Song of the Month (April) – Captivated

Download “Captivated” here: http://reflect.bandcamp.com

(Click Here for LYRICS)

We pray you are doing well and hope this song “Captivated” is a blessing to you in your journey with God. I have been thinking about something Jesus once said, “But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.  For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24 NLT)

The Father is looking for worshipers. Is he finding you? Is he finding me? Are we worshiping? What does it even mean to worship him?

Worship = Love

I was listening to Danen Kane’s song “Love is Waiting” the other day in my car and it ended with the line, “Love is waiting on us”. I thought, “Okay God, I receive your love.” Immediately I felt his love and affirmation fill my heart.

I am convinced that to worship God primarily means to simply allow ourselves be loved by him. This is what God wants from each one of us, a willing heart… willing, to be loved. And as we are loved, and only as we are loved, are we able to then respond in love for God and a genuine love for others, for Scripture says, “We love him, because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19 KJV)

I can imagine God searching throughout the whole earth asking, “Who will respond to my love?” I bet he gets really excited when he finds someone willing to open their heart to his love.

Jesus talked about abiding or remaining in God’s love in John 15:

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.  My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.” ( John 15:9-13 NIV)

Love each other. Even as Jesus loved us, so we are commanded to love each other. This is the true test of responding to God’s love. It translates into love for others. Someone who doesn’t love others hasn’t yet reveled in the love of God. When we do revel in his love for us we then love others and come to experience the abundant life of Jesus.

I encourage you to take some time to revel in the love of God, in the unconditional love of God, and then spread that love to everyone you come into contact with!

Update on Daniel & Catherine:

We were sick for a little over a week in the month of March and I grew a beard (now gone). My joke was, “I’m not sure how I feel about it yet, but it’s growing on me.” I had to cancel ten days of concerts and while I was off I did a great deal of writing and recorded several videos (a few Johnny Cash covers).

Our little girl Ellie is now almost 2 years old. We love her so much and she is so much fun. Jungle book is her favorite movie and she has even sung in her sleep “Bare nessecities… yea man”. She loves music and dancing around the house. While we were rehearsing Captivated before recording the video Ellie corrected us when we got to the chorus. Every time we would sing “Jesus you are so beautiful…” she would say, “No, Jesus loves me, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so!” She has a really good memory for songs.

Nursing Home Ministry Update:

Please pray for our Nursing Home ministry. We have quite a busy month in April with about 50 concerts and I really want people to experience and respond to God’s love and the good news of Jesus. You can donate to help this ministry at our website. Your donations go toward providing large print Gospels of John to residents!

Thanks for listening,

Daniel & Catherine