He is Alive

The first person that Jesus appeared to after He arose was a Woman, Mary Magdalene.  Some say she was a prostitute, we know that Jesus cast demons out of her, but really she was just a woman who was not perfect.  A humble woman who loved Jesus.  In John 20:17 she thinks she is speaking to the gardener, but no could it be?  She was speaking to Jesus.  

He tells her not to "cling" to him or touch him because He had not yet ascended to the Father.  What He was about to do was the ulitmate offering.  As a sacrifice the lamb had already been slaughtered, He had already spent three days in the grave (Hell) and was now about to take His place as High Priest making a New Covenant with the Father.

In Hebrews 9:11-15 Jesus came as High Priest into the Heavenly Sanctuary, the perfect tabernacle which was not made with human hands.  He came not with the blood of goats or calves but with His OWN blood.  He entered the Most Holy Place once and for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

He did for us. He poured His perfect spotless blood on the alter to cover all of my sins and transgressions.  He did it so that like Him my blood too could me made clean.  He did it so that I would have the opportunity to be worthy of coming to Him boldly in the throne room of grace.

He paid it all!

He is Worthy of it all!

He is the King of Kings!

He has defeated death & hell!

He has won the Victory!

He did it all for Me!

I owe Him everything.

That's why I worship Him.

That's why I serve Him.

He is my King.

He is Alive.

The Moravian Church - A Little Bit of My Heritage

     We are currently teaching on Christian Family at XploreNations Tulsa.  I randomly found this research paper that I wrote about the Moravian Church my freshman year at the University of Illinois.  I thought I would share it.   After the passing of my Great - Grandfather and visiting West Salem, IL it got me thinking about my family heritage again.   I hope you enjoy and learn a little bit about the oldest Protestant church still in existence.   ~ Calla

The Moravian Church: A Reason for Existence

Have you ever felt that someone wasn’t telling the whole truth about something?  Has there ever been something in your life that you loved deeply, but knew a deeper level existed? In the 15^th century a Roman Catholic priest, John Hus, began to ask these very questions.  Because of Hus’ questions a new idea erupted and a new church eventually developed. The Moravians had a long journey before they were considered a religion or a church separate from the Catholic Church.  During this time they were persecuted for their beliefs, were comforted by the Holy Spirit, they sought refuge and found a home on Count Zinzendorf’s estate, and they found a passion to spread their good news about Jesus Christ to all people.  Did these people think there was more involved in their religion than following through with all the common practices of the Catholic Church?  A few important people in the history of the Moravian church searched for answers.

The Moravian church is the oldest Protestant church in existence.  In the early 1400s early stages of the Protestant Reformation began to evolve in Europe. During this time in the Catholic church, mass was conducted in Latin, and only the priests were allowed to read the Bible.  The Catholic Church began to be corrupt; John Hus wanted to find a solution.  When the Catholic Church began to sell “the forgiveness of sins,” John Hus, a Roman Catholic priest from Bohemia, began to speak out.  Hus began to preach the entire “…pure gospel of Christ” and begged for the church to reform. John must have known of Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  I believe he knew that no amount of money could be paid to save someone from sin. According to 2 Chronicles 7:14 only God can and will forgive us for our sins but we must do something in return. That verse states, “if my people will humble themselves and pray, and turn from their wicked ways; I (God) will hear from heaven and forgive their sins...”

Hus was zealous in his study as a priest.  He started looking for answers in the scriptures, and the Bible delivered everything his heart desired.  He searched for scriptures that would bring eternal life. “What he found renewed and sanctified his heart”(Schweinitz 33). Because of his firmness in his beliefs that every Christian should be able to read the Bible and interpret it on his own, Hus was condemned by the church and burned at the stake.  This act of martyrdom made more people question the Catholic Church and the Protestant Reformation began (everyday counselor par. 12).  Something inside of Hus must have urged him to want more than just the ideas that were already presented before him.

