For the Father Is Seeking

The Bible says that the Father is seeking true worshippers who will worship Him in spirit and truth.

"But the hour is coming,

and is now here,

when the true worshipers

will worship the Father

in spirit and truth,

for the Father is seeking

such people to worship Him."

John 4:23 (ESV)

When I read this verse a couple of days ago, the words "is seeking" caught my eye. The verb "to seek" means "to go in search or quest of," or "to try to find or discover by searching or questioning." As I pondered the meaning of these words, I stopped for a moment and asked myself the question, "Shouldn't it be easy for God to find people who worship Him? I mean, all He has to do is look inside the multitude of prominent churches that are built around the world, right? Why does He have to seek?"

The answer is because the Scriptures say God is seeking TRUE worshippers — those who will worship Him in spirit and truth.

My prayer is that may our worship be true in God's eyes and worthy of His honour, holiness, and majesty.

How Have We Shown Contempt For Your Name?

God gives each of us a free choice of will to decide between serving Him and serving the devil. However, the moment we choose to live for God, we surrender our wills to Him; not only does God become our Father and we become His sons and daughters, but God also becomes our Master. And we can trust God our Father and Master because He is honourable, righteous, loving, kind, unselfish, faithful, and forgiving. When God gives us commands to obey, He does so to bless us with all His goodness.

But although we are His blessed sons and daughters, we are His blessed servants as well. Therefore, the commands in the Bible are not to be considered as requests that we can choose to abide by or not. Our coming to God is much more than a verbal acknowledgement that Jesus Christ is Lord. Our coming to God is a life-long commitment to serve Him, a genuine heartfelt desire to obey all His commands and live for Him.

"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,'

and do not do what I say?"

Luke 6:46 (NIV)

A son honours his father and a servant honours his master. Therefore we also are to honour the Lord God Almighty. But how do we show the honour and respect that is due to His Name? — by our obedience and worship to Him. However, many times what people think is worship only shows contempt for His Name. Why? — because of their disobedience and lack of respect.

"'A son honours his father,

and a servant his master.

If I am a father,

where is the honour due me?

If I am a master,

where is the respect due me?'

says the Lord Almighty.

'It is you, O priests,

who show contempt for my Name.'

But you ask,

'How have we shown contempt for your Name?'"

Malachi 1:6 (NIV)

As God's children, as His servants, and as His church, we need to ask ourselves regularly if our worship shows all the honour and respect He so richly deserves.

Pray About Everything And Thank Him For All He Has Done

Two and a half weeks ago, my dentist installed mock crowns on my front teeth. I was to wear these temporarily until my next appointment, scheduled for December 5th, during which they would be replaced with permanent porcelain ones. Unfortunately, the installation didn't go quite as planned. . . .

For fifteen years, I have needed my front teeth capped because of eroding enamel. However, my husband's past dental plans have always refused to cover any of the cost of frontal crowns. But when, just over a year ago, my husband changed jobs, I was ecstatic to learn, as God already knew, that it came with an awesome dental plan which covers seventy percent of crowns. My dentist sent a recommendation to my dental insurance company for the needed crowns, and they soon accepted.

Two and a half weeks ago, I excitedly arrived at the dental office. Despite the anticipated discomfort, I was thrilled to be there, especially when my dentist gave me a mirror to show me, before he glued them in, what the temporary crowns looked like on my teeth.

Five hours later, after being pricked, poked, soaked, drilled, gagged, and bruised, I was completely unaware — owing to a combined dreamlike and nightmarish state of mind — that my mock crowns had cracked, that my dentist had quickly made new ones out of a stronger material, that this new material was somewhat foreign to him, and that something had gone wrong. But I began to suspect something wasn't right when my dentist finished his work and promptly left not only the office, but the building too, without even saying, "Good-bye!" or, "I'll see you later!"

His dental assistant was the only one left to explain the situation. Sheepishly, she handed me the mirror. I was so horrified, the only words that came out of my mouth were, "Oh gross."

My mock crowns were pinky-orange.

Feeling a little guilty at my vanity and trying to make light of an awkward situation, I joked, "I should have gotten these teeth before Halloween."

I left the dental office sick to my stomach, knowing that I had to wear these embarrassing teeth for a whole month, and feeling guilty that I felt that way.

For the next two weeks, nothing could be done because my dentist was on holidays. Yesterday was his first day back at work. (I knew he had returned safely because I saw him in church on Sunday.) So, when I said my prayers to God, I tacked on one final request, "Please forgive me God if this prayer request is a sin, but could there be a cancelation today so that I can have my crowns put in right away instead of waiting until December 5th? I am tired of trying to inconspicuously put my hand to my mouth every time I am about to smile or laugh."

After I said this prayer, I got up, ran downstairs, and told my sons to answer the phone if the call display has my dentist's name on it. A few hours later, I did get a call from the receptionist, and now I have beautiful teeth! During the last-minute appointment, my dentist profusely apologized to me about the blunder, and he even worked overtime to finish installing my permanent porcelain crowns. By the end of the day, both he and I had great smiles of our faces.

Before leaving, I turned to my dentist and his assistant and sweetly said, "Thank you!" I also thanked God all the way home and many times throughout the night. I guess God didn't think my request was a sin after all.

"Don't worry about anything;

instead, pray about everything.

Tell God what you need,

and thank Him for all He has done."

Philippians 4:6 (NLT)

Kneeling Before God Reveals Our Hearts

In the New Testament, God commands us that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, not only in Heaven, but on earth as well, acknowledging with bodies and tongues that Jesus Christ is Lord.

"Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place

and gave Him the Name that is above every name,

that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in Heaven and on earth, and under the earth,

and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father."

Philippians 2:9-11 (NIV)

Kneeling before God's not only shows our obedience, respect, and honour to Him, but also compels us to focus our attention completely on Him, not on ourselves or our surroundings.

