The heArt of Worship

Dictionary.com says that worship (as a noun) is, reverent honor and homage paid to God or a sacred personage, or to any object regarded as sacred. (As a verb) The object of adoring reverence or regard, to render religious reverence and homage to, to feel an adoring reverence or regard for (any person or thin).

Bible Dictionary says it is: homage rendered to God, which it is sinful (idolatry) to render to any other created being (Ex. 34:14; Isa. 2:8). Such worship was refused by Peter (Acts 10:25, 26) and by an angel (Rev. 22:8, 9). [I have posted these scriptures at the end of the blog]

  I feel that this has been the leading of the Holy Spirit to write this blog. I have prayed that everything I say is in accordance with God’s word and that this is something that ministers to you and helps you view worship in a new way! This is what worship means to me.

 Worship is not about singing or playing an instrument. Worship is an intimate time with God in which you express your love for Him (just as you take time to tell your loved ones how much you care for them). It is about the intent of your heart. What you do to show worship cannot truly be worship unless your heart is set on God. His spirit then comes down and changes your song, your instrument, your dance, your art, and it becomes worship. I am worshipping Him even as I am writing! I believe that God’s favorite moments of our singing and dancing and playing, is when we misstep, hit a sour note, sing the wrong lyric, because when you are so in tuned to Him, none of that matters. You could have the most incredible voice and never please God.

Isaiah 29:13 says:
 The Lord says:
“These people come near to me with their mouth
and honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
Their worship of me
is based on merely human rules they have been taught.

 He doesn’t care about the ability. He cares only about the heart behind the voice, the motions, the music, and the words!

1 Corinthians 13:1-3:

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.

If your actions do not come from a place of love, it means nothing! Worship is a time to love on the Lord! And to let Him love on YOU!

 Sometimes a praise band may play a song you have never heard, or may play a song that you don’t particularly like. In this case you can use the opportunity to worship with your hands and feet by moving and swaying or clapping and raising your hands. You can even worship with your mouth, this doesn’t mean you have to sing, you could take that time to talk to the Lord and tell Him how holy He is, how wonderful and mighty He is, tell Him he is worthy! He wants to hear you praising Him! He deserves it! Think of all He has done for you! Jesus gave everything! He gave His very life! Doesn’t that make you want to show your appreciation and gratitude!? If someone gave you a million dollars surely you would scream, jump and shout! I would jump a little for just a hundred dollars! If we can be excited over something as temporary and meaningless as money, why not be just as excited and even more so, over our eternal God!

 I hope to encourage you to set your heart on God today. In everything you do, let it come from a place of love and adoration! Find a new way to worship the Lord! Worship is a LIFESTYLE!

Exodus 34:14
 Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

Isaiah 2:8
Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made.

Acts 10:25, 26
As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.

Revelation 22:8-9
I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!”

Just an encouraging picture of worship from the Hope4Healing concert with Kari Jobe



Rain, lines, skype, and some sweet Jesus Time!

I am sitting in the pick up line at Thomson Elementary.  Its raining and it's a little dreary.  But in a strange way it's kind of nice.  Just me and God, and of course my netbook. And just got a skype from Lee Ann!  I really miss her! But I am so happy for her! I feel like today, the Lord has a happy heart.  Im sure He always does but today, I can feel it.  Tomorrow is the Kari Jobe concert and I could not be more excited! I think the Lord has something special in the works here. God is so amazing! I challenge everyone to have some Jesus time today. And try to see the world through His eyes this week.  Let me know what you see Him doing!

Me waiting in the rain

You Are For Me

You Are For Me - Kari Jobe
(click the link above after you read this!lol)
I sang this song at church today and after such a trying week and much heavy heartedness, I felt like I could breathe again when the final words were sang.  Sometimes we just need for God to remind us "I am for you" and then everything is ok again.  So no matter how deep your valley is, or how dark things seem, or how broken you feel, just know that He is for you! He will always reach down and pick you up.

Time MARCHes on

March is sure to be a busy, yet very rewarding month.  Many birthdays, lots of exciting adventures, and I'm sure lots of stress! lol First off, we will all be missing our co-worker and friend, Lee Ann, she and her husband will be in Ukraine, going through the adoption process for the next three weeks. I'm asking you guys to please take time to say a prayer for them; safe travels, and a smooth and speedy adoption. We are so excited for them! And we will be quite busy trying to take care of her clients! I'm nervous because I know the amazing work I have to live up to! Myrtle Beach at the end of the month for Chloe's TCB competition! Kari Jobe next week! I'm praying for it to be the most radical move of God we have ever seen! I want this place turned upside down. I want God to mess up everyone's perception of worship, and show them just how worthy He is! And of course the new VCC home! It has been a long time coming for many there (not so much for me) but I know that God is positioning us just where we need to be.  This is about to get interesting!