            The followers of John Hus had many of the same beliefs as the first Christians in the New Testament.  “To them the Christian faith was more than just a theological puzzle to be solved, more than just another means of organizing society, and more than a battle to be fought, it was a way of life laid down by the Master, Jesus Christ, himself”(everyday par.14).  The first Moravian society, or church was formed in 1457 in Bohemia it was called The Brethren of the Law of Christ.  At first they did not intend to separate from the Catholic Church, but Rome did not approve, thus marking the beginning of the Protestant Reformation (par.15).  If I lived during this time in history I know I wouldn’t want to be part of something that was trying to leave out important details, which hold the key to my salvation.  I wonder what it was like to hear of a “new” way that leads to eternal life.  When in reality that “new” path wasn’t new at all, it was a path that had been very carefully written in the Bible centuries before many new the truth.  But, because only few people could read at that time, and because few Bibles were in circulation the words that laid out the key to eternal life in heaven were in the hands of the head of the church: the Roman Catholic Priests.   This group of people was passionate about what they had discovered and wanted to let others know about this “new” path that led to everlasting life.

            Martin Luther was another influential man in the Moravian church.  Luther was a German clergyman who was able to make more of an impact in the Protestant Reformation than John Hus.  Because of the invention of the movable type, Luther was able to make copies of his beliefs.  This made it easier for the religion to spread, because people were able to have a copy of the Bible and some of the beliefs of John Hus and Martin Luther (par.18).

Over time the Moravian church spread to Germany.  In this country they were called Brüdergemeine, a very creative international Moravian community.  The following prayer called “Te Matrem” implies the Moravian belief that the Holy Spirit is a mother-like symbol.  “Lord God, now we praise you, you worthy Holy Spirit!  The church in unity honors you, the mother of Christendom.  All the angels and the host of heaven and whoever serves the honor off the Son; also the cherubim and seraphim, sing with a clear voice: ‘Divine majesty who proceeds from the Father, who praises the Son as the creator and points to his suffering.’… Daily O Mother! Whoever knows you and the Savior glorifies you because you bring the gospel to all the world”(Atwood 886).  Did the Holy Spirit bring the gospel to John Hus?  Was it the Holy Spirit that led him to look for more answers?  With the encouragement of Count Zinzendorf this early form of the Moravian church began to believe in the Holy Spirit as maternal imagery.  For many years Zinzendorf was confused about the reality of the Holy Spirit.  He finally came up with his theory of the “Mother” concept.  This concept seemed to be the only one that made sense.  According to Atwood several songs have been written describing the Holy Spirit as “advocate, comforter, and intercessor, and…other titles that contain much nonsense”(890).

Zinzendorf believed that in order for the Trinity to be complete, the family must be made whole.  Likewise, “Christ is the husband, His Father is our Father, and the Holy Spirit must be our dear Mother”(Atwood 890) He supported his theory by quoting Old Testament and New Testament scriptures in the Bible.  In Isaiah 66:13 is says, “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you…” and John 14:26 it says, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”(891) I found this belief to be interesting; I had never heard this perspective on the Holy Spirit.   In my opinion comparing the Holy Spirit to a mother does make sense, and at last a female is represented!  

The Holy Spirit was mentioned many times in the Bible; yet, the early churches seemed to ignore the fact.  Yes, the church adopted the saying, “In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,” but I don’t think those churches allowed the “Holy Spirit” to play its role.  Atwood explains that the church didn’t notice the necessity of the Holy Spirit until the Zinzendorf era. Though not everyone agreed with Zinzendorf’s stance of the Holy Spirit as a Mother, they didn’t completely take it away.  “Just as Zinzendorf personally went through a developmental process to arrive at a right understanding of the Holy Spirit, the church had to do the same thing”(892).  Ask any random Catholic, or Protestant, “What purpose does the Holy Spirit hold? He probably won’t have an answer.  Maybe this is the same reason John Hus questioned the beliefs of the Catholic Church. 