Come, Let Us Bow Down In Worship

If Jesus came down to earth in human form again and met with us, what would be the first thing we would do? I think we would immediately fall to the ground and bow in reverence before Him. Why? Simply because of who He is and who we are.

The Bible portrays Solomon as praying to God before the altar of the Lord, kneeling and spreading his hands towards heaven.

"When Solomon had finished all these prayers

and supplications to the Lord,

he rose from before the altar of the Lord,

where he had been kneeling

with his hands spread out toward heaven."

1 Kings 8:54 (NIV)

Today, however, kneeling in prayer and worship before God seems to be no longer a common practise, publicly in churches, but also privately in the personal lives of Christians. Is this because of hardened hearts? pride? lack of respect and honour? too busy of a schedule?

I can't help but wonder what would happen if God's people were to humbly kneel before His presence in prayer or worship. Would it make a difference in the power and extensiveness of His presence in their lives and in the church? It must! Because the Bible tells us that when we come to our Lord and Maker to worship, we are to kneel and bow down, not stand up throughout the congregation like tin soldiers looking ahead, focused on critiquing the worship singers and musicians.

"Come, let us bow down in worship.

Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker."

Psalm 95:6 (NIV)

I think the majority of churches today have lost their way in their practise of worship.

God Views Our Communion With Him As A Sweet-smelling Incense

Every time God's children talk with God, it is like a sweet-smelling incense to His nostrils. Whenever we say "Thank you!" for things He has blessed us with, or ask His guidance for our decision-making, or seek His wisdom in understanding the perplexities of life, or make requests for ourselves, or make appeals for those we love, or ask forgiveness for wrongs we have committed, or simply chat with Him, we are worshipping God.

"May my prayer be set before you like incense;

may the lifting up of my hands

be like the evening sacrifice."

Psalm 141:2 (NIV)

It is not a public display or show that reveals true genuine worship, but rather your everyday walk and talk with God when no one sees or hears except for your Father in Heaven.

Is The Bread Of The Presence Before Worship?

When the children of Israel lived in the wilderness and became hungry, God fed them manna, a flakey white substance that fell from heaven like dew during the night. Early each morning, except on the Sabbath, when no manna fell, the Israelites had to go out and gather the manna from the ground. Then they could grind it or pound it into flour and make bread to feed themselves.

The Bible says that God was teaching His people a valuable lesson by letting them go hungry and then feeding them with manna — a lesson to be remembered by all people in all times.

"Yes, He humbled you

by letting you go hungry

and then feeding you with manna,

a food previously unknown to you

and your ancestors.

He did it to teach you

that people do not live by bread alone;

rather, we live by every word

that comes from the mouth of the Lord."

Deuteronomy 8:3 (NLT)

The bread by which God's people today are to live is EVERY word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

The symbolism of bread appears again in the Old Testament: before the priests, Aaron and his sons, could enter the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle of the Lord, which is where God's glorious presence was, they had to partake of the Bread of the Presence that was to remain on the table before the Lord at all times.

"Place the Bread of the Presence on the table

to remain before me at all times."

Exodus 25:30 (NLT)

These are symbolically parallel to what God's people must do to worship God before entering His presence. First, we must cleanse our hearts, and, second, we must partake of the Bread of Life — the Word of God. Watching video clips, telling jokes, sharing Internet information, and maybe, somewhere in all that mess, throwing in a few popular verses from the Bible isn't what God means. We are to respect, delight in, and live by His Word.

After the cleansing process and the partaking of the Bread, God's people are to enter worship and communion with Him. We are not to rush to church, chat in the foyer with friends, walk into the worship service late with unclean hearts and hands, sing songs of praise pretending to really mean the words, partake of the few "crumbs" offered by the message, sing one last song, leave, and then wonder why we didn't feel God's presence and why He seems so far away.

My Soul Yearns, Even Faints

Our whole nature, body, and soul should ardently long for God's beautiful presence. In God's presence our bodies finds rest and healing, and our hearts find serenity, joy, certainty, God's perfect love, and all His goodness! Both our hearts and our flesh should cry out for the living God — to experience Him in all His fullness.

"How lovely is your dwelling place,

O Lord Almighty!

My soul yearns,

even faints,

for the courts of the Lord;

my heart and my flesh

cry out for the living God."

Psalm 84:1-2 (NIV)

Many young girls today will faint at the sight of their male teen idol, reaching out desperately just to touch him. They long for him. They think and dream about him day and night. It is the same with many young boys. They will flush at the sight of their female teen idol. Their hearts will race and their bodies will perspire. They long to be able to have just one moment to share with her. The yearnings of these young girls and boys are futile. They will never be fulfilled. They are only fantasies based on falsehood images.

God, on the other hand, is real, and His presence is true and accessible to all those who love and believe in Him. But how many of us crave His presence? Do our souls yearn for Him? Even faint? Do our hearts and flesh cry out for Him?

It is in God's presence that we will find what we have always longed for.

Do No Cast Me From Your Presence

"Do not cast me from your presence

or take your Holy Spirit from me."

Psalm 51:11 (NIV)

Is there anything in our lives that is holding back God's presence? Is there anything in the church that is obstructing God's presence, so that only a few are experiencing Him and being saved, transformed, healed, and delivered?

If we desire more of God's presence and glory in our lives and in the church, we, as individuals and as a church, need to regularly ask the question, "Is there anything in my life (or in the church) that God would wants us (or the church) to remove or give up so that we (or the church) can enter the blessings of His presence and be saturated by His love, glory, power, and holiness?"

One night, at two in the morning, God woke up both me and one of my teenage sons. As I lay in bed, wondering why I was so wide awake, I heard some rustling noise and someone roaming the house! When I got up to check who it was, I discovered it was my sixteen-year-old son. He was getting a large black garbage bag out of the kitchen cupboard and throwing all his computer games into it!

I was stunned, but also amazed at the same time. When my son heard God's voice to remove, not his shoes, but his computer games from his life, he obeyed. And God's presence fell so heavily on both of us that night in the quietness of a dark living room that our bodies began to shake. As I laid my trembling hand upon his shoulder and tried to pray over him, I could hardly speak. Words failed me. All I could do was sob mumble-jumble in God's presence.

