worship

Famous or Faceless: servant hearted in a self focussed world

~ carlyriordan ~ Leave a comment

Creative people are often tagged as those with huge egos. In my experience as a creative pastor, I haven’t found this to be true. For the most part, the creative team is full of servant-hearted people working tirelessly behind the scenes; practising, setting up, sound checking and packing down. Anyone with an ego doesn’t hang around for long. Yet pride is a real issue we all deal with at times. Pride was the first sin that separated Adam and Eve from God in the Garden of Eden.

In its various forms, pride continues trying to separate us from God today.  Continue reading →

Heaven is His Throne… but where is His home?

~ carlyriordan ~ Leave a comment

What are you making space for?- Day 2 of 8 Lent reflections

When we first moved into our home, Joe and I regularly rearranged our furniture. We started out, as many newly-married couples do, with second-hand pieces and whatever else we could afford. As time went on, we upgraded piece by piece. Each time we moved a new item of furniture in, we’d move everything around and get rid of the old pieces that no longer fit or served their purpose. In the process, we’d find lost items and uncover spaces in desperate need of cleaning.

In the same way, we all want to create a sense of ‘home’ in our house, we can create a sense of home for Christ to dwell within our hearts. We get to invite the King of Kings to come and take up residence in the lounge room of our lives. Thinking this way, what would you rearrange in your life right now that doesn’t feel conducive to entertaining the King of Kings?

Continue reading →

Let your light shine — Lent Reflection One (of Eight)

~ carlyriordan ~ Leave a comment

Let your light shine

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you:
Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought,
but rather think of yourself with sober judgment,
In accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
Romans 12:3

Whenever I have the opportunity to do anything I feel called to, whether it be writing, leading, or pastoring, I have a mix of feelings. Part of me feels a sense of confidence that “I was born for this,” and the other part of me feels deeply inadequate, like “I am completely out of my depth”. While overconfidence is unattractive and causes us to do things in our own strength, feeling inadequate can lead to paralysis and an unwillingness to step up and give it a go. So, what is the correct way to view ourselves? Continue reading →