Modern Day Praise and Worship

After the children of Israel came back from Babylonian captivity, they began to re-build the temple. When the builders had finished laying the foundation, everybody came together for a ceremony to praise the Lord. The young people that were born in captivity, who did not remember Solomon's exquisite temple shouted loudly with joy. At the same time, the old men that did remember what Solomon's temple looked like, wept with a loud voice, so that it couldn't be determined which was which, but the sound could be heard far away.

This story is a good depiction of how I feel about the modern day Praise and Worship in the church. I am the old men remembering the good old days when we used to have anointed Testimony Services. The whole entire congregation would participate in the praise and worship, not just a few standing in the front entertaining the congregation in song and dance.

I weep for our church services today that are so full of actors and entertainers that we have edged out the real presence of the Lord.

When I was a little girl, I remember how the congregation lifted up our collective voices in praises and sang and danced before the Lord. That's when I learned how to play my tambourine. You could feel the presence of the Lord so strongly that everyone in the room was touched by His presence not just the entertainers up front.

Recently, I have been watching videos of some the good old days and it has caused me to miss it even more.  I am not putting down churches that use praise teams and praise dancers, especially if the anointing is evident. I am simply lamenting of how much I miss true praise and worship... and the foot-stomping, toe-tapping, Hallelujah-good-times we used to have before we got dignified in our worship.

The psalmist David said, "Zeal for Your house has eaten me up, and the reproaches of those who reproach You has fallen on me."

Back in the day, on Saturday nights, several churches would come together for what was called Joint Meetings. Any musicians that played instruments would all bring them and we would go to work. Anyone that could remain in a seated position was dead, because the Spirit was so high that no one could be still. And no one coming to church tired, left feeling the same way, because the anointing destroys the yoke. The Shekinah Glory of God (His visible manifestation) was there. We wept in His presence. We worshiped Him and danced before the Lord like David did.

There is a glimpse in Revelation chapter 4 of our heavenly worship of the King. The 24 elders tossed their crowns at the feet of Jesus and said, "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created." He is worthy of my praise. My prayer is that we will always keep the Main Thing the main thing, for we have an audience of One. What ever your mode of worship is, be real about it, giving glory and honor to the Lord Jesus Christ.

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. John 4:23

Go in peace... and let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

We Are More Than Conquerors

IF GOD BE FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about success in life and how I personally match up to the word of God which describes the believer as overcomers, victors and more than conquerors.  Second Corinthians 2:14 states that God always leads the believer to triumph in Christ. I quote that Scripture a lot, but honestly I am not seeing an overwhelming flux of triumphant victories trailing behind me.  It is true that I have seen God perform awesome miracles and there are some awesome testimonies of God's deliverance in my life.  But Romans 8:37 says that in all these things we are more than conquerors through Christ who loved us.

There is a song by Hezekiah Walker that says, "I am not just a conqueror. Don't call me a conqueror because I'm more than a conqueror."  That means, I'm not barely winning, I should be winning by a landslide.  That means, I'm not winning by a field goal, I should be winning by three touchdowns.

The apostle Paul said, in all "these things" we are more than conquerors.  What things? He lists them a couple verses above... tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril or sword.

There is no reason to not be more than conquerors, if we are solidly rooted and grounded in the love of God and walking in the authority of Christ Jesus.  Only those that are not born again believers are without hope.

I heard another song on the radio by Kirk Franklin that said, "You're waiting on God?  He's waiting on you! So what ya gonna do?"  At first, I wanted to be offended by those lyrics, because I am holding tight to a bunch of prayers and prophecies that God needs to manifest at some point.  And He's waiting on me?  Really?

Hebrews 6:1 in the New Living Translation says, "So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again.  LET US go on instead and become mature in our understanding."  Zion, we not waiting on God, He is waiting on us.  He is waiting on us to realize that He has given us authority and power in Christ's name to overcome all of "these things" that I named above.

Who can snatch the plunder of war

from the hands of a warrior?

    Who can demand that a tyrant

let his captives go? Isa. 49:24 (NLT)

For who is powerful enough

to enter the house of a strong man

and plunder his goods?

Only someone even stronger—

someone who could tie him up

and then plunder his house. Matt. 12:29 (NLT)

About seven years ago, the Lord showed me a vision of Christ Jesus and me in a tug of war against six billion people.  They had their heels dug in the ground and was pulling with all their might.  On our side, Jesus was standing right behind me and we were just pulling the rope一we were winning and not even breaking a sweat.  We didn't even have a frown on our faces.  I heard Maya Angelou say that when she got a revelation that God really did love her she began to cry at the gravity and grandeur of it all.  She said, "I knew that if God loved me, then I could do wonderful things, I could try great things, learn anything and achieve anything.  For what could stand against me, since one person, with God, constitutes the majority."  That's why the six billion could not win against me and Jesus. Together, we constitute the majority.

