Photo Credits to Melissa Haskin
We must worship Him with the obedience of our actions and in our life. "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father is seeking to be His worshipers. God is a Spirit, and those who worship Him, must worship Him in spirit and in truth."
-John 4: 23-24
This is the soundtrack today, "Where You go, I'll go. What You pray, I'll pray."
Sometimes the dreams (yet to be expressed for God, through my life) are bankrolling caches of thunder inside my heart. Its like, they jealously THUMP, THUMP, THUMP! inside of my chest, escalating, drowning out all other noise, threatening cardiac arrest, or worse yet...complacency, if left unattended; left unexpressed.
For an entire calendar year, I have wrestled with the Living God.
This morning I awoke and worshiped, as I ran in the chilly, winter morning silence. Running as a mode. A means to listen more intently. A way to bring into alliance, the redeemed spirit living inside of Me, with the One my soul loves, more and more each day. I wrestle, because I believe I already know what He is asking of me. But will I obey?
I think of when I lived in Boston, MA, pioneering with many unsung heroes of prayer. One man I haven't thought of in years, came to my mind today. A Brazilian man and his wife. They were probably in their 50's or 60's, when I met them at the Justice House of Prayer, in Boston. God had called them to Boston (from Brazil) to prayer walk the streets and sidewalks of Harvard University, silently contending and beseeching, through no accolades of man. Today, I thought, "What a honor to have met them. Truly, someone whose greatness defies this age?" For those silent years of reverie on the sidewalks of Harvard, ultimately I believe were part of the bowls of incense tipping towards breakthrough in that Beloved city of Boston. God saw their obedience as friends of His. Thank you God, for their testimony.
"I will follow You in this dance of life. I will follow You. Whatever comes my way, through any situation...Give me a heart of no compromise. Where You go, I'll go. What You pray, I'll pray."
-Brian & Jenn Johnson
After Isaiah saw the Glory of God, he heard God say to him,“Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6)
I think of my family. I miss them. I think of my future. Its uncertain. I think of the present. Its lonely. I think of the cultural narrative that attempts to slot my story into brackets. Then I see His face. Then, I see His face.
I have found the treasure hidden in the field. I'll sell everything and buy the whole field, for that treasure. He has won my heart.
Jesus lived a life of complete surrender. He did "what He saw the Father doing." A life of complete obedience, and in so doing, He became the Lamb, the "SPOTLESS BRIGHTNESS OF THE GLORY OF THE KING."
Obedience is worship.
"This desire to celebrate something, to worship something; anything. It is a window to our souls. It is by observing WHAT we worship, and HOW we worship, that we discover who we really are. Many have settled for a lifetime of worshiping inferior, temporary things. Their lives reflect their pursuits. Some have aspired to worship systems of belief and practice. They are know by their RELIGION. But to worship God, Himself, is to enter into our highest calling."
-Ben & Robin Paisely, 100 PortraitsTo whom much is given, much will be required. We are not a generation DEVOID of God's heart. He has generously shared His heart with us. He has invited us. Meanwhile, the earth is groaning waiting for the revealing of the sons of God.
We must worship Him with the obedience of our actions and in our life. "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father is seeking to be His worshipers. God is a Spirit, and those who worship Him, must worship Him in spirit and in truth."
-John 4: 23-24
This is the soundtrack today, "Where You go, I'll go. What You pray, I'll pray."
Sometimes the dreams (yet to be expressed for God, through my life) are bankrolling caches of thunder inside my heart. Its like, they jealously THUMP, THUMP, THUMP! inside of my chest, escalating, drowning out all other noise, threatening cardiac arrest, or worse yet...complacency, if left unattended; left unexpressed.
For an entire calendar year, I have wrestled with the Living God.
This morning I awoke and worshiped, as I ran in the chilly, winter morning silence. Running as a mode. A means to listen more intently. A way to bring into alliance, the redeemed spirit living inside of Me, with the One my soul loves, more and more each day. I wrestle, because I believe I already know what He is asking of me. But will I obey?
I think of when I lived in Boston, MA, pioneering with many unsung heroes of prayer. One man I haven't thought of in years, came to my mind today. A Brazilian man and his wife. They were probably in their 50's or 60's, when I met them at the Justice House of Prayer, in Boston. God had called them to Boston (from Brazil) to prayer walk the streets and sidewalks of Harvard University, silently contending and beseeching, through no accolades of man. Today, I thought, "What a honor to have met them. Truly, someone whose greatness defies this age?" For those silent years of reverie on the sidewalks of Harvard, ultimately I believe were part of the bowls of incense tipping towards breakthrough in that Beloved city of Boston. God saw their obedience as friends of His. Thank you God, for their testimony.
"I will follow You in this dance of life. I will follow You. Whatever comes my way, through any situation...Give me a heart of no compromise. Where You go, I'll go. What You pray, I'll pray."
-Brian & Jenn Johnson
After Isaiah saw the Glory of God, he heard God say to him,“Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6)
I think of my family. I miss them. I think of my future. Its uncertain. I think of the present. Its lonely. I think of the cultural narrative that attempts to slot my story into brackets. Then I see His face. Then, I see His face.
I have found the treasure hidden in the field. I'll sell everything and buy the whole field, for that treasure. He has won my heart.
Jesus lived a life of complete surrender. He did "what He saw the Father doing." A life of complete obedience, and in so doing, He became the Lamb, the "SPOTLESS BRIGHTNESS OF THE GLORY OF THE KING."
Obedience is worship.
Love the photos and reflection. Thanks for sharing, Melissa!
ReplyDeleteyou give me so much courage. Thank you Yeshua!
ReplyDeleteHey Kelly and Kelsey, Thx for your notes :) Glad you were blessed. Lord knows, I am grateful for both of you, too. :) Love, Melissa
ReplyDelete