church without walls...

She asked... while I lay on her massage table...
Do you think ministry only happens inside the walls of the church...?

After a moment considering the unexpected question... I answered...
I think life is ministry...

After the mid-massage discussion...
He reminded me of a vision I had several years ago...

Sitting in the sanctuary where I worship with others each week...
preparing for the service to start...
the walls folded outward...
and there it was...
church without walls...

Because really...
there's only ONE church...
and it has no walls...

At this moment in time...
His church is scattered about...
like the Israelites during their exile...

He alone knows who His church is...
where His church is...
and when He will gather it up into one place...

And I wonder at what we've done to His church...
with all the denominations... divisions... disagreement over doctrine...

With walls... and buildings...
we began to lose the vision...
of His one church...

The early Believers maintained it for a while...
most at the beginning were converted Jews...
they knew only one place... one temple... for worship...

And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes,

they received their food with glad and generous hearts,

praising God and having favor with all the people.

Acts 2:46-47 ESV

But when we became scattered by persecution...
exiled over miles... and years...
we began to divide... build walls...
and call them churches...

People ask... What church do you belong to...?
My first response... There is only one church...

We need to remember the church is one...
and church is Believers in Jesus... not buildings with walls...

Even when others attempt to bring in false doctrine...
fall for the enemy's lies...
there is still just one church without walls...

Jesus never says... Divide... build another church...
when we don't agree... or get along...
He says... Overcome... stand firm... be light to the dark...

There is one church...
it has no walls...
and one day...
maybe soon...
He will return...
and take us to the place He has prepared for us...

"...And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again

and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. ..."---Jesus

John 14:3 ESV

And that sisters and brothers...
is a day I look forward to...
what I realize my heart longs for...

The perfect church...
where like-minded souls...
worship Him...
in spirit...
and truth...

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love

endures forever! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,

whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands,

from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.

Psalm 107:1-3 ESV

1 word till Christmas... worship...

Christmas Eve is dawning...
one day till Christmas...
one more word...
Worship...

Most of the players in the first Advent...
were filled with worship of Him...

Mary...

"My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

for he who is mighty has done great things for me,

and holy and true is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him

from generation to generation. ...

Luke 1:46-50 ESV

Her song of praise goes on...

because of the blessing He's poured out on her...

her soul magnifies Him... 

makes Him large... prominent... lifts Him up...

Worship...

Zechariah... when his tongue was finally loosed...

"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people

and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David...

that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us;

to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant..."

Luke 1:68-69, 71-72 ESV

Zechariah's praise came with prophecy...
he left everyone wondering...

Worship...

The shepherds... after going to see...
returned to the fields... glorifying and praising God...

The wise men... after their long trek star-following...
fell down... and worshiped Him...
with words and gifts...

Worship...

I wonder at Him this morning... looking back on the journey of these 12 words...

At times... I thought... Could there be another word...?
and this morning... I'm seeing so many more words...
thinking... Maybe next year... 30 words till Christmas...?

The greatest wonder... is how each day...
the word He gave... has been woven into my day...
today... no exception...

Worship... as an Advent word...
came to mind somewhere in the middle...
but I knew it would be word 12...

This evening... (hopefully...)
we will gather as a family...
and worship Him...
and remember His coming...
at a candlelight service...

But this morning... in preparation for ministry...
He showed me how I had been limiting Him...

Every month I publish a prayer journal for members of our congregation to pray for our pastor daily over the month...

It follows four steps of prayer...
praise...
confession...
thanksgiving...
intercession...
each day... a different aspect of our pastor's life to pray for...

The praise and intercession are Scripture-based prayer...
the praise topic gives Scripture to back it up and use as a basis for prayerful praise...

In the past... in an effort to formulate preparation...
I constructed a table...
31 areas of the pastor's life to pray for...
31 aspects of God's character to praise...

I rotated verses... but stuck to the same 31 character traits each month...