Did Hus have a relationship with the Holy Spirit?  Did he want other Christians to experience the same, instead of relying on the Priests to comfort them?  I believe anyone who dedicates their life to the church must have more reason for their work than just working for a church.  John Hus was dedicated not only to serving the church, but even more dedicated to serving the God that created him and gave him reason for existence.  I think John Hus did, in fact have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.  If this is true, it must be possible that it was one of the reasons Hus was burned at the stake.  Could Joan of Arc have believed the same as John Hus?  She was convicted of witchcraft because she “spoke” to God.  Did Joan of Arc also have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit?

In the year 1727 a great Pentecost fell on Herrnhut, much like it did in the Bible.  The Moravian people began to hold regular prayer meetings at Herrnhut.  This intense prayer led to the Holy Spirit to come upon the people, and a revival started.  The people wanted to spread the whole Gospel and enlighten the people of the world about God’s love.  I’m sure they shared the greatest love story of all time; John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” During this time the Moravians became extremely passionate about their truth and began to take on missionary work in their own country as well as all around the world.  It’s about time they did something!  Why would people, filled with lifesaving information, sit bottled up in some country? Mark 16:15 states, before Jesus ascended to Heaven he gave a great commission to all of his followers: “go in to all the world and preach the good news to all creation.”

Why isn’t the Moravian church as well known or as large as the other Protestant churches, like the Methodists?  Zinzendorf firmly believed that the Brethren would not become a separate church; his original intent was for it to be a community of people who wanted to have a lifestyle of serving Christ like his disciples.  Other reasons could have prevented this church from spreading out to other countries.   Like many people in the church today, some of the Moravians may have become “burned out.” Maybe they were tired of being rejected and persecuted for the beliefs that differed from other churches? 

The Moravian church became established in the United States in the 1700s.  Several Moravian missionaries set out to conquer the “New World” and were headed for Georgia.  On the way they met with John Wesley, “father of the Methodist church”(everyday par. 68).  “Wesley was impressed by the humility and Christ-like character of the Moravians, but even more he was impressed by the courage of the Moravian women and children in the midst of a terrible storm”(par. 63) The Moravian missionaries and their families believed in the Holy Spirit, who comforted them in times of storms.  Wesley didn’t quite agree with everything that the Moravians believed.  Both Wesley and the Moravians were on a mission to convert the “Indians” to Christianity. 

Christian Henry Rauch, one of the Moravian missionaries gave the group important instructions: Don’t interfere with other missionaries or cause disturbance, but observe whether the Indians had ears to receive the Word of Life. Rauch stated, “ God must give the heathens ears to hear the gospel, and hearts to receive it”(Thompson 278).  The Moravians had to use the Holy Spirit to help them decide if the “heathens” were even able to hear and understand their “good news”.  Because Wesley and the Moravian missionaries believe differently about their religions, they parted ways.  Even with all their differences the Moravians still respected Wesley and the Methodists.  They compared their relationship to that of Paul and Barnabus, each served Christ, as they desired.  I believe this is one of the main reasons there are so many Protestant denominations in society today.

The Moravian people found their truth about Jesus Christ.  They made it through times of great persecution and eventually would become the oldest Protestant church in existence.  They were passionate people and loved Christ with all their hearts.  Today John Hus and Count Zinzendorf remain key people in the Moravian church.  Although it is one of the oldest Protestant churches it is by far not the largest.  Only one Moravian Church is in practice in the state of Illinois.  Many of these churches exist in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and California.  Like many organizations, groups, and other churches the Moravian church has compromised or changed some of their beliefs.  Today they still believe most importantly that Jesus Christ is Lord and they have always stood by their motto: “In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; and in all things, love”(What par. 6). 

This Church plays a large role in my family’s history.  The majority of my ancestors originated from or near Germany.  The Boewe family came to the United States in the early 1800s; they were Moravian and settled in West Salem, Illinois.  West Salem is the home of the only Moravian church in Illinois.  My grandfather, John Boewe, attended the Moravian seminary in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.  He was an agricultural missionary sent by the Moravian church to Honduras and Nicaragua. I have been a “Christian” all my life, but at one point in my life I realized that many people claim a religion because it is the same as their parents’ religion. Why do we believe the way we do?  What did my ancestors believe in?  Then I thought, through researching the Moravian church I could learn more about my ancestors and at the same time I could learn about the history of the Protestant churches. Or, why are there only a few different Catholic churches and so many Protestant churches.  The answer is simple: “God intended the Moravians and the Methodists to go their separate ways, each denomination acting in its own way for God’s good purpose”(everyday par. 74).  Who has the right to say which church is better than the other? Only God can judge. 

