Revelation 4:8 “...Day and night without ceasing they sing, ‘Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come.’”

I wonder what music sounds like in the heavens?  I wonder what the voices of angels sound like when they sing?

I love music.  I love to sing, I love to ring bells, and I love to listen to music.  The harmonies and melodies tied together speak to my soul in a way nothing else does.  There are days that it seems I live in a musical.  If you have seen a musical of any kind you know that they break into song throughout the play to express what they want to say in a different and more profound way.

If you try, you can find a song to fit just about anything you are experiencing.  There are songs to express every emotion human beings experience.  If I cannot find words to express my thoughts and feelings, I can find a song to speak to that emotion and the music transports me.

God must have put music in our souls.  Every nation, from the most remote tribes in the jungle to the fast paced first world countries, has music.  Children begin making rhythms almost before they can speak.  All of creation sings. 

Join in the song today.  Allow the music of creation to speak to your soul and before you know it, you will join in the songs of adoration to the Most Holy.  Hallelujah, praise the Lord!

Lord,

You are Most Holy, the Almighty One and I praise your name today.  Let my voice join those in the heavens that sing without ceasing.  Let my life be a song that glorifies you day and night so that when I come to your throne in a new life, I simply continue the song I had already been singing.  Amen.

Revelation 3:20 “Listen!  I am standing at the door, knocking, if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.”

I remember at the beginning of this year, I resolved to have more people over.  I want this year to be a year of friends and fellowship; a time of building bridges and reconciliations.  It is now April and I have had exactly one family over for dinner.

What would my reaction be if Jesus stood on my front door step when I opened the door?  I wonder...

I haven’t dusted recently and there are toys strewn around almost all of the time.  I need to mop the kitchen floor and I really need to go grocery shopping.  I also know that when Jesus comes, he is not looking at the condition of my house or the stock in my pantry.  He comes to dine with me spiritually.  He searches the condition of my heart and soul.  The story of Martha and Mary comes to mind here and I fear I would be inclined to busy myself with the house and cooking rather than the matters of the heart.

I want to open the door and invite Jesus in, not caring that there is dust and toys, not caring that I have a meager meal to offer as we dine.  I want to sit with him and take time for the matters of the heart.  Just a simple cup of tea and a beautiful conversation; this is what my heart needs and truly desires.  Come, Lord Jesus.

Lord,

I think the condition of my home is a peek into the condition of my heart.  I have not deep cleaned and I have become less than tidy.  I do not want to busy myself with the trivial but I do need to be diligent in the daily cleaning.  As I clean my house today, help me see each task in light of my heart.  Clear away the dust and debris from my soul Lord.  I want to sparkle in your light for the whole world to see.  Amen.

Colossians 3:13-14 "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

The other day my daughter needed to apologize to one of her friends for hurting their feelings.  Asking forgiveness is not always easy but it is necessary.

As we, in this house, continue to work on treating each other and others as we would like to be treated there is much conversation about what we really like.  I enjoy the conversations because I am learning right along with them to treat others the way I would like to be treated.  I flew off of the handle yesterday and after stepping away from the situation for a few moments, I had to come back and apologize.  I do not like it when people jump all over me and I know my kids don’t like to be jumped all over.

As we learn this important lesson from Jesus I hope it becomes easier to live in that love rather than having to come back and ask forgiveness.  Until then, we are reminded to bear with each other.  Forgive whatever grievances we hold just as Jesus forgives us.  Above all, let love cover and infuse all things to bind us together in unity.

Lord,

You taught us so much of how we are to live when you were here those many years ago.  We have these precious words and your Spirit to remind us and guide us.  This day I ask you to soften our hearts.  Help us release our grievances,   Heal the wounds we have created in others and the wounds others have created in us.  Bring us together again in your love and bind us as one in you.  Thank you for your grace and forgiveness.  Thank you for your love.  Amen.

Isaiah 55:1 “Ho everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat...”

Water; it is one of our most precious resources.

Depending on where you live you may feel like you have more water than you know what to do with or that water is truly scarce.  In Colorado, we are somewhere in between those extremes but each summer we hear much from the local media about the lack of water and most of us end up on some sort of water restrictions in an attempt to conserve water.

Water covered the earth in the beginning and then again in a massive flood with Noah.  Water was parted to save the Israelites from Egypt and it was poured out from rock in the desert to save them again.  John baptized with water and the disciples were fishermen before they were followers of Jesus.  Jesus talks of living water at the well in Samaria.

The water he gives cannot be purchased.  Isaiah hints at this with his words in this verse.  You who have no money, come.  All who thirst; drink.  We only need to come and request, seek and we will find.  He gives it to all who desire it.  This water never ends.

Lord,

Thank you for your living water.  Help each of us find you, the source of this water that never ends and allow us to be filled and satisfied with it.  Give us voices to draw others to this wellspring of life so that all may come and taste, so that all may receive true life through you.  Amen.

Genesis 11:1,4 “Now the whole earth had one language and the same words...Then they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves: otherwise we shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.’”

Can you imagine everyone speaking and understanding the same language across the world?

It is hard to fathom all humans sharing one language but it sure could make things easier.  Not only are there many languages but dialects within languages, and nuances within words, and body language also vary.

The story of the tower of Babel comes right on the heels of the rebuilding after the flood.  God was starting over with descendants of Noah and within just a few generations it seems like the people had forgotten to worship God again.  They want to build a tower so they could make a name for themselves in the heavens.  Pride and self-righteousness were swirling in their hearts once more.

We struggle with these same sins today.  No matter who we are or how well known we may become we cannot achieve oneness with God unless we are humble in our hearts.  He tears down our self-built towers and takes us to our knees so that he is able to build us up as he designed us to be.

One day we will all share language again and in that time, we will lift our voices in one accord giving glory to the One, the Almighty God.

Lord,  

I pray the message you have today will speak to our hearts and souls.  Forgive any selfishness or pride we harbor and bring us to a place of humility.  Help us be open to your shaping of our lives so we learn to glorify you in all we say and do.  Amen.

Acts 4:31 “When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spike the word of God with boldness.”

Has prayer shaken you?

This morning many of us will gather in churches across our country and around the world to worship God and come to him in prayer.  Each week, we go to church.  We join in prayers, listen to scripture readings, hear a sermon and sing a few songs.  We drink coffee, visit with our friends and then we go back to our home and our mundane lives.

Can you imagine joining together in prayer and then having our world shaken?  What would happen if we prayed the prayer these disciples prayed and meant it?  Would our churches be shaken out of our mundane worship and routine practices?

If my church was physically shaken this morning it would cause panic and we would all likely think we were experiencing an earthquake.  I do not wish for panic and I am sure God does not want to cause panic in our hearts either.  It would be amazing to watch the effects of a shake in our hearts as a community though.

I pray this prayer for boldness today.  I pray the Holy Spirit fills me and all those willing to receive it so that we are shaken to a new level of service in the Lord.  I pray we are shaken into boldness for the gospel of our Lord.

Holy Lord,

We are timid in the world.  We do not want to offend or step on toes or alienate anyone.  Give us courage to be bold and even in our boldness to be loving and kind.  As your Spirit guides us allow the fruits of the Spirit be evident in us.  Shake our world so we can shake the world around us, all for you.  Amen.

Luke 13:24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.”

You have likely heard that you cannot take “it” with you.

We gather things all of our lives.  We have houses, cars, bank accounts, and accomplishments.  We have weaknesses, failures, broken dreams, and broken hearts.  We cannot take them with us.

When we begin our journey we pack our suitcases and load up the trunk trying to make sure we haven’t forgotten anything.  Most of us just as likely as not, have packed everything including the kitchen sink.

What do we need to bring with us when we come to enter the narrow door that Jesus talks about in this passage?  We do not need our wallets or ID, he knows us.  We do not need our credentials, he created us.  We do not need our bags or anything else, he provides all we need and desire.

To enter through the narrow door we must come empty-handed.  We need to be bare and wide open in our souls to truly enter into the kingdom of God.  We must leave our pride and our weakness; we must leave our self-righteousness and our self-condemning.  We enter with nothing but love for the Lord, our God.

He helps us be prepared; he prepares us.  During this season of Lent, let us allow him to lift the burdens and baggage from us.  Allow him to lighten the load we carry so that we truly begin to understand how to enter the narrow door.

Lord,

Help us release the things we do not need to bring with us.  Guide and teach us as we step closer and closer to your kingdom.  Fill us with your love so we know we need nothing else.  I pray these things through Jesus, our Redeemer.  Amen.