30 Days of Worship - Day 30 - June 30, 2023

Image from PxFuel.com

Can you believe we've come to the end of a journey experiencing different songs and expressions of worship?
Today we conclude our 30 Days of Worship with part two from yesterday's song.

30 Days of Worship - Day 29 - June 29, 2023

Image from PxFuel.com

Today's worship song is part one of two songs where we continue our exploration of "spontaneous" worship.

30 Days of Worship - Day 28 - June 28, 2023

Image from Pixabay.com

A few days ago, I shared my thoughts on different styles of worship. Today, I tread on that ground, once again with the intention of introducing you to an even deeper style of worship: "Spontaneous Worship".

30 Days of Worship - Day 27 - June 27, 2023

Image from RawPixel.com

Today, and today only, I bring you another twofer special, "Nothing Else".

This song, written and recorded by Cody Carnes (Kari Job's husband), has also been recorded by Austin native, Rick Pino.

30 Days of Worship - Day 26 - June 26, 2023

Image from PxFuel.com

In the fall of 2017, Michelle and I attended a Christian conference in Lancaster, PA. The music for the conference, in part, was led by Bethel Music and Cory Asbury. During that conference, we were introduced to Cory's yet-to-be-released song, "Reckless Love". 

Michelle and I were both touched by this song and found ourselves singing it everywhere we went. Then, in 2018, we were so happy when it was released and we could hear it on the radio. We never tired of singing about God's reckless love.

 

30 Days of Worship - Day 25 - June 25, 2023

Image from Weather.com

"Revelation Song" has been one of my all-time favorite contemporary worship songs. I really enjoy being a part of a worship team that has this song in their set.

Today, I'm taking a break from explaining things, and I encourage you to watch the behind-the-song story with the songwriter Jennie Lee Riddle, the first recording artist Kari Job, and the band that made this a well-known song Phillips, Craig, and Dean.

30 Days of Worship - Day 24 - June 24, 2023

Image from Pixabay.com

Have you ever been inspired to worship because of a dream? Or maybe even experienced worship in a dream? Today I will share a dream I had several years ago that included today's worship song. 

 

30 Days of Worship - Day 23 - June 23, 2023

Image from PxFuel.com

Today I would like to look at three different variations of one classic hymn, "Nothing but the Blood of Jesus".

30 Days of Worship - Day 22 - June 22, 2023

Image from PublicDomainPictures.net

One of my all-time favorite albums is Peter Gabriel's 1986 release, 'So'. But would you think that a song of an 80's pop-rock recording could be worship?

Today, we'll do one more from the secular realm that speaks to a higher power.

30 Days of Worship - Day 21 - June 21, 2023

Image from PxHere.com

Today I again step away from the Christian Contemporary Music (CCM) vein and instead, choose some more music from the band U2.

30 Days of Worship - Day 20 - June 20, 2023

Michelle - Port Aransas, TX

Labor Day Weekend 2020

Today marks six months. Probably the most difficult six months of my life. And yet, worship of our living God has brought me through this far.

 

30 Days of Worship - Day 19 - June 19, 2023

Image from Pixabay

Today we continue, at least for a moment, with songs of worship from the secular rock world.

30 Days of Worship - Day 18 - June 18, 2023

Image from PxFuel.com

Happy Father's Day!!! 

Today's worship is going to take a bit of a turn in honor of all the dads out there and look to some 'Dad Rock' as worship.

30 Days of Worship - Day 17 - June 17, 2023

Image from PxFuel

Today I feel like simply sharing a song with you.

30 Days of Worship - Day 16 - June 16, 2023

Image from WallpaperFlare.com

Today's song is a redo of the classic hymn: Amazing Grace.

30 Days of Worship - Day 15 - June 15, 2023

Image from BiblePics.co

Today is the halfway point for 30 days of worship. Can you believe we made it this far?

I promise I have a worship song for us today, but first, I would like to share some of my thoughts about worship styles, music, and more.

30 Days of Worship - Day 14 - June 14, 2023

Image from Pexels

Are you able to worship God when you're heart is broken? This is my story and my challenge for you today.

30 Days of Worship - Day 13 - June 13, 2023

Image from Pixabay

If you know what a doxology is, then here is a modern version of one that I present to you as my worship song for today.

30 Days of Worship - Day 12 - June 12, 2023

Image from PeakPx.com

Today, I continue with the water theme. But this time, it's about getting out of the boat and walking on top of the water.

30 Days of Worship - Day 11 - June 11, 2023

Image from StockSnap.io

Last week I presented a song titled "In The River" which explored the imagery of God's love flowing like a river.

In today's worship song, we continue with similar imagery - the depth of the river.

30 Days of Worship - Day 10 - June 10, 2023

Image from Pexels

Describing God isn't easy. 

His infinite character doesn't conform to the limitation of human adjectives.

30 Days of Worship - Day 9 - June 9, 2023

Image from Pixabay

I've found that worship is an effective weapon against a litany of challenges in life.

30 Days of Worship - Day 8 - June 8, 2023

Image from Pixabay

One day, several years ago, as I left the house for an appointment down in Austin, today's worship song was playing on the radio.

30 Days of Worship - Day 7 - June 7, 2023

Image from Pixabay

I meet with a group of men every Saturday morning to pray, share, and fellowship over breakfast.

