April 19: Tuesday Refocus

“If Biblical Christianity is to survive the present world of upheaval, we shall need to have a fresh revelation of the greatness and beauty of Jesus. He alone can raise our cold hearts to rapture and restore again the art of true worship.” - A.W. Tozer

Wars and rumors of wars. Deadly diseases. Long-awaited reckonings of race and gender. Power imbalance and abuse. Beauty is often hidden in the cracks of our broken world. But it is out of the perfection of beauty that God shines forth as more beautiful (Psalm 50:2). It is into the darkness that a light has shone and not been overcome (John 1:5). We celebrate on Easter that Christ has made a public spectacle of death triumphing over them in the cross (Colossians 2:14-15). That Christ has come and is coming again. That He will wipe every tear, and dwell among His people illuminating hearts and lives (Revelation 21:3-4, 22:5).

It is not in a world - or circumstance - free from brokenness and upheaval that worship is restored, but here and now as we acknowledge our brokenness and catch glimpses of the beauty of God.

God, give us the ability to recognize the brokenness in ourselves as much as the world. Spirit, lift our eyes to see, know, love, and treasure Jesus. In His name, amen.

May it be so,

AB

February 16: Tuesday Refocus

“Problems patiently endured will work for our spiritual perfecting.” - A.W. Tozer

On the Eve of this Lenten season, we can agree we have lived in a perpetual state of Lent the past year. Fasting from and withholding of much of the goodness and sweetness we have come to recognize within our lives.  Our hearts have grown sick and weary for the hope deferred (Proverbs 13:12), as we have longed for things to be different.

Scripture says: ‘For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.  For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.’ 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

Suffering this side of eternity is real, deep, and painful.  You may run, but you will never outrun suffering’s global and local, universal and personal reach.  But when we run to suffering and remain steadfast, we will be perfected and complete, lacking nothing (Jam 1:4).  We follow the example of the Suffering Servant, the Man of sorrows who was acquainted with grief, who for the Joy that was set before Him endured the cross, completing His work (Is 53, Heb 12:2).

We are only able to embrace suffering when we see that it is accomplishing something deeper, and richer within us… and that may not be seen or experienced this side of eternity, but there?  Beyond all comparison.

Lord, as we enter into this intentional time of remembrance and removal, may we look to You.  May we be captivated and filled with the reality of who You are and what You have accomplished.  You who patiently endured, You who delighted to do Your Father’s will, You who lived among us, died for us, have been raised, are seated at the right hand of the Father, and will return again.  In Your name, Jesus, amen.

To Lent,

AB 

January 26: Tuesday Refocus

‘Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the LORD, that He may come and rain righteousness upon you.  You have plowed iniquity; you have reaped injustice; you have eaten the fruit of lies.  Because you have trusted in your own way and in the multitude of your warriors…’ Hosea 10:12-13

Subtly,

subconsciously,

consistently, 

we have been swept along more than we have sown (Eph 4:14). 

Our churches,

our hearts,

our lives 

are full sorrow from the other gods we have pursued (Ps 16:4).

Faithful,

Steadfast,

Loving,

the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore He exalts Himself to show mercy to you (Is 30:18).

Sow righteousness,

Reap steadfast love,

Break up the fallow ground,

Seek the LORD, and He will rain righteousness (Hosea 10:12).

Jesus, thank You for Your pursuing steadfast love.  Would our hearts and lives be eager to seek You, to sow righteousness, and quick to reject iniquity, injustice, and lies.  May we trust in You alone.  Amen.

Sowing,

AB

Vocal Health

We are embodied creatures. If we desire to do the work on ministry for the long haul, it will take intentionally cultivating our heart, mind, soul, and yes, even our bodies. Singing weekly, through rehearsals and services can take a toll on your voice and body if you are not pursuing healthy habits and practices as you ready your body to lead corporate sung worship. Here are a few things I have learned over the years:

Stay hydrated. Water isn’t just for times when you’re singing. You have to be regularly giving your body the hydration it needs. Coffee, alcohol, dairy, sugar, and lack of sleep all dehydrate and strain your body and voice. Drink more water than you think you need, and remember it takes at least 20 minutes for the water to hydrate your vocal cords - plan accordingly.

Know your voice. What range and keys are most comfortable for you to sing consistently? What is your vocal tone and ability? Are you trying to sing like someone else in a sound or style that your voice cannot accommodate? Familiarize yourself with your specific voice so that you can play to your strength and minimize weakness.

Warm up. It was not until after college that I began to warm up consistently every time I led worship. It can be a bit tedious, but it has made such a difference not only in my ability to sing well through rehearsal and a service but strengthen my voice overall from week to week. The program I use is called Singing Success. Downloading their app is an easy way to test to see if this program is the right fit for you. Another great resource is Jan Smith’s vocal coaching. In this video, Jan provides a warm-up (and down) routine that is simple and accessible.

Hire a vocal coach. Even the most basic vocal ability will benefit from trained professional teaching you how to stand, how to breathe, and how to care for this instrument God has built into your body.

