by Elizabeth Burgard Fulgaro (c) 2011 www.holyspiritpress.org www.eaglesnestfoundation.org
Sunday is a divine pause to worship our King and reflect upon His majesty. Our worship is our gift to Him for we turn focus from us and onto God. And yet we are the ones blessed in the process for as we worship He writes His Truth upon our hearts, which fills us with His peace, hope and joy and causes us to be able to stand strong in all circumstances because we have learned who He is. The Psalm selection below is one of what are called the “songs of ascent”, which the Israelites would sing as the climbed the mountain to go and worship God as He instructed. We still ascend when we worship, but now spiritually by the power of His Spirit entering His throne room every time we choose to worship and praise Him. As a result, He fills us with His presence and power, thereby strengthening us for the battles which invariably come. It is God who is our strength; He is our shield. We only need to worship, seek to hear His voice and obey, then watch how He will use all things for eventual good. What a mighty God we serve! ~ Elizabeth
PSALM 25:1-15 (Amplified)
1 Unto You, O Lord, do I bring my life.
2 O my God, I trust, lean on, rely on, and am confident in You. Let me not be put to shame or [my hope in You] be disappointed; let not my enemies triumph over me.
3 Yes, let none who trust and wait hopefully and look for You be put to shame or be disappointed; let them be ashamed who forsake the right or deal treacherously without cause.
4 Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths.
5 Guide me in Your truth and wait hopefully and look for You to be put to shame or be disappointed; let them be ashamed who forsake the right or deal treacherously without cause.
6 Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercy and loving-kindness; for they have been ever from old.
7 Remember not the sins (the lapses and frailties) of my youth or my transgressions; according to Your mercy and steadfast love remember me, for Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.
8 Good and upright is the Lord; therefore will He instruct sinners in [His] way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right, and the humble He teaches His way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are mercy and steadfast love, even truth and faithfulness are they for those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.
11 For Your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my iniquity and my guild, for [they are] great.
12 Who is the man who reverently fears and worships the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way that he should choose.
13 He himself shall dwell at ease, and his offspring shall inherit the land.
14 The secret [of sweet, satisfying compaionship] of the Lord have they who fear (revere and worship) Him, and He will show them His covenant and reveal to them its [deep, inner] meaning.
15 My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for He will pluck my feet out the net.
WORSHIP SONG
ASCEND IN WORSHIP~song & lyrics by Elizabeth Burgard Fulgaro (c) 2006
1) I am seated with Christ in the heavenlies
I will not be afraid
You are greater than he who comes against me
Mighty Warrior King.
2) I enter Your gates with thanksgiving,
Your courtyards with my praise
You are mercy, love and forgiveness.
I adore You all my days.
Chorus
I ascend in worship, ascend in worship, ascend in worship, descend in battle
Ascend in worship, ascend in worship, ascend
For Your glory, Victor and King
3) I boldly enter Your throne room; rejoice with the angels in You
My Refuge, Fortress, High Tower
I put my trust in You.
(Chorus)
“Ascend in Worship” is available on the ASCEND IN WORSHIP CD on itunes, at http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/ElizabethFulgaro and at www.holyspiritpress.org/store
WORSHIP PRAYER ~
How great are You, God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. You are Creator of all things seens and unseen, Ruler of heaven and earth, all good and all love. You know how we are made and put a plan in motion to redeem us from our fallen state and invite us to be with You forever. You were the plan in the name of Jesus and You have brought the plan to completion. The vistory is already won. All who seek You will find You and You will care for each one of us as a shepherd cares for each of his sheep. You lead us; You provide for us; You protect us until the day when we leave this physical life and pass into life forever with You in heaven. You ask two things of us – that we acknowledge our need for You as Savior (and worship You) and bow to You as Lord (commit to follow where You lead instead of asking for You to follow and bless where we lead). You desire to be known as God that You are. And so today we come before You and acknowledge that we cannot get beyond physical death without You. We are in control of nothing. We cannot redeem ourselves for we are not perfect, nor will we ever be. You are the greatest, most magnificent and all-powerful One. You are the only One who is worthy of honor and glory (credit for all You have done). We bow before You as Most High and pledge our allegiance to You. We only want Your plan and Your way. We trust in You and know that as Truth You cannot lie. What You have said you will do, You will do and so we choose to rest in You because You will always care for us. We commit not to worry, but to rejoice in all things. We can do this because You have already won the victory, conquering the adversary for eternity and You promise to use all things for good in the lives of those who are called according to Your purpose. We give You high praise. We rejoice in Your way. We choose to follow and not to seek to lead. We give You our hearts and our lives because You are. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
END
Note to ASCENDING IN WORSHIP on Sundays: I have always loved music and worship music, but have not always understood worship. For many years it was just a word used to describe church service or a type of music. But that changed radically in Feb. 2004 when friends prayed over me to start hearing (thus composing) new songs from heaven. (Since their prayers I have composed over 350 worship songs and recorded more than 60.) Then in Feb. 2005 the Lord gave me a vision which implied worship changes things. I needed to understand what the vision meant. I needed to understand His way. After months spent in Scripture studying everything I could find about worship, it became clear that indeed God promises to respond to our worship with a release of His power, which changes things. Thus worship is not a song, service, drum beat or lifting of hands (though all of these things with a worshipful mindset can be worship). Worship is an attitude of heart which adores God in the majesty and sovereignty of who He is in our lives at all times. Worship is the ultimate expression of our trust in Him, because we choose to spend precious time contemplating the awesome wonder of all He is, without the need to ask Him for anything. It expresses to God we can abandon ourselves to worship Him because we trust He already has everything else handled – that which we can see and which we can’t.
Worship is not a Sunday activity, but a lifestyle. However, Sunday is the traditional day within most Christian circles to take a pause from our work which helps refresh us and honors God as our ultimate provider and protector from whom all good things come. Worship honors Him and strengthens us in Him.
On Sundays, to facilitate this “pause” before God, NUGGETS OF GOD’S WISDOM features Scripture and song lyrics to assist in laying down everything that burdens us and constrains the mind, to enter into blissful, restorative worship of the only One who can which writes His promises on our hearts.
To God be the glory forever and ever!
~ Elizabeth
PLEASE watch the new music video to “RESTORE” (with choir) on youtube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piQYnPY1vIA&feature=related SHARE the link! Let’s worship together as we pray, seek His will, stand and re-take ground for Christ in our communities and beyond (for His glory)!
Elizabeth Fulgaro is a wife, mother, writer, inspirational speaker, worship leader, composer, singer & recording artist. She is also a Certified Financial Planner and Accredited Financial Counselor with a heart for helping Christians understand and steward their finances God’s way.
For books, worship cds, Bible studies and teachings written by Elizabeth Fulgaro or to schedule her to come speak to your group please visit www.holyspiritpress.org Worship music audio clips can be found at www.cdbaby.com/Artist/ElizabethFulgaro For information on her work for the military and their families please visit www.eaglesnestfoundation.org Eagles Nest Foundation is a 501(c)3 corporation. Contributions are tax-deductible.
