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

Sing Over Your Children

My personal verse for this year is Zephaniah 3:17. That verse says (NIV1984),

"The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing.”

I know my God is mighty to save. I never tire of hearing that or saying that. My GOD is MIGHTY TO SAVE! When I hear of the death of a terrorist, MY GOD IS MIGHTY TO SAVE. When I think of how someone so evil could walk into a church and murder my friend, I remember MY GOD IS MIGHTY TO SAVE! When I see people suffering through divorce or depression, I remember MY GOD IS MIGHTY TO SAVE! I never tire of hearing or saying that. I'm not talking about the type of salvation where He'll rescue you from a life threatening situation. He doesn't promise that. I'm talking about ETERNAL salvation. He saves through the blood of the Lamb--through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. No matter our sins, no matter our past, no matter our disappointments, if we confess with our mouths that "Jesus is Lord" and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, we WILL be SAVED. OUR GOD IS MIGHTY TO SAVE.

Even though I could stop at 3:17a, my favorite part is yet to come. It comes in those three actions:
"He TAKES DELIGHT"
"He will QUIET you"
"He REJOICES over you"

Our God is not a passive God. He is a God of action. He doesn't merely stand by and watch the world spiral out of control. He's a God of order. He's a God with a plan. He's a God who builds relationships with each one of us individually. This verse is very personal. Our God is a very personal God. The God of the Universe takes delight in me. He will quiet ME with His love. He will rejoice over ME with singing.

This Sunday, our Grad ensemble will sing a song based on Zephaniah 3:17. It's a Matt Maher song called, "Sing Over Your Children." Here's what the writer has to say about it:

"I knew subconsciously of Zephaniah 3:17 - that God sings joyfully over His people (aka, the shout of the King) - and that song, that voice can soften the hardest of hearts. Our relationship with God is initiated by Him and His love - freely given as gift; despite my constant temptation with the things of earth, God's love doesn't waver." (Matt Maher, www.mattmahermusic.com)

The chorus simply says this,
Out of the depths you cry,
Come and be satisfied.
Father, You sing, Father You sing over Your children.

Let us see through Your eyes
We are Your great delight
Father, You sing, Father You sing over Your children.

No matter what circumstances you may face this week, remember that God is actively a part of your life. You are His delight. He hears your cries and He is mighty to save. He responds by taking delight in you, quieting you with His love and rejoicing over you with singing.

From the Inside Out

I have the wonderful privilege each Sunday of meeting with a group of six girls, ages 17-18. We talk about life, pray for each other, ask questions and study the Word together. Right now, we are working through a book by Beth Moore entitled "When Godly People Do Ungodly Things." The purpose of this book is not to point the finger at others, but rather to recognize our areas of weakness and fortify them with the Truth so satan can't penetrate them. Easier said than done!

This week, we read the following passage:
"Satan knows that the nature of humankind is to act out of how we feel rather than what we know. One of our most important defenses against satanic influence will be learning how to behave out of what we know is TRUTH rather than what we feel." (p.22)

We set the goal to make our decisions this week based on the TRUTH we know, rather than behaving out of how we feel. Setting that goal was like begging satan to come and attack.

Moore goes on to say, "Satan's desire is to modify human behavior to accomplish his unholy purposes. 2Timothy 2:26 tells us that Satan's objective in taking people captive is to get them to do his will. If we have received Christ as our Savior, Satan is forced to work from the outside rather than the inside. Thus, he manipulates outside influences to affect the inside decision-makers of the heart and mind."

So, how do we combat that? We must be transformed from the inside out!

Proverbs 4:23 (NLT) says, "Guard your heart above all else,
for it determines the course of your life."

Philippians 4:6-7 says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

We have to literally stand guard over our hearts. We have to constantly be pouring into them TRUTH so our hearts and minds walk in TRUTH and don't give in to deceit. It's an active thing.

So, at the end of our discussion this week, the girls asked me one simple word, "How?"

We pray...without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17) We meditate on the Word...daily. (Psalm 119:148) We edify one another and hold each other accountable. (Hebrews 3:13) We press on and never give up. (Philippians 3:14) We write on our hearts (2 Corinthians 3:3) and speak aloud songs, hymns and spiritual songs (Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 5:19). We give thanks (Psalm 100).

We ACT OUT Romans 12:1-2 (NIV1984):
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

No, it's not easy. But the good news is, we're not alone. We are a body of believers on this journey together. We have the ONE, TRUE God as our shield and His WORD as our guide.

Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame

My heart, my soul, Lord 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.
--Hillsong

K.I.S.S.

This week, I have to admit, I have been a bit overwhelmed. This has been a weird 2011. There was the ice that shut down so much of February and put us behind on rehearsals, shut down Superbowl plans, etc. Then, there was Clint's murder and Judy's beating, which shocked us to the core and will forever change us. Then, a month later, my grandmother passed away. And there have been a million things in between. It's been an overwhelming and emotional time.

