Journey To Worship

August 17, 2015August 19, 2015

Revival

To me there’s nothing more exciting than revival!

Imagine your neighbor comes over to your house with tears in her eyes. You invite her in and she tells you her son is in Iraq and can’t be found. She came to you because she knows that you pray. So you say to her let’s bow together and let me pray for you and your son. You spend time praying with her and then finish. She feels a sense of calm she didn’t have before. You assure her you’ll keep praying. A few weeks later she comes over to your house again on a Friday night when a few of your friends have come over for dinner and to sing a few worship songs. She is all smiles and tells you the great news that her son has been found alive and unharmed. You rejoice with her. In fact you suggest that she join you and your friends in a circle of prayer saying thanks to God. She agrees. After you are finished praying you invite her to stay and sing along with your friends. She does and completely enjoys herself.

A few days later you get the idea of having a regular weekly prayer meeting with some of your friends and it dawns on you that you should invite your neighbor. She agrees to come and asks if she can bring her best friend along. You say that would be just wonderful. And so you begin a journey of revival.

There are several things that can help revival to start.

1. Bad news. In 2 Kings 20:1-3 we read about Hezekiah the king of Judah receiving a solemn declaration:
1In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.'” 2Then he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, saying, 3″Remember now, O LORD, I beseech You, how I have walked before You in truth and with a whole heart and have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

King Hezekiah got some really bad news. He was told by the prophet Isaiah that he was going to die. The bible says his response was to turn to the wall and pray. That sounds like revival!

When the people of Nineveh heard the bad news from Jonah they repented…revival broke out. Their version of turning to the wall and praying was putting on sackcloth and ashes and weeping and saying sorry to God. Sometimes God allows bad things that will draws us close to Him and give Him a chance to show His deep love and concern for us. He also demonstrates his awesome power in the times when we are distressed. It’s not that God isn’t regularly showing His care. But we take it for granted and don’t recognize it’s from Him. But when the rug is pulled out from under our feet we suddenly know where our help comes from.

2. Not eating. If you ever want to pray with greater intensity try skipping a few meals. Spiritual veterans call it fasting. There is something about fasting that not only gets God’s attention but captures our complete attention as well. When we stop providing ourselves with what nourishes us we put our bodies into crisis mode. And when we pray in crisis mode there seems to be greater benefit. Jesus one day alluded to this when he told his disciples that a situation they were dealing with was of a severe nature and required both prayer and fasting in order to remedy things. You and I who are called by God to be disciples of Jesus need to utilize this spiritual power boost of fasting. Some for medical reasons shouldn’t fast. However, for everyone else it’s a tool that should be used.

3. Reading the word. When the children of Israel were returning from exile in Babylon, Nehemiah was put in charge of helping the people rebuild the wall of their city. A scribe named Ezra came a bit later and was called upon to read the scriptures to the people. In verse 9 it tells us that all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. They had drifted away from their pure worship to God. When the word of God was opened up to them and explained they were convicted. Than revival came.

Today if you want better worship than choose to have a revival.

The bad news is all around us: Violence, hatred, disease, global warming, pollution and on and on. The good book is right in front of us. We can get it on our phones, tablets, and laptops. Let’s plan right now! Fast on Friday and invite some Christian friends to join you and have an hour long season of prayer followed by breaking your fast with a simple meal at say 7pm. It could be that easy.

When Solomon had dedicated the temple he had built for God he was over the top with his sacrifice and praise. God responded by descending in a glory cloud that shut down the temple. Afterward Our heavenly Father told Solomon the pattern for revival. Let’s read it together.

2 Chronicles 7:12-14:

¹²And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.

¹³If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;

¹⁴If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Let this be our pattern. When the bad stuff happens, humble ourselves–we acknowledge we need help, and pray–fast and pray if necessary, seek my face–turn off the TV and the texting and give God our undivided attention, and turn from their wicked ways-remove yourself from doing stuff you know is sin. Get help from a pastor or a friend, but flee that which is foul to our God.

Then God says He will hear, forgive, and heal. That’s what we need! God’s presence, His forgiveness, and His power. We need a revival. Why not start one today?

I’m on this journey to worship with you. Please share with me your thoughts about what I shared with you today. I love you and pray for you to find worship that nourishes through revival!

August 16, 2015August 16, 2015

10 Tips To Better Singing (x10 cont)

better worship — Image courtesy of Khunaspix at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Hopefully, you’ve been enjoying our better singing tips. In case you missed the first two parts here they are:

10 Tips To Better Singing (Pt1)

10 Tips To Better Singing (Pt2)

I’ve enjoyed teaching so many students over the last more than 25 years. One thing I’ve learned from the experience which will be our next tip.

8. Be focused and committed to grow. One of my favorite students was Jason. He was on a mission to improve his voice. He wanted to extend his range and wanted to improve his sense of pitch. We were able to help him do both! But why he was so successful was the focus he demonstrated. We met two times a week. He faithfully worked on what we went over in the lesson. He had a goal in mind of recording in a major studio in a few months and he needed to be in tip top shape. So he leveraged this goal to help him stay focused. You can do the same!

9. Visualize your desired result daily. When I was first starting out with singing in high school I wasn’t very good. In fact one day my best friend came and told me I should stick to writing songs and let someone else sing them. THIS WAS DEVASTATING! But I didn’t give up! And I did listen to what he was saying. I did need to work some more. But one way that I found most effective was using the inner-game of singing. I had heard our basketball coach say that a study was done once where different players practiced shooting free throws in two different ways. One set actually stood at the fowl line and practiced their shots. But the second group sat and visualized successfully shooting and making the fowl shoots for the same amount of time (20 min. a day) as the other group literally practiced physically.

At the end of the study they found that the group that used their imagination for practice did best. I took this concept and started using it when I had to sing. I would picture the audience being moved to tears as I sang (hopefully not because it hurt to listen to me lol). I would imagine feeling good because my voice was effectively communicating my heart’s feelings and so many people were enjoying the experience. I would do this daily in preparation for a singing opportunity. And when I sang a very strange thing happened. I almost felt as though I was watching myself sing. It was as if I was singing on autopilot and enjoying the song along with the audience.

Today I don’t do this for every singing opportunity, but I probably should given the great results I achieved.

10. Partner with God. I know that not all singers believe in God. But I want to share with you what has worked for me. I am blessed and have grown in so many ways. I’ve travelled to many countries singing and met so many wonderful people. I’ve enjoyed singing with children dying of AIDS in Kenya and I’ve enjoyed singing for 70,000 people in a hugh arena. I’m so blessed and so grateful. I give all the glory to God! He’s my ultimate vocal and life coach. Try Him and I know you’ll see results!

Life as a singers won’t be easy but the joy that you bring to others and the love they can feel is worth the pain of the process. Ask God to take you where your voice will do the greatest good for Him and you’ll never regret it.

Thank you for honoring me with your presence as you read today. I am grateful! I wish for you better singing and better worship.

August 16, 2015August 18, 2015

10 Tips To Better Singing (x10)

Here’s the second part to our 10 Tips To Better Singing. Click here if you missed the first post.

I thought we’d give you the list in a different and more powerful way. Check it out!

5. Open your mouth when you’re singing. Ken Taylor, a vocal coach from Orlando, points out that singers who keep their mouths mostly closed are likely tense in the tongue and are far from achieving maximum quality of tone. He likes the two finger rule. If you can fit two fingers between your teeth while singing (esp on open vowels like “ah” and “oh”), then you’re good. If not, open your mouth more. For 7 more tips from Ken click here.

6. Stop using glottal attacks! Cari Cole, celebrity vocal coach shares that glottals’ happen when the edges of the vocal cords bang together in over-closure. This results from poor vocal technique. The way to avoid it is to add a soft “h” to the onset of words that begin with vowels, i.e.; “hh-everyone”, “hh-“I”; “hh-always”. To read more of her excellent singing advice (way more than 10 more tips) click here.

7. Water Water Water. Vocal coach Yvonne DeBandi stresses that we need to drink lots of room temperature water all day and not just when we feel dehydrated. Because if we drink it when we feel dehydrated when we are singing the water will first go to the large muscles and not to the vocal folds. For more help from Yvonne and at least 20 more tips click here.

To Be Continued…

August 12, 2015August 16, 2015

A Lingering Spirit

A Lingering Spirit

Genesis 19:16 “And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.” (KJV)

Joshua 24:15 “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”(KJV)

Have you ever known that you should do something but you didn’t do it? Everyone has. But this is a lethal choice.

One would think that all that is necessary is for us to be made aware of the truth. “Smoking is bad for you.” “Pornography objectifies women and men.” “Processed foods rich in sugar and various preservatives are strongly contributing to our obesity epidemic.” “By beholding we become changed.” We know a lot but don’t seem to change our behavior.

In James 4 after giving admonition to among other things draw close to God and not be friends with the world he wrote in verse 17 “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” Our problem in finding worship that nourishes is often not just a lack of knowledge. Instead it is the deadliness of knowing but not taking action. I call it “deadliness” and “lethal choice” for a reason.

Lot was visited by angels that told him that the city he lived in would be destroyed and he must leave immediately. But Lot lingered!!!!!! The angels took hold upon him and his family and removed them from the city. But the sad truth is that there were consequences that Lot’s family received because they had hung out in the godless city of Sodom for so long. They weren’t who they used to be when they were living with uncle Abraham. I’m sure it wasn’t immediate but their hearts changed. In fact Lot’s wife’s heart changed so much that she defied the angel’s command not to look back at the city they were fleeing. She looked back and was transformed into a pillar of salt.

Don’t look back and don’t stay put. Let me say that again. Don’t look back and don’t stay put. Our worship is to God. Heaven is our destination. Becoming like Him is our goal and a continuous process. If we don’t take action to leave what we know is bad for us and if we don’t take action to stop doing what we know hurts us and others then we will be what we’ve been and have what we’ve had. We won’t look like Jesus because we’ve been focused on the world. David says in Psalm 51:5 “I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” If we stay where we are we will continue to be shaped by iniquity. We have to leave to be God’s dream for us.

Abraham left in order to be God’s vision for his life.

Genesis 12:1Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

2And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

3And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

You and I must leave what’s familiar and what’s comfortable in order to find God’s best for us. But God’s best for us also affects our family and friends. Imagine if you made decisions everyday in the same way that Jesus made decisions. If you did the same things Jesus did how would that affect the lives of those you work with? I guarantee that everyone who you love will have a better life because you let go and let God.

Don’t linger. A lingering spirit is similar to what the bible calls double-mindedness.

James 1: 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (KJV)

If you ask God for something but don’t believe He exists or that He will hear and help you than you aren’t likely to receive your request. Likewise if you know something that you should do in order to have a better outcome in your life but you don’t choose to do it, you most likely will continue to have the miserable results you have always had.

Take immediate action on what you know will improve your life. Take immediate action on what you know will give God glory and create better worship. And take immediate action on what you know will allow you to have a decisive and not a lingering spirit.

August 4, 2015August 16, 2015

The Corrective Diet

I want to share with you about a way of eating introduced to my family by Peter Carstens called The Corrective Diet. I have included a link to allow you to listen to videos of Peter explaining the principals behind this diet here. I consider this information to be very valuable and one of the best kept health secrets. My family participated in a documentary about his diet. We agreed to follow it for a month. The results were tremendous. My son lost 17lbs, my wife lost 19lbs, my mother lost 20lbs, and I lost 32lbs. But what was most incredible was that neither my son, my wife or I though we all have asthma, had to use our inhalers after about a week of being on this diet. In addition my blood pressure lowered into the normal range without medication after about 10 days (I don’t recommend stopping taking your blood pressure medicine without your doctor’s supervision).

My wife Monique Griffiths who in addition to being a recording artist is also a personal trainer. She has used this diet with several of her clients with great results. Please take the time to watch several of the videos to gain a clearer understanding of the science behind the diet. (videos about corrective diet)

But in summary let me just say that it is a way to eat that focuses on making the body more alkaline. This is believed to have many benefits. Click here to read about which foods are acidic and which are alkaline and what percentage of each we should include in our diets (alkaline diet benefits).

If you would like a copy of the corrective diet please leave a comment asking for it at the bottom of this post.

Thank you and success to you on your journey to wellness and your journey to worship.

July 30, 2015August 16, 2015

Letting Go

In order to grow we must learn to let go.

It’s been hard for me to observe my son trying to navigate life. Adults say what a warm, intelligent and loving boy he is. He has demonstrated his gifts as a singer and drummer. From the time he was young he has been surrounded by favor. One day we were waiting to be seated at IHOP and a man engaged him in conversation. Pleased with the dialog the man reached into his wallet and gave David a 20 dollar bill.

Despite his many similar special stories David has been teased and bullied for years. Because he is overweight children say the meanest things. And I can’t stop them. Christian school or secular school, it’s all the same. So when we are at the swimming pool of our hotel as we are travelling on our Journey To Wellness, and David asks the kids in the swimming pool to play Marco Polo and they do…and they all have a good time…David becomes my hero. He Let’s go.

He doesn’t let previous rejections keep him from reaching out again. And even when he’s playing with a group of kids who are not paying attention to him and including him, he still has fun.

In order for us to heal we must let go. Bitterness destroys. Forgiveness mends.

So today my son David has taught me to let go of past hurts and reach out for new potential. Thank you, David.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 NIV All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

July 30, 2015August 16, 2015

Worship Highlights

worship highlights

Do you remember the first time you really sensed God’s presence?

Do you remember the first time you felt the joy and acceptance of the body of Christ?

Please share in the comments below about an experience in worship that nourished you. I’ll add mine to the comments as well.

