5 Things We Can Use To Worship - A Dose of Encouragement

  

Fred and I are involved in "leading the worship" in our church which means we lead the corporate singing of our praise and worship to God.


Some people see this as all that worship consists of but we also need to remember that

Worship is an act of devotion towards God

So when I look at it like that then it is obvious that as a Christian I should automatically love worship.

If we consider our purpose on earth (as mentioned in Why We Worship 1 ) which is nothing to do with all the Purpose books I see around us - but simply what the reason we are alive is then we see that

Man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever

But because we are human and imperfect, I know that we are not immediately drawn in to worship and it may feel completely alien to some of us.


One of the reasons I love worship is basically because I love singing and we find it easier to worship God in a song, don't we - someone else has done the hard work of writing the words and arranging the music and we just have to read the words listen to the tune and sing along.

But can't we do other things that are very easy? 

That's why I'm going to take the opportunity to give you some help by thinking about

5 Things We Can Use To Worship

1. The Bible
2. Prayer
3. Thoughts
4. Songs
5. Actions

1. We can use the Bible as a great means of Worship.

Reading and memorizing God's Word is a great and easy way to worship God.
Either on our own in our quiet times or in church among others.



Read out verses in worship to God

Here we are reading out His Word which is powerful and in doing so we are agreeing with what God has said.

As we ourselves read from the bible we are focused on the truth in those passages and greatly encouraged by what we read, also if we read aloud in corporate worship services everyone gains from hearing His Word which is Truth and because He never changes then neither will His Word.

Read out Bible Verses that are simply words of Worship

Here we are reading what is recorded in the bible of what others have said in worship and in repeating these words we can be in agreement with them.

Read out Bible Verses about God's Love

Here we are reading and hence concentrating on the Love of God.

You may be further encouraged by 

10 Bible Verses of Encouragement about God's Love



Read out Bible Verses about God's Mercy & Grace

Here we are reading and concentrating on the Mercy of God.

Read out Bible Verses about the nature and attributes of God

Here we are reading and concentrating on the very essence of God

You may be further encouraged by this series of short posts on

Why We Worship which is fully based around the Attributes of God

Read out Bible Verses about Jesus

Here we are reading verses about our Saviour and basking in all that He has done for us.

Read out Bible Verses declaring our intention to Worship God

Here we are reading verses which are telling God that we will Bless Him, Praise Him, Obey Him and His Word.

Read out Bible Verses encouraging ourselves and others to worship God

Here we are reading Bible verses written by the apostles (other followers of God) to encourage us all to worship

2. We can use Prayer as a great means of Worship.

Talking to God in Prayer is a great and easy way to worship Him.
Again either on our own in our quiet times or in church among others.



Praising God in Prayer

We are talking to God in acknowledgement of His Greatness.

Thanking God in Prayer

We are talking to God about the wonderful things He has done for us

and how He has answered our petitions.

3. We can use Our Thoughts as a great means of Worship.

Thinking about God Regularly is a great and easy way to worship Him.

Recognising just how He is is the one we can depend on at all times.

and let's not leave out what we started with

4. We can use Song as a great means of Worship.

Singing to God is a great and easy way to worship Him.
Again either on our own in our quiet times or in church among others.

Singing all those wonderful hymns that have been written throughout the ages and all the more recent songs and choruses mean we are praising and worshiping God.
Also at the same time we are learning and memorizing His Word which is so often contained in the verses of the hymns and learning doctrine.

We can Write our own Songs and Sing our own Songs.


We can Wait in the Presence of God and receive new Words and Songs from Him.

We can follow the example of the Psalmists and others as they encouraged themselves and others to sing unto God.

O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, 

all the earth.    

 Psalm 96:1

O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done 

marvellous things:    

Psalm 98:1

Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; 

the isles, 

and the inhabitants thereof.   

 Isaiah 42:10

Then we should Progress to other Forms of Worship we may not find so Easy to start with. 

5. We can use Actions as a great means of Worship.

• We can Obey the Word of God.

• We can Tell others about His Love and Work in our Lives.

• We can Write our own Praises and Speak our own Praises.

• We can Memorize His Word so that we always have it in our thoughts and ready to teach to others.

• We can help others to Memorize His Word

• We can show His Love to others

• We can encourage others to to Sing unto the Lord

• We can teach the children to learn about God and His Word through Songs

We started off by saying that

Worship is an act of devotion towards God

and 

Man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever

So let's glorify God and enjoy being in His presence as we worship God and teach and encourage others to do the same.

