8 1 all the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel.
2 So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand.3 He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.
4 Ezra the teacher of the Law stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion. Beside him on his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; and on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.
5 Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up.6 Ezra praised the Lord, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
7 The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there.8 They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear[a] and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.
9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.
10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:1-10
Day 50: Visit Home
There are places that are familiar to us from our past. Often they are places that we have special memories from. Even places that we discovered many of the ideals we currently hold sacred. It’s important to visit home. Visiting home can be going to a neighborhood you use to hang out in with your friends. It can also be going back to the roots of your spirituality.
In the above scripture from the book of Nehemiah we see depicted a seen where people are weeping. They are weeping because they are listening to the words of the Law of Moses. Perhaps they realize that God had been so good to them and yet they had neglected their relationship with God. Maybe they understood more clearly things they had heard many years before but had forgotten. Sometimes we need to visit home. We need to be reminded of what we have valued in the past. We need to remember what truths we already knew and see how they relate to our current situation.
In visiting home we may find the answers to many of the questions of our today.
Today, I will meditate on past locations and journeys, reflecting on lessons learned.
Thank you for reading. Please subscribe and be sure to share with a friend you think might enjoy.
Have you ever wanted to believe in magic? Me too. But God is not magic!!! I have hurt myself listening to and buying into those that sell a “magical” religious experience. We are blessed to be loved by Our Heavenly Father. He has created us and given us this moment of life. He has given us the bible to help us learn about Him. We are able to study the bible and pray, asking for wisdom and the gift of His Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth. God invites us to come boldly to His Throne Of Grace. We are invited to pray. When we pray God can answer the prayer as He chooses. He isn’t forced to do what we want. We trust that based upon His character and His love for us that He will give us the best answer for our prayer.
I don’t want to read any more stories about people becoming wealthy by convincing the sincere to send them a substantial seed that ends up making those people rich. I am impressed by those who provide a valuable service or great innovation who then are rewarded with financial gain. But I am saddened by those who learn our emotional responses and then manipulate them to make themselves wealthy. Worse yet when it’s done in the name of God it makes me sick.
Today I refuse to be deceived. I will seek God for myself. I will pray. I will read His word. I will trust Him. I won’t run after magic!
There are somethings that fill my heart with wonder. I love the water. I love being near the ocean, feeling the mist and hearing the waves rhythmically come to shore. When I sit by the water I feel peace. I wish I could do this every day.
There are people whose gifts fill my heart with wonder. Last night I was able to spend time listening to an incredible musician. Dwayne Adell is a pianist unlike any other that I’ve heard. His unique gift is remarkable in that he doesn’t practice the piano in the traditional sense but has the ability to play the most demanding, beautiful and inspiring melodies and harmonies.
When I listen to him I am filled with worship. I am amazed by the gift that he has been given. I don’t worship him. I worship the giver of the gift. When I’m basking in the sanctuary of nature I don’t worship the ocean or the trees, I worship the designer of all that calms and inspires me.
The writer of Psalm 8 seemed to understand how I feel in these moments of wonder. He writes:
8 O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
9 O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
My problems are small compared with the glory of all that God has created. My sickness or depression is a tiny thing compared with all the joy and healing expressed around me in so many ways from the hand of the one who gave us life. So it is important to spend time in things that create wonder in our hearts. For this wonder begets worship.
One of the best gifts you can give is to open up your heart to feel deeply someone else’s pain.
I remember well one of the last times I met with my dear friend Kishore. We got together to share some Korean food for lunch in Northern Virginia. As we sat at the table and talked I shared about some of the painful struggles I was going through. One of the best things about sharing with a brother who I have known for 40 years was the fact that he could see everything through a different lense than most. He could tell that I wasn’t the same person I used to be.
He could see that I had lost some confidence. My faith had dimmed. The outgoing and energetic fellow worship leader he once knew had become very introspective and isolated. And he was moved by what he saw.
That day he gave me one of the best gifts I have ever received. He cried because of what I was going through. I don’t remember seeing him cry before or since. Perhaps it was because he saw himself in my pain. Maybe it was because he missed the person I used to be. Or maybe it was that Jesus in his heart that moved him with compassion.
When I am stuck and reluctant to take the steps necessary to improve my life I reflect on his tears. I know that God made me to give Him glory with my life. And I know there’s still work for me to do for Him.
When we’ve been hurt the last thing we want to do is open up our heart again. But to heal and to grow we must.
Today, I choose to open up my heart again and let the healing love come in. I choose to watch for opportunities to empathetically listen to others hurts and in so doing help them and I heal and give God greater glory.
My eyes have been opened to see the power and function of music. I used to view it as something that I could immerse myself into on my walkman in a comfortable corner by myself. Because I am deeply moved by the nuances of emotion expressed by well controlled voices and inspired by the feelings and ideas expressed through clever lyrics I could spend hours in this isolated paradise. But as time as gone on it’s become harder for me to find that same place of enjoyment.
Having studied music a lot (tips from my older brother, lessons on and off since 2nd grade, an undergraduate and graduate degree in music) and having worked as a professional musician both as a performer and teacher for 30 years I am not moved as I used to be. I get board easily. I require more to be moved and inspired. And I value sincerity like never before–especially in my musical consumption.
But recently I’ve discerned a beauty, power, purpose and usefulness of music that relies more on it’s corporate blessing than it’s solo pleasures. I was sitting in a church at a gathering near Takoma Park, Maryland trying out something I hadn’t done before. I had been invited by a friend to a shape-note singing event. I wasn’t familiar with the practice. But apparently there are groups of people all over the United States and in other parts of the world who have learned this system of notation where different notes of the scale have different shapes. This system makes sight reading music easier. In the modern revival of this practice that started over 200 years ago many choose to use a hymnbook called The Sacred Harp. Those of this tradition usually sing a cappella. I must say it was a beautiful experience to hear people (many who have never met previously) who have a love for God and group singing create music in harmony. And the idea that I could go many places around the world and carry my Sacred Harp hymnbook with me and be welcomed to join in the singing there seemed a beautiful symbol of acceptance and unity.
As a Minister of Music I often have been caught in the crossfire of the debate about music performance and participation in the church. Do we want everyone in the pews to sing or do we just want those with music degrees? Do we prefer watching a praise team lead out and enjoying the concert or is there a way to engage us in congregational singing that would give us the experience of unity the choral singing is capable of? I think the solo experience and the performance experience are valuable but not the full glory.
A few days ago I enjoyed presenting a concert. This concert featured a community choir. People who had never met came together, rehearsed, and then presented gospel music that inspired not only their audience but each other as well. We had both guest soloists and soloists from within the choir. When we finished our concert I was overwhelmed by the excitement and happiness of the singers. The singers ranged in age from high school students to retired grand parents. But all came together to make beautiful music to glorify God. Music can bring us together.
I saw a group of female prisoners singing a Hezekiah Walker song on TV. I knew the song and felt a connection to them as they sang it. It expressed their gratitude to God. It resonated with the large gathering of prisoners in worship there assembled. God made music to glorify Him. And when we enter into music that glorifies Him it draws us closer to Him and to each other.
Let’s make music together. Let’s include everyone. Let it have harmonies that express our belief as expressed in Ephesians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave[a] nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus”
When I think about my pain and problems they seem to grow. So instead I choose to reflect upon God’s goodness to me. My journey to worship began with parents who had family worship every evening and read the Morning Watch before we had breakfast. My dad, Victor Griffiths set an example of service and excellence that will always leave me reaching for more. As a pastor and educator he served in his local community and eventually overseeing adventist education all over the globe. My mother Barbara continues to amaze me with her hospitality and grace under pressure. She sacrificially serves to take care of others as much now at 87 as she did when I was growing up. God blessed me with wonderful parents who worshipped him in their daily lives as much by their actions as by their reading of the bible and prayer.
Giving What I’ve Received
Not everyone can afford piano lessons or a piano for that matter. Not everyone has a gift in that area to take advantage of the opportunity for study. I am so very grateful to my Creator for the mental and musical gifts He’s given me as well as to my parents for providing the support necessary for them to thrive. So I want to give that back to others!
A few years ago I recorded a CD with and then went on tour with the great Rwandan artist Jean Paul Samputu, to East Africa. We visited Rwanda and Uganda but spent most of our time in Kenya. We were blessed to be hosted by Maximum Miracle Center. We were impressed by their ministry and service to their community. Hearing of their needs we were able to sow into their ministry. In particular I was excited to be able to gift some equipment for a recording studio they hoped to build.
Maximum Melodies-a musical ministry of Maximum Miracle Center
Help Us Keep Giving
Today, I’m getting ready to go host a concert to raise funds for another studio to benefit young musicians in the rural community of Denton, Maryland. I want to give generously as I have received generously. Today’s concert will feature a 30 voice mass choir, several guest musicians-Kishore Carey,Alan Ace Cooper, Jahari Griffiths; and some amazing soloists-Carter Anderson, Terrence Nichols, Desmirra Quinnonez, Rachael Jackson, and TreVaughn Watson. I’d love for you to come and support this worthy cause. If you can make it click here for more info.
If you’d like to contribute a donation please click the link below.
I hope 20 years from now someone will be giving to someone else because of what we started today!
Is it really worth it to live a life seeking God’s favor?
Yes! But it may not feel that way at first. Let me explain.
Have you noticed how far removed the principals of our parents and grand parents are from today’s reality? While I’m sure there are many reasons for this a few come to mind. The merchants of today have taught us that we constantly need to get more stuff to be happy. What they really should say is that we constantly need to get more stuff so that they can be happy–or at least wealthy if not happy.
Your parents may have told you that you should pick something that you think is worthwhile and work to achieve it or acquire it. This often required self-discipline and hard work. You delayed gratification from things that you considered less important than your dream. The process created character.
But today you are encouraged to buy on credit what you cannot afford. This creates stress because the joy of whatever trinket it was you were after is displaced by your worry of how you are going to pay for the bill that you cannot afford. But the problem is exponential because many merchants are not only convincing you that you need to buy their product now but in a few weeks they will be telling you why you need something else or worse yet why you have to upgrade to a more expensive version of what you are already making payments on.
Jesus tells us to focus on the value of His home for us.
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matt. 6:19-21NIV
As I was driving the other day it dawned on me how beautiful life can be when we focus on building massive treasure in heaven.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Gal. 5:22-23 NIV
When I put my resources-my time, talents, and treasure, into creating more love, joy, peace and so on I am cultivating Holy Spirit Fruit. I am pleasing God by bearing fruit.
7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
John 15:7-8
Today I’m feel impressed to share this for someone who like me has become disillusioned by the way this world works. Do it God’s way! It’s WORTH THE WAIT! Don’t make money by manipulating people to purchase what they don’t need over and over again. Provide services and products…even ministries that fill a need! Seek to be a blessing. Look to bear fruit of a heavenly kind. Store up for yourself treasure in heaven.
I promise you that in my life every time I focus on doing what I know God wants done He miraculously supplies all of my needs.
I have begun a journey to worship that involves non-traditional ways of blessing others. It’s a sacrifice. But when I prayed a few nights ago on Periscope and a young lady shared that she was moved to tears I thought that I must be on to something. When I received prayer requests and was able to encourage others who like me are going through painful and difficult situations I thought that I must be doing a work that is worth while. So I invite you to partner with me and seek to spread the principals of heaven wherever you may be.
And if you find that your life is so busy getting things that you don’t have time to help people or to pray, than perhaps it’s time to sit down and re-evaluate what’s important. Living for heaven is WORTH THE WAIT!
If you have been blessed by what you’ve read please subscribe to this blog. And thank you for those who have donated to help make this ministry possible. DG
11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee.12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[a] met him. They stood at a distance13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
John 17:11-19
Tonight I’m reminded of receiving a pair of shoes from a friend who knew I needed them. I see a high school english teacher who believed there was leadership in me who groomed me to do ministry…he taught me about books like The Friendship Factor by Alan Loy McGinnis and Why Am I Afraid To Tell You Who I Am by John Powell. His instruction would mold my concept of fellowship, ministry and church. I pause now to say thank you, Charles Gordon and Bruce Freeman.
I remember feeling rejected because my gifts didn’t seem to be valued by my church. I remember talking with one of the greatest preachers I have ever known who said “David, I believe in you. I think you can do it. Preach the gospel!” I pause to thank C. D. Brooks.
I have always loved learning. My dad, Victor Griffiths was an educator par excellence! My Uncle Arthur Clarke always encouraged me to get a job in the school system but I shied away from it. My friend Patrick McCoy encouraged me to explore teaching as well but I felt overwhelmed by the prospect of the process of getting a teaching job. God opened the door for me to experience full-time teaching and I’m grateful for both those who encouraged me to teach and those who gave me the opportunity to do it in Howard County. I pause to thank LaShonda Dreher, Uncle Charlie, Patrick McCoy and Terry Eberhardt.
I remember having a passion to do ministry using technology and wanting to share both music and the word with others through social media. I wanted to start blogging and vlogging. I wanted to have content that was professional in appearance. I also wanted to share these skills with young people in my church and community. But I didn’t have the money to buy a professional camera. I pause to thank Rankin Yeo for his support.
My mom and I always talked about the idea of finding a benefactor who would allow me the resources to pursue music ministry. Mom said that with the right resources I’d be able to share the musical artistry and spiritual insight that was overflowing from my heart. Today I showed my students a clip from a live recording and songbook release concert. We talked about it for so many years it seems like it’s still a dream when God already sent me the reality. I pause to thank Gerald Young and Bamm Washington.
It’s so easy to get caught up and forget to say thank you. When I read the story of the 10 lepers in Luke 17 I think surely I’d never be like “The other 9.” But I do it everyday. Sometimes it’s because I’m tired. Sometimes it’s because I’m still stressed about other stuff that hasn’t worked itself out yet. Other times it’s simply because I take for granted the very blessing of God in my life. Have you ever been there?
Wouldn’t it be great if we made a commitment to thank someone who has been a blessing to us every week? Let’s try it! Where I start is by thanking God every morning for life. I believe in this so strongly! I have had the most amazing experiences in these seasons of gratitude. I’ve had original songs come to me as easily as if they already existed. I’ve had amazing ideas to solve problems that I’ve been pondering. God has blessed me in the moment of my gratitude to a point where I believe it’s true: You can’t beat God’s giving! And I’m reminded of all those God has used to bless me and I want to let them know how grateful I am
Maybe you are busy. Maybe you are stressed. Maybe you just don’t realize how good God has been. Whatever the reason, please don’t be like “The Other 9.” Who could you write a note to right now to say thank you for being a blessing in your life?
Please subscribe to this blog and support me as I begin my quest to inspire change! Thank You. David
I’m honest enough to publicly admit a major shortcoming in my character. I’ve been waiting. But I think I’ve been waiting a bit too long.
I like to be very thorough when I study a subject. And if I’m attempting a project, I like to plan in detail so I am able to succeed. But I don’t like to start until I feel confident that I’m prepared. Spiritually I’ve been waiting for God to prepare me to do great things for Him. But it seems as I’ve grown older that God has been waiting for me to take action.
There has always been the idea in my head that if you pray long and hard enough God will reveal His will to you. Then, once you have your marching orders you are set. Now you can go out into battle. But what if you’ve been waiting 20 years and no marching orders have come? Does that mean God isn’t ready yet? Or does it mean God is waiting for us to take action?
Let’s consider this series of questions. What if she hadn’t touched the hem of his garment? What if his friends hadn’t lowered him down through a roof to see Jesus? What if she hadn’t had the boldness to enter the throne room of the king uninvited waiting for the approval of his extended scepter? Would her people have been saved? Would he have been healed? Would her bleeding have stopped?
It seems that God has some things that he will only give to us if we take an action first. The action is our demonstration of faith. Hebrews 11:6 tells us, ” But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Asking, seeking, knocking or even reaching can be our sign of faith that pleases God. He in turn blesses our faith action with a favorable result. But what if we never took that leap of faith?
