Prayer of A Worship Leader

Holy Spirit --
My heart is sold out to You
Fixed on You
Dedicated to You with all my devotion and love.
I am commiting myself to You
to be loyal to You
I want to be in You completely
to "walk in the Spirit" --
To go where you go
Speak what You speak (You will let me hear You)
Do what you do
Say what you say (according to Your Word).

I dedicate any ministry I do for You
To allow You the sacred space
to speak to your people
To heal them, to fill them, restore them,
Revive, save, and reveal to them
Jesus and His purposes.
Please fill the space with your holy
and peacful presence
With your power present
To heal their bodies
And fill them
To overflowing and with your fullness.

I promise to give You all the glory
That is rigthfully and always due to You.
I love You.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnYDJwJ8xIg

The True Test

Jesus was questioned frequently about the legitimacy of His teachings and authority to work miracles of healing. He never defended himself, for He knew He was acting on behalf of His Father in Heaven. A crowd of religious leaders and onlookers had gathered with questions and Jesus answered them, "What I teach comes from the One who sent me. Anyone who wants to do his will can test this teaching and know whether it's from God or whether I'm making it up. A person making things up tries to make himself look good. But someone trying to honor the one who sent him sticks to the facts and doesn't tamper with reality..." (John 7:16-19 The Message Bible).

When a country sends an Ambassador to another country, they expect that the one sent - the "Ambassador" will execute the decisions, will, and judgments of the home country, and that he will not be acting from his own opinions and personal will. Jesus too followed the protocol of one sent out to fulfill another's will, namely, the Heavenly Father. At no time did Jesus ever seek His own glory but always made sure to qualify in who's name He was acting.

Likewise, we as we have been sent, we must not seek to draw attention to ourselves to show off skills, talents, beatuty, possessions, or spiritual gifts even.
Even Jesus' brothers did not believe Him and taunted him with suggestions to show off his stuff: "If you're serious about what you're doing, come out in the open and show the world."

Jesus, however, never sought a ministry or even ministry opportunities. Rather, He only sought the face of His Father in Heaven - in the secret place - and could be found hidden away in the hills and mountains into the early hours of the morning. During these times the Holy Spirit spoke very specifically to Jesus about what He was to do next: "Go across the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) and there will be a demon-possessed man there." Not once did Jesus send His disciples ahead of him to the towns to prepare the way with advertising, setting up venues, or promoting his healing ministry in any way. He never showed off the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and often preferred to minister to people alone before the crowds gathered.

So, Jesus answered his brothers: "It isn't my time yet. I'm not ready." He understood who He was and that when God wanted to release Him, He would tell Him. The Holy Spirit did, in fact, direct Jesus to go up to the Feast of Tabernacles, but a couple of days later, after his family were already gone.

The true test of our teaching and ministry is when the Holy Spirit affirms us through the fruit produced by what we are doing for Him. Is it activity to make us "look good," or does it honor and glorify Jesus?

Jesus made sure to only go where the Spirit led Him; He only did what the Father did. As Ambassadors for the Messiah and King, this is our protocol as well. We are to do what Jesus did, for He patterned his life for us.

Where You Go I Go is a great song sung by Kim Walker at the Jesus Culture that offers our hearts in dedication to this purpose.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2U3PU-E32E

God's Belly Button - The Father's Song

We were praying with friends we've known for over 30 years who were visiting us from Israel. Seven of them plus two of us made nine. Some were seated, others were standing, but we were all holding hands - all but the youngest son who had laid his head on his seated father’s chest listening to us pray.

I was standing closest and almost over the father of the family and the son. Tender picture! I opened my eyes to see the boy had lifted his father’s T-shirt and had his finger in his belly button. The innocence of the scene melted me. I knew he was listening to the deep voice of his father praying and bonding by exploring his stomach. I whispered inside myself to the Lord, I want to put my finger in Your belly button.

It has been over a week since their visit, and today on my regular prayer walk, God picked up where I left off. “About the belly button...” He whispered. I had been loudly singing Jake Hamilton’s song “The Great I Am” with lyrics that say . . . “You are dancing and singing the Father’s song, You’re rejoicing over me.” I stopped singing mid-sentence; I sensed a great lesson coming.

“Where is My belly button?” the Lord asked. I knew the answer from Scripture. Ezekiel talks about end-times in chapter 38. Mocking the power from the north, God says, “You will say, ‘I will invade a land of unwalled villages; I will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people - all of them living without walls and without gates and bars (present day Israel). I will plunder and loot and turn my hand against the resettled ruins and the people gathered from the nations, rich in livestock and goods (present day Israel), living at the center of the land” (vs. 11,12.) “Center of the Land” is the Hebrew word tabor (lit., "belly button"). I have known this and taught this for many years. Coupled with the picture in Galatians, “But, Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all” makes for an intimate, close-knit family picture.