Do you desire more than anything God's presence in your life, in your home, and in your church? If so, God might ask you, or the church as a whole, to remove, give up something, or cleanse before you can enter His glorious presence.

Take Off Your Shoes

When Moses, while in the wilderness, went to investigate a flaming bush that did not burn up, God called to him and told him to not come any closer. In fact, God told Moses to take off his shoes, because he was standing on holy ground.

"'Do not come any closer,' God said.

'Take off your sandals,

for the place where you are standing is holy ground.'"

Exodus 3:5 (NIV)

I am certain that Moses, at that moment, took off his shoes quicker than any man has ever done. But why would God ask Moses to take off his shoes when he was in the presence of God? There are several answers to this question:

• Shoes collect dirt and grime; God is pure and holy. Therefore, the act of Moses's taking off his shoes symbolized God's character.
• Taking off one's shoes in many cultures is a sign of respect. For instance, in Canada, we take off our shoes before entering a person's home so that we don't track dirt onto his/her floors. This shows our consideration for others.
• Taking off one's shoes shows humility before a sovereign God. Standing barefoot strips a person of any pride.
• A person's shoes often reveal his/her wealth, and God does not want any love for our material gains to stand in the way of our relationship with Him. We are to desire God and God alone.

Do we hinder God's presence in our lives and churches by the clothes we choose to wear? Of course! Many times the clothes we choose to wear reveal the contents of our hearts. Such offensive clothes includes garments with skulls, personal items or clothing with pictures of male or female idols, t-shirts with crude or rebellious sayings, clothes designed with rips or gaping holes, and clothes worn for seduction.

If we desire the fullness of God's presence in our lives, our ministries, and our churches, we need to show our honour, respect, humility, heart's desire, and obedience in what we wear and what we don't wear.

This Is Truly The Way To Worship Him

The only true and acceptable way to worship God is to give our bodies as living and holy sacrifices to Him.

"And so, dear brothers and sisters,

I plead with you to give your bodies to God

because of all He has done for you.

Let them be a living and holy sacrifice —

the kind He will find acceptable.

This is truly the way to worship Him."

Romans 12:1 (NLT)

How do we make our bodies holy so that we can enter into worship with God? — by asking Him to search our hearts and point out anything in us that offends Him.

"Search me, O God,

and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

Point out anything in me that offends you,

and lead me along the path of everlasting life."

Psalm 139:23-24 (NLT)

If God reveals sin in us, then we must confess to this sin and repent, so that He can forgive us and cleanse us from all wickedness.

"But if we confess our sins to Him

He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins

and to cleanse us from all wickedness."

1 John 1:9 (NLT)

Only once this cleansing process is complete are we free to worship God and enter into His presence; we cannot enter into His presence without first God's purification. This is a vital step that is often overlooked in our lives and in the church when we seek to worship God and desire His presence.

Fear In God Dispels All Fear

Throughout Scripture, God tells His people not to fear, because He is our light, our salvation, our fortress, our protector, our confidence, our shield, and our helper. In God, we have everything we need! There is never a reason to be afraid.

"The Lord is my light and my salvation —

so why should I be afraid?

The Lord is my fortress,

protecting me from danger,

so why should I tremble?

Psalm 27:1 (NLT)

"So we can say with confidence,

'The Lord is my helper,

so I will have no fear.

What can mere people do to me?'"

Hebrews 13:6 (NLT)

But God also commands His people to fear Him. Is this a contradiction? Certainly not. To fear God doesn't mean to be apprehensively afraid. It means to love, trust, respect, obey, and seek Him first. It's when we fear God in this manner that we don't have to be afraid of anything or anyone. If we fear the Lord, He promises to be our helper in times of trouble and our shield of protection in times of attack; if we fear Him, His love and salvation will remain with us forever.

"All you who fear the Lord,

trust the Lord!

He is your helper and your shield."

Psalm 115:11 (NLT)

"But the love of the Lord remains forever

with those who fear Him.

His salvation extends to the children's children."

Psalm 103:17 (NLT)

Fear in God dispels all fear!

Is What You Are Doing By The Authority Of Jesus Christ?

Today, one can see, in a single city, many churches. Most are tied to a particular denomination. Some are independent. Sadly, many of these churches are half-empty during the one service they hold each week. And yet more are being built. Is this really because of need, or is it because of pride and division?

Over the years, I have witnessed four church splits. Each occurred on a Sunday morning when a pastor gave his resignation speech and used the pulpit as an opportunity to manipulate the people, gaining support for himself while simultaneously dividing the church. The first of these occurred when I was just a young girl, and the church split left me very confused and greatly saddened. The remaining three occurred when I was grown, and, in each case, I was shocked when it happened — I was totally unaware there was that much internal strife. (I guess I was too busy focusing on the children and their families to notice.) Also, twice more, when my family and I moved to a different city, we attended a church in the aftermath of a split.

I can tell you from experience that church splits are devastating. They leave long-lasting effects and cause many to turn away from the faith. They stunt the spiritual growth of Christians and prevent others from coming to Jesus.

Church splits are not God's will. Christians are commanded by God to work hard at living in harmony with each other so that there are no divisions in the church. We are to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. And our purpose is this: to honour God in everything we say and do, and to care more about the spiritual growth of others than the satisfaction of our own prideful, selfish desires.

"I appeal to you,

dear brothers and sisters,

by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ,

to live in harmony with each other.

Let there be no divisions in the church.

Rather, be of one mind,

united in thought and purpose."

1 Corinthians 1:10 (NLT)

Who May Stand In His Holy Place?

In the Old Testament, before the appointed High Priest, either Aaron or one of his descendants, could enter the Holy of Holies to worship God, they had to first, as commanded by God, wash their hands and feet in a laver of water, otherwise they would die.

"They shall wash their hands and feet

so that they will not die.

