FOCUS - Worship Thoughts 3/3/2013

This week in the Story we read from the book of Ruth.  I don't know about you, but I felt like this time reading through Ruth my eyes were opened to new things I hadn't previously noticed.  I feel like this is a more regular occurrence week after week.  Reading the Bible in this way has really revealed new things to me in ways that I had not seen them before.

I am more in tune with what we are calling in our study "The Upper Story" as we read these stories week to week.  This week in our planning we made special note that God is working.  God is like an artist who is painting a beautiful piece of art, and the story of Ruth seems like a single stroke of the brush.  However, we know by looking forward into the story that Ruth becomes part of the lineage of Jesus.  The picture is being painted...Our Master Artist is at work.

Blessed Be the Lord God Almighty
The Lord reigns over all the earth, and we are the messengers of His great love.  This song suggests that it through our praises that the Kingdom of God is established.  I believe it is speaking of much more than songs.  Overall we give our praises to God through the way we live in this world.  May we declare His mighty power through our lives.

He Leadeth Me
It's hard for me to sing this song and not think about Psalm 23.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
²     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
³     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,^[a]
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

Wherever I go, there God will be with me.

Count Your Blessings
In Naomi's circumstances in the story of Ruth, it seems like God has all but abandoned her.  She has lost her husband as well as her two sons.  We have the ability to see beyond the story and how God used that situation that would later bring forth not only the King of Israel, but also the King of Kings.

Never Once
This song has become my favorite worship song to date.  Often times, I will hear a song and not be fond of it, but I listen to it more and more....and then one day the message changes within the context of my life.  I first heard this song after a particularly trying stretch of life that left me feeling empty and abandoned by God....much like Naomi.  But then I heard this song and was reminded that never once in that time had God left on my own.

Open the Eyes of My Heart/
Open Our Eyes Lord
Often in those times of hardship and trial we need our eyes to be opened to the bigger story that is at work in our lives.  I hope that these songs will help us in praying that God reveal Himself to us in those places that seem most dark.

Lord, Reign in Me
The simple message of this song is that God is sovereign.  He reigns over every aspect of our lives.

Be Still, My Soul/
It is Well with My Soul
These last two songs both speak to God's control over all of life's situations.  The first says:

"Be still my soul; the Lord is on thy side.  Bear patiently the cross of grief and pain.  Leave to thy God to order and provide.  In every change He faithful will remain."

The second, written by Horatio Spafford in light of the tragic loss of his family, says:

"When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say 'It is well.  It is well with my soul.'"