Drink this. Whether it is seasonal allergies, or overworking my voice, I saw Jonas Myrin (songwriter, artist, and incredible vocalist) post on his Instagram years ago. What you need: Ginger, Lemon, Clove, Cinnamon Stick, Honey. How to: In a mug or glass measuring cup cut half a lemon, add 6-8 cloves, one cinnamon stick, lots of honey, and grate lots of fresh ginger. Add a cup of hot water, steep the tea for 3-4 minutes, strain into a fresh mug, and enjoy! I’ve also heard good things about Diane Sheet’s voice tea as well.

If we are to take seriously the song selection and liturgy - which we should, we should also take seriously the way we prepare our body and voices to lead God’s people in sung corporate worship. We care and serve others well when we prepare our heart, soul, mind, and body to lead people in song.

How do you care, maintain, and grow your voice?

October 20: Tuesday Refocus

Fear is a powerful motivator. Live in fear of the world, and you will try to control, lash out, or become paralyzed when people and circumstances do not respond the way you want. But ‘the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom…’ (Prov 9:10). To fear the Lord is to live in holy awe and reverence of who He is, and what He has done. Is it any wonder our world is running scared when even those who claim Christ are given more to fear of man than fear of the Lord? When the posture of our life is oriented around anything other than God, our life is overtaken by worldly fear. But when our lives are seen in a proper perspective, wisdom is the fruit (Ps 90:12).

As A.W. Tozer reminds us: ‘Wisdom comes to the heart that is hungry for God.’ Our fears are exposed in our appetites - fear of the world or fear the Lord. Jesus invites us to exchange our fear of the world for fear of Him, and when we fear the Lord, we are invited not to fear (Is 41:10).

Lord, let us live in fear of You. Freed from fear that paralyzes, seeks to control, or becomes angry, into fear which leads us in worship and surrender to find life in You. Thank you, that we have nothing to fear. In Christ’s name, amen.

In fear,

AB

A Philosophy of Worship

Ready or not, Sunday is coming. Most worship leaders, teams, and churches are able to execute the rhythm of weekly gatherings. They can choose songs, schedule a team, and move through a rehearsal well enough to lead during the Sunday service. This is no small feat - especially for those serving, leading, and overseeing as volunteers. Regardless of church size, I often find something amiss - there is a lack of clarity, vision, and direction around corporate sung worship and the worship team.

I think this may be why so many worship leaders, teams, and churches are carbon copies of what we see online, and in the CCLI Top 10 songs. We sense the clarity, vision, and direction of these churches, writers, and worship leaders, and in an attempt to create that in our own unique contexts simply copy and paste. But when our corporate gathering becomes so outwardly referenced (rather than Scripturally rooted, and contextually appropriate) we lose clarity, vision, and direction.

This is why I advocate every worship leader, and church writes a philosophy of worship. A Spirit-led, prayerful, formation of guideposts and markers that will anchor the direction of the corporate gathering, and sung worship of your church.

Creating a philosophy of worship helps you weigh the songs you introduce, train worship leaders, shape the culture of the team, and the corporate gathering and keep you steady when loud voices attempt to move you in an unhelpful direction.

In creating a philosophy of worship that serves your context, here are a few questions I think are helpful as you study, think, pray, and write:

What does Scripture say about worship?

What are the mission, vision, and values of our church? How do they inform our gathering?

What are distinctive, non-negotiable for our team, our leaders, our songs, and our service?

How does what we do as a gathered church fuel, impact, and influence who we are as we are sent out on mission?

Need help fleshing out a philosophy of worship for your church? Send me an email here.

September 15: Tuesday Refocus

‘O God, You are my God; earnestly I seek You;

my soul thirst for You;

my flesh faints for you,

as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.’ Psalm 63:1

Eternity is set in the heart of every person, is it any wonder we have desires that are satisfied only by the Eternal One (Ecc 3:11)?  The longings of our hearts and desires of our souls send us searching for One who will be found (Jer 29:13).

‘So I have looked upon You in the sanctuary,

Beholding Your power and glory.

Because Your steadfast love is better than life,

My lips will praise You.’  Psalm 63:2-3

All eyes will one day see Him, and the sight of Him will either produce worship or wailing (Rev 1:7).  All revelation leads to response, so even a glimpse now finds a confession of worship: ‘…Your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise You’

‘So I will bless You as long as I live;

In Your name I will lift up my hands.’ Psalm 63:4

Hands-raised is a sign of surrender.  A giving over of myself to the One who satisfies, the One who has revealed Himself, the One whose love is better than life.

Lord, forgive our apathy and half-hearted pursuit of You.  The One who loves us to the uttermost.  Reveal our desires, satisfy our longings, lift our gaze and our hands.  In Christ’s name, amen.

Looking,

AB

September 8: Tuesday Refocus

‘O Truth, how the deepest marrow of my mind aches for You!’ - Augustine

I am not always aware of my desires and expectations until they go unmet.  Whether your dreams or plans, hopes, or careers have been put on pause or completely collapsed, we have all been marked by unmet desires, expectations, and longings in 2020.

We could perceive COVID-19 as an interruption, or an invitation to allow God to purify and clarify our desires.  Some of our desires are God-given – to provide for our families, to use the gifts He has given, to steward-well what He has entrusted.  And some of our desires have been co-opted by sin, self, and culture.  No desire is hidden from Him:  ‘O Lord, all my longing is before You; my sighing is not hidden from You.’ – Psalm 38:9

And through His Word our desires are weighed: ‘For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.’ – Hebrews 4:12

Welcome the interruption that allows the Spirit to remind our hearts: ‘You open Your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.’ - Psalm 145:16

Lord, we look to You, give us a desire for righteousness greater than we desire the stability of career, and fulfilled earthly expectations.  All our desires are only a shadow of what our souls truly long for – You alone.  Thank You, that in You we are satisfied.  In Christ's name, amen.

Open,

AB

March 24: Tuesday Refocus

‘To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul.

O my God, in You I trust;

let me not be put to shame;

let not my enemies exult over me.

indeed, none who wait for You shall be put to shame;

they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.'

In my waiting, I still behold the beauty and radiance of God. All those who look to Him are radiant (Ps 34:5)

'Make me to know Your ways, O LORD;

teach me Your paths.

Lead me in Your truth and teach me,

for You are the God of my salvation;

for You I wait all the day long.'

When my face is set upon Him, I walk in His ways, follow His leading, and wait on Him.

'Remember Your mercy, O LORD, and Your steadfast love,

for they have been from of old.

Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;

according to Your steadfast love remember me,

for the sake of Your goodness, O LORD!'

PSALM 25:1-7

For His namesake, the same One who numbers my hairs and catches my tears chooses to remember not my sin.

Thank You, Father, that You are sovereign and You are good. Help us lift our eyes to You, set our trust in Your character and follow Your paths by the power of the Spirit, in Christ’s name, amen.

Looking to Him,

AB

March 10: Tuesday Refocus

‘Give us courage and largeness of heart that we may follow unafraid.’ – E. Stanley Jones

When I am afraid, it is often because I forget that I am following a Good Shepherd.  He leads me, He is with me, and His goodness and mercy follow me (Ps 23:2,4,6).  I do not have to clear my own path He leads me by the hand (Ps 139:10). 

I can follow His lead to the ends of the earth for He is with me to the end of the age (Matt 28:19-20).

Lord, will You overwhelm our hearts with the reality of Your kind shepherding.  Remind our hearts that You are near.  In Your name, amen.   

To remember,

AB

July 30: Tuesday Refocus

‘Let us desire nothing else,

let us want nothing else,

let nothing else please us and cause us delight except our Creator, Redeemer, and Savior,

the only true God,

Who is the fullness of good,

All good, every good, the true and supreme good,

Who alone is good,

Merciful, gentle, delightful, and sweet,

Who alone is holy,

Just, true, holy, and upright,

Who alone is kind, innocent, clean,

From whom, through whom, and in whom

Is all pardon, all grace, all glory

Of all penitents and just ones,

Of all the blessed rejoicing together in heaven.’ – St Francis of Assisi

There is no end to things we desire.  Some desires are God-given.  All desire has been warped by sin:

‘What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you?  Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?  You desire and do not have, so you murder.  You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel.  You do not have because you do not ask.  You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spent it on your passions.’ - James 4:1-3

In our sin-distorted desire we love to use Psalm 37:4 as a means to our selfish end: ‘Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.’

But it has never been money, sex or power that we truly desire – but God Himself.  The One who is good and does good (Ps 119:68).  The One who opens His hand and satisfies the desire of every living thing (Ps 145:16).  He is our greatest desire, and this desire is never left unfulfilled because He gives us Himself (1 Tim 2:6).

Lord Jesus, let us desire nothing else, want nothing else, let nothing else please us, and cause us delight except You.  In your name, amen.

Desiring Him,

AB

June 18: Tuesday Refocus

‘Hiddenness turns dutiful workers into lovers of God.’ – Sara Hagerty

Sometimes the line can feel thin and blurry.

The line between working as unto the Lord (Col 3:23) and working to earn, prove and justify our existence.

But when we hide ourselves in His shadow, our frantic labor turns to the work of worship: ‘My refuge and my fortress, My God in whom I trust’ (Ps 91:1-2).  When we hide ourselves in His shadow, we see that we have nothing to offer that He did not first provide (1 Cor 4:7).  When we hide in His shadow we see it has always been grace, never works which saved us (Eph 2:8-9).

So we cease from striving (Ps 46:10, NASB) and choose the good portion (Lk 10:42).  We rest in the reality of His completed work (Jn 18:30).

Lord Jesus, help us choose the good portion today.  We want to be with You, not merely working for You.  We want to know You as fully as You know us.  Remind us that You have completed the work of salvation.  We have nothing to earn, and nothing to prove.  Help us rest in who You are, and what You have accomplished.  We love You, in Your name, amen.

In hiddenness,

AB