Rivendell Christian Blog

Heart of Worship

2007-10-04T22:20:00.000-04:00

Worship

Worship is not the music, but its a lifestyle of devotion to God. When it comes to worship, I think most people get it wrong and equate worship with just music, like I did at one time. Or, if they get it right, eventually, like I did, then they tend to quickly forget that its a lifestyle and revert back to treating it like it is just music. We say things like that was great worship the other day. We've trained ourselves to that usage. That's the problem. I believe, that we may do that as a marriage of convenience to our human nature (or flesh), which then allows us not to think of worship as a life changing lifestyle. Our human nature (flesh) hates to be a living sacrifice that has a heart of worship.

I love the 'heart of worship' song, because in life, I miss having the heart of worship quite a bit. I get it wrong and need to get back to the heart of worship. This song breaks my heart every time and redirects me back to a heart of worship in my life.

From time to time, I, like you guys and most Christians reduce worship to a 15 to 30 minute music set once a week at church. And that is irreverent, not bad lyrics. God looks at the heart, not the quality of the sound. The question does it bring the hearts of the listener to God that causes change in the person's life.

The 'Heart of Worship' song explains whats wrong with all our lives, because we routinely make it about everything but Him, even in our work of the ministry. This song reminds us to come back to the true heart of worship.

The 'Heart of Worship' says it all:

1.(WHEN ALL THE HYPE IS GONE AND I SIMPLY COME TO HIM)

"When the music fades and all is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring something that's of worth
That will bless Your heart"

2.(IT IS ABOUT A DEVOTED LIFE, NOT THE SONG STYLE, GENRE OR QUALITY - YOU COULD SING OFF KEY OR SUCK MUSICALLY - GOD LOOKS AT THE HEART)

"I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart"

3.(WHEN I/WE GET MY/OUR FOCUS OFF JESUS AND WHAT REALLY MATTERS TO HIM, THEN WE NEED TO GET BACK ON TRACK - AND IF ANYBODY SAYS THEY DON'T GET OFF TRACK THEY ARE LYING OR ARE OFF TRACK)

"I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You
All about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the things I've made it
When it's all about You
All about You, Jesus"

4.(WHEN WE REALIGN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS IT BRINGS US BACK TO JESUS AND HIS ULTIMATE WORTH)

"King of endless worth, no one could express
How much You deserve
Though I'm weak and poor, all I have is Yours
Every single breath"

This song passes all the tests of being a solid song that brings us to repentance and gives God the glory.

Amen

What's the worst that could happen? Power trip pastor?

2007-08-28T16:46:00.001-04:00

Every One's fear when they go to a new church for the first time.

Being a Passionate Worshipper

2007-02-20T12:47:00.000-05:00

I have had a phenomenal weekend. One of the things that happened to me this weekend was that my outlook on how I worship Jesus has completely changed. For the past three weeks at church we have been in a series about how to worship. The first week of the series on worship, I raised my hands in worship for the first time without feeling weird. It was GREAT! You see, I was raised in a very traditional non charismatic church. That sort of thing was really weird. I have been trasforming into a closet charismatic over the past several years. I think that my trasformation is finally coming to fruition with this past weekend. Pastor Don Coleman talked about being a passionate worshipper. Worshipping God with all of your soul. Saying take all of me Lord. I have never truely done that. I've jammed out to some awesome worship music. I've listed to the worship. I've watched other people worship. I've even thought that I was worshipping. I have never focused solely on God during worship and made Him the focus. When I did that this past weekend I felt freed from chains. I was becoming a passionate worshipper.

Now, the season of Lent begins tomorrow. I've usually done things like give up chocolate or tv or stuff like that. This year I want to change my life during Lent. Lent is about focusing on Jesus and the sacrifice He made for me. I don't want to just give up something for Lent. I want to give up my life for Jesus. All of my life for the rest of my life. I want to live like Jesus wants me to live. I want Him to be by my side in everything that I do. I want to live like He is always looking over my shoulder. I'm going to use these forty days leading up to Easter to transform my life so that for the rest of my life I can better serve Him.

So I pray now that God, Jehovah, Lord, Jesus, gives me the strength and the wisdom to carry out His will and live in a way that is pleasing to Him. Help me to get my physical, mental, emotional and spiritual house in order so that I am not burdened and weighed down my the idols that are holding me back. I pray that I will continue to grow spiritually and continue to be a passionate worshipper. I pray this in the name of the Lord Jesus. AMEN!

God has moved

2007-02-20T00:15:00.000-05:00

God has had me in an area of deep searching myself for some time now. Rethinking everything about my life with Him. Now, I'm not talking about rethinking my theology, as in salvation; grace; Jesus' Divinity; heaven and hell; rather I'm saved or not or anything like that.

I've been thinking about stuff like am I serving Him whole-heartedly. Am I doing enough of the things I should be doing for Him. Am I being a good enough husband, father, friend, example, mentor, est. Are my ministries for Him really His are are they of my own making.

This weekend was a culmination of all these things. God has been having me question everything I am doing. And He has been filling me with all this data - God data - downloading it into my spirit and soul. He's been asking me questions through His Word, directly via my thoughts, through my pastor Robby Rhoden, Don Coleman, Mike MacIntosh, My wife and movies.

He's been tearing down and building things in me simultaneously. He's clearing out the old and constructing the new.

This weekend Pastor Don Coleman spoke and rapped up a three week series that Pastor Rob started. Don spoke passionately about being a passionate worshiper. It crushed me. In a good way. It put a nail in the coffin off my dead ways that are still hanging around. It made me realize what I had already realized, but it brought it home.

I couldn't just say any more, that I gotta be better at so and so, do this do that, change this other thing, because it will make me better and more effective in my life with friends, family and ministry.

This weekend meant, I must do these things. I must be a passionate worshipper in everything I do.

But, there is a problem in all this?

I can't do it! I'm a slacker by nature. I don't have the power.

But I can decide to kill the flesh, the human nature, by deciding to do what God wants of me.

He wants me to obey Him, because what He wants me to do is good for me anyways. He made me, so He knows how I tick.

But there is a problem in killing this human nature. It is I have no power to carry it out.

What's the answer?

The Answer is:

if I decide to follow His will, then He will give me the power to carry it out.

Amen

It is the Lenten Season - a forty day period leading up to Easter. The season of giving up what's holding you back, so you can fully give yourself to God. This the perfect time at which I can now focus on the task of deciding to fully devote myself to whole-heartedly giving myself to Him. Being a Passioate Worshiper giving myself to Him.

Supreme King

2006-12-09T14:04:00.000-05:00

Jesus is Lord! God! And King!

Join Rivendell Gathering at the Nativity

2006-12-07T11:11:00.000-05:00

Join Rivendell Gathering as we celebrate the Messiah's birth by attending the blockbuster film 'The Nativity Story'. We will meet this at Commonwealth 20 Theatres Friday, December 8th, 2006 at 7:00 PM. We will fellowship for awhile. The Movie starts at 8:00 PM

Rivendell Gathering visits songs from Moriah

2006-10-27T11:47:00.000-04:00

Join us this Friday night, November 3rd, from 7:00 to 8:00 PM, as we visit with Commonwealth Chapel

to join an awesome worship experience "Songs from Moriah"Then join us at Crossroads Coffee for some Fellowship & Java from 8:30 til 9:30 PM

Join Rivendell Gathering as we go to see "One Night with the King"

2006-10-14T12:15:00.000-04:00

Join Rivendell Gathering on Friday, October 20th, 2006 as we go to see the faith filled Blockbuster Movie:

"One night with the King" at Commonwealth 20 Theatres

starring: Tiffany Dupont, John Rhys-Davies (Gimli), Peter O'Toole, John Noble, Omar Sharif,

Tommy 'Tiny' Lister, Luke Goss, James Callis and many more!

Worshiping the Creator Jesus at the Rappahannock Pow Wow

2006-10-06T11:38:00.000-04:00

Come join the Folks of Rivendell Gathering as we worship the Creator with this Christian Tribe on October 14th, 2006 from 10:00 AM - 6:00PM.

Rappahannock Pow Wow Directions

Its worth the trip !!!

Check out their Pow Wow Page: Rappahannock Tribal Center

Come Join Kirby & Erica Harris as they Dedicate their Daughters to the Lord

2006-10-06T11:35:00.000-04:00

Kirby & Erica are inviting all to come to Commonwealth Chapel as they dedicate their daughters, Seanna & Alana to the Lord Jesus Christ on October 7th, 2006 at 6:00 PM.

