May 28 Worship Gathering – Communion Serving each other

Prayer:  Each week we pray for a different church.  During MJ (pastor) and my meeting on Tuesday, we were interrupted by a lady commenting on our Bible Study, who turned out to be the pastor's wife of the Baptist church we prayed for… Isn't that so neat?  So we got to share with her how we prayed for them, and she said, “that was SO God, as they needed it.” – pretty neat, huh?!?!

 

Immortal, Invisible (with an organ and congos… it was pretty neat!)  I love this hymn

 

I shared about corporate worship, and the unity it brings.  Story of Jehosaphat from 2 Chronicles 20:2-9, and how worship was used for spiritual warfare.  How it takes us into God's presence where the Enemy has no choice but to flee.         Psalm 22:3 and Matthew 18:20.  This fires me up… the mental pictures it evokes as, in one accord, we lift up God's name…

 

Holy Is the Lord (Chris Tomlin)

We Fall Down

Agnus Dei

 

Teaching Phillipians 2:1- ? 🙂

 

Break Our Hearts

Sweet Mercies

 

Communion  – we did it different this time.  We served it to each other, in the “theme” of unity and one body… and we said this to each other, based on Phillipians 2:1-2

 

“Because we both belong to Christ I offer you any encouragement you might need as my (brother/sister) in Christ Jesus.

 

Because we both belong to Christ I offer you comfort from Christ Jesus' unconditional love for you as well as my love for you.

 

Because we both share the same Holy Spirit I offer you my fellowship, to truly know you and be known by you.

 

Because you are my (brother/sister) in Christ I give you my affection and my compassion.

 

All of this, I give to you as I serve you this symbol of Christ Jesus' body and blood shed for the forgiveness of our sins that we may be joined together in perfect unity with God and with each other as we wait for Christ to return and take us, His bride, to be with Him forever.

 

(Then a prayer for the person)

Amen

 

Let Thy Kingdom Come

Routines….

SO,

Once again, I am trying a routine of sorts.  I am desperate.  I do not like routines.  Neither do my children, but they need them.  And so do I now that I have them, and things have to get done HERE even more so than “outside” the house. (appointments commitments etc)

It seems like it should be so basic, you know?  I mean come on.  How hard can it be to get everyone to get dressed, pickup, have breakfast, in a semi orderly ma nner, right?  Well, apparently for me, hard.  Because I am rather lazy and selfish, to be quite frank.  Not in every area ( gotta give myself something here!! ) BUT in the area of organizing my time at home. SO

Last night are family sat together at the kitchen table.  Cell church was cancelled.  And we had a family meeting with my 6yr and 3yr olds, and Daddy.  We walked through the whole day, how they could help, what responsibilities would be theirs.  (#yr old says “pick up the balls” ) He got it!! yeah!!!! So officially, he is the ball picker- upperer.

Today, Keenan crawls into my bed DRESSED!! incredibly proud of himself, (and so he should be!!) SO what could I do, but get out of bed and get dressed…  sigh… I might turn into flylady after all!!

Sutton Camping and Pictures

Well, Sutton was fabulous, 80 degree weather (I still can not believe it!)  Here is what the kids said was their favorite thing:

Keenan:  My favorite part of the camping trip was playing in the water.  (there was a creek, really shallow, with lots of rocks a bit of mud.  Perfect and safe for the kids)

Thaddeus:  My shavrit (favorite) is show (four) weeing (wheeling) – and wocks go in duh wadah .  (He loves loves throwing rocks in the water.  Which he spent the whole time doing, or his other favorite thing… beggin for rides on the four wheeler.  literally – a new family would drive up, and he would be asking them “Is this your four wheeler, Can I ha ve a ride?” – or trying to make you feel guilty for not giving him a ride yet.  This kid REALLY knows how to work the system!!  He finds loop holes in instructions, and wheels and deals to get what he wants, all while appearing sweet and innocent and cute.  BIT stinker!)

