Rosilind Jukic's Blog, page 75

3 Things Worship Is Not {an Open Letter to Worshipers}

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The Worship Series :When People Wont Worship3 Philosophies of Worship that I've Stopped Believing A Culture of Christian Celebrity-ismWhat Style of Music {Worship His Majesty} 
3 Things Worship Isn't {an Open Letter to Worshipers}


For months I had attended a mid-size Baptist church. Two pianos and an organ directed by a song leader who stood at the pulpit are all that comprised the "worship team". Each week we sang a few hymns and one chorus; no one raised their hands, no one clapped - it was all very stoic compared to the charismatic style I grew up with.

We sang heartily.

We danced.

We raised our hands, keeled, wept, and clapped.

Week after week I walked out of that church longing for what was familiar.

One day while chatting with my mom on the phone, I complained, "I haven't truly worshiped in months! I feel so dry!" She asked, "Why haven't you been able to worship?"

"Its the church I go to", I blamed. "The worship is so canned and somber. They sing old hymns and even the choruses are dry."

"It's not your church that's the problem, it's you." She said with a very serious tone. "If you truly had a heart to worship, you could worship to whatever they sang, no matter how they sang it."

Her words hit me straight in the gut, because I knew they were true.
I had become a worship snob. And my bad attitude was what prevented me from worship.

I appeal to you, dear worshiper, to examine your heart today.

I get it. Some churches do stuff that distracts as an effort to involve people in worship, some worship leaders alienate segments of the church with their personal philosophies, and have made the worship celebration feel more like a concert while the battle on worship wages on through the ages. 
We can come up with dozens of excuses as to why we don't worship. But at the end of the day we are responsible for our worship!
The blame game doesn't really work with God - ask Adam. No, when it comes to corporate worship, we can lay aside distractions and center our heart and focus on God if we really want to.

That day in Indianapolis, India I learned that there are 3 things worship isn't.
1. Worship isn't just a style of music
Worship is is a state of the heart. The modern "god" of music - so revered by the past several generations - has reduced worship down to a style of music. But it's so much more than that!

I have sat in churches where everyone around me was holding on long conversations while the worship band played, but as soon as the band began to sing their favorite song they jumped up and raised their hands only to resume their conversation when the song was over.

It's not a style of music. Worship isn't Southern Gospel, Singspiration, Scripture Songs, Hosanna, Vineyard, Bethel, or any number of the popular worship artists today.

Worship is the state of our heart. And this is the premise of my book Live Worship. It's a lifestyle that we live 24/7. It's what we are , not what we do!

And when our hearts truly live worship, we can visit a church that stoically sings hymns or a church with loud music and simply center our heart on Jesus!
 

2. Worship isn't for my pleasure
One of the hardest ministries to lead in the church is the music ministry. I used to want to run and hide after church was over, because I knew I'd be cornered by people expressing their opinion about the choice of songs, style of music, or how the band played that day.

Being a worship leader can be so discouraging because you will please and displease everyone on any given Sunday - but mostly you hear from those whom you've displeased.

And while there is much I disagree with when it comes to modern worship in the church today, we must not forget that worship isn't for our pleasure! We don't come to church to sing our favorite songs or favorite style of music.

We can do that at home!

We come to church to honor and glorify Jesus Christ! And we can do that whether we sing "The Old Rugged Cross" or "How Great Is Our God".

When we leave church disappointed that they didn't sing any of our personal favorites, worship has ceased to be about Jesus.


3. Worship isn't optional
Yes, Worship of God is a choice, but worship is not optional. 

We all worship something. Whether it's Almighty God or any number of "other gods" - which can be determined by anything that we love more than Him.

Mankind was made to worship. Whether he chooses to worship the One and Only God or to engage in demonic worship - which is the worship of anything or anyone apart from God.  Because the decision to not worship God is the decision to worship Satan.

Does that seem a little extreme?

This is exactly what God was saying when He said this words to Saul,

"For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry." Refusal to worship God is rebellion against Him, for He commands our worship. Rebellion is the same as witchcraft - worship of Satan.
Worship is not optional. 

