How are my Gorgeous Champions doing this week?
I'm sorry I had to miss out on yet another Sunday with u gals. Just 1 week short of a month of enjoying time with you.
I was carrying a word through the week to challenge and encourage you as well as get us praying for one another again, corporately and purposefully.
All of which without doubt I know Sarah would have done and excellent & outstanding job in facilitating not just on Sunday but for the last 3 weeks! *applaud* U r a legend mate!
Dont you like it that now we have praise & worship as we read through blog our connect group blog entries, esp when one posted by me which tend to be of a considerable length.
I've specifically chosen these 3 songs for us. Listen to the lyrics, may it encourage you to lift your eyes to God.
(ok, thats not exactly what I wanted to share, yes, but later...)
Here's an extract from Ps. Jack Hayford's book 'Worship His Majesty'. Beside Darlene Czech, Ps Jack is my other favourite...
See, I wanted to challenge you on living a lifestyle of worship.
Yes you, not some other girl in the group, but you & I'm speaking to myself to0 as these few weeks have been one of the toughest in the year probably in terms of personal struggle, carrying a spirit of defeat & weariness from constantly taking new grounds with what God has shown me in the Spirit (another whole new story).
But living a lifestyle of a worshipper DAILY is not to be dictated, driven, or flow as a consequence of our circumstances, seasons in life, emotions, valleys or mountain top experiences.
Defining Worship:
The word 'worship' is derived from the old English weorthscipe and means to ascribe worth unto a being or object.
Whatever you value most highly or place the greatest worth upon that is what you worship.
Right now, in these past weeks, what have you place of highest value in your life? Where is ur heart tuned towards? Its a daily choice.
You Become Like the God You Worship (p7-9)
Psalm 115:4-8 is one of the most insightful passages on the subject of worship found anywhere in the Bible:
Their idols are silver and gold,
The work of men's hands.
They have mouths, but they do not speak
Eyes they have, but they do not see;
They have ears, but they do not hear;
Noses they have, but they do not smell;
They have hands, but they do not handle;
Feel they have, but they do not walk;
Nor do they mutter through their throar.
Those who make them are like them;
So is everyone who trusts in them.
In this passage, the psalmist describes idolatry and the inadequacy of the false gods worshiped by the heathen. then he makes a very important observation: Those who make idols are like them, and so is everyone who trusts in them. In other words, you shall become like the god you worship.
Let me say that again because this point cannot be overemphasised: You become like the god you worship.
So girls, have you given your heart, your mind, your time to acknowledging something or allowing something to drive your each-day?
The act of worship means you are developing a set of values; you are determining what you desire most. Worship means you are choosing priorities; you are establishing what comes first in your life. Worship means you are determining what you are to become; you are choosing in whose image you will be made.
Just as God created man and woman in His image, the gods we choose to worship manifest their attributes in the worshiper. So in deciding what or whom to worship, you are making life decisions regarding your values, your priorities and how you are to live.
Your worship will determine what flows from you life. Humankind's highest attainment comes through glorifying God who is worthy of all glory. Some may find temporal glory in their works or pursuits, but that kind of glory fades. Some may even be remembered beyond their lifetimes for achievements in the arts, the sciences or sporting events. But all the accolades, all the medals, all the records books, all the social fame, will mean absolutely nothing when we stand before the judgement seat of Christ.
But those who worship the Lord - looking to the unseen rather than to the seen as we go through our present trials - will find what Paul calls an "eternal weight of glory" working in their lives (2 Corinthians 4:17). Those will possess a glory that endures.
What do You Worship?
So you can see that some very significant issues are raised by how you worship. Have you determined where you are going to bow? By bowing I don't just mean a physical posture but a stance of the soul. Whom do you seek? What do you pursue? To whom or what do you submit? The goal that you press toward - the object of your worship - will be the guiding force of your life.
...
God reveals Himself to those who bow before Him and seek Him. If you truly worship Him with all your heart, you will find Him. Then when you discover what He's really like, glorifying Him will be the only natural response. Worship will lead you along that path.