Although my grandfather was born into the Moravian church and attended a Moravian seminary, as he grew older he knew something was missing in the Moravian church at that time.  It was probably the same thing that Zinzendorf and Hus felt when they were questioning some of the beliefs of the Catholic Church.   When my grandfather was in his fifties he became hungry to know more about the manifestations of the Holy Spirit.   He then started to attend a non-denominational church and on his own began to experience the gifts of the Holy Spirit like never before.  Soon after, he and my Grandmother went on a mission trip to Brazil, South America.  In Brazil they were involved in crusades of thousands of people.  They saw many miracles. He believed in the “Great Commission” like Zinzendorf; he went out the world to preach the gospel and laid hands on the sick, and the sick were healed.  From that point on in his life one of his greatest desires was to see the Holy Spirit in operation in the Moravian church as it was in the beginning. 

One thing that this church doesn’t believe as much as it did during the times of Count Zinzendorf, is the importance of a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Moravian Church has transformed into a different church than it was in its early stages.  The gifts of the Holy Spirit have played an important role in the history of the Moravian Church, why does it not seem as important to the Moravian Church today? Acts 1:8 states, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the Earth. The Holy Spirit guided the followers of Christ in the New Testament, the Holy Spirit encouraged John Hus to look for more answers than the Catholic Church provided, the Holy Spirit was indeed important to Count Zinzendorf during the development of the Moravian church, and the Holy Spirit still exists today to those that believe. 

Works Cited

Atwood, Craig. “The Mother of God’s People: The Adoration of the Holy Spirit in the

            Eighteenth-Century…” Church History. Vol. 68 Issue 4 (Dec 99) ; p 886-903.

 Mason, J.C.S. The Moravian Church and the Missionary Awakening in England 1760-1800.

            Rochester, New York: The Boydell Press, 2001.

 The Moravian Church. Ed. Julia Davis.  20 July 2001 < http://religiosmovements.lib.   

            virginia.edu/nrms/Moravian.html>.

What We Believe. Black Box.  2001-2005. 20 October 2005

            < http://www.moravian.org/believe>.

Schweinitz, S.T.D., Edmund De. The History of the Church Known as The Unitas Fratrum.

            Bethlehem, Pennsylvania: Moravian Publication Office, 1885.

“A Short Introduction to the History, Customs and Practices of the Moravian Church” Everyday   

            Counselor. 1999. 26 October 2005

            shistory.htm>.

Sommer, Elisabeth. “A Different Kind of Freedom? Order and Discipline Among the Moravian

            Brethren in Germany and Salem, North Carolina.”  Church History Vol. 63 Issue 2

(June 1994) : 221-234.

Sommer, Elisabeth. Serving Two Masters. Lexington, Kentucky: The University Press of

            Kentucky, 2000.

Thompson, Augustus C. Thompson, D. D. Moravian Missions. New York: Charles Scribner’s

            Sons, 1895.

                       

             

Be Aware of His Presence

In times of trouble or chaos when in my own understanding I am just unsure or overwhelmed, I am so thankful that I have the Holy Spirit to comfort me and to lead me into all truth. When life has you at a crossroads you have two choices: give into the chaos or choose His presence. In His presence is the peace that passes all understanding (Phillippians 4:7). The Lords presence is always with us but we are the ones who must reach out and grab it.

In this new year I urge you to seek after more of the Holy Spirit and His presence as I do the same. Entire into worship like never before! One of my favorite lines of a song is "I don't want to talk about you like you're not in the room. I want to look right at You. I want to sing right to You!" When you worship with that mindset you can expect nothing less from God! Invite Him into your life, invite Him into your church, and into your worship! I guarantee you will see your life changed and as well as others around you. You will see miracles and signs and wonders. Open up your whole self to The Lord and let Heaven invade Earth!