“You’ve had your finger in my belly button for 29 years,” I heard Him say. I laughed and pondered as I continued my walk. “I want to be so close, Lord!” my heart responded. “How close can I get?”

“For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God,” (Colossians 3:3) was His answer.

Suddenly, I could actually see myself wrapped in Christ and hid in God. I laughed at such joy . . . “I’ll bet you could sneak across borders with this info,” I thought. “I’m hid!” I said out loud. "No one can see me!!!"

My walk was about to go to a deeper level. “Do you want to hear the Father’s Song,” He asked?

Of course I did! I could visualize myself, my head bent down, ear down on His chest, finger in His belly button...and then, a rumbling began...like the lowest bass voice you have ever heard. It sounded like the thunder of a storm that you cannot yet see just over the horizon. Jake kept singing somewhere in the back of my mind, “You are dancing and singing the Father’s Song, You are dancing and singing the Father’s Song, You are dancing and singing the Father’s song, You’re rejoicing over me...” Clearly, Jesus was so excited that I was hearing the Father’s Song.

The words began...but, they were not words. They were historical-pictoral bites of God’s invasions into our world on behalf of His people, both Jews and Gentiles. My flesh began to tremble.

“Flesh does not do so well in the Presence of Your Spirit,” I commented out loud. My breath began to get short. The deep bass voice in the background turned to crashes of thunder, then to the sounds of war...nations rising in hatred, war planes breaking the peace of the quiet day. Battle grounds opened before my eyes...the amassed hordes of God-haters were on the war path. Lines were drawn in the sand; war strategies were made plain.

Angels then appeared. Clearly not a fair fight, I thought. The brightness flashed across the surface of the earth like nuclear light. Men cried for mountains to fall upon them to hide them from His Face.

Then the Bride! She has been wrapped in Christ and hidden in God, but I saw her emerge: The Lamb’s bride - from Jerusalem. She has been in preparation, but now I see her ready. She is bride-like, and although the raiment is bright as the sun, she is in armor. She is ready for war. I see nuclear blasts on earth. Then I see the Bride's Husband, face like blazing suns, eyes like lightning, clothing like white phosphorous burning . . . nuclear light looks dark in comparison.

This war is not fair! God haters are screaming, fleeing; violent love is pursuing into every nook and cranny. I’m begging God not to let me fall down outside - the temperature is hovering over 95, and I’m still 10 minutes away from my house trembling and shaking. Walking by neighbors who wave and smile, I want to shout like Pilgrim in Pilgrim’s Progress, “Don’t you know what’s coming?!”

I finally make it home and burst through the door. Carol can see that something has happened. “Jesus just sang me the Father’s Song!” I said. We are both on the same page, being spiritually revived to all God has for us in this day and hour. She couldn’t wait to hear. When I finished, she just said, “Go write it down.”

In this moment, I realize that it’s not time to be polite anymore; it’s not time to hope that people ‘get it.’ It is time to set aside every sin that besets us and contend for the faith. Iron the bridal gown, get out the combat boots, and suit up.

“Walk, Bride!”

--Ron Cantrell

Proof of a Worshipper

I learned a long time ago, when I set out on this journey learning to worship the Lord with everything in me, that you cannot worship with only a part of you. It is impossible. Rather, worship must be wholehearted, radical, extravagant, with everything in you - matching the glory of the One you worship.

We sometimes have the idea that worship is contingent on whether or not all the conditions I need to worship God are met. But the Lord asks us, "Will you worship Me (or lead others to worship Me) when. . . "

1. When other worship leaders seem to sideline or reject you, intimidate you, your age, your style, or your calling? --even if they try to keep you from your destiny, will you still worship Me?
2. When the congregation refuses to worship because the style seems strange to them (King David taught Israel a new style of worship), or when the Pastor and leaders seem to snub you? Will you be offended and then have it affect your ability to worship Me from a pure heart to bring people into God's presence? Will you still worship Me?
3. When nothing in the venue is right, it is nothing like you expected, or, you don't expect a reward, honor, or remuneration? Will you still worship Me?
4. When there is no audience, except Me?
5. When all the conditions are wrong (i.e., song display, audio not working, no microphones or monitors, etc.), will you still worship Me?
6. When you have no ministry engagements lined up, no congregation in which to worship, no ministry to speak of. . .will you minister to Me when you are all alone, with great delight, just to bring pleasure to Me?
7. When you are distraught with life (family, health, financial, marriage, etc.)? Will you still worship Me?
8. When you are a failure (or feel like one)? --a spiritual failure? --or feel like a "has-been". . .Will you still worship me?
9. When your emotions are screaming "You are not accepted here!"? --or you are overcome with personal shame? --or, you feel "God wants others near, but not me!" Will you still worship Me?
10. When your body is wracked with pain and disease, and there seems to be no hope of recovery? Will praise arise to worship Me?

