Loud, louder and even louder

Published from my 'Worship Today' blog.
The common progression in a worship service often goes from loud to louder and then even louder.
Worship leaders often believe that, that is the way to go. To give their very best and to worship from the heart requires, so they think, a corresponding increase in the decibels.
The result of this myth is not better worship but has led to many half deaf musicians and yes, half deaf congregations too.

There are certainly times to be loud as we celebrate the bigness and greatness of God. But to do that every week in every service and every moment of the service makes it 'boring' and even irritating at times. There is no variety in it. Good musicians understand tension in a song. They know the correlation of the loud and soft side to music.
More than that, it is the failure to understand that we can experience God in quiet moments.
God wants to speak in quiet moments.
His voice can be heard if we do not drown it out by the overwhelming loud music and our self interest of feeding our own emotions. Don't fall in love with your voice or the sound of the band. We do need good sound. I am all for it. But still the primary goal is more than the sound. It is God. Fall in love with God's voice and let Him speak. It is after all, His meeting.

Quiet moments can be very powerful and life changing.
Moses, alone in the back side of the desert, was changed when He heard God speak from the burning bush. A crushed Elijah trembled when he heard the still small voice of God. The preceding strong wind, earthquake and fire did not make a dent on him. Jonah repented in the belly of the fish. Joshua and Gideon rose up with courage and great confidence from their personal God encounters. Jeremiah shook off the discouragement when he was thrown into a dry and lonely well; cause there in that dark pit God lit the fire of His word to burn in the prophets bones. John receive the revelations in exile on Patmos.

So the next time you lead or play for a worship service, don't just go loud and louder. Take a detour to the quiet side. You may just find God waiting for you and the congregation.

Maybe I am getting older and growing more mellow to prefer the quiet. Yet again, I think I am actually understanding more about the beauty of dynamics in worship and appreciating the movement of God when He speaks and we actually listen to His matchless voice.

Ps.46:10  Be still and know that I am God;
Hab.2:20 But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.

From Chickens to Champions

Enlarge The Vision

It all starts with a vision. A vision of better things to come.
There are four verbs in Isa.54:2 Enlarge, Stretch, Lengthen, Strengthen. Each of these action words require effort, determination and sacrifice. One's willingness to do extra work begins with a captivating vision. It becomes worthwhile when we catch a grand vision of what things can be. We will be willing to go the second mile, carry the excess load, push through unpenetrable barriers for a worthy and glorious cause.

When Isaiah saw the vision, the nation of Israel was in tatters. Dust, ruins, darkness and despair were in charge. Many Jews were deported as slaves to faraway lands. The misery seem to last without end and the glimpse of relieve only came when they were told that it would endure for 70 years. In those dire times, Isaiah saw a vision that encompasses 3 areas. A vision so grand and majestic that invigorated the people of God to prepare for better days soon to come.

1. Isaiah saw a vision of multiplication. "Isa.54:1 The barren woman will sing because more will be her children than the woman who has a husband. Isa.54:3 ...you will spread to the right and to the left." The population was almost decimated except for a small group of survivors. God told them they will multiply again. There will be so many that they will grow and occupy the length and breadth of the land.

2. Isaiah saw a vision of battles won. "Isa.54:3 your descendants will dispossess nations. Isa.54:15b ..whoever attacks you will surrender to you. Isa.54:17 No weapon forged against you will prevail.." They will no longer be victims but they will be victors. They will move from slave-hood to son-hood. They will no longer run away like chickens but rise up as champions.

3. Isaiah saw a vision of restoration from brokenness. Isa.54:11,12 "O afflicted city lashed by storms and not comforted, I will rebuild you with stones of turquoise, your foundations of sapphire....rubies..sparkling jewels...precious stones." It goes beyond just rebuilding, it moves into beautifying and significant value increase due to the materials used. It means that God will make things far far better than before.

God's will is to increase the church and increase the ministry's impact in the world. Many will find joy and peace in Jesus. God wants to increase you, increase your influence, increase your standing.  2016 is not a year without battles, but a year of battles won. You will experience many victories. Shattered dreams will be resurrected and perfected. It is going to be better than before. Far far better. Enlarge the vision. It's time to believe.

Isaiah 54:2-3 (NIV) “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities.