All That You Have....

He was just a young boy, maybe ten or twelve years of age. By now he should be working to learn the trade of his father, as was the custom. But there was something missing; he wasn't sure who he wanted to be or what he was supposed to do with his life. He had heard from some people in the village of a Man who was drawing crowds by the thousands to come and hear Him speak.  Maybe this Man could tell him what he needed to know.

He grabbed some food and tossed it in a basket and left to search for this Man. He found Him on a hillside next to the Sea, speaking to thousands of people. He sat among them, enamored by this Man and all that He had to say. But the day grew long and the people began to get hungry; they hadn't thought to bring food with them.

The Man told his friends to feed the people; but they were anxious because they had no food and it would take a great deal of money to order take out. After scoping out the crowd, one of the men said, “All we can find is one young boy here with a basket of food.”

As the young boy approached the Man, he held out his basket and said, “I only have five loaves of bread and two fish; I know it’s not much, but it’s all I have….”

And Jesus said, 

“That’s all that I need.”

From the young boy’s basket with five loaves of bread and two fish, over five thousand people were fed. John 6:13 says, “When the people had eaten their fill….they filled twelve large baskets with leftovers…”

All that you have is all that He needs. Have you given Him all that you have? For when you do, He will multiply it over and over and over again until it meets the need and “nothing is lost or wasted” (John 6:12 AMP).

“Give, and it shall be given unto you; 

good measure, pressed down, 

and shaken together and running over…” 

Luke 6:38 (KJV)

‘Lena Ehlert

©Whispers in Worship

The World is Watching You…

"I want to report to you, friends, that my imprisonment

here has had the opposite of its intended effect....

All the soldiers here, and everyone else, too, 

found out that I’m in jail because of this Messiah. 

That piqued their curiosity,

 and now they've learned all about him. 

(Philippians 1:12,13 Message)

As Paul is writing this letter to the Philippians, he is in a prison in chains for preaching the gospel. But, that didn't stop him as he lived out his faith even in challenging circumstances. As I pondered this scripture, I realized that, just as the guards were watching Paul,  the world around us is indeed watching us.... every move we make, every word we speak, every attitude we have. It reminded me of something that happened when I was about 20 years old.

I worked in a rather large office; I was quiet and shy and didn't really involve myself in the office activities. One day I was sitting at my desk trying to get a stuck drawer open and I was getting very frustrated. I didn't realize someone had walked up and in my frustration I said, “Oh c**p!” (I know, not really a “bad” word, but offensive to some). This girl who was standing there said, “Lena! I've never heard you talk like that! I thought you were a good Christian!”

It was an “aha” moment for me as I realized that these people were watching me. And for that one young girl, my testimony had been compromised. I noticed as time went by that she became less and less reserved around me with her own language.

Paul said, his chains (and attitude) "piqued their curiosity” and because of that he was able to share the gospel and many came to Christ.

As we go about our daily activities this week, even in the midst of the trials we face and the challenges we encounter, let us never forget that there is a lost and broken world watching us. As they see us endure our “chains” with joy and peace, may it also pique their curiosity…and draw them to Christ.

Blessings,

‘Lena

©Whispers in Worship

Like a Hot Burning Fire…

In reading through Philippians this morning, this particular verse struck me and the paraphrase from the Message really pierced my heart…

“Every time you cross my mind, 

I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. 

Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer.” 

(Philippians 1:3)

I meet every Saturday morning with a small group of ladies for prayer, fellowship and Bible study. This past week, we talked about the fervency of prayer and the importance of that fervency when praying for one another.

Do we do that? I confess that I don’t always pray with fervency for the needs of others. Not like I do when it’s MY problem. Oh, I pray in the when we meet together in a group gathering such as my Saturday mornings. But in the quiet of a Wednesday afternoon, or Friday morning; when I’m vacuuming the floors or washing the dishes?

Paul says, 

“Every time you cross my mind, 

I break out in exclamations…!” 

and each exclamation is a trigger… 

a trigger to pray.

James tells us...

“The effective, fervent prayer 

of a righteous man 

avails much” 

(James 5:16).

I looked up the definition of “fervent” and found that one of its meanings is “intensity of spirit”; but it also means “hot; burning; glowing.”

As we remember friends of ours who are going through difficult and life altering situations, may it trigger in each of us an intensity of spirit in our prayers. May we burn in our desire to see the Hand of God move in each life and situation.

‘Lena Ehlert

©Whispers in Worship

Like a mighty rushing wind, Move us

Like a river of joy, flow through us

Like a hot burning fire, consume us, Lord

Touch us, and make us like You.

(Geron Davis)

The Word of the Lord is Eternal….

It was May 4, 2004 and I was sitting in Tuesday night prayer meeting. My world had crumbled that day and I didn't think things could possibly be any worse. One of our pastors came up beside me, began praying in the Spirit and then leaned down and whispered in my ear:

“I love you more than you know. 

I have not forsaken you. 

You will come through victorious. 

It will be glorious!”

I wrote that down in my Bible and dated it.  A year later, almost to the day, I believed the promise had been fulfilled.

This morning I was reminded of that Word I received in 2004. I realized that very same word applies right now. It is a promise from God that He still loves me; He still has not forsaken me. He will still be victorious and it will indeed be glorious!

The author of Hebrews said, “The Word of God is alive and active…” (Hebrews 4:12). Because His word is alive, it is constantly working. It is powerful and will never fail you.

Whatever promises you have received from His word, do not ever think they were for yesterday, or that your “moment” has passed. It is alive and active still today. That same writer of Hebrews also said, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8).

Even now…nine years later, I will continue to stand on this promise!

Because His Word is Alive!

 ‘Lena

“The Word is Alive; and it cuts like the sword through the darkness with a message of hope to the hopeless and the frail, breathing life into all who believe. The Word is alive; and the world and it’s glories will fade. But it’s Truth, it will not pass away. It remains yesterday and forever the same. The Word is alive.” (Casting Crowns).

©Whispers in Worship

“Do you believe the words?”

Last week as I was listening to Beth Moore on television, she asked the question, “Do you actually believe the words you are singing during praise and worship?” I didn’t think too much about it at the time, but Sunday morning during worship the question came back to me. We know the songs, the words, the melodies. We know the emotion that the songs should evoke in each of us; we lift our hands and voices as we lead the congregation into worship. But how many times do we find ourselves also thinking about other things as we sing?

“Did I turn the crock pot on? 

Did I turn the coffee pot off? 

Oh shoot, I forgot to mail the rent/mortgage check!”

I will admit: I am guilty of this from time to time. So yesterday, as we sang, I began to truly focus on the words we were singing:

“I have decided, I have resolved to wait upon You, Lord…” Am I determined to live purposefully in obedience to Him?

“We are not shaken, we are not moved; we wait upon You, Lord.”  Is my faith built upon the rock or does it move in shifting sands of uncertainty?

“Chains, be broken! Lives, be healed!”  This is a bold declaration; actually it is a command: Chains – be broken in Jesus Name! Be healed in Jesus Name! Do I believe it? Am I truly declaring it with the power and authority given to me by Jesus?

“He is jealous for me.”  One of the definitions of “jealous” is vigilant in maintaining or guarding something. Most of us think of jealousy as a negative emotion…wanting something someone else has. But God’s jealousy for us is powerful, protective – He is vigilantly guarding us!

“When all of a sudden I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory” How often I get caught up in the hardships, difficulties, challenges; my wants, needs and desires. Can I finally realize that His love and mercy supersedes them all?

 “But Thou, oh Lord, are a shield for me” A few weeks ago I saw a picture of a momma bird with her little ones gathered under her wings, guarding them and protecting them from the elements outside. That was the shield that I saw as we sang this song.

So my question to you is this: “Do you believe the words you sing during praise and worship? My challenge to all of us is to really pay attention to the words of the songs we sing. I daresay it will change not only the way we worship, but it will strengthen our faith and trust in the Lord.

“And oh, how He loves us!”…Wow!

‘Lena 

©Whispers in Worship

All of Creation Sings...

I had the privilege this past weekend to go on a mini-retreat with four other beautiful ladies. We drove over to Cashmere and stayed in a beautiful lodge-type house in the hills, far enough away from the highway that we could no longer hear the sounds of traffic going by,  surrounded by rolling hills blanketed in wildflowers of yellow, blue and white; down the road were horses, goats, ducks, wild turkeys and roosters (which crowed in the afternoon instead of at dawn). 

Friday night after the sun went down over the mountains, I stepped outside and looked up into a sky filled with countless stars and planets. My mind went to a scripture verse I learned as a small child:

“The heavens declare the glory of God 

and the firmament sheweth His handiwork.”

Psalm 19:1 (KJV)

Sunday morning, I sat out on the deck with my Bible and listened to the sounds of countless birds chirping in the morning sun along with a chorus of all of the other animals.  I felt as if I was worshiping as Adam and Eve may have worshiped in the Garden of Eden. And, naturally, I was reminded of a song:

All of creation, 

sing with me now

Lift up your voice and 

lay your burden down.

All of creation, 

sing with me now

Fill up the heavens 

let His glory resound.

(Mercy Me)

It was as if all of creation were worshiping our Creator, declaring His glory and filling the heavens with praise. How could I not join in?

Monday morning found us back in the city to our busy lives caring for our families and, for some of us, heading back to the office.  It’s so easy to get caught up in all of the fuss and bother of the necessary things of life and forget to take those moments to worship. Today, in that moment of craziness, that moment of frustration, that moment of indecision…whatever you are facing, stop, take a deep breath and begin to worship. Even if it’s just sixty seconds or just enough time to say the Name “Jesus” you will find that it is a moment well spent.

Fill up the heavens . . . Let His glory resound!

‘Lena

©Whispers in Worship

All I Am is Yours! Except….

Sunday morning at church, our youth, the U-Gen Ensemble, led us in a powerful time of worship. As we were singing, the Lord spoke to me; He often uses music to speak to me. We stood together lifting our voices singing:

“I’ll stand with arms high and heart abandoned; 

in awe of the One who gave it all. 

I’ll stand, my soul, Lord, to You surrendered. 

All I am is Yours.”

In the midst of singing this song, I heard the word “except”. Whoa…….

All I am is Yours….

except.....

• “Except” that little closet over there in the corner of my heart.
• “Except” that little habit I haven’t quite given over to You yet.
• “Except” the unforgiveness for that person I just can’t let go.
• “Except”….

Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30). And we try with all that is within us to do so. But if we are honest, there is a secret place, a hidden place that we just don’t want any light to shine on; a door we don’t want anyone to open. I’m sure all of us have a “junk drawer” in our house…a place we put all the stuff we don’t want to deal with at the moment. The old adage “out of sight, out of mind” doesn’t apply to our hearts. God said, “My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from me, nor is their sin concealed from My eyes” (Jeremiah 16:17).

I was reminded again Sunday morning, that when I sing “All I am is Yours”, I have to give Him all! Even the hard things, the hidden things, the hurts, the habits….

What is your “except”? Ask the Holy Spirit to shine His light on the dark recesses of your heart; to open the locked door to your closet; to help you to clean out that “junk drawer”. Then we will be able to sing:

“All I am is Yours!”….. period!

‘Lena