Moving the Water

“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water”. Psalm 63:1 (ESV) 

I just spent a week in Arizona.  The dry, desert landscape always intrigues me for it has its own kind of beauty and grace.  With extreme heat and lack of moisture, I am in awe that anything can live and grow there. Just staring out at the desert makes me thirsty.

One day, we got rain and you could almost hear the ground absorbing the moisture and it made me think of another very dry place; Montana.

Because they only average 15 inches of rain each year, some parts of Montana have a clever irrigation system. Water is collected at the highest elevation and is held back by a “gate”.  When it is time to irrigate, the gate is opened and water flows through ditches or canals to the desired field.  When adequately watered, the gate is closed and another gate is opened where the process is repeated to another section of land.  This is called “moving the water”.  

There are times in our lives when we need to ask Father to "move the water". It is not uncommon for us to have seasons of spiritual drought where it seems like nothing is penetrating the scorched, parched surface of our spirit. Some people refer to it as a “desert time”. Spiritually so dry that it seems their very spirit will wilt and die.  Everything has lost its “flavor”.  Scripture is just words on a page, prayer is empty, and service to God is hard and draining.  I’ve been there.  I am sure you have as well.  If you haven’t, the time will come. Father uses those times to strengthen us; to help us grow closer to Him.

“For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.” (Isaiah 44:3) When my spirit is dry, I ask Father to “move the water” onto my weary soul.  I picture Him opening the gate and letting water flow to all those dry cracks and crevices of my heart and spirit until out of my heart flows rivers of living water because I believe in Him. (John 7:38) He owns the water.  He is the gatekeeper.  He gives us what we need when we need it.  We can count on Him and He takes care of us in the desert.  Do you need Him to “move the water” today?  I am confident that He will turn your desert into pools of water and your parched ground into flowing springs. (Psalm 107:35).

Worshiping with you in the desert,
Lisa

Worship and an African Village

The summer of 1986 was an exciting one for me.  I was on tour in South Africa with Carpenter’s Tools; a music ministry out of Youth for Christ that was made up of 10 high school students from all over East and West Central Minnesota.  Our performances were made up of Christian cover tunes, testimonies, and times of sharing one-on-one with students as we came to their schools, churches, parks, and even TV studios.  My experience in Carpenter’s Tools over the years, taught me how music is a universal language that can knock down barriers, connects people together, and provides a way to talk to others about God.  And on one particular night in a small African village, I also saw first-hand what true worship looked like.

We were a little over half-way on our tour when we ended up in a small village.  I can still feel the dust that was everywhere and smell the smoke from burning tires they used as fuel.  The air was so thick with these things that it was hard to breathe as we unloaded our instruments, equipment, and generator.  Because of the remote location and limited resources, we were unable to use all of our “techy” stuff.  It was very pared down and I wondered how it would go as a mostly acoustical set.  Could we pull it off?  Will we sound O.K?  These people were hoping to hear a professional group and we were limited in what we could do.  The pressure was on. 

As we prepared to perform, our contact for that church told us that the place was packed and that some had walked over 20 miles to be there.  O.K., now I was really nervous!  However, I was so excited to meet these people who would go to such great lengths to come and hear about God through music.  I hoped God would use me to draw them into worship of Him, but instead, when all was said and done, the African village people transported me.

As we sang our songs their hands were raised, voices lifted up, and on their faces radiated joy, contentment, and awe like nothing I had ever seen before.  It left me speechless at first and then I sang until I thought my heart would burst from being so caught up in the worship.  When we finished our performance, their musicians took the stage and we had another hour of music and fellowship together.

When I reflected on it later, I was still letting it all settle in my heart. Here was a group of people who had next to nothing in this world.  Their church consisted of dirt floors and benches.  No electricity for fancy instruments, lights, sound, and fog machines.  Just a building with a single podium and a people whose worship wasn’t dependent on what was happening on the outside or their talents and resources.  Their worship came from within and the knowledge of who their God was and a close relationship with Him.

