Many are called but few are chosen

Video

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:40:02 -0400

(via forever21) lol at display from mi fav store

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 09:43:10 -0500

(via forever21) lol at display from mi fav store

Photo

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 09:39:17 -0500

beyond blessed measures promo video

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 01:04:17 -0500

beyond blessed measures promo video

"my life my own to u i belong i give myself to you"

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 22:29:05 -0500

“my life my own to u i belong i give myself to you”

valentine's divine

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 22:27:01 -0500

When Jesus Christ decided to
Give us a Valentine,
He followed His Father’s orders—
The task God did assign.He gave Himself, His life, His all,
For this special Valentine,
Knowing He would change the world;
Real love He’d redefine.
It’s sacrifice we need to give
To a beloved Valentine;
When we do that, we get a glimpse
Of the holy and divine.Oh Lord, please help us be like you,
With every Valentine.
When we love each other as You did,
It’s then that we’re really Thine.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster,..."

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 20:10:42 -0500

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope”

- jer 29:11

Photo

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 19:56:20 -0500

A youth christian's perspective

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 19:03:12 -0500

A youth christian’s perspective

the hardship o being a young christian

the weight of being in the world but not of it speaking when no wants to listen

having possession of spirtual knowledge and the holy spirit being marveled by the way you’ve changed

at the dame time you take another look at yourself when your peers start to look at you strange

the workd doesnt understand the place you’re at compared to where you’ve been

they are living their own lives and loving sin

some forget there is god and so they him for granted

others think that they have all of the answers and that god has nothing to do with where teir feet are now planted

and still others make gods of their own whether it be jobs, clothes or cars

to them jesus just isnt important because he’s too far

but the youth christian’s is unperturbed as they notice the world’s sinful plight

they stand tall, brush their shoulders off and keep god in sight

they dont look down upon or saddle high horses

they also dont lower standards and they strive to make the right choices

they holy spirit commanding each christian to testify to the unrighteous we all have a story to tell

god wants to spend eternity with us but he stop you if you insist on going to hell

the perspective of youth christian is a powerful and wonderful thing to behold

its worth more than anything this world has to offer more than pure gold

a youth christian’s perspective is grounded in GOD so it will never break ot shatter

our faith is the only currency that truly matters

keep your focus on GOD eternal life he will freely give

and whatever you fo stay strong and dont lose your christian perspective

da truth who i am feat tye tribbett

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 18:17:57 -0500

da truth who i am feat tye tribbett

DA TRUTH

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 18:12:27 -0500

Urban Missionary | Hip Hop Artist | Minister

Hip Hop. Not many words conjure up the gamut of images and emotions as this art form. Some view it as an inherently evil and unredeemable culture; others see it as the modern-day “Pax Romana” upon which the Gospel can travel. While the debate rages, Emanuel Lee Lambert, Jr. a/k/a Da’ T.R.U.T.H. has emerged as an urban missionary to those influenced by Hip Hop culture. ThisCross Movement protégé is on a mission “to see the appetites of our generation change and their affections pried away from the things of this world, while growing for the things of God.”

Better known to his family and friends as Manny, Da’ T.R.U.T.H. was presented the Gospel at the age of five when he received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. As a teen, he was a talented drummer who listened to contemporary Christian music. A self-described “old soul,” he never found rap music appealing though he was attracted to aspects of the culture. “I had no interest in rap music. As a matter of fact, I was disenchanted with the whole idea of rap,” says Da’ T.R.U.T.H.Providence would have it that one day he and his friend Tyrone (Twyse) began free-styling for fun when he discovered that he actually possessed a talent for rhyming. Da’ T.R.U.T.H. co-founded the Christian Hip Hop group NIV and at the age of 19 he acquired the moniker of T.R.U.T.H., launching his ministry as an urban missionary.

The young man who fell in love with the Hip Hop culture is now seeing that love requited. Most recently, the graduate of Philadelphia Biblical University and The Institute of Jewish Studies received a 2007 Stellar Award nomination for Rap/Hip Hop Gospel CD of the Year for THE FAITH. Earlier in 2006, he was a featured artist on Kirk Franklin’s HERO Tour along with singing duo Mary Mary and at MegaFest where he opened services for both Kirk Franklin and Bishop T.D. Jakes. He has also ministered before audiences of100,000+ at events such as Creation Fest and other major rallies—Rap Fest, Flavor Fest, Big Exo Day (Australia), etc. Even before the 2004 release of his first album, he enjoyed a record-breaking eighteen month stint at #1 on MP3.com’s Christian Hip Hop chart. That acclaim—coupled with his standout appearances on Out of Eden’s “Spirit Moves Remix” andThe Cross Movement’s smash single “The Light”—paved the way for him to become the fastest-selling, solo Christian Hip Hop artist with the release of his debut album MOMENT OF TRUTH.

Da’ T.R.U.T.H. has been featured on two top-10 singles of the Radio and Records (R&R) Christian Rhythmic Chart—label-mates The Ambassador’s “Feels Good”and Flame’s “LADIES.” His media highlights include: Vibe, The Source, Sister2Sister and JET magazines. He has also been profiled in Charisma, CCM, New Man, U-Zone and a myriad of Christian and Gospel media outlets. His television appearances include “BET News”—aired during “106 & Park,” BET’s “Lift Every Voice,” TBN’s “Praise the Lord,” INSP’s“Steelroots” and “Mixx Master’s Lounge,” and Word Network’s “Bobby Jones Gospel.” He is also a featured artist in Holy Hip Hop: The Movie—Christopher Martin’s urban Christian film.

Inspired by Cassie and Rachel—the two young ladies martyred at the Columbine shooting in 1999—his sophomore effort is entitled THE FAITH. In it, Da’ T.R.U.T.H. sets out to expose what he terms as the “hyper-individualism” pervasive in the American church. “In Scripture, the emphasis is on ‘the’ faith—not merely ‘a’ faith. Here, it is all about ‘a’ personal faith which has been relegated to a means to personal comfort. Whereas, ‘the’ faith is a common body of beliefs that govern how we think, our influence and how we behave. However, we’ve become so ‘I’ centered that it has become common to ignore what God has said to all of us and biblical absolute truth has been obscured” THE FAITH bring absolute truth back into focus.

Provocative tracks such as “The Portrait (Da Vinci Code Snapshots)” and “Whose Team?” will challenge believers and non-believers alike to question the image of the Christ that they have embraced. Da’ T.R.U.T.H. believes that modern culture depicts two Christs. One is the Christ of the “culture” and the other is the Christ of the “Kingdom.” He expounds on this thought by saying, “The Christ of the culture—heard about inKanye West’s song ‘Jesus Walks’—doesn’t make any demands but walks with you irrespective of your allegiances. The Christ of the Kingdom requires that you walk with Him in accordance with His standards.” This is the Christ he talks about in THE FAITH.

Musically, The Faith sets a new standard in Christ-centered Hip Hop while delivering the lyrical style and substance that has become Da’ T.R.U.T.H.’s signature. He puts his stamp on the album by co-producing and even playing keyboards and drums on “Go,” “Turn You Around,” “2 is Better” and “Whose Team?” This contribution underscores his belief that “artistry should never be placed on the altar for the sake of the message—instead it should heighten its potency.”

“A perfect marriage between the streets and the soul,THE FAITH is Hip Hop at its finest representing the Lord Jesus Christ! The music, lyrical genius and hypnotic hooks all prove that we can be “in” not “of” this Hip Hop dominated world.” —Kirk Franklin

As Hip Hop continues to expand its reach as a cultural giant, Da’ T.R.U.T.H. stands in a company of modern day Davids with THE FAITH in his sling. Will history repeat itself? Look out Goliath, because you can’t handle Da’ T.R.U.T.H.!

devoted praise mime

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 17:54:00 -0500

devoted praise mime

DEvoted praise mime

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 17:53:29 -0500

Devoted Praise Mime Ministry Devoted Praise is a traveling mime ministry who desires to demonstrate all over the globe who God truly is while worshipping Him through mime and ministry. God is beginning to open doors all over the United States (& around the WORLD)!!! The dream of traveling has never been so real for the Devoted Praise team as His anointing and blessings flow through all of those who are an intricate part of this dynamic ministry. To see videos of this amazing ministry, you can visit our youtube at: www.youtube.com/devotedpraise520. If you would like to reach us through other website outlets, you can find us on myspace at: www.myspace.com/devotedpraisemime or you can even find us on facebook: Devoted Praise Mime. To GOD be the GLORY!