Here are the lyrics to an awesome worship song by Bryan and Katie Torwalt. I hope this song encourages you to welcome the Holy Spirit into you life this year!

There’s nothing worth more, that will ever come close
Nothing can compare, You’re our living hope
Your Presence

I’ve tasted and seen, of the sweetest of loves
Where my heart becomes free, and my shame is undone
In Your Presence, Lord

Holy Spirit, You are welcome here
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your presence, Lord

Let us become more aware of Your presence
Let us experience the Glory of Your goodness





Have a Blessed 2013 :)

His Presence is Messy

   

     When my Father-in-law talks about getting in the Presence of God he often uses the analogy of jumping into a swimming pool.  Some people like to tip toe down the steps and ease their way into the water and a lot of times try very hard not to get their "hair" wet.  But oh it's so much more fun and not as cold if you just run and jump in the deep!   Jumping in makes a big splash sometimes, its usually not very pretty, and most often makes a mess and water gets all over the place.  

    

This is worship... this is His Presence... it gets messy and sometimes it can get uncomfortable!

     Song of Songs is one of the most controversial books of the Bible.  It's extremely intimate and can be uncomfortable to read but at the same time it is so beautiful.  It's the love between a man and his bride, Christ and the Church.  It was so provocative that the Jewish men were not allowed to read it until they were 30!  The "church" I think was afraid of what was inside it of what was behind the words.   

Song of Songs 4:9Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck.

The word Ravished is a very interesting word.  It's definition is two fold the first definition is to seize and take away by violence; the second definition is to overcome with emotion (as joy or delight).  In Song of Songs I believe the word ravished holds both definitions another translation says that She has Stolen his heart implying that it was indeed taken by force but at the same time He is so overwhelmed by emotions and is delighted by her Presence.     

I WANT to be ravished by God's Presence! The difference is the Holy Spirit is a gentleman. He will NEVER force anything on you, but He so desires for us to want and long to be in his Presence.

Exodus 34:14For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

Isaiah after being in the Presence of the Lord and actually looking at the Lord with his own eyes said that he was Undone!  Only the pure of heart are supposed to see God, right? But in that time that he spent with the Lord he was made clean. They touched His lips with the coal to cleanse Him.

Isaiah 6:5 KJV So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts."

New Century Version

I said, "Oh, no! I will be destroyed. I am not pure, and I live among people who are not pure, but I have seen the King, the Lord All-Powerful."

     To be Undone is to be ruined, destroyed or unfastened.  

    In Worship we need to get to the place where we are UNDONE.... our flesh must die and we need to allow our spirit to worship the LORD!  

     
     Romans 8:13For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 

     Only in the LORD's presence are we made whole!  It's kind of like surgery.  It's messy right?  The Dr cuts you up and all the blood and guts and gore are visible.  Everything is laid out on the table.  It's an intimate setting.  Its RAW, smelly, and Ugly you are literally UNDONE but it's something that is necessary to get the job done!

     Why are we so afraid to get messy?  Why are we so afraid to get into that place and have a LOVE affair with our Savior? Why are we so afraid to be in the place where we don't have all of the control and we don't have any idea what is going to happen.  It's the most perfect and beautiful place to be: TO BE Drenched in the Fragrance of His Presence!    I don't want my "Hair" to be "Perfect", I want it to be messy drenched and soaking wet from that special and intimate time with my FIRST love!

     

Nothing Can Separate!!!

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38, 39 NLT)

It's so easy to get in His presence and be surrounded by His love! All we have to do is ask, seek and knock!    I don't care if it feels like everything is coming against you and your whole world is falling apart. If you take the time to enter into his presence, and be thankful for the what you do have God's peace will overwhelm you and walls will begin to break down. Everything will work together for he good for those who love Him!

Every Tribe and Every Tongue!

