I went to the Shine Conference today, and had a great time. I haven't been involved with worship ministry in quite a while, and had almost forgotten how much I love it.
The morning speaker talked about the power of music, and the impact it can have on people and how we should be really wise in the way we use music in our churches - particularly in the selection of songs. Music has such a huge potential to point people to God and to remind them of His promises, even amidst the most difficult circumstances. I can attest to that - so many times I have ended up in tears when God has brought along the right song at just the right time to speak to my heart - He is truly an amazing God!!
In the afternoon I went to the vocals workshop which was fun, and very practical. Made me want to start singing lessons and join the worship team again soon!!
Had two good cups of coffee and met some lovely ladies, and was reminded again just how small Christian circles are!! Didn't meet any great single guys though... shame.
Elisabeth Elliot writes:
'The growth of all living green things wonderfully represents the process of receiving and relinquishing, gaining and losing, living and dying. The seed falls into the ground, dies as the new shoot springs up. There must be a splitting and a breaking in order for a bud to form. The bud 'lets go' when the flower forms. The calyx lets go of the flower. The petals must curl up and die in order for the fruit to form. The fruit falls, splits, relinquishes the seed. The seed falls into the ground....
There is no ongoing spiritual life without this process of letting go.' Passion and Purity, p163
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Friday, August 19, 2011
Contentment
Recently I discovered (or perhaps finally admitted) bitterness in my life... bitterness about my current singleness. Perhaps it's more that I'm single again because I'm now divorced that's made me bitter. I don't know. Anyhow, after I identified it, I prayed about it and asked God what I should do about it... it felt awful and I realised it had really been eating away at me.
Then God reminded me of a well-known verse, that we also looked at in our series on Ephesians recently at church, 'Get rid of all bitterness...' (4:31). In my experience of this verse previously, the focus has been on getting rid of anger (mentioned later in the verse) - the bitterness part has been skipped over. But it's clear, this one's black-and-white, God tells me to GET RID OF BITTERNESS. It has no part in the life of a follower of Jesus. Bitterness = a focus on my circumstances not on Jesus.
I also thought more about contentment, that when we are content, there is no room for bitterness. As Paul wrote, 'I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Christ who gives me strength.' Philippians 4:11b-13
Then God reminded me of a well-known verse, that we also looked at in our series on Ephesians recently at church, 'Get rid of all bitterness...' (4:31). In my experience of this verse previously, the focus has been on getting rid of anger (mentioned later in the verse) - the bitterness part has been skipped over. But it's clear, this one's black-and-white, God tells me to GET RID OF BITTERNESS. It has no part in the life of a follower of Jesus. Bitterness = a focus on my circumstances not on Jesus.
I also thought more about contentment, that when we are content, there is no room for bitterness. As Paul wrote, 'I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Christ who gives me strength.' Philippians 4:11b-13
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
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