Fear

I had an interesting experience a couple of weeks ago. One of my neighbors invited Abby and me to her daughter's Quinceañera. She thought it would be a neat experience for Abby to experience this aspect of their culture. I agreed. So, Abby and I went to the mass for her daughter. As we stood in the back of the Sanctuary, people were all speaking the Nicene Creed together. Then, they pulled out the kneeling benches at the appropriate times and participated in the different aspects of the mass. I had been to a Catholic mass many times before, so I was perfectly comfortable in that setting. My daughter was not.

About ten minutes in, she said, "Mom, I'm scared." I thought, "Scared...what's there to be scared of?" Abby went on, "I don't understand what they're doing. Why are they kneeling? Why is the guy at the front saying something and then they're all answering him? What's that thing that they all said together?" It was foreign to her, so her response was fear--a perfectly natural response.

I think many of us have that same reaction when we experience new or unknown things. As a matter of fact, I once had a teacher who made herself learn something new every year to combat that fear. One year, she decided she was going to learn how to build Legos sets. Another year, she decided she was going to learn the ukelele. Another year, it was relearning how to play the violin backwards (right hand on the neck and left hand on the bow). She wanted to remind herself what it felt like to her students to learn something completely foreign.

I never much thought about fear in worship in that way. Of course, I've thought about the reverent "fear of God". But, not the fear that comes because of something new. I've worshiped in many different environments. I've worshiped in customs in Mexico. I've worshiped at the top of a mountain. I've worshiped in a foreign culture with a language I didn't understand. I've worshiped in a Catholic Mass. This Sunday, I'll be worshiping with a group of our youth at the opening pavilion of the Chicago Zoo!

I guess I'm writing this because I saw through my daughter with fresh eyes. I saw how the unknown can sometimes make us afraid--and that it's okay--a perfectly natural reaction. But, as I talked her through it, she became more comfortable, and I was reminded that I need to continue to broaden her worship vision.

The other thing I was reminded of is that God doesn't want us to be afraid. If anything, I believe He wants us to continue to grow our vision and our perspective. He wants us to embrace other cultures and worship experiences. He wants us to value genuine worship the way He does--not just see it as the "have it your way", consumerism worship that we sometimes have a tendency to want. Ultimately, He just wants us--our hearts, our minds, our bodies. He asks us to live worship (Romans 12:1-2). That's really a pretty incredible thought! We can live everyday, unceasingly in worship of Him. One day, that will be a literal thing for all believers around the Throne!

So, embrace Him. Embrace the new things He has to teach us. And above all, don't be afraid. God may show you something beautiful in something new. He did me, just this week. He showed me a new song (and funny enough, it addresses fear) -- Forever Reign. The text is below.

You are good, You are good
When there's nothing good in me.
You are love, You are love
On display for all to see.
You are light, You are light
When the darkness closes in.
You are hope, You are hope
You have covered all my sin.

You are peace, You are peace
When my fear is crippling.
You are true, You are true
Even in my wandering.
You are joy, You are joy
You're the reason that I sing.
You are life, You are life,
In You death has lost it's sting.

Oh, I'm running to your arms,
I'm running to arms.
The riches of your love
Will always be enough.
Nothing compares to Your embrace.
Light of the world forever reign.

You are more, You are more
Than my words will ever say.
You are Lord, You are Lord
All creation will proclaim.
You are here, You are here
In your presence I'm made whole.
You are God, You are God
Of all else I'm letting go.

My heart will sing no other name -- JESUS!

Credits :
songwriters: ingram, jason; morgan, ruben
© shout publishing;sony/atv sounds d/b/a timber pub co;windsor hill music

From the Inside Out

This week, as I was beginning my youth band rehearsal, I had a kid (not in the band) say to me, "I need a minute to talk to you." I stopped and asked him what was up. He said, "You've been asking us what God is doing in our lives. I just wanted to tell you what He's doing in mine." We visited for a moment. It was great to hear about how He was listening to God's direction for his life. God was doing some great things in this young man's life, and he was so eager to share.

About 15 minutes later, we actually began rehearsal. We were halfway through a piece--just a normal rehearsal. Once of the players said, "Can we just stop and pray?" We stopped immediately and prayed. This young man felt the leading of the LORD to focus us and focus our hearts.

About an hour later, my youth choir came in. If you've ever been in a youth choir rehearsal, you may think it's complete chaos. I'll admit, there is that element. We began to sing. We were singing the song, "From the Inside Out". We got to the point in the song when it says, "My heart and my soul, I give You control. Consume me from teh inside out, Lord." I felt like we were just paying lip service. We stopped. We took a moment to pray. I asked them to focus on the things that they would praise God for right in that moment. Then, we sang the song again--not paying lip service this time, but worshiping from our hearts.

It was a POWERFUL afternoon of worship--probably one I'll never forget. These kids were so open, so unashamed before the Lord.

I went home, and read a story about the great violinist Joshua Bell. it said that Bell recently performed an experiment where he went into a Washington, D. C. metro station unannounced. He took his 1713 Strad violin (worth millions) and began to play the top pieces in his repertoire. A thousand people went by, and nobody recoginzed him or his talent, nor did they recognize the craftsmanship of the instrument. Finally, one woman recognized who he was and stopped to listen.

The point of the story was that, too often, we are so busy getting from one place to another that we are unaware of God's presence. We pass up so many opportunities with Him. The author used the passage from Matthew 11.

"Let him who has ears hear. To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance...'" Matthew 11:15-17 (NIV)

This was a wakeup call to me. I don't want to miss the Master playing for me. I don't want to miss a single opportunity to sit in His presence and learn.

WORSHIP. Take a moment to focus on these words to "From the Inside Out" by Hillsong.

A thousand times I've failed, still Your mercy remains.
And should I stumble again, still I'm caught in Your grace.

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades.
Neverending, Your glory goes beyond all fame.

My heart and my soul I give You control.
Consume me from the inside out, Lord.
Let justice and praise become my embrace, to love You from the inside out.

Your will above all else, my purpose remains,
the art of losing myself in bringing You praise.

When was the last time you heard His voice? When was the last time you lost yourself in praising Him? Find some time this week. Lose yourself in praise. It was amazing to me, as I began praising Him how my needs became so small, and the LORD -- His sovereignty, His grace, His provision, His greatness -- overwhelmed me. We worship THE Almighty God! What a privilege.