Comments on: What do you want?

By: Robin

Robin — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:03:40 +0000

I think something that’s missing is praise directed to the Spirit. Maybe I’m just having a mental block, but it seems like most worship songs that talk about the Spirit are asking for things. Maybe that’s because we don’t really know how to praise the Spirit. We think about Him in a more utilitarian way than we think about the Father and the Son. I guess this depends a lot on what denomination you find yourself in, but in my experience, the Spirit has definitely been the least addressed of the Trinity. He’s just so mysterious. How should we worship Him? I don’t think I would even know where to start. Any thoughts?

By: mandythompson

mandythompson — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:35:56 +0000

These are all fantastic ideas. Thanks Candi!

By: Candi

Candi — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 04:21:58 +0000

Here are some passages that I’d like to see set to music (I’ve been reading the New Living Translation, and it really helps me see familiar passages in a new light):

Turn us again to Yourself, O God. Make Your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved. (Psalm 80:3, repeated in 19)

[The LORD said,] Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of my love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the LORD, that He may come and shower righteousness upon you. (Hosea 10:12)

Has the LORD redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others He has saved you from your enemies. (Psalm 107:2)

All praise to Him Who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding His blood for us. He has made us His Kingdom and His priests who serve before God His Father. Give to Him everlasting glory! He rules forever and ever! Amen! (Revelation 1:5-6)

As we know Jesus better, His divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life. He has called us to receive His own glory and goodness! (2 Peter 1:3)

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:17:55 +0000

Very interesting conversation… the first thing that came to mind was the fact that the music must/should touch all ages. I know so many older people (and at times younger people) who feel they are missing something in the contemporary music arena. They miss the hymnal – or at least the familiar sound of it.

With that said, I would like to throw out the word – Tradition

Prayer as a conversation – not a ritual. And to counter what I said in the first paragraph, I also need the song about struggle – there are times when I want to/need to hear a song about struggle – like Mark Schultz’s song “He is my son.” A way to connect with the pain (or the joy for that matter) of the individual through my daily, hourly, etc. prayer to God.

By: cathi stegall

cathi stegall — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 12:55:01 +0000

as long as the song isn’t a sad excuse to take a currently popular lyrics and translating them into christianese in a poor attempt to be “relevant”.
Relevance is taking the bear moments inside of our hearts when we’re most vulnerable, seeing how this perspective relates to the world around us and creating the culture for the next breathable moment.
How that relates to worship, I’m not sure, but I agree w/ the others…more about Him, less about us
In my opinion, this requires us to remove the penetrable sheath called personal courage and to rest in our own convictions merely to strip down to the simplicity of a bond servant, honoring her King.
the end.

By: tam

tam — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 02:04:09 +0000

i havent read thru the comments, but i suspect its already been said…but i think a lot of the songs today we call worship songs or too much about us, worshiping…us.

very few write like David wrote. his words are raw, real. he wrote without concern of what others would think of his lyrics.

i dunno…but i do know i probably didnt answer your question.

surprised?

By: TheNorEaster

TheNorEaster — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 23:41:20 +0000

Great prepositions you got there, Alece.

By: ckroboth

ckroboth — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:35:47 +0000

OK.. This will be long so I appologize…

If you look at some of the modern worship songs, we sing of God is Awesome (and he is), God is our protector (he is), God is our shield (he is), God is our Guide (he is), and God will provide (He will). What most modern worship songs, miss out on is worshiping in thanks and Joy for the Hope of heaven.

“God of wonders beyond our galaxy, your are Holy. The Universe declares your majesty, You are Holy. Lord of Heaven and Earth Lord of Heaven and Earth”

Don’t get me wrong nothing in those words are wrong, and there is precedence to sing such in the Hosanna’s sung as Christ entered Jerusalem. … God is beyond, holy,majestic, and Lord. Don’t you think he already knows that? Does God really need a pep talk from us in our worship? I just sometimes get the feeling we worship for the affirmation of our faith more than the praise of a God who saved us through his sacrifice. Worship in this manner becomes our identity in a way.

As I listen to the old hymns , it just seems that the old time hymns were much more simple in their praise. The hymns are pure Joy for the Hope that they have because of Faith in Christ, and his death on the cross. Hope that the suffering will end forever. Hope that we will persevere as God walks with us. Hope for the calling to come home, hope for the resurrection of the new body. Hope in a God that does not disappoint. Hope in a God who saves by Grace.

So yes it is ok to worship and sing all out Hossana to the One most high, but we need to make sure we communicate why we are calling out those praises. Not just because he created this awesome universe, not just because he is our provider, but because of the sacrifice that allows us to live in everyday with Joy in the Hope of eternity.

By: mandythompson

mandythompson — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 14:15:49 +0000

This is great, Darla. I’m going to chew on what you’ve shared here… Especially in planning the progression of a worship service in a proper order – not just bursting into God’s house and demanding/requesting of Him. But coming in properly – reverently. Thanks for taking the time to share!

By: darla

darla — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:46:57 +0000

“conversation between us and God” i will try to elaborate on that..

its alot like prayer..start with Adoration/praise of who HE is, and all that HE has done and doing..moving into Confession, we are not worthy nor deserving of such a great honor, and we need to clean up our hearts to proceed. Moving to Thankfulness which alot confuse as Adoration/praise..but really HE is worthy of Praise,even if we are not thankful. Then ending with Supplement..anything that is on your heart..i was taught this as “Acts”.

Conversing with a Holy God-is humbling, but the most rewarding..i am thinking that sequence plays an issue..for example.. if i start with a song that repetively calls out my needs and wants (even to draw me closer), maybe I have missed the initial Praise for who HE is, and not being proper to come into the Kings throne room, much less the KING of Kings. There is nothing wrong in my mind with singing things that call out for HIM to help us in anyway, but it tends to look and sound like self worship on the loathing end..if it comes across like that to humans, how much more must it sound like that to HIM.

Conversing with God is free and open, HE desires our heart to be out there in communication that is honest, all the while remembering who we are talking to, our Father God, and our Creator/King.

don’t know if that helps or not…when worship is lead in this way, i have felt the room fill with HIS spirit, HE loves us, but HE’s still a King.