MIME: A Look Inside The Ministry Of K&K Mime- Keith & Karl Edmonds

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 17:40:09 -0500

You can visit www.gospelflava.com and under articles find a wonderful story on K&K Mime

A force to be reckoned with… That’s just one way of describing the powerful anointing that exudes from the Gospel Arts duo known as K & K Mime Ministry. When you combine refined God-given talent with a continuum of the freshness of God’s anointing… watch out! Run, Devil, Run. There are no limits to what the Lord will do in and through one’s life when in the center of His perfect will, K & K Mime Ministry is living proof of that.

Who would have ever thought that ministry, through this form of the arts, would be so widely accepted as a part of the Gospel industry. We are talking totally non-traditional here. And as history has shown, things that are non-traditional have mountains to climb, simply because breaking “tradition” takes people out of their comfort zones. What the ministry of K & K Mime has done is expand the horizons of the means by which we spread the Gospel. God uses what He sees fit to make His presence known in the land. An integral part of that picture is now mime. The art of mime is to the partaker of the Gospel as sign language is to the deaf. K & K Mime Ministry brings the lyrics of Gospel songs to life through creative depiction with the use of expressive choreographed movement and dramatic storylines.

Keith and Karl Edmonds began exploring the art of mime at the age of ten, as a means of church involvement. Much to their surprise, they’re artistic creativity was more than just a church activity… it was a ministry. They began to choreograph movements for various popular Gospel songs of the time, and began performing them in local churches of their hometown of Pittsburgh, PA. By the age of sixteen the twin’s ministry team had begun to receive invitations by out of state churches and schools.

The public response to their ministry varied depending on the ideology of the recipients. Many embraced their ministry as a fresh and new way of relaying the message of the good news of Jesus Christ while others have mocked their ministry due to the fact that it goes against the grain of what is known as traditional ministry. Despite opposition and rejection, Keith and Karl committed themselves to carrying out the great commission in the manner by which God has appointed them. K & K Mime has a burden to reach the people of this present generation, as well as the babes in Christ, with tangible and life applicable depictions of the Gospel. That has been the driving force that caused them to continue on even when ministry brought sacrifice. There have been times when people have even questioned whether or not mime ministry is of God. K & K believe that the Lord is also using their ministry as a means to tear down the walls of religion. The key to their ministry is true relationship with Jesus Christ. That is what they encourage through their ministry- relationship. K & K Mime Ministry is not just Christian entertainment. Their purpose is to minister under the anointing, so that people might be saved, set free, delivered, and made whole.

Does that sound familiar? That is what the Gospel does. K & K Mime simply uses their God-given talent and creativity to turn up the volume on the word of God. They deliver the message of God in a manner by which even the unchurched person can relate and understand it.

