Jesus, Oh What a Name

The beautifully changing leaves.   The crisp, fresh, fall air.   Pumpkin spice, scarves and roasting marshmallows around the fire...all symptoms of something new.    A new season is coming and bringing with it a changing temperature, a shift in the atmosphere, leaves falling away, as if to symbolize the breaking off of the old to make way for the new.  As I watch this around me, in a new home, in a new town I can't help but feel as though the Lord has begun taking me into a new season in worship.    As He reveals more of His purpose for music and worship I find myself being less excited about the ideas of what I can do and more excited about what He is doing.  

Recently my husbands family has been going through some difficulties.   A few days ago things came to a bit of a head with one particular situation and as the day went on I struggled to find the words to pray.   The situation...messy, the people involved...struggling, emotions...high, the outcome...uncertain.   The type of situation where praying for a resolution doesn't cover even one base, much less all of them.  As I lay in bed that evening waiting on my husband who was outside talking to his brother, trying to help him process everything that was going on, all I could think to do was sit down at my keyboard and worship.  So that is what I did.    As I started singing a worship song I felt the Lord say, just sing my name.   So I started singing the name Jesus.   Over and over again, His sweet precious, healing, covering, powerful name.   The name that holds all hope, peace, redemption and grace.  Worship in that moment was my weapon, His name the ammunition.  As I sang I could feel His presence fall, I knew in that moment that even if no one in His family knew what was going on, that the Lord was moving on their behalf.   Billy's brother does not believe in the Lord.   A truth that weighs heavily on my heart often.    But I kept singing His name...believing that the Lord still answers our prayers for those who don't believe, sometimes to show them His power and glory.  And that this might just be the planting of spiritual seeds and tearing down of walls he needs to see what is missing in His heart.
 The next day there was a bit of a shift...small as it was, it only takes a small adjustment to move in a new direction.   Things are still tough and may take some time for everything to recover.   But I know the Lord is moving...and I know sometimes the leaves have to fall for new life to begin.   And even though they may not have asked for His hand, or even recognize His presence, I know that He is here, working on their behalf.  And even if I never see this side of heaven, the fruit of worship, I am thankful for His name.   I am thankful the Lord has given us a way to experience His power and authority through the act of worship.  Jesus, what a beautiful name.  
Philippians 5:9-11 "Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, the the glory of God the Father."