So, before we place too much blame on the church and professional worship bands, let us examine our hearts to see if we have become selfish or snobbish about worship. Let us ask ourselves if we truly have a heart to worship.
And as we come together each week in corporate worship, may we lay aside those things that distract and discourage us from truly entering in to God's holy presence, and fix our focus on Him, and Him alone!


Where you can purchase Live Worship Live Worship on KindleLives Worship in PDF
Review this book for free! Find out how here
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Easy Banana Triple-Berry Trifle

Doesn't this look amazing?

It is!!!

And it's sooooo easy to make!

And you'll find the recipe for this perfect summer desert - just in time for the 4th of July Celebrations - right here at WholeHearted Home....

Where I have joined the Blessed at Home Contributor team!!!


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4 Ways To Teach Toddlers God's Word

There were times when my husband and I despaired of our son ever saying anything we could understand.
It's not that he's not chatty.  Oh he's chatty enough - he just chatted in his own language. He still does sometimes. Our youngest has now started speaking as well. It is just so much fun watching them discover words.
But even before they began using "real words", we did not let language stand in the way of teaching them God's Word.
Over my lifetime I have memorized huge portions of the Bible, it is a discipline my parents taught me from a young age and continued building in my life until I moved away from home.
Here are 4 ways you can help your speaking or non-speaking toddler to hide God's Word in his heart:
1. Start with short verses that he can easily commit to memory: Eph 6:1, John 3:16, Psalm 119:11, etc.
2. Recite a line and have him repeat after you
3. Teach him scripture set to children's music (Steve Green has a series of CDs like this)


4.  Choreograph hand motions that go with the words of the verse to make it more memorable 

I wrote more about choreographing and signing scripture with your toddler here
Throughout God's Word we are commanded and encouraged to memorize and meditate on God's Word.  It is a discipline that must begin early in life and one that will help to build a godly world view in the lives of our children that will protect them as they grow and venture out into the world.
Are you teaching your children the Word of God?  What methods do you use?  



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Use an Awesome Title {Write Blog Posts People Will Read Series} + A Little R & R Linky Party #57

This is part two of a 5-part series on how to write blog posts people will read.Write with your voiceUse an awesome titleCreate pinable imagesWrite great contentUse a call to action
The title you use is your first – and sometimes only – attempt at engaging your reader. If the title of your article fails to interest the reader, you’ve already lost.
Think about it: When you flip through a magazine, do you read every article just because you have nothing better to do, or do you read the title first and then choose the ones that appeal to you?
A really good illustration for this is a post I wrote last year: Submissive Obedience as a part of my Keepers at Home series. 
Submissive Obedience. 
Snooze Fest!
The content was great, but the title was safe, boring  and uninteresting.
However, the post was picked up by Charisma's SpiritLed Woman emag and they retitled it: 
Are You a Female Chauvinist?Provocative. Eye-grabbing. In-Your-Face.In fact, this article popped up in my Facebook feed and I thought: "Wow! I've been meaning to write about that! I need to read that article!!!" Imagine my surprise when I discovered that it was my article! Just with a much better title.I learned my lesson that day: Don't play it safe with your title. Make it stand out! Make it provocative. Make it interesting! As bloggers, we are just one voice in a market that is saturated with information. 
We have to stand out. 
And the first way we stand out among the millions of writers who are vying for attention is to have a title that literally makes the reader click over to read what we’ve written.
To choose a captivating title ask yourself:

1. What is my topic?2. How can I shrink that down into 3-4 words?3. How can I craft those 3-4 words to make my title irresistible?
Some great ideas are

Number titles: 3 Ways to Quickly Clean Your House for Company
Alliteration: Creating Quality Content (While Quality doesn't begin with a “C” - the sound of the word has that hard “C” sound, and therefore makes it an alliteration)
Provocation: Are You a Female Chauvinist?
Hyperbole: The Ultimate List of 2013 Must-Read Books

For inspiration on great titles, I will often Google my topic to see what is trending in the blogosphere. Just make sure you use this for information and not copy another writer's title.

