CONSECRATION - (RECONSECRATION)
I was reading in 2 Chronicles 29 recently where King Hezekiah ordered the Temple cleansed (v3-11) and as I read the proclamation that the priests and Levites were to "remove all defilement from the sanctuary" I had to ask myself the same question - am I removing defilement in my own life? I know we are "in this world not of it" but I really need to get rid of things in my life. This can be from garbage I am watching on tv, places I go on the Internet, music I am listening to, books I am reading. And yes, it can even be people I need to separate from for a time. It is choices I make that cause this mess and defilement in my life and I need to keep short accounts with God. I want to be consecrated, set apart, holy and usable for God (2 Tim. 2:21).

Total time: 16 days - wow, it took over 2 weeks to clean the Temple. Not a one day or couple of hours will do for such a task. Sometimes that is hard to hear and even harder to implement as we want instant reconsecration. And even though we can be restored the moment we confess (1 John 1:9), we have habits that need to be broken, strongholds that need to be torn down. It takes time to purify our lives before God. He will help but we must not give up before the process is done. Renewing our minds and refreshing ourselves in His Word has to take place daily, constantly. See Hebrews 12:1- 3, especially verse 3. Don't grow weary of doing good.

Sacrifice - not a word we like to hear. In our luxurious life in the US we think sacrifice is when we have to have leftovers instead of a fresh meal. Or our favorite program is a rerun and we must watch something else. Or we have to have a slightly less hot shower because several others have already used the facilities. You get my drift here as these are not true sacrifices. True sacrifice is our giving up our desires for God's. In the reading in 2 Chronicles there were consecration sacrifices made, 28 in fact, necessary to purify the temple. And these sacrifices cost someone something. We must also make sacrifices in our lives, giving up that which we hold as valuable for something that is of greater worth - eternity! We should be driven by what one day will issue from our Savior's lips, "well done, good and faithful servant." Things that we hold dear, let us examine these and be willing to lay them down on the altar. Things that the world says are OK or permissible, may not be for us as Christians. This is a tough to hear, let alone to write, and cuts to my heart as I know of things that I need to be willing to give away to God.

Interesting to note that the offerings were accompanied by music (2 Chronicles 29:27-30). Not mournful, funeral dirges, or laments, but praises, worship and adoration for God. The time of reconsecration was accompanied by praise. Again I need to be honest: Am I singing over the sacrifices I am making in my life? Do I praise God for what He is doing in me as I seek after Him? "So they sang praises with gladness and bowed their heads and worshiped" - (End of verse 30). Do I dedicate myself with gladness?

A neat end result is that the nation of Judah wanted to celebrate Passover with everyone. They invited Israel, Ephraim, Manasseh, to all come and join in with them as they worshiped God and remembered His provision. Will that be the end result for us as we consecrate ourselves to Him? Will we want to tell others the good news? Tell others about what God has done for us?

The Power of Words: WORSHIP

The word "worship" is bandied around by churches so often that it has taken on a mythological quality. Many times the word is spoken of in hushed tones, where contemplation and mystical things take place. The word is used even more to describe such a variety of items that it loses it's uniqueness as a descriptive word. Church does not consist of Sunday morning services, but are "worship" services. Really? I thought there were announcements, and singing, and fellowship, and teaching, and prayer going on, as well as "worship."
In the Bible, the word "worship" is translated from multiple words in Greek and Hebrew and at a minimum encompasses our human response to God. I wonder if we spent some time going through the definitions how that would affect our individual and corporate "worship?" I know that I personally have been impacted by studying the word "worship," and digging into the Scriptures regarding the various instances. So let me challenge you to go get your Bible, find the word "worship." See how it is used in the sentence and see how it is used in context. Use the Concordance, use the Index, side notes, Bible Dictionary - there are so many tools to use to educate yourself and know more about words like "worship" and how the Bible defines it. Pray about what you learn, incorporate some of what you learn into your time of personal Bible reading and prayer - it will be become a time of "worship." This, then, will overflow into so many areas of your life. I know that your "worship" will be enhanced because of it.
I am a worshipper,
Graham

WORSHIP versus "WHORE-SHIP"

I was cleaning up some papers recently and came across a paper that had "Whorship" written with the "h" scribbled out. I think the person who wrote this was just probably hastily writing and put the "wh" together accidentally and then corrected his mistake by just scribbling the erroneous letter out. But after two things that I read in the last few days - some of Glenn Packiam's new book, "Secondhand Jesus,"(http://www.glennpackiam.com/home.jsp) and an article at Christian Music Today.com (http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/commentaries/2009/musicinrecession.html ) I was struck that many in Christian Music are seeking after riches, fame, adulation, and related items and in essence are "whoring" after these items. And scarily, I may be as well. Oh, I hope and pray that I am not doing so and lusting after the world. So a few checks are in order.

I want to check my motivation - is it for me or God?

I want to check my attitude - is it selfish and self-seeking or is it selfless and others focused?

I want to check my desires - are they purely driven by financial means and gain or are they pure?

I struggle with these things and pray that as I stay in the Word and in prayer that my mind with be renewed to be more like my loving God and Savior, Jesus.