They also LOVED to pee in the bushes Thaddeus did not have one accident… because its just too much fun to pee with Daddy outside!!  And Keenan learned a messy lesson about watching which way the wind blows!!

Here are a couple pics.  First the boys with Daddy and Grandpa… then Keenan enjoying the dirt… then Bryan and I after our big four wheeling trip.  That was  surpirse, because I didn't expect to be able to go on the big trip, so that was fun… thanks to Grandma and Auntie Heather for watching our boys!!

May Posts 2006

May. 31, 2006: May 28 Worship Gathering – Communion Serving each other
May. 30, 2006: Routines….
May. 28, 2006: Sutton Camping and Pictures
May. 26, 2006: SUMMER in MAY!!! – in Alaska no less
May. 21, 2006: TEHILLAH – 4 of 7
May. 19, 2006: More funny kid stuff – and orienteering
May. 18, 2006: Kid Stuff
May. 16, 2006: PICTURES
May. 16, 2006: Shabach 3 of 7
May. 12, 2006: kids and training and school
May. 11, 2006: HALAL – 2 of 7
May. 9, 2006: BOILS – Relief!!!
May. 4, 2006: Barak (Barauch) 1 of 7
May. 3, 2006: Psalm 116

SUMMER in MAY!!! – in Alaska no less

WOW – we have been having the most amazing weather.  This is day four of incredible sunshine and warmth.  Its hot!! (well, 74 degrees 🙂 )  We have been on picnics, and bike rides, and playgrounds, the zoo,  OH, it feels SO SO SO good!!!  I put the kids in shorts!!

Today we are going to Sutton, north a couple hours.  meeting up with a bunch of family and friends with four wheelers… we'll be tenting and the kids are so very excited.  It should be by a creek, so Thaddeus will be in little boy heaven throwing rocks in there.  We'll take the kites and the bubbles, play in the dirt, go for a hike… make s'mores… and come home smoky and dirty. yes – it should be a great trip!

one more thing:  Keenan at lunch today with some CHinese food “oh, mom, my tummy feels flavored!” me”really?” “yeah, there is too much flavor” cute.

TEHILLAH – 4 of 7

EDIT TO ADD: note to self: do not try fancy colors and fonts!!! you'll mess it up and not know how to fix it!!

TEHILLAH -teh-hil-law- to sing, to laud a hymn. A spontaneous new song. Singing from a melody in your heart by adding words to it.   Usually translated praise.

This refers to a special kind of singing-it is singing unprepared, unrehearsed songs. Singing straight to God.

  “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving (Towdah) and into His courts with praise (Tehillah)” Psalm 100:4.

To enter into the gates… part way! – through thanksgiving (towdah – confession – of who God is)  

The entrance into the court, the inner place, the perceived manifested presence of the Father inside His court, is through Tehillah.

  When Solomon completed all the work for the house of the Lord, the singers and musicians “…were as one to make one sound to be heard in praising (Halah) and thanking (Yadah) the Lord, and when they lifted their voice with the trumpets and symbols and instruments of music, and praise (Halah) the Lord, … the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.” 2 Chronicles 5:1,13,14.

  In other words when they gave Tehillah, which means to sing Halah, the presence of God manifested and filled the Temple. It was while they were ministering; singing and playing music in praise, that God manifested Himself through His glory.

OK, run with me here… put together Romans 6:4 and 8:11, the the glory of God is the Holy Spirit.  (at least can be – remember, not a theologian!! ) .  The Holy Spirit is in me… as a believer, God's child.  God's glory in me!  Could it not be then, that as we TEHILLAH to the Father, He might reveal Himself, so that we might perceive the manifestation of His presence?

PRACTICAL:  I have discovered one of my favorite ways to worship, is to put a Bible up on the piano, and sing through a Psalm.  I choose a chord progression.  just 3 – 4 chords long that I can repeat over and over.  And at some point in there, David's words become my words, and God speaks to me through a phrase, or burdens my heart to intercede for something or someone, or shows me an area of my heart I need to confess.  Its kind of like musical “Lectio Divino”. and I sing / pray / confess / praise whatever is in my heart.