For Directions to Commonwealth Chapel from your location click here

New Rivendell Gathering Schedule

2006-10-06T11:33:00.000-04:00

Check out our new schedule and directions at: Rivendell Gathering Schedule

Typically we will meet at Crossroads on the 1st and 3rd Friday of every month.

And we will meet at The Common Cup every 2nd and 4th Friday of every month.

When there is a 5th Friday we will meet at The Last Homely House (a.k.a Kirby's House) for Game and/or Movie night.

Hopefully, we will occasionally break trist and go on a field trip somewhere.

Every once and a while there might even possibly be a cancellation.

Join Rivendell Gathering at the Chickahominy Pow Wow

2006-09-21T11:31:00.000-04:00

The Chickahominy Tribe is having their 55th annual Pow Wow.

If you're going to meet us there, you'll need Directions: Chickahominy Pow Wow Map & Directions

For more information: Chickahominy Pow Wow Information

Rivendell Gathering at The Common Cup

2006-09-17T11:24:00.000-04:00

Rivendell Gathering is meeting at The Common Cup this Friday September 22nd, 2006.

Check us out at: Rivendell Gathering

We meet every Friday night some where, but this Friday night we're meeting at:

The Common Cup from 7:00 P.M.-10:00 P.M. . We get our drinks, have spoken word worship, a topical study discussion and then rap it up with prayer and hanging out. We are a group of ordinary people following Jesus Christ. No Sunday only Christianity for our lives. No Superficial relationships with God or people. We are interested in real intimate, caring and growing relationships with Jesus, each other and the people we meet. We want to experience the power of the Holy Spirit in our everyday lives.

The Common Cup Directions

For Our Other Meetings Check Out Our Schedules and Location Page

This Friday's Meeting

2006-08-25T13:27:00.000-04:00

Join us this Friday, August 25th, 2006 at 7:00PM at Heavenly Grounds. Kirby will be showing Seanna pictures. Click the Title above for Directions.

Seanna is born!

2006-08-25T13:19:00.000-04:00

We are pleased to announce that Seanna Miriam Harris was born on Monday, August 21st, 2006 at 12:26 PM. She weighed seven pounds and eleven ounces (7-11). We don't follow astrology, but she is born a Leo - the Lion. Jesus is the Lion of Judah. Cool !

Baby due any Minute - Meeting Cancelled

2006-08-18T17:06:00.000-04:00

The August 18th meeting is cancelled because baby Seanna could be born at any minute! See you next Friday at Heavenly Grounds

Sunday not Friday

2006-06-23T23:55:00.000-04:00

We will not be meeting this Friday night on June 30th, 2006, instead join us this Sunday night on July 2nd at 7:00 PM as we gather at: Crossroads Coffee & Ice Cream

Join us this Friday night at Crossroads

2006-06-06T02:51:00.000-04:00

Join us this Friday night June 9th at 7:00 PM as we gather at Crossroads Coffee & Ice Cream

Tonight's Friday June 2nd meeting is Cancelled

2006-06-02T18:45:00.000-04:00

Tonight's Friday June 2nd meeting is Cancelled

We were going to meet outside, because our AC unit is broken and its to hot and humid inside, but we are cancelling due to severe thunderstorms which prevent meeting outside.
Join us Next Friday night June 9th at 7:00 PM as we gather at Crossroads Coffee & Ice Cream

The Last Homely House

2006-05-30T23:47:00.000-04:00

Rivendell Gathering will meet at The Last Homely House this Friday, June 2nd at 7:ooPM

Click above hyperlink for directions!

The Art of Prayer

2006-05-04T14:23:00.000-04:00

Join Rivendell Gathering as we go to listen to, down to earth teacher, Doug McMurray, Commonwealth Chapel, as he teaches on the art of prayer!

Click here for directions

Field Trip - Friday, April 7th, 2006

2006-04-06T15:55:00.000-04:00

This Friday April 7th, 2006 we will not be gathering at Crossroads Coffee & Ice Cream, because we are taking a field trip. We will be attending a meeting at Strong Tower Ministries, in Fredericksburg, VA, where the Power and Anointing of The Holy Spirit has been falling. If you journey up there with us, meet us at Crossroads Coffee & Ice Cream. We will be leaving at 6:00 PM sharp. If you can't meet us, and you still want to attend, here are the directions to Strong Tower Ministries.

We will be having our regular meeting, at Crossroads Coffee & Ice Creamnext Friday, April 14th.