July 29, 2015August 16, 2015

Journey To Wellness

Journey To Wellness

My son and I began a special journey today

We want to work together to live healthier

We want to nourish our bodies and minds

AND WE WANT TO SHARE THIS JOURNEY WITH YOU

Journey To Wellness

So here goes…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqQYQlZMKjo

July 27, 2015August 16, 2015

Periscope for Jesus

“Your Voice Matters”

Roughly 4 months ago an app was released called Periscope. It enables you to broadcast from your cellphone or tablet live to the world.

Have you ever wanted to witness but you just couldn’t seem to learn the appropriate cool phrase to lead the conversation in the right direction? Are you like me shy by nature? Than let’s Peri”scope” our witness.

I want each person reading this to promise me that you will try out this app and that you will record your testimony regarding why you love Jesus and his Father so much.

There are many tutorial videos posted on Youtube that show you how to broadcast with the app (Click here to watch one).

If you get stuck please let me know in the comments and subscribe so I have your email and can walk you through the process.

I’m going to share a scope with you now. But before I do please envision this with me. Imagine that as you open the app to look at the different broadcasts available that the majority of them say “Scope for Jesus.” And that as you click each one someone else is scoping about why they love Jesus. How totally awesome would that be! Let’s do it and give God greater glory. If you want Better Worship, Worship That Nourishes, than open your heart to all the ways God has provided for you to reach out to heal the world in His name and by His power. Remember, your voice matters! Now Periscope for Jesus!

Here’s mine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oO-MPBYF3s

July 25, 2015April 9, 2016

If I See You, I’ll Worship

Lift Up Jesus — If I See You, I’ll Worship

Matthew 28:
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
17 And when they saw him, they worshiped him: but some doubted.

The real danger in our pollution of worship is that those who really need to see Jesus won’t even believe He exists.

People in the world are quick to pick up on a scam. So when we walk one way and talk another they have already discredited our statements of faith. You see they’ve had plenty of exposure to fake politicians and fake preachers. Scandal after scandal has exposed that it’s much more important how you treat me when I don’t have anything you want than how you are when the lights are on and the camera is rolling.

So when it comes to our journey to worship and when it comes to Jesus, we dare not allow tradition or pretense to obscure God’s real son. Jesus promised that if people could really see Him then they would be moved His direction.

John 12:32 “ And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”

Jesus was lifted up on a cross so that all the world could see that God is love. If God had said I love you but not done anything to back it up than most wouldn’t believe. But God so loved the world that He gave His only son Jesus to die to pay for the penalty of our sins. Not only that, but Jesus came and lived before us so we could get a better idea of who God is. In I John 4:8 we read that “God is love.” So if we were to really see God as he is we would be overwhelmed with His very nature. God is LOVE. Not lust! He is not infatuation! He is love! So the mere essence of God being in our presence would woo us to His side. And we would never want to leave Him.

This is why satan has worked so hard to confuse us. He doesn’t want us to realize that God really is the love that we stand in need of. So he maligns His character. He accuses God of being harsh. He says God wants to keep us down. He told Eve in the garden that God wanted to keep us from being powerful like Him and that’s why he told them to stay away from the forbidden fruit. And today God stands misrepresented by the myriads of preachers who present Him as a genie in a bottle to get the stuff we wish for in this life.

And by getting us to focus in on ourselves and getting more and more stuff, he succeeds in keeping us from loving others. He’ll do anything so that we won’t lift up Jesus.

If we could just see Jesus we would worship Him. But we have the TV on all the time to quiet are pangs of loneliness. Is it any wonder we can’t hear His Holy Spirit whispering words of love and life to us? But if we could just take a look at Jesus we would be overwhelmed by his love. Phil. 2 shares:

“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

So Jesus was worshiped in heaven perpetually. There was nothing He desired that He could not have. He was the center of attention with His father. But for some reason He thought it better to leave His throne and all that adoration and come down to earth to be disrespected and misrepresented. He came to suffer and die after all the abuse to give an ungrateful fallen race an opportunity at redemption. Oh what manner of love the Father hath given unto us that we should be called the sons of God! And oh what manner of love that Jesus would become the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. I’m getting excited right now in my seat! I feel like doing something to express the overwhelming gratitude in my heart for His sacred and sacrificial gift.

Matthew 28:17 said and when they saw Him they worshipped. That’s it! We just need to see Him and everything else will fall into place.

Lord I need your presence everyday. Lord I want to know you. Lord I seek your face, for if I see you, I’ll worship!

I invite you today to focus on all the ways God has showed his love to you in the past week. Write them down. Then praise Him for them. Lift up Jesus! Allow your shift of focus to bring awareness to God’s presence. And if as a result God blesses you with joy in your heart and renewed courage and faith then by all means tell someone else to do what you just did…and don’t forget to share your testimony with us in the comment section below.

Today’s post is sponsored by The Griffiths Family Show

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