So who or what do you seek & pursue daily?
Think generations...
In each of u lies a generation...
What we allow to breed now & take root now, we cant be naive to think or say things like once my X circumstance change, than things would be different.
When you make the choice and allow God to be dethrone by something, someone, etc etc, anything else in life can come along the way and your priorities, lordship of your life will be swayed, will be surrendered and you will always be living in hindsight not foresight.
Your generations, both spiritual and physical will fight to fight those battles you lost instead of having a home, sisters, mothers, leaders who have set them up to win by having laid their lives down in worship daily.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Isaiah 40:28:31
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearachable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
Lay hold of the promises of God gals! Take it, meditate on it, claim it, walk around your room proclaiming the Word of God.
In your weeks of stretching, where u just feel like u are tired but cant stop running, and desperately counting down to 'freedom' or holidays, don't retreat, don't give up, stay standing.
Dont hand over as freebies the grounds you & your King have conquered in the year.
Each of you,
* Chelsie & Steph, God has placed both of you in my heart quite abit in the past 2 weeks. I want to share with you a simple word, God sees, God hears, don't give up pressing in. You dont have to strive with your own strength, He will carry you through.
Chelsie * - Chelsie, look heavenwards. His unconditional love for you knows no limit.
Stephanie * - Steph, u have tasted of His goodness, of His miracles in your life as u lead it in abandonment - now, trust. God is as trustworthy as He was then, never out of control, never less generous.
Su Chuen
Michelle
Jasmine
Kareeann
Sarah
have grown in your walk with God this year, from where you were at the beginning of the year.
With your King, you had breakthroughs, moments of joy & tears, intimate moments, personal encounters, revelations in your sacred place & time with Him, so don't hand your gems over to the many gods who take the form of coming or current stress of exam / assignments preparation or busy schedules & let them be god, not even for one day!
Arm yourself, guard your heart.
Take the time, even if its short 10 mins whenever you can throughout the day to pause, and acknowledge His presence, give thanks, pray, praise, worship.
As we worship and in so doing make declarations from His Living Word, we are declaring His Lordship over our lives, our emotions, our situations. As we decrease, He increases. As we decrease, He increases. As He increases, our fears & anxiety, stress, pms, whatever you can come up with, decreases.
So please, I urge you, give leadership to your own life, be accountable to your prayer buddy if you need, take at least 10 mins away from your books, your assignments, your daily work, routine, whatever, and stop thinking about all of it, quiet your soul - with childlike simplicity open your heart to God & lend Your heart to His voice.
You see, God is Ominpresent. He is always with you. Why at times we feel the presence of God more than others, because people come acknolwedging the presence of God. Thats why when we get too busy & bog down, we start to say things like why I don't feel the presence of God as I used to etc etc. See, God hasn't change, not yesterday, not in the future, not today. He is not a ghost that comes and goes. What changes is our hearts & our minds & our willingness to pause.
Do we possess an equal hunger and passion, if not more each day, for His presence? Do we seek after Him with an undivided heart daily?
You see, its not just, 'Yep, i know you are here God, yep, thank you Lord' and than pray before meals, and than flick through your Bible minutes before going into lala land & start a prayer and wake up to say amen, but are we in reverent awe (remember what we learnt from John Bevere on Fear of the Lord) & with a surrendered heart (raised hands, face down - not necessary meaning only physically) acknowledging the sense and wonder of His MAJESTY.
You dont have to live in yester-day, you dont have to strive, but today, daily, each moment, God is there, He wants to give you rest, refresh you, strengthen you, empower you to excel in your day for He is your Strength, Your Deliverer, Your Portion, Your Shield, Your Comfort. He will carry you through as you rest in His love. Oh, & the best thing about being in His presence, He gives the best hugs!
Love you heaps,
You are Women of Purpose & Destiny! I sooo believe in each of you & what God is going to continue to do in you & through you!
Keeping you in prayers...