Because mime was not a common church ministry when K & K Mime first began, they had to work overtime and use wisdom as to how to properly promote this unique ministry. Using discernment, they took most platforms that were offered to them. As God would have it, every opened door was an opportunity for another opened door. Smaller events led to larger events, which increased their exposure to the masses. In 1996 they ministered, for the first time, on BET’S Bobby Jones Gospel. It has been outlets such as this that have mainstreamed K & K Mime Ministry into the Gospel industry. They began to receive offers to minister with various Gospel artists and in churches across the country. Their ministry caught on like wildfire. Before they knew it, mime groups were popping up all over the place. Even some churches that initially did not receive their ministry had mime groups. Did that mean that there were no more skeptics? Of course not. As we all know, anything worth doing is going to have some level of challenge. It is that challenge that has kept Keith and Karl ever striving for excellence. Demand for their ministry has grown so much in the past seven years that they had to develop a strategy for managing themselves commercially. The twins began a production company, The Marmont Group, through which they manage K & K Mime Ministry as well as the host of plays that they have written and produced. They have capitalized on any and all means that God has graced them with to ensure that their purpose for this season of their lives are carried out. Serving as a catalyst for K & K Mime Ministry in the Gospel industry have been sold-out obedience to God and the favor that comes as a result. The Lord has placed people in their lives that were willing to contribute to their destiny. They have participated in several Gospel music tours in this country and abroad with well-known Gospel artist, who could be considered non-traditional as well. This exposure, along with television, has caused their ministry to be experienced among the Christian community as well as by the non-believer. That has been a part of their goal from the conception of their ministry. God has allowed them to reach out to the millennial generation as well as touch the hearts and lives of the more traditional recipients of their ministry. K & K Mime Ministry has been featured on the videos of different Gospel artists as well as released their own video projects. They have had the chance to minister to people from all denominations, cultures and walks of life. This has been beneficial in not only bridging the gap between the fundamentalist and contemporary, but also between the races. The anointing is the anointing and there is no denying that. Their ministry is easily accessible through various medians, including their website which is www.kkmime.org. (Click here to visit the site)

As their ministry grew, K & K Mime Ministry began to hold instructional workshops throughout the country. They teach people to choreograph pieces, which incorporate some sign language and a lot of dramatic creative interpretation. With no formalized training, Keith and Karl bring to life the phrase “practice makes perfect”. With their undying commitment to excellence in ministry and perfecting the gifts that God has given them, they have brought the art of mime to the forefront of the Gospel arts industry.

Keith and Karl Edmonds, K & K Mime Ministry, are considered the pioneering father’s of today’s Gospel mime ministry. Though it may be non-traditional, mime is far from uncommon. There are youths and adults across America and in Japan, Canada, Jamaica, Korea, and the list goes on, who confirm that they have begun to mime as a result of the anointing and inspiration of K & K Mime Ministry. Currently, people all over are able to experience the unique and effective art of mime to relay and receive the message of the Gospel. God has and continues to use K & K Mime Ministry to be witnesses of His word to the new millennium generation. If you wish to obtain K&K Mime’s services please call The Marmont Group at 724-733-8165.

Good Morning God

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 16:29:44 -0500

flammabletruth:

When you awake in the morning what are some things you do first? Do you ever at any moment before you start your day and say Good Morning To your God!! Do you at all just sit for a few minutes and just thank Him. Or if you aren’t that into how about a couple seconds…or maybe a hour or two. It is just so much time in our day to just express our thankfulness and gratitude. To be ecstatic that we have life and life abundantly!!!!
Well this morning I awake and for that I thank my God! I know there are some that either didn’t wake up or woke up losing a child or a parent or even their soul mate. So Lord I thank you for just continually blessing me and giving to me and even taking away. For I know you know what are my most needed needs and desires.

flammabletruth: “Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be...

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 16:28:57 -0500

flammabletruth:

“Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.”

— Music is such a great love!! Victor Hugo (via atheory) (via melodymuse)

another breakthough

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 02:47:12 -0500

another breakthough

another place in him

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 02:36:19 -0500

another place in him

he’s not dead

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 01:35:23 -0500

he’s not dead

The Heart of Worship

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 01:29:45 -0500

What is worship? Why do we worship? Who do we worship? How do we worship? These are all questions that need to be answered before one can truly worship. We attend worship services and say we worship God, but very few people have a concept of what worship is, or what it should be.

What is worship? The question can be answered in a number of ways, mostly depending on the why, who, and how of worship. Worship of God, or any god, is different in form from the worship of money, self, or pleasure. Worship of God is intentional. He doesn’t trick us into worshipping the way that Satan draws us away to worship money or pleasure.

Worship is defined one way as, “That attitude and those corporate and personal acts of reverence that are the appropriate response of human beings to God’s self-revelation.” (Revell Concise Bible Dictionary)

Worship is an appropriate response. We worship God because he is great. We worship because he is awesome in His works. We worship him because he is the creator of all things. He is worthy of our praise. That’s a mouthful. It answers the question of why we worship but leaves us with many unanswered questions. So where do we look for a definition of worship but to the Bible.