ALSO, in church, or singing along to a worship CD, have you ever been overwhelmed by the truth of something, and you just wanted to insert your own words, and affirmations of who God is… your heart is screaming “take all of me”  or “you are the king, and I submit” or “i hunger for you, I want to hunger more for you” – or something… but of course we wouldn't normally sing that out, because it doesn't work for us culturally.  We are more concerned about what others think, and are trained to FOLLOW in worship.  But I think that is Tehillah… And I guess that is what they are doing on those Hillsong CD's and others… where the music sort of stalls at the end and there is just a bunch of people singing all different things, whatever is on their heart.  Could never figure that out!! So anyway.  I realize most of you will not go to church this Sunday, and start singing out when no one else, or when the leader is singing somethign a little different.  (honestly? they don't at my church either often, and I lead worship!) BUT we have done it in our home churches, and we have had the SWEETEST times of worship in our living room. 

SO, I encourage you, ask Him for more hunger.  more heart songs.  and when He gives them to you, sing them out and give Him all the glory!!

More funny kid stuff – and orienteering

Orienteering:  you have a start place, are handed a map of landmarks and the lay out of the land… no words of course!!   and that sort of thing, oriented North, and clues to get to different markers.  then you “punch” your card at each clue.  Its a lot of fun, and this weeks course was pretty hard, I guess.  We have nothing to compare it to since it was our first time.  Next time we will bring a compass – which I am sure would help!!

You know, there are weeks where the kids don't seem to be all so hilarious… and then there are weeks, where you can't remember all of the things, its so much!!

Keenan… he is such a hoot.  We heard a story about him from his two afternoons at the deaf school.  They had an “artist in residence” there for a week, a wonderful story teller (in sign, obviously, since she is deaf) and they were going to act out animals, so the kids got to choose… all the kids are asking for the usual, dogs, cats, bears… you know.  and Keenan raises his hand “Thompson's Gazelle”  (NOTE: – we are finishing up One Small Square series – African Savannah) – which I highly recommend.

On the same note, at the Imaginarium a few months back, they were doing a workshop on DNA, and she asked what kinds of things are body is made up of… kids are listing bones, blood, muscle, my son says “Platelets”   He really is quite brilliant.  The funny thing is, he is not a studious and serious child.  He is one of the silliest I know!! He just reads a lot and retains a lot.

We watched Bed Knobs and Broomsticks… the army comes in at the end.  Immediately after, he has the “Wiggles” guitar out labels all the parts of the gun on there (with kid labels!! – he doesn't actually know the terms…) and proceeds to play army for the next two hours.  I played with him for a while.  He was dead at one point, but then he tells me “God shone down on me, and I rose again” – Well, I'll be… the faith of a child I can't really put in words what it is like to hear him play.  Its just a hoot… I have to be careful not to laugh out loud!!

Yesterday was the deaf school's play, he did so well.  amazing what a year can do for a child's ability to stay focused through a performance, and to control themselves by not looking at the audience.  funny stuff.

Kid Stuff

Just wanted to share some cute things my kids are doing.

Thaddeus, first swing in a long time the other day… He was throwing his head back and laughing with glee, relishing the wind, soaking in the sunshine.  It was awesome.  Made me laugh out loud, over and over that I could share that with him… I wish I had a video camera there with me.  SUCH JOY!!!

Nap time.  not so much joy today.  I put his favorite blanket in the wash.  Little did I know it was THAT much better than the other favorite blanket!!! you see, he likes the tag.  and the tag on THE favorite blanket has curled up into a long … tube? that fits great up his nostril or in his ear… I am NOT KIDDING!!!  The other favorite blanket (it used to be it only needed a good tag on it – now its the shape of the tag, I guess) – its a face well worn tag, but, alas, it is still flat.  I tried to twirl it for him, but it just came undone.  Eventually, he got to sleep, and realized I really WASN'T holding out on him!!

