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Jan 28, 2005
Is He Calling? Part 2
Hebrews 4:12... For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
The day after the Lord gave me that song "How Great Is Your Love" by MercyMe someone sent me the phrase "The Joy is the victory before the battle". This phrase led to more insights. It goes with King David who had a large orchestra and choir. David and the commanders of the army set aside musicians. (1 Chronicles 23:1-5, 25:1-7)
Why would the commanders of the army set aside musicians? This question led to this passage.
Isaiah 55:10-12... As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
And this idea, through worship, music, & singing the immediate, alive, in-the moment word of the Lord can be sent forth. This word never goes forth without accomplishing the purpose for which it was sent by the Lord. The genuine word of the Lord accomplishes things. It plucks up and breaks down, destroys and overthrows, builds and plants. As a result, God's people go out to face life with joy, peace and victory in their hearts. <--- Did you SEE that!!! ---> The Joy is the victory before the battle. Did you also see the sword of Heb 4:12?
This IS what the Lord is doing with me & Prayer Mail/scriptural prayers. I just never connected sending forth God's word with worship thru singing! If this sending forth is done with music, it drives the sword of the word even deeper into us than the spoken or written word can. Music cuts to the heart, motivates the soul, makes us feel and captivates our spirit in ways the spoken or written word cannot.
This is the idea of God's sword. By the way, the name of the book that led me to Prayer Mail & those scriptural prayers is THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT by Joy Lamb {NO Coincidence!!!!}
By showing me all these coincidences I think the Lord is telling me that He wants to connect singing to the gifts I'm using in Prayer Mail/scriptural prayers. I never saw that there could be a connection before! Look how the Lord confirmed these two callings and tied them together!
There's more...
A few days after these insights, I shared them with my Pastor of worship. I told him all these things, the desire to sing to my King, to send forth His word, the waiting on the Lord. During the conversation it came up that my heart was broken over the episcopal church. How it was hard to leave - hard to follow the call from the Lord to leave. It was only through the Lord's courage & strength I could do this. I used to go in the chapel at this epicopal church and sing & pray to the Lord, for His guidance & strength. The Pastor gave me a CD with songs the worship team is going to do.
I listened to the CD. The first 3 songs were about ... in brokeness of heart ... teach us a blessing ... sing to my King that is coming to REIGN in glory ... waiting ... The last line of the waiting song:
waiting in expectantancy - surrender to Your sovereignty, we're hungry for true intimacy Lord, for the things of Your heart. {right where I am now}
Then this intro to the next song...
You shine brighter than the brightest star, Your love purer than the purest heart, You shine filling us with courage and strength to follow You....
This is the song I sang most by myself to the Lord in the chapel at the episcopal church. How could I leave the place where I grew so close to the Lord, where I saw Him use me to touch others, where He raised this worship group out of my small group - even healing someone's hands to do it, where I had all these people that I love? How? Only by Him filling me with His courage & strength to follow - only by Him making a way, only by His grace.
This voice on the CD - singing the song I sang to the Lord -- it sounds like my voice!!!!
Not only did the Lord confirm where He has placed me now - He comforts me with the song I sang to Him in the midst of my pain. It's as if He said to me - I know, I know, I heard your song, keep singing to me, keep listening for my voice, I will keep giving you my strength, my courage, I will help you follow, I will make a way for you.
I find this incredible, it shows how intricate His hand is on my life, on our lives. It also shows His love. I encourage you to seek His hand on your life, when you see it - it's an incredible blessing!
___________
May there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those God given gifts that you have received,
and pass on the love that has been given to you...
May you be content knowing you are a child of God...
Let His presence settle into your bones,
and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise, and love.
He is there for each and every one of us.
P.S. This prayer was sent to me in the midst of my struggle to hear His voice & obey. {Another sign of His intricate hand.}
May we each listen for His call & obey.
In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
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Jan 28, 2005
Is He Calling? Part 2
Hebrews 4:12... For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
The day after the Lord gave me that song "How Great Is Your Love" by MercyMe someone sent me the phrase "The Joy is the victory before the battle". This phrase led to more insights. It goes with King David who had a large orchestra and choir. David and the commanders of the army set aside musicians. (1 Chronicles 23:1-5, 25:1-7)
Why would the commanders of the army set aside musicians? This question led to this passage.
Isaiah 55:10-12... As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
And this idea, through worship, music, & singing the immediate, alive, in-the moment word of the Lord can be sent forth. This word never goes forth without accomplishing the purpose for which it was sent by the Lord. The genuine word of the Lord accomplishes things. It plucks up and breaks down, destroys and overthrows, builds and plants. As a result, God's people go out to face life with joy, peace and victory in their hearts. <--- Did you SEE that!!! ---> The Joy is the victory before the battle. Did you also see the sword of Heb 4:12?
This IS what the Lord is doing with me & Prayer Mail/scriptural prayers. I just never connected sending forth God's word with worship thru singing! If this sending forth is done with music, it drives the sword of the word even deeper into us than the spoken or written word can. Music cuts to the heart, motivates the soul, makes us feel and captivates our spirit in ways the spoken or written word cannot.
This is the idea of God's sword. By the way, the name of the book that led me to Prayer Mail & those scriptural prayers is THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT by Joy Lamb {NO Coincidence!!!!}
By showing me all these coincidences I think the Lord is telling me that He wants to connect singing to the gifts I'm using in Prayer Mail/scriptural prayers. I never saw that there could be a connection before! Look how the Lord confirmed these two callings and tied them together!
There's more...
A few days after these insights, I shared them with my Pastor of worship. I told him all these things, the desire to sing to my King, to send forth His word, the waiting on the Lord. During the conversation it came up that my heart was broken over the episcopal church. How it was hard to leave - hard to follow the call from the Lord to leave. It was only through the Lord's courage & strength I could do this. I used to go in the chapel at this epicopal church and sing & pray to the Lord, for His guidance & strength. The Pastor gave me a CD with songs the worship team is going to do.
I listened to the CD. The first 3 songs were about ... in brokeness of heart ... teach us a blessing ... sing to my King that is coming to REIGN in glory ... waiting ... The last line of the waiting song:
waiting in expectantancy - surrender to Your sovereignty, we're hungry for true intimacy Lord, for the things of Your heart. {right where I am now}
Then this intro to the next song...
You shine brighter than the brightest star, Your love purer than the purest heart, You shine filling us with courage and strength to follow You....
This is the song I sang most by myself to the Lord in the chapel at the episcopal church. How could I leave the place where I grew so close to the Lord, where I saw Him use me to touch others, where He raised this worship group out of my small group - even healing someone's hands to do it, where I had all these people that I love? How? Only by Him filling me with His courage & strength to follow - only by Him making a way, only by His grace.
This voice on the CD - singing the song I sang to the Lord -- it sounds like my voice!!!!
Not only did the Lord confirm where He has placed me now - He comforts me with the song I sang to Him in the midst of my pain. It's as if He said to me - I know, I know, I heard your song, keep singing to me, keep listening for my voice, I will keep giving you my strength, my courage, I will help you follow, I will make a way for you.
I find this incredible, it shows how intricate His hand is on my life, on our lives. It also shows His love. I encourage you to seek His hand on your life, when you see it - it's an incredible blessing!
___________
May there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those God given gifts that you have received,
and pass on the love that has been given to you...
May you be content knowing you are a child of God...
Let His presence settle into your bones,
and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise, and love.
He is there for each and every one of us.
P.S. This prayer was sent to me in the midst of my struggle to hear His voice & obey. {Another sign of His intricate hand.}
May we each listen for His call & obey.
In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
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