Words and music from Jason Upton's 'Into the Sky' leaves me all choked-up and yearning for more of this child-like worship, where I'm alone with Jesus and only aware of Him and His love and where I begin to see through His eyes...into the future He is creating for me.
That place where I dance and twirl and words are not enough, or even really necessary or sometimes, not even possible, as I'm immersed in the warmth of His presence and lost in His love...
Why do we struggle SO to make spaces in our lives for these precious caught-up-together-with-Him moments? There everything changes. There my 'mountains' are no longer as daunting, either they shrink dramatically in light of His greatness, or I begin to rise until I can see over the top of them and beyond - to the place of victory! From this place I gain strength, vision is revived and hope renewed, I have fresh faith that this, too, shall pass!
Oh, don't you love His presence? How your heart swells when He draws near? Don't you long for more? Don't you long to take this lightness of being to those around who carry such burdens of heaviness and who wear their aloneness like a cloak? When you get close to His heart you cannot help but catch His own longing - that all may know and all may see Him in His beauty and power and splendour - and come to find true life Him.
"Won't You come down, down, down, down to the ground, to the next-to-me place, with smile on my face and a song in my ear..."
About Me
- Naomi (a work in progress...)
- Portsmouth, Hampshire, United Kingdom
- Happy to be doing life with the wonderful and passionate Richard Shaw, who is a radical God-chaser and leader of Solent Community Church. Love my children, grand-children and my super-precious SCC family. Love worshipping Jesus, especially with His church. Still amazed at the pre-determination of God in seeking me out and catching me up in His eternal plan! Love the treasure in the Word. Here are some of my thoughts http://www.youversion.com/users/Naomishaw
Thursday, 15 October 2009
Monday, 5 October 2009
Joy is the theme...or is it?
I was deeply challenged by (my husband) Richard Shaw's message at www.solentcc.org yesterday.
One's demeanour is contagious, like it or not! An oft-used saying in our circles is, 'remember measles and mumps thing...it's what you've got, not what you say you have, that others catch'! So often we try to 'put on a brave face' when we're not fully 'feeling' the enthusiasm expected or needed for the situation (especially if we hold a position of leadership, in any setting). The result is, well, not good! Those around us may even be confused by their own lack of engaging, but ultimately, they are simply following us - what we truly are, even if we're saying something else. Tough, right?
Experience has taught me, however, that most emotions become 'reality' with the use of a little 'primer'. Memories of our old water-pump on the farm in Zambia graphically illustrate this principle. In order to create some suction to cause the water to flow, we first had to pour some water into the pump to create a vacuum! There is a saying our old church leader in SA quoted often, 'you've gotta-act-enthusiastic-and-you'll-be-enthusiastic!' He was one of the most courageous of leaders with many faith-exploits to his name - a contagious Christian!
In my experience, joy comes with thankfulness. So, to follow the direction of the writer of Colossians 3:16-17, 'Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly...as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name o the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.'
My challenge is to filter what I allow into my heart and mind. Making the tree good produces good fruit!
One's demeanour is contagious, like it or not! An oft-used saying in our circles is, 'remember measles and mumps thing...it's what you've got, not what you say you have, that others catch'! So often we try to 'put on a brave face' when we're not fully 'feeling' the enthusiasm expected or needed for the situation (especially if we hold a position of leadership, in any setting). The result is, well, not good! Those around us may even be confused by their own lack of engaging, but ultimately, they are simply following us - what we truly are, even if we're saying something else. Tough, right?
Experience has taught me, however, that most emotions become 'reality' with the use of a little 'primer'. Memories of our old water-pump on the farm in Zambia graphically illustrate this principle. In order to create some suction to cause the water to flow, we first had to pour some water into the pump to create a vacuum! There is a saying our old church leader in SA quoted often, 'you've gotta-act-enthusiastic-and-you'll-be-enthusiastic!' He was one of the most courageous of leaders with many faith-exploits to his name - a contagious Christian!
In my experience, joy comes with thankfulness. So, to follow the direction of the writer of Colossians 3:16-17, 'Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly...as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name o the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.'
My challenge is to filter what I allow into my heart and mind. Making the tree good produces good fruit!
Thursday, 1 October 2009
That's my girl!
There she was, my daughter, tuning her guitar and working through the sound-check, about to lead the worship at our home church for the very first time.
How was I supposed to feel? Proud, certainly! She takes her position on the little platform with such ease and confidence (althougth she tells me she felt anyting but!) and starts a song while the techies fuss around her.
The meeting starts, congregation is welcomed and they begin. She is as comfortable up there as I've ever been! I am as much moved by her strong voice as I am by the precious sense of God's anointing and His presence. He is here. I enter in. This day marks the beginning of a new chapter - and perhaps the end, or at least a change, in others.
How was I supposed to feel? Proud, certainly! She takes her position on the little platform with such ease and confidence (althougth she tells me she felt anyting but!) and starts a song while the techies fuss around her.
The meeting starts, congregation is welcomed and they begin. She is as comfortable up there as I've ever been! I am as much moved by her strong voice as I am by the precious sense of God's anointing and His presence. He is here. I enter in. This day marks the beginning of a new chapter - and perhaps the end, or at least a change, in others.
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