*************


 And now for the party!!!!
Here are the "rules"

1. Link up as many posts as you'd like (even giveaways!)
2. Link up old posts you wish would have received more attention!
3. Link back here by posting my button in your post or sidebar - or with a link
4. Visit the post just before yours

The party runs through next Tuesday evening!
So have FUN!

Click here to receive a weekly reminder about this party!





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Top 10 {Safe} Cartoons My Kids Love

We don't watch a lot of TV around here. Because so many cartoons are violent and full of witchcraft, we try to monitor very carefully what they watch.

Here is a list of cartoons we've found that are safe. We can let them watch these without worrying that they will have nightmares or learn something that our family doesn't agree with.

Thomas and Friends


Veggie Tales

Blues Clues

Barney and Friends



Winnie the Pooh

Cedermont Kids       Chuggington  Miffy and Friends  Toy Story (all 3)  Mary Poppins    What cartoons or movies do your kids enjoy watching over and over?


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What Style of Music? {Worship His Majesty}

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The Worship Series :When People Wont Worship3 Philosophies of Worship that I've Stopped Believing A Culture of Christian Celebrity-ismWhat Style of Music {Worship His Majesty}

Jesus made a journey from Jerusalem to the Galilee region. Instead of making the easier trip through Jericho and up the Jordan Valley to Bet Shan, He went through the mountains of Samaria. He had an important message to deliver to an unexpected recipient. He was going to reveal to an outcast and immoral woman a most important truth.
What was the message, the Son of God had to deliver to an unsuspecting, unrighteous woman? 
God is looking for worshipers.
In the middle of His conversation with this woman a question arose; a question that is quite common today. What is the correct form of worship? “You worship in Jerusalem and we worship in Samaria. You are of the Mount Moriah worshippers and we are of the Mount Gerizim worshipers,” she commented. Jesus response shocked the woman. “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain [Mount Gerizim] nor in Jerusalem [Mount Moriah] worship the Father.”
But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.  24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:23-24 NKJV).
“The Father is [still] seeking such to worship Him.” The question of the ages has been, “What kind of worship style is ‘worship in spirit and in truth?’” When Solomon became the king of Israel, following his father, King David; Solomon went to Gibeon and the Tabernacle of Moses to worship. How strange! His father had erected a tent in Jerusalem housing the Ark of the Covenant. He trained musicians and worshipers for leading the worship of God; so the people could come to the tent and worship directly before the presence of Almighty God. Yet, Solomon chose to return to the old tabernacle and the old form worship with no Ark of Covenant and no presence of God. 
Why would Solomon do that?
After the Diaspora, the Jewish people were scattered throughout Babylon. The lively instrumental worship of King David was in decline. One of the Psalms talks about them setting their instruments aside. They just could not worship with that much passion.
Worship at the time of Christ had so declined the Pharisees considered instrumental music with worship to be pagan and only the spiritual leader was allowed to sing. The question continued throughout the Apostolic Church era. Some of the Apostolic Fathers believed worship should only consist of the “music of the heart” and the Psalms. Other church fathers including, Clement of Alexandria, Ambrose and Augustine encouraged new congregational singing and even the use of instruments.
The question of right and wrong kind of worship style continued through the Reformation. John Huss and Martin Luther introduced new music for the saints to sing. John Calvin staunchly opposed “humanly composed” music for worship. From his perspective, worship in spirit and in truth was the Psalms of David sung with no instrumental accompaniment and no harmony.
The Church of England and the Puritans strongly adopted John Calvin’s style of worship. However, Isaac Watts with John and Charles Wesley introduced a new style of worship in the Great Awakening. Fanny Crosby brought a new style worship during the Second Great Awakening and was joined by Ira Sankey, the musician and singer for the D.L. Moody revivals.
Every era of spiritual awakening had its own style of music. The Salvation Army used the marching band. Congregational singing with four part harmony that became known as Southern Gospel music, led the spiritual awakening of the holiness movement and the early Pentecostal movement. It would give rise the Gospel Quartet era of the 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s.
Singspiration songs written by Alfred B. Smith, John Peterson and others would be the worship style of Youth for Christ and the Billy Graham Crusades led by Cliff Borrows and the amazing voice of George Beverly Shea.
The Jesus People Movement and the Charismatic Renewal gave rise to yet another style of worship. The simple worship chorus and Scripture songs easily played on the guitar led the way. Song leaders with choirs, pianos and organs were replaced with worship bands and worship teams.
What era of music and what style of music is “worship in spirit and in truth?” Every era of new music has been born of the Spirit to accompany a new move of God to that generation. There are more important questions to be asked.
1.      Does this music carry a biblically correct message?
2.      Does this worship music focus the attention of the worshiper upon God or self?
3.      Does this worship encourage congregational participation and lead them to “enter His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise?”



   F. Dean Hackett has served in full time Christian ministry since October 1971. He has ministered through out the United States, Canada and Eastern Europe, serving as an evangelist, pastor, and conference speaker. He has planted four churches and assisted in the planting of many others and is known for training many workers who are presently in full time ministry as pastors and missionaries. He holds a Masters degree in Ministry, a Masters of Theology and a Ph.D. in theological studies. His enthusiastic and challenging ministry has made him a popular teacher and conference speaker. He has written five books, Discovering Jesus, Uncovering the Jesus Life; The Joy of Becoming Like Jesus; The Joy of Becoming an Ambassador for Christ; Discovering True Identity; Mission Agape’. He began Spirit Life Ministries International in 2001 to facilitate and support outreach ministries in the USA, Croatia and other regions the world that open for ministry. He is the author of F Dean Hackett – Foundational. You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Google +, and Pinterest.

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Last Minute Father's Day Gifts!

It happens to the best of us!

These special days creep up on us and we find ourselves empty-handed.

Here are three places you can get instant gift certificates to print or send via email. No need to feel bad - these are cool places where your husband or dad can get all kinds of cool stuff!

iTunes Gift CertificateBuy music, books, movies, aps and more with iTunes!



Amazon Gift Certificate

Walmart Gift Cards



Read 100 Reasons Why I love my Husband!


Visit my Father's Day Pinterest Board here!

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Write With Your Voice {Write Blog Posts People Will Read Series}+ A Little R & R Linky Party #56