Determine that nothing - and no one - will keep you from giving worthy worship unto the Lord. I tell my soul often, I will worship You Jesus with everything within me, at all times, in all seasons. I have come to prefer my audience of One.

May you be inspired as you listen to this song (and worship God) from Hillsongs United in Australia.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSCE8uLuTJY

When Fear is Welcome

(Photo: Ted Larson, "Digital Art by Ted Larson" - visit his website: http://is.gd/1lMFj )

Fear in Bible context is a confusing subject. In one place we are warned against it, in another we are enjoined to embrace it. For example: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Psalm 111:10). We are to embrace that fear. However, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (II Timothy 1:7) is the fear we must shun, but how, and what is the difference?

"Pahdah” (pakh-dah), the Hebrew word from Jeremiah 2:19 is in a form that is single usage, i.e., seen only once in all of Scripture.

“Your wickedness will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you. Consider then and realize how bitter it is for you when you forsake the Lord your God and have no awe of me.”

There it is translated “awe,” but, the word awe has lost its meaning in our modern world. Just ask a teenager: “Totally awesome!” has become a common response to ordinary life. The modern day usage of the root word of "awe" will at first lend confusion, but once explored, it brings clarity. Pahdan (pakh-dan), ending in “n” making it a noun in Modern Hebrew, is translated “a coward,” i.e., scared of pretty much everything. Other Scriptures that use the root of the word translate is as “fear.” It differs from “ya’re” used in many other biblical passages as the “fear of God.”

Messages on the fear of God are almost nonexistent in today's American church. And if such a sermon should be preached, the term “fear” is translated with care so as not to make anyone uncomfortable. The term has been so watered down as to cease to convict anyone of sin, or lead to repentance, or to suggest that we make things right with people we have wronged. Reverence and honor have been the chosen options in the list of concordance choices; however, there are other options.

If we want nearness to God, we must consider the various Scriptural terms for “fear.” How about this one: to make afraid; to terrify. I don’t think the prophet Daniel was thinking of a polite, refined, respectable reverence of the Lord when he fell face down as dead in front of the heavenly messenger in chapter 10:

“I had no strength left. My face turned deathly pale and I was helpless” (vs.8).

Paul had a similar response when blinded on the Damascus road and seeing Jesus. What about Ezekiel three times:

“…When I saw it [the vision of God in His glory], I fell on my face…” (Ezekiel 1: 28).

“…I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days…” (Ezekiel 3:15).

“So I arose and went out into the plain, and behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, like the glory which I saw by the River Chebar; and I fell on my face” (Ezekiel 3:23).

“…and I fell on my face” (Ezekiel 43:3).

I have made a list of over 20 other such instances in Scripture.The good news about pahdah is that this kind of the fear of God refines, purifies, and replaces all other fears with itself.

How it is that one fear can make you fearless? The truth of the matter is: Fear the Lord, and you will fear none other! Your choice of words will determine the degree of your fearlessness of all other people, things, or circumstances.

--Ron Cantrell

I AM - The Present

The Lord woke me up this morning with a proclamation.

"Repeat after me..."

I will...not live...in the past today. I will...live in...the Present...where I AM, where I dwell. For I do not live in your past, only right here, right now, preparing you for your future, your tomorrow."

Help me to live in your presence today Lord, and not my past. Thank you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vatfnKrFzyI

Atmosphere of Heaven

The Holy Spirit brings with Him the atmosphere of Heaven. I want to live in the atmosphere of Heaven. So, what is the atmosphere of Heaven? Heaven is full of:

• Joy
• Peace - Jesus said, "My peace I leave with you...not as the world gives..."
• Love - the core of God is love and so is the core of every creature He has created. He is creating us into His image
• Hope - every creature in heaven is full of hope and lives in hope
• Faith - "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Faith doesn't just hope, though it is hopeful, it believes God to be all He is
• Light - The Lord is the light the citizens of heaven enjoy
• Music- jubilant celebrations, worshipful songs that exalt the Lord and His mighty acts
• Fragrant
• Humility - the 24 elders throw down their crowns before the Throne of God, bow down, giving praise to Jesus
• Fear and awe of God
• Praise and worship - active, participants, no performances, no spectators.
• God and His glory, Jesus the Lamb of God, the Holy Spirit

May we be filled with your Glory, Lord, and experience Heaven's atmosphere!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XZarrFpjg8

Marrow of the Soul

The Holy Spirit asked me as I woke up this morning at 4:30 am "What is the marrow of the soul?"

We know the marrow of the body rejuvenates the whole body by reproducing healthy red blood cells that replace the old and dying ones, thereby bringing health and life to the whole body: bones, cells, organs, skin, blood, tissues, etc. This rejuvenation to the body makes it much more alive, building up vital defenses from diseases. If the marrow is not functioning properly or is weakened by disease, it will kill the body eventually. That's why when someone is very ill, say with cancer, they undergo blood transfusions with the hope that the new blood will generate life in the cells to overcome cancer which is bringing death to the cells and body through the disease. Some people even go through the more radical procedure of a bone marrow transplant, insuring the best possible opportunity for survival.

