I wasn’t feeling well over the weekend and they were having a "So You Think You Can Dance" marathon on television. So I watched (and watched and watched).
I was struck by something one of the dancers said. One of the judges asked what kind of formal training she had. Her response was "I love dancing so much I’ve dabbled in all styles. There’s probably not a style that I haven’t had some training in."
Wow! That’s how I want to be as a worshipper! I want to love the Lord so much that there’s not a "style" of worshipping Him that I haven’t dabbled in.
Caveat: Yes, I know that worship is more than music. I’m focusing on worship through music here, although the concept can be applied to all areas of worshipping God, whether through prayer, Bible study, service, etc.
I believe that a true worshipper ought to be able to worship God to any kind of (worship) music.
Sure, there will be a few styles which are easiest for you to worship God through, but if you can only worship God through a specific style, it seems to me that you’re limiting your worship experience — and that means you’re limiting how God might speak to you. God is an infinitely-faceted guy, so I believe He can speak to me through hymns, contemporary worship, yes, even worship music with a country sound (horror of horrors, my style is much more rock-n-roll). And I also think that it’s quite possible that what He has to say to me (or perhaps it’s what I might hear) will be slightly different when I’m worshipping to hymns, rock-n-roll worship music, and reggae worship.
I want to be able to say "I love worshipping God so much that I’ve dabbled in all styles of worship music for the glory of God and to know Him better."
Will you join me in this endeavor?
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Monday, September 3, 2007
The Honor to Suffer – Philippians 1
"For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for Him..." Philippians 1:29
We've been "granted" two things: To believe in (on) Christ, and to suffer for Him. Some translations say we've been "given the privilege" or "given the honor" to do these two things. I surely count it a privilege and an honor to believe in Christ and to serve Him. But do I count it a privilege and honor to suffer for Him? Clearly Paul did, but...
In preparing for our Bible study on Philippians, Phil looked up the word that is translated "granted." Are you ready for this? It will knock your socks off! At least it did mine.
The word is "charizomai" and it's a derivative of the word "charis" that was translated "grace" in verse 2 of this chapter. See Grace, the Double-Powered Prayer for more on that.
Charizomai means "to freely give something out of kindness or as a favor, which will help or rescue the person receiving it." OK. Let's put it in context:
"I have (you have) been freely given (out of the kindness of God) the privilege of believing in Christ and that belief will help or rescue you." Cool! I like that!
"I have (you have) been freely given (out of the kindness of God) the privilege of suffering for Christ and that suffering will help or rescue you." Say what?
My suffering has been given to me out of the kindness of God...that means it's not always from the enemy, but from the hand of God, out of his kindness! (Kindness?) And it will rescue me. (Rescue me?)
I think it's important here to point out that we're not talking about receiving the discipline of God. We're talking about suffering for Christ. Suffering injustly simply because of our faith in Christ and/or serving Him .
And (amazingly) this is found in Philippians, the book commonly referred to as "the book of Joy." I repeat...Say What???
We asked our group how this could possibly be...how can suffering rescue us? How can it possibly be out of the kindness of God? Here's some of the answers we came up with:
- It teaches us to focus on Christ and things of eternal value - It gives us more opportunity to know the goodness of God when He rescues us - It gives us more opportunity to know the goodness of God's people when they support us - It teaches us compassion for others - It strengthens our "love muscle," teaching us to love when it's not easy to love (Don't look now, but I think that list comes awfully close to defining spiritual maturity.)
All of this is consistent with the message of joy that Paul presents in chapter 1. Over and over again we see that the joy Paul possesses is a joy that comes out of seeing what God is doing in others, rather than a joy that comes out of our own circumstances.
In other words, if we want to experience joy, we must "get outside ourselves." And sometimes suffering is what God brings into our lives to shock us out of our self-absorption.
Caveat...this is what God is teaching us...it's not what I've learned yet! I'd much prefer for God to teach me these things through easy, patient circumstances not suffering. I realize that what I need is a change in perspective on suffering. And quite frankly, I'm afraid to ask for it! Because God is true to His Word and I'm afraid He'll say "Ask and you shall receive." And I'm not quite ready (willing? – Ouch!) for more suffering. So please pray for me what I can't pray for myself – pray for a change in my perspective on suffering. (If you'd like me to pray the same for you, let me know.)
We've been "granted" two things: To believe in (on) Christ, and to suffer for Him. Some translations say we've been "given the privilege" or "given the honor" to do these two things. I surely count it a privilege and an honor to believe in Christ and to serve Him. But do I count it a privilege and honor to suffer for Him? Clearly Paul did, but...