What then shall we say to these things?

If God is for us, who can be against us?

Rom. 8:31 (NKJV)

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.

A few years ago, my sister and I made a pact that we would never settle.  We would push through for what is best and not settle for that's good enough.  Unfortunately, I have not stuck to the pact, and I allowed mediocrity to set in, knowing that I could do better than I've been doing... set my sights higher... achieve more.  I allowed the enemy to deceive me into believing that I wasn't smart enough, or bold enough, or outgoing enough, or aggressive enough to handle the big stuff.  So I set up camp half way up the mountain and stayed there. I was so discontent there that it threw me into depression, and I did not think that I would  recover.  That is a dangerous place to remain for too long.


When a tornado warning is given, we take cover in a safe place or a storm shelter, but we are not supposed to live all our lives in the storm shelter.  We need to stop cowering under our circumstances and put on the warrior mentality.  I was applying for jobs way beneath my skill level... begging and pleading with the Lord to let me get that job.  Zion, the Lord has equipped us to defeat the enemy, not to survive under attack but to remain on the attack.

Behold, I give you the authority

to trample on serpents and scorpions,

and over all the power of the enemy,

and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Luke 10:19 (NKJV)

And these signs will follow those who believe:

in My name they will cast out demons;

they will speak with new tongues;

they will take up serpents;

and if they drink anything deadly,

it will by no means hurt them;

they will lay hands on the sick,

and they will recover. Mark 16:17-18 (NKJV)

A story is told about a group of eaglets hatched in captivity and spent their whole lives like ordinary birds, on the low lands, eating what they were fed and not being bothered about it, because they didn't know any different.  They didn't know they could soar at heights no other birds could reach.  They didn't know about the strength of their claws that could clutch other animals rendering them defenseless.  Living in captivity, they didn't know that their eyesight was so keen they could spot a rabbit moving almost a mile away.

Zion, God has put soaring in our hearts, but we continue to fly at low altitudes.  I think this is why the Lord had me dwelling so much on success.  I have been living far beneath my privilege, and the Lord is saying "why won't My people raise the standard"?

LET US rise up as people of Almighty God.  Put on your strength. Stand up and fight.  Let the kingdom prevail.  With His power and might, we will not fail. (Tye Tribbett)

LET US take up our swords and fight. Defeat the enemy with the word of God.

LET US become rooted and grounded in the love of Christ and know that absolutely nothing can separate us from it.

LET US not settle in mediocrity because God wants to take us higher and higher.

LET US stop being weaklings and declare that we are strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

LET US walk in the authority Christ gave us through His name.

LET US believe in the power of the Holy Spirit who is at work in us and is able to carry out the will of God for our lives.

LET US suit up and go.

Behold, I send you out as sheep

in the midst of wolves.

Therefore be wise as serpents

and harmless as doves. Matt. 10:16 (NKJV)

We are more than conquerors.

Go in peace... fellow warriors.

Keep The Dream Alive - Don't Let It Die

Never Give Up (Song Lyrics)

By Yolanda Adams

Visions that can change the world

Trapped inside an ordinary girl

She looks just like me

Too afraid to dream out loud

And though it’s simple, your idea

It won’t make sense to everybody

You need courage now

If you’re gonna persevere

To fulfill your life purpose

You gotta answer when you’re called

So don’t be afraid

To face the world

Against all odds

Keep the dream alive

Don’t let it die

If something deep inside

Keeps inspiring you to try

Don’t stop

And never give up

Don’t ever give up on you

Don’t give up

Every victory comes in time

Work today to change tomorrow

It gets easier

Who’s to say that you can’t fly?

Every step you take you get

Closer to your destination

You can feel it now

Don’t you know you’re almost there?

To fulfill your life purpose

You’ve gotta answer when you’re called

So don’t be afraid

To face the world

Against all odds

Keep the dream alive don’t let it die

If something deep inside

Keeps inspiring you to try

Don’t stop

And never give up

Don’t ever give up on you

Sometimes life can place a stumbling block in your way

But you’ve gotta keep the faith

Bring what is deep inside your heart to the light

And never give up

Don’t ever give up on you

Don’t give up

What holds the pieces to complete the puzzle?

The answer that can solve a mystery

The key that can unlock your understanding

It’s all inside of you

You have everything you needs so

Keep the dream alive

Don’t let it die

If something deep inside

Keeps inspiring you to try

Don’t stop

And never give up

Don’t ever give up on you

Sometimes life can place a stumbling block in your way

But you’ve gotta keep the faith

Bring what’s deep inside your heart… your heart to the light

And never give up

Don’t ever give up on you

No, don’t give up

No no, no no

Don’t give up

No no, no no

Don’t give up

Link to YouTube Video

Go in peace.