This is to be a lasting ordinance for Aaron

and his descendants for the generations to come."

Exodus 30:21 (NIV)

The practise of the Levites washing themselves before worship is symbolic of what we, as God's children, must do before we enter worship — before we ascend the hill of the Lord and stand in His holy place. The Bible says we must have clean hands and a pure heart. We must have no other god before Him and never swear by what is false.

"Who may ascend the hill of the Lord?

Who may stand in His holy place?

He who has clean hands and a pure heart,

who does not lift up his soul to an idol

or swear by what is false."

Psalm 24:3-4 (NIV)

In church, worship leaders and musicians should spend quiet time before the service allowing God to reveal any impurities within them, and to cleanse their hearts from sin. Worship leaders should choose singers and musicians based not solely on their talent, but also (and more importantly) on the conditions of their hearts. And churches should set aside a regular time before a worship service for people to, with the option of coming to the altar, have God purify their hearts.

"Create in me a pure heart, O God,

and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me from your presence

or take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation

and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."

Psalm 51:10-12 (NIV)

If we humble ourselves and allow God to purify our hearts and souls before we enter worship, whether in church or at home, we will see the impact of God's mighty presence! If we don't see such things, it's because we continue to live in sin and rebellion against God, having no joy of salvation, nor willingness of spirit to steadfastly obey God at all costs.

The Holy Spirit Will Remind You

I came home yesterday from my weekly women's Bible study to this note lying on my counter.

One of my sons, I guess the artistic one, was reminding me to do something.

The Holy Spirit, who is our Counsellor, has been sent by God to teach us all things. He is the One who reminds us of everything Jesus has taught us in His Word. However, the Holy Spirit doesn't leave notes. He speaks to us inwardly and reminds us of the truths in God's Word when we need to hear them. At crucial times in our lives, when we need to repent, discern, be enlightened, flee, fight, speak up, keep quiet, be sensitive to the needs of others, or be empathic, we will certainly hear from Him.

We need to listen to the voice of God through His Holy Spirit, because God promises us that His Holy Spirit will counsel, teach, guide, warn, and remind us of the precious, life-changing words that Jesus spoke in the Scriptures.

"But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit,

whom the Father will send in My Name,

will teach you all things

and will remind you of everything

I have said to you."

John 14:26 (NIV)

One of the benefits of having the Holy Spirit reside in us is that He can speak to us any time and any place. We don't have to go looking for a note for Him to remind us.

Now what was I supposed to do?

If You Search With All Your Heart And Soul, You Will Find God

The second day that Brian, his mother, his father, and I were in Alaska this last September was a Sunday, and so the four of us went to church. It was a small church that God led us to, and although we were unaware of it in advance, God had orchestrated something very special for all of us.

At the time we were visiting in Alaska, Ronny Hinson, the writer of the beloved gospel song "The Lighthouse," which won the 1972 Dove and Fan Award, was also in Alaska, visiting friends. He had graciously agreed to sing and give his testimony that evening at this little church on the outskirts of the city. Of course we went! It was free! Can you imagine that?!

Even though Ronny Hinson is famous — he was the first person to bring Gospel music to a sold-out crowd in Carnegie Hall in New York, and he has even sung before President Reagan — the only pride this man had was in Jesus Christ, his personal His Lord and Saviour. When Ronny Hinson came to this small, out-of-the-way church and saw that there were only twelve people in the audience — that's including the four of us — he still gave us his very best. The pastor of the church was embarrassed at the size of the audience, but Ronny wasn't. He told the pastor and all of us that he sings and preaches for God only, and that the number of people or who he sings in front of does not matter to him in the least.

Because of Ronny's humility and love for God alone, God's presence was felt very strongly. We all left touched by the heart of God and blessed by His glory through the cultivated Holy Spirit's presence in this man. That special night was a precious gift from God, one that will never be forgotten by any of us, and it saddens me to think of how many people missed out. So many people want the fanfare, the band, the lights, the large church setting, and the modern sound equipment that they forget about just wanting God.

God made Himself known that night in an out-of-date church on the wayside, but only a handful of people were there to experience it. If we search for God with all our hearts and souls, we will find Him, but it will probably be in places where and times when we least expect it.

"But from there you will search again

for the Lord your God.

And if you search for Him

with all your heart and soul,

you will find Him."

Deuteronomy 4:29 (NLT)

After the Sunday night service, I bought this CD for my mom as a Christmas gift for her.

Pride Ends In Humiliation

In this world, people have made many men and women, past and present, their heroes and idols. Nevertheless, Jesus is the only true hero; He is the only One worthy of our worship and praise. Yet, how often do people today give tribute to Jesus on the news, in magazines, on talk shows, in movies, and on television? Instead, people applaud and give shouts of joy and approval to phantom gods, producing in them great pride and arrogance, and in the worshipping people disappointments in their delusions.

God tells us in His Word that His eyes watch the proud, and He promises us that He will humiliate them. This is what we are seeing today. The end is near, and God wants people to look only to Him for their rescue and salvation, not to any man or woman.

"You rescue the humble,

but your eyes watch the proud

and humiliate them."

2 Samuel 22:28 (NIV)

It is in humility and submission to God that He will rescue us and bring honour.

"Pride ends in humiliation,

while humility brings honour."

Proverbs 29:23 (NIV)

When We Worship God, We Must See Only Him

The moment we give our hearts to Jesus, our bodies become the residing place of God's presence and glory. Therefore, we can worship God any time and any place, as long as such worship comes from our hearts — hearts immersed with an avalanche of love and reverence for Him.

Many times people refer to the music and singing before a Sunday morning message as "the worship service," and the person who leads this worship service as "the worship leader." However, worshipping God in a church setting is often very difficult because of the atmosphere and distractions that, ironically, people donate a great amount of time and money to create.

