Tag: worship

worship

Meridith1 Comment

I tend to forget how “new” the concept of congregational singing in worship really is.  There’s lots to be said about the history, but part of Martin Luther’s stand against the Catholic church was the initiation of singing in a language that the people understood (the Mass is in Latin, and at that time, most people didn’t speak or understand Latin), but also to include the singing of the people in worship services.  Then again, Martin Luther at the time also thought that organs were basically an instrument of the devil (some would probably still say this is true today!).  🙂

Anyway, John Wesley was actually an important person with the protestant development of congregational singing, and he urged worshipers to stand while they sang hymns.  This was in the 18th century, not really that long ago, in the scope of time.

John Wesley also gave some pointers and guidelines for singing, “Sing lustily and with good courage.  Beware of singing as if you were half dead, or half asleep; but lift up your voice with strength.  Be no more afraid of your voice now, nor more ashamed of its being heard, than when you sung the songs of Satan” -1761.

I’m not sure what he means by the songs of Satan, but maybe we could apply that to secular music today?  Gosh there are LOTS of great songs on the radio that are songs you just sing out without any fear (unless the window in your car is down)… so why should our worship be quiet on Sunday mornings?  And why are we always “half dead or half asleep”?  This is a call to let our praise be loud, exciting, and full of DRUMS I say!  (Interesting but here’s a fact about faster music, “Some churches use drums in worship; a beat slightly faster than of the human heart enlivens a group of people, gets them on their feet, and unites them into one vibrant body” -Gail Ramshaw).

Anyway, just a few thoughts to share with you all.

Hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving!

God of This City

Meridith1 Comment

I heard this story during the worship conference I attended, and Chris Tomlin told this same story about the worship song, “God of This City”. It was in Pattaya, Thailand (he mis-pronounces it), and when I heard the story during the concert, I broke. It’s so powerful to hear… He’s the God of this City, God of Thailand, and this world….

Even though I’m no longer in Thailand, I need to be convicted to pray for those who have yet to hear, or accept Christ.  I hope I won’t forget…

Enjoy.

You’re the God of this City
You’re the King of these people
You’re the Lord of this nation
You are

You’re the Light in this darkness
You’re the Hope to the hopeless
You’re the Peace to the restless
You are

There is no one like our God
There is no one like our God

For greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City
Greater thing have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City

Colorado, worship, the Kingdom of God

Meridith5 Comments

Goodness, I have so much running around in my brain.  I feel renewed, yet exhausted at the same time.  Is that even possible?  I guess…

I just got back from an amazing Worship Conference in Colorado Springs, at New Life Church.  I didn’t really know what to expect exactly, it’s been years since I’ve gone to a worship conference, especially one of this number!  There were about 3,000 people there, and over 40 States represented.  Each day was filled with great speakers, amazing times of worship, and great fellowship.

I feel emotionally inspired, yet overwhelmed.  God is so big, why do we always forget this?  My passion and calling to worship ministry was deepened during this conference, in a way I can’t really explain.  Worship is something so sacred, and so unexplainable.  There are so many ways worship ministry can be done in church as well, I’ve only seen a few models of worship.  As a worship leader, I’m called to lead, no matter what the circumstances.  I also must speak and guide with boldness, and will conviction.  I need those.

The Kingdom of God.  Also not a light subject.  I have my big paper due on Sunday, and I’ve been trying all day to get another big dent into it, but it hasn’t happened.  Before I left for the conference, I made myself finish at least the first section, now I’m working on the next.  It’s such a hug subject just to put a definition on… ehhh.  Many of you have asked to read it, I’ll post it on my blog as soon as it’s finished.  The pressure of so many people wanting to read the paper also makes me want to perfect it… I’ll try, but I’m only human, so no heavy pressure, ok?

a fire deep within

Meridith1 Comment

I just got back literally an hour ago from a conference that wasn’t even for me, but I was deeply touched and God began to tug and pull strings on my heart during this time.

So, here’s a little bit about how all this came together.  Darin Pust is a friend from the old days of the Simpson University Music Department, and we were in choir and other various things together.  Anyway, he contacted me maybe in October and let me know that he and a team of people would be coming to Thailand for a conference; he was leading worship and the rest of the team would be doing child care.  He later let me know that he was trying to talk Becky Levy, another good friend  from Simpson, into coming to help lead worship as well.

Time quickly passed, and before I knew it, they were here, and it was time to go!  I met up with them on Saturday to do some sightseeing with them around Bangkok (it was refreshing.. I haven’t ever been a tourist in my own city!).  As things came together, and it came time to leave on Sunday, I FINALLY understood what kind of retreat this was.  For some reason I had thought it was for Christian Chinese leaders in China, but rather, it was a forum for all the CAMA (Christian and Missionary Alliance) leaders in China.  Obviously since the only tie I have to CAMA is Simpson, I did feel quite out of the “circle” as you might say, but from the beginning I felt that I was getting just a small picture of this intricate network of people and I felt so blessed to be apart of their ministry, and to get to feel like I was stepping into their shoes for just a few days.