The Holy Spirit answered the question He asked me: "The Word of God is the marrow of the soul, for it is the Living Word."

God's Word is life and health to our whole person from the inside out. It is the Living Waters we drink in; His Word is life-giving. When we saturate ourselves with Him and His Word and allow it to take root - go deep - we are doing an infusion, bringing life and health to our soul which affects our whole being.

Listen to this song "Word of God Speak" by MercyMe, and read His Word today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JK_6osCH74

Spirit-Filled Walk

I have been praying to learn the ways of the Holy Spirit. It has been interesting to consider those who walked with the power of the Holy Spirit. Below is what a person looks like who walks in the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit. This person. . .

1. Fears God and walks in awe of Him, and not man.

2. Loves God with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength.

3. Walks in holiness: the Holy Spirit will not tolerate any positions that move this person backwards. They will live consecrated as a holy habitation of His Spirit mind, body and soul with no compromise.

4. Guards his tongue: speaks what the Father tells him; full of praises to God; does not speak about God's children negatively.

5. Radical in obedience: Obeys the leading of the Holy Spirit without hesitation or delay.

6. Loves God's people passionately: Seeks what God wants to do in them; functions as an intercessor on behalf of God's people as one who lives close to the heart of the Lord.

7. Disciplines his body: His body is subject to him now, and not a slave. The body is consecrated for holy purposes as the Temple of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, this person will not seek that which defiles the body or mind with intemperance.

8. Walks in and manifests the fruits of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Holy Spirit: The power and anointing of God is strong on this person through their ministry gifts.

9. Is not rich with possessions, but is rich and possesses all things. God is his inheritance; the Holy Spirit his greatest treasure (i.e., Moses had no earthly possessions or land to speak of, nor Paul or Jesus, etc).

10. Kingdom-Focused: "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven," is the way this person lives. He is full time in kingdom business, pursuing the leading of the Holy Spirit.

11. Lives in the perpetual environment and atmosphere of heaven: Lives with the fruits of the Spirit evident in his life.

12. Is marked by humility

13. Is a friend of God: The Holy Spirit confides in this person ("God confided in Samuel...1Sam. 9:15). Through words of knowledge, prophecy, dreams, visions, and God tells the secrets of His heart about the purposes for the world, kings, men that He has determined (i.e., Daniel). The Holy Spirit leads us then in intercession for wisdom on how to disseminate the message of God.

Here is a great song of dedication for more of the Lord in our lives. May we all seek the fire of the Holy Spirit upon our lives.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cg2kCAiB1Kw

Yearning

Last night, I had the overwhelming sense of God yearning for us. So, I looked up the word "yearn" and wanted to share a few of the meanings:

• To have an intense desire or longing for someone not present; to want strongly
• To languish as with love or desire; to desire strongly or persistently
• To have affection for, feel tenderness for

Here are a few words that fit in context of this entry:

• longing
• desire
• pant
• pine
• hunger
• ache
• crave
• languish

As I considered God's everlasting love towards me, and as He put others that He loves as deeply in front of me in that moment, I wrote this down in nearly one continuous flow. It is spoken to those He loves passionately, but because they are living in a distant, faraway land (for whatever reason), away from the nearness of His presence, they cannot know how He feels about them.

Hear the Lord speak to your heart.

Every moment
Of every day
And all through the night
While you sleep
Jesus yearns for you
He never tires or grows weary
He does not rest
He never gets discouraged in the quest
His Holy Spirit
Is striving
To ignite your heart
And set it ablaze
With passionate love
For Him...
Making you exclusively His
Wholly devoted
Completely in love with
And lost in devotion
To Him,
To His purposes,
For His people,
Ever yearning for eternal
Pleasures found
In Jesus
Alone.

"The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously." (James 4:5)

May I yearn for Jesus more and more everyday and never settle for what I had yesterday. Let's burn for passion for Him. Let's come to Him today, like these little children...



Below is a song I just found called "Yearn." Hear these two young men pour out their hearts as a prayer unto God. May we do the same.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho5JU53DRJc

Beautiful Praise

We have learned that sounds travels. . .it never disappears, in fact. It goes out into space and then who knows where it goes? Considering music, this is particularly interesting to me. The book of Job gives a hint as to the sounds of created heavenly bodies, described below as God questions him about creation:

"Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? (Job 38:4-7)

The response of heaven to God's creation was song! I love that. Then I ran across this article that suggests more music in the heavens.

Sun's Atmosphere Makes Heavenly Music
By Jeanna Bryner
Staff Writer for Space.com

Astronomers have recorded heavenly music bellowed out by the sun’s atmosphere. Snagging orchestra seats for this solar symphony would be fruitless, however, as the frequency of the sound waves is below the human hearing threshold. While humans can make out sounds between 20 and 20,000 hertz, the solar sound waves are on the order of milli-hertz — a thousandth of a hertz.