In preparing for our Bible study on Philippians, Phil looked up the word that is translated "granted." Are you ready for this? It will knock your socks off! At least it did mine.
The word is "charizomai" and it's a derivative of the word "charis" that was translated "grace" in verse 2 of this chapter. See Grace, the Double-Powered Prayer for more on that.
Charizomai means "to freely give something out of kindness or as a favor, which will help or rescue the person receiving it." OK. Let's put it in context:
"I have (you have) been freely given (out of the kindness of God) the privilege of believing in Christ and that belief will help or rescue you." Cool! I like that!
"I have (you have) been freely given (out of the kindness of God) the privilege of suffering for Christ and that suffering will help or rescue you." Say what?
My suffering has been given to me out of the kindness of God...that means it's not always from the enemy, but from the hand of God, out of his kindness! (Kindness?) And it will rescue me. (Rescue me?)
I think it's important here to point out that we're not talking about receiving the discipline of God. We're talking about suffering for Christ. Suffering injustly simply because of our faith in Christ and/or serving Him .
And (amazingly) this is found in Philippians, the book commonly referred to as "the book of Joy." I repeat...Say What???
We asked our group how this could possibly be...how can suffering rescue us? How can it possibly be out of the kindness of God? Here's some of the answers we came up with:
- It teaches us to focus on Christ and things of eternal value - It gives us more opportunity to know the goodness of God when He rescues us - It gives us more opportunity to know the goodness of God's people when they support us - It teaches us compassion for others - It strengthens our "love muscle," teaching us to love when it's not easy to love (Don't look now, but I think that list comes awfully close to defining spiritual maturity.)
All of this is consistent with the message of joy that Paul presents in chapter 1. Over and over again we see that the joy Paul possesses is a joy that comes out of seeing what God is doing in others, rather than a joy that comes out of our own circumstances.
In other words, if we want to experience joy, we must "get outside ourselves." And sometimes suffering is what God brings into our lives to shock us out of our self-absorption.
Caveat...this is what God is teaching us...it's not what I've learned yet! I'd much prefer for God to teach me these things through easy, patient circumstances not suffering. I realize that what I need is a change in perspective on suffering. And quite frankly, I'm afraid to ask for it! Because God is true to His Word and I'm afraid He'll say "Ask and you shall receive." And I'm not quite ready (willing? – Ouch!) for more suffering. So please pray for me what I can't pray for myself – pray for a change in my perspective on suffering. (If you'd like me to pray the same for you, let me know.)
Labels:
joy,
Philippians,
Spiritual Maturity,
suffering
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Reasons for Joy — Philippians 1
As we study Philippians, widely known as the "book of joy," we're praying specifically that God would teach us more about joy as we walk through difficult circumstances. Having completed chapter 1 in our study, I am most impressed that the things Paul takes most joy in are:
(1) that the gospel is preached regardless of his circumstances (or perhaps even because of his undesireable circumstances); and
(2) that God is working in the lives of people in whom he has invested.
Over and over again Paul takes joy in what is happening or will happen in the lives of the Philippians, the church he founded ten years earlier. Paul is saying that investing in others and seeing God work in their lives is a source of joy that transcends our circumstances. Further, the Philippians will rejoice with Paul when he is released from prison and able to be with them again. They will rejoice in what God does in Paul's life.
The joy of Christian fellowship is the ability to rejoice in what God is doing in one another's lives. There's no place for competition or jealousy. There's only place for rejoicing at the goodness of a God who works in all our lives to accomplish His purposes.
We were talking about how undoubtedly not everyone in the Philippian church would have the growth or consistency in their lives that would seem to be a reason for rejoicing. Someone in the study said that's when we need to have vision, not sight (thanks Matthew). In other words, look for what God is doing in the lives of others, don't just see what's on the surface; look for what God is doing in a situation, don't just see how a situation is affecting you. When you have God's vision, not just earthly sight, there is always cause for rejoicing.
Hallelujah! My circumstances might be sad or scary or less than I'd like them to be in any number of ways, but God is working (remember Grace, the double-powered prayer!) and when I can't have vision for what He's doing in me, I can look around at what He's doing in the lives of people I've invested in over the years. And I can see the goodness of a God who is always good.
Next blog: The goodness of a God who "gives us the opportunity" to suffer for Him!
(1) that the gospel is preached regardless of his circumstances (or perhaps even because of his undesireable circumstances); and
(2) that God is working in the lives of people in whom he has invested.
