Ipod Worship!

Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him.

Have you ever heard a person sing with headphones on? It can be quite entertaining. Recently I was mowing with an ipod on and realized that I was singing loudly. Loud enough for my neighbors to hear my off key harmony??? above the sound of the mower. We even shout when we talk at times.

Why do you sing? Is it because you have a good voice, think you have a good voice, or is it because you have a song in your heart?

I have decided that I like songs about Jesus! If it is glorifying God, I will praise Him for it.

When we come together to worship, it is easy to fall into the trap of singing only the songs that I like. You know, the times where you let it all out on a certain song, then just tolerate the others. When my worship goes from God to watching others, from an active participant to a spectator.

Let us be reminded that worship really is about glorifying God. Is God worthy of me opening my heart and mouth to lift praises to Him, anytime, anywhere? Absolutely!

We all have favorites and that is natural, but let us remember the psalmist.

Therefore my heart gladly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him.

Easter Shoes

Luke 24:6-7
He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee saying, "The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again."

Years ago, the popular christian group Newsong came out with the heart stirring hit, "Christmas Shoes." I imagine that most of you have heard it. It was later turned into a movie starring Rob Lowe, which began a series of movies . As I think about Easter, I should write a tune entitled "Easter Shoes."

As a boy growing up, mom would have three sets of clothes for me. School clothes, play clothes, and church clothes. Most of those years, several weeks before Easter, she would take Sheila and I to get us an Easter outfit to wear to church on that special Sunday, as we celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. I thank the Lord for parents who sacrificed greatly for us.

With the purchase of a new Easter outfit would normally come a new pair of dress shoe for Easter Sunday. We didn't have the options that we have for our kids today. Leather has come a long way!

Picture this, a plaid sport coat, pants , bow tie, and brand new black lace up shoes. Nice, but stiff, and by the end of Easter dinner, killing my feet. Can you remember? We will probably see some of the same sites this Sunday at church as we celebrate the Lord's victory over the grave.
I love to see our children in their new outfits, especially the boys, who come in pressed and leave untucked.

On one particular Easter, I was trying on shoes and mom got me my favorite pair as a boy. They were brown "wingtips", the same kind as dad wore. I loved those shoes, they made me feel good, and they were comfortable, but most importantly, I had great joy to know that I resembled my dad.

Regardless of how well I clean up this Sunday for Easter, it doesn't matter if I am not striving to look like my heavenly Father.
My prayer is that this Easter, my life reflects well of Jesus. Life will be hard sometimes, like a pair of those shoes growing up, but what joy there is to know that when people see you, that they see the love of God shining in your life.

Happy Easter, make sure you celebrate in church this Sunday!