     Oh Revelation Song how powerful you are! This song is so very dear to my heart.  Written by Jennie Riddle, Revelation song was birthed after about 10 years of her prayers desiring that the church come together as one Bride and earnestly desire to see Christ's return worshipping His name in every tongue! This song also happens to be the first song that I ever lead in worship!  I remember being so nervous because its such a powerful and important song and I didn't want my average little voice to mess it up and distract people from entering into His presence, The throne room of Jesus!  

The lyrics come straight out of Revelation 4 and 5 and are breathtaking! It's a glimpse of what worship is like in Heaven! 

"After these things I looked, and behold, a door  standing  open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard  was  like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this. Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and  One  sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and  there was  a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. Around the throne  were  twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire  were  burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. Before the throne  there   was  a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne,  were  four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. The first living creature  was  like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature  was  like a flying eagle. The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come! Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created."  (Revelation 4:1-11 NKJV)

"Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying: You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth. Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing! And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: Blessing and honor and glory and power  Be  to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever! (Revelation 5:9-13 NKJV)

I didn't quite feel how powerful the lyrics were until I read them for myself in Revelation.  Don't you see it? It's Gods perfect will that it is on Earth as it is on Heaven!  He has made us Kings and Priests and we have ALL authority to go boldly before Him at his throne!  My encouragement for you is to take time seeking to press in deeper in His presence because His presence is sweet and perfect and full of all things Good!  We don't have to be in church or meet with a pastor or priest to be in His presence! He is with us wherever we are, wherever we go and though whatever we have done! His Holy Spirit is living and active inside of us to teach us and guide us and lead us into all things new!

My desire is to be like those worshipping Christ in His throne room! I will extol the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips. (Psalm 34:1 NIV)

We Were Made to Worship

 This is what God says, 
   the God who builds a road right through the ocean, 
   who carves a path through pounding waves,
The God who summons horses and chariots and armies— 
   they lie down and then can't get up; 
   they're snuffed out like so many candles:
"Forget about what's happened; 
   don't keep going over old history.
Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand-new. 
   It's bursting out! Don't you see it?
There it is! I'm making a road through the desert, 
   rivers in the badlands.
Wild animals will say 'Thank you!' 
   —the coyotes and the buzzards—
Because I provided water in the desert, 
   rivers through the sun-baked earth,
Drinking water for the people I chose, 
   the people I made especially for myself, 
   a people custom-made to praise me. 
 Isaiah 43:16-21 


Most of us learned in Elementary school that an atom (which is the basic unit of matter) is made up of 2 parts: the nucleus which is vibrating at the center and the electrons which are spinning around with a sort of vibration.  

We also know that sound is made up of vibrations.  So it should make perfect sense that when God spoke and created Earth it was so!  

 Isaiah 43 Mentions many of the things our God has done for his people and hints of even better things to come, but most importantly in verse 21 it tells of how God chose us and custom-made us to worship Him!   Do you see it yet? God created Earth and at the core of every little molecule is sound (well vibration) and then He specifically says that He created us to worship Him! 

Worship should be more than just a few songs that we sing on a Sunday morning or Wednesday night.  Worship is in the center of our being.  Psalm 34 should be something that we live by "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise  shall  continually  be  in my mouth."

In everything we do we should give praise and the glory to God! 

In 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul writes to the people of Thessalonica about Jesus' return and exhorts and encourages the people saying in verse 16 "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Jesus himself said,  "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.  God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. (John 4:23, 24 NKJV)

In my life I want to be one of those that God the Father is seeking. I want my worship to be true, from my heart to my King's feet.  I want there to be more of Him and less of me. 

In that (this) day I want to be ready and waiting. I want my worship (our worship) to help usher in the presence of Almighty Jesus.  I want there to be nothing in my life that would hold back the move of the Spirit and the "better" things that He wants to do in these last days.  I can't wait for the day when "every knee" will bow to worship the King!

The Lord  will be  awesome to them, For He will reduce to nothing all the gods of the earth;  People  shall worship Him, Each one from his place, Indeed all the shores of the nations. (Zephaniah 2:11 NKJV)