30 Days of Worship - Day 6 - June 6, 2023

Image from pxhere

Today I feel like simply sharing a verse and a song with you.

30 Days of Worship - Day 5 - June 5, 2023

GFreihalter, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Today, I'd like to simply present three people who pursued God's presence: Moses, Mary the sister of Martha, and John the disciple.

30 Days of Worship - Day 4 - June 4, 2023

Image from Wikimedia

Throughout scripture, rivers provide an image of the abundance and nature of God's grace and love.
Psalm 46:4 describes a river that makes the city of God happy.

In Ezekiel 47 the river is described as flowing from the Throne of God and it starts ankle-deep and progressively gets deeper.

This same imagery is reflected again in Revelation 22.

Frequently, Jesus referred to himself as the source of "living water" and "rivers of living water".

Some things to ponder over, with today's worship song: rivers are moving and active; they don't stagnate; they are full of life and energy. If God's love and grace are compared to rivers, then they too, are moving and active and full of life.

And if you believe in Him, these same rivers will spring forth from you.

Don't be a cup, only to be filled and drunk from, but rather, consider yourself as a vessel that allows the river of Heaven to flow through you to everyone you encounter.

Enjoy today's worship song, Jesus Culture's "In the River".

~~Ken

#monthofworship #JesusCulture #Psalm46:4 #Ezekiel47 #Revelation22 #praisinggod2023 #30DaysOfWorship

30 Days of Worship - Day 3 - June 3, 2023

Image from pxfuel

There are many verses in scripture that encourage us to take hope in God. 

For example, John 14:27 (NASB) states, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful."

Here are several Psalms that speak of us taking refuge in God and our soul praising God:
Psalm 46:1-3 (NASB) - "God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; Though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah."

Psalm 146:1-2 (NASB) - "Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! I will praise the LORD while I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being."

Horatio G. Spafford, a successful businessman and family man suffered several successive losses. The first was the loss of a young son to pneumonia in 1871 and then the loss of his business in the great Chicago fire. Then in 1873 his wife and four daughters were on a ship, crossing the Atlantic when it collided with another ship and quickly sank. All four daughters were drowned. His wife was rescued and taken to Wales where she sent her husband the following message, "Saved alone, what shall I do?"

Spafford took the next available ship to join his grieving wife. About four days into the voyage, the ship's captain called Spafford to his cabin to inform him that the ship was at the spot where his four daughters had drowned. According to a daughter born later, her father wrote the hymn, "It Is Well With My Soul" on this journey.

Today I choose to offer up a modern rendition of this classic hymn - Kristene DiMarco's "It Is Well"

I leave one last scripture as a benediction for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NASB)  "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."

~~Ken

#monthofworship #BethelMusic #KristeneDiMarco #John14:27 #Psalm46:1-3 #Psalm146:1-2 #1Thessalonians5:23 #praisinggod2023 #30DaysOfWorship

30 Days of Worship - Day 2 - June 2, 2023

Image by Vickie McCarty from Pixabay

For day two, Paul's instruction from 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NASB) sums it all up:

"Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

Two words to pay attention to in this verse.
The first is "all", which surprisingly in Greek means "all".

The second is "glory" which is the Greek word "doxa" (dox'-ah) which is the same root where we get the word "Doxology" - which means "an expression of praise to God."
In addition to glory, doxa is also translated into English as honor, praise, dignity, or worship.

As you go through your day today, let everything you do be worship unto the Lord.

Here's my worship song for today - Bethel Music's "Let My Life Be Worship"

~~Ken

#monthofworship #BethelMusic #JennJohnson #MichaelaGentile #1Corinthians10:31 #praisinggod2023 #30DaysOfWorship

30 Days of Worship - Day 1 - June 1, 2023

Image by Josh Sorenson - 2011

How about a month of worship?

I did this a few years ago and posted my notes, thoughts, and worship songs each day for 30 days.
I thought I would do it again for the month of June.

For me, two words come to help me understand what worship really means.
One is a New Testament Greek word and the other is an Old Testament Hebrew word.

The Greek word is 'proskuneo' (pros-koo-neh'-o) and means to kneel, to bless, to kiss the hand in token of reverence.
Proskuneo is used in the description of throne-room worship in Revelation 7:11 (NASB) where the angels and all those around the throne fell and worshiped God.

The Hebrew word is 'bârak' (baw-rak') and means kneeling and blessing.
Bârak is the word used in the Aaronic blessing that God instructed Aaron and the priests to pray over the people every day (Numbers 6:23-27 NASB). A Jewish understanding of this passage explained to me is that in this context, God is kneeling before us and blessing us in the way that a parent kneels and kisses a child.

Doesn't this begin to deepen your understanding of 'real worship'?
It is more than just a Sunday morning meeting.

Throughout this month, I plan to explore different aspects of worship: personal worship, corporate worship, and even secular worship.

To begin, I'd like to offer a worship song that speaks to worship as 'being still and knowing God is God'.

Here's my worship song for today - Jeremy Riddle's 'Know (Be Still)'.

~~Ken

#monthofworship #JeremyRiddle #WatershedMusic #Psalm46:10 #1Kings19:11-12 #John16:33 #praisinggod2023 #30DaysOfWorship