Well... not too many months ago... my hard drive cracked...
not just crashed... but cracked... physically broke...
all my records lost... or at least jumbled... after a computer tech salvaged what he could...

But I felt God's call to start afresh...
when it came to the Pastoral Prayer Hedge Journal...
so I did...

The pursuit of fresh practice has been going on about two months now...

This morning... on a day when I have more than enough to do...
I felt the tug to make a new table...
organize the praise topics... and their verses...

What I found... after I was through...
to date... instead of 31 attributes to praise...
I've been led to 60...!!!

Now... with an average of 30 days per month...
in two months... He's shown me double of who He is...

He revealed how I had been limiting Him... to myself...
and to those who participate in this ministry...
praying for our pastor...

Yes... He is a God worthy of our worship...
a God to be magnified by all our souls...
not just Mary's...

By coming to earth...
making Himself so small...
vulnerable...
dependent...
He made the Way...
for us to be saved...

How will you worship Him today...?
tomorrow...?
every day...?

freedom... to lay down an offering...

offering... the act of one who offers... something offered especially: a sacrifice

ceremonially offered as part of worship... a contribution to the support of a church...

---Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Ed.

Yesterday... I had an opportunity to give an offering at church...

Not a monetary gift in the offering plate... but a time of witness... sharing part of my story... through a prayer and praise service...

This is not something I've done before... at least not in a public setting... with a microphone and sound system...

Multiple times... I've shared bits of my story... one on one... or in small groups... Bible studies... so yesterday... felt like a sacrifice...

But the funny thing was... this whole opportunity... this offering... appears to be an answer to prayer... one I wrote in a journal... way back in January...

Lord, free me up to use the gifts You've given me

boldly and without fear! or false humility.

The journaling about offering... came to my attention the eve of the service...

Forgotten pages became most significant in my preparation...

My desire... was to be available to Him... to share the work He's done in me... through His Word... and prayer...

My usual way would be to fret... write... know exactly what to say... but that just wasn't the way this time...

I wrestled with resisting the urge to practice in my head... 

He called me to let my story speak... in that moment... as He led...

and really... I mostly had peace...

The morning came... my flesh wanted to bolt... but my spirit seemed calm... prepared...

I prayed earnestly... to be a blessing to Him... to His church... to give an offering... a contribution of spiritual support to His people...

Another line in my journal helped me prepare for this moment...

...an offering is an act of worship given solely with God in mind...

The freedom of offering solely to Him... allowed me the freedom to lay down my offering... leave it on the altar... no need to review... critique... seek affirmation from others...

Whatever your offering... use your freedom in Christ... to contribute to the support of His people... whether it's monetary... spiritual... service... whatever... 

Lay it down for Him on the altar... and thank Him... for what He's done for you...

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another,

as good stewards of God's varied graces...

in order that in everything God may be glorified

through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion

forever and ever. Amen

1 Peter 4:10-11 ESV

nine days...

We're into single digits...
nine days till Christmas...
hanging on to the hope...
of peace... joy... calm...
an unhurried pace...
over these single digit days...

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;

the whole earth is full of his glory!"

Isaiah 6:3 ESV

Holy is the Lord...

who came to show us how to love...

to trust... obey...

live Spirit-led...

Holy... set apart... pure... perfect...

He stooped low...

He came to get dirty...

For he grew up before him like a young plant,

and like a root out of dry ground;

he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,

and no beauty that we should desire him.

He was despised and rejected by men;

a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;

and as one from whom men hide their faces

he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows;

yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.

But he was wounded for our transgressions;

he was crushed for our iniquities;

upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace

and with his stripes we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray;

we have turned --- every one --- to his own way;

and the Lord has laid on him

the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53:2-6 ESV

...the Lord has laid on Him... the iniquity of us all...

Can you get any dirtier...? than the iniquity of us all...?

every person... past... present... future...?

The One who had no spot or blemish...

not a speck... not a muss...

lowered Himself from His lofty majestic holiness...

His glory... His splendor...

to shoot up out of dry ground... out of a stump...

to take onto Himself...

ALL SIN... ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS... ALL EVIL...

The One who did no wrong... came to take the blame...

came to bear the wrath... receive the rod... that led to death...

The eternal... the timeless... the unending...

came to live a life that ended...

in humility... disgrace... crucified...

Holy... Holy... Holy... is the Lord...

The whole earth... is full... of His glory...

This love that gets dirty... it's holy... it's glorious...

Now that's a thought... holy love gets dirty... for the sake of another...

Have you gotten dirty lately...? stooped low in love...?

Lord... Holy Lord... perfect in every way....

blameless and pure... help me understand...

this holy love... that willingly gets dirty...

to save another...

Take a moment to worship Him...
on this single digit day...
sing along... Here I Am to Worship...

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what does it take... to prepare a sanctuary... for Him...?

What does it take... to prepare a sanctuary... for Him...?

He gave instructions... to Moses... for His dwelling place on earth... the tabernacle...

Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle,

and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.

Exodus 25:3 ESV

Three of the things... the people were called to contribute for its construction... caught my attention...

"You shall command the people of Israel that they bring

to you pure beaten olive oil for the light,

that a lamp may regularly be set up to burn.

Exodus 27:20 ESV

The first... to catch my eye... pure oil...

And I wonder... What is this a spiritual picture of...? this oil that burns...?

I believe... it's passion...

To prepare our hearts... as a sanctuary for Him... we need... pure passion... passion for His Word... for His people... for Him...

"They shall make an ark of acacia wood. ...

You shall overlay it with pure gold,

inside and outside shall you overlay it,

and you shall make on it a molding of gold around it.

Exodus 25:10-11 ESV

The second item required... pure gold...

Not only was the ark to be covered in gold... but all the utensils... lamp stands... and the table for the bread... were to be covered in pure gold...

So what is this gold covering about...? spiritually speaking...?

The thought came... The pure gold overly... represents our righteous actions...

Our presentation to the world... what people see... should be... pure righteousness...

Living a life of right relationships... being Christ-centered... rather than self-centered... a fountain of grace...

Then there's the incense...

And the incense that you shall make 

according to its composition, you shall not make for yourselves. 

It shall be for you holy to the Lord.

Exodus 30:37 ESV

This incense is to be unique... not used for any other purpose... other than for the Lord...

I believe... the incense... represents... our worship... 

He alone... is worthy of worship...

Worship comes in the form of praise... adoration... dependence... all expressed with a heart of prayer...

Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,

and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!

Psalm 141:2 ESV

These are three of the requirements... three of the items needed... to prepare a heart as a sanctuary for Him...

Checking our hearts... for where we are with these... is the first step... in cleaning up our hearts...

Is our passion pure...? what are we passionate about...? Him...? or the things of this world...?

Our actions...? are they righteous...? full of grace...? or are they divisive...? prideful...? self-centered...?

What do we worship...? Him alone...? is He the One we count on to fulfill our lives...? provide for our needs...?

Hmmm...

Just some thoughts... about preparing a sanctuary... for Him...

tradition... a sad substitute... for His Word...

tradition... 1 a: an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (as a religious practice or a social custom) b: a belief or story or a body of beliefs or stories relating to the past that are commonly accepted as historical though not verifiable... 2: the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction 3: cultural continuity in social attitudes, customs, and institutions 4: characteristic manner, method, or style...

--- Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition) 

Overcome by a heavy heart... sitting in a place filled with tradition... saddened by a substitute... taking the place of His Word... His rhema word... that which He currently speaks through His Spirit... and His Living Word...

So faith comes from hearing,

and hearing through the word (rhema) of Christ.

Romans 10:17 ESV

The early church... established many traditions... all... at one time... inspired by His Spirit... based on the Word... prompted by the faith of  individuals' relationships with Him...

Yet... apart from that Word... and relationship... the tradition is solely an exaltation of the person once inspired... disconnected from any personal revelation for those today...

Apart from Him... tradition leads to worship... centered on the created... rather than the Creator...

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

Romans 1:24-25 ESV

Tradition-based worship... leads to exchanging the Truth... for a lie... and impurity in the church...

Focusing on His Living Word... rather than the traditions of early Believers... is far more important... and crucial... to the heart of the church... than honoring those who came before...

I'm not saying that He doesn't use past traditions to speak to us today... He's led me to return to some ancient practices... observing Lent... praying the hours... but I do so at His rhema word to me... what comes from my relationship with Him...

The heaviness of heart felt today... came in preparation to pray for worship... and it didn't feel like my own sadness... but His... His Spirit... speaking to mine...

A call to return... not to tradition... but to His Word... and what He has to say to each of us... today...

Lord Jesus... where in my life do I worship... serve... the created rather than You... the Creator...? Shine Your Light on any lies I believe... root out traditions... keeping me separated from You... purify my heart... and soul... purify Your Church... fill us with a hunger for Your Word... Your rhema word... 

butterflies and doves

Sitting before stained glass... in the midst of worship...

Suddenly... they appear... hidden in broad bands of broken color... surrounding Him in the center...

Butterflies... and... doves...

A blue butterfly... catches my eye...

You are a new creation...

Doves... purple and blue... fly about... encircling Him...

Wonder takes hold... seeing what was always there... but at first unseen...

The prayer it comes...

Open my eyes to see... the change in me...

Open my eyes to see... the presence and power...

 of the Spirit around me...

For with You is the fountain of life;

In Your light we see light.

Psalm 36:9 NASB95

This week's readings for The Journey...

Monday                  Job 21

Tuesday                  Job 22

Wednesday             Job 23-24

Thursday                 Job 25-27

Friday                     Job 28

re-membering Him...

A teaching from retreating... Believers re-member Him... come together... as the one Body of Christ...

The sacrament... mystery... of communion... the picture of re-membering... many parts becoming one... partaking of... His body... broken bread... and wine... poured out blood...

The Master, Jesus, on the night of his betrayal, took bread.

Having given thanks, he broke it and said,

This is my body, broken for you.

Do this to remember me.

After supper, he did the same thing with the cup:

This cup is my blood, my new covenant with you.

Each time you drink this cup, remember me.

1Corinthians 11:23-25 Msg

Yet... I see Him... re-membered... through prayer... Believers gathered to intercede for others...

Consequently, [Jesus] is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Hebrews 7:25 ESV

He is re-membered... when we gather to study... share what we've learned... through His Word...

And they were astonished at his teaching, for [Jesus] taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

Mark 1:22 ESV

Through worship... He is re-membered...

"...Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

John 4:23-24

Any time... His people gather... to serve... love... others in His name... His character... He is re-membered...

"...For where two or three are gathered in my name,

there am I among them." ---Jesus

Matthew 18:20

How are you... re-membering Him... with others...?

a lesson on worship

What have you learned about worship from your reading of Luke?

---William H. Willimon, Making Disciples: Mentor's Guide 

An exercise... in preparation for confirmation... mentoring a student... on worship...

Just nine chapters into Luke... and I wonder... What have I learned...?

Or really... reviewing my Luke Journal... I see what can be learned...

And I find God worthy of worship...

For with God nothing is ever impossible

and no word from God shall be without power

or impossible of fulfillment.

Luke 1:37 Amp

Also... those who worship... they follow... seek to get near...

And all the multitude were seeking to touch Him...

Luke 6:19 Amp

But the thing that really caught my attention... 

hearts must be prepared... 

And all the people who heard Him, even the tax collectors, acknowledged the justice of God [in calling them to repentance and in pronouncing future wrath on the impenitent], being baptized with the baptism of John.

But the Pharisees and the lawyers [of the Mosaic Law] annulled and rejected and brought to nothing God's purpose concerning themselves, by [refusing and ] not being baptized by John.

Luke 7:29-30 Amp

John... the Baptizer... came to prepare the way for the Lord... offering a baptism of repentance... and forgiveness... a preparation of hearts... to receive... and believe... and worship... the Messiah...

And I see... those who do not embrace their need... their wretchedness... their sin... will never worship... Him...

Acknowledgement of sin... the key to worship...

Accepting the impossibility... of self-salvation... required... for worship...

And I realize... no amount of teaching... or knowledge... can inspire one to worship Him... just look at the Pharisees... much knowledge... but He just filled them with murderous indignation... not songs of praise...

Self-righteousness... self-help... self-discipline... all useless... when it comes to preparing a heart for Him... only Truth... and Light... can make the Way... for worship...

Prepare the way for the Lord, make His beaten paths straight.

...

And all mankind shall see (behold and understand and at last acknowledge) the salvation of God...

Luke 3:4, 6 Amp

making Him manageable...?

I heard it today... in a book on audio...

In the story of humanity --- so vast to us but brief to the universe --- we are told that in Jesus a startling moment has arrived. The Author is entering the play.

---John Ortberg, Who is This Man?

...in Jesus... The Author is entering the play...

Do we understand the magnitude... of this truth...?

I'm feeling as though the world... through Christmas... is trying to make Him manageable...

Minimizing Him... to fit... in a tiny manger...

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

John 1:14

Now this is the Word... that from the beginning... was with God... was God... and through Him... ALL things were made...

How can you fit that Word... into a tiny manger...?

For the word of God is living and active, 

sharper than any two-edged sword, 

piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, 

of joints and of marrow, 

and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 

And no creature is hidden from his sight,

 but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him 

to whom we must give account.

Hebrews 4:12-13 ESV

This is that same Word... the One made flesh... He came naked into the world... the One who divides... sees... and demands an account...

He does not fit... in a tiny manger...

Now I'm not knocking nativity scenes... I have a few... but do they really help us remember the startling impact of this moment...?

Are we too eager to manage the whole story... keeping it small...? How do we keep the Truth... the Reason... in the midst of all the fa-la-la-la-la...?

Last week I looked into the meaning behind the traditions of Christmas... primarily the decorations... and I was reminded the significance of the colors... green... red...

Green... it represents life eternal... as the holly... spruces... firs... are all evergreens...

But the red... the beautiful bows... on our evergreen wreaths... the red... it represents the blood... which makes the Way... for life eternal...

This tiny Babe... we make more manageable in a scene... was born to die... a horrific death...

The Author... the Word... entered the world to set His creation right... through His death on a cross... startling...

causing momentary fright... surprise... astonishment...

Simeon knew... as he told Mary... And a sword will pierce your own soul too...

This Baby... is not meant to be manageable... He is meant to be worshiped with awe...

For you have been born again, 

not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, 

through the living and enduring word of God.

1 Peter 1:23

Consider how you might keep Him from being limited to a tiny manger... What reminder can you include to help you remember...?

This same Word... that fit in a manger...
Created...
Rescues...
and will...
Restore...

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.

Revelation 19:11-13

seeing the Father... in the midst of worship...

Sunday morning worship... in the midst of singing... I Surrender All... I see it... in a pew... just across and down from where I stand...

A father standing next to his daughter... she just 5 years old... he stroking her hair... looking down at her from time to time... standing at her side...

I sense my Father saying... He does the same to me...

Then I see... on the opposite end... of the same pew with the father stroking hair... a grandfather holding his granddaughter... perhaps she's three...

She cradles his face in her small hands as he sings... her smile wide... she snuggles her head on his shoulder... arms around his neck... he holding her firmly... securely...

And I sense my Father say... This is how I carry you...

The hymn continues... I surrender all...

And I wonder... How could I not surrender all... to the One who made the Way... for me to get to my Father... who stands at my side... and carries me close... with His love...?