Yesterday our family went on our first “orienteering” excursion… Good fun.  it usually takes 30min – 1hr for the beginners course… it took us 1hr and 45 minutes!!!!
We found out later though, that Everyone had trouble with this course.  It was good fun though, and I think we will do it again next Wednesday!!  This will be a fun thing for our family to do together.

PICTURES

The big boys making plaster of paris mosse tracks… ALMOST green grass. this was a few weeks ago

this weekend… Keenan wanted to go outside and lay in the grass… I looked out, and there he was soaking in the warm spring sun… so cute!
I can't believe we caught this.  His exact words were “I'm thinking” – with that little smirk. 🙂

Here is one I could blackmail him with when he is older… complete with Bob the Builder underwear!! “I'm a bad duy (guy) mom!!”

AND last but not least, Mother's Day.  My sweet boys in their way cute Easter vests Grandma bought them!!

Shabach 3 of 7

7623    shabach (shaw-bakh') to address in a loud tone, a loud adoration, a shout! Proclaim with a loud voice.  This would imply that you were unashamed, that you had a joyful and overflowing attitude. To testify of what God has done.

 

Psalms 145

Verse 4 “One generation shall praise (Shabach) Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts.”

 

Verse 6 “Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, and I will declare Your greatness. They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness, and shall sing of Your righteousness.”

 

Psalm 63:3 “Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise (Shabach) You.”

Psalm 5:11 “But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You.”

 Psalm 32:11 “Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.”

Psalm 17:1  “Oh clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph!”

Psalm 132:13-16; “For the Lord has chosen Zion (we, the church are Zion); He has desired it for His dwelling place (that is ME!!): “This is My resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her poor with bread. I will also clothe her priests with salvation, and her godly ones shall shout aloud for joy.”

 

Ezra 3:10-13: “When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord, according to the ordinance of David King of Israel. And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord: For He is good, for His mercy endures forever toward Israel. Then all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. But many of the priests and Levites and heads of the Father's houses, old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this temple was laid before their eyes. Yet many shouted aloud for joy, so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard afar off”

 

Do I have joy overflowing that would make me break forth in a shout?  That would allow me to be undignified and uninhibited?  It is JOY that releases us to shout.  That is part of the Holy Spirit’s fruit… not happiness, but joy. IT is promised to us!!  From deep down, a small understanding of ALL God has done for me.  From what He has spared me, saved me from, set me free of, His MERCY, His Sacrificial LOVE, His POWER, His SALVATION, His anointing on my life… where joy comes from.  HIM

 

Psalm 98:4 “Shout joyfully to the Lord, ALL the earth (not just charismatics J)  Break forth and sing for joy and sing praises.”

 

I feel very passionately about our passionateless (is that a word) worship.  It is NOT how it should be.  It is not scriptural.  It is not Spirit led.  It is not REAL!!  It is not the life, everyday or corporately, that Jesus Christ intended for us.

 

Please note what I am NOT saying in the previous paragraph.

o        Passionate worship looks like / or sounds like “insert my favorite style J “

o        We should be shouting every time we worship.

 

I don’t know what the answer is… I am just pretty sure I haven’t got it yet, and the majority of churches I have been to… they haven’t either!!  SO let’s not get in a “worship rut” – that’s an oxymoron!! – stretch ourselves… What does God want to show me?  Privately or in your gathering of believers.

 

Precious Jesus, I want to be closer to You.  I need a belly that hungers for more of Your word, and a heart that seeks only Your love.  I want to think Your thoughts.  I want to have eyes that see things as You see them.  I want eyes to see YOU.  Ears that respond immediately to the voice of God and the Holy Spirit, that recognize Him, because I am intimate with You.  And my box is flattened. I don’t want to hold You back.  I don’t want to hold You in.  Overwhelm me with You, and may You pour forth out of me in praise and adoration, testimony after testimony that gives glory to You.