"To the Ends of the Earth"

Love unfailing

Overtaking my heart

You take me in

Finding peace again

Fear is lost in all You are

And I would give the world

To tell Your story

'Cause I know that You've called me

I know that You've called me

I've lost myself for good

Within Your promise

And I won't hide it

I won't hide it

Jesus I believe in You

And I would go

To the ends of the earth

To the ends of the earth

For You alone are the Son of God

And all the world will see

That You are God

That You are God

Tonight's blog/prayer entry is simply based on Isaiah 66:

¹This is what the Lord says:

Heaven is my throne.
The earth is my footstool.
Where can you build a house or resting place for me?
²I have made all these things.
“That is why all these things have come into being,”
declares the Lord.
I will pay attention to those
who are humble and sorry for their sins
and who tremble at my word.

¹⁸Because of their actions and their thoughts,
I am coming to gather the nations of every language.
They will come and see my glory.
They will tell about my glory among the nations.

²²“The new heaven and earth that I am about to make
will continue in my presence,” declares the Lord.
“So your descendants and your name
will also continue in my presence.
²³From one month to the next and from one week to the next
all people will come to worship me,” declares the Lord. (Isa. 66 GW)

Great Big God,

Hear our prayers of confession ... forgive our sins...free us from our sinful nature. We join with all of heaven and believers on Earth in proclaiming your glory, your grace, your salvation. You said you are coming for us, and we believe, Lord! We claim your promises and stand on the truth of your Word. Gather us and all believers in all times and places into unity for your Kingdom. May your children rise up and worship you wholeheartedly. We pray for those in our world who need to come to salvation, who need your healing, your freedom, your love, your power. We pray especially for those who are far, far away from you and pray that by your Spirit you would draw them into your arms, break their hearts of stone, and give them hearts for you alone. Help us to be light-bearers and truth-speakers and love-givers in our local world and in the greater world beyond our community. Give us courage to go to the ends of the earth with the good news of salvation in Jesus. In his name we pray, Amen.

"You Said"

You said

Ask and you will receive

Whatever you need

You said pray and I'll hear from heaven

And I'll heal your land

You said

Your glory will fill the earth

Like water the sea

You said

Lift up your eyes

The harvest is here

The kingdom is here

You said

Ask and I'll give the nations to you

O Lord that's the cry of my heart

Distant shores and the islands

Will see Your light as it rises on us

Oh Lord I ask for the nations...

You Said - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEpaG4VlBcA

© 1998 Hillsong Publishing (Admin. in U.S. & Canada by Integrity's Hosanna! Music)

by Reuben Morgan

To the Ends of the Earth - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPpvuFNoOjQ

- Joel Houston & Marty Sampson 2002 Hillsong Publishing (Admin. in U.S. & Canada by Integrity's Hosanna! Music)

Jars of Clay - part 2

³ So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him working at the wheel. ⁴ But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him." (Jer. 18 NIV)

⁷But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. (2 Cor. 4 NIV)

¹ Not to us, O LORD, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness. (Ps. 115 NIV)

I was convicted several years ago when I heard a devotion on the first part of the book of Malachi when he chastises the people for bringing blemished sacrifices to the Lord. I was challenged to always give my best offering of worship.

This past Sunday I led worship at our church since our worship leader was on vacation. I was very excited about this opportunity, we'd had a great mid-week rehearsal, and the service itself went well. By that I mean that I had worshipped well, I believe the team had, and that the Holy Spirit was present in the church's worship. In addition I had several people come up to me with some nice compliments (which are always good to hear). So, overall, I thought the day went well.

Later in the week I asked the pastor if he had any critique to offer. His only comment was that some people had said the service was "more conservative" than normal. He framed it in the sense of them really liking the more conservative and that it just shows that there are several acceptable streams of style of worship in the congregation.

Even with his positive comments I found myself grumpy at the perceived criticism. What does it mean to be more conservative? Am I too old to do this? (I'm not yet 40.) Is my style too old?

Then God challenged me again: Is worship about you or about me?? Did you give me your best offering of worship? Were you faithful and fruitful? If my worship is for God and not me, if I give him my best offering, and if I am faithful to my calling, then I believe God is pleased.

I am such a work in progress - so far to go to become Christ-like. His treasure of me is, indeed, in a jar of clay that the Potter keeps working on over and over. Thank God!

Not to us, God, but to you be all the glory. Your love and faithfulness endure forever and we are grateful that your grace is all sufficient. Thank you for calling us to be worshippers and for receiving our offerings of worship. Please continue to be faithful to your promises and to never let go of us. Continue to challenge us, to mold us as a potter molds a jar, and to draw us close to you. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

Blessing God anyway

Standing on the stairs were the [spiritual leaders] who called with loud voices to the LORD their God. ⁵ ... "Stand up and praise the LORD your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting." 
       "Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. ⁶ You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.  Nehemiah 9:4-6 NIV (adapted)

Blessed be Your name in the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow: blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name when the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all as it should be: blessed be Your name

With gratitude, God, we thank you for our salvation, our families, our friends, our homes, our many blessings.  We are grateful for health, for provision, forfood, for clothing, and for the breath of life your pour into us.   Blessed be you name when life is plentiful, abundant, and glorious. 

Blessed be Your name when I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness: blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name on the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering: blessed be Your name

In humility, God we come to you to lift up the burdens on our hearts - forbabies born too soon, for bank accounts too low, for emotional angst,for skubalon, for loved ones lost and far from Christ, for stresses of job, health, family, or just life in general, for fears for the future.   Blessed be your name on the road in the wilderness, desert, and suffering.  

Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in Lord still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord, Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord, Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away, You give and take away
My heart will choose to say, Lord blessed be Your name

God, we remember those in this world who do not have basic necessities of life - clean water, adequate shelter, nutritious food - and pray you would use us to be the hands and feet of the love of Christ to help them.  

God, we remember those in this world who live in strife and grief and war and we pray that the Peace that passes understanding would fall heavy upon those internal and external places.

God, for the gift of another day to serve you, we thank you.  Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. (Ps. 72:18 NIV)  Amen.

"Blessed Be Your Name" by Beth & Matt Redman

(c) 2002 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing)