Tonight we have our church board meeting, and thought I would share with you the devotional thought I've prepared.

​2 Corinthians 5:13-14 says, “The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang:
     ‘He is good;
     his love endures forever.’
Then the temple of the LORD was filled with the cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the temple of God.”

Besides the trumpets being present (I mean, who wouldn’t worship…ha), this is a favourite passage.  I hope you would join me in desiring God’s glory to be present in our church in such a tangible way.  There is power in the presence of God.  I like how the new song “In Your Presence” by Jesus Culture put it,

This room is alive in your majesty
Our city revived in your mercy
Your Son glorified
Our arms open wide
Singing worthy
You are worthy

Although I hesitate to use this passage as a formula; God can show up when He chooses to show up; I do believe there are things we can learn from this scripture.

Preparation.
I can’t imagine that all the singers and musicians just showed up that day.  I think they prepared.  The musicians and singers prepared their instruments and voices, but I think the people prepared spiritually too, in anticipation of what God would do.
Focus.
God was the focus of this gathering.  He is good.  His love endures forever.  It wasn't about them.
Expectancy.
The people were waiting to see what would happen, expecting God to show up in some way.  Do I approach worship in the same way?
Power.
The manifest presence of God showed up.  Manifest means “clear or obvious to the eye or mind”.  No denying it.  That's what happens when God's glory shows up in power.

There are many important discussions and practices that take place in a church, but nothing is more important than seeking after God.

In case you're not a trumpet player, how will you get ready for God to show up? :)

Before we answer the title question, let me ask another one.  How often do you use your good dishes?  If you're like Chrissy and I, not much.  They look nice.  We've got lots of them.  They have sentimental meaning.  But they aren't our everyday dishes.  They're for special occasions.

In some families, when the good dishes come out, there can be some stress attached.
"What if someone breaks one?"
"What if they find their way into the dishwasher?"
"They might get chipped or dropped!"
And so naturally, they stay on the shelf most of the time.

How can the difference between good and everyday dishes help us in our spiritual lives?  I heard Carey Nieuwhof talk about this (yes, I know I've talked a lot about him lately, but he's got some great, helpful stuff).  Sometimes in our homes, we treat God like He's the good dishes?  We rarely "bring Him out" and when we do we're afraid something will break.  In a Christian family, this isn't how we should treat God.  He should be more like our everyday dishes.  Constantly a part of the day.  Frequently "brought out".  No fear of the conversation "breaking" (God can look out for Himself after all).  I'm reminded of this scripture; "Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."  Joshua 1:8, NIV.  I sometimes read this verse, and get thrown off by that word meditate, or the "day and night" phrase.  It sounds like a lot of work sometimes.  I mean, who meditates?  And I'll admit, I've been around Christians that sometimes force God into the conversation and it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.  I don't find unnaturally forcing God into the conversation particularly helpful.  I don't want my faith to be viewed like author Rosaria Butterfield observed of Christians (before becoming one...great story by the way!), "Christians in particular were bad readers, always seizing opportunities to insert a Bible verse into a conversation with the same point as a punctuation mark: to end it rather than deepen it."  God wants to deepen our life.  His Word makes a difference.  Let's make Him an integral part of our everyday, not just for special occasions.  Let's have His Word in our hearts that it can't help but flow into our day naturally.

So, how normal is "God-Talk" in your home?  Well, only you can answer that.

Resources to check out:
Parenting Beyond Your Capacity by Carey Nieuwhof
The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert by Rosaria Butterfield

Prayer.  Prayer connects us with our heavenly Father.  It also is a powerful tool and weapon.  I believe it can also help us be aware of the needs around us.  I thought I'd take a moment to remind us to pray for the needs of our missionaries around the world.  "Global Partners" is the missionary sending arm of the Wesleyan Church.  We have connections to many others who God has called to serve around the world, involved with many great organizations.  Pray for them too!  This blog post focuses in on those serving with Global Partners.  Please download and view, download and print or view online and make use of this information.  A portion of our weekly tithes goes to support Robin White & the Schmitz family.  Psalm 2:8 says, "Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession."  You know I can't help share a song to go with it.  This is a great song of prayer and worship called "You Said" by Hillsong Church based on Psalm 2:8.
Click here to view/listen to the song on YouTube.

"It’s a new day, and a new year
Shout it out loud, sing with the crowd
Celebrate cause, good things are coming
New opportunities are at the door"
("New Year's Song" by Tim McMorris)

Did you know that New Year's is a Christian holiday?  Really...ok, maybe not (although I suppose it could be because our whole calendar system is based on the birth of Christ...BC & AD).  But perhaps New Year's Day should be an official Christian holiday.  After all, Christ has promised that the best is yet to come.  And He's the only one that can really give you a new beginning.  

What was 2015 like for you?  Was it full of awesomeness?  Then let that give you strength as you enter 2016 and the new things ahead.  Was 2015 a difficult year?  When the clock struck midnight, did you say in your spirit, "good riddance 2015"?  Well, perhaps the best news is for you.  It's a new day!  It's a new year!  We don't live in the past, we live in the future.  And God has some big plans for you.  1 Corinthians 2:9-10 says,

However, as it is written:
“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived” --
the things God has prepared for those who love him--
these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

God loves you so much!  Even if there are difficulties ahead for you this year, God is already there.  You are not alone.  You just need to unwrap that stray present leftover from Christmas, full of possibility and hope.

A happy new year indeed.