"A Sacrifice of Praise"

Hebrews 13:15
"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name."

"A Sacrifice of Praise." Sit for a second. Ponder that phrase. Think about what it's implying. Our praise, our worship should cost us something. It shouldn't necessarily, or easy for that matter. It's a sacrifice.

When was the last time I praised God sacrificially? The last time my worship actually cost me something? The last time I pushed my comfort zone? Honestly... if our praise is supposed to be sacrificial, why do we let it become routine? You know, pushed beyond the "raise your hands during the chorus, kneel during We Fall Down" type of cookie-cutter worship the church has become accustomed to.

So what do you sacrifice? How do you praise, or worship? How do you praise sacrificially?

"Enjoy [life] as it unfolds to you. Think the best, unfold, let go, surrender. If you want it, it'll happen. Just surreneder and let go. It has nothing to do with you. None of us have any power. We are all totally powerless... that's the great comfort."

- Sir Anthony Hopkins.

Jesus, Rose of Sharon

I bought an old hymnal today. I've just been really into old hymns lately. They just seem so... pure, so... true. Anyway, this song just really stuck out to me. Figured I'd share it:

"Jesus, Rose of Sharon, bloom within my heart;
Beauties of Thy truth and holiness impart,
That wherever I go my life may shed abroad
Fragrance of the knowledge of the love of God.

Jesus Rose of Sharon,
Bloom in radiance and in love love within my heart.

Jesus, Rose of Sharon, sweeter far to me
Than the fairest flowers of earth could ever be,
Fill my life completely, adding more each day
Of Thy grace divine and purity, I pray.

Jesus Rose of Sharon,
Bloom in radiance and in love love within my heart.

Jesus, Rose of Sharon, balm for every ill,
May Thy tender mercy's healing power distill
For afflicted souls of weary, burdened men,
Giving needy mortals health and hope again.

Jesus Rose of Sharon,
Bloom in radiance and in love love within my heart.

Jesus, Rose of Sharon, bloom for evermore;
Be Thy glory seen on earth from shore to shore,
Till the nations own Thy Sovreignty complete,
Lay their honors down and worship at Thy feet.

Jesus Rose of Sharon,
Bloom in radiance and in love love within my heart..."

This and That.

I've had a lot on my mind lately. Mostly things involving music and ministry. I went to a concert tonight and, well... it all came together.

I've come to the conclusion that musicians... bands have to make a decision at some point in their careers. Should this be a career... or a ministry? Most bands today seem to say "this" and do "that."

There are so many up-and-coming artists in the CMI that started out with the goal of a career... but tagged on "ministry" to get into more churches, more camps, more youth groups, etc. They do "that." They're the deceivers... the fakers... the false. They're the ones that use the Christian music scene as a means to play music for a living. To "make it." The ministry is a sideshow. Their end goal is to get signed, play music, get paid... the ministry isn't something they really care about; but it helps them sell albums. Their lifestyles don't match up with what they sing (or preach) about. They're doing it for their own glory, saying it's for God's.

However, there are those that actually do "this." They're the ones who just say "I'm doing music because I enjoy it." Perhaps they are called to be a musician and minister through music. Yes, they want lives to be affected by what they do. No, they're not advertising that fact. They don't use their faith as a selling tool. They do music to do music. They don't have alterior motives. They're honest. They're the bands that you know are Christians; but they don't run around screaming "I LOVE JESUS!!!!!" You know they love Jesus by the way they act... their words... their heart.


Maybe I'm way out in left field; but I call it like I see it.


So often, I find myself looking for a way to make that "perfect mesh" of the two. To somehow incorporate all of my musical aspirations into my life, ministering to others along the way. I've deceived myself and others. My music, as much as I want it to be, is not my ministry.

My life is.



Music is just a part of my life. A part... not a whole.


(I apologize if this makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. It's 4 AM. cut me some slack).

"The best gift you could offer anybody is your honest self, and thats what I've done for years. And thanks for accepting me exactly as I am."

- Fred Rogers

Thoughts.

I've been thinking about life... music... God... ministry... and in general, a lot of "stuff."

I used to have a list of things I wanted to do in life. Over the last year... six months... month... 2 weeks... those things have changed dramatically. I've gone from questioning... to unsure... to doubting... to acceptance; and now... peace.

Talking with someone this past week brought up a thought. If you think God has called to do something with your life and you run from it... He's gonna get you. You're going to do it (most likely). I'd like to say that I'm 100 percent certain about every step of my life; but the fact of the matter is - I don't know what I'll end up doing. No matter how much thought, effort, or passion I might put into it. Steps of faith are the stepping stones of life. I just need to take one after another. Consistently and consecutively.

"And without faith it is impossible to please God..."

Colossians 1:9-14

"For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[d] to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."