[Noelene]

A year ago on my birthday I gave my life to the Lord. It was what could of been the worst day of my life, that turned out to be a blessing. My aunt died in a car accident, and it was her funeral that day, after the funeral, mom, dad, gran my uncle & I were driving through the city of Johanesburg and wham, we stop at a traffic light, and got hijacked. After that hectic terrible day and we eventually got home. My sister a devoted christian asked me to go with her to church, naturally, I didnt want to... I was feeling sorry for my self lying on the sofa crying my eyes out. Eventually for some reason, I felt this nudge in my soul, and gave in and went with my sister... Wow what a service, a pastor from America was there, me being south african battled at first to understand his accent... Then it was time for praise and worship, and laying of hands, the holy spirit was so intense in that church, people were laughing, jumping up and down, falling to the ground, shouting praises to the Lord, clapping making a joyful noise.... it was awsome.. I went to the front cause i wanted this pastor to pray for me, the next thing i remember was this absoulte peace & joy i have ever felt, then I opened my eyes, i was laying on the floor with a white cloth over my body...

So praise and worship... I feel that so many people have misconcieved ideas about it. I decided to visit a friends church the other day. I was so scared to make a noise, i felt i had to tip toe to the seat and every one was so conservative... After the pastor prayed i wanted to shout out AMEN... but what would every one think of me... not to be horrible but it felt kinda stuck up.....

I go to this wonderful church, that is filled with joyful atmosphere, the holy spirit never moves the same way, each sunday is different and a blessing. My church is called the revival centre. Its my favriot time, to go and worship the lord, to clap and dance and jump, to fall on my knees, or just flat on my face to humble myself before the lord, to bow my head to show just how great my god is... to lift my hands in the air as a way to tell the lord I surrender, i sacrifice myself to you, my father my daddy, have your way with me....

I mean think about it, psalms is full of verses and songs, of praise the lord, the way He wants us to praise him, not the way we want to praise him... he tells us to make a joyful noise, to lift your hands to clap... I mean, david danced with all his might to worship the lord. The people marched around the wall of jerico shouting and blowing the ramhorns. Just imagine how that must of rattled the gates of hell, just imagine how when you clap your hands how you chase away all the demons, Wow, I could go on for ever.....

What are your thoughts about this,,, would like to know what other think aswell.....

Psalms 47
1: O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.
2: For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.
3: He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.
4: He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.
5: God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
6: Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.
7: For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.
8: God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.
9: The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted.

[Jonular]

I'm not completely sure if this is the right forum, but I'm going to move it to the Scripture and Music forum. If it's the wrong forum, Erika can move it.

~Jon

[missionfor.us]

My Pastor has been doing a sermon series on P & W the past two weeks.
He told us a story of how back in his younger days during a service he felt moved to pick up two metal drum lids and bash them together like symbols. Of course he felt hesitant to do so at first (there was a visiting preacher and it just sounded like a foolish and embarrassing thing to do), but he did it. He said that it was like something was released by that and the people were set free to worship in full spirit and truth.

[Noelene]

Thanks, its actually quiet amazing then how all the pastors are doing sermons on this topic suddenly for some reason.... I know that last sunday, pastor andre didnt do a sermon not to say on praise and worship, but he hinted on it. and then this last sunday that passed. I went to go visit my family in johannesburg, I dont live there.. Went with my sister to her church and her pastor urged every one to get the tape on his sermon, of last sunday when he spoke on praise and worship... Funny thing is, at our homecell last sunday,,, guess what the topic was..lol... and plus i am now reading a book by darlene with the funny surname from the hillsong church's book on praise and worship,,, i tell you. pretty amazing stuff she has written there....

Wow....