RENEW MY MIND

Oh Lord, I’m driven to distraction
Too many things vie for my
attention
Oh Lord, what is this strange attraction?
Only You, deserve my
affection

(Chorus)
So renew my mind, refresh my soul
Cleanse my heart, and
make me whole
Restore Your fire to my life, my love, my all
Lord, renew my
mind on You

Oh Lord, I’m such a poor reflection
Going my own
way, selfish ambition
Oh Lord, why do I run from Your correction?
I surrender and follow Your direction

(Bridge) You are faithful, You are Holy,
You are righteous, You are true
I will seek and I will find You, I will
follow You

And be renewed in the spirit of your mind. - Ephesians 4:23 (NIV)

My prayer is that I will keep renewing my mind on Jesus.

PROCESS -
I'm currently in the studio recording more original music. While I am loving the process and am trying to get it accomplished faster that the first music I recorded it still takes time and money. (If you want to check out my first CD, go to CD Baby and search WAVE Band.) So, knowing that I cannot go in there and knock it all out in a week or two can be a bummer. But I do love the process. There is such great spiritual application from the whole process. We believers in Jesus Christ have to understand that our walk is a process. We don't instantly become Bible Scholars and Theologians or perfect Christians at the moment we surrender our lives to God. It's a process. When I go into the studio I start by laying down some scratch tracks for others to hear and get the basics of the melody and music in mind. Then we flesh these ideas out and start laying down some basic instruments. The process time, is cool but takes energy, brainstorming, and yes, money. We, too, need to understand that as we grow in our faith it takes time, energy, brainstorming and yes, money. After all, where we invest these things shows where our heart is focused. So, enjoy the process, after all as Rose Tremain is quoted as saying - "Life is NOT a Dress Rehearsal." This is it, so let's embrace the process and live lives sold out to God.

SAME JESUS - God Never Changes

Psalm 40:2

At a Notre Dame football game someone noticed a t-shirt worn by some students which read, “New Coach. New Pope. New Era. Same Jesus.” Wow! When I read that I had to do a double take, realizing that the t-shirt was referring to the “Touchdown Jesus” statue that overlooks the stadium in South Bend, Indiana. But as a believer in the real live Jesus I was struck by the awesomeness of this message - the immutability of Jesus - He is unchanging, He is always the same. The constant that Jesus is in the world today is a testament to the reality of who he is - God incarnate. The Word made flesh who dwelt among us, Immanuel, God with us. As believers we have this great hope, God never changes. Whatever we find ourselves facing, God never changes. Wherever we might be, God never changes. Yes, the circumstances in which we find ourselves might be rather fluid and constantly in motion but God never changes. In Psalm 40 we read that God has lifted our feet out of the miry clay and set them on a rock - the unchanging, unmovable Rock - Jesus, God incarnate. So take hope all of you that are getting that “sinking” feeling as you face the quandaries of life. We are set upon an unchanging rock. We can cling to God’s promises given throughout time. The same God, who created the world, led the Israelites out of Egypt, delivered them countless times from their enemies, fulfilled all His promises and made a way of salvation for us through the redeeming work of His son, Jesus Christ.

Maybe we should get some t-shirts printed up with “New This. New That. New Whatever. Same Jesus.” Amen.

Seeking First The Kingdom of God
Recently we have started a Bible study at our church using the Experiencing God materials. This is an excellent study and even though I have done it at least 3 or 4 times I am thoroughly enjoying it as the group dynamic is different each time, plus the timelessness of the study is based on the truth of God's Word. In our first week of daily lessons one of the Scriptures was Matthew 6:33. This familiar passage about seeking first the kingdom of God took on a freshness as I reread it in the context of the study. What spoke to me most was the first two words - Seek first. First of all, I often times am complacent in my spiritual walk - I love God and want to do His will but I may not be actively seeking Him in my life. I need to be seeking him and His movement around and in my life - I want to join Him in this work. I do not want to be stagnant. Secondly, I need to hold God's will as primary in my life, making it the absolute first in my life. This has to be over what I want and even what I need as God has said He will provide for my needs - all of them.
I love how God's Word is ageless and immutable, never changing, always there to teach, rebuke, correct and training us in righteousness.
Seeking first after His kingdom,
Graham

NIV - But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

NLT - Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

KJV - But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

MSG - Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

SIMPLE WORSHIP
Earlier this month I woke up early to watch the sun rise over the Atlantic Ocean. I was joined on the empty beach by a few other hearty souls also bent on catching the glowing orb of burning gas color the far horizon and burst upon our gaze. In that moment, I was so struck by the simplicity of the moment and how often we take it for granted. Every day is marked by the rising and setting of the sun that cries out to the faithfulness and permanence of God. But we are told that one day the sun will be no more and that in that heavenly city the "glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp" - Revelation 21:22. I was moved to cry out to God in worship for the simple fact of Him bringing me through another day and how I did not want to squander it but rather be open to the leading of His will, to the guiding of His Spirit. One day this world will be no more and I want to have spent my life for Him.
This is my simple act of Worship to my great God.