Category: worship

sometimes it just can’t be spoken…

MeridithLeave a comment

..it must be put to music.  Or in the words of another…

You say to us seek Your face
Our hearts reply, Your face we seek
And come teach us Lord, reveal Your ways
Anoint us for the greater things

We have gathered with one thirst and hunger
We’re here to drink of glory and wonder,
Here to cry out
Come and fill this place
Come and fill this place

And our single wish, our sole desire
To gaze upon Your beauty God
We will not rest, nor will we cease
Till with our eyes, Your face we see

We have gathered with one thirst and hunger
We’re here to drink of glory and wonder,
Here to cry out
Come and fill this place, this place
Come and fill this place, this place

We wait for You to come and show Your glory here today…

Alleluia come, Alleluia come, Alleluia come, Alleluia come!

mercies new i knew

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your mercies are new every morning
fresh as a morning breeze
as real as the wind i can only feel but never touch
your mercies i knew

forgiveness, hope, healing
along with mercies
a cup of cool water rushing to wash away my fears
your mercies i knew

strength to leave the past behind
hope to begin to see a bright tomorrow
a breath of fresh air and a pool of peace to swim in
your mercies i knew

faith to put on my eyes to see
that the darkness cannot exist along with the light
and desperation for you and who you are is better than despair
your mercies i knew

trust to firmly take your hand and walk
beyond the shadows and the lies
the things i once believed to be true, are exposed in you
your mercies, i knew, i know

whispering a gentle “be still”
holding my heart in the palm of your hand
rushing toward me and wiping my tears away
your mercies, i now know

“You Are Mine”

Meridith1 Comment

Maybe I don’t have the strength
Maybe I don’t have the faith
You brought me here in 40 years
When I know this trip should take a week

I’ve shed my tears and shed my blood
Been held ransom by the flood
The winter steals my songs away
In all of this I’ve come undone

When you walk through the water I will be with you
When you pass through the river the waves they will not overtake you
When you walk on the fire the flames will not touch you
You are mine, you are mine

I’ve been a child I’ve been a slave
I’ve grown bitter and learned to pray
Packed my bags and started back
The cost was just too high to pay

Isaiah 43:1b-7

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
   I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters,
   I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
   they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
   you will not be burned;
   the flames will not set you ablaze.
3 For I am the LORD your God,
   the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
   Cush[a] and Seba in your stead.
4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
   and because I love you,
I will give people in exchange for you,
   nations in exchange for your life.
5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
   I will bring your children from the east
   and gather you from the west.
6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
   and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring my sons from afar
   and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
7 everyone who is called by my name,
   whom I created for my glory,
   whom I formed and made.”

solitude, silence, and God’s word

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“In solitude, we come to know the Spirit who has already been given to us.  The pains and struggles we encounter in our solitude thus become the way to hope, because our hope is not based on something that will happen after our sufferings are over, but on the real presence of God’s healing Spirit in the midst of these sufferings.”

“The Word of God is not a word to apply in our daily lives at some later date; it is a word to heal us through, and in our listening here and now.”

“The Word of God is always sacramental.  In the book of Genesis we are told that God created the world, but in Hebrew the words for ‘speaking’ and ‘creating’ are the same word.  Literally translated it says, ‘God spoke light and light was’.  For God, speaking is creating.  when we say that God’s word is sacred, we mean that God’s word is full of God’s presence.  On the road to Emmaus, Jesus became present through his word, and it was that presence that transformed sadness to joy and mourning to dancing… The word that is read and spoken wants to lead us into God’s presence and transform our hearts and minds…”

Henri Nouwen, from “With Burning Hearts”, and “Making All Things New”

One Thing Remains

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One Thing Remains- Bethel Live

Higher than the mountains that I face
Stronger than the power of the grave
Constant in the trial and the change
One thing… remains

Your love never fails, it never gives up
It never runs out on me

On and on and on and on it goes
It overwhelms and satisfies my soul
And I never, ever, have to be afraid
One thing remains

Your love never fails, it never gives up
It never runs out on me

In death, in life, I’m confident and
covered by, the power of Your great love
My debt is paid, there’s nothing that
Can separate my heart from Your great love

Your love never fails, it never gives up
It never runs out on me

 

Standing by the Cross

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I just love this song… the picture of being so close to the cross, and really understanding the meaning of Christ’s sacrifice for us on the cross.  I especially think more about the cross as we approach Thanksgiving, and of course Christmas.

We have so much to be thankful for, I’m amazed at his mercy and grace, new every morning.


Sweet the moments, rich in blessing
Which before the cross I spend
Life and health and peace possessing
From the sinners only Friend

Here I’ll rest forever viewing
Mercy poured in streams of blood
Precious drops my soul bedewing
Plead and claim my peace with God

Standing by the cross
The cross of Calvary
Looking up to my sweet Jesus
Mercy given full and free

Truly blessed is the station
Low before His cross to lie
While I see divine compassion
Beaming in his gracious eye

Here I feel my sins forgiven
While upon the Lamb I gaze
And my thoughts are all of heaven
And my lips overflow with praise

Standing by the cross
The Cross of Calvary
Looking up to my sweet Jesus
Mercy given full and free

Worship through nature

Meridith1 Comment

I’ve been studying Church History for the past few weeks, and digging deeper into the Church Fathers’ ideas about worship.  Part of what has really intrigued me is the idea that things such as Baptism and the Eucharist were mediums through which God could (and can) be experienced.  Worship not of water, food, or nature, but experiencing God through these things.  Sometimes as evangelical Christians we are afraid to experience this, because we don’t want it to appear that we are actually worshipping the sky, or trees, or that the experience of being baptized in water that we worship the act of baptism.

Note: I’m not writing this blog to spark up a theological debate… just FYI.

