Crazy Faith of Abram, Bilbo Baggins

Do you ever desire to have a crazy faith? We know that faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains. Chew on Abram's faith with me, and his desire to say "YES" to God's plan for his life.

"Now the Lord said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that i will show you. And i will make of you a great nation, and i will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you i will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran."
-Genesis 12:1-4

Whoah, so much there to dig into. First God told Abram to leave everything he has ever known, and he said what? Time to pack. I don't know about you but if God gives me such a huge thing, like leave everything you have known for the last 75 years and go to this place you have never been. I don't know that my first response would be, "sounds fun, lets roll."But Abram had the faith in God's promise, and didn't even question him, there is a great example later on in Sodom and Gomorrah where Abram barters with God about saving people from the sin infested land. Yet in this call, Abram just responds with im going to put my feat on the road. It reminds me of what Bilbo Baggins says to Frodo his nephew when he leaves for Rivendale in "The Fellowship of The Ring."

"It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to."

Abram heard God's promise, and he trusted that God would  Keep his feet, he understood shepherding.

What does this mean for our worship?
I believe any heart that is ready to say "YES" to anything God speaks to you, is a heart devoted to worship. In worship we submit our own desires, our wants, and we give them to God. Don't get me wrong we know that He wants to give us the desires of our hearts (they pure ones.) But our attitudes should be like Abram, a willingness to give it all up for the Lord. He paid the price for our sin, a high price, His own son Jesus. Anything we think is hard to give up compared to that is... puny, insignificant, and kind of arrogant. So let us forge forward with an attitude of "Yes Lord," seeking with a readiness to worship Him with all of our hearts, and a willingness to give up everything we have ever known. He WANTS to bless us, so let Him, obey his call. Amen.

Summer Days

An original composition, I love you more than summer days, and i love summer days. The idea first reminds you of a love song between two people, the reveals that it is about our relationship with Christ as His bride. Some only love him "some summer days" aka when things are easy and good. But we need to love Him more than some days, some summer days, we need to love Him every day.

Father & Son, Archie & Azariah

Azariah and his v-log debut, shows the world that he can hiccup. Even better he is living proof of God's love for us, and teaches us so much about our relationship with God the Father. Nothing can separate us from His love, and nothing we do can make Him love us less. Watch and enjoy, and rest in His arms.

Sing to my boy and he sleeps

So on March 1st 2011 i became a dad. Azariah my son was born. Look up the name and references in the old testament if you wish, the best one is in the book of Daniel.

We learned quickly that Azariah, as all babies do will cry. When he cries and is inconsolable the only thing that will calm him down is if my wife or i sing to him. There is only one song that always works, so watch this video. If it doesn't make you cry it might stop your crying. I think you would call it a lullaby.

What does this mean for our worship?
I know that God tells us to rest in Him. I think a lullaby is a means of rest, and calm. Find that quiet place deep down, where you are vulnerable and let God in. He wants it all...

Isaac, Abraham and an Offering of Worship

Our church is doing a Lenten read through of the story of salvation. Today is Genesis 22, and God has so much to teach us from this book and chapter.

"Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And he said, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" Abraham said, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked together." -Genesis 22:7-8

Now you all know the story of Abraham and Isaac, and how Abraham was willing to offer up His only son to God. He trusted and surrendered Isaac as an act of worship and obedience. Before i get into that, can you imagine if we did as Abraham did? Trust, surrender, worship and obey God when our only son is on the line. Now i know everyone reading might not be a parent, i have just recently become one two weeks ago. This makes Isaac more real to me, i cant imagine God asking for my son Azariah. I can only pray that i respond like Abraham, now i know he will love God and i have seen in dreams that God has great things in store for him.

Back to Abraham and Isaac, take a deep breath read, "God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." and close your eyes.
Do you see Jesus? Think about it, "God will provide for Himself the lamb." I see Jesus, think about his lineage Jesus came from Abraham and Isaac and God provided him. The lamb. Like Abraham Jesus was obedient and offered the sacrifice to God. The obvious difference is Jesus is more like Isaac than Abraham, he is the sacrifice to be placed on the alter, to save mankind from their sins. He trusted His Father, and in both examples through Isaac and Jesus God gave life more abundantly.

Read the promise in Genesis 22:17.

What does this mean for our worship?
What do we give up for worship? Our first born? Not usually, usually its our pride, our concern about what the people next to us will think. It can be acknowledging that we were wrong before God, it can be admitting we are sinners. Our sacrifice is usually inward, and our hearts have to give up in His presence. So next time you worship God, be glad it only costs you your heart, devotion, love, attention, obedience, admiration, praise, and not your first born. Because that price has been paid in full by a merciful God and for that we worship Him.

Before the Throne

He Wants it ALL!

Here is a song by Foever Jones, performed by myself.

What does this mean for our worship?
It is about giving God everything, every last piece of our hearts. Sometimes we try to hold on to our old lives, our idols, and they drag us down. If we confess them to God and repent, we will know true freedom from sin, and intimacy with God.

Leviticus 19:4
“Do not turn to idols or make metal gods for yourselves. I am the LORD your God."