An Adventure in Worship

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(N.B. To be read whilst Jonathan & Melissa Helser's 'Endless Ocean' plays in the background)

"In that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old: that they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the heathen, which are called by my name, saith the Lord that doeth this." 

- Amos 9 v 11-12

Worship.
The state of my heart.
A deep movement within my spirit, from the belly of my soul,
That pours out of me for the love of who God is;
For what Christ has done.

The lightness of my soul, set free!
How I live and love to worship You.

So, I am back from the beauty that was David's Tent. What an amazing experience but certainly not the end of what happened throughout those 72 hours of non-stop worship.
The moment Beth and I stepped on the train heading towards Wiston Estate, every moment was God appointed. From the lovely lady (a gracious stranger), her daughter and their excitable dog Maise giving us a lift in their car (though we could barely fit) all the way to David's Tent, to us riding back in a flower printed van with seats parallel to the side of the road (thank you Jim and Natalie).

The in-between was the most beautiful bit. There has been such a shift in my spirit.
With or without intention, we as worshipers tend to limit ourselves in worshiping God. The creator of the universe. A God who humbled Himself so that Time itself and Eternity could hold Him. A God who surpasses eternity.
Why?
Have we become fearful?
Have we become too comfortable?
Have we forgotten who our God truly is, our first love?

Freedom.
The words 'when the minority becomes the majority' became so real during those 72 hours of worship and it is my heart to see this throughout God's church. To see people worship; breaking off the chains of fear, restraint and hindrance therefore truly worshiping God in such freedom. Freedom to express themselves and the love they have for God pour out of them. Constantly giving and giving to the Father while He sings so sweetly over us.
What a beautiful picture!
To know and be known by God in such intimacy and beauty. To stand with our brothers and sisters united in our love for God.

Every once in a while you come across those beautiful children of God, where the fragrance of Christ is so evident upon their lives and I found that with Jonathan and Melissa Helser. Such beautiful people. How they strive for their lives, their marriage, their family and community to be a reflection of who Christ is - without chains or restriction; just freedom.
Make me more like You Jesus.

I can't even express everything that happened during the event because of how it affected me as it was so spiritually moving. Sometimes, the things of the Spirit can't always be expressed in words. All I know is something has definitely shifted and change is here. No turning back.
I am so excited for what is to come and what the future holds for worshiping Abba! May we not be afraid to worship Him with EVERYTHING we have - our minds, our bodies...our spirit. Worshiping Him in spirit and in truth; after all it is these people that the Father seeks to worship Him.

love & light...♥

Visit: JonathanHelser.com
Visit: DavidsTent.net

Change Your Mind

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Yesterday I had the amazing opportunity to minister to the youth at my church... Aaaah! LOL! Needless to say, I'm so grateful that I had this opportunity and I wanted to share what I spoke on yesterday.

As a youth group, we had been looking at 'The Battlefield of the Mind'. We looked at how the mind and the heart are the same, how the things that surround us can influence our thoughts whether it is friends or music or TV shows, films etc. We also looked at how our thoughts can, and oftentimes do, turn into our actions. What myself and Josh (fellow youth leader) covered this session was how to change your mind from a mind that focuses in the internal, (the self, what you can gain personally) to a mind that focuses on the external (being in service to God and building His kingdom). 

Being a Christian is not easy. In fact, living life isn't easy. Daily, life throws us curve balls, puts obstacles in our way, which can cause us to be discouraged.
But to "make a decisive dedication of our bodies as a living sacrifice to God" (Romans 12 v 1) is to wake up every morning saying ‘I choose God’. I choose God in the midst of ALL that is going on around you; from the pain the heartache, the difficulties, not just on a good day – this being an act of sacrifice; saying I choose to walk in His will in a way that is PURE, that is your BEST (the best you have to give to God) and thirdly that is GOD-PLEASING. What we need to understand is that not everything we do pleases God, not matter how good our intentions are...


Verse 2 of Romans 12 goes on to say“be transformed by the entire renewal of your mind" – In order for your mind to completely transformed with the help of the Holy Spirit, your mindset needs a complete overturn. Changing your mindset towards things of God changes your outward look and view on life. So you begin to move away ideas and actions that are beneficial to you, and begin to lean towards things that will help build God’s Kingdom. So your view on life no longer becomes internal thinking but external thinking. It all comes down to the fact that we are here to build God’s kingdom.
Matthew 6 v 33 says "but seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." – Setting your mind on Christ and seeking God’s Kingdom above all things. Looking outwards towards Him and his kingdom, not inwards towards us and what we can reap or gain in this situation.

