As I was listening to a worship cd and worshipping last night, I recalled of the first time I began worship leading. It was not too long ago, just some 6 years back.
God has been SO gracious, ever faithful.
Worship leading in Youth Impact this year has taken on a completely different toll.
We have scaled down our Worship Team and become minimalists - meaning, we only roster one keyboardist, one guitarist and a drummer. Often times, there is only one back-up singer and on a few rare occasions, there are none. It is because we have a shortage of musicians, and all of our current musicians are younger ones in training.
It is good change, really.
I am reminded once more, to go back to basics; back to the 'heart of worship' - to the essence of true worship.
I've said it countless times, and I will probably go on speaking of it as long as I live.
The condition AND attitude of our hearts are SO important in worship leading.
"What are you desiring for when leading worship?" is the best question to check our hearts.
I do this every single time before I step up to the platform. I search my heart, I pray for God to "search my heart, see if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:24-25, paraphrased).
Worship leaders, I urge you - Seek His face, desire His presence.
A statement that I read in Bill Johnson's book, Face to Face with God said of Moses, "Moses preferred the wilderness with God, than to enter the promised land without God."
As Moses said in Exodus 33:15, "If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here."
I pray that you would truly seek His face and desire for His presence.
Let His song be embedded in your heart. His anthem of praise and song of worship stretches into the eternal; it refines, it changes and it touches - our hearts and lives, as well as the hearts and lives of all that is around us.
Much love,
Mel.
The Power of Your Name
by Lincoln Brewster
{Verse 1}
Surely children weren't made for the streets
And fathers were not made to leave
Surely this isn't how it should be
Let Your Kingdom come
Surely nations were not made for war
Or the broken meant to be ignored
Surely this just can't be what You saw
Let Your Kingdom come
Here in my heart
{Chorus}
And I will live to carry Your compassion
To love a world that's broken
To be Your hands and feet
I will give with the life that I've been given
And go beyond religion
To see the world be changed
By the power of Your name
{Verse 2}
Surely life wasn't made to regret
And the lost were not made to forget
Surely faith without action is dead
Let Your Kingdom come
Lord break this heart
{Bridge}
Your name is a shelter for the hurting
Jesus, Your name is a refuge for the weak
Only Your name can redeem the undeserving
Jesus, Your name holds everything I need
*
The first half of the chorus IS my heartbeat.
"I will live to carry Your compassion,
To love a world that's broken
To be Your hands and feet"
It is not so true that loving God only encompasses us loving Him, and us having a relationship with Him.
It is more accurate that to love God is to love ALL of Him, and in that, we love ALL that He represents.
That means loving His earthly kingdom as much as we long to see His heavenly dwelling.
That means sowing into the House of God; giving our best and all to it, because His church is His bride, to which He is returning to in time to come.
That means loving His people - the ones that He chose to die for, just as He did for you and me - regardless of race, gender or self-preference because it is His desire that "none should perish but all to come to the saving knowledge of Him" (2 Peter 3:9).
That also means loving where He has placed you. No matter how bleak the situation is in the nation that you are, you will get down on your kness and begin to cover it lovingly with your tearful prayers instead of tearing it down with bitter words of condemnation.
Ultimately, it means allowing the love of Christ Jesus to shine through us, to our love-starved planet. It means carrying the compassion of Christ in our hearts and sharing it with our morally decaying society.
It means stepping out to make a difference, in your world.
Loving God no longer means (it never has, to begin with) spending time with Him solely where once that is taken care of, it's a job well done.
Loving God means allowing His love to be shed abroad in your hearts, flowing from His throne of grace, soaking your hearts full and from it, that precious love overflows to all that is in your world.
There is this old Jewish saying, "Whoever finds a faithful friend finds a treasure."
I don't know the dude (or dudette) that wrote it, but he/she is right.
I was reading The Bible when I came across a card given to me years ago. This is what it says,
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"Hey buddy!
Just want to drop you a note before SPM. Thank you so much for being a pal, someone I can talk to in times of problems, or to say someone that help me out of my problems. Thank you for sharing all you have with me. I'm really grateful for the things you've done. Your sweet kindness helps me through all the rough times. Thanks.
Agape, Kelf."
{Dated: November 19th, 2006.}
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Dear Baby,
You are deeply missed and cherished treasure.
With love and hugs,
Melissa.
*
Related posts:
So, based on the Tomatometer, this movie was not a hit.
I thought otherwise as I watched it this afternoon. Sure, the movie was not as stellar, if compared to the memoir itself, but I enjoyed it. And, that's good enough for me.I found myself reminiscing snippets of my very own journey through the movie, so much so that it would be remiss if I did not write my take (to borrow from Elizabeth Gilbert's bestselling memoir title) on Eat, Pray, Love.
