It’s been a busy week but in a really good way. I have another guest post up, this time on Godly Writers. I’m pleased to say that I will be a contributing writer over at Godly Writers. I’m excited to be a part of the community over there. Check out my guest post here.
If you’re here from Godly Writers, thanks for stopping by. Here are some posts that you might enjoy.
“Judge not, lest you be judged.”
Matthew 7:1
I’ve always considered myself a pretty non-judgemental person. I give others grace. I know I’m not perfect and I don’t expect perfection from others. Somewhere along the way, that changed. I’ve become an extremely judgmental person, at least as far as worship goes. I hate it.
I’ve been in denial about it for awhile, thinking my thoughts were justified. Perhaps some have been, but it’s no excuse for the judgmental thoughts I’ve had toward worship leaders. People whose heart I know is in the right place, people who are genuinely loving on God with all their musical ability. I judge them and roll my eyes during their worship set because of a certain song they choose or the way they lead.
I am a judgmental person and for that I repent. God, help me.
I want to walk into worship and have grace for the people that are up on stage. Even if I hate every song they do, I want to see what they’re doing as real, heartfelt worship. I want to offer them the grace that I so desperately need.
I’m fighting this hard. It gets so engrained in you and it’s hard to get it out. I feel like I take things so personally. When a worship leader shouts out instructions that I don’t feel like doing, I let out an audible huff and cross my arms in front of me. I don’t need to follow every instruction thrown out by leaders (I don’t want to jump up and down. That’s not authentic worship for me), but I also don’t need to act so offended that they are making efforts to engage me in worship.
To every worship leader that I have judged, I am sorry.
I love nature. One of my favorite things to do is take long walks on nature trails. It helps me clear my head and focus on God. I can’t help but worship when I’m out in creation.
Unfortunately, summer in Florida doesn’t lend well to long walks outside. They’d probably have to send a search team out, only to find me collapsed from heat stroke on the trail. I tend to stay inside in the air conditioning during the intense heat.
So I love it when God brings the nature to me.
This is my new friend.
She’s in my front yard. This brazen little thing has wandered from the safety of the woods behind my house to the wide open space in front of my house. All for this.
She is eating all my bird seed. I don’t really mind. In return, I get to watch her from my window and take pictures. My husband keeps referring to her as “dinner,” and I have to keep reminding him that shooting deer is probably illegal in our subdivision.
I love watching some of God’s creatures up close. Their beauty and grace makes me smile.
Do you worship through nature? Have you had an up close moment with one of God’s creations?
Today I’m guest posting over at Jeremy Statton’s blog. Jeremy is a writer who encourages his readers to live a better story with their life. I’m honored to share a blog about breaking through creative blocks. Read the post here.
If you’re here from Jeremy’s blog, thanks for stopping by. Here are some posts you may enjoy.
Let’s all praise the… Ooo! Shiny!
But I don’t WANNA be thankful!
Time for our monthly gratitude list. Once again, I really need this, as it’s been another tough month. Time to pull myself out of my pity party and remember all I have to be grateful for.
What are you thankful for this month?
Today I’m guest posting over at leannepenny.com. Leanne is an incredibly authentic writer who bares her soul with every post. I’m honored to guest post for her and share a little of my worship journey. Read the post here.
If you’re here from Leanne’s blog, thanks for stopping by. Here are some posts you may enjoy.
Let’s all praise the… Ooo! Shiny!
But I don’t WANNA be thankful!
Two of my guest bloggers over the last couple weeks used the same scripture for their post.
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.
John 4:23
This verse comes up a lot when it comes to worship. What does it mean to worship in spirit and truth?
These verses are words straight out of Jesus’ mouth, spoken to the Samaritan woman at the well. If you’re unfamiliar with the story, read the whole thing here.
I love this story. I have a fond appreciation for stories of Jesus speaking lovingly (and in this case firmly) into a woman’s life. In a culture that looked down on women, I love seeing Jesus’ interaction with them. Add onto that the fact that she is a Samaritan, someone that Jews (like Jesus) do NOT associate with.
Jesus asks her for some water, calls her out on her promiscuity, and somehow switches the conversation around to worship, stating that location doesn’t matter for worship. Jews and Samaritans worshiped at different places, and I think Jesus was trying to say all that was about to change. And that’s where the above verses come in.