The study, presented this week at the Royal Astronomical Society's National Astronomy Meeting in Lancashire, England, reveals that the looping magnetic fields along the sun’s outer regions, called the corona, carry magnetic sound waves in a similar manner to musical instruments such as guitars or pipe organs.

Robertus von Fay-Siebenburgen of the Solar Physics and Space Plasma Research Center at the University of Sheffield and his colleagues combined information gleaned from sun-orbiting satellites with theoretical models of solar processes, such as coronal mass ejections. They found that explosive events at the sun’s surface appear to trigger acoustic waves that bounce back and forth between both ends of the loops, a phenomenon known as a standing wave.

“These magnetic loops are analogous to a simple guitar string,” von Fay-Siebenburgen explained. “If you pluck a guitar string, you will hear the music.”

In the cosmic equivalent of a guitar pick, so-called microflares at the base of loops could be plucking the magnetic loops and setting the sound waves in motion, the researchers speculate. While solar flares are the largest explosions in the solar system, microflares are a million times smaller but much more frequent; both phenomena are now thought to funnel heat into the sun’s outer atmosphere.

The acoustic waves can be extremely energetic, reaching heights of tens of miles, and can travel at rapid speeds of 45,000 to 90,000 miles per hour. “These [explosions] release energy equivalent to millions of hydrogen bombs,” von Fay-Siebenburgen said.

“These energies are plucking these magnetic strings or standing pipes, which set up standing waves—exactly the same waves you see on a guitar string,” von Fay-Siebenburgen told SPACE.com. The “sound booms” decay to silence in less than an hour, dissipating in the hot solar corona.

Article found: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18206920/

Praise in the Heavenlies
Our praise to God has a powerful effect in the heavenlies. It changes the atmosphere wherever we are, and it also changes our hearts, though it may not change our circumstances. The effect of praise is doubled when it is lifted to God and offered as a sacrifice in the height of pain and affliction. I would dare say that praise offered to God in such extreme conditions of physical, mental, and emotional pain is the kind that touches the heart of God more often. This must be the prayers of the saints that have gone all the way up to God Himself that he is reserving for the day when they will be released upon the earth:

"Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. And he was given much incense that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel's hand. Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.” (Revelation 8:3-5)

Songs of Praise Arising
Last night as I was worshiping the Lord, I “saw” my praises join thousands of others who were also before the, offering their song of praise. As we surrounded the Throne of God, it appeared to me to be multi-faceted, as the surface of a diamond, only on a much grander scale. Each worshiper faced the Lord and was immersed in a shaft of light emanating from the facet of the character of God He was revealing to that particular worshiper.

For me, the Lord’s righteous judgments were illuminated and that was the facet of His character I was beholding. The song of my heart reflected was I saw in Him ̶ all righteousness, His perfect judgments.

As we were gathered there, a song in heaven was already in progress. . .”Arise, church, arise!” and I added a underlying melodic tune-- ̶

"Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts, righteous are all His judgments. Holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts, righteous are all His judgments.”

No sooner had I finished the repeat of my melody, than I heard another worshiper join with His song, his song on a different tone than mine but harmonic--

"Who is like the Lord? Strong and Mighty. . .There is none greater than our God, our God...”

Immediately following was another, and another, and another, each defining the character of God, in perfect harmony, higher or lower tones of the song, with varying tempos ̶ all in complete sync with the master song. I was caught up in this song and its beauty.

Suddenly I could see this song as each portion of its melodic tunes took shape, winding around and around as if to build a structure of some kind, like a building. It was being directed by someone unseen, an orchestrated piece of unimaginable beauty. I never wanted it to stop!

It is beautiful to consider our praise having such beauty before the Lord and His Throne. May the prayer of your heart today be one of praise worthy of such eternal beauty!

Tell the Lord what He means to you as you join the praises around the throne of God and sing this song by Jason Upton “In Your Presence.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vatfnKrFzyI

The Music of Heaven

As a worshiper and worship leader, I have often thought about the songs of Heaven - what they are like, what is their content, form, style, etc. There have been times in my own worship of the Lord that I have sensed I have joined the worship of Heaven. Those are indeed special times.

I have read a number of books through the years that touched on this theme. It is amazing to consider that during times of church revivals, the music in praise and worship becomes the response of the people to the Spirit of the Lord moving in their midst. Many testimonials from revivals express that the music seemed to be birthed in heaven itself as it inspired the worshipers into a deeper response to the Lord.