10 Songs for Advent & Christmas - Set 1

Last year Fred and I took on a challenge to go live on Facebook each night from 1st to 24th of December to sing Songs for Christmas. 

 

I thought I would gather the first 10 of those Songs for Advent & Christmas together here in one resource.

With the links to:

the blog's Facebook page   Sandra's Ark Facebook Page 

Fred's Facebook page Apostolic Worship Facebook Page 

Fred's YouTube channel Apostolic Worship on YouTube  

This link takes you straight to the Playlist of the 24 nights.

We wanted to encourage the listeners that even though we were going through a time of lockdown due to Covid19 we could still sing some Christmas Songs together or learn a few new ones.

We even did some that were more geared for children but then we are all kids at heart - at least Fred and I are.  

These Kids songs can be found on my 

Christmas Handwashing Songs for Kids Post.

So here are the first 10 songs we covered in the order of the days

 just click on the pics to go to the recordings of the individual songs

 1.  Away in a Manger

This is the Christmas Carol everyone knows and relaxes over because we are so comfortable about singing it (well the first verse at least).

It was written in the late 19th Century and originally it was known as the Luther's Cradle Song because it was believed to have been written by Martin Luther.  However in the 20th Century it was decided that it originated in the US and not in Germany.

However have you noticed that there are two tunes for this song?

The one we did for our Facebook lives is the one we grew up with in the UK and the quicker one is the one known better in the US.

This Christmas Song focuses on the association of Jesus and children because our Saviour came as a child He knows human life completely and all children can turn to Him.?????

2.  Once in Royal David's City

I have a great connection with the author of this carol.

Mrs Cecil Frances Alexander lived Londonderry in Northern Ireland, the city I was born in; but many many years before me.

She was the wife of the Bishop and loved to write hymns for adults and children to worship God.

There is a Green Hill Far Away  &  All things Bright and Beautiful are 2 of her most well-known Hymns but she also adapted St. Patricks Breastplate into a hymn.

Click on the Links above and you will get more info 

and free printables. 

This Christmas Song was written to focus on the fact that 

Jesus was born of the virgin Mary.

3.  Calypso Carol

This is a more modern Christmas Carol as it was written in 1964 by Rev. Michael Perry.

He wrote it while a student at Theological College and since that went on to write over 300 other hymns.

His work is widely represented at Jubilate Hymns

I learnt this one when I was a teenager and it has remained a favourite of mine throughout the years.

This Christmas Song draws our attention at the very start to the infant Jesus but continues to direct us to Jesus 

as the Prince of Glory.

 

4.  While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night

This is one of the most well-known Christmas Carols and features in many Carol Services each year.

It was written in 1700

and based on Luke 2 v 8

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night."

This Christmas Song focuses us on the importance of the message brought by the Angels and stresses the gladness & joy.

5.  Light of the World / Here I am to Worship

Some people may have been surprised by the inclusion of this 21st Century song written by a young 19 year old Tim Hughes and may have never thought of it as pertaining to Christmas before.

But just look at the words of the verses and you will see Jesus the Light of the world leaving glory to come to earth in humble human form.

The chorus takes us to our humble worship of the King of Kings in all His glory and of course the bridge doesn't leave us at the Christmas stage  but also brings us to the sacrifice on the cross.

This Christmas Song focuses us the worship we cannot fail to give when we consider what Jesus did for us by coming as the light for us but in all humility in human form.

6.  Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

Back to the 1744 and we have a hymn by one of the most prolific hymn writers Charles Wesley.

He originally wrote a prayer based on reading Haggai 2 v 7 and considered the state of the world at that time.

Later that year he made the prayer into a hymn "with the intent for people to remember Advent and Christmas as commemorating the Nativity of Jesus and preparing for the Second Coming"

This Christmas Song focuses on the longing of the Old Testament Jews wishing for the Messiah to come and on god giving that Messiah - Jesus His Son.

 

7.  Joy to the World

This song is so triumphant from the first line.

The reason being that although we call this a Christmas Carol it is really about Christ's Triumphal return so we need to class it as an Advent Hymn.

It was written by Isaac Watts who was an English Minister and writer.

The inspiration came from Psalm 98.

It was published in his own set of Hymns and Spiritual Songs in 1719.

It is so well-known that it was the most published Christmas Hymn in North America during the 20th Century.

This song is so triumphant from the first line.

The reason for this is that although we call it a Christmas Carol it is really about Christ's Triumphal return so we need to class it as an Advent Hymn.

 

 

8.  Oh Holy Night

Composed by Adolphe Adam in 1847 this carol was originally a French Poem.