"A transformed mind subdues negative thoughts neither allowing them to be turned into actions." - Josh White

I was about 14-16 yrs old around the time my parents were splitting up and during this time time I had a very low and negative image of myself. I didn't view myself as beautiful or didn't see my worth/value and felt I wasn't worthy of anything, especially love. So with these thoughts I tried to seek these things in guys, in things of the flesh.
I soon came to realise that those guys I sought so hard to find my worth in, they come and go. No matter what they said about me, it wasn't solid. But God is ever constant. His words are built in solid truth, words you can stand secure in as they are a firm foundation. So all the thoughts I had about myself I learnt to lead them away captive into the obedience of Christ. It wasn't a transformation that happened overnight. It took me a couple of years before I got to a place where I completely depended on God. I learnt to trust Him and everything He had said over my life at the time.

In 2 Corinthians 10 v 3-5 it says:

“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. For the weapons of our warfare are not physical, but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds. In as much as we refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the true knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ.”

Prayer, worship, reading and keeping God's word are just a few weapons of our warfare that are mighty before God. What Paul is saying here in Corinthians is that you need to captivate thoughts into Christ’s obedience; whether it is thoughts of low self esteem, lust, or critical thinking of yourself and others all into Christ's obedience. Living a life like that is exhausting – it takes a lot out of you and it is spiritually draining.
What we also need to understand is not just bad thoughts that we captivate but good thoughts too. As I briefly mentioned before not all thoughts and actions are God pleasing no matter how good your intentions are.
That is why in Romans 12 v 2 it says ‘so that you may PROVE FOR YOURSELVES what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.’ This means to also prove for yourselves what God has already deemed good and acceptable and perfect so you know FOR SURE that the thought or idea you have is in line with God’s will. Having the mind of Christ as it says in 1 Corinthians 2 v 16 to guide and instruct us when proving for ourselves what is in God’s will.

It is very important that we are mindful of the things we dwell on and what we feed our minds on. As it says in Philippians 4 v 8 it says we need to meditate on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report and are of virtue. Throughout scripture it says we need to guard our heart.
In Proverbs 4 v 23 it says ‘guard your heart for out of it are the issues of life’; the wellspring of life, the products (actions) of your thoughts. You guard your heart by knowing and keeping God’s word close, through prayer, through worshiping God. Not just memorising verses but actually allowing them to sit and stay in your heart so that you might not sin against God or allow the enemy to attack you. The enemy knows the bible. If you don't know the word of God, the enemy will twist it and use it against you. By knowing and keeping God’s word in your heart, you stand strong because His word is truth, it is PURE and GOOD and it will start to show in your daily life and actions.

In 1 Corinthians 2 v 16  it says

“For who has known or understood the mind of the Lord as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ and do hold the thoughts of His heart.”

Thanks to the Christ and thanks to the Holy Spirit we know what is in Christ’s heart and what His thoughts are in terms of our walk with Him. It goes back to looking outwards not inwards; back to building God’s kingdom. Putting God at the centre of every thought – allowing Him to be at the forefront of our minds and in everything we do.

*NB: Scripture taken from both King James Version and The Amplified Bible.

love & light... ♥

All that I am is dry bones, without You Lord; a Desert Soul

Ezekiel 37 ♥

This worship... a prayer EVERY child of God should put on their heart, to be completely immersed in our Saviour and captivated by our God. He satisfies ALL our needs, he restores every dead thing in our lives! Seek Him, seek Him, seek Him with ALL your heart and soul, and just watch Him glorify Himself in every area of your life, for you to bear (bare?) testimony to the living God!

love & light...♥

The Lord IS my Shepherd...

We can know God's WILL but we can never know His ways and the exact future He holds for us. Trust in Him, let Him be your guide. Depend on Him, completely, absolutely. Rather than seeking for the direction of your life and seeking for the self, obey His commandments, tend to those who are brokenhearted, WIN SOULS for Him. Too many souls are being lost to the world and to the devil and not enough are being won for Christ... Daily, I see this but that is a different story.
Let go of the need for clarity in your life and hold on to trust. You have a God who knows where They are going. Who will get in front of you and direct you - All. The Days. Of. Your. Life. How much more? Be determined enough to not let Him out of your sight.

The Lord IS my Shepherd.

Edit 23/11/12:
A sermon called 'Modern Spirituality and Your Mind' by Voddie Baucham Jr.
I would advise you listen to this if you wish to break free from this common mould of constantly wanting to know God's will for your life.

love & light...♥

David Arms | Be Still and Know...

View here: Be Still and Know

View here: The Best Day of My Life

(& my favourite...)

View Here: All The Days of Our Lives

love & light...♥

Feeling Distant From The Lord

"I wish that life could be carefree, sunny, never cloudy

But You said that I would be In Your arms when things get crazy

So when the storm doesn’t go-oh-oh away I have decided to si-i-ing in the rain."

