Posts Tagged With: Worship And Praise

Helping With Hurdles

When my daughter Debbie was a little girl, she took ballet lessons. One dance exercise involved jumping over a rolled-up gym mat. Debbie’s first attempt resulted in her bouncing off this hurdle. For a moment she sat on the floor stunned, and then she began to cry. Immediately, I darted out to help her up and spoke soothing words to her. Then, holding her hand, I ran with her until she successfully jumped over the rolled-up mat. Debbie needed my encouragement to clear that hurdle.

While working with Paul on his first missionary journey, John Mark faced a major hurdle of his own: Things got tough on the trip, and he quit. When Barnabas tried to re-enlist Mark for Paul’s second journey, it created conflict. Barnabas wanted to give him a second chance, but Paul saw him as a liability. Ultimately, they parted ways, and Barnabas took Mark with him on his journey (Acts 15:36-39).

The Bible is silent about John Mark’s response when Barnabas helped him over his ministry hurdle. However, he must have proven himself, because Paul later wrote that John Mark “is useful to me for ministry” (2 Tim. 4:11).

When we see a believer struggling with an apparent failure, we should provide help. Can you think of someone who needs your help to clear a hurdle?

Lord, I want to show the kindness of Your
heart today. Please show me who I can help
and in what way. I want my words and deeds
to convey Your love. Amen.
Kindness picks others up when troubles weigh them down.

Source: http://odb.org/

Categories: Daily Bread | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How to Become a Daily Worshiper

In 500 words, I’d like to tell you how to take your worship to the next level. Before you click away thinking I’ve lost my mind, hear me out. I believe this 3-step approach will increase your awareness of worship in personal and corporate worship.

Ready? Here we go. 

The 1st step in this process is a simple one-you have to choose to become a daily worshiper.

I know we worship during our Saturday or Sunday services, but becoming a daily worshiper means finding a specific time on all the other days to bring our worship before the Lord. And if you can’t find time, that may mean you need to make the time.

This will look different for all of us. For me, I find space in my day to worship by shutting out the noise around me, and spending a few minutes praying, and reading God’s word. Many days I worship and offer praise by thanking God for His goodness and faithfulness. The Bible tells us in Psalm 22:3 that God inhabits the praises of His people-so when we praise and worship Him, it means we are inviting God’s presence in our lives.
So, why wouldn’t we want His presence in our lives every single day?

Just because we are called music director, worship leader, worship pastor, or artist, doesn’t automatically qualify us as a daily worshiper. That’s something we must deliberately choose to do, and it’s a choice we can’t afford to skip over.
 

The 2nd step in our decision to become a daily worshiper is to follow through with number one.

Have you ever joined the Y? Cross Fit? Curves? Choosing to join is the first step, but joining isn’t what gets the results. Results come from using the equipment consistently. Saying we are a member of the YMCA is one thing. Using the machines is another.

It’s much the same when we choose to live a life of worship. Becoming a worshiper takes relationship. Relationships take time. Choosing a life of worship is important, and at first, getting there may sound simple enough. But it’s not…It takes desire. You have to want it. Becoming a daily worshiper means planning and organizing our priorities to carve out deliberate time each day to pray, meditate, and spend time with the Lord. How? That’s really up to you. Again, it’s a decision we can’t afford to miss.

Finally, the 3rd and final step in our decision to become a daily worshiper is a simple suggestion.Write this down: I am becoming a daily worshiper. Now say it.

Consider posting this statement in several places where you will see it every day. Post it where you can read it while you brush your teeth. Post it in your car. Post it on the fridge. And, every time you see it, say it out loud. Habits usually form when we spend 30 days focused on a specific thing. Why not start today? What should those 30 days look like? Try it and see. I could tell you what I think, but that may not be how God intends you to worship Him. Regardless, you can’t afford not to make this a priority.

 

Source: http://www.churchleaders.com/

Categories: Jesus, JRM, Worship Team | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Night Crew

Pat’s first job was working on the night crew at a grocery store. After closing time, he and the other employees stocked the shelves. Pat’s boss had instructed them to always turn the soup cans forward so that the label could be read easily. But he had gone a little further by saying, “Make sure that they’re facing forward—three cans back.” One night as Pat was arranging the shelves, his co-workers began to scoff, “Just make sure the front can is turned the right way. Who’s gonna know?”

It was a moment of decision for the teenager. Should he obey what his boss had asked him to do, or just do what was easy?

We’ve all been in similar situations where we’ve had to make a choice. The apostle Paul encouraged his fellow believers to be obedient even when no one was watching: “Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God” (Col. 3:22).

Doing the right thing should not be dependent on whether our employer is around or if anyone else is watching. It’s not always easy or convenient to be obedient. But it’s right.

Remember, “to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).

Lord, help me to follow Jesus,
To obey Him day by day,
To be His faithful disciple
And please Him in every way. —Fitzhugh
Our character is measured by what we do when no one is looking.

Source: http://odb.org/

Categories: Daily Bread | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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