Over and over again Paul takes joy in what is happening or will happen in the lives of the Philippians, the church he founded ten years earlier. Paul is saying that investing in others and seeing God work in their lives is a source of joy that transcends our circumstances. Further, the Philippians will rejoice with Paul when he is released from prison and able to be with them again. They will rejoice in what God does in Paul's life.
The joy of Christian fellowship is the ability to rejoice in what God is doing in one another's lives. There's no place for competition or jealousy. There's only place for rejoicing at the goodness of a God who works in all our lives to accomplish His purposes.
We were talking about how undoubtedly not everyone in the Philippian church would have the growth or consistency in their lives that would seem to be a reason for rejoicing. Someone in the study said that's when we need to have vision, not sight (thanks Matthew). In other words, look for what God is doing in the lives of others, don't just see what's on the surface; look for what God is doing in a situation, don't just see how a situation is affecting you. When you have God's vision, not just earthly sight, there is always cause for rejoicing.
Hallelujah! My circumstances might be sad or scary or less than I'd like them to be in any number of ways, but God is working (remember Grace, the double-powered prayer!) and when I can't have vision for what He's doing in me, I can look around at what He's doing in the lives of people I've invested in over the years. And I can see the goodness of a God who is always good.
Next blog: The goodness of a God who "gives us the opportunity" to suffer for Him!
Friday, August 3, 2007
On Obedience
We recently studied the book of Jonah. One of the lessons from the book is that obedience (and disobedience) to the Lord impacts those around us significantly. Jonah’s obedience impacted not only his life, but the lives of the sailors on the ship to Tarshish and the Ninevites. In the Old Testament we see God working hard to instill this principle in His people by establishing community rules, community blessings and community punishments. One man sins in secret (Achan) and the army loses its battle at Ai. One woman helps the spies and she saves not only herself but also her family. In doing so Rahab became a great grandmother of David — that puts her in the direct lineage of Jesus! Her obedience has had a direct impact on my life! Now that’s far reaching affects!
Yes, Your Obedience Impacts Others
We forget this in our society. "I’m my own person" we think. "I can do what I want with my body" we hear. And we live our lives oblivious of the wear and tear on those around us — both those we know and those we don’t know.
It’s a scary thing to think that my obedience to the Lord can impact people I’ve never met and will never know. But it can and I would even go further to say that it does. Because when I only say "it can" that leaves an "out" for me to think "well, yeah, it CAN, but will it really?" Yes, it really will.
A.W. Tozer was saved in Akron, Ohio after walking past a church and hearing the preacher say "If you want to know Jesus, go to your attic and ask God to reveal Him to you." C.S. Lewis was curious so he followed the preacher’s instructions. And He came to know Christ. Every single person who has been impacted by anyone who has been impacted by anything C.S. Lewis wrote or said owes a debt to that unnamed preacher in Akron, Ohio. Mr. No Name Preacher’s obedience to the Lord has impacted my life.
Your Struggles in Obedience Lead to Your Maturity
I have occasionally had people tell me that something I did or said really impacted them and strengthened their walk with the Lord. My typical reaction is "really?" or "who, me?" Now I’m Christian-ized enough to actually say something like "Praise God!" or "God is good, isn’t He?" But I’m thinking "are you kidding me? I didn’t do anything? I’m just struggling to live out my own walk with Him."
But it’s in that struggle of everyday living that we rub shoulders with others and that rubbing sometimes offers encourages, sometimes sharpens edges that have become dull and sometimes rounds off overly sharp edges. "Maturity flows form the mundane," our pastor said last week. The getting up and going to work every day, the taking care of the family, the give and take of a good marriage. The mundane.
God Has Already Figured Out All There is to Figure Out in Your Obedience
Sometimes I’m not quickly obedient because I think my obedience will have a negative impact on others around me. How wrong is that thinking? If God has told me to do something, yes I need to be sensitive to those around me, but I also need to trust that He has (or will) use my obedience to work in their lives — regardless of what it seems to me the (negative) impact of that obedience will be. Because He's already figured out all that stuff. All I need to do is take the next step of obedience. Because it really does impact those around me...for their good as well as mine.
Comment by dansdesk
Eli starts Kindergarten today. I have this constantly nagging thought about how much my disobedience will affect him and his siblings. I so desperately want them not to repeat my sins. I once heard Rob Bell say that one way to honor your father and mother was not to repeat their sins.
Tuesday August 21, 2007 - 06:28am (EDT)
Response by Sandyhov
Big Day at the Grhamm household!
Tuesday August 21, 2007 - 10:25am (EDT)
Comment by Sandyhov
I've been pondering Dan's last comment...that he once heard Rob Bell say that one way to honor your father and mother is not to repeat their sins. I'm not sure how that works...I guess it's honoring to them because it means we were paying attention? I agree that a life well-lived honors our parents. Otherwise, I don't quite get the connection. Anybody out there have any thots?
