Wednesday, September 03, 2008
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God of This City
In the past I've blogged about moving to NYC from a college town in Florida. I spent a year in Korea and thought that was culture shock but going from living next to cow pastures to living in the hustle and bustle of a big city has probably been one of the most jarring experiences in my life. Don't get me wrong I love living here but there are times I feel like God isn't here in this city.
On a daily basis I witness poverty, drug/alcohol addiction, greed, hostility and so much more. Often times I walk around and feel like this city is forsaken and wonder if other people in this city feel like God and other Christians don't dwell here.
Several months ago at church our praise leader taught us the Chris Tomlin song "God of This City." Hearing this song bolstered my spirit and also gave me some perspective on feeling like I live in a godless city. I love the lyrics:
You're the God of this city
You're the King of these people
You're the Lord of this nation
You Are
Bridge:
For there is no one like our God
There is no one like our God
Chorus 1:
Greater things have yet to come
Great things are still to be done
In this city
Greater things are still to come
And greater things are still to be done here
This song came to me at such an appropriate time and I have really taken the lyrics to heart. God really does know our hearts doesn't he?
I think most of you probably already know this song but I wanted to share and encourage anyone else that might be feeling like they live in a place that seems dark and godless, that God is truly there and greater things are still to be done. Do you ever feel like God isn't reflected where you're living? Do you pray for your town/city?
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Comments (25)
God is here, but so is Satan...I do pray for my town sometimes...
No matter where we live it is growing darker. Thus the need to let our light so shine. When we have the Holy Spirit with us and are living as the Savior asked, His image and light can be seen through us. There is no depth nor darkness where He has not already been. In our darkest moments His hand is "stretched out still." How grateful I am for that love which leads me Home.
Being born and raised in NYC, and also being born and raised a christian while living in NYC It is possible to see God. Poverty, drugs, crime exist everywhere. It just happens to look more noticible here in NYC. We get a bad rap sometimes but There are many Christians who seek God here in NYC.
If your heart is one that seeks God you will see him, whether you're in NYC, or the far side of the moon!
From my persepective you get used to all that happens in NYC when you have lived here all your life but the experience and the people you meet are quite unique, compared to other places. I feel like I can be prepared for anything or anyplace because I have lived here all my life.
God is everywhere and is also here. Make no mistake about it.
God bless.
i know that this post is a reflection of your perspective and maybe NYC is somewhat new to you and you probably didn't mean to offend anyone, but Why wouldn't God be here? There are always those dedicated to seeking God's face and this post imo seems to throw that out that out the window.
Almost as if God can't be here in NYC. To ask :"I Know God is Everywhere But is He Really Here?" To me is almost a question that implies God's reach and power are limited.
Just my two New york cents! God bless.
I pray for NY all the time and for our country as a whole because sin is everywhere.
Thanks for the reminder to be praying for our cities. I don't pray as much as I should.
FYI: "God of This City" was originally written for the city of Belfast...
When we look at the darkness, we can become discouraged and overwhelmed. Let's not forget why we are where we are (it's not by accident: Acts 17:26-28) and take heart that He is the Light of the world and we are to shine as lights in a dark place (Phil. 2:15) because He is the One who said, Let light shine out of darkness, [and] has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. II Cor. 4:6.
Jeremiah 29:4-7.
God is located anywhere most primarily in the presence of his people.
-NDSR
Woow. We just worshipped the Lord with this song last Sunday in church in conjunction of the National Day in Malaysia. We tend to forget to pray for the country as there are more for us to focus in our society. But we should at least pray for the Christians in the Federal Government that they will have God's favour in mind and divine appointment for Christians to be in high ranking positions to effectt transformation within the government sectors to administer justice and righteousness.
I just wrote a blog entry concerning something close to this question: http://weblog.xanga.com/craigellachie/672368106/loving-the-culture-loving-the-world.html#
@izakura@xanga - Excellent point! My husband and I love to say that we are living proff that God's arm is not too short to reach into the most "godless" acres of the Northeast-- the Ivy League Scientific Establishment-- and call out His own from it. No locked doors or high walls to the Lord! Praise God! "I will build My Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it!"
I moved to Boston two years ago. Previously I had lived around Richmond, Va. Lots of land, green grass, religion, family etc.
