From The Inside Out

liveinhislove:

brookandlyn:

I was going to make a new Christmas list since I didn’t need the things that I’ve listed before, but I couldn’t think of a single thing that I wanted. I’m totally content with everyone and everything in my life. I’m fine with the plans that I made and where I’m at right now. Even though I may not necessarily like California all that much. I need to be here. Maybe that might change soon, who knows. Not having complete control over my life doesn’t scare me anymore. I tend to just ‘go with the flow’ and things will fall into place because I know for a fact that the big guy upstairs is not going to leave me hangin’. I bother him way too much. :] There’s no need to stress or worry. Just be good, have some faith, and keep your head up. I found that it’s so much easier to be happy and at peace that way. It works for me at least. Tumblr, I hope you can escape materialism and find your own happiness.

With that said, I was looking at the list I’ve made before and noticed that everything was about me and what I wanted. It was all me me mememememememe I want this and that and take me here and give me that! Ugh, I don’t know why I keep asking for more. I already have so much! I’ll be honest, I’m so spoiled. My parents give and give and I took some of it for granted. I never needed a BMW or a house, money…I never needed any of the materialistic things they kept throwing at me. I know my parents are only doing all of this because they love me and they care and blahblahblah :’] and I’m so grateful and blessed to have such kind parents, but I can’t keep going on like this. It’s making me ugly and so ungrateful and I’m going to keep wanting more and more. I need to stop swallowing all the materialistc things the world shoves at my face. So Tumblr, that is why I’m not asking for anything this Christmas. Well not for me at least. Here’s my new and much improved list yo!

Dear God,

Please help. I’m sure you know what they need more than I do.

1. Rwanda, Africa: In approximately 100 days, up to one million Rwandans were killed by by their fellow countrymen in an orchestrated ‘ethnic cleansing’.
2. The Invisible Children:put an end to Joseph Kony. www.invisiblechildren.com
3. World Vision: You can sponsor a child. Or you can also buy them chicks and goats for just under $50. www.worldvision.org
4. Homeless: I’m sure you noticed but it’s freezing cold! If your still shivering from the cold when your already bundled up in your winter jacket, how do you think the people less fortunate living on the streets feel right now? Where do they even go to stay warm?
5. People: People can be so cruel to each other. This is something that I won’t ever understand.
6. Tumblr: Yes, you. Most of you are so depressed and lonely and a couple of you are even ‘mad at the world’. I can’t make you feel any better, but I hope someone else can. I do think about you guys often though.
7. Leaders and those in authority: I hope that the present/future leaders will choose to take care of their people rather than stepping on them to gain power.
8. Animals: I dont understand people who beat their pets. Are you really that heartless?
9. Earth: This planet was once so pure and beautiful, but now it’s slowly falling apart; it’s dying.

Amen.

It's funny how science is the stereotypical thing that 'disproves' creation, but the more I learn how perfectly our brains are put together, the more I understand and love how we were created by God.

whomshallifear:

alwayswearlove:

Seriously, there’s no way all of it could be this perfectly placed by chance, by an explosion.

the common praise team

lettinglightin:

sunshineinmysoul:

Today as we were singing praises to God at church I started wondering why we stand in a way that we are usually facing the worship team.  And why is it that the worship team is on the stage and everyone in everyone else is the crowd?  At Newsong we don’t literally face the worship team, but worship team is projected onto a large screen along with the worship lyrics.  Why does there seem to be such a need to see the people who are leading worship?

I feel like this style of worship can potentially take away from the glorification that should only be reserved for God.  Now I am not trying to degrade or attack worship teams in any way, I have been a part of many.  I am just trying to understand the idea of musical worship in its purest form.

I wonder what would happen if when the worship team got on stage, they turned their backs to the congregation so we were all facing the same direction.  How would that effect the worship?

I wonder what would happen if the worship team was not even on stage, but randomly in the congregation.  How would that effect the worship?

I wonder if their will be a praise team that will lead us in singing to God in heaven, or if it will just be a congregation, a community of one, praising God.

When we sing, we sing to God, so shouldn’t we look to Him alone?

There is something powerful about simple worship among friends.  There is something powerful about singing praises to God in a circle, with no one but God at the center of attention.  There something powerful about the simple raising of our voices without the need for instruments.  There is something so simple about worship, yet so pure that I want to understand better.

Lord, reveal to me the heart of worship.

A purer way of worship, huh? Sounds way interesting. I know that worship is beyond music and that using instruments and our voices is just another form of worshipping, because when it comes down to it, worship really means and basically is taking the time to truly acknowledge what God grace and joy is, and rejoicing to Him how great it feels to be in His presence. I think I find worship through a lot of little thoughts that pass my mind throughout the day, like when I look around the beauties of earth and stuff. but being able to get worship its in pure and whole sense of mind must be something really powerful and moving. I hope to find that, too. Especially while I’m here on this Earth.