Exodus 25:8 "Then have them make me a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them."

Exodus 40:34-35 "Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle."

I wanted to write a song that was not only declaring our desire for God's glory to dwell among us, but a song that also was reminding us all that God who is revealed in the Scriptures also desires to dwell among us even more. Gloria Deciende Hoy" in english which means, "Glory Come Down".The same God who instructed Moses in the Old Testament to build Him a Tabernacle so that He could dwell among his people and be their God, is the same God who desires to dwell among His people today.

God promises us that He would inhabit the praises of his people. That He would reveal himself if we seek'd him with all our hearts. That if two or three are gathered in His name, there He is with them. If his people, who are called by his name, would humble themselves and pray and seek his face, that he would hear from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land. Sounds like a God who not only desires to dwell among us, but sure provides many ways in which we can expeirence His presence. Lord, we acknowledge your love and desire to dwell among us your people and our prayer is that you would manifest yourself in our hearts and in our minds as we come together to declare by faith this song.

Psalms 27:4 "One think I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life , to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple."

Matthew 18:19 "Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be down for them by my Father in heaven."

TAKEAWAY:
My hope and prayer is that you would experience the glory of God in fresh new ways as you incorporate this song in your setlist. That you would experience transformational worship. 

I remember the story of the father who came to Jesus to present his son who was being tortured by an evil spirit. The father said to Jesus, if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us. Jesus’ response to this father was, “Everything is possible for him who believes.” Immediately the boys father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief." And Jesus commanded the evil spirits to come out of the boy and he was immediately healed and set free from these evil spirits that tormented him. Jesus, compassionate and powerful! What struck me most in this story, was not that the father’s immediate response “I do believe”, but the confession that followed after that declaration, “help me overcome my unbelief.” Has this ever happen to you? You say, yes Lord, I believe, but some part of you was doubting whether God will do it? This has been me on several occasions. Just believe, Jesus said. My heart went out to this father who would do or say anything in order for his son to be healed and set free at last from this torture his son had been experiencing for years. But as “I believe” left the mouth of this father, something internal in him was happening as he was in the presence of Jesus. Not only was Jesus going to heal his boy, but this father was also going to have a personal and transformational experience that would change how he viewed God and his goodness.

In his book "Help My Unbelief" author Barnabas Piper said that, "...doubt is not the enemy of faith." Jesus knew where this father’s faith stood and he could of just healed the boy out of compassion and that would of been the end of the story. But I could imagine seeing Jesus being moved as he heard this father confess, “help me overcome my unbelief.” Something happens when we welcome Jesus in the midst of our struggles, fears, and doubts. When we say, Jesus, this is where I am, in your mercy, would you come and meet me here. This reminds of a chorus of a song that says, “Mercy came running, like a prisoner set free, past all my failures, to the point of my need, when the sin that I carried, was all I could see, and when I could not reach mercy, mercy came running to me.” It’s ok if we can’t reach out to Jesus at times, we are wonderfully reminded in this story, that he is always ready to reach out to us in spite of our unbelief, because he is a God of grace, of compassion, and of mercy.

I wanted to write a song that would encourage us to dwell on, “what if Jesus heals me or heals this person I care about” in spite of whether I do believe, kind of believe or don't. The same Jesus who is revealed in Scripture healing and setting free people of all walks of life from doubt, sickness, sin, pride, rebellion, anger, and broken faith, is the same Jesus who waits for you to call upon him as this father did. Our heart for this song, is that it would deepen your relationship with Jesus and help you know that He is good and faithful no matter what. I call this song, Jesus, I Believe.

"Do you want to believe? Then you already do." (Help My Unbelief) - N.D. Wilson

"Belief is from Him. Ask for it, and in the asking, you have already received."- (Help My Unbelief) - N.D. Wilson

Take Away:

• As you call out to Jesus and he turns to you, what is happening in you?
• As you step out and confess, what is God revealing about himself to you?
• If you are struggling to believe for healing or freedom, that’s ok. Jesus is present and near and waiting for us to call upon his name for the impossible.

Recommended Book:

• Help My Unbelief

"fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

Let me share the story behind song “My God (Praying for America)”. I remember my wife and I were doing some early Christmas shopping that day at the Clackamas Town Center Mall in Portland, OR. When all of a sudden, we saw and heard people running out the door and screaming there is someone shooting and killing people in the Mall. This experience was so surreal and scary for both of us. By the grace of God my wife and I made it out safe, but others did not. And I remember being in my living room watching the news regarding the shooting that had happened at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. There was so many emotions and questions going through me. This was a very sad time in our local communities and in our Nation. I then began reading people's Youtube comments, and interview reactions, and also listening to what others at my local church had to share how they felt about all that was happening. I just could not help it any more, I was moved to write this song. I had to write this song. I wanted to provide us a voice in song. A song that expressed how we were feeling about all that was happening in our communities and in our country. I wanted to share this song with all of America. My hope and prayer for this song is that individuals and families across America would find and experience comfort, strength, faith, hope, love, peace and healing.

“if my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 
2 Chronicles 7:14

As we sing and declare this song together, we are believing that God hears our hearts cry. That God will come to our rescue and defense. That God will show his mercy and forgive us. And it is only by his grace can we learn how to forgive again and experience love, peace, strength, and hope as we come together in song. Just as God brought life out of death through His Son Jesus, may He once again bring life out of this situation. May we sense God’s near presence as we come together to remember those who’s lives were taken from us. My our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to the victims, families and communities affected by these past shootings. May the God of mercy, of justice, and love come like a rushing flood saturating over our lands with his healing. Please feel free to share this song with your friends, with your family, and community.

Take Away:

• I want to encourage you to take 60 seconds right now to pray for your community, for your city, for your schools, and for America.

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"Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, thats all who ever have." - Margaret Mead

“Let Us Bring Hope” was inspired by a grassroots non-profit organization called Feast for Southeast dedicated to inspiring people to make a difference in the lives of their neighbors. Feast for Southeast provides individuals and families in Southeast Portland, OR with a traditional meal on Thanksgiving day. A meal put together “for the community by the community.” My wife (Vashti) and I had the opportunity to participate in 2012 Feast for Southeast, and we saw first hand, the impact they were having on their community. I was inspired by the acts of kindness found in Portland and by the great folks at Feast for Southeast. I immediately realized we need more non-profit organizations like Feast for Southeast doing this very thing, Serving others, showing Compassion and Encouraging others to do the same. The best visual example of F4SE I can give you are these two scriptures,

Matthew 25:34-36 (NIV) “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”

Mark 10:45 (ERV) “In the same way, the Son of Man did not come for other people to serve him. But the Son of Man came to serve other people.”

I told my friend Rob that I felt inspired to write a song that Feast For Southeast could use, as well as other non-profit organizations could use to help promote compassion and love in our community and in our world. So I went to the studio and started writing and producing away. I wanted this song to do several things, I first wanted it to have room to breath for visual images, to promote and champion compassion, to bring awareness to our community, and to encourage us to show kindness and compassion towards others. You and I can make a difference today. You and I can bring hope and love to someone’s world. Imagine the kind of world we would live in if we lived like this. 

"Your thoughts, words, and deeds are painting the world around you." - Jewel Diamond Taylor

Take Away:

• What if the world knew how much we cared?
• I wanna encourage us today to be open to opportunities where we can extend and practice kindness and compassion to our neighbor.

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