This is part one of a 5-part series on how to write blog posts people will read.Write with your voiceUse an awesome titleCreate pinable imagesWrite great contentUse a call to action So, you have your vision and mission. You know what you plan to write about and have chosen a platform.
Now you need to write.
I actually used to think that if I posted an article, people would magically find my blog and read what I wrote. If only it were that easy!
Now, I have no grand illusions about my ability to write. I know that I am nowhere close to being a great writer. I have never taken a class in journalism or any other form of writing  
(except for one class in songwriting that never helped me a bit, since I’ve only ever written one good song).
However, I have read a lot on the subject. A lot . I love writing  and so I read up on the subject as much as I can, and still continue to learn.
If you go back and read some of my earlier posts, you will likely see a completely different style of writing from what you would read today. I have really grown as a writer over the 4 ½ years I’ve been blogging.
Blogging, and having my articles read by perfect strangers all around the world – some of which are far better writers than I, has forced me improve my craft.  And I’ll simply share with you what I’ve learned from the experts and how it is has helped to shape me as a writer.
Write With Your Voice
This is a term that literally got on my nerves. In fact, at one point I actually planned to blog about how annoyed I was about the term “find your own voice”. It was like a mantra that rang out in the blogosphere for a while.  And while there is a lot of truth to the term, one thing many writers failed to share was how to find your voice.
I suppose that’s what annoyed me most of all. They gave you this command, but didn’t give you the tools to carry it out. I didn’t know how to find my voice. I didn’t know what my current voice was and I wasn’t sure I’d know that I’d found the right one if it bit me on the nose!
But I did find it – albeit it took me a while to realize that’s what it was.
So what is a “voice” and how to you find your own voice?
A voice is a style of writing that is unique to you. It is your personality on page. It helps the reader to connect with you and recognize you when they read your writing.  Examples are Ann Voskamp from A Holy Experience. When you read her writings you weep. You can’t help but to weep. She has a style that is uniquely hers that carries the reader on a wave of unbelievable emotion. Another example is Ree Drummond from The Pioneer Woman.  She is witty and sarcastic. She calls her husband “Marlboro Man” and you can instantly recognize her articles/recipes by her style of writing.
This is a voice.  Whew!That was the easy part.
Finding your voice is not easy. I won’t lie.
It took me a lot of time to find my style of writing. And while the experts will tell you not to copy others’ voices – I actually think that this is an important part of the process.
I will compare it to singing – because the two are actually very similar.
While developing my own style of singing, I surrounded myself with tons of CDs by my favorite artists. I chose a lot of variety – based on color and texture: Margaret Becker's signature rock voice, Twila Paris’ gentle ballads, Sandi Patty’s powerful classical style – and I would literally lay in bed with my headphones on and listen to every nuance, every riff, every note that was sung and I studied how they were sung. Then I tried it all on to see if I could master it. 
This is when I learned that as much as I love gritty 80's rock, I simply cannot do it. I was not made for that. And while I soar with Sandi Patty’s and Sarah Brightman’s voices, I am not made for that. My voice is folk-ballad.
But I would have never discovered that about myself without trying and failing at other styles.
The same is with writing.
I tried the witty-sarcasm and it came off as forced and sometimes even cynical.  Fail
I copied the “Wordless Wednesday” train….and discovered that a photographer I am not.  Although I did learn a lot about taking pictures with my point-and-shoot in the process. I just can’t compete with those who have cool equipment.
Then I jumped on the “natural living” bandwagon. Once I had exhausted the limited knowledge I have on that subject and shared my recipes (which are pretty much set in stone now), I ran out of stuff to write about. So I compiled it into a free eBook and said goodbye to that subject.
But overall I discovered that I love to encourage women. Whether its with a recipe, a craft idea, blog tip, Bible study - I just love encouraging women!
This is where I write  from the very depths of me, bare my  heart, lay it wide open…
…when I read what I write, I cry. Not because I think I’m such a great writer that I move myself to tears….but because I know that when I write about this, I literally feel like God reaches through my fingers and writes through me. There are times when I literally feel embarrassed at taking the credit for my work, because I know full well that what was written was way better than me. That in fact, it wasn’t me writing -  but God. And that is what moves me.
I have never felt this sensation with any other style of writing. And that’s my voice.
You may feel that excitement with sharing mommy-advice, homeschooling, talking about photography or DIYs – and when you feel that, work it. Find a style of writing on that subject that is unique to you. 
Do you do well with wit? 
Incorporate it. 
Do you crafts stories with your words? Do that. 
Try out different styles and find where you're most comfortable and what engages your readers the most and you’ve found your voice.
Catch up on all the articles in this series

*************


 And now for the party!!!!
Here are the "rules"

1. Link up as many posts as you'd like (even giveaways!)
2. Link up old posts you wish would have received more attention!
3. Link back here by posting my button in your post or sidebar - or with a link
4. Visit the post just before yours

The party runs through next Tuesday evening!
So have FUN!

Click here to receive a weekly reminder about this party!





An InLinkz Link-up


Linking up with Christian Mommy BloggerDon't forget to link up:A Little R & R Wednesdays - a linky party weekly link up

Subscribe to my weekly newsletter


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A Culture of Christian Celebrity-ism: The Worship Series

"Is this what Christianity has come to?" I asked myself, as I read the article in a leading Christian magazine.

It was an overview of the Dove Awards ceremony. The multi-page spread was littered with pictures of various artists and the article seemed like something borrowed from TMZ. It was all about what so-and-so wore and whether it was hot or not.

Never had the blurred lines between church culture and world culture been more obvious than in that article.

And it has infiltrated the local church to a great degree.