Hebrews 12:28 says, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,”.  The worship of those African village people was pure, holy, and so inspiring.  I realized then that sometimes I feel like our worship is dependent on ourselves and the environment or we worship because that is what the Bible says we are to do.  (The Lord says:) “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” (Isaiah 29:13) May our hearts be like those in that African village.  Close to God and the result of our knowledge and love for Him that cannot be contained.  

As you and I prepare for large group worship on Sunday.  I pray that we would come prepared to magnify God and not allow our “selves” to get in the way.  Many times, it’s easy to come to church hoping to hear our favorite songs sung, our favorite verses read, or favorite preaching style preached, and so on.  But I pray you come with anticipation of God’s presence, His Word made alive in you, His love showered upon your heart.  Expect to be moved by His Spirit and not necessarily by the elements that make up our time together.  God can use those things, yes, but He doesn’t need them to make an impression on a heart that is open to His still small voice.

Worshiping with you today,
Lisa

Apple Of My Eye

“Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings” 

Psalm 17:8

“Keep me as the apple of your eye”.  The original Hebrew for this idiom is 'iyshown 'ayin and can be literally translated as "Little Man of the Eye." This is a reference to the tiny reflection of yourself that you can see in other people's pupils. Figuratively it is something, or more usually someone, cherished above others.

In order for a reflection to be caught in someone’s eye and for you to be able to see that reflection they must have their gaze directed and fixed on you, and you must be standing near enough to them to see that reflection.  Oh, to be that close and intimate with our God and Creator! Just the mere thought of such intimacy inspires worship in my heart!

“I will proclaim your name O Lord and praise your greatness!  You are my Rock and your works are perfect and all your ways are just.  I lift you up because you are my faithful God who does no wrong; who is upright and just.  Show me the wonders of your great love and keep me as the apple of your eye; I praise you because you alone are the Most High over all the earth.”  

(Deuteronomy 32:3-4, Psalm 17:7-8, Psalm 83:18b)

Worshiping with you today,

Lisa

Rock Band

 “So let Heaven rejoice, let Earth be jubilant, and pass the word among the nations, ‘God reigns!’ Let Ocean, all teeming with life, bellow, let Field and all its creatures shake the rafters; Then the trees in the forest will add their applause…” 

(1 Chronicles 16:33 MSG)

Wow!  Have you heard a bellowing ocean as the whales and sea-life speak and waves crash to shore? Or how about a forest in full applause during a windy day?  It happens all around us.  God’s creation is praising and giving Him glory.  The very thought of all creation, not just people, praising God makes me want to join in even more. Jesus said to the Pharisees in Luke 19, that if the disciples didn’t give him praise the very rocks would. Stones crying out and praising God?  Fascinating!  Gives a whole new meaning to “rock band” doesn’t it? Hm…yes…well…let’s move on, shall we?

I read a book called, “The Great Animal Orchestra” by Bernie Krause.  Mr. Krause has spent most of his life recording the sounds of nature.  He is so attuned to its patterns and sounds that he could tell you the difference between the sound of waves washing up on Lake Michigan and the waves hitting a beach in Florida.  He would even be able to tell you exactly which beach, and probably the time of the day, so distinct is each pattern. This man has discovered creation sounds all around us that we are not even aware of.  Beautiful sounds that some of us may never hear ourselves that God has created for his praise and glory. 

Giving God praise is natural for his creation.  1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God”.  And Isaiah 43:7: “everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” We were created to praise and glorify God. The trees, oceans, and wildlife have it figured out.  Even the very rocks understand who is worthy of their praise.  I don’t know about you, but I really don’t want to be outdone by a rock!

So, join with me, “All together now—applause for God! Sing songs to the tune of his glory, set glory to the rhythms of his praise. Say of God, ‘We've never seen anything like him!’… The whole earth falls to its knees—it worships you, sings to you,”

(Psalm 66:4 MSG)

Praising our Lord today with you and all of creation!

Lisa