A number of years ago I had quite an experience with the Lord where His presence was so near to me, that I felt I was before His Throne for several days. It was a holy time of rededication of my own heart and life to the Lord, and the Spirit of God seemed almost heavy upon me, weighty even. The praise that erupted from the depths of my being was passionate, and at times seemed overwhelming, bursting forth in joyful expression to God. At the same time, I felt as if I was joining in an ongoing season of an eternal worship session that began long long ago and is still ongoing. I had, in fact, joined with the hosts of Heaven. During that period I experienced a revelation of the worship of Heaven and could almost "hear" the music and songs offered to God in His praise. It was as if the praise and prayers from my own heart were orchestrated into heavenly music, matched perfectly with harmonic voices, choreographed in praise dance, and sent heavenward as incense to God.


The sounds of this kind of praise could only come from the largest orchestra and choir imaginable, with scales and harmonies yet unheard here on earth. As I considered and experienced heavenly worship in those days, it took my breath away.

Recently I read the book 90 Minutes in Heaven where the author Don Piper describes his own experience of heaven.



In chapter three, the author shares his experience of the music of heaven:

"A...sound remains, even today, the single, most vivid memory I have of my entire heavenly experience. I call it music, but it differed from anything I had ever heard or ever expect to hear on the earth. The melodies of praise filled the atmosphere. The nonstop intensity and endless variety overwhelmed me.

"The praise was unending, but the most remarkable thing to me was that hundreds of songs were being sung at the same time--all of them worshiping God. As I approached the large, magnificient gate, I heard them from every direction and realized that each voice praised God. I write voice, but it was more than that. Some sounded instrumental, but I wasn't sure--and I wasn't concerned. Praise was everywhere, and all of it was musical, yet comprised of melodies and tones I'd never experienced before...My heart filled with the deepest joy I've ever experienced...Every sound blended, and each voice or instrument enhanced the others.

"As strange as it may seem, I could clearly distinguish each song. It sounded as if each hymn of praise was meant for me to hear as I moved inside the gates.

"Many of the old hymns and choruses I had sung at various times in my life were part of the music--along with hundreds of songs I had never heard before. Hymns of praise, modern-sounding choruses, and ancient chants filled my ears and brought not only a deep peace but the greatest feeling of joy I've ever experienced...None of the hymns were about Jesus' sacrifice or death. I heard no sad songs and instinctively knew that there were no sad songs in heaven. Why would there be? All were praises about Christ's reign as King of Kings and our joyful worship for all he has done for us and how wonderful he is.

"The celestial tunes surpassed any I had ever heard. I couldn't calculate the number of songs--perhaps thousands--offered up simultaneously, and yet there was no chaos, because I had the capcity to hear each one and discern the lyrics and melody.

"I marveled at the glorious music...above everything else, I cherish those sounds...I want to experience everything heaven offers, but most of all, I want to hear those never-ending songs again...the continuous sounds of praise."

As I read the author's description of heavenly music, the revelation the Lord had given me years ago came back with even more clarity. We know that worship is ongoing in heaven, and we on earth do, in fact, join the worshipers of heaven. Someday, I will finally be able to give full expression of praise before God's throne...

I read another book recently called Glimpses of Heaven by Trudy Harris, a hospice nurse.



In her book, the author carefully recounts the stories of her elderly patients as she experienced right along with them--until the time the Lord took them to be with Him. I have heard of those who many times hear the music of Heaven before the time that God takes them. These testimonies, experiences, along with God's Word, fills us with hope and great joy, especially as we presently endure our problems, pain of disease, suffering, sickness and terminal illnesses, financial hardships, relational difficulties. In times like these, we can only imagine from our earthly perspective all that God has planned for us--joyful ecstacies of His loving and safe presence forevermore.

May our hearts be filled with praise and worship this day as we join the hosts of Heaven's music and declare the matchless worth of our God! Let's worship Him..."...day and night, never taking a break: Holy, Holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come (Revelation 4:7-8)!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FObjd5wrgZ8

Shavuot (Pentecost) - Honor the Holy Spirit

Shavuot (Pentecost) is traditionally when Moses received the Torah from God on the stone tablets. It is also when the Holy Spirit was given to the Disciples of Yeshua as they had gathered, waiting upon the Lord at His instruction. It is a significant time and is also a pilgrimage festival when the Jewish worshipers are required to come up to Jerusalem. And to this day, they do come, by the tens of thousands, and gather at the Western Wall at dawn after praying all night.

The Lord impressed me about the Presence of God is the Holy Spirit dwelling among us. It is not some ethereal feeling we get, but rather, the living breathing breath of God who speaks to us, moves us to act in His name to impart life to others by words or laying hands upon them upon them for healing. The saturation of His Presence - the Holy Spirit - empowers us to fulfill the call of God upon our lives, acting as His representatives in the earth, moving about as Jesus would have done.