The Bible is full of references to worship and spends a lot of time on how to worship. The Old Testament uses three different words that are translated worship. The one used the most is Shacah (shaw-khaw). It is used in reference to lying prostrate or bowing before God or a king.

The New Testament has seven different words for worship and it is here that the task to define worship becomes more difficult. One is to prostrate oneself in homage, just like the Old Testament word meant. Another is to cleave unto or remain with a person. An important meaning, although not used often is to minister (to God) through service. Once, it is meant to be pious or to respect. Once there is a reference to voluntary piety. These words give us an idea of what worship is but leaves the “how” of worship unanswered. To discover the how of worship we have to look at different passages where worship is described but is specifically mentioned.

The first appearance of the word worship is in Genesis 22:5. In this passage, Abraham has taken Isaac up onto the mountain and is prepared to sacrifice him. “He said to his servants, ‘Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.’” He was prepared to sacrifice his son but instead was given a ram, which he sacrificed.

In Exodus, the Israelites are given instructions on how they are to worship. In chapter 23 they are given three festivals that they are to celebrate annually; the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering. They are given very detailed instructions on how the tabernacle was to be built and how sacrifices were to be carried out. The priests had to wear specific garments and do things in just a certain way.

Exodus 31:16 clearly says that the Israelites were to celebrate on the Sabbath. The penalty for not observing this, as mentioned two verses before, was death. This is why we worship once a week.

Israel didn’t do so well keeping these commandments however. Moses hadn’t made it down from the mountain after receiving the Ten Commandments before the Israelites were worshipping the golden calf. They’d struggle with this the entire time they were a nation.

Isaiah 2:8 says that the land of Israel “is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers made.” How did a people so remarkably taken care of by God throughout its history forget about him and worship other gods? It happened gradually and because their worship was false.

Psalm 50:8-10 shows the attitude of the Israelites in their worship. They believed that sacrifices were the most important thing to God. God however tells them what they mean to him. “I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices or your burnt offerings, which are ever before me. I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.”

If God had no need of Israel ’s sacrifices, why did he require them to begin with? God was looking for at the heart of those sacrificing. We are to give sacrificially. It shouldn’t be mindlessly as something we are required to do but it should be a joy to give back to the Lord for all that he has done for us.

Micah 6:6-8 further says what God thinks of burnt offerings and what he really wants.

“With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Once again, God has no need of what we give him because it is already His. What does he want? He wants us to act justly and love mercy. We are to walk humbly with him. This is what he asks for instead of the ritualistic, half-hearted sacrifices that the Israelites offered Him.

If God wanted ritualistic worship, he could have created zombies to worship Him. Instead, he wants us to walk with Him. This isn’t just a Sunday morning affair either. This is 24/7. When we walk humbly with God all of the time, worship will come naturally to us. It won’t be simply a ritual but an outpouring of love for our creator every day.

Today, in a lukewarm church, we are very much like the people of Malachi’s time. (Malachi1:13 “And you say, ‘What a burden!’ And sniff at it contemptuously, says the Lord Almighty.”) Worship has become a burden for us. We offer only part of ourselves. We drag ourselves out of bed on Sunday. We suffer through an hour long worship service, and maybe Sunday school because that’s what is expected of us. When we sing, we repeat the words without meaning.

Some argue that music should be faster, or more rhythmic, or more entertaining. The problem doesn’t lie in the music. It lies in our hearts. It isn’t the rhythm that makes the music meaningful. It is our attitude towards singing it.

Music is a big issue because it has become a dividing line between generations. The younger generation, raised under MTV and rock music wants to be entertained. Many churches have changed music styles from traditional hymns to more praise and worship music. The hope is to appear more attractive to the youth of today with the hope of drawing more into the church.

Battle lines are drawn, however, when the idea of getting rid of older hymns enters the scene. Obviously most of the older members of the congregation were raised on hymns and have no desire to get rid of them.

So the hot topic in this aspect of worship lies in the question of who do we cater to. To that, I don’t have an answer. Some congregations have tried to incorporate both styles of music into their worship. This makes some happy, both young and old, and leaves some unhappy, both young and old. Other congregations have created two worship services. This splits the older generation from the younger one.