First, the stage, located in front of and elevated above the people, fashions an image, whether intentional or unintentional, of a select person or group of people who are revealing their talents and glamour for all to see and hear. I wonder at times where Jesus is located in the building. Is He on stage, or is He is at the back, standing against a wall or in a corner unnoticed? Or is He there at all?

Second, the voices and instruments on stage, amplified to clear volume, make it hard not to notice when a musician goes off-timing or plays a wrong note, or when a singer sings off-key or sings the wrong words. Although we may try to focus on God, the emphasis on sound encourages our critical natures to get in the way.

Third, the artistry and attractiveness of the church's interior, enhanced by large artificial flower arrangements, artificial plants and trees, colourful lights, swag curtains, and royal-coloured banners with bold words, distracts us from entering true worship. It's hard to close our eyes and envision Jesus when there is so much to see. And if we do close our eyes, it's hard to forget the wealth and beauty around us, and the nagging, undiscerning feelings inside.

Fourth, the large screen in the centre, brightly displaying the words of the songs we sing, most recently with beautiful motion photography in the background, allures us to keep our eyes open and fixed on the words and video ahead. Could it be that the songs we sing have become too complicated so that now we are in need of these screens?

Fifth, the modern-style pews, thickly padded and soft, beckon us to sit down and make ourselves comfortable. Thus we stand eagerly waiting for the song service to end so that we can sit. If we didn't have such furnishings, would God's people be more likely to kneel or lay prostrate before Him?

We must remind ourselves that when Jesus came to earth as a baby, born in a manger and wrapped in strips of cloths, the first setting God created for His people to worship Him in person was that of simplicity, humility, and nothingness. Today, our worship in most churches have become anything but that. It has become complicated, elaborated, and prideful.

"This will be a sign to you:

You will find a baby wrapped in cloths

and lying in a manger."

Luke 2:12a (NIV)

After seeing baby Jesus and being in God's presence, the Shepherds exuberantly glorified and praised God, not anyone, themselves, or anything else, because it was God they were there to see!

"The shepherds returned,

glorifying and praising God

for all the things had heard and seen,

which were just as they had been told."

Luke 2:20 (NIV)

Go And Preach, Not Sit And Be Etertained

Many of our modern churches are so beautiful and comfortable (and also expensive to maintain)

that they have become nothing more than places of social gathering, entertainment, pride, and inwardness. All the while, God's heart breaks and His tears fall as He looks outside the churches and sees all the souls who do not know Him, but whom He loves so deeply and so fervently.

We are commanded by God to go into the world and preach the Good News, not to sit in our padded pews and expect the unsaved to walk off the streets, enter our buildings, be noticed, respond to altar calls when there are none, and pay money to come to the church's dinners, concerts, camps, and retreats.

"And then He told them,

'Go into all the world

and preach the Good News to everyone.'"

Mark 16:15 (NLT)

God calls us to go and preach, not sit and be entertained.

Do You Not Realize?

In the Old Testament era, God's presence on earth dwelt in a man-made structure, first in the tabernacle, a portable tent made by the Israelites during the time of Moses, and then in the temple, a stationary building constructed by King Solomon.

On the other hand, in the New Testament era, God's presence on earth dwells in people, first in His Son, Jesus, and then, after Jesus ascended into heaven and God gave us His Holy Spirit, in everyone who gives his/her heart and life to Him.

And yet today, Christians tend to believe that God's presence stills resides in a building, and we call these buildings churches. Why else would Christians spend millions of dollars on constructing and furnishing these churches while the real temples of God are neglected, defiled by the lusts of the world, and ruined? (Such neglect quenches God's presence, dims His glory, and causes us to be ineffective for Him.)

If we want others to experience God's presence and see His glory, we need to focus on honouring and restoring the true temples of God, not extravagantly building or updating the man-made false ones that feed arrogance and pride, and rob the poor, the hungry, the needy, and the desperate, Christ-less souls in the world.

"Don't you realize that your body

is the temple of the Holy Spirit,

who lives in you

and was given to you by God?

You do not belong to yourself."

1 Corinthians 6:19 (NLT)

As Christians, our bodies, which are given to us by God, are the temples of God's Holy Spirit. Therefore, we do not belong to ourselves. Instead, our bodies belong to God. These temples, which are our bodies, are what we need to continually clean, restore, care for, protect, strengthen, and cherish. If we do these things, then God's glory will shine and His power and might will be revealed.

Humour Does Not Justify Criticism

Numerous times on Sunday mornings, women, particularly wives and mother-in-laws, are the brunt of jokes spoken by male pastors, and these jokes are increasing in number. Such jokes are not acceptable in the eyes of God. They aren't even acceptable in a secular environment. (Politically speaking, men are not permitted to dishonour and discriminate against women in this way.) Why then are they acceptable in a church? Why haven't godly men spoken up against this? Think of what type of image the pastors are portraying of marriage to the single males in the church. Why do the women sit there and say nothing? Are they afraid? And if so, what kind of church environment are we creating, where women are too intimidated to speak up against this type of prejudice?

The Bible says that husbands are to love their wives just as Christ loved the church and gave up His life for her. Is a husband loving his wife when he tells jokes that dishonour wives and wives' mothers. Are husbands loving their wives when they laugh at these jokes?

"For husbands,

this means love your wives,

just as Christ loved the church.

He gave up His life for her."

Ephesians 5:25 (NLT)

The Bible also says that husbands must give honour to their wives. It isn't an option. Not only that, but husbands are to treat their wives with understanding. Women may be weaker than men, but in God's eyes, women are equal; therefore, a man should consider his wife as his partner, not someone to mock. God continues on to say that if a man does not treat his wife with respect, his prayers will be hindered.

"In the same way,

you husbands must give honour to your wives.

Treat your wife with understanding

as you live together.

She may be weaker than you are,

but she is your equal partner

in God's gift of new life.

Treat her as you should

so your prayers will not be hindered."