This retreat happens once a year, and always outside of China, since it is still against their government to have large gatherings of believers.  The entire time, I just was struck with the truth that these people rarely get a chance to really worship like this, and hear encouragement from God’s word.  I was just struck.

Last night, all the women attended a nice banquet.  I wasn’t totally looking forward to it, since sometimes these gatherings tend to be unnecessarily tear-filled and super emotional.  Not to my surprise, there were tears, but I found myself crying and just being struck with conviction and just looking at these women and being filled with such awe and respect.  

I guess my idea of a “missionary” were families who came to churches and dressed really weird and spoke.  That’s all I really knew of them.  Then, when I began attending Simpson University, my eyes were open to the needs in the mission field around the world.  I was struck with the concept of learning about other cultures, and learning that other cultures didn’t have the same values that we had.  My idea of being a “missionary” was totally turned upside-down.

Now, yes I’m in Thailand right now, but sometimes I don’t consider myself a “missionary”, but I realized during this conference that I really am a missionary, and it just looks different for everyone.  

The other thing that really struck me was the strength that these women have.  There were all ages in this room, and many of them aren’t much older than I am, and have families of 3 or 4 children.  I was struck with the deep, reverent faith they all had.  Sure, it had been a year of trials for them, but still, their deep faith that God is their provider and the one who will care for all their needs completely blew me away.

Faith has been a huge theme of my life, especially this last year, but when I looked into the eyes of these people and heard about their ministries in China, it made some of the trials I have experienced here in Thailand just fade away.  I get to go home in two months, and some of these families still have years before they will get to be on home assignment again.  Wow.

There’s so much more I could say, but I feel a fire burning deep within that won’t go out.  I know that I’m supposed to be exactly where I am right now. I know I need to finish this degree with Liberty; teaching will really bring so many options for me in the future.  I’m not saying anything definitely right now, but after this conference, I realized: 1) how much I will really miss Thailand, 2) how much I will miss being overseas, 3) what an adjustment it will be for me to go back, and 4) that I’m willing and open to go literally wherever God wants me to go.

I would like to say so much more now, but this is all I have time for!  Homework and lesson plans need to be done!

what i miss the most

Meridith3 Comments

Let’s be honest here.  Is that okay?  Well, I am making it okay, especially because this is MY blog after all.

I don’t miss “home” per se, but there are many things, comfort things, that I miss about the United States of America.  The things that are “normal” here in Thailand aren’t really “normal” to me, and that makes sense.  I didn’t grow up here, and I’m certainly not completely understanding of all those things after being here only 3 months.

  • I miss my car, and being able to go anywhere anytime I want.
  • I miss huge salads from Red Robin.
  • I miss being able to speak in English when I go somewhere and have people understand me.
  • I miss not feeling like I stick out wherever I go.
  • I miss not sweating all the time, everywhere you go.
  • I miss my hair being normal.
  • I miss Sarah being around to cut my hair.
  • I miss being in the same time zone as everyone.

I’m sure I could extend this list longer.  Some things have begun to ware on me, but I know those things will pass.  Don’t get me wrong, I love being here in Thailand, but sometimes I just wish I could know what the future holds.  I could see myself staying here for longer than just one year, but then again I could see myself coming back to the States.

I’m not the best at trusting, and for that I must confess that I have depended too much upon myself.  I know when I begin feeling overwhelmed that at that very moment I need to stop, and begin to pray.  For I know at that moment I’m relying on myself and my own strength.

The hardest is not knowing.  For a while I did so well at not worrying about the future and taking life one moment at a time, but right now I’m worrying, and asking many questions that I should leave up to the LORD.

Pray for me.  Pray for all of us teachers.  Thailand is a place where it is easy to get discouraged, and I myself have been dealing with that lately. 

God is good, and God is so faithful.  I know this to be true.  That doesn’t stop me from wanting to bawl my eyes out right now…. I’m not even sure why.  

Thanks for listening friends, again, please pray for us.  Everyday we give and give to students who do not know the LORD, and that alone can be quite taxing, and can seem very energy-consuming.

This song has been a blessing to me, pray these words of truth wherever you are today.

“Desert Song” by Hillsong

Verse:
This is my prayer in the desert
And all that’s within me feels dry
This is my prayer in the hunger in me
My God is the God who provides

And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flames

Chorus:
And I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

Verse:
And this is my prayer in the battle
And triumph is still on it’s way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I’ll stand

Bridge:
All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

End:
This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I’m filled to be empited again
The seed I’ve recieved I will sow

 

 

“Does Sorrow lay his hand upon your shoulder,
and walk with you in silence on life’s way, 
While Joy your bright companion once, grown colder,
Becomes to you more distant day by day?
Run not from the companionship of Sorrow,
He is the messenger of God to thee;
And you will thank Him in His great tomorrow —
For what you do not know now, you then will see;
He is God’s angel, clothed in veils of night,
With whom “we walk by faith” and “not by sight”.”

2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV