The Heart of Worship

Just last week I was on Pinterest and I saw this video of Kim Walker Smith talking about leading worship. After the video was done I clicked on the next video (below) which is about the heart of worship. I think that we as followers of Jesus Christ, need to know where our heart's are at. We may have the idea that our hearts are totally in Christ, but do our actions, and the way we present our selves toward the Lord really speak for us? Watch this video :)

And if you haven't heard this wonderful woman of Christ sing. Here you go! 

It's a heart change...

"For where your treasure is, your heart will be also" - Matthew 6:21

Sometimes we all just need a break! Not the kind of break where we stop our work, stop our school, sit on Pinterest all day, tweet about whatever, Facebook it up, and sit around lazily doing nothing at all. But the kind of break where we suddenly hear the roar of His voice, we stop, and we say once again "wow, I'm really sorry Jesus! I've been living for myself again." It's the point where we come humbly to God and realize that we really are not as cool and awesome as we thought. It's the crazy, a little embarrassing, but totally worth it- heart change!

Recently I realized that as much as I complained and just sat around "taking a break" I wasn't going to go anywhere good, or anywhere in general. I started to see that I had been putting the talents and gifts which I delighted in so much- had been put off due to stupid worldly distractions. I would be so full of worry and just dumb ideas and thoughts, and then only say a little prayer before bed to hopefully mend my circumstances.

As I started noticing my behavior I wrote this poem called Broken Heart about one who is trying to please God and the world;

My heart is broken
but slowly breaking
like a piece of iceberg
cracking into the sea

What could have caused this
rather pure mess?
Is it mine?
or yours for the taking?

It's a slight pull
a tug
God nudges
to His side

Beauty calls clear
He is near
and as He calls
He roars.


And then it was crazy because just this week I was at my church college group and the leader was speaking about how we go about life ad then instead of going to Jesus for our troubles- we just go back to our sin again. I was totally just sitting there thinking "eh, I don't even know why I'm listening" until she read a part of Hosea 11 which says "He will roar like a lion. When he roars his children will come trembling." Boom! There it hit me! I had been trying to get closer to God when I had really just been pushing him away, and here I was like a little child trembling at his call once again. I believe that God was speaking to me through that poem and then totally just hit it home with me when I heard a leader confirm it.

As soon as I recognized this huge void in my heart that I had been ignoring for quite some time, I had to let stuff go. First of all I stopped going on Pinterest which has been so good! I found that even though Pinterest is a very cute site with lots of good ideas- I had become very materialist-minded and had been trying to be as awesome and chic as the women on the unrealistic style boards which made me look at my God given beauty as flawed. Since removing myself from the site- I have found a new happiness in who God has made me to be! Second I stopped tweeting and going on Twitter- as I realized the site is a wonderful way to waste time and complain about my life. Wow. Third- I started to write down ways that I could focus on Jesus throughout the day/week:

1. Wake up with Jesus! Spend a little time in prayer and devotion. Start your morning right!
This has been the hardest for me- as I am not a morning person and cannot think clearly until I am fully ready for the day.
2. Do an activity that encourages thoughts towards Jesus- take a walk, draw/paint with worship music, play music on piano/violin/ukulele/guitar, sing, write a letter to God, go outside and take a look at His creation...
Ahhhhh!!!!! My painting is back!!!! This was the most wonderful thing! I had totally forgotten that God had given me the gift of prophetic painting- and man that brush felt so good in my hands!
3. Daily encourage at least 1 person in the day and pray for them.
Yep. And people really appreciate this.
4. Dig deep into your word!
So for this one, I've been taking it really seriously- I've found myself sitting on a couch totally immersed in book after book of the bible and just so in awe thinking "wow, I'm so happy to be doing this now!" Jesus has given me his joy and hunger for his word!
5. Pray without ceasing (1Thessalonians 5:17)
Talking to God- love it :)
6. Read up on knowledge concerning godly values. I've been doing this without realizing it. My recent "knowledge" is getting involved in a ministry that gets women and children out of human trafficking. My friend Kaitlan is involved in  Shared Hope International which does exactly what I've been looking for!. Check it out!

These past two weeks have been a serious heart change for me, and an amazing wake up call! Since I have been focusing more on my creator and less on the created, I have found more joy, peace and love than I have ever thought possible. I am becoming more content in Jesus, and that is the way it's supposed to be! If you are finding yourself in the time for a "heart change" I highly encourage you to do so as soon as possible! As hard as it may be- ask yourself  "what is pulling me away from Jesus right now?" And then respond to his voice! He wants to talk to you, speak through you, speak to you, give you the best dreams ever (for real), and just be one you can stare at in awe! "Cheer up on your feet! He's calling you!" (Mark 10:49)

"Comparison is the thief of joy" -Theodore Roosevelt

A couple nights ago, I was lying in bed pondering this quote and thinking about how content I am with who God made me to be, and what I can do. If I cannot paint a Monet, at least I can pick up a brush and paint only what I can paint. If I cannot write such poetics as Shakespere, and Frost, Bon Iver, and Elisabeth Edwards, but at least I can write only what I can write. That is the best thing about creativity and being yourself- there is never a wrong or a right, it just is. Being simply content with who you are is wonderful. Comparison is never fair to myself or the world- because I am not only stealing my own joy, but the world's joy in seeing me content in who God made me. Even if I don't start college right after graduation like other people do- it's okay. As my mom always tells me "No one's racing you to where you are supposed to be." Even if you don't get that job right away, that realationship dosen't work the way you invisioned, or your life dosen't seem to be going anywhere- wait! You are not everyone else! God has an amazing plan for your life. If you feel like everyone else is going places where you'd rather be, talk to God about it- He made the world, He has the maps, the blueprints, and the plans. It wasn't easy for me to get to a place like this where I slowly let God hold the reigns, and I still struggle with it, but I encourage you to do it as soon as possible. When you don't have to worry about your future, it's so amazing! We were never created to live other people's lives.  Be yourself, never die a copy!

                                                                                             -Sharhaiah

This is a song that my lovely friend Nicky showed me. It's very relaxing. It has nothing to do with the post, but I just thought I would share it. :) Enjoy. ("Words" by Goldmund)

This Generation

"Generation after generation stands in awe of your work; each one tells stories of your mighty acts."

                                                                                                                              -Psalm 145:4

This week God has been putting prayers for this generation and the next generation on my heart. I've heard of so many stories and seen so much destruction and sadness occur this week.  I have heard what could happen, but will not happen! Last night I listened to a podcast by Pastor Jabin Chavez encouraging us in this generation to dream big. Like really big!!!! Why do we think that there's no hope for this generation, when there really is?!

Isaiah 7:11 says "Ask for a sign from your God. Ask anything. Be extravagant. Ask for the moon!"

 Listen to God. He says that we can ask for anything- even the moon. If you need to right now ask him to take over your schools, your homes, your families, your realationships, your friendships. When God takes over- the product is stunning! I mean seriously- if our God created this earth- what more do you think he can do for you?

See what God has already done in your life? And He wants to do even more. He wants you to dream way out of your comfort zone. If you need a car, or a house, or a job, or even a friend- ask him for that and more. Nothing is too small for God. Ever. And I know I've already said this but; if you think you're too big for God then you become your own God, and that's a very scary place to be in.  

Jeremiah 29:11 says "I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out-plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for."

God has not abandoned us. He wants our futures to be bright and He wants us to help show others his love so their futures can be changed too. It all starts with love. It all started with love, and it will end in love. Our God is a God who loves- "our God is love" (1 John 4:8.) Starting at simply loving God and loving people is probably the best step you can take in changing your own life and the lives of other people.

I want to end this short note on this; I highly encourage you to start praying for this generation- that we may be changed into people who seek the Lord's face. If you have already been praying- high five for you, things are already changing because of your faith, way to be a leader! God bless you all. :)

                                                                                                                                -Sharhaiah :)

Light

"God spoke: 'Lights! Come out! Shine in Heaven's sky! Separate Day from Night. Mark seasons and days and years.'" -Genesis 1:14 MSG

I cannot even begin to imagine how amazing the begining of Creation must have been. An all powerful being, that we cannot see the image of, but that we see leave finger prints all over the earth; spoke all this into being?! Incredible! Have you seen the images from the Hubble Telescope? Look here http://hubblesite.org/. It just blows my mind! If you have eyes, ears, or a brain you should at least believe that something, someone bigger than ourselves placed us on this earth for a reason. You were born for a reason. You were born to live, to breathe, you have a purpose, you have a destiny. You were born to shine! God had a plan for all of this. God's plans are not ours- I am constantly reminding myself of this. I am reminded of a passage from Rob Bell's book Velvet Elvis (highly recommended!) Bell says " The moment God is figured out with nice neat lines and definitions, we are no longer dealing with God, we are dealing with somebody we made up. And if we made him up, then we are in control." You see- if we try to deal with our own lives and not let God take over- we become our own god, which is scary. Either God is real, or He is not. And I'd rather believe that He is- not out of fear, but because I have seen his love. Shine on! -Sharhaiah

Here is my favorite song about Genesis 1:14. It is by Gungor.