1 Peter 3:7 (NLT)

When men tell jokes about women, they are criticizing them. Men may think the humour in the criticism makes the criticism acceptable, but in God's eyes, it doesn't. You can't fool God. Criticizing women in public, especially in church, is an abomination, and a poor testimony of God's love for all people. If a non-Christian woman came into a church service for the first time, and heard one of these female-discriminatory jokes, do you think she would come back? Are pastors really geared for reaching the lost? Or are they just entertaining themselves, using women for humour and negative examples in sermons?

Showing God We Love Him In Our Actions Is Worship To God In Sincere Words

Worship is much more than saying praises, singing praises, shouting praises, raising our hands, clapping our hands, dancing, or playing musical instruments to God. Worship is obedience to God's commands.

"If you love Me,

you will obey what I command."

John 14:15 (NIV)

"Whoever has My commands

and obeys them,

He is the one who loves Me."

John 14:21 (NIV)

"This is love for God:

to obey His commands.

And His commands are not burdensome."

1 John 5:3 (NIV)

"And this is love:

that we walk in obedience to His commands."

2 John 1:6 (NIV)

Every time we obey God by helping a neighbour, speaking the truth, forgiving others, repenting of sin, befriending a stranger, keeping sexually pure, giving to the needy, sharing God's Word, working diligently, caring for the sick, volunteering our services, comforting the grieving, or even returning our grocery carts in arctic temperatures to the storage area while grabbing other abandoned carts on the way, we are worshipping God. Worshipping God is not just in our words, but also (and more importantly) in our actions.

If we are going to worship God, we must precede our worship with obedience to His Word and commands. Otherwise our words and songs of praise to God mean nothing. We can be in church Sunday all day long, singing beautiful songs of praises to God with an orchestra and a four-part harmony choir, but if we live in disobedience to God during the week, our worship is cacophonous to God's ears.

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels,

but have not love,

I am only a resounding gong
or a clanging cymbal."

1 Corinthians 13:1 (NIV)

The Bible states that obedience shows God we love Him, and showing God we love Him in our actions is worship to God in sincere words.

And They Both Walked On Together

Throughout the Old and New Testaments, Abraham is credited for his righteousness and faith. He feared God so much so that he wasn't afraid or even hesitant to obey God at all costs. (And because he feared God out of reverence and trust, he did not fear Him out of trepidation.)

Abraham's sacrificial obedience to God is portrayed through the Biblical account of his willingness to offer his cherished and beloved son, Isaac, as a sacrifice to God. Such an act would have required Abraham to kill his son with his own hands, set his son's innocent body ablaze, and then stand by to watch his son's body burn. But God spoke to Abraham and commanded him to do it, so Abraham obeyed without question. (It is evident that, as Abraham grew older, he also grew in his knowledge of and relationship with God. And the more Abraham knew God, the more he trusted Him.) Just as Abraham was about to lower the knife in his hands, an angel of the Lord called to him from heaven to stop him from going through with what God had commanded him to do.

By commanding Abraham to sacrifice his son, God was testing Abraham to see if he would withhold his only son from Him; God was testing to see how much faith Abraham had in the character and promises of God. Did Abraham love his son more that God? No he did not! Did Abraham trust God completely? Yes he did! Otherwise Abraham wouldn't have obeyed God.

However, as I read this story again, I perceive another person's righteousness and faith — one that is often overlooked because it is overshadowed by his father's faith. You see, this story is really about three people: God, Abraham, and Isaac. Many times people praise Abraham for his faith, but fail to notice Isaac. Abraham was faced with the horror of killing his own son, but Isaac was faced with the horror of being killed by his own father. And yet there is no indication anywhere in the Bible that Isaac argued with or fought his father to prevent himself from being bound up, laid on top of the wood on the altar, and sacrificed to God. Let's be honest, most of us would have put up a tremendous fight or run for the hills, declaring our father insane! But that is not how Isaac is portrayed. In fact, when Isaac questions his father as to why they had no sheep for the burnt offering, Isaac accepts his father's explanation without further question, even though, where they were going, it would be next to impossible for them to find a stray sheep, let alone a perfect sheep, for them to sacrifice. But after this perplexing and awkward conversation between father and son, the Bible says the two of them "walked on together."

"Isaac turned to Abraham and said, 'Father?'

'Yes, my son?' Abraham replied.

'We have the fire and the wood,' the boy said,

'but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?'

'God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering,

my son,' Abraham answered.

And they both walked on together."

Genesis 22:7-8 (NLT)

Isaac was indeed a remarkable young man, because he too feared God, even at his tender age. (It wasn't until Abraham was very old that he was able to have complete and unwavering faith in God.) It is interesting to note that God blessed Isaac with 180 years of life — he was the longest living of the three patriarchs in the Old Testament. Why? Because Isaac showed great respect to both his earthly father and his Heavenly One. Remember God's promise?

"Honour your father and mother.

Then you will live a long, full life

in the land the Lord your God is giving you."

Exodus 20:12 (NLT)

Fear God. Trust Him and you will not be disappointed — your reward will be great!

Such Trees Are Not Bothered Or Worried

In the Scriptures, God contrasts two types of people: those who trust in the Lord and those who trust in man.

Those who put their trust in people and rely on human strength, turning their hearts away from God, are cursed. They are described as stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. The land in which these people live will become a barren wilderness in an uninhabited salty land.

"This is what the Lord says:

'Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans,

who rely on human strength

and turn their hearts away from the Lord.

They are like stunted shrubs in the desert,

with no hope for the future.

They will live in the barren wilderness,

in an uninhabited salty land.'"

Jeremiah 17:5-6 (NLT)

But those who put their trust in God, having made the Lord their hope and confidence, are blessed. They are pictured as trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. These trees are not even bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves continue to stay green and the trees never stop producing fruit.

"'But blessed are those who trust in the lord

and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.

They are like trees planted along a riverbank,

with roots that reach deep into the water.

Such trees are not bothered by the heat

or worried by long months of drought.

Their leaves stay green,

and they never stop producing fruit.'"