Thursday August 23, 2007 - 10:55pm (EDT)
Yes, Your Obedience Impacts Others
We forget this in our society. "I’m my own person" we think. "I can do what I want with my body" we hear. And we live our lives oblivious of the wear and tear on those around us — both those we know and those we don’t know.
It’s a scary thing to think that my obedience to the Lord can impact people I’ve never met and will never know. But it can and I would even go further to say that it does. Because when I only say "it can" that leaves an "out" for me to think "well, yeah, it CAN, but will it really?" Yes, it really will.
A.W. Tozer was saved in Akron, Ohio after walking past a church and hearing the preacher say "If you want to know Jesus, go to your attic and ask God to reveal Him to you." C.S. Lewis was curious so he followed the preacher’s instructions. And He came to know Christ. Every single person who has been impacted by anyone who has been impacted by anything C.S. Lewis wrote or said owes a debt to that unnamed preacher in Akron, Ohio. Mr. No Name Preacher’s obedience to the Lord has impacted my life.
Your Struggles in Obedience Lead to Your Maturity
I have occasionally had people tell me that something I did or said really impacted them and strengthened their walk with the Lord. My typical reaction is "really?" or "who, me?" Now I’m Christian-ized enough to actually say something like "Praise God!" or "God is good, isn’t He?" But I’m thinking "are you kidding me? I didn’t do anything? I’m just struggling to live out my own walk with Him."
But it’s in that struggle of everyday living that we rub shoulders with others and that rubbing sometimes offers encourages, sometimes sharpens edges that have become dull and sometimes rounds off overly sharp edges. "Maturity flows form the mundane," our pastor said last week. The getting up and going to work every day, the taking care of the family, the give and take of a good marriage. The mundane.
God Has Already Figured Out All There is to Figure Out in Your Obedience
Sometimes I’m not quickly obedient because I think my obedience will have a negative impact on others around me. How wrong is that thinking? If God has told me to do something, yes I need to be sensitive to those around me, but I also need to trust that He has (or will) use my obedience to work in their lives — regardless of what it seems to me the (negative) impact of that obedience will be. Because He's already figured out all that stuff. All I need to do is take the next step of obedience. Because it really does impact those around me...for their good as well as mine.
Comment by dansdesk
Eli starts Kindergarten today. I have this constantly nagging thought about how much my disobedience will affect him and his siblings. I so desperately want them not to repeat my sins. I once heard Rob Bell say that one way to honor your father and mother was not to repeat their sins.
Tuesday August 21, 2007 - 06:28am (EDT)
Response by Sandyhov
Big Day at the Grhamm household!
Tuesday August 21, 2007 - 10:25am (EDT)
Comment by Sandyhov
I've been pondering Dan's last comment...that he once heard Rob Bell say that one way to honor your father and mother is not to repeat their sins. I'm not sure how that works...I guess it's honoring to them because it means we were paying attention? I agree that a life well-lived honors our parents. Otherwise, I don't quite get the connection. Anybody out there have any thots?
Thursday August 23, 2007 - 10:55pm (EDT)
Labels:
Jonah,
obedience,
Spiritual Maturity
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Abounding in Love
Philippians 1:9-11 records Paul’s prayer for the Philippians. Out of all the things he could have prayed for them, he prays this "that your love may abound more and more." Notice that he didn’t pray that their holiness would abound more and more, or that their sanctification would abound more and more, or even that they would abound more and more in Christ-likeness. He prayed that their love would abound more and more.
Now granted, abounding in love is incredibly Christ-like...actually, I’d say it pretty much defines Christ-likeness. Yet what we tend to focus on in prayer and in holiness/sanctification doctrine and teaching is behaviors, not love. Yes, love involves our behavior. Paul goes on to pray that their love would abound more and more "in knowledge and depth of insight so that you may be able to discern what is best" — in other words, that our abounding love would lead us to making right choices that would make us "pure and blameless...filled with the fruit of righeousness that comes through Jesus Christ." But I wonder if we often put the cart before the horse by trying to teach and monitor and reward behavior instead of love.
Of course, that begs the question — how do you teach, monitor and reward love? I really don’t know. I suppose for a start we ought to recognize selfless, loving acts more than Bible knowledge, preaching, teaching or worship leading. In our culture, we clearly "applaud" great knowledge, preaching, teaching and worship leading more than we "applaud" demonstrating love.
Any thots?