[email subscribers... click here to view on YouTube... or click post title to view on Jeremiah's Menu...]

thanksgiving... the prelude to praise... and worship...

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

and his courts with praise!

Give thanks to him; bless his name!

Psalm 100:4 ESV

Contemplating thoughts from Sunday's message... led me to a series of questions... surrounding reasons to worship Him...

The answers to the questions... did not stir my heart to worship... the reasons alone... stirred my flesh to criticism... not worship... making my spirit... most uncomfortable...

I found that the first step to worship... is to submit to the truth... that God is God...

Know that the Lord, he is God!

It is he who made us, and we are his,

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Psalm 100:4 ESV

From this posture... the only appropriate response is... thanksgiving...

If He is God... then everything He does... allows... creates... and purposes... is perfect...

And all that's left to do... is thank Him...

With this realization... I began... giving thanks... for all... without regard to how I felt about it... or if it was good or bad... in my judgment...

For everything God created is good,

and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,

for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

1 Timothy 4:4-5

My faithful prayer of thanksgiving... 

transformed to prayers of praise...

humbled in His presence...

thankful for His purpose... care... and love...

for all He has brought into my life...

An unexpected experience...

a new understanding... of His Word...

Thanksgiving... the prelude... to praise... and worship...

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!

Serve the Lord with gladness!

Come into his presence with singing!

Know that the Lord, he is God!

Psalm 100:1-3 ESV

[Note: Click here... for more on my thoughts from Sunday... at Growing in Faith at FUMC...]

enough... can you get enough of Him...?

Three times he said it at the end of the sermon this morning...

Feed me till I want no more...

Feed me till I want no more...

Feed me till I want no more...

When it comes to communion... with the Bread of Life... is there really ever enough...?

Can I get so filled up... I don't want anymore... of Him...?

Is that really a place I want to go...?

Often I pray that I will be satisfied with Him... and Him alone... but to be so fed up I want no more...?

Jesus... I want to always want to be with You...

be filled with You... want only You...

Because your love is better than life,

my lips will glorify you.

I will praise you as long as I live,

and in your name I will lift up my hands.

My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;

with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

Psalm 61:3-5

ponder... this...

Words from a hymn in worship this morning...

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

Let all mortal flesh keep silence,

and with fear and trembling stand;

ponder nothing earthly minded,

for with blessing in his hand,

Christ our God to earth descendeth,

our full homage to demand.

---from the Liturgy of St. James, 4th century

...they make me stop... and consider... Do I fear the Lord... as I should...? am I too entangled in this world...? think too highly of my own understanding...?

I hear the counsel given... flesh... keep... silence...

The Lord is in his holy temple;

let all the earth be silent before him.

Habakkuk 2:20 NIV

Lord Jesus... I still the voice of my heart... flesh... soul... in deference to You... 

when worship... breaks down...

For although they knew God,

they neither glorified him as God 

nor gave thanks to him,

but their thinking became futile 

and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Romans 1:21

Neglecting to glorify God... or even to thank Him... wrecks our reasoning... and darkens our hearts...

It's a foolish thing... to postpone praise of the Creator... or to selfishly forget to give thanks...

Take a moment... now... praise His name... thank Him... for this is His will for you... in Christ Jesus...

[Suggestions...

Open your Bible to a Psalm... pray it...

Find your favorite praise song on YouTube... sing to the Lord...

Journal... a list of thanks... giving it to to Him... 

Or perhaps you need to go low... bow down on the floor before Him... prayerfully praise Him for every attribute of His you can name...

If you have a suggestion... feel free to share it as a comment...]

worship... the foundation...

Worship... is the foundation... of a proper relationship with God...

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the Lord is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving

and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100

(my emphasis)

Without a heart for worship... our relationship with Him... will be askew... perverted... broken...

He created us with the need to worship... but we too often fill the need with anything but Him... a host of little gods... beckon our hearts... but only One... is worthy of praise... reverence... honor... exaltation...

