ReThink-Worship

So I promised another post today, and now I am making good on my promise. I know I talked about our prayer series, and while I really want to write about that, I am going to write about our series we started today. Then post on the prayer series this week.

Today we started ReThink Christmas. Mark said each week we are going to take one word from the "Christmas" narrative and focus in on it. Today we talked about worship.

The idea for ReThinking worship came from Luke 2:28 "Simeon took him in his arms and praised God..." Praise defined means-bless, celebrate, worship

This old man, Simeon was promised by God that before he died he would meet the Saviour, the Messiah, the living God. When Mary and Joseph travelled to Jerusalem for the census, Simeon was there, and was able to meet Jesus.

*Worship is anything that we do, that pleases God*

3 Ways we can Worship this Christmas...
1. We worship because we feel like it-hit the pause button, look around, and give thanks, worship/thank God for your spouse, kids, friends, all of the blessings you normally take for granted.

2. We worship when we don't feel like it-We don't feel like worshiping when we just lost our job, a loved one, when we are going through a divorce, but worship is a choice, say it again...Worship is a choice, Psalm 71:23-we are told to choose worship. When you choose to worship God, even in all of the bad times, He will show up in ways you least expected.

3. We see that worship is a lifestyle- Isaiah 29:13, Mark talked about not separating your Sunday life from the rest of your life. Make sure what you do on Sunday carries over to Monday thru Saturday, too.

Everything we do, we need to be worshipful

"So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." Romans 12:1,2

ReThinking Christmas

Sorry I have been behind on posting! If you follow my other blog, then you would know we have been crazy busy! But I promise I will post tonight. I have some awesome notes from the last 2 weeks at church. But today we are starting a new series called ReThinking Christmas. I really have no clue what to expect, other than I am sure it will be good. Here is a promo video we have been showing for the past 2 weeks.

Click here to see it

Today to kick the Christmas season off, we are doing a baptism service. As of right now, we have 20 people getting baptized today. Hopefully there will be more when the time comes!

Keep praying friends...God is not done here in Milwaukee!

Prayer...Week 1

Today at The Ridge we started a new series entitled oh so creatively...Prayer. Despite the name, I think it's going to be great. Who doesn't need help with this topic?

We had a little different worship style at church this morning. It was all acoustic, except we did have drums. But we had 2 acoustic guitars, a viola, an upright bass, and the drums. It was cool, and laid back. A little different than our normal hard rock approach. But I think everyone enjoyed it.

Mark started the message off by asking, "What if prayer had little to do with asking God for things?" He talked about how kids pray, they make lists of things they want, and their prayers are selfish, but adults are not much different than kids in this instance. We read Psalm 27:8, and then we defined what prayer truly is...Prayer is communicating with God.

Mark then offered some communication principles we should use in our prayer life...
1.Talk to God with gut-level honesty-this means be real with God, he already knows how you feel, so tell him! Still be reverent, submissive, obedient, and worshipful in your prayers, but be honest, be authentic with God. Don't you think he deserves it?

2. Talk to God about everything that matters to you- If it matters to you, then it matters to God, nothing is too small

3. Learn to listen for God to respond-we sometimes treat our relationship with God as a one way street, we do all the talking, and he does all the listening. What an awful relationship! Imagine being that way with your spouse, kids, friends, your relationship would stink! Mark talked about how God speaks, it could be an audible voice, it could be an impression that was made in your heart, he could speak in a gentle whisper, but some people will never hear God because they don't quiet themselves.

Lastly, Mark said, "Once you start listening to God, your life should look radically different."

Proverbs 31

Proverbs 31 from The Message

Part 1- Speak Out For Justice...
1. Verses 8/9 ""Speak up for the people who have no voice, for the rights of all the down-and-outers. Speak out for justice! Stand up for the poor and destitute!""-good advice Lemuel's Mom gave him. We should practice this today!

Part 2- Hymn To A Good Wife...
After reading this part, I am left to wonder, does this woman ever have a bad day? Good grief! This passage is something I really try to be, and some days I get it right and other days, I am a huge mess! I think that after reading this, women should want to be held to a higher standard, and we truly do make a difference in the lives of our kids and our husbands. Have you ever noticed that when you are in a good mood, your husband is in a good mood, and your kids? As women, we truly set the tone of our household, and that is a big responsibility. I am not here to guilt trip you, I am pointing the finger back at myself. I think, no, I know I need to read this passage on a daily basis to keep things in perspective, to keep on pushing toward the ultimate goal, and to remind myself that God has given me a big challenge, am I up to it?

Thanks for reading along with me in Proverbs. I learned a lot, and am glad that I was able to share this experience with you all!

Proverbs 30

Proverbs 30 from The Message

1. Verse 5/6 "The believer replied, "Every promise of God proves true; he protects everyone who runs to him for help. So don't second-guess him; he might take you to task and show up your lies.""

2. Verse 13 "Don't be stuck-up and think you're better than everyone else."

3. Out of The Message I thought the 4 Insatiables, 4 Mysteries, 4 Intolerables, 4 Small Wonders, and 4 Dignitaries were all funny, serious, and so true!

4. Verse 32/33 "If you're dumb enough to call attention to yourself by offending people and making rude gestures, Don't be surprised if someone bloodies your nose. Churned milk turns into butter; riled emotions turn into fist fights."

Can you believe we only have one more chapter?!
See you tomorrow...

Proverbs 29

Proverbs 29 from the NLT

1. Verse 1 "Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be destroyed beyond recovery."

2. Verse 13 "The poor and the oppressor have this in common—the Lord gives sight to the eyes of both."

3. Verse 17 "Discipline your children, and they will give you peace of mind and will make your heart glad."

4. Verse 25 "Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety."

What are your favorites?
See you tomorrow...

Proverbs 28

Proverbs 28 from The Message

1. Verse 4 "If you desert God's law, you're free to embrace depravity; if you love God's law, you fight for it tooth and nail."

2. Verse 9 "God has no use for the prayers of the people who won't listen to him."

3. Verse 13 "You can't whitewash your sins and get by with it; you find mercy by admitting and leaving them."

4. Verse 25 "A grasping person stirs up trouble, but trust in God brings a sense of well-being."

5. Verse 26 "If you think you know it all, you're a fool for sure; real survivors learn wisdom from others."

What are your favorites?
See you tomorrow...