This past week, Easter week, was the first time I felt like I was "back in the game". It seems like it was my first "normal" week in a long time. But with that normalcy came the reality of how far behind I've gotten the last two months.

When I get busy and overwhelmed, anxiety creeps in. When anxiety takes root, my first reaction is to try to control it all. I tend to take it all on myself, and not trust the Lord with "it" (fill in the blank--whatever "it" is). I realize, though, that when I become that way, it's because somewhere deep down I don't trust God enough. Isn't that crazy to say? That I don't trust God? Because in my mind and in my heart, I absolutely do. But my sinful nature competes with that trust, and somehow plants that little seed of doubt. It may come in the form of "This is such a little thing, God doesn't really have time for this. He's got bigger things to do." Or, maybe me seeing someone else nearby in such incredible pain, that I need to let God just take care of her and not bother Him with my little problems. Or perhaps, I don't even give God a thought. I just simply go on auto-pilot and tackle "it" myself. And, needless to say, whenever that happens, I fail miserably. Sure, I may accomplish the task, but at what cost? In accomplishing a task, I might hurt a relationship, or yell at my kids. It never works well when I try to control things and operate on my power alone.

This week, as I was feeling overwhelmed, I read 2 Peter 3:8, "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day." As I read that, I paused and asked God why today couldn't be like a thousand years so I could get everything done that I needed to get done. I felt as if He answered me, saying, "Who has placed these deadlines on you? Are they real deadlines or arbitrary ones? What about MY time with you?" As I read on, this conviction became even stronger. Verses 11-12 say, "Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming."

It seemed really simple to me right then (you've heard the old adage "Keep It Simple, Stupid). Everything that was overwhelming me faded away. What I am to do is LIVE, and live a life that is holy and godly. If I'm doing that, everything else falls into place. Now, I realize Peter's talking about end times in this passage, but isn't he also talking about "now" times? We won't know the time nor the hour of the Lord's coming. So, he's not asking us to live that way in 10 years when we're more mature. He's telling us to live that way every day. "You ought to live holy and godly lives."

It's amazing. As I spent this time with the Lord, asking Him questions about this passage, and sharing with Him the things that were overwhelming me, He reminded me that I'm not insignificant. He reminded me that no problem is too small for Him to handle. He reminded me of Peter's first letter, where Peter says in Chapter 5 verses 6-7, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast ALL your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."

He cares for me. The God of the Universe cares for me. What a glorious thought. Not just a thought, but an absolute TRUTH. He cares for you, too. So, my prayer for you is that as you feel these times of anxiety, don't try to take it on yourself, but simply do what you know. Tap into the power of the Almighty! He has big shoulders that are waiting for every one of your burdens...big or small. What a mighty God we serve!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.

A Simple Act of Obedience Can Affect Generations

Last Tuesday, I was sitting on the golf course with my friend Ginger. We were watching our 14 yr old sons take golf lessons together. We were also watching our 10 yr old daughters playing and laughing together. Ginger is one of those friends that really knows me. We met 20 years ago, and she has been a friend through good and bad, through my low points and my high points. She has loved me even when it was hard. She's one of those friends that really KNOWS you, and she LOVES you completely.

I was telling Ginger about my grandmother's illness, and some of the decisions she was facing. Ginger reminded me that it was my Granny that introduced us.

You see, Ginger was a Missionary Kid to Brazil. Back in the late '80s, Ginger's family was getting ready to come home to the US for furlough and were going to be staying in our church's Missions Residence. My grandmother knew they would be coming, and knew we were the same age, so she asked me to write Ginger. She felt God leading her to make this family feel welcome and encouraged me to do the same. I took that address, and wrote Ginger in Brazil.

Ginger and I ended up being great friends. I helped her find some community here, and she helped me to grow in my walk with Christ. For the past 20 years, she has been a friend and confidante. God blessed us both with children at the same time, so not only did we get to experience each others friendship, but our children have grown up together and are now doing life together. My grandmother's calling to missions and act of obedience in responding to this missionary family is now affecting its second generation through incredible friendship in the Lord.

This week is one of my favorites because it is the week where we are reminded another act of obedience affected 2000 yrs and counting worth of generations forward, not to mention all of those preceding it. For me, the most moving part of the events leading up to Christ's crucifixion is the prayer he prays in the garden. In that moment, the disciples have fallen asleep. Jesus is alone in the garden. He could have tucked tail and run from what was about to happen to him. He was fully human, so I don't believe he could foresee the events that were to come. But he also knew the Scripture and the prophecy, so I believe he had a pretty good idea of what it would take for the prophecy to be fulfilled. "He was despised and rejected...bruised for our transgressions...pierced for our iniquities." No way around that...it doesn't sound like a path anyone would want to take. So, he had every reason to bow out. But there in that garden, Jesus has that moment where he basically says, "Father, if there's any other way for this to be accomplished, then let this way pass from me. But, since it doesn't appear that there is, I love you and trust you enough to take the next step forward in accomplishing Your purpose." Talk about an act of obedience that has affected generations!

