If you like quality animation…here’s a 6 minute video that I enjoyed.

Praise, by its very nature, is outward, open, demonstrative and obvious to anyone watching.  We are exhorted numerous times in the Psalms to praise God publicly.  We are on this earth to make our God known through our praise.

8 expressions of praise in Scripture:

1. Kneeling
2. Dancing
3. Raising our hands
4. Shouting
5. Singing
6. Testifying
7. Playing instruments
8. Clapping

These 8 are not commands to please God.  God’s only requirement is that we praise.  We are given 8 options to try.  We should TRY them all.  But some are more comfortable than others.

There is a throne in Heaven (just check out Revelation 4).  And it is occupied!

Our great God, mighty and majestic Father, is sitting on that throne right now!  This world may look like it’s spinning out of control, but God is still in charge!  He is still the all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present King of kings and Lord of lords! 

And He loves and protects you and me.

Think of every blessing you can.  Verbally express your thanks out loud to God for them.

Often I complain about parenting…it ain’t easy…and no one really told me that.  Yet, I can’t think of anything I would trade in the world for one of my kids. 

Today is Micah’s 8th birthday!  And below he has become king of the pumpkins!

Somehow we must be made to understand that through the miracle of spiritual transformation in Christ, we, in fact, become the message.  No matter what words we say or how we act, it is our deeds and our being that people will remember.

Lord, You have stunned me.

Exalted me.

Shocked me.

Instilled in me the growing sense of wonder

and fear

and realization that in this world,

in this time,

in this place, I am Your message and Your messenger. 

Help me to stay true.  Amen.

What do we mean when we say “dedication?”  What would people say that I am “dedicated” to?  It’s not an inner commitment that no one sees.  It’s expressed in public action.

Dedication inevitably involves some sacrifices.  Sacrifice is ultimately an expression of trust in the Lord.  You’re willing to GIVE UP something because you trust Him more than that something.

Dedication to God is built out of trusting God with the practical needs of your life.  The best way to learn faith is from people.  Look at Abel.  Cain offered to God.  But Abel offered his best.  Faith adds up to a willingness to give your best to the Lord.

Oh, yeah, if you want to read a great post by Mark Batterson on “inverted Christianity” then go HERE.

Here’s today’s set list of music at the Awakening Service at FCC.  This will be linked to Fred McKinnon’s blog where other worship bloggers post their setlists.  

Here’s what we did:

All the Earth Will Sing Your Praises

Mighty to Save

Indescribable

Message: Believing is Seeing  (click to access on line)

Draw Me Close

Because of Your Love

When looking for good people to serve in any important capacity in the church, we look for FAT people.  Faithful, Available, Teachable people. 

At the same time, it’s important that even the leaders are “teachable.”  When a leader is out of touch with God and the people, he loses his teach-ability.

G.K. Chesterton said,

Anything done in our own strength will fail miserably or succeed even more miserably.

So I have to keep asking myself “How well am I connected to God and the people?”

A leader must be so committed to a project that he is willing to do it with or without someone else.  David did not become king until after he took on Goliath alone.  Don’t ask someone else to do something you’re not willing to do.