A Worshipful Heart

A Worshipful Start To A New Year!

This is the time of year that we're all re-evaluating our lives and looking for fresh ways to continue to grow - physically, mentally and spiritually. Some of our paths forward seem - at first glance - to be pretty easy to figure out. We want to lose weight and so we know we must exercise. But then we must decide which exercise program to choose - and that makes it all a little more difficult to figure out. What will work for us?

As you think ahead to 2011, I encourage you to not limit your goals to physical ones only. I encourage you to take the first six weeks of 2011 to focus on something that is truly eternal - something that will affect every area of your life - growing as a worshiper of God. 

Veteran worship leader  (and dear friend) Derrick Rucker says this about worship: "The more you praise God, the more you become God-conscious and absorbed in His greatness, wisdom, faithfulness, and love. Praise reminds you of all that God is able to do and of great things He has already done. " 

If this is your desire, we have a resource that might be a great fit for you!

If you long to worship God more and more, I invite you to use the devotional study Wendy Bramhall and I wrote called "A Worshipful Life: Developing a Lifestyle of Praise". It runs for 6 weeks and can be used personally or you can even use it in a small group setting if you'd like. This book is a bit different than anything else I've seen in that it helps you develop the practices of worship each and every day. It's not just additional knowledge - it's practicing what you are learning! That's what makes the difference!

This study is available in three formats. 

 - It's available for 4.99 on Amazon in the Kindle edition. You don't have to have a Kindle to download and use this book electronically. You can download a free Kindle reader from Amazon to read it on your computer.

 - If you'd prefer to print it out and have it in your hands, you can email me at janowen@knology.net and I will email you the copyrighted .pdf file. If you are able, you may make a $5 donation to the Give Worship Project by clicking on the button to the left that says DONATE. 

 - I do have a limited amount of bound copies available. If you live locally, I can get you one for $5. Just email me at janowen@knology.net.

We're not trying to make money off of your spiritual growth! We want to serve you - our desire is to see the nations worship and that means YOU. So if paying is a hardship, let me know and I'll gladly get you a free copy. We simply use any money we receive to pay for the copies of "A Worshipful Life" that we give away to church leaders all over the world. 

Whether or not you choose to use "A Worshipful Life" in 2011, I do urge you to take one concrete step to further your personal spiritual growth. You won't regret it! I - along with some friends - are going to be working through this book beginning on January 2nd as a worshipful beginning to 2011. If you decide to work through it as well, let me know so we can help keep one another accountable and learn from each other as well!

I'd love to hear some of your goals and desires  for 2011!

Come on! Inspire me!

***Seeing "A Worshipful Life" made available as an e-book would not have been at all possible without the help of Steve Wilson. If you're interested in publishing an e-book, this is the guy to help you! I'll post more about Steve and his amazing wife Kirsten later so watch this blog for some great resources from the talented Wilsons!

 

What's Your Christmas Prayer?

Friday evening I had the chance to worship with a group of sweet friends. At the end of our time together I asked them to light a candle as they prayed a one word prayer for something they longed for this Christmas season. As the light from the candles filled the room, one word utterances went up to God, beseeching Him to move in our lives. I couldn't even hear all the words that were spoken but I know that this was one of the most fervent - and hopeful - moments I've experienced this Christmas. 

I won't limit you to one word, but I'd love to hear from all of my readers on this one. 

What is your prayer this Christmas? What is the one thing that you'd love to see God do in your life? 

Fill in the blank....

Jesus, what I need most from you in my life right now is _________________.

I'll go first.  My prayer was for guidance and joy. 

Now you go. And I'll pray with you.

 

God Forgive Me

God please forgive me...

.... for ever giving a pat answer and failing to understand the deep reality of someone else's pain.

.... for ever thinking I could do it or handle it better.

..... for failing to truly listen.

..... for ever closing my eyes to the potential and gifting of another human being.

..... for valuing my position and authority above Jesus and people.

..... for failing to show compassion.

..... for failing to trust you.

God does not waste our experiences. 

God thank you for never giving up on me.

Thank you for always teaching me what I need to learn. Even when I don't know it. 

Little Ways to Help This Christmas

Hey friends! I don't want to sound self-promoting or anything, but I just have a few things left over from the Give Worship Project Shopping Event that I thought you might be interested in. I can ship anything for $5 or less or bring it to your house if you are nearby. I'm trying to clean things out while making a few dollars for the work of the Give Worship Project. You can email me with questions at janowen@knology.net. I will ship as soon as you email me with your choice and make payment (cost of item plus shipping - check with me for amount) with the suggested donation by using the DONATE button on the left hand side of this blog. Quantities are LIMITED so act today! I'll give you 20% off any one item as a gift to you!

These two purses are typically Guatemalan and they are hand woven and hand made in Guatemala by local women. I have one and they are great bags!

 - Large purse $25

 - Smaller purse $20

 

 

 

 

The purses to the right are also made in Guatemalan with quality leather and woven material. Very good quality and also very attractive. 

Leather and Woven Purses - $18 each

 

 

 

 

 

These Aftrican Paper Bead Necklaces are HOT HOT HOT! I only have three necklaces and three bracelets left. These were very big sellers at our events and are found in the trendiest gift shops. We watched women making them in Rwanda before we bought them. A true act of love and art!

 

Necklaces $18 each

Bracelets $10 each

 

 

 

There are several kinds of earrings here:

Paper Bead - $10

African Pink - $10

Wood and Shell - $10

 

 

 

 

 

Baskets are a gift with great significance in Rwanda. These baskets are handwoven by skilled Rwandan artisans.

 

White Friendship Baskets (left) - $12 each

Small Round Tan and Black Basket - $15

Large Round Black and Tan Basket - $25

 

 

These billfolds are indicative of the artistry of countries they come from. Beautiful and handmade.

 

Elephants from India - $10

Smaller Woven Change Purse from Guatemala - $8

 

 

 

There are other things you can also buy:

Give Worship Project Tshirt - $10 each

View From the Train of Life EP - $5 each

A Worshipful Life Devotion Book - $5 each

 

Thank you for your support! If we sell all of this it will pay for resources for a worship conference for leaders in Rwanda!

Give a gift - and be a blessing twice over!

Submission

Submission. A word most of us don't like, if we were only honest enough to admit it. A word that makes many women cringe and feel guilty. A word that - for some - brings back horrible memories of abuse and anger. A word that has been used as a pat answer to many problems within homes and within the church. A word that is misunderstood. And often misused for many prideful and authoritative purposes.

I'll admit I'm one of those women who cringe a little when I hear this word. As a Christian wife it's a word I've felt beaten over the head with many times. Not by my husband, but definitely by the Church at large and almost every Christian marriage book I've ever read. As a minister, I've heard story after story of women who have this word thrown in their face by an emotionally - or even physically - abusive spouse. No wonder many women hate the word!

And, as a staff member I've seen church leadership use this as an answer to those who disagree. I'm ashamed to admit that although I've probably never used this exact word, I've trotted out the concept in the midst of a disagreement instead of seeking to understand.

Can I be honest? I believe we totally misunderstand the practice of submission. Submission cannot be demanded because then it's not given out of love - it's simply obedient looking action given out of fear. This will always cause eventual bitterness and anger. Submission cannot be forced on someone. Submission is an attitude of the heart and ultimately, an act of love and respect. Submission is also not about power and authority. It's not about gender roles or positions within the church. It's about learning to put ourselves second. 

Here's one of the most overlooked verses about submission in the Word of God - and one that I believe encapsulates the spirit of God's desire for us. "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." (Ephesians 5:21) The Message says it this way,  "Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another." 

Jesus modeled submission and reverence for others as he washed his disciples feet and served them. We never see Jesus demanding others serve him or pushing others down so he could be exalted. We don't see him flaunting his authority ever. I'd say that God's desire for us is that we grow as we learn to submit to others, not only those who are in authority over us, not only wives to husbands, but all Christians to their brothers and sisters. When we submit in a way that helps us grow we "align our will and freedom with God's will and freedom. God's will for us includes submitting to each other out of love and reverence for Christ." (Adele Ahlberg Calhoun, from Spiritual Disciplines Handbook) Calhoun says that the practice of submission includes seeking God's will no matter where it leads and doing it, allowing others to mentor, disciple, teach, correct and guide us, and being a good follower. Learning to submit means we lay aside the need to be in charge, we are eager to learn, trainable and willing and eager obedience to God and those we owe obedience to. It also means we honor others more than we do ourselves and think more highly of others than we do ourselves. (Philippians 2)

Many of us spend our entire Christian lives either fighting submission or demanding it. Both sides are in error and both sides - the fighting and the demanding - just escalates the other extreme. When this happens, submission becomes a battleground and the source of much resentment.

We ALL should be looking to offer submission out of reverence for Jesus - men, women, husbands, wives, pastors, lay leaders, parents, children, friends. When we learn to freely offer submission we will be freed from the need to be in charge, we will be more teachable, we will continue to develop gentleness, approachability and humility while being able to appreciate what others have to offer. 

We will become more like Jesus.

Submission. Maybe it's not such a dirty word after all.