stuff

i woke up this morning + in a vague daydream fashion imagined what i would say to my congregration if i ever led worship.. it was about bringing back the authenticity in worshipping Him, about how dear they are to the Lord: the precious Bride of Christ, for whom He gave His life. How much of a yearning He has toward us.. 'Think about what you're doing, Church- are you singing out of obligation, because it's just something we do at a Sunday service?..Open up your heart to Him, give Him all your frustrations, fears, joys, longings. Sing with all your emotions, with all your life.' And I'd be weeping on my knees, overcome with the compassion Jesus has for the Church... and some would catch my heart + be weeping on their knees.. And I'd call for a surrender of social etiquette, 'christian-ness', religiosity, a freedom to express our love + worship to God with no inhibition.
i hadn't planned to come here this morning, but i rolled out of bed on my knees..and soon headed east.

a couple of things that triggered this:
convo with MA about our incredible worship experiences overseas
15-yr old Bethany Dillon's CD
my own recent frustration with having to sing "worship songs" without any conviction

it was one of the rare times we were (or i was) moved enough by the Spirit to pray so desperately, for 1.5 hours..
prayer summary: "break into us, break through to us.. we're tired of wanting the freedom to live + worship wholeheartedly for You.. bring Us back to our first love, excitement in knowing You."
other random snippets:
S: "all the HP boys want is Jesus.. they're dying cause all they're being made to do is work."
MA: that the worship teams that are birthed from here: will carry Your heart. That it'll be about passion for Jesus + His work on the Cross, and not anything else.

Lord thank You for birthing prayer in us this morning.

SY