for the UK and Republic of Ireland.

REmain

Good word from lifechurch.tv

1. REmain in the Word
2. REmain in Christian fellowship.
3. REmain consistent in prayer.
4. REmain amazed by God's Creation.
5. REmain faithful in service.

when you REbuke the enemy and REturn to God,

by REpenting of your sins and REceiving Christ

your spirit will be REborn, your mind REnewed

you will be REbuilt and while you're REconciled

by Christ REdeeming work,

you will REmain connected in the vine

And you will reap the REwards of RElationship

causing REvival to break free

Pray & Don't Give Up

They should always pray and not give up... 

"Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.' Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs."...Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints... "I will not let you go unless you bless me." ... "Because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome." ... Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful... Jesus went out into the hills to pray, and spent the night praying to God.

Luke 18:1, 11:5-8, Eph 6:18, Gen 32:26, 28, Col. 4:2, Luke 6:12

Don't Quit!

I've got my eye on the goal... I'm not turning back

Philippians 3:13

Get your eyes out of the rear view mirror, and start looking ahead. Celebrate the fact that you've survived! The devil tried to destroy you, but the good news is that he failed! In spite of all you've been through, you're a walking, talking, breathing "miracle of grace." Right? God must have kept you around for some reason, so try to find it! Look at David after his encounter with Bathsheba and Peter after he denied Jesus. They're the same men, just recycled and restored by grace! That's what God can do! Your last chapter has not been written yet. Refuse to accept the verdict of those who say you'll never amount to anything. Get up! Stand on God's promises, take off your grave clothes and dare to live again!

Paul says, "Let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us" (Philippians 3:14). You may say, "But it's so hard." Sure it is - for all of us. But you'll never discover your potential for victory until you get into a battle. It's in your struggles that you discover your strengths and learn to deal with your weaknesses. The greatest tragedy of all is not failing - it's quitting!

Used with permission from UCB Word for Today. Free issues are available here for the UK and Republic of Ireland.

Musiblog

New post at my other blog...

All Glory - Lift Him Higher

Great song by Nikki Fletcher, from the Worship Central team, sometimes known as Lift Him Higher.

How great is Your love,
That never gives up on me;
Stronger than shame,
Carries me back to You
Jesus, my Redeemer,
You have made a way.

All glory to God who is able,
All power and praise;
Forever the earth will proclaim:
You are mighty, You are mighty

So great is Your love,
It keeps all its promises;
Unshakable,
Eternity rests in Your hands.
Jesus, I surrender,
Lead me in Your ways

Lift Him higher, He is mighty;
Lift Him higher, He is God