The Holy Spirit is the Counselor and Nurturer sent by God the Father, revealing the Person of Jesus, Three-in-One, Triune God. The Holy Spirit as nurturer broods over us, not unlike the Holy Spirit hovered over the chaos of the earth when it was first formed. He acts as a Mother who loves, guides, and directs her children until maturity is formed in them, and even continues into adulthood as their primary intercessor during their lifetime. In the same way the Holy Spirit broods over us and Mother's us until Jesus' image is formed in us and we can be presented spotless, clean, holy as a Bride prepared for her bridegroom.

A few years ago in Jerusalem, around the time of the biblical Feast of Shavuot (Pentecost), I considered the ministry of the Holy Spirit. I remember sitting at my piano with such gratefulness in my heart for the intimacy of the Holy Spirit and asked him for a song to express what was in my heart. Below is the link to the song the Lord gave me. With the song, we added clips filmed by my husband Ron during the priestly Aaronic Benediction of Shavuot at the Western Wall at dawn.

May the Lord inspire your heart with this prayer "Spirit, Holy One."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi2ouVx2U3g

Revive Me, O God!!

"You will experience spiritual warfare. Satan will fight you at every turn as you draw near to Me. The last thing he wants is that you seek to draw near to the Lord your God. For, by doing so, it weakens his power in your life, your family, your circle, and it will cause a powerful bond between you and Me."

My desire is to be revived by the Lord again and again. Why? Because our hearts grow cold too easily. We all desire - and need - to be revived. This is not for God to revive spiritual gifts within us, though that will happen. It is not so we get fired up and perform better in life, business, ministry, etc. Rather, it is so that our hearts will burn with passion for Jesus, desiring Him above all others, above anything else. It is to fulfill the desire on the heart of the Lord Himself - that His Bride would look away from the din of this world and catch even a glimpse of His stunning beauty, to behold the most desirable One in the universe. Seeking the Lord in His glory through the eyes of faith - revealed by the Holy Spirit to our hearts - will cause us to respond to His overtures to draw very near, to learn of Him, to understand His compassion for the multitides. This kind of revival pleads for the Lord to bless and multiply the creative ideas in our hearts to carry out the strategy the Holy Spirit gives us to perform His will in and through us in the earth. All for the glory of Jesus...


Corporate revival mobilizes a willing army, outfitted, cleansed, working together as a well-practiced unit of soldiers. It is hearing the battle cry given by the Holy Spirit of God to "snatch" them from the fires - quickly. Revival stirs us to awaken out of a coma of complacency and compromise. The Holy Spirit infuses within us a fiery love for Jesus that not only motivates us to move in His power, but to demonstrate the power of God through His gifts to people who are spiritually dead.


Revival is also very personal. It is a personal awakening to our first love - Jesus returning us to that place where He first found us, when the newness of our love for Him caused us to be much more reponsive to His word, His touch, His presence. We were explosive in praise, radical with eliminating sin from our life, and eager to sell everything we owned and follow Him to the ends of the earth.

So, we ask ourselves today: "Where did we go off and become hard-hearted, indifferent, and lose our love for Jesus and His Word?" The answer? One step of compromise at a time. It could be ignoring a clear command God gave us - "Write that letter!!" which seemed rather insignificant at the time, but the urgency of it never ever went away. Even today, the guilt of our disobedience to the prompting of the Holy Spirit fills us with shame. Over time, each disobedient act causes a deafening of our spiritual ears, dulling us with an inability to hear the Holy Spirit, causing us to become more and more cold-hearted towards the things of God and His kingdom. Our passion for Jesus then begins to wane and we fill that hunger for Him with substitutionary obsession-compulsions from the world, or take on some other lesser spiritually demanding task-oriented exercise, deceiving ourselves to be "okay" with God. In our heart of hearts, however, when we are quite alone, we know we are far from okay. Our hearts of filled with fear and dread, and pride will keep us separated from the Lover of our souls...if we let it.

And, all the while, God has not looked away from gazing at us. Not once. His longing for our impassioned hearts set aflame for Him has never waned. The prayer of my heart every moment is "Revive me, O God!"

From Me, to God, With Love

Last night as I was reading the Genesis, I considered Eve - just after God created her and prior to the presentation to Adam. It could have been quite awhile before God brought Eve to Adam. . .Scripture does not say. It was this period of time that I considered the exchange that might have gone on - from the first moment of Eve recognizing her Creator and the first moment of her own consciousness.

So, Eve awakens, looks upwards, and the first One she sees is her Creator and LORD hovering over her, His beauty taking her breath away. Exploring her surroundings she inquires "What is this?" and "What is that?"

As Eve begins to take it all in - surveying the breathtaking garden-residence - praise erupts within her and she asks --

"What can I give You in thanks?"

What did she have? As she looks around attempting to give God something - not unlike a very small child expressing his simple heart of love, joy and contentment to his father and mother - Eve would have taken whatever was nearby perhaps and fashioned something creative to give to God - as a gift. I believe God puts even these ideas in our hearts, knowing what would please and satisfy him.

