Tagged: worship

For M, and all who worship God with logic. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. Psalm 130:5-6 I have lived among watchmen in many lands. Watchmen who keep guard at night, gates tightly locked, while families sleep safely inside homes surrounded by walls crowned with barbed wire.  Watchmen who wait for the darkness to give way to light, the magic hour when fish begin to leap from the sea.  Watchmen who sip hot milky chai before daybreak so they can take the sheep across the savannah as soon as the sun peeks over the horizon.  Watchmen who pace the… Read More

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are. I Corinthians 1:27-28 The song of bending trees rose on the wind thinly, like sadness. Melancholy minors waltzed through the crisp morning air under steel-gray skies. It was as if I was eavesdropping on a composer while he created a melody to match the day. Soon the percussion of raindrops filled in silent pauses, completing the score. God was at His instrument, and I was His audience. A tree has no musical skill. The rain cannot read music.… Read More

It was under unique circumstances I learned one of my life's greatest lessons of gratitude. The voices of the congregation rose sweet and pure, purer than I’d ever heard in my life. Our tremulous faith, tender yet mighty, was transmitted in song like a desperate, beautiful sonnet brought to the Savior by love so fierce it seemed it might shatter the vessels which bore it.  I held my baby close to my heart as my husband and I gripped the hands of our toddler and young son. The children seemed to understand that today was a day for seriousness, and with angelic faces, they watched us intently. The walk to church along cobbled streets and broken roads had been quiet and brisk that morning. The… Read More

O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven or on earth, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart…You spoke with your mouth, and with your hand have fulfilled it this day. Now therefore, O Lord, keep… what you have promised to him saying, “You shall not lack…” (2 Chronicles 6:14-16). I am thinking deeply these days about how my Father gives us a job to do, then promises He will help us do it, then with His own hand completes it.  Covered Glory, releasing in just two days on August 20, is such a promise kept. Like Solomon after the completion of the temple, I have set my heart toward… Read More

@audreycfrank Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him and it is he who is speaking to you.” He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. (John 9:35-38) The tender picture of Jesus seeking and finding the outcast here is breathtaking.  There are those during this season of Lent who have been outcast because of their faith in Jesus. Yet they stand courageous and humble, declaring boldly their belief in the Son of Man, no matter what they have given up. Many of us give up rich food or… Read More