The Lyrics were written by Placide Cappeau in 1843 when he was asked to write a Christmas Poem to celebrate the renovation of his home town's church organ.  

In 1855 the French lyrics were translated into English by a minister called John Sullivan Dwight. 

The Carol features annually in the famous Carol from King's College, Cambridge.    

This Christmas Song focuses on the change 

the Lord Jesus would bring into the world 

both physically and spiritually.

9.  The First Nowell

This carol was first published in the form we know in 1823 and appears to have originated in Cornwall, UK.

The storyline of the carol is found in the Gospel of Luke where the angel announces the good news to the shepherds and the Gospel of Matthew where the star appears and leads the wise men.  However there is no mention of the star in the passage about the shepherds.

This Christmas Song focuses on the role of 

Jesus as the King over all 

from lowly shepherds 

to wealthy leaders.

10.  Unto Us A Child is Born

This is the shortest Christmas song we have included here.

It consists of one verse of 7 lines and is actually a good song to help with memorizing scripture as it is almost exactly the wording from 

Isaiah 9 v 6 where the prophecy is given of the birth of Jesus. 

This Christmas Song focuses on the role of Jesus as the 

Son of God born to be given for us

with

everything and everyone 

subject to Him 

There we have Set 1 of 

10 Songs for Advent & Christmas  

I hope you enjoy the videos and sing along with these great carols that herald the greatest birth of all time. 

All of the videos included in this post plus many others are available on You Tube

and you may also enjoy

 Apostolic Worship (Songs of Love)  

Christian Songs for Kids - He's Alive!

Do you find it hard to get visuals and recordings for different kids songs?

I have always found this a problem so I am now sharing songs that I have used with children providing you with

Visuals 
(Powerpoint or Picture or details of how you can make one) 


Words   
(chords also available)


Recording  
(mp3 or video to learn the song) 


Then if you would like to download the visual of the song there will be a link provided to my creation, or I will direct you to where else you can find it.   

This month I am taking the theme of

EASTER

I want to do an Easter song now in advance to give you time to prepare.

The song I have chosen is 

He's Alive

Although I first learned this song as part of adult worship I love to do this with the kids groups as they always enjoy clapping to the beat and they need to know that 

Jesus is ALIVE!

My husband is a worship leader but also accompanies the children a lot on the guitar and he will go up the keys while playing this with the kids just as he would in church worship time.

My original visual for this was made many years ago and was a large piece of pink card see below.

This original visual was hand written on A1 card and then covered in clear sticky plastic to help protect it and it did a good job because that visual can still be used today if necessary.

Then more recently I redesigned it on Powerpoint to be projected and also to be printed out on A4 cards

POWERPOINT

Click to download your free visual of this song for projection and printing if you have not already subscribed to Sandra's Ark

It is available in A4  &  Letter size

(your download will be clear of the watermark)



If you have previously subscribed to Sandra's Ark then you will find the link for all my Resources in any of the emails you have received from me.




WORDS

He's Alive, the stone's been rolled away
He's Alive, He's no longer where He lay
He's Alive, I can hear the angels say
Let all the earth rejoice He's Alive.



To Download my free printable of these words with chords for guitar or piano click on 
He's Alive - Words & Chords  if you have not already subscribed to Sandra's Ark.


If you have previously subscribed to Sandra's Ark then you will find the link for all my Resources in any of the emails you have received from me.

ACTIONS 

We always clap throughout this one.

VIDEO

My husband and I have created several singalong videos of Kids Songs and this song is included in that playlist.  

  

 

Our Kids Song at the Ark playlist can be found at HERE on YouTube 

AUDIO RECORDING

Special "Thank You" to my husband Fred who looks after the Recordings and Chords




Notes:
I have found some versions of a song with this as a chorus except the words are very slightly different and we have always sung it to a different tempo as well.
I have also found the chorus part on it's own attributed to

Shawn Craig

1985 Above And Beyond Music

CCLI Song # 98767

I Hope you enjoy the song and this is a help to you.

DON'T FORGET
If you are interested in finding out about more 

Christian Songs for Kids 

SIGN UP HERE for an email reminder of my posts & you won't miss any I feature on the Blog


OR

See Our Other Kids Songs:   

Creation  -    Who Made?
Bible  -    I will Make you Fishers of Men
Love of Jesus  -    Jesus Loves the Little Children
Love of Jesus  -    Jesus' Love is very Wonderful
The Attributes of God  -    God is So Good 
The Promises of God  -    No Never Alone

(Click on the names of the songs above to view them)