Set Apart

I find this clip from Leslie Ludy (see her website, http://www.setapartgirl.com/) both challenging and inspiring. I had the privilege of hearing Leslie and her husband, Eric, speak about a year ago and was both encouraged and convicted by their message.

I was convicted by the fact that I have not been living my life all and only for the glory of God.

I was encouraged to shut my ears to the to the traditions and demands of the world, and to listen only to the voice of Jesus Christ and to live only for Him.


~Lissie

Your Hands

     This song has been a good reminder to me whenever I am struggling with trusting God in my circumstances. Even though everything around me might be crumbling, there is a Rock I can run to, all the time. He will never fail me, even though people will. It calls to my mind Psalm 18:1-3 "I love You O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised..." And even though the hard circumstance or trial may not be taken away, God will never ever leave.



~Tessa

Worship

As I think about worship, the hardest part for me is worshipping in the way I live. I can go to church and sing and talk about praising Him. But, worshipping through what I do? That’s where the rubber meets the road for me. What about you? Is the way you walk a megaphone for what you worship?

One of my favourite books, The Air I Breathe, by Louie Giglio, has some excellent insights about worship:

"Worship is our response, both personal and corporate, to God for who He is and what He has done, expressed in and by the things we say and the way we live.” (pg. 53)

This was a big eye opener to me:

“The true test of worship isn’t what we say, but what we do.” (pg. 77)

This next quote is my favourite quote in the whole book. Worship should be as regular as the clock ticking and blinking our eyes. What a challenge!

“We always come to worship through the doorway of Jesus Christ. But check out what comes next in that Hebrews 13 passage: 'Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise.'
     Hello! Are you seeing what I'm seeing?
     This verse says we are to worship continually!
     God's got to be kidding, right?
     Continually offer Him a sacrifice of praise? Like 24-7? Day and night? All the time? How is that even possible?
     Maybe we should all join a monastery. (Or maybe not.) Maybe we should just take a deep breath and consider what the writer of these verses is suggesting.
     For one, he's making a massive point with his first-century readers who were quite familiar with the smells and sights of animal sacrifices. The knew what it meant to come once a week, or once a year, bringing some animal as an offering to God.
     But it's not like that anymore. We're not talking about a once-a-week or twice-a-year thing. We're talking about a new relationship that allows us to praise God at any momeny, in any setting. In the hallway. In a restaurant. In our bedroom. On a sports field. Anywhere we are.
     Continually means that any time is the right time to praise God!

"And continually means a huge attitude adjustment is in order. Continually means that in every moment, we’re constantly looking for ways to glorify Him.
     Continually gets our worship outside the wall of the church building.
     Continually gets our worship outside of our devotional times.
     Continually gets worship outside of our Christian conferences.
     Our worship events.
     Our MP3 players.
     Our headphones.
     Continually gets worship into the marketplace.
     Into the boardroom.
     Into our hangout places.
     Into our conversations with friends.
     Into our Starbucks moments.
     Continually gets worship into our entertainment choices.
     Our bank accounts.
     Our hidden thoughts.
     Our dark nights.
     Our joys.
     What God is saying is this: “Everything you are – is Me. Everything you have – is Mine. The life you live is my life that I’ve freely given you. And I want worshipers who will be constantly reflecting My goodness and grace with that life.”
     God wants our lives to be a seamless song of worship. God wants our worship to be a way of life.” (pgs. 87-89)

~ Tessa

Walk The Line

Walk the line

The lonely line.

The world rushes by

Don’t look at them.

Watch the line

The lonely line.

Wander not

Go straight and true

Follow the line

The lonely line.

Don’t follow your friends,

Who cares what they say?

Choose the line

The lonely line.

Don’t forget the lost

Give the hope inside

Speak the line

The lonely line.

Don’t forget the standard

Look up, who’s your captain?

Fight for the line

The lonely line.

Shield your eyes

Guard your heart

Aim for the line

The lonely line

Pass along His compassion

Grasp someone’s hand

Hold out the line

The lonely line.

Don’t slow down

Run to win!

Race for the line

The lonely line

Lay aside sin

That so easily entangles

Live in the line

The lonely line

Don’t look around

At your circumstances

Remember the line

The lonely line.

Trust in His blood

The Lamb who died

Abide in the line

The lonely line

He’s coming in the clouds

To bring home His bride

So, walk the line

The lonely line.

~ Tessa