It is a common belief that you have to "clean yourself up" before you come to God.  So much so that people will stay away from church or stay away from even exploring what it means to be a follower of Jesus because they think they're too bad.  I love what Psalm 51:16 & 17 says;

        You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
        you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 
        My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
        a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.

He wants to take our brokenness and make something beautiful out of it as we surrender it to Jesus.  Something only He can really do.

Casting Crowns does a song called "Broken Together" that is a reminder of this truth.  I encourage you to take a listen below.  It's especially poignant when you think about difficulties that arise in marriage relationships.  Hope amidst brokenness.  Be encouraged.  We're all broken together and still loved by Him!

Maybe you and I were never meant to be complete
Could we just be broken together
If you can bring your shattered dreams and I'll bring mine
Could healing still be spoken and save us
The only way we'll last forever is broken together
"Broken Together" by Casting Crowns.

Autumn is awesome.  I know many of you love this time of year as well.  Who else but a creative God would bring beauty in death...in expectation of new life to come.  This past Friday night, Chrissy and I went to Cineplex to watch a one-night-only movie called “Hillsong: Let Hope Rise”.  It’s the story of the worship band “Hillsong United” from Sydney, Australia.  God has given them an incredible platform around the world to share the Gospel through music and testimony.  Their song “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” alone has had a huge impact.  These young people have such a heart to be used by God and live into their calling from Him.  At Laurentian, we sing several of their songs, including “This I Believe (The Creed)” and recently “Broken Vessels”.

Throughout the history of the church, God has inspired people to express their faith in Jesus with new songs of praise and worship.  “We write new songs because God is always doing something new”, Joel Houston of Hillsong United says in the movie.  Imagine if Charles Wesley had not been overcome with the love of God and inspired to write; “Amazing love!  How can it be that Thou my God shouldst die for me?” or if Horatio Spafford had not put his hopeful sorry into words with “whatever my lot Thou hast taught me to say, ‘It is well, it is well with my soul’”.  Are there expressions of a living faith being written today that will be sung in 50 or 100 years from now?  The Holy Spirit's moving and history will tell.  But one thing is sure, whether ancient, new, old or yesterday, they’re only words if not accompanied by; or pointing to; a living faith.  

One song from Hillsong United that I was impacted when I saw them sing it was "Empires".  It's a more reflective song, but with an awesome truth; in Christ we are a new creation!

Beneath our skin
A new creation
The night is done
Our chains are broken
The time has come
The wait is over
The King is here
And His Name is Jesus
*“Empires” by Hillsong United

It’s a guitar driven modern worship song.  If you’d like to listen click below.

God is at work in our church and in our world.  I pray today you would find a song on your lips and in your heart.  To lift up Jesus and remind you of His truth at work in your life.