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NLT)

If a nation continues to put its trust in man's abilities, turning away from God and His commandments, then God says that there will be no growth or success in the land. However, God also promises us that if we do not worry and continue to put our trust in Him, we will continue to grow in His care and light, producing good works for Him, even if starvation and thirst prevail in the land.

Do not fear, but trust God!

He Made Himself Nothing

Twice in my life, I have, for counselling and spiritual guidance, gone to a pastor of a church I was attending. The first was when I was nineteen following a traumatic experience in dating someone. The second was when I had to make a decision whether I should proceed in adopting a special needs little girl. Both times I was a mess emotionally, and even though the two pastors were God-fearing men whom I respected greatly, both times I left the office feeling worse.

It was the negative atmosphere of the counselling room that made me feel so bad. If you have not been there, then imagine the following scenario.

Feeling lost, hurt, confused, frightened, guilt-riddened, depressed, and maybe even suicidal, you decide to pick up the phone, dial the church's number, talk to the secretary, and make an appointment to see the pastor, uncertain, but still holding to a slight glimmer of hope, that the pastor will bring some clarity and peace to your troubled mind.

As you enter the church building, you notice that what was once filled with life and excitement Sunday morning is now vacant, and an eeriness creeps into your heart, a reminder of how empty and bleak you feel. It takes all the energy you have left not to turn around and run out of that darkened building, but the light coming from the office windows beacons you. You remind yourself that you wouldn't be here unless you were desperate, so you continue.

Once inside the office waiting room, the atmosphere changes. People are friendly and chatty. Warmth begins to flood your soul. But when it is time to enter the pastor's study and office, the atmosphere again changes. You first notice that there are two chairs to choose to sit upon. As you sit down on one, the pastor sits on his larger executive chair behind his enormous desk, and you feel that an instant blockade has been created, separating you from the pastor. The cold feelings return and the pastor all of a sudden seems so large and untouchable. As if you weren't dealing with enough negative feelings already! Now the feelings of inferiority and unimportance are now added to your list. At that moment, you wish more than anything that you were anywhere else.

Let me remind you that God is not like this. He comes in all humility. The whole story of His birth is one of extreme humbleness. There is no pride in God! He comes to us as a servant, wearing no gold or silver, no crown, just open arms and love in His eyes. Jesus made Himself nothing and did not use His Kingship to His own advantage.

"Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God

something to be used to His own advantage;

rather, He made Himself nothing

by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

He humbled Himself

by becoming obedient to death —

even death on a cross."

Philippians 2:5-8 (NIV)

Don't mistake me, I honestly don't believe these two pastors intended to create the atmosphere they did, but it was there. Sometimes, we just don't think, or our pride creeps in slowly so that it is goes unnoticed and becomes acceptable in our own eyes and the eyes of others. Therefore, we must constantly refer back to God's Word and the example He sets for us through Jesus, if we are going to reach the lost and unsaved in this world.

The Closer You Listen, The More Understanding You Will Receive

I was so excited yesterday after church! Immediately following the service, two ladies introduced themselves to me, and all three of us were of like mind. They actually wanted to talk to me! After conversing with them for a bit, I told them my heart's desire: for God to use me in evangelism and teaching God's Word. I expected a yawn, or maybe a "that's nice," but instead, their eyes lit up. They began to share with me enthusiastically that it is also their foremost desire to see their church focus more on evangelism and God's Word. "Wow!" I thought. "This is great! Praise God!"

I found out later that one of the ladies is the wife of the young adult Bible teacher whom my sons admire so much. He is a physician, but a humble God-fearing man who loves God's Word.

I will be honest. The three years now that I have lived in Alberta have been very difficult for me because I have been feeling so frustrated and useless, like how Joseph must have felt while in prison. So many souls are out there in need of a Saviour.

In the past, I have always been very active in church and other ministries. It isn't easy for me to be dormant. If any one knows me, they know that that's not my nature! To keep me from going insane during these last three years, I have written my feelings and experiences in this blog as God has taught and corrected me in many things. I have learned more in the last three years than I have during my three years studying in Bible College. I guess the seemingly unproductive years we go through can turn out to actually be the most productive.

Jesus said that we need to pay close attention to what He says to us, because the closer we listen, the more understanding we will receive — and even greater benefits too.

"The He added,

'Pay close attention to what you hear.

The closer you listen,

the more understanding you will be given —

and you will receive even more."

Mark 4:24 (NLT)

For me, God had to move me to a strange city where I knew no one and felt all alone before I stopped to reflect on past experiences and learn more about who He is and what His heart's desires are. Despite how lonely I felt during this time, I did have close beside me Him, His precious Word, a computer, and a keyboard.

What Kind Of House Will You Build For Me?

The Church isn't a building where people comfortably gather once or twice a week, each giving roughly ten percent of his/her income to pay for the church's expensive mortgage, the church's continual building improvement and expansion projects, the church's increasingly modern sound equipment, and the salaries of the church's pastors, who in today's times are becoming more selfish, egotistical, and interested only in pleasing the lukewarm congregats and themselves, and thus reticent to preach anything except partial truths from God's Word, or to zealously evangelize the lost.

The Bible says that God does not live in temples built by human hands.

"The God who made the world

and everything in it,

is the Lord of heaven and earth,

and does not live in temples built by human hands."

Acts 17:24 (NIV)

"However, the Most High does not live

in houses made by human hands.

As the prophets says: 'Heaven is my throne,

and the earth is my footstool.

What kind of house will you build for me?

says the Lord.

Or where will my resting place be?

Has not my hand made all these things?'

You stiff-necked people!

Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised.

You are just like your ancestors:

You always resist the Holy Spirit!"

Acts 7:48-51 (NIV)

God through His Holy Spirit lives in each of those who has genuinely given his/her heart and life to Him.

"Do you not know that your body

is a temple of the Holy Spirit,

who is in you,

whom you have received from God?

You are not your own."

