Jesus Messiah

"Sin didn't make us bad, sin made us dead!"

Wow, I don't know why, but when I read this, it hit me hard. It's so easy to refer to sin as no big deal because it is so prevalent in our lives, but it really is a huge deal! It separates us from God, but sometimes, I don't live as though it does. I think it makes the story of Jesus' death and resurrection so much more beautiful. What a great reminder as we enter into the beginning of Easter week. Jesus didn't die so that we could be good people; He died so that we could be alive! So that we could live for Him! God sent His only Son to die on a cross so that we may have life and live it abundantly! With that, the only way I can think to respond is to give Him all the glory, to give Him all of my worship! But, it doesn't always seem to work that way. I would love to say the end of that comment is where it ends - I give Christ all my praise and nothing else strikes my attention; but, unfortunately, Satan is just as real and living with one goal in mind - to set me apart from Christ - to pull me so far away that I don't see Jesus and His perfection. But, the power of the cross saved me from Satan and his wrath and regardless of what my day looks like, it is my goal to live solely for Him.

"God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

You know, this is something I struggled with a lot growing up. I didn't accept Christ until middle school and I always thought that I needed to pray "right" for God to hear me. Now, talking to the students I do life with, some of them feel the same way. The beauty is, God doesn't set guidelines to talk to Him, heck; He just wants us to communicate! He wants us to worship from the heart! Ultimately, He knows what we are thinking and what we are going to do before we do it; He just wants us to keep Him involved in it! 

"God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

It's like the story of the woman at the well when she asked Jesus which people were right - the one worshiping on one mountain (Samaritans) or the other (the Jews). His simple response wasn't the Jews; it was the answer that there is something so much more important of where they worship, what's important is who they are worshiping. It goes back to that relationship God longs to have with us. It doesn't matter which church we belong to or which type of worship music we prefer listening to, the importance lies within the God of all creation calling us to be His children and that we respond to that calling through praise (however we do it best.) Hence the reason we were each given different talents and abilities. For example, you couldn't catch me dead successfully singing and playing guitar on a stage, but Shayne, that's his gift, it's how he worships. Me, I'm more behind-the-scenes kind of girl who makes coffee and greets people as they come in. Neither is better or worse, in fact, both are equally as important because we are worshiping God with the gifts He has blessed us with!

"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord."

That verse gives me chills. Think about those words, He lifted me from my troubles, from my sin, from my shame, and gave me a place to rest, a place to stand, a place to rejoice! But, He didn't do it for free. He paid for our sin - slowly and painfully. His life wasn't taken from Him, it was given to us. Jesus became sin so that we could be free.

"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

It reminds me of the Chris Tomlin song, Jesus Messiah. These words are great but the truth of them is so much better.

He became sin
Who knew no sin
That we might become His Righteousness
He humbled himself and carried the cross

Love so amazing
Love so amazing

Jesus Messiah
Name above all names
Blessed Redeemer
Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners
The ransom from Heaven
Jesus Messiah
Lord of all

His body the bread
His blood the wine
Broken and poured out all for love
The whole earth trembled
And the veil was torn

Love so amazing
Love so amazing, yeah

Jesus Messiah
Name above all names
Blessed Redeemer
Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners
The ransom from Heaven
Jesus Messiah
Lord of all

All our hope is in You
All our hope is in You
All the glory to You, God
The light of the world

Jesus Messiah
Name above all names
Blessed Redeemer
Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners
The ransom from Heaven
Jesus Messiah
Lord of all

"Worship is what God is all about""

"Pray without ceasing"

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come"

What would our world look like if people worshiped the Creator day in and day out? Isn't that what God is calling us to do? He doesn't need our worship; rather, He wants it. What a thought! He knows that we will live the most fulfilled life if we spend our days worshiping Him, yet we still choose to worship the things of this world!

This chapter really made me stop to think about what am I worshiping. Where am I investing the majority of my time? Unfortunately, the bulk of my time isn't praising my Father, instead, I am often times distracted by school, work, my boyfriend, church, etc. Yes, all of these are good things and I don't think any of them are wrong to invest time in, but when I make them the majority of my life, then I have a problem.

"For great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise; He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens."

Talk about Someone worth all of our worship! He created the heavens! Not only should we worship Him, but we need to fear Him as well! He is that majestic; He is that worthy! And, He doesn't just "show off" His creation, He allows us to be apart of it - He allows us to worship Him for it!

Temptation: Satan's way of getting between me and God.

Satan knows how powerful God is; he knows how worthy God is; he knows he can't change any of that. Yet, he tries to get in the way of it. He tries to get in the middle of the most amazing relationship anyone can ever have. Why? He's prideful. He can't stand that God wants our worship. If God didn't, Satan wouldn't try to take us away from it. It proves how powerful our God is! The same God that calls us children of Him wants us to worship Him and in return we should want to worship Him! He knows how all-deserving He is, but why don't we? Why don't we express that gratification to Him?! We only get one life, one small opportunity to praise the King of Kings -- let's not wait, let's exalt Him!

"Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them"

In this verse, the psalmist is referring to "them" as man-made gods - our stuff. If we become what we worship, why aren't we worshiping the most perfect person to ever walk this Earth? It's a privilege! I think about all of the countries that are not allowed to openly express their faith and it makes me feel so selfish for not expressing my love and fulfillment I find in my Savior.

"You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."

They say the Christian road is the road less traveled and I certainly believe it. But, it is so much more rewarding; it's eternal. The things of this world are only temporary and will fade, but God is everlasting - He deserves all the praise, all the honor, and all of the glory!

Wired Ch. 2

"[Jesus] came to seek and to save that which was lost"

"[Jesus,] the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being."

Knowing that God wants to know me, an undeserving, inadequate, minute being makes me want to scream on the rooftops! My God is alive, and He lives in me! How cool is that?! What love it must be for God to descend from Heaven to save a worthless, sinner, such as myself. It gives me chills just thinking about it.

The story of Paul in Athens really makes me think. There are so many people in this world that do not believe in God. In fact, they think there is an unkown god but they don't know much more than that.

"The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things."

It isn't until Paul gives them (the people of Athens) the news that the God of gods is alive and invented the world and everything in it that they come to know Him. He doesn't just live in church buildings and come out on Saturday nights and Sunday mornings - He is so much more than that! He resides within each person that calls upon Him - Abba, Father, Alpha and Omega, Creator, Friend, Teacher, Guide, Lover, Deliverer, Peace-maker, Initiator, etc. He doesn't need us to worship Him; we need to worship Him! He could care less if we came to church - He wants us to live for Him daily - not just one hour a week.

"For in Him we live and move and breathe!"

Wow! What a truth it is to know that He works all things for our good. He wants to be at the center of every decision we could ever think to make. He wants to have a personal relationship with us. He wants to be at the center of our worship... and, until He is - we will not rest. Our rest comes from the One who was, and is, and is to come!

Amen!

Wired

"And your life was designed to be a mirror that reflects all the best things about Him to the world around you."

What are you worshipping? Everyone worships something. It's a matter of if you're worshipping the Author of all or His creation. 

I just decided to reread Wired by Louie Giglio and I am continually amazed at how God uses people to reach others. I know these aren't Giglio's words but the words of our majestic Creator. The first chapter really woke me up. It basically describes what worship is and narrowed in on the fact that everyone worships - something. It truly is crazy to think that the 8 billion people that make up this world worship different things. Some worship music, others their relationships, still others their materialistic items, and the list goes on. However, why don't more people worship the Breath of life? True, it's the road less traveled but I can only imagine when I get to heaven and I can give Jesus a huge hug and kneel before Him and continue to praise His holy name! My heart aches for those that think they are going to heaven only to find out that Jesus doesn't know them. "If you deny Me before man, i will deny you before my Father." He gives us the free gift of grace and my ache is that not everyone accepts it. Well, as worshippers of the King, it is our job to share the good news with those who know nothing of it. I want to do this better. I want to stop faking. I don't want to be one way on Saturday nights and different every other day of the week. I want to worship God with all that I have because He is worthy of all my praise! I want to change starting today.

God, invade my heart. Lord, allow me to set aside anything that is distracting me from You. I pray, Jesus, that You would use me as a light in the darkness to proclaim Your name above all else. The material of this world will fade but Your love, Your mercy, Your abundance endures forever. Use me, Father. In Your holy and precious name I pray, Amen.

Will you join me?

Post 1

There is nothing better than starting a day off well rested. Sounds so foolish, but it really is true. Tuesdays are usually my extremely long and boring days. This one was different - not sure why. Work was normal (I got a bonus from a doctor!) and then I was off to school. I guess that's when things started to get icky. Found out I flunked my exam last week. If you know anything about me - you know that is not even remotely okay. Never have I failed a test and I sure did not want to start now. Either way, I was so ready to get home.

For the first time in awhile, I took the dogs for a walk. Anyone could tell they don't take daily walks because they make them less than enjoyable. I thought it would be a great way to clear my head - it was, sort of.

Well, Shayne was recording so I didn't think I'd get to see him at all. Yet, to my surprise, as I was sitting in the office taking a midterm, he surprised me with a dozen roses. :) they're beautiful and it really turned my mood around. (I wanted to post a picture bit clearly I'm not that educated, yet!) Just the thing I needed when I wasn't feeling so hott.

So that was my day yesterday.

As far as tonight went, church was really great. I loved John's message. Being wired to worship Jesus. We need to release everything we have to Him. That's the series we are in. I wanna reread Wired by Louie Giglio - great book, I highly reccommend it! I really could use a wake up call about worshipping God more than I currently do. The fact that I go some day without talking to my Creator really upsets me.

Something I need to work on. :) well that's it for tonight. I'm tired and have to work in the morning.

Night!

Jamie