Category Archives: Worship

Dancing Undignified

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“As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart.” 2 Samuel 6:16.

Dancing Undignified

Michal. Ashamed of King David, ashamed of his worship to the Most High God. Bringing back the Ark of the Covenant, which had been out of their possession for quite some time, was a huge reason to celebrate. David didn’t let the fact that all of the people were watching him hinder his worship. The Word says he danced and leaped before the LORD! His enthusiasm and excitement became worship back to the One who had made it all possible.

David blessed all the people, gave them all a loaf of bread, cakes of dates and raisins to each person, before sending them on to their homes rejoicing.

Then he went to bless his own house but Michal was waiting for him. “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!”

She was taunting, she was accusing and she completely missed the importance of the occasion.

She missed the worship.

David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.”

The King was not haughty in his worship, he was reverent, he was jubilant and the Word of God tells us to celebrate Him in worship!

“Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.” Psalm 149:3.

Praise His name in the dance! It isn’t for our glory but for His name to be magnified. Dancing before the Lord also brings strength and power to the children of God. It is a manner of worship and worship releases the power of God back into those filled with His spirit.

Michal missed out on the power of God that day. She missed out on the rejoicing, the singing, the excitement that came with the anointing returning to the camp. She missed it all because she found fault with the King. She was embarrassed by his worship and it cost her:

“And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.”

The next time you are in your prayer closet, try it! He doesn’t care how you dance, just worship Him. Put on your favorite Gospel music and your garment of praise and give back to Jesus.

The freedom and liberty from your surrendered act of worship will get the attention of God.

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Matt Redman has written a most wonderful song on the story of Michal and David.

I will dance, I will sing to be mad for my King
Nothing, Lord, is hindering the passion in my soul
I will dance, I will sing to be mad for my King
Nothing, Lord, is hindering the passion in my soul

And I’ll become even more undignified than this
Some would say it’s foolishness
But I’ll become even more undignified than this
Leave my pride by the side

Dancing Undignified

Nothing is hindering this passion in my soul! Are you hindered from dancing before the Lord? He delights in the praises of His people! “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.” Zechariah 2:10.

To King David, it was strictly an act of worship that got self out of the way and pointed to the One who had made a way.

Some may say it’s foolishness but there are times that dancing before the Lord is the only way to fully express the JOY that He gives!

Go ahead…dance!

Kingdom2

 

Hope was born!

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31 Days of Christmas hopeinthehealingIt is a beautiful snowy day here in my world. It is as if the Lord has covered the earth in a comfy white blanket! I absolutely love snow and The Sweetheart will affirm that I get “upset” with the weatherman when he misses the forecast. If he says we are to get 8-10 inches…we had better get 8-10 inches or I am not happy! Well this time he nailed it! Schools are closed, it is a Winter Wonderland!

I remember one of our first snows when we were overseas in Tallinn, Estonia.

They measure in the “feet” sometimes. We were not prepared! We watched from our city apartment window as it just seemed to fall in buckets from the sky. But it didn’t bring traffic to a halt, nor did it bring the people to a stop! They still trudged down the sidewalk as they did every day and it was soooo cold outside. But the beauty was breathtaking as you can see in my photos today. Even my photo with the Christmas tree is taken in Tallinn, the Christmas market was held right behind our apartment. It was bitterly cold but it didn’t stop them from selling their handmade crafts. These are my beautiful friends Silje from Norway and Gabe, another missionary from the States. Miss these girls! Oh, yes, you all know the Big Guy, they called him Doogalas in the Baltics.

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 This is me on the same day…freezing! Wanted you to see some of the beauty of the backstreets. They decorate everywhere for Christmas. Old Town is just breathtakingly beautiful! And if you have ever wondered what these creatures that we sing about around Christmas really look like…

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Now you know! We were thrilled to see real, live reindeer! They were so beautiful and must have been resting up for the big trip. They didn’t bother to get up.

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One of my favorite snow pictures! You would think we are in Switzerland! So gorgeous, I wish I could remember how much snow we received that weekend, it was tons! One of the homes, or condos, we visited, it is just picture perfect in the snow.

We enjoy so many things during this blessed season. We should enjoy them. God has given us His creation to appreciate.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” Psalm 19:1

But the most wonderful treasure we have is the HOPE that came with the birth of the Savior! Hope was born in that manger! Hope that we would have eternal life. Hope that we could conquer over death because He came and took the keys to death, hell and the grave.

Hope that we would one day walk on streets of gold and suffer no more sickness or pain, all because He came, He gave, He loved!

Hope was born that night!

Hope was born that night! hopeinthehealing

Jesus is our Light in the Darkness, our Music in the Silence and our Promise when we are Uncertain of our future!

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All we need is found in that Hope that was born on Christmas morning. This should bring us JOY that makes us want to share with everyone we meet!

Jesus has come! Hope was born!

Do you feel overwhelmed at Christmas with the busyness and hustle and bustle or are you finding time to enjoy HIM?

Take deep breaths! Spend a few minutes with the Lord every morning thanking Him for His precious gift. Focus on the story of the birth of Jesus and give Him praise. Worship will take away your burdens and fill you with the Joy that you should be experiencing!

Share with us how YOU keep grounded in this busy season. How do YOU keep HOPE alive at Christmas?

 

Kingdom2

 

Sharing with Sunday Stillness, The Weekend Brew, Jumping Tandem

I Pray Because…

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The #31dbc is winding down! It was a beautiful Sunday morning in Tennessee. Heading to Sunday morning worship, I hope you were able to be in the House of the Lord today! He is worthy of our Praise! I took these beautiful pictures of the windmills just north of Lafayette, Indiana. There are more windmills in that area than I have ever seen in my life! I thought I would include them with my C.S. Lewis thought I made today… I Pray Because… I hope you enjoy the beautiful scenery.

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Aren’t you so thankful for prayer? To be able to converse with the Creator of the Universe! No matter what your need, any time of the day or night, you can call on Him and He will be there.

I love the following C.S. Lewis quote:

I pray because...hopeinthehealing

I can’t help myself!! I just have to call His Name! The Name above ALL NAMES…JESUS!

I Pray because I am helpless!

How many times have we been helpless? But we need not fear because we can PRAY! He is there, He is as close as the mention of His Name!

And I Pray because the NEED flows out of me…ALL THE TIME!!

Have you had the Lord awake you out of sleep just to pray? Something urgent and you felt you needed to pray? You didn’t know what it was but felt someone was in trouble? Or maybe you just awoke in the night and couldn’t go back to sleep and wanted to talk to the Lord? There is no better time than the still, quiet hours of the morning to have communion with the Savior!

Whenever you pray, however you pray, just PRAY!

Make sure you have a relationship with Jesus, that you KNOW Him and He knows you! That’s what it is going to take to spend eternity with Him. And that’s what it takes to have peace in this world today friend. Peace that passes all understanding.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6,7 ESV.

Sharing with Inspire me Mondays, Living Proverbs 31, Amaze Me Mondays, Playdates @ the Wellspring, Monday Praises, Monday Musings, Hear it on Sunday, Use it on Monday, Sharing His Beauty, The Better Mom