Louder!
I’m listening to the live version of “Our God Reigns” * cranked as high as my system will go… and it is not loud enough!
Louder! Louder!
I’ve invited the angelic armies to join me in worship… for the Rockies to raise their voice, for rocks and trees…for all of Creation to join the chorus… and it’s still not loud enough!
I’ve listened to it three times now and am in tears. I am incapable of giving God the praise He is due. Worthy of. Justly deserves.
Perhaps that’s my greatest short coming… worshipping Him fully. I mean it… there are so many things I fall short of, yet it may be that none is graver than curbing my full heart’s adulation.
I know grace, I know I’m forgiven, cleansed, His, the beloved… and I know, I know… but in this moment of adoration I simply cannot express all that’s in my heart to Him... and it is that which I most want to do!
I fall silent.
The song ends with the live audience applauding… and it is not loud enough, not long enough.
Louder! Louder!
- Craig
• The Chris Tomlin, Charlie Hall, Dave Crowder version on the album Everything Glorious
AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I get that way listening to Third Day's "Sing a Song'
Woo Hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Turn it up!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Rocco | February 10, 2010 at 05:44 PM
SO true, I do the same thing and it's never loud enough when it's annointed praise worshiping God in the highest. I just want the whole world to stop for a moment and join me. He is worthy!
Posted by: Kristin, San Diego CA | February 11, 2010 at 03:42 AM
I was sitting at my desk typing an email and decided to listen to my "Worship" playlist. KAPOW! God shows up and a worship service breaks out. It was powerful, enjoyable, sobering, and out of the blue! I love God!
Posted by: Craig McConnell | February 11, 2010 at 08:08 AM
I heard it here in Nashville and was wondering who had their stereo cranked.... it was Y O U !!!!
Rock On!!!
Posted by: Chartlie | February 11, 2010 at 09:45 AM
I love your heart Craig! Yes, crank it up and go to town bro...Jesus is worthy of everything within us!
Posted by: David Felts | February 11, 2010 at 12:13 PM
Charlie,
So you noticed my OEM Systems STUD Woofer SE-10SWD Subwoofer?
Posted by: Craig McConnell | February 11, 2010 at 12:56 PM
David,
Everything! In some sense living the Christian Life is very, very simple - Love the Lord you God with all your heart.
Posted by: Craig McConnell | February 11, 2010 at 12:58 PM
I am with you Craig (just imaging you going LOUDER).
That's what I do in my car sometimes on the way home and imaging the angels being with me enjoying it :-)
Bless you!
Peter
Posted by: Peter Wernli | February 11, 2010 at 02:03 PM
http://www.lala.com/#song/576742283356617777
Posted by: Allen from SoCal (W@HBC 04/09) | February 12, 2010 at 12:23 AM
Your words, "...I am in tears" is the louder, Criag. The language of the heart is unique in content and volume. In the heavenlies, your praise of the One who loves you most carries more weight than you can imagine. Never enough, of course, but more than you can imagine.
Posted by: John Moorhead | February 12, 2010 at 06:08 AM
John,
“The language of the heart is unique in content and volume.” Great thought! And thus our groanings, often beyond words, are articulate to the ears of God. Thanks! - Craig
Posted by: Craig McConnell | February 12, 2010 at 10:51 AM
I hear you Craig. Due to my "listening habits", I'm relegated to head phones at home.
"Perhaps that’s my greatest short coming… worshipping Him fully. I mean it… there are so many things I fall short of, yet it may be that none is graver than curbing my full heart’s adulation." --- Sometimes I feel this way yet in another way, I sense that what I "see" as a shortcoming may actually be something else. Could it be that as we worship as you describe, our increased desire for more and deeper worship is mistaken for a shortcoming when it is actually our heart growing freer and closer to the object of our worship.
Louder + Louder = Closer + Closer = Increased Desire + Freer Heart ???
So I say CRANK IT UP !!!
By the way, at the next WAH BC, I'll be the one with double hearing aides in the front row saying "What did you say? Can you speak up?"
Posted by: Bill Morrison | February 13, 2010 at 06:03 AM
Bill,
I agree. I think our spiritual “sweet spot” is that place of:
Utter dependence,
Full hearted worship,
Longing/thirst/hunger for more and
Unspeakable gratefulness (to name a few).
Now, internally that “sweet spot” often includes:
Feelings of Desperation, Profound anxiety/fear,
Unconquerable circumstances looming,
Relational disappointment…
Posted by: Craig McConnell | February 15, 2010 at 10:09 AM