Now granted, abounding in love is incredibly Christ-like...actually, I’d say it pretty much defines Christ-likeness. Yet what we tend to focus on in prayer and in holiness/sanctification doctrine and teaching is behaviors, not love. Yes, love involves our behavior. Paul goes on to pray that their love would abound more and more "in knowledge and depth of insight so that you may be able to discern what is best" — in other words, that our abounding love would lead us to making right choices that would make us "pure and blameless...filled with the fruit of righeousness that comes through Jesus Christ." But I wonder if we often put the cart before the horse by trying to teach and monitor and reward behavior instead of love.
Of course, that begs the question — how do you teach, monitor and reward love? I really don’t know. I suppose for a start we ought to recognize selfless, loving acts more than Bible knowledge, preaching, teaching or worship leading. In our culture, we clearly "applaud" great knowledge, preaching, teaching and worship leading more than we "applaud" demonstrating love.
Any thots?
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
A Lightness in My Heart
I woke up very tired this morning...too short a night that followed a week of very long days and short nights. Perfect prescription for crankiness. But God is greater and I am thankful.
I woke up with a lightness in my heart this morning. I am singing to the Lord and finding nuggets of wonder in His Word. I haven't felt this lightness of heart in a long, long time.
So my mind wants to know "what changed?" "what did I do that made the difference?" Was it our study in Philippians (the "book of joy")? We made a hard decision last night, but was it having the decision behind us that brought a certainty (in the midst of uncertainty) that lightened my heart? Was it a major new project that I've committed to that has given me joyful energy this morning?
I think the most accurate answer to the question "What did I do that made the difference?" is that I did very, very little. God is sovereign and in His sovereignty, He said "now." He said "enough" to the heaviness and "now" to the joy. Yes, I obediently and to the best of my limited ability put myself in a place where He could bless me — I continued to read, pray, join with other believers, worship, journal and study — but I have been doing those things all along with seemingly little impact or result. But God.
In that last paragraph is one of the biggest lies the enemy feeds us — "with seemingly little impact or result." Last week as Phil & I talked about this decision we needed to make I said (clearly speaking through the Holy Spirit because my heart was discouraged at the time) "We are fools if we don't believe in our hearts that God is working behind the scenes in this and has or is preparing a perfect answer for us." Those little actions that seemingly have no impact have impact in the spiritual world — impact that we can't always see or know. But they have impact! It just takes God's timing for us to see the result.
Yep, I know this is motherhood, but it' motherhood that I need to be reminded of over and over again. That God is moving on my (and your) behalf and that my prayers and my obedience have impact even when when I don't see it.
Because one day I woke up with a lightness of heart. Will it stay light or will the first three phone calls snuff it out? I don't know, but I do know that it's lighter than it's been and I trust that it'll be lighter still as I continue "keeping on" in Christ.
Grace and peace! Coming to a heart near you...
I woke up with a lightness in my heart this morning. I am singing to the Lord and finding nuggets of wonder in His Word. I haven't felt this lightness of heart in a long, long time.
So my mind wants to know "what changed?" "what did I do that made the difference?" Was it our study in Philippians (the "book of joy")? We made a hard decision last night, but was it having the decision behind us that brought a certainty (in the midst of uncertainty) that lightened my heart? Was it a major new project that I've committed to that has given me joyful energy this morning?
I think the most accurate answer to the question "What did I do that made the difference?" is that I did very, very little. God is sovereign and in His sovereignty, He said "now." He said "enough" to the heaviness and "now" to the joy. Yes, I obediently and to the best of my limited ability put myself in a place where He could bless me — I continued to read, pray, join with other believers, worship, journal and study — but I have been doing those things all along with seemingly little impact or result. But God.
In that last paragraph is one of the biggest lies the enemy feeds us — "with seemingly little impact or result." Last week as Phil & I talked about this decision we needed to make I said (clearly speaking through the Holy Spirit because my heart was discouraged at the time) "We are fools if we don't believe in our hearts that God is working behind the scenes in this and has or is preparing a perfect answer for us." Those little actions that seemingly have no impact have impact in the spiritual world — impact that we can't always see or know. But they have impact! It just takes God's timing for us to see the result.
Yep, I know this is motherhood, but it' motherhood that I need to be reminded of over and over again. That God is moving on my (and your) behalf and that my prayers and my obedience have impact even when when I don't see it.
Because one day I woke up with a lightness of heart. Will it stay light or will the first three phone calls snuff it out? I don't know, but I do know that it's lighter than it's been and I trust that it'll be lighter still as I continue "keeping on" in Christ.
Grace and peace! Coming to a heart near you...
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