Moving up here was a big culture shock. The same poverty, greed, drug/alcohol addiction and homelessness was in Richmond, but just not so obvious or in such great numbers as it is up here. I still am not used to it, though thankfully I'm living further out of the city now. I had to move, I just couldn't handle it anymore. Overwhelming, that's a good word.
I wondered how any God (I'm not Christian - I believe in one god, but many faiths) could let this happen all over the world. To me, it seems that God is best shown the most in the kindness given by those that donate time, goods, money and assistance to those in need. To me, helping build a home for Habitat for Humanity, opening your home and heart to a foster child or even donating money so that children across the world can receive immunization is the best way to show that God is reflected where I live.
go get his new CD Hello Love out now...
yes I am endorsing Chris Tomlin... no i'm not paid to do it...
but it's a grand CD...
i live in a small-ish city (perth, said to be the most isolated city in the world, but i beg to differ, there is always cities in new zealand :P), so i don't find it hard to feel God here...however, you brought up a great point, to pray for our city/state, especially with our upcoming state election.
hope that you will experience more positive things while living in nyc, God bless :)
@izakura@xanga - Hey there! Thanks for commenting. It's always great to meet a native NYer. =) I definitely know God is everywhere and in this city. I think my lack of seeing Him in the places around me is because I'm struggling to reflect His light in the dark.
I love this place and definitely am trying to get used to living here. I didn't mean to offend I think you can live anywhere in the world and feel like this. The song has really helped me to remember God is everywhere and every city is His.
God bless!
@naphtali_deer@xanga - hi! Thanks for the encouragement and verse. I definitely think my lack of seeing Him around me is because I'm struggling with reflecting His light.
I saw this great video about the back story of this song. Chris Tomlin and some of the Passion members were in Belfast and heard another group singing this song. The video version is the Passion version of it. I love how it can be applied to any place in the world. Every city is really God's city isn't it =)
Thanks for your sharing=)
There are some poblem surrending me in these day,new F2 school make me feel tired,although I can't see God where is he,but i will keep praying,I am sure he is taking care us in some place ; )
God bless!
I love that song!
I live in a city that people call the modern day Sodem and Gamorah. They say God will never move here. San Fransisco.
I get so upset when people say that. Why? Because I see Christians everywhere beginning to rise up and take a stand in the Bay Area. I see God doing some crazy things....(in a place people said He would never move!). Take heart. I know it's hard, but one person can make a difference. Cliche? Yes, but true!!!!
Keep Crying out to God for your city.
I feel like He's hardly ever heard nor seen here in the state's capitol even though this is the buckle of the Bible Belt. We have more churches than restaurants and bars together. Unfortunately, most of them are about culture instead of Creator. This town seems to see much more of the type of Christian the agnostics on this blog love to ridicule. Its sad, but I'm doing my part in trying to grow closer to Him and encouraging others to do the same.
First time i heard this song... was at a Passion Conference in Dallas and Chris Tomlin sang it.... I cried. I still get teary-eyed and chills all over when I hear it. Its a simple song, but means so much to me.
There is no one like our God!!! Amen.Saying God isn't in this or that particular city is a cop-out that lets people off the hook. "Oh, well, God hates this city and its people, so there must be a reason. They're probably all sinners. Therefore, I don't have to do anything to improve the situation."
@LadyLibellule@xanga - you're totally right. God created everything...even though things have turned out badly, God will use for good. It is just sad that so many Christians have become apathetic and simply don't care about anything else outside of themselves.
God said this to the Israelites in Jeremiah 29: "Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6
Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give
your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and
daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7
Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried
you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you
too will prosper."
In verse 7, peace and prosperity = hebrew word, shalom. That really means a wholeness, restoration, and life.
All too much, we can think of the city as the crappy places of society. But if you just take a look, there is so much life. God is at work in cities, and very much so. One can really find God in the city...one just has to look as how God instructed the Israelites--to prosper there, and thus making the city prosper.
I have to sympathize with you in the end, and think some people may have misunderstood your original point. It's definitely true that some areas of the world are spiritually darker than others. You weren't saying that God wasn't in NYC at all, but just saying that it could be hard to feel his presence. I hope that he continues to reveal himself in NYC to you, though--pray that he does so!
I participated in a human video featuring this song.
I feel God is wherever you want him to be. You can see the good in every town/community.
mmorpg-----------