[acousticJJ]

Wow, it sounds like you would really hate my church. I go to a very conservative church; rare lifting of hands, we don't get all very emotional, and we sing mainly hymns in the main service(in youth group we sing P&W songs). Anyway, it sounds a lot like the "stuck up" church you went to . But that really isn't the case. Just as you were uncomfortable in that churhc, most of the ppl in mine would be uncomfortable in yours. Yo may not be able to worship in mine very well, and they might not in yours. a lot of that is a matter of preference. My parents aren't very fond of P&W music, but I love it. I am not a huge fan of hymns, although I like them, and my parents are. Both of us are worshipping in our own ways, and praising God through it. That's one thing I love about God. His diversity. Praise Him all ye peoples.

[s0233425]

My pastor has been speaking about praise and worship the past couple of weeks also!

we don't get all very emotional

That is very sad . It's amazing to see how David danced before the lord, and there was all those instruments and all that noise in his day - and they were under the law!

We've been hearing how we should enter his gates with thanksgiving in our hearts, and enter his courts with praise. That we should make a joyful noise to the Lord!

But still, it seems many congregations still prefer their traditions, how sad.

[Noelene]

sing to the lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things.....
shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music;
make music to the Lord with the harp & the sounds of singing, with trumpets & the blast of the ram's horn-SHOUT for joy before the Lord, THE KING..
(Psalms 98:1, 4-6)

Sing God a brand-new song!
Earth & everyone in it, SING!
Sing to GOD-WORSHIP GOD!
SHOUT the news of HIS VICTORY from sea to sea,
Take the news of his wonders to one & all!
For GOD is great, and HE is WORTH A THOUSAND HALLELUJAHS.
(Psalms 96)

SHOUT with joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of HIS name; MAKE HIS PRAISE GLORIOUS!!!! Say to GOD, " HOW AWESOME ARE YOUR DEEDS!! So great is YOUR POWER that YOUR enemies cringe before YOU. All the earth BOWS DOWN TO YOU; THE SING PRAISE TO YOU, THE SING PRAISE TO YOUR NAME.... (Psalms 66:1-4)

"Song that truley connect the spirit of man with his creator will always be birthed through the well-worn path to the throne room of god.."
said Darlene Zschech.... some thing to think on ey...

I truley believe that God is stirring in some heavy way like as in never before, some thing awesome is gonna happen, when all pastors from all over the world, seem to have the same message... Intresting.. praise the lord.

I couldnt go to my own church last sunday, cause I went to johannesburg for the weekend.. I phoned my pastor up yesterday afternoon, and he told me, that they missed me on sunday, he said I would of been blown away by what the holy spirit did... he said the praise and worship was so extravagant and glorious and powerful, he said like nothing the church had experienced before, he said after the second last song, 6 young people that just came to our church, went up to the front and gave there lives to the Lord.... Wow,, pastor was right, I wish I didnt miss that... it would of been so wonderful to be a part of... But the Lord had another plan for me... I had to face my fear right in the face that sunday night at my sisters church, when I witnessed a deliverance... its something undescriblable.. I wouldnt recommend it... I battled after wards, I couldnt sleep, but then I realised, the god created the devil... why should I have fear... I decided to put on my armour for god, walk in victory, shout to the devil... YOU have no authority over me, I crush you under me feet like the snake you are... And prayed about it... Now when i think back, I couldnt believe the fear I had... I have God on my side...
So Praise god, shout, sound the rams-horn, bang the drums, clap your hands make a LOUD NOISE, chase those demons and devil away..... They hate the light......We are victorious, we have god....and because of god we have authority... Hallelujah... praise god!!

[Noelene]

Thanks Ross... just read ur journal... Wow amazing... so glad that u hv a spiritual church... based on truth Gods word and not religion created by man... Isnt God amazing... Yeah,, well i love it when a son or daughter of god has musical and artistic talents... Im an artist, as in painting, sculptures etc etc... and my church band has asked me to join them, playing guitar... so im just trusting God that Iether my guitar will be fixed soon or I can afford to buy a new one soon... cant wait to get started again.... hey if you wanna chat my email is daughter.in.jesus@highveldmail.co.za My name is Cindy-Noelene, born South African, never been overseas, but maybe i will find my way there.. praise god. 23 years old, and on fire for the Lord...