I believe that the stories of the bible reveal consequences both of taking action and of refraining. The 5 foolish virgins don’t get to go to the wedding. The servant who hid his one talent gets it taken away from him. There were two thieves at the cross with Jesus. One reached for life and got it. The other simply missed his moment. Please don’t miss your moment!
One of the great obstacles in my journey to worship is my feelings. I want to seek God’s presence. I want to study His word. I want to pray. I want to sing songs of worship to Him. But I don’t feel like it! I want to but I don’t feel like it. That’s our problem.
Our feelings come from our thoughts. According to Dr. Caroline Leaf, scientists have found that 75% to 95% of current mental, physical and emotional illnesses come from our thought life. Did you catch that? Your thoughts control so much yet we don’t have a class on thought control in school. I’ll come back to some more of Dr. Leaf’s findings in a bit but consider this. If my health and how I feel are largely due to my thoughts and my choices are often influenced by how I feel then don’t you think I should focus each day on determining my thought life as a top priority? Absolutely!
Here’s why. Dr. Leaf in her many books discusses that information comes into your brain and is then processed. When it’s processed it forms little trees in your head. So the information coming in is just that information. But how I choose to process it determines whether a pretty tree is formed or whether an ugly mass is formed. And whatever choices I make regularly forms larger trees. And so when situations arise and I have a choice to make I am more likely to respond according to the larger trees.
Let’s unpack this a bit. So let’s pretend I receive some news. My car has just thrown a rod and must be taken to the junkyard to be disposed of. Is this good news or bad news? If I say it’s bad news than I can be sad and fret over all the stuff I have to go through now that my car is gone. But if I choose for it to be good news than I look for ways to come up with money to get a new car and I can excitedly look online to see all the possible wonderful vehicles that I might choose from. One choice is depressing. Another is exhilarating. It’s up to me to choose which way I will perceive the same data that has come to me.
We as Christians have seen scriptures that hinted at this phenomenon before. Here are a few to help us get past “I don’t feel like it”:
James 1:2-4
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
When I have trials I can be sad and depressed. Or I can be excited about the fact that I’m getting stronger and better and God is trusting me with greater challenges which means I must be getting wiser and more like Him.
Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
We can lose heart because of the stuff we find ourselves going through. I never thought I’d be overweight. Never imagined my children would have problems in school. Never imagined that my wife and I (or husband and I) wouldn’t get along…you know all the things we never imagined that we find in our lives. But we are told to consider Jesus who endured “such opposition from sinners” so we won’t get tired and lose heart. Jesus focused on “the joy” set before Him and not on the suffering that came along with pursuit of the joy. Is it any wonder that he would get up a great while before day and spend lots of time with His father?
We need to spend time in the presence of our heavenly father! We need to choose to process things the way He sees them.When we make this choice consistently we form a “Forest” of positive and healthy trees in our brain. When we are faced with a challenge or crisis we will tend to respond according to the bigger trees of our mind.
If I’m serious about worship then I must bring every thought into subjection.
Philippians 4:8 tells us, “ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
These instructions are so that we will be happy and healthy. These choices to build healthy thoughts will build a healthy life and healthy feelings…and healthy worship. Worship that focuses on me–my stuff, my feelings, my problems, isn’t worship at all. Remember to worship something or someone is to say that it or he/she is valuable. Worship that focuses on the nature of God will magnify all of his positive attributes. Worship that focuses on our creator will remind us that he is Holy, all powerful, and eternal. We will remember that he made everything by His own choice. After we worship in the right way–focusing on God, He will appear bigger and our problems smaller. He will be pleased. And we will be too.
So choose to magnify God. Think about Him as often as you would your lover or your favorite toy. Think about Him and all of his wonder. Then your feelings will change. And so will your perspective on the problems you face.
It’s important to me to hear your thoughts about what I’m sharing. This is a discussion so please leave a comment below…oh yes, and don’t forget to subscribe to www.journeytoworship.org below! 🙂