Corinthians 6:19 (NIV)

The Church is the Body of Christ, which consists of all sincere believers in Christ who do not resist the Holy Spirit when He speaks to them the truth, and who do not haughtily view themselves as their own, or as belonging to a building or a denomination, but rather humbly belonging to God.

The Simplicity Of Christmas

This year I have put my Christmas village on display early so that it will remind me of what the small town of Leavenworth, Washington will look like when Brian and I drive there this Christmas. Our holiday plans are as follows. Brian and I, and our four sons, will drive to BC to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with Brian's parents. (We hope his brother's and sister's families we will be there too, since we haven't seen them in many years.) Then on Boxing Day, Brian and I will continue driving on to Leavenworth, where we will spend the remainder of the holidays. Meanwhile, our sons will stay in BC, where they plan to enjoy various outdoor activities, such as skiing, which are not really possible here in the prairies.

This year I hope to enjoy the simplicity of an old-fashioned Christmas, like the one depicted in my Christmas village. I believe the less complicated Christmas is, the more Christ-filled it is. After all, Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, an event which itself, though miraculous, was simple, free from the exuberant wealth of mankind, the bustling commotion of throngs of people shoving and pushing to see Him, and the sensationalism of public media. Although the birth of Jesus Christ is life-changing, it has a sincere and simplistic message: God loves us so much that He sent His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him.

"God showed how much He loved us

by sending His one and only Son

into the world

so that we might have eternal life

through Him."

1 John 4:9 (NLT)

He Takes Hold Of Your Right Hand And Says "Fear Not! I Will Help You"

The most frightful experience I can ever remember occurred one afternoon when my youngest son was just a baby. I had just finished scrubbing the kitchen floor, my youngest son was sleeping in his crib, my second youngest son was having his afternoon nap, my two oldest sons were at school, and my husband was at work. All of a sudden, a male intruder entered my house.

This man had come from the dark, heavily treed forest on the other side of the street where I lived in Campbell River, BC. My next door neighbour, a Christian, was outside at the time, working on the house he was building for his wife and two children. He noticed the strange man right away and instantly had a bad feeling. So when the stranger walked past him, he asked, "Who are you?"

The strange man, offended by the invasive question, became outraged. He punched my neighbour in the face with such brutal force that he knocked him flat to the ground! Shocked and greatly concerned, my neighbour kept his eyes fixed on the stranger and watched with horror as he continued along the sidewalk, walked up my driveway into my carport, and entered an unlocked door. This door led to my utility room, from which another door led to my family room.

When the stranger entered this second door, I was standing there, waiting impatiently for the kitchen floor to dry. When I saw him and looked into his eyes, I viewed a man void of all goodness and feeling. I knew instantly what his intentions were. Being terror-strikened at the danger and violence I was facing, I froze! Both my mind and body became paralyzed. I didn't run, grab a weapon, or even pray. I just stood there, my eyes fixed on his with the greatest amount of fear imaginable — not so much for my own safety, but for the safety of my babies. Who would take care of them if he killed me? Would he hurt them too?

Suddenly, my courageous neighbour barged through the door, breathing heavily out of fear himself. But his fear didn't stop him. He looked at me. My eyes quickly diverted to him, begging for his help and protection. He caught his breath, and with the authority of Christ in him, ordered the intruder to leave, telling him that he had just called the police, and that they were on their way. Without a fight, the intruder abruptly turned and ran out of my house. The police later spotted him in a neighbourhood park, matching the description my neighbour gave of him, and they arrested him.

My neighbour told me later that he, too, was terrified at the situation he faced. I thanked him, and I thanked God for a man who believed in God's Word, overcame his fear to protect a neighbour and her little children, and had the courage to face a demonized man bearing the most evil of intentions.

"For I am the Lord, your God,

who takes hold of your right hand

and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you."

Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)

"Look Up!" "Watch Out!"

Whenever a natural disaster occurs in our world, people inevitably search for answers. Some blame God while others blame man. Some turn their hearts to God while others pull away. Some look to God to save them while others look to man. Some fear God while others just fear.

Does God control the weather? Absolutely!

"'Who is this man?' they asked each other.

'Even the wind and waves obey Him!'"

Mark 4:41a (NLT)

Does God use the weather to punish people? Yes, but not always. He also uses the weather to speak. Furthermore, in the Bible, whenever God used catastrophic weather to punish a certain people because of their prolonged sins and evil hearts, He always forewarned them first to give them a chance to repent and be saved.

"Indeed, the Sovereign Lord never does anything

until He reveals His plans to His servants the prophets."

Amos 3:7 (NLT)

And just as God forewarned people in the Old Testament of specific impeding disasters, He has also forewarned us in the New Testament that, in the end times, there will be natural disasters. Therefore, these natural disasters should not come as a surprise to us.

"There will be great earthquakes,

and there will be famines and plagues in many lands,

and there will be terrifying things

and great miraculous signs from heaven."

Luke 21:11 (NLT)

"And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars.

and here on earth the nations will be in turmoil,

perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides."

Luke 21:25 (NLT)

And when we see all these things begin to happen, God tells His people not to fear, but to look up to the sky to Him with gladness in their hearts because His glorious return is near.

"So when all these things begin to happen,

stand and look up, for your salvation is near!"

Luke 21:28 (NLT)

"Watch out!

Don't let your hearts be dulled

by carousing and drunkenness,

and by the worries of this life.

Don't let that day catch you unaware."

Luke 21:34 (NLT)

God also tells those who are lovers of themselves and this world to watch out, prepare their hearts, and not let His second coming catch them unaware. It is His will that none should perish, but all have eternal life in Christ Jesus.

The natural disasters we are experiencing on this earth have already been prophesied in Scripture, and their purpose is to serve as a sign and a warning to both the saved and unsaved, not as a punishment. Yes, people do die in these natural disasters. That is why God warned us about them. However, when these natural disasters do occur, God speaks through them, and many of the survivors, as well as those who watch, turn their hearts toward God and His Word, and thus are saved from eternal punishment. God's foremost desire is to save, not to punish.