"My heart, O God, is steadfast; I will sing and make music with all my soul.  Awake, harp and lyre!  I will awaken the dawn.  I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples."  Psalm 108: 1-3 (NIV)

My first real encounter with Jesus was after I started leading worship for the youth group at a small Southern Baptist church when I was 16 years old.  It was leading worship for those kids that actually led me to Christ.  I had been taught about who He was, but it wasn't until then that I actually met Him.  I was sitting alone on that red carpeted stage one night when praise band practice had been cancelled, working a few songs on the acoustic guitar when I finally let go and truly started to worship Him.  His presence overwhelmed me to the point of tears, and it was that night that I understood His sacrifice and my life was changed forever.

Of course, that life is not without its ups and downs.  There are still times when my will gets in the way of His, and my plan pushes His aside.  But He has His ways of sending subtle reminders of my original life changing experience and what it still means.  Today, I was having trouble focusing my mind, and just really wasn't interested in writing.  I missed last week because I wasn't feeling well, and it would have been easier to just skip it and procrastinate again until next week.  

But as I was listening to a little worship music on my Pandora today (and by a little I mean about 25 minutes tops), I heard a familiar worship song not once, but twice.  It was a song that I hadn't heard in a long time, but that I was playing that night when Jesus first took control of my heart.  The words still mean as much to me as they did that night, so tonight I wanted to leave you with an older worship song from my youth, one that renews my thankfulness every time I hear it.

Here I Am To Worship by Mark Hayes and Tim Hughes

Light of the world, You stepped down into darkness
Opened my eyes, let me see
Beauty that made this heart adore You
Hope of a life spent with You

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that
You're my God
You're altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

King of all days, oh, so highly exalted
Glorious in heaven above
Humbly You came
To the earth You created
All for love's sake became poor

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that
You're my God
You're altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

I'll never know
How much it cost
To see my sin
Upon that cross

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that
You're my God
You're altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

Father God, help me to never forget the sacrifice that You made to come to earth and save my life.  I'll truly never know how much it cost You to place my sin upon the cross, but I thank you for paying that price so that I can live freely in You.  I will praise you among all of the peoples of the world.  In Jesus' name and by His blood, Amen.

"The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.  They have mouths, but they do not speak; They have eyes, but they do not see; They have ears, but they do not hear; Nor is there any breath in their mouths.  Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts them."  Psalm 135:15-18

​Have you ever noticed how difficult personal change can be without environmental change?  If an alcoholic wants to stop drinking, it's much harder if he continues to hang out at the same bars and clubs as before the decision.  If a man wants to break a bondage of lust, it would be detrimental to continue to frequent a gentleman's club.  When we flood our minds and bodies with something for long enough, it can become a part of who we are, and sometimes it can change us into something beyond our intention.  

In Psalm 135, the psalmist describes the nations as unable speak, see, hear or breath because they are like the silver and gold idols they make.  Like the metal statues they worshiped, the people had become cold and hard in their hearts, preventing them from encountering God.  

 I am no different than these people.  Whatever finds it's way to first in my mind, eventually finds it's way to first in my heart.  And that is what will eventually mold and shape me into who I am.  The world is materialistic, hardened and unjust.  When I focus on the things of the world, which I admit happens more than I would like, it doesn't take long before I notice myself becoming materialistic, hardened and unjust.  I become covetous, lustful and judgmental because I am becoming like the idol in my focus.

And after time passes with my heart in that place, even as I begin to turn away from the world, I find myself desensitized to the things of the world.  Certain perversions, like offensive language or minor sexuality, are no longer as offensive as they once were.  They are really "not that bad" or "could've been much worse."  Unfortunately, I think this is where the majority of Christians, including myself, have settled.  Our world has spent so much time in an X-rated reality, that the R-rated or PG-13 rated versions are an acceptable way to live, no longer seeing that the consequence of a half-way lifestyle is just as detrimental as the alternative.  (It's almost frightening how accurately Paul's words in Romans 1:18-31 describe our world today.) (Also see Revelation 2:12-17 and 3:14-22 for more scary descriptions.)

But there is always another way.  If I become broken and corrupt when I focus on the world, then the opposite must also be true.  God is righteous and holy.  He is good and just.  He is loving and kind.  If He becomes my priority, the focus of my mind and my heart, then I WILL become like Him, just as I have become like the world.  If I make God, in all His glory, my environment, then He can and will change me into who I was created to be in His plan.  After all, I am already justified by faith, having peace with God through my Lord Jesus Christ, through whom I also have access by faith into the grace in which I stand, rejoicing in the hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:1-2).  Now I want to be more like Him.

Father, help me to refocus my mind and my heart.  For all the parts of my life that have settled in the world, help me to turn those places back to You.  Align my life with Your plan.  Make me more like You.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

"You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you." John 15:16

Last Tuesday was Super Tuesday, and the primary election was held here in Texas to determine many local leaders as well as the candidates for the President of this great country I call home.  I had every intention of still writing a post last week, but as the line at the voting booth continued to get longer and longer, I realized that it was going to be a much more time consuming event than I had anticipated.  It was obviously not my first primary election, but it was my first since moving to small town Texas, and what can I say?  I miss judged the single voting center in our town, not realizing that the whole population of the town would be there at once.

As I was standing in line, having conversations with others about life, the candidates, the state of the country, etc., I couldn't help but wonder if God was as displeased with the overzealous circus we call leadership as many of those I was standing around, or even myself.  After all, we've removed Him from all things pertaining to state:  government, laws, schools, everyday decision-making, even the common belief about creation.  Even the candidates and officials who claim His Name don't seem to be clinging to the Almighty God I serve.  In fact, it actually seems that there is more of push to remove God from everything, including the church, than to a revival of His principles.

Obviously, many Christians see this occurring and want fruitful change.  But who is responsible for that change?  Jesus told His disciples in John 15:16 that they were chosen by Him, and He appointed them to go and bear fruit, that their fruit might remain and foster real change.  He went on in verse 18 and 19 to warn them that they would be hated by the world because they are no longer of the world, but chosen by grace to God. When Jesus told them to "go and make disciples of all the nations" (Matt. 28:19), everyone they reached were then chosen by Him, appointed to go and bear fruit, even among the hatred of the world.

So who is responsible for fruitful change?  We are.  It is our job as believers to bear fruit and fill the streets of Heaven with souls in Jesus' name.  If we want things to change in our nation, that too is our responsibility.  We are very fortunate to live in a place that allows the people to have a voice.  As Christians, we need to use that voice.  Every vote that is cast in these elections count.  Prayerfully consider the candidates, and vote according to God and His Biblical principle.  If you feel like that means stepping outside of the current two party system we have so clung to for so long, then do that.  I don't care if you're Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Green Party or none of the above, go vote.  Not only is it our right as Americans, it is our responsibility, and not one to be taken lightly.

God, I pray that every Christian in our nation will pray and seek You and Your Word for guidance as we make the increasingly important decisions about who will lead us over this next chapter.  Just as you anointed the kings and prophets of Israel, anoint the new leaders of this nation.  I pray that every believer will choose to use the voice we have been granted, and vote to draw a dying nation back to You, the Creator of Heaven and Earth.  In Jesus' name, Amen.