There are times I find, I need to slow down, especially when life is getting hectic, and immerse myself in God and His word. Otherwise, I am rendered weak, frail, tired and fragile. My mind cannot focus on Him and neither can my heart.
I often question: 'What is it all for? The stress, late nights working on assignments. Who am I trying to please?'
These questions quickly knock me back to the feet of God. Yes, it is good to be successful in life and reap all the good things that come along with it, but when it comes to a point that my heart, mind and soul are displaced, when God is not the center and focus of it all, I find myself re-adjusting my priorities and reminding myself of what IS important in this life for the next.

Life is hard, and yes I wish life was a lot more 'carefree, sunny, never cloudy' but without suffering and pain (no matter how great or small the situation is), beauty will not prevail in it's purest form, and neither would God's goodness. I guess it just about finding the balance, never forgetting to seek God first and early in every situation, giving Him our total worship and devotion above ALL things (Psalm 63v1).

love & light...♥

TM + TN | I'm on FIRE!

"You make light from dark, illuminate my heart

It started with a spark, and now I'm consumed.

I know that it's Your will, so I'm gonna shine until

I'm a city on a hill and they can see You.

& know You, & know You inside!"

"14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." - Matthew 5 v14-16

love & light...♥

Accepting You Are Blessed and Anointed in Christ

During Evangelism today, a word was shared and it spoke to me. It spoke to me as it is something I have been meditating upon for just over a week now. Accepting you are blessed and anointed in Christ. A moment that has always stuck with me to this day is when a friend offered me a compliment (3x in a row) and I rejected Every. Single. One. Whether out of modesty or insecurity...? Most probably the latter. She looked me straight in the eyes and said "You don't know how to receive a compliment, do you?" I can tell you from that day on, 'Thank You' slowly began to roll out of my tongue and as it did my confidence grew!

It is the same with the gifts and blessings God has anointed us with. I have come across MANY Christians (myself included) who reject, shrug off or take lightly their gifts and blessings, not out of humility but because they themselves are not confident in what God has placed upon their lives..

It is when we begin to receive and understand the anointing God has upon our lives that they will manifest and grow in us only to praise Him, glorify Him and minister His word to others the more, otherwise crippling and rendering us USELESS to His name, just like a stagnant, dead tree that bears no fruit. Sorry to be so harsh but it is true. Dampening a blessing that has the power to move in someone's life can cause you to miss the Glory of God and miss the opportunity for Him to flow so freely through you. It is through the anointing that there IS a mighty move of the Holy Spirit in you. It is not yourself that you are here to serve but Our Father, and Him alone. We need to work with the Lord to break down any fear or whatever it is that is holding us from letting His Spirit flow through us. We need to come out of those caves that we are so quick to hide in and choose to walk the path where we stand so FIRM in our faith in God, that we will not be shaken and nothing will stand against us or the anointing he has upon our lives.

Isaiah 61v 1-3:
1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted , to proclaim liberty to the captives , and the opening of the prison to them that are bound ; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified .

love & light...♥

The Lightness of My Soul

"So I come into your chambers & I dance at your feet Lord..."

I don't even know where to start. But then again with God's grace, His mercy, His kindness, His beauty, His hold on me and His unfailing love.. it has no beginning and it has no end. It is what it is. To be able to experience this, to be in a place of complete peace and serenity with God, to be His and only His knowing He loves and cares for you, even when darkness surrounds you and yet continue to have that still and quiet peace within your heart is what I love to call The Lightness of My Soul... a place where I can experience His complete being, feel like my Spirit is soaring and dance at His feet. I. Can. Dance. At. His. Feet. Rejoice and give Him all the praise that He deserves.

Oftentimes, we forget just how good God is and what he can do for you if you just surrender to Him, first. For he is forever Holy and forever faithful in the promises he has upon your life. Even when he has promised us we will overcome our struggles and our storms we doubt Him. We trouble our hearts, mind and spirit allowing our faith to become so small. It is so important we turn to him FIRST and NOT last (Mark 4v35-41). Only He has the power to release the treasures within our hearts as he has already overcome our burdens. YET in our stubbornness, we try to do everything by our own might, with full awareness of our fragile and easily broken selves, but it is not by our mere ability that we overcome but by His Spirit..(2 Cor 4v7; Zech 4v6)

For this, I will forever give Him all the glory, all the honour and all the praise. I will never stop praising him dancing at His feet... because his goodness never stops, so why should I? Whether, I'm up down, left or right (lol) my praises to You Lord will never cease because I know your goodness never fails and the promises you have for me will always stand!

James 1v2:
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds."

Mark 4 v35-41

"35And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. 36And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. 37And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

love & light...♥