What is worship?

Sometimes, I get bored with my Bible reading. And sometimes I have thoughts like "I have studied that story so much. What is left to learn?" I know some people might think it wrong for me to admit these thoughts. But, I don't think it is wrong at all. God knows them anyhow. 

This morning, I had no responsibilities and no meetings so I decided to just sit in my next story for the What is Christian Discipleship series? 

I have found reading the Bible story from someone else's perspective can radically change my mindset. Suddenly, what is old becomes fresh and knew.

This morning, I thought about this story from several perspectives. A friend in a far off land hearing it for the first time. A stranger grieving over all the evil happening in our culture and wanting answers. A woman feeling belittled by men because she is simply a woman. A foreigner longing for inclusion.

Oh my. Somehow this old familiar story grips my heart now.

So in case this is you. John 4:1-26 is the story of the Samaritan Woman. 

God really hit me with what worship is and what it is not.

Worship IS NOT:

Focused on gender.

Focused on race.

Focused on our story.

Focused on culture or cultural debates.

Focused on a location or building.

Worship IS ABOUT:

God's living water.

Ever flowing.

Eternal life.

Thirst quenching.

Knowing who you Worship.

In Spirit.

In Truth.

The Messiah.

Going.

Testifying.

Hearing.

The Savior of the World.

Suddenly, my morning Worship in the Word was radically different than I anticipated.

Father, help me/us to worship You in Spirit and in Truth. Help us to stop focusing on the things that distract us and create barriers. Help us to focus on the heart and the inward condition of our own hearts so that it is You, Jesus, who we point others to. In Jesus Name, amen.

It is so important to be in the Word, to be with Jesus, so we can be transformed! 

Shalom y'all!

I am in Awe of GOD!

I am reading Job with the intention to focus on what I learn about the character of God. It has added a whole new layer to my understanding of the book of Job, but also the beauty of knowing God in our suffering. 

I am asking myself to reflect on what I learn about the character of God through Job and even his friends.  If you have never studied Job, you need to understand that his friends are known for talking too much and blaming Job for His suffering. 

As I am reading Job to know God, I am focusing on HIM instead of the inadequacies of Job or his friends. I am discovering that I am walking in a deeply rich worship experience that causes me to write out prayers that are inspiring to my heart, my soul, and my spirit. And as crazy as it sounds, they often feel poetic to me. They are a beautiful conversation between me and God.

Today, I was blown away by the beauty of how God's creation displays His wonders. God sets boundary lines in creation that man cannot undo. Like the existence of light and dark. We can add light to dark but we cannot undo day and night or the pattern of their existence.

I am astounded as I ponder the crushing of the earth to form rocks that can be cut into brilliant diamonds.  Hidden treasures we can discover, explore, and even do our own creating. If we dig deep enough we find math and science revealed in these discoveries. Holding patterns and equations that give us clever beauty. 

I am in awe! I am basking in His wonderful creation allowing myself to behold His beauty as He displays His splendor for us to explore. Immeasurable. Unfathomable.  Mysterious. Consistent. Ingenious. Divine. 

I am in awe of God!

Moses Met God in his Daily Routine

I don't know about you, but sometimes I wonder how I could possibly meet God in a given circumstance. I search hard when there are big issues, but I can be forgetful in the daily routine. 

Yet, God meets us where we are at. It is in our daily routine that we can encounter God. We must simply be observant and curious enough to check it out. 

If we are willing to see God, God will reveal His presence, His name, His plan, and His purposes for our lives.

I love how Moses saw the burning bush and just went to go check it out. It was in this simple act of curiosity that he had the most intimate conversation with God.

I love that he was real and raw with his fears. He feared his ability was not good enough. He feared how the people would respond. He feared that he would not be recognized as one with authority. 

With each fear God responded in kind. 

I AM WITH YOU! 

       WORSHIP ME!

I AM THE GOD OF YOUR FORE- FATHERS. 

       KNOW MY NAME!

I AM SENDING YOU! 

      TELL THEM THAT!

Such intimacy, security, and comfort found as Moses just went about his day watching his flock if sheep.

Do I watch for God? AM I willing to pause and check things out when He is at work around me? Do I share with Him my greatest fears?  Do I listen to His answers?

I can know this. God does not change and if He did this with Moses, He will do this with me.

I can trust that God is present!

I will worship Him alone!

I know His Name! 

I will share what I know!

I can trust this will influence generations!  

Amen

Christmas Story: Wise Men from the east visit Jesus and worship Him.

https://youtu.be/IXd157e0ha0

Have you ever noticed that the good news of Jesus will cause some to want to cause harm and others to worship? How do you respond?  What good gift can you give Jesus this year? How might you worship Him?