The Blessing of Affliction

Psalm 119:71 "It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees."

This is so true... (not a nice thought, eh?) Human nature is such, when things go well with us, we feel invincible & sometimes we even become arrogant. We've got an answer for everything and an opinion on every matter.

Then calamity comes.

Affliction has a way of opening our "blocked ears" to hear His voice. (Now if only I'd sit still and be quiet, I might actually hear His voice.)
We would be wise to learn from our mistakes. In affliction, to draw nearer to God. In blessing, to celebrate His goodness.
Who remembers the words to this song from Hosanna Integrity? ~ "God is good, all the time, and all the time, God is good!"

That gets an "Amen" from me!

A true worshipper worships God because of who He is, not just because of what He's done. And sometimes, like Job, we worship Him 'in spite of' our circumstances. Why? Because He is worthy. "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him" (Job 13:15).


One of the best songs that describe the reality of life and the call to praise God in the good times and the bad, is the song Blessed Be Your Name by Matt Redman. It's one of those songs that every church ought to sing.

Blessed Be Your Name in the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name when I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name
Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord

Worship Pastor Guy

Another Sunday Complete

Man, Sunday's sure come around faster than I can sometimes keep up with.
Now I'm at home relaxing, looking back on two services that had gone really well. People's hearts were engaged and the Gospel was preached... I'm sure God was smiling.
And that's really what it's about, eh? Making Him smile... making Him proud... getting His nod of approval... because His opinion matters most of all.

The Danish philosopher, Kierkegaard, compared worship to a dramatic
production. In worship, it often seems as though the worship leader is the actor
and God is the prompter, whispering into his ear, telling him what to do next.
The congregation listen and, at the end, the 'applaud' if they like the way he's
led worship, or throw things if they don't.
But Kierkegaard said that's all back to front. In the reality, God is the audience,
the congregation are the actors and the person leading worship is the prompter,
simply keeping the production going. So when we come to worship, we come wanting
to please God alone, offering to him our very best.

That's why I like the words to Paul Baloche's song, "My Reward." (based on
Matthew 25:21)
I want to hear you say words to me - "Well done."
I want to hear you say "Good and faithful servant."

If you want to listen to this song, look for it in the list of songs under free resources at Paul's Web page : http://www.leadworship.com/index.html

Till later

Worship Pastor Guy