*
In no order of importance,Eat
I have seen friends skimming through menus and finally opting for a salad as dinner. When the salad arrives at our table, I look at my order laden before me and suddenly, I'm not that hungry anymore. I have gone through that phase - The 'Salad-as-a-meal-because-I-want-to-have-a-size-25-waist' phase.
I was miserably poking my salad, shoving it down my throat and patting my tummy afterwards, comforting and begging for it to behave and not rumble, as a protest to the lack of food intake.
I finally realised that no matter how hard I try, I will not be able to fit into size 25 jeans. My structure is simply not made in that way.
I learnt that being comfortable in my own skin and confidently embracing my curves is more attractive than constantly being worried of the extra calorie digested, because I chose to have some ice-cream for dessert.
I name the day I made that decision as one of the most life-changing (and liberating) days of my life.
Pray
The movie had Liz (played by the gorgeous Julia Roberts) say this, "God dwells within you... as you. God's not interested in watching a performance of how a spiritual person looks and behaves."
It is PARTLY true.
He dwells within the chambers of my heart, as my Saviour, as my Comforter, as my Counsellor.
I simply cannot register the thought of Him not being in my life. He is, after all, the very reason that we are here, "for in Him we live, move and HAVE our being." (Acts 17:28)
The very second a person decides to venture off from that truth, one loses reason for living. That, is the greatest tragedy of all.
Love
This is, perhaps, one of the most personal topics I've yet to fully open up about.
I am not cut out for the 'On-Off-and-On-again' game. Neither am I good with the repetitive 'Fight-Cry-Truce-Comfort-and-Console' process.
I know myself well enough to state that when it comes to matters concerning feelings, it's either there or it's not. I also know myself well enough to say that I am not a very adept handler when it comes to emotions.
In the past, I had knowingly made the decision to go against my (and God's) better judgement. I knew it was going to hurt, I was not prepared for the reality that it was going to hurt THAT bad.
I learnt. I learnt that the pain of a broken heart is excruciatingly real. I learnt that I am not prepared to go through that heartaching phase again.
Most important, I learnt that God has His best for me, whom He is preparing and will bring in His time (My Daddy shared this truth with me after the ordeal. Thanks, Daddy!). He also added that when that day comes, although it will not be fireworks and perfection, there will be no heartache because God's hand and blessings is bestowed.
Right now, I am learning to wait patiently. I am learning to not settle for anything less than His best.
*
I humbly admit, I've been cheat-blogging - Updating Chatty Lass with quotes rather than lengthy written posts, photo posts with minimal expression.
I needed some time off, to clear my head and to get my heart thumping in its' rhythm once more before I began penning down and actually write.
I've been doing a lot of thinking, PURPOSEFULLY taking a step back in life to reflect. That has done me more good than ice-cream and retail therapy put together.
There were questions asked of me, and also questions pounding in my head. I decided to look and search deep within for an answer.
I needed answers, but in turn, I got assurance. His blessed assurance. I wanted solved questions, but now I've fallen more and more in love with His 'very great and precious promises' (2 Peter 1:4).
I realised that living in OBEDIENCE to what He has called me to do thus far is way more important than having pre-conceived ideas and thoughts on how my life should work out.
SAVOURING living in obedience is rewarding and fulfilling. It boils down and trails back to perspective.
It's easy to lose sight and let our minds wander, forgetting that He is in control.
Even more difficult is to let our hearts be secured in knowing that He IS in control, in matters that we have not yet seen come to pass.
It is tough believing in the impossible, relying on His timing, trusting that ALL things will eventually be made beautiful in His time, speaking things as though they already are and truly resting in the confidence that He will come through.
I was then reminded of a post (rather, it is a quote) I've written some time ago: "God will only bring into your path a test that He has equipped for you to win. However, the getting there demands absolute reliance on Him and nothing else." {Melissa Cheah - May 30th, 2010.}
I know that victory is a given. I'm now REassured of that.
I sense an unexplainable stirring in my heart. I am feeling it right now as I am writing this post.
I am full of expectation of what the future holds, and the unfolding of His glorious plans. I don't fear it, I'm anticipating it.
Change always costs something. There is a price that we have to be willing to pay. It's an ongoing process, it is a painstakingly costly ride. But, I know that it is worth it.
I paused to reflect to search for answers to my questions, fumbling my way through with doubts.
I am now pausing to reflect on HIS goodness, striding with confidence and a heart of thanksgiving.
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"Sermon after sermon preached could be heard, The Bible could be read cover to cover, but unless and until there is an ENCOUNTER with the GLORY of God, TRANSFORMATION and CHANGE will not take place."
Melissa Cheah - October 5th, 2010.
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As much as I love staying in bed all day (really, I do), tonight it is befitting to spend it a little differently.
The Remote, Cuddles The Cushion and Peppermint Tea a Mug.
This midnight affair involves curling up on the sofa; cuddling a large, fluffy cushion, a favourite movie (The Proposal was selected for tonight) screened on the telly and a mug of hot tea.
It is one satisfying night.