Because we are uniquely made (right down to our fingerprings being proof of our uniqueness!), then our life in its fullness and everything we do in His name is special and unique. This alone should satisfy us to know that God created us to offer our own personal gift. That is why jealousy over someone else's gift is so wrong, because though we could carbon copy someone else's gift or offering we saw them give to God, it will be wrong - perhaps unreceived by God even. We must give to God that which is uniquely created out of our own hearts of thanksgiving and fully expresses --

"from me, to God, with love."

My children were very creative and very expressive and they often gave me special "gifts" in their early years. Each drawing and homemade gift from my young children were exceptionally different and uniquely identifyable in style, content, and their maturity level at that time in their lives.

The same is true of us as we grow and walk with the Lord, and each gift we offer to God is received by Him according to our maturity in Him. And, the success of our lives (our gift offered) cannot to be measured by others successes!

Back to Eve . . . she asks God, "What do you want me to do??" He answered her "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Love Adam [your neighbor] as yourself." God may have then explained to her the role of "help-mate." Marriage is really a partnership - a oneness - in the image of the perfect Godhead union: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. Likewise, Adam, Eve, and the Holy Spirit would be a one-ness of union in perfect love. Eve was to be in union with her Creator, loving him perfectly. Adam was to be in union with His Creator, loving him perfectly. God was giving Eve to Adam and they would both love God and be in perfect union with God. Well, we know how long that worked out . . .

At some point, following the rib surgery, Eve was presented to her help-mate Adam by God Himself. But, before that moment, Eve may have developed her personal relationship with God Himself, and then with Adam . . . in proper order.

From the intimate relationship with their Creator and LORD that they both enjoyed separately, they related to one another purely, unashamed.

Jesus has restored that union with us as was originally intended. "Father, make them one as we are one . . ." And praise erupts within my heart and today I asked him "What can I give you?"


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIFBABlogmo

Renouncing the False Self

There is an image of self - a false self - which is an invention of ourselves that we often create and put forward in full view of others with the intention of hiding the real person. We don't mind if the false public image we put on display is scrutinized or judged. For it is fully prepared for the occasion in its finest - primped and dressed-up to look its best. It is, after all, a larger-than-life image of us, but nota far cry from our real self. This false image is always required to look good at all times, for it is on public display. From all sides it shines golden, glossy, with nothing ugly protruding. It is the best foot forward. The image is an exaggerated portrait of ourselves - or at least the way we want to appear to be - the airbrushed version. The image (as with any statue or vessel) is not solid inside (usually it's shallow or hollow) and the outside veneer has to be recovered and renewed from time to time. Sometimes the image is re-invented and unveiled as new-and-improved so that it comes public with a newer version of self. We call this the "re-invented" self. This image comes with props and a whole host of elements that support the image's claims. It is believeable with testimonials that attest to its claims even.

But, upon close examination and under the glaring light of God, the image crumbles easily when put to the test of strong and forceful elements. Because it stands upon a foundation of sand and clay, the pounding extreme elements of storm and wind through the years will chip away at the glossy and golden veneer ultimately revealing its pretentiousness.

God requires that we renounce the false self-image we have erected. There is no truth to it whatsoever. It is an image we have constructed so others will be amazed and honor us in some way, i.e., our deeds and acts in the kingdom. But it is not based on truth nor does it have an ounce of sincerity. It is, in fact, an idol to ourselves, our pride, our possessions, talents, skills, accomplishments. It sees no flaws (or, works hard to show no flaws), does not demonstrate the humility of Jesus - as he presented himself to His disciples and to those he came to minister.

How do we renounce false self? Ask God to judge the way we are presenting ourselves to the world, the church, ourselves, our family, to Him. Renounce self - false self - the image we have created. God must restore us back to himself where we are once again relating to him from our true self - a truthful heart with sincerity. Receive the humility of Jesus as the foundation of our life, our work, our home.

Galatians 2:20 (New King James Version)
"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

If Jesus is central in our lives, He is working humility deep within and we will welcome Him with open arms, embracing humility as the lover of our souls - renouncing all pride and the false self-image that presents itself larger-than-life.

I Am An Ambassador

I am an ambassador for the Lord - for Jesus. That means I represent Jesus to peoples and nations.

• I come before peoples and nations to represent Jesus to them - in His Name
• I have power and diplomatic authority in His name
• I am sent to represent Jesus in decisions He would make. I must act like he acts towards illness, sickness, hardships - both spiritually and physically
• My speech represents Kingdom talk: faith, love, patience, mercy, etc
• An ambassador is "one sent" appointed by the King Himself to a specific region. The ambassador does not choose the country where he prefers to go to represent the King.
• I am a living epistle - the living word of God resides in me
• God allows me to be seen in trials and tribulations as I follow the King's life-example of how to live, and as one who has been empowered by the Spirit of God

Adonai, Hineni . . . Lord, here am I . . . send me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHACJ6lz5Fo