Come & Sit for a While...

I am a task oriented person. And often go through my lists with such a fervor that others are astonished or terrified and move out of my way. I have often said I feel like a race horse so many times, waiting in the gate for the bell to ring. I make fun of my self, because though I know that I have the ability to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time, I also know that, to my fault, I often jam too much in a day. I might be able to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time, but that also doesn't leave me with much time to just sit. A few weeks ago, Cindy, one of the lead singers and guitar players in Gracious Vine Worship band posted a picture of an empty bench beside a tranquil field and labeled it 'Come and Sit a while' - Immediately I felt the picture. I heard the heart of God calling me to the bench. Within a week of the pictures posting, after spending more time alone with the Lord, I had a song deposited in my spirit, the Call of God's heart, not just for me, but for all of us busy task oriented, tasmanian devil like creatures who whirl about ferociously in our daily encounters. I shared it just this weekend for the first time at a women's retreat and church, as I just finished it this week. It seems to have ministered to many of the hearts that also are cluttered with daily toiling...I know for myself, after working on it, it echoes in my head and heart, and I am glad it does, because as it does, I again am hearing the heart and call of my God to join him on the bench where my heart is met, my fears are quenched and my personal knowledge of Him is filled... YOU CAN LISTEN TO THE SONG HERE... http://sermon.net/JoannaFruhauf/sermonid/1200025515 'Come and Sit for a While' Chorus: Come and sit for a while in my presence Come be as a child, come be reckless Abandoning all of your cares And you'll find I am there V.1 Come share with me all of your hurts and regrets Bring them before me come lay them all down Surrendering your sin and your arguments a Glorious exchange your clay for my crown, If you'll just... v.2 With a Peace that surrounding you, a Love so abounding compelling your devotion, your fear, your respect My wonderful holiness,my costly forgiveness Walk in my purity lest you forget, wont you just...

Artisans of the Lord

As Artisans of the Lord, How do we prepare for Holy Ground in the Worship environment? Aside from all the practical and environmental aspects of Worship, ie., time, place, location, technical, vocal, instrumental etc., How do we prepare to create an environment that is Holy? How can we craft and carve a moment out where God’s presence will be made known to those in attendance? Do we just ramp up the crowd with some ear pleasing melodies, familiar lyrics, pounding music and excited team? Recently I’ve been doing my devotions in the book of Exodus. I am fascinated with the Tabernacle, its furnishings and sacrifices. I find every bit of them declaring Jesus and our walk. Recently I read Exodus 35:30-35 which speaks of two men called and anointed by God to be the artisans and craftsmen of the furniture housed in the Tabernacle. This furniture was to be exquisite, intricate, elaborate and very costly. It was all made of the finest wood, and covered in precious metals of copper, silver and gold. One aspect of the directives given by God regarding the crafting and construction of all the pieces was that it be made exactly as shown to Moses or those making it would be in danger of dying. I certainly would have had great hesitation with such a dire consequence if I had failed. It got me wondering how they felt, how they were able to accomplish such a daunting and imperative task. It stands to reason that they were talented, previously having metal working and wood construction or carving experience from the work camps of Egypt. Perhaps, but that could cause its own pride issues which they may have thought so highly of their own ability they would have ‘added’ or ‘detracted’ from the original plans given. Regardless of talent and expertise, there had to be an aspect that I could draw from. After all, being a worship leader, we are creating and crafting an environment where we seek to display through word and song the glory of God. Expertise is not a sole source for such a responsibility. So what would have prepared them, protected them, provided understanding and wisdom for them? The two craftsmen named by God were Bezalel and Aholiab.I looked up the names of Bezalel and Aholiab in the Hebrew and think I found the answer. The Hebrew translation of their names give a tender understanding of where their ability came from and an encouraging directive for each of us as worship leaders. Bezalel, means, In the Shadow of God. How awesome is that! To be in the shadow of God, to be close enough to hear His whispers, His heart beat, His footsteps, His instruction. If I am in someone’s shadow, I am close to them. Aholiab, means, In the Tent of the Father. To be that close to God, to be in his presence and fellowship, to taste the goodness of His table. One would come to know intimately, and with great tenderness the heart of God, the plans of God and the purposes of God. Operating from that place, we each have the ability through prayer, and seeking truth in His word daily to craft opportunities and environments where the glory of God is displayed through leading worship. I am continually convicted to be close enough to know I’m in His Shadow, to be close enough to say I am engaged in the Tents of My God. I know when I haven’t been, I know what those worship moments are like. They are contrived, hollow, conjured up and empty. Fortunately, we are convicted by His Spirit not condemned. We are able to repent as leaders and fellowship a fresh, in the tent of our God close in His shadow. Isn’t that where we as worship leaders want to be?

March Madness

I'm just amazed at what God does...There are so many times when we are not paying attention to the movement of God in our lives, like a mild breeze, or even seemingly stagnant air on a hot day or still night. And yet we are still breathing...just because we don't feel it doesn't mean its not there, just because it isn't blowing doesn't mean there is no movement. It just not being perceived.... Then there are those times where the wind is gusting, and we almost seem to get blown off our feet because of the push.

God moves much the same way in our lives, sometimes as if still and motionless, times where we feel things are stagnant, no wind in our sails. The doldrums are actually a location on the globe as a belt of calm and light winds between the northern and southern trade winds of the Atlantic and Pacific. If a sail boat were to get caught in this area during certain intertropical convergences, their sails would be depleted, and they would just float with the current. No wind to push.

Other times God moves like a mighty rushing wind, so much so that we could be caught up in a hurricane of movement. Things may get completely altered in our lives, we may even dread the change, the upset, the storm. Yet, God has the ability to hold us tight within the winds, within the whirlwind. Securing us, using it to fashion a new thing.

March is generally a month known for winds...are you ready to move?



Check out the website www.GraciousVine.com

The value of a $100 bill

Check out the website www.GraciousVine.com

I love the scripture of 2 Cor 4:17, "We have this Treasure in Earthen Vessels, that the excellence of power might be of God and not of us." I am currently really studying these scripture to apply to a Retreat I'll be speaking at upstate NY at the end of the month. I find it to be such a promising scripture. It has prompted conversations in so many areas..as I continue to unpack it.

At Lighthouse Mission, each day I have the opportunity to meet people that are hurting and broken. Recently a young woman came in to donate, and she started to share her hurt. Two of us were able to minister to a deep pain.

One thing I shared was her value to the Lord and her need to grasp hold of its truth, not the lies of the enemy. I compared it quite simply to a $100 bill. From the bank, it is crisp and clean and seems to have such potential, but why? Because that small piece of paper covered with ink, pictures, numbers and letters is proclaimed to have a set value by a 'higher' authority than myself.

If I were to find that $100 bill up against a trash can, soiled by various types of dirt, even disgusting elements, laying there tattered, torn and wrinkled, it wouldn't be worth .01 cent less than when it was freshly secured from the bank. THAT is because the value is estimated, not by what it's been through, how beaten it might be, or what it looks like - the value is estimated by a HIGHER Authority!

I shared that her value, is not based on what has happened to her, what she has done, or where she is at currently....Her value is estimated by the Authority of God and what He proclaims of her...His love for us is such that He personally came and died for our sins and transgressions against Him, others and ourselves. What's great about God, is He recognizes the value HE has placed on us...and HE reaches down into our soiled existence and pulls us up to redeem us and wash us clean. Yeah we may not look as fresh as that brand new $100 bill with our wrinkles and weather worn look, but our value is EXACTLY the same!

That excites me, as it did her.

Gaps and holes make for good opportunity....

How many of us leaders feel we have to control everything...? Some take it to extremes controlling even what people are allow to think or how they can participate... I think there is a huge difference between leading and controlling...same type of difference between excellence and perfectionism...or heaven and hell!

Interestingly, I'm guilty of all....and for the past few years been continually putting it before the Lord...As I do there are always going to be opportunities where I have to give over authority, control and final say to others in a given situation...hard as it is...It gives us all opportunity to grow.

I've heard it for years though, We pursue excellence or I'm leading... unfortunately, that is so often a mask for the controlling perfectionist to seemingly justify their grapple hold on things. It can be so generously masked with all kinds of platitudes and cliches and yet is nothing more than what I call a 'jesus cloak' or 'scripture cloaking' where things are 'word perfect' yet the spirit behind it is self serving...

Being someone that can have this tendency, I recognize it pretty quickly. I would say the biggest and surest sign of it is a lack of grace when things don't go the way a 'leader' wants. Even when they say 'mercy' yet none is really extended, most often times a rebuke is said 'in love' and yet love is absent. The Letter of the Law prevails, and brings death.

Its amazing how often we create Ishmaels as we try to control all aspects of life...and ministry ours and others. Pushing things forward before their time, making things happen because we can...or want to...rather than trusting the ability of others to grow into the purpose God has...

Gaps and holes may not make for the 'perfect' ministry but the day we start to make sure, at all cost that those don't exist by covering them up and controlling them all to the point of micro managing everything that everyone else is doing, then we have lost the vision of Christ -

1 Peter 5:1-4 Spot lights this problem, encouraging leaders to lead as examples, not overlords...Why would that be in there...because it's so hard and only a word from the Lord, and submission to Him and His Kingdom, Not our kingdom...can produce true leaders....

I know I need to be reminded of it...


Check out the website www.GraciousVine.com or www.JoannaFruhauf.com