Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations. – Psalm 100
We humans are worshippers. We will worship. It is not something we have to muster up; worship comes naturally to us. What or whom we worship varies. Followers of Christ are drawn to worship God by His Spirit and in response to the Truth we find in Scripture. When the church gathers, we worship.
The church coming together in corporate worship can be a glimpse of Heaven. We are often led in worship by someone (or a team) entrusted by the church with that responsibility. It is not a light thing to lead a people into worship. There is ever the threat of moving the people’s focus from God to the worship leaders themselves. A glorious choir, cool band, or winsome worship team can put on a really good show and our attention drifts from God…to them.
We have been blessed over the years by worshipping God with other believers in many situations. In congregations of thousands and in a small living room with another family. With worship led by one person on guitar and with a great choir and orchestra. In our own heart language and in Arabic, French, and other languages. In times of leanness of spirit and times when our hearts soared with gratitude to God.
Part of our gratitude goes to those worship leaders who help us shake off the cares of our lives for those moments as we gather. They lead us, through their own prayers, music, and servant attitudes, to train our hearts toward God and fix our eyes on Him. Holy perspective follows.
One of those worship leaders who has been a delight to us is Keilan Creech. He is a young singer/song-writer, and we had the privilege of worshipping under his leadership for a couple of years. He grew up in Brazil but currently studies and works in Richmond, Virginia. We don’t see him often, but when we do, I tell him, “We will always be able to say ‘we knew you when’….” One day, you will know him as his music career takes off, and I’m thinking he will be the same Keilan Creech we know, who loves God and loves the church.
His album Dying for a Change plays regularly when we’re at home, and on our phones and in our car as we travel. Nathan Mills played electric guitar on that album and is now one of our worship leaders in the house church where we gather to worship. We are in a different season from the days of church of hundreds with Keilan and his team leading worship, but we continue to be blessed as church gathered, led in worship of a GOD who makes our hearts sing.
Worship with me:
Light Shining Out of Darkness by Keilan Creech (adapted from poem by William Cowper)
God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill,
He treasures up his bright designs,
And works his sov’reign will.
When the sky is grey
And all hope seems lost
There is light shining out
of darkness
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.
When the sky is grey
And all hope seems lost
There is light shining out
of darkness
His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.
Dying for a Change Album by Keilan Creech
ReverbNation page for Keilan Creech
Noisetrade – Free Album Download
Hillsong United – All I Need Is You, Lord (Cover by Keilan Creech)