Over and over the Bible warns about idolatry in His temple. He warns about "mixed worship" - a mixture of idolatry and worship to God.

In Leviticus 10 we read about Nadab and Abihu who offered a "strange fire". They filled their censors with fire from an altar other than the temple altar, which was the only fire that could be legitimately used for worship. Jewish interpretation also suggests that they were intoxicated.

The result?

A fire went out from the Lord and devoured them.

God is serious about worship. He is serious about our sacrifice. He is also serious about His temple and the worship that is offered there!


What does this have to do with today?  It has so much to do with worship today!

We have taken the worship of God and turned it into worship of man.


There are 2 ways we have turned worship into a culture of celebrity-ism
1. We have turned worship into concerts
Worship time is more like a concert in many churches: from stage lights to smoke machines; from long intros to worship leader solos.

The darkened auditorium leaves the congregation feeling more like an audience. There is a massive disconnect because worship no longer feels corporate. The worship leader cannot see them, they cannot see across the auditorium, and they feel like they're at a concert - not at church.

The worship team becomes a worship band with a lead singer, backup vocals and band; taking on celebrity status.


2. We have become worship music critics
I allowed myself to get pulled into this for a while. I only wanted to sing the "cool" worship songs, not the "old stuff".

Then one day God spoke to me very sternly: "Who do you think you are to show disdain for songs that were written in love to Me, to glorify Me and to honor Me? Who do you think you are? Have you become so full of idolatry that you would rather worship a style of music than Me?"

His words pierced down to a very hardened place in my heart and revealed an area of great snobbery in me.

I dared to poke fun at certain worship songs - changing the words to make them funny. I dared to turn my nose up at them because I considered them outdated and old. And yet those songs were inspired by the Holy Spirit! To make fun of them and call them "uncool" was to make fun of the of the work of the Holy Spirit.

Since when has a style of worship music become a status symbol by which we measure how cool our churches are?

Since when has the church chosen worship music based on music charts and popular artists?

Is this what worship in the church has been reduced to?

The worship of music? 

The worship of man?


Christian celebrity-ism has driven the church to a point of great danger. The mixture of the worship of God with the worship of man and music is a strange fire.

Just like Nadab and Abihu, we come before the altar of God intoxicated by our perception of our own greatness and ability while swinging our censors filled with fire from the altar of idolatry: the worship of Christian celebrities, ourselves and cool music.

The stage is a double-trap: a trap for the one who stands upon it because it elevates them and gives them status. The one who stands on the stage must ever strive for humility. He must ever remind himself that he is never as good as he thinks he is, or as people say he is. He must never allow himself to enjoy the praise of man, or glory in his achievements. He is not up there to be praised, but to give all praise to God.

The stage is also a trap for the one who looks to it because it tempts him to place the one who stands there on a pedestal and make an idol out of him. He must ever remind himself that the one standing on the stage needs the grace and mercy of God as much as he does. He must ever remind himself to look to God alone, and never put his hope, faith and trust in man.
I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
In the end, we must bring it all back to Jesus Christ.
The important question we must ask is:
Is what we're doing glorifying Jesus and elevating Him?
Do the stage lights, darkened auditorium, and tight arrangements glorify Jesus and elevate Him?
Or do they bring more attention to us?
Honest answers to those questions are the first step to dethroning the Christian celebrity and re-establishing Christ to His rightful place in our churches.

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Use Google AdWords to Spread the Gospel

I could barely contain my excitement as I sat with my brother Aaron listening to what is possibly one of the most unique and amazing evangelistic tools. 

It was an outreach opportunity I had never heard of before. And having grown up in ministry all my life, that is a pretty amazing feat right there! 

Innovative. 

Brilliant.

It had the ability to instantly reach thousands with only a few keystrokes.

Chill bumps chased each other up and down my arms as he continued to share how God miraculously opened doors for them, and I knew I couldn't keep the story to myself.
How can we use Google AdWords to spread the gospel? I am sharing about this today at Missional Women. Click here to read the rest of the article.


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