- Mar 9, 2020
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We have been discussing the "sacrifice of praise" this evening,
and the Holy Spirit gave me this remembrance.
I grew up Catholic in the New Orleans area, K-8 parochial ed. etc..
where the RCC has a strong presence due to the French/Spanish
heritage, but I became very irreligious as an adult.
In the 90's I returned home after years in the service, followed
by wanderings, and visited a non-denominational church with
friends, where the time of praise that opened the services was
very upbeat, very N'awlins. I was captivated!
I was also working an overnight shift job, and came home
one Sunday morning feeling horrible, so I decided to lay down
a couple of hours before the 10:30 service. After dozing, I woke
feeling worse, and thought, "that's it, I am staying in bed".
I then heard the voice of the Spirit clearly, telling me "now is
the time you need to attend a service the most!"
I jumped out of bed, slipped on some clothes, and just made it
in time. As soon as the music started, I began to sing with the
congregation, lifting holy hands, and was saturated by the
presence of the Lord. Immediately well, energized and strengthened!
I continued to praise through weeping, and gained a profound
realization of the reality of the love of God.
At that time I had been listening to a Christian artist named Greg X.
Volz, the former lead singer for Petra. He had a song called The Exodus.
I was blown away to now know exactly what Moses was stating:
Exodus 15:
2 The Lord is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation;
He is my God, and I will praise Him;
My father’s God, and I will exalt Him.
From that moment I vowed that it would not be enough to just
know what the Bible says, but not be satisfied until I
experienced what the scriptures described.
I have to now confess, I occasionally will get very frustrated with
members of the forum when I share something that the Spirit
has taught me, and I am contradicted by someone who supports
their opinion with commentaries, wiki-notes or their knowledge
of writings of church fathers, etc....
I felt that they were speaking pridefully from knowledge without
experience. I have since had to reconcile the fact that my
annoyance is just as prideful. Whether I feel that I have gained
a deeper understanding from reading, or experience, it is always
grace, and for that I can offer the sacrifice of praise.
and the Holy Spirit gave me this remembrance.
I grew up Catholic in the New Orleans area, K-8 parochial ed. etc..
where the RCC has a strong presence due to the French/Spanish
heritage, but I became very irreligious as an adult.
In the 90's I returned home after years in the service, followed
by wanderings, and visited a non-denominational church with
friends, where the time of praise that opened the services was
very upbeat, very N'awlins. I was captivated!
I was also working an overnight shift job, and came home
one Sunday morning feeling horrible, so I decided to lay down
a couple of hours before the 10:30 service. After dozing, I woke
feeling worse, and thought, "that's it, I am staying in bed".
I then heard the voice of the Spirit clearly, telling me "now is
the time you need to attend a service the most!"
I jumped out of bed, slipped on some clothes, and just made it
in time. As soon as the music started, I began to sing with the
congregation, lifting holy hands, and was saturated by the
presence of the Lord. Immediately well, energized and strengthened!
I continued to praise through weeping, and gained a profound
realization of the reality of the love of God.
At that time I had been listening to a Christian artist named Greg X.
Volz, the former lead singer for Petra. He had a song called The Exodus.
I was blown away to now know exactly what Moses was stating:
Exodus 15:
2 The Lord is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation;
He is my God, and I will praise Him;
My father’s God, and I will exalt Him.
From that moment I vowed that it would not be enough to just
know what the Bible says, but not be satisfied until I
experienced what the scriptures described.
I have to now confess, I occasionally will get very frustrated with
members of the forum when I share something that the Spirit
has taught me, and I am contradicted by someone who supports
their opinion with commentaries, wiki-notes or their knowledge
of writings of church fathers, etc....
I felt that they were speaking pridefully from knowledge without
experience. I have since had to reconcile the fact that my
annoyance is just as prideful. Whether I feel that I have gained
a deeper understanding from reading, or experience, it is always
grace, and for that I can offer the sacrifice of praise.
