Looking Ahead

"...Israel anticipated the fulfillment of worship in the dawning of the new age."
                                                                 ~Webber

I want to know how many times I stand in worship, thinking about what is to come, what the new Heaven and new earth will be like...what worship in the tangible presence of the Lord will feel like.

I love this quote from Webber. They anticipated.

                                           Anticipated.

They watched for it, waited for it, yearned for it like we would for water when we are dying of thirst. This is how much the looked forward to eternity with Christ, that they stood in anticipation of the fulfillment of worship.

I can only imagine what their worship would have been like. Part of me wants to say it's more genuine and real than we have ever felt it. Where is my heart when I'm in the midst of God's presence- totally focused on right now.

Right now is over so quickly.
Heaven is coming soon.

~Laramie

Music and Jesus

Chapter 18 of Worship Old and New focused on the meaning of music in worship. This was such an interesting chapter and I can't help but think that the reasons for music go hand in hand with it being a universal language. Music speaks to people in ways that nothing else can. But if it was created for worship, and we are made in the image of God, then it would make sense that whether you are a believer or not, music is going to touch you like nothing else can :)

I'm just constantly in awe of the different ways that worship can happen, but the one that I can easily latch onto is art. Music and dance are incredible ways to worship my God.

"Music proclaims the Scriptures in a heavenly language and provides a means through which the mystery of God in Christ is approachable."
                         ~Webber

~Laramie

Silence

"Silence has to do with awe. Our experience of silence at the beginning of worship is akin to the feeling  of speechlessness we experience when we sense the vastness of the ocean at night or the awesome expanse of the Grand Canyon."
                       ~Webber

How often do I sit in complete and utter awe of the Lord? I was so challenged by this passage in the text, Worship Old and New, because I feel like though I talk with the Lord, I spend time in His word, I'm not silent enough. He speaks constantly, but the voice of the Lord comes like a whisper, and I'm never quiet enough to hear it.

"The Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him." Habakkuk 2:20

This is a challenge, for everyone, to be silent. Find the awe, find the breathtaking presence of the Lord and sit in it.

                    Find Him.

~Laramie