Anyway, I LOVE Fall.  There is something so magical and mysterious about the changing of seasons anyway, and that combined with the nights growing cooler, the rain coming back, and harvest, it just captures me.  The other day, it was overcast and rainy, and all I could do was sit in my room and stare outside, because it was so beautiful.  Fall is one of the things I missed when I was in Thailand, and last year, to experience Fall again was one of the greatest gifts.

The next few months are my favorite of the year.  Watching football (High school football… I seriously could care less about watching college or pro… sorry), drinking Starbucks, reading, warm socks, playing outside… I love it all.

Anyway, some of my favorite hymns to sing just remind me of harvest and fall time, in fact, they are hard for me to sing any other time of the year…. two I can think of right now are “All Creatures of Our God and King”, and “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty the King of Creation”.  Both are rich in imagery about creation, and seeing God in creation.  Creation being a medium through which we can experience and worship God.

The text of these songs is beautiful, but the music that accompanies is also stunning.  God has created this world, his finger-prints are all around us, yet we complain about the weather, and often times don’t stop to notice the small things.  Seems crazy, but somehow running has taught me to notice those small things.  Last Saturday, I ran 20 miles in mist, rain, and some fog, but it was incredible.  When I left for my run it was eerie, but so beautiful at the same time, looking out on a sleepy world, and getting completely drenched as I ran for 3 and a half hours.  Yes.  It’s true.  (That experience is a blog in and of itself!).

The Psalms are full of examples of seeing God in creation, and worshiping HIM.. not the creation of course.  This concept is very biblical… here are a few verses… Psalm 24:1-2, “The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon rivers.”  Psalm 19:1, “The havens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork…”.  The book of Job also is full of the worship of God in creation, and the acknowledgment that God is in control of the elements, in chapters 38 and forward, God lists out the ways he’s involved in all creation, and that creation is at his command.  Personally, I think as a culture and society, we’re pulled away from the connection of God and creation because we are not as aware (and dependent) on farming, and harvest.  Instead many live off processed and packaged food and don’t see the necessity (or value) or fresh, farmed food.  In the Bible, we can see the dependence people had on God blessing the harvest, and being in control of the weather, simply because people were dependent on the land producing food…to live!!  It was their livelihood (this is another blog, research paper, or doctoral thesis…).

Anyway.  Read the words of this hymn.  Let it sink in.  It’s so beautiful.  And of course listen to David Crowder’s version of it… it’s amazing.  We’re doing this on Sunday… with my friend Leila playing fiddle… it’s going to be amazing, like the unfolding of a letter… word by word, sentence by sentence.  Unfolding beauty and grace all in one.

All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing
Oh, praise Him!  Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam
Thou silver moon with softer gleam
Oh, praise Him!  Oh, praise Him!
Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

Thou rushing wind that art so strong
Ye clouds that sail in heav’n along
Oh, praise Him, Alleluia!
Thou rising moon in praise rejoice
Ye lights of evening find a voice
Oh, praise Him!  Oh, praise Him!
Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

Let all things their creator bless
And worship Him in humbleness
Oh, praise Him!  Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father praise the Son
And praise the Spirit three in one
Oh, praise Him!  Oh, praise Him!
Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

memories

MeridithLeave a comment

Summer.  2006.  Four years ago.

I am automatically transported there when I listen to Hillsong United’s “United We Stand” album.

Came to My Rescue.  Currently has 73, no wait, now 74 plays on my itunes.  I love that song.  That’s my song, then, and now.  “In my life be lifted high, in our world be lifted high, in my love, be lifted high”.  I’m drawn into God’s presence through these words.  “Falling on my knees in worship, giving all I am to seek your face, Lord all I am is yours.  My whole life I place in your hands, God of mercy, humbled I bow down, in your presence at your throne”.

So, Summer 2006.  I was an intern at FBC, doing worship, youth, and anything else anyone told me to do.  Now, this is my place of employment, and also is the church I grew up in.  It was a hard summer.  But good.  A summer of letting go, and a time of embracing new things.  Many of the high schoolers at the time (I kind of became the youth pastor that summer), are now in college, and are some of my good friends today.  I love you guys, you all know who you are.

I could take you through that album, and tell you many specific memories I have of listening to it while at work, running, or playing soccer with my High Schoolers.  Worshipping.

I’m not sure what the point of this blog is, but I needed to write it, especially as I was listening to it just now.

Funny how time changes, seems slowly at the time, but it’s fast.  Then, I was 21, now, I’m 25.  Been to many places, seen many things, when I hear the songs now, the meaning remains the same, even though the scenery has changed: God is constant, and I must surrender to him.  I’m pointed to worship the Lord in an indescribable way when I hear many of these songs, even still.  I’m pulled to my knees, again and again.  What else can I do but worship?

“There is no one else for me, none but Jesus”.  Wow, that song could be another blog of memories.

For now, good night.

great read on Lent

Meridith1 Comment

Well, back to things that are more important, yet just as exciting, if not more so than The Bachelor…

Glenn Packiam is great.  He was the key-note speaker at a Worship Conference I attended a few weeks ago, and one of the Worship Pastors at New Life Church in Colorado Springs.  Check out his latest blog, on Lent…I wish I could have written it myself!  It was a great read, enjoy!

http://glennpackiam.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/02/why-im-observing-lent-this-year.html

Completely unrelated, check out David Crowder Band’s album “Church Music”… it’s inspiring!  I will admit, it has been a long time since I went to the store and purchased an entire album that had a physical CD with it, but I’m enjoying the tunes FULLY.  It’s very unique for them, but I’m loving every track!

Blessings to you all… all who are thirsty.  I’ll leave you with a great quote from Tozer… “Thirsty hearts are those whose longings have been wakened by the touch of God within them”…may you worship today and be touched by Him.