A Worshippers Manifesto - via Spurgeon

"O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise unto the rock of our salvation."

We, the called and faithful and chosen, we will drive away our griefs, and set up our banners of confidence in the name of God. Let others lament over their troubles, with joy [we] will magnify the Lord. Eternal Spirit, our effectual Comforter, we who are the temples in which Thou dwellest, will never cease from adoring and blessing the name of Jesus. We WILL, we are resolved about it, Jesus must have the crown of our heart's delight; we will not dishonour our Bridegroom by mourning in His presence. We are ordained to be the minstrels of the skies, let us rehearse our everlasting anthem before we sing it in the halls of the New Jerusalem. We will BE GLAD AND REJOICE: two words with one sense, double joy, blessedness upon blessedness. Need there be any limit to our rejoicing in the Lord even now? We will be glad and rejoice IN THEE. That last word is the meat in the dish, the kernel of the nut, the soul of the text.

What heavens are laid up in Jesus! What rivers of infinite bliss have their source, ay, and every drop of their fulness in Him! Since, O sweet Lord Jesus, Thou art the present portion of Thy people, favour us this year with such a sense of Thy preciousness, that from its first to its last day we may be glad and rejoice in Thee. Let January open with joy in the Lord, and December close with gladness in Jesus.

Selah.

(Thanks to my bud Micah for posting this...I agree with him: could not say it better!)

The Capacity to...Dance

As I completed a study of the gospel of Mark with our small group connection group, I got to spend several weeks looking at that which God plants in each of us. Call it potential - a scientific term which speaks of energy stores inside an object - or call it capacity...that's where we spent time. God gives so much along our journey to allow us to reach the full dream He gives and we each have a choice in how we respond to what has been given.

Jesus describes His love and care for us along the journey in John 10. He contrasts the mission of the thief (to steal, kill and destroy) with His purpose: to give life to the full and overflowing.

This came to my heart as I was walking the dog and listening to Pandora radio last week. I was having a "country" kind of day and was caught off-guard by this song. I had heard the song before, but was taken as I considered the message of the song - a prayer, hope, desire - from giver to receiver. I came to find out that the song was written out of a time of deep loss and pain and was ultimately dedicated by Lee Ann Womack to her children. I think that is so appropriate; a heart-felt desire from a parent to a child. Consider the love in these lyrics as if they come from the heart of our Father to His children...