There isn’t an easy answer. I do know what will work however. If worship is done from the heart, no matter what kind of music is being sung, it will be affective and pleasing to God. The disciples sung hymns. David danced before the Lord. The psalmists often sung to the harp and the lyre. I believe that if David was placed in the company of the apostles, they’d find each other style of worship in music very different. Whatever the style however, we’ll worship God together in heaven.

Worship is a whole lot more than music. This is one major aspect however and the one given the most attention because the largest book in the Bible is a song book.

The New Testament brought about a new system of worship. The ritualistic sacrifices were done away with because Christ is our sacrifice, once for all. The New Testament lays out instructions on worship more in matters of heart and less having to do with simple actions.

Romans 12:1-2 instructs us to deny ourselves in worship. “Therefore, I urge you, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God- this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Obviously, offering ourselves isn’t something that will take place during a normal Sunday morning worship service. This is part of our worship throughout the week. This passage has also been translated –“this is your spiritual act of service.” When we serve others, we serve God. As in the parable of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 26:31-46 what we do for others is also for God.

Verses 37-40:“When did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”

Colossians 2:20-23 is another description of what worship isn’t. The people of Colosse were stuck in the legalism of their Jewish past. Paul tells them to leave the past behind them.

“Since you died with Christ, to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to rules: ‘Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!’? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false sense of humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.”

We can put up the same type of front that the Colossians did when we look to our works in place of worship or we force ourselves to worship. We think that merely coming to church will pass some sort of requirement that God has. These people checked off their lists of what they avoided like some check off their lists today. Go to Sunday school, go to morning service, go to evening service, go to Wednesday night service, sing in the choir. All of these are great things except when they become something we feel we are required to do and don’t do because we enjoy doing them or wish to worship God instead of just showing up.

Likewise, obedience to the law will not help us worship. Hebrews 10:1 says, “The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming- not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.”

The whole purpose of Christ’s coming was that we were not capable of upholding God’s commandments. Because of this, we had no right to come to God in worship. We have no fellowship with God when we are covered in sin. Isaiah realized this when he stood before the Lord and knew that he was holy. The Israelite high priest had to first make a sacrifice for himself before he could go into the Holy of Holies on that one special day a year to sacrifice for the people.

Likewise, we don’t come before God because of our deeds but because of Christ’s sacrifice. And we must be on the right terms with God to worship. Not that it shouldn’t be done daily, unless you make it through a day without sinning- I don’t- but we must ask God to forgive us our sins. Sure, our sins have been paid once for all, but our relationship still suffers when there is sin separating us from God.

Finally, we must worship in spirit and truth. In John 4:21-24 Jesus tells the Samaritan woman that true worshippers will worship in spirit and truth.

“Jesus declared, ‘Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem . You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth.”

The Samaritans had plenty of spirit. They worshipped on Mt. Gerizim with dancing and singing and everything else. There are still 400 of them who worship there today. The problem- they lacked truth. They worshipped God but missed Jesus. When we worship, the truth must be present. That means in our sermons and our songs.

There also must be spirit. The people of Malachi’s day had the truth. They were waiting for the Messiah. They were lukewarm in their worship. It was a burden to them. Their hearts weren’t into what they were doing.

When we worship, we must have spirit and truth. The truth, we don’t have a whole lot of control over, short of going to another church. We do control our hearts however. We must first prepare our hearts for worship by having a right relationship with God. Ideally, we should be living our lives so that we always are walking in the ways of God. Unfortunately, this doesn’t usually happen. We must ask forgiveness and be made right with God.

We should come to church eager to worship God, not dragging ourselves there to check it off of our list for the week. When we sing, we shouldn’t just repeat empty words. We are to make a joyful noise unto the Lord, but it is only noise when our hearts aren’t involved in it. In Amos 5:23God says, “Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.” Instead, God desires to listen to the music of our hearts.

Worship doesn’t stop when we leave the church doors. We serve God through our actions throughout the week. What we do for others, we do for Him.

So what is the heart of worship? It is worship of the heart!