For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;

he is to be feared above all gods.

Psalm 96:4

Because our whole life... translates to worship... we need to be wary... of what it is... we do worship...

What... or... who... do you worship...?

Who... or... what... do you fear...?

Who... or... what... has captured your heart...? your time...? your energy...?

What... or... who... determines... how... you... live...?

Perhaps... you should check your foundation... is it cracked...?

worship... a way of life... (for man and beast... alike...)

Worship... it came up a couple of times today...

The study with sisters... defined... a heart of worship... mind... will... emotion... fully engaged... with God... continually... allowing Him to fill the broken places in our hearts... the places only He can fill... with Living Water...

The Greek... translated worship... proskuneo... a compound word... meaning... move toward... and... kiss, like a dog licking his master's hand...

A dog's relationship with his master... is dependent... humble... tail-wagging... leaping upon... adoration...

We have dogs... one cowers before me when skulking from the flower bed... where he does not belong... the other... she prances right up with dirt on her nose... oblivious to the error of her ways... digging in forbidden zones...

The one who recognizes his faults... seeks to be near... any of my family... running to the garage... when our cars arrive... tail wagging... bounding...

The one oblivious to error... always wags... her whole body...

But their lives... are highly focused on their family... their masters... the ones who feed... water... pet...

The other picture of worship... came from my treadmill read this morning... not mentioned specifically as worship... but gave a description of what we should begin to understand as the worship He calls us to... the chapter focusing on... leading from a Christ-centered heart...

Christ-Centered Leaders Focus on Growing Hearts, Not on Growing Attendance...

They are obsessed, instead, with challenging their congregation members to move closer to Christ. To live a sold-out life. To surrender it all. Nothing else is as important as that.

---Greg L. Hawkins & Cally Parkinson, Move 

Worship... it does not happen on Sunday morning... (or Saturday night or Wednesday evening)... in a sanctuary... or auditorium... worship is a way of life... a way of the heart... mind... will... emotion... engaged... daily... (just like my family's dogs...) focused on... moving toward... Jesus... constantly... with a heart engaged... whether we recognize our sin or not...

The Master... our Lord... Jesus... He loves us... longs for us to move toward Him... surrender our lives to Him... be consumed with Him... in fellowship with Him... just as His love for us... compelled Him to die... for... us...

 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice --- the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

Romans 12:1 NLT

benefits of worship

Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship,

for they will walk in the light of your presence, Lord.

They rejoice all day long in your wonderful reputation.

They exult in your righteousness.

You are their glorious strength.

It pleases you to make us strong.

Psalm 89:15-17 NLT

worship... according to Tyndale Bible Dictionary...

Expression of reverence and adoration of God.

Worship... adoration... reverence... 

A heart... soul... spirit... that sings... praise to Him... in the midst of joy... or pain...

Worship... it has its benefits...

...Those who... worship... 

...walk in the light of His presence...

...they rejoice...

He is their glorious strength...

Hear the call to worship...

learn to worship...

practice worship...

it is good...

right...

and has excellent benefits...

distractions...

Preparations... they lead to distractions... it's hard to hear when you're mind is preoccupied with the things of this world... rather than the things above...

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Colossians 3:1-2

Taking time to be intentional in worship is essential...
stop...
get low...
face down on the floor...
makes way for a heart to hear...

From such a position... He begins to share... the posts for the week... at least a few... the first few days... the rest... may just be rest...

So posts may be sparse... over the next couple of weeks... we'll see...

I wait eagerly for the Lord's help,

and in his word I trust.

Psalm 130:5

His faithfulness...

Again... and again... He proves His faithfulness... to guide... when I trust... and obey...

I'm overwhelmed... with thanks... each time He comes through...

Amazed... by His love... and all He accomplishes... in just a short time...

My heart... sings...

You have been so good to me... 

Lord... how can I thank You...

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I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever;

with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness

to all generations.

Psalm 89:1

ESV