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December 21, 2011
Ahhh…worship how I like it. At home in the “real” world.
November 29, 2011
I wait for the Lord…to come.
Our Gathering
We gather here, you and I.
Together often.
We enjoy the company
and find comfort in our fellowship.
It is good to be here with you.
We gather together, you and I.
But our expectations are few.
And our anticipation is gone.
We gather here – but why?
…the Lord says,
“Turn to me now - Give me your hearts.
Return to the Lord your God,
Who knows? Perhaps (just maybe) he will give you a reprieve,
sending you a blessing instead of this curse.
Perhaps (just maybe) you will be able to make offerings
to the Lord your God as in days before.
Perhaps (just maybe) he will send down his rain.
call the people together
for a solemn meeting.
a reverent meeting – a real “we got business to do” kind of meeting
a you-me-him-her-everyone meeting and I mean everyone
Gather all the people—
the elders, the children, and even the babies. [i]
Each generation.
The lofty and the lowly.
Every nation, tribe, and tongue.
Come!
For he will send
GRACE rain
CHANGE rain
And he will give you back what you lost.
And you will praise the Lord your God.[ii]
But wait…
There’s something good that comes
after the upper room meeting.
If we can wait on the Lord our God.
The promise will be fulfilled that
he will pour out his spirit on all people.[iii]
Do you remember?
Oh, I know you know the story.
On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place.
Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm,
and it filled the house where they were sitting.
Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem.
When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.
They were completely amazed.
“How can this be?” they exclaimed.
“We hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!”
They stood there amazed and perplexed.
“What can this mean?” they asked each other.
Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem!
Make no mistake about this.
These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that.
No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:
‘In the last days,’ God says,
‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your young men will see visions,
and your old men will dream dreams.
In those days I will pour out my Spirit
even on my servants—men and women alike—
and they will prophesy.
And I will cause wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below—
blood and fire and clouds of smoke.
The sun will become dark,
and the moon will turn blood red
before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives.
But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
will be saved.’’
“People of Israel, listen!
“Each of you must repent of your sins
and turn to God,
and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.
Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
This promise is to you, and to your children,
and even to the Gentiles—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”[iv]
This story is for you.
And me.
It is for us – the church.
When we gather here, you and I…
When God’s people gather together…
Something is supposed to happen.
November 16, 2011
You have permission, Lord, to carry me away…
October 27, 2011
The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time…
October 21, 2011
My purpose…to make HIS praise glorious.