I love this week. It is a painful week as we walk through that last week in Jesus' life. It is painful as I reflect upon the initial sin of Adam and Eve that led to this means of God reconciling Himself to man. It's painful as I reflect upon my own sin that held Jesus to that cross. But it's a glorious week, as we witness how Jesus' life and death of obedience resulted in the Resurrection and hope for ALL of man -- past, present & future. As we move through this week, let's commit ourselves to be a little more obedient. Who knows when God might use one simple act of obedience to affect generations to come!

Lead Me to the Cross

A few years ago, I was in Glorieta. I was introduced to quite a bit of “new” worship music. There was one song that they introduced that I couldn’t sing because I didn’t believe it was scripturally true. I found out later that it was a direct quote of scripture, but it was taken so far out of context that it made the theology of the song misleading. What that conference taught me was to evaluate carefully the things we use in worship (whether music or video or testimony).

When I listen to a worship song, or sing it for that matter, I look for the scriptural truth behind it. We all have favorite songs—songs where a text has spoken to our hearts, or where the music has stirred an emotion deep within. But as I evaluate the worship music we sing, I look first and foremost for spiritual truth.

This Sunday, we are singing a newer song for our congregation—“Lead Me to the Cross”. I’d like to take us through the text and point out the scriptural truths that have jumped out at me as I’ve meditated on its text. Perhaps you will find others that I’ve missed—I’d love to hear your thoughts as we journey together! (emilyk@fbca.org) The song lyrics will be in italics. They are followed by the passages those lyrics brought to light in my journey with this text.

Savior, I come, quiet my soul. – As I reflect on this line, I hear my favorite verse Zephaniah 3:17 being sung “…He will quiet you with His love…”

Remember Redemption's hill where Your blood was spilled for my ransom –Hebrews 9:14-15 “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! ¹⁵ For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.”

Ev'rything I once held dear I count it all as lost. Philippians 3:8 “What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”

Lead me to the cross where Your love poured out. Bring me to my knees, Lord I lay me down. Rid me of myself, I belong to You. – John 1:27, 29 John the Baptist speaking: “He [Jesus] is the one who comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie…Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” James 4:10 “Humble yourselves before the Lord...”

Oh lead me, lead me to the cross.You were as I, tempted and tried, human. – Matthew 26:39 “Going a little farther, he [Jesus] fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.’”

The word became flesh, Bore my sin and death. – Acts 7:52-53 Stephen’s Speech to the Sanhedrin: “And now you have betrayed and murdered him—you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it.”

Now you're risen. – Acts 2:24 “But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it is impossible for death to keep its hold on him.”

As you sing the texts to all of the worship songs this Sunday morning—When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, Nothing But the Blood, Lead Me To the Cross, Jesus the Very Thought of Thee—spend some preparation time meditating on these truths and writing them on your heart. Sunday’s going to be a great day of corporate worship together as we come to the Lord’s Table and recognize His suffering and rejoice in His grace!

My Attitude Adjustment

Yesterday morning started off terribly. Have you ever had one of those days where you just acted badly? That's how it was at my house. Everything seemed to set me off. I wasn't just grumpy--I was unbearable. I let things outside of my family's control dictate my mood and anxiety level. I walked into Staff meeting, honestly not feeling like being very spiritual. Funny how when you least expect it, that's when God speaks.

I walked into a prayer time with our staff where concerns were being lifted up. I walked into a place where people were sharing their stories and their struggles. At the end of an emotional request time, Nick Pitts prayed. God spoke to me through His prayer. Here were the two things that Nick prayed that struck my heart:
1. God, be at work in these situations so that man won't be glorified, but you will be glorified through the result of your mighty work in these struggles and difficulties.
2. Use these struggles to help us focus on You, so that we might become less and You would become more.

Every once in awhile, I need the reminder that the world doesn't revolve around me or my bad mood or my anxiety. That's sin at work in my life. But it was in that moment as Nick prayed, that I righted myself and my perspective with God, and restarted the day with a fresh vision and attitude. First of all, I thanked God for who He is. Secondly, I thanked Him for surrounding me with godly people like Nick, like my husband who puts up with me, and like the rest of our staff who are willing to share and love and pray for one another.

The song we sing this Sunday, sums up who God became to me in that moment--my Messiah. Whether you're like me and need to refocus, or whether things are hunky dory right now, I pray it will be a blessing to you:

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.

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