I have a Greek/Hebrew study Bible, so I can nerd it up in my quiet time and look up the original meanings of words. When I looked up the Greek word for spirit (pneuma for my fellow Bible geeks out there), it gave about an entire column worth of definition. When I scanned through it, I read this:
In John 4:24, in spirit and in truth means with a sincere mind, with a true heart, not with mere external rites.
It sounds to me like Jesus is trying to say rituals and the WAY you worship isn’t the important thing. HOW you do it is what matters. Are you merely going through the motions because it’s what you do at 11 a.m. on a Sunday? Is your heart really in it?
What does it mean to you to worship in spirit and truth?
I am so thankful for all the guest bloggers who stepped in and offered their work for guest posts. It was nice to take a step back for a couple weeks and rest.
Rest is something I have a hard time with. I like to fill quiet moments with something, be it my phone, Facebook, or T.V. I have a really hard time with stillness.
Yet it’s something that I desperately need to do. For life in general, and in worship.
Worship isn’t always about the things we do for God. Sometimes it’s more of the things we don’t do. Putting away all the busyness and just sitting quietly. I think God likes that. I think He can speak into us easier with less distractions going on.
I miss my vacation mountain cabin, where I could sit on the back porch and gaze out at an incredible view. It’s easier to slow down when you’re in vacation mode. But I’m coming to grips with the fact that I can’t always be in vacation mode. I’m learning to appreciate front porch moments at home. I live in a peaceful, quiet neighborhood, and my front porch is a great place to sit and gaze out at the trees and watch the birds fight over the feeder. Now that fall is slowly settling in, I’m excited for more front porch moments (it’s hard to sit out there restfully in 98 degree heat).
I’m gradually training myself to slow down a bit more.
What are your front porch moments? How do you slow down and rest in everyday life?
This guest post comes from Scott Moore. Scott Moore is a coach, a writer, and a surf-a-billy guitarist. He blogs at www.TheCallOfMen.com. This post is an excerpt from his free ebook.
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.
John 4:23
As I turn the key to unlock the door, I hear it – the scuttle of little feet in the room on the other side of the door. I open the door and step inside.
“DADDY!!!”
My children cheer and run at me like Dino greeting Fred Flintstone. They jump on me and claw their way over each other to get to be the first to hug me. It is the greatest feeling in the world. And it is the truest picture of worship that I have ever seen.
This is what worship should feel like. Little children run and jump into the loving arms of the One who loves them, provides for them, protects them, and cherishes them. The Giver of all good things, the Creator of the universe, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, the Alpha and Omega, our Father, Abba, Daddy. In the words of S. M. Lockeridge, “I wish I could describe Him to you…” (Do an internet search for “That‟s My King” for more of Pastor Lockeridge‟s incomparable description of Jesus – you will not be disappointed).
We were created to worship Someone. And we will worship either someone or something.
Be careful what you worship. What you worship you will serve.
Chuck Swindoll
The man sits in the auditorium seat, comfortably listening to the Christian pop song being performed by this week‟s guest artist at the megachurch. It was a struggle to get the family to church this morning, as it is nearly every Sunday nowadays, it seems, but they made it. They missed the first two worship songs dropping the kids off in their Sunday School classrooms (Do they even call it Sunday School anymore?). The near Jumbotron-sized video screens show a close-up of the artist singing her song. She looks and sounds a lot like several of the artists that have been finalists on American Idol in recent years. The man‟s thoughts drift to the TV show for a moment as he is mesmerized by the giant monitor.
The pastor steps out onto the stage to preach. He‟s not really preaching though. This pastor is an ex-Hollywood actor, still has his own agent and is a member of the Screen Actors Guild. He half tells, half acts out a real “tug at your heartstrings” story, just like he did last week. He sure can reach an audience. As the man is driving home, anxiously anticipating the football game he‟ll be watching on his 48-inch plasma TV, he hears a still, small voice, “Scott.”
“Yes, Lord.”
“Could we spend some time together today? I miss the days when you would run and jump into my arms shouting, “Daddy!‟ I suppose you have grown up a bit since then – a Father likes to remember his children when they were young and He was their whole universe. Perhaps we could just talk? Maybe the whole family could join us. What do you say?”
Time for another guest post. This one is by Larry Carter. Larry is a follower of Christ who will soon be married for 20 years and a dad for 18. He likes to make people think about their faith and is a lifelong University of Tennessee fan. You can find his blog here or follow him on Twitter here.
Want to hear what I have to say about worship?
It took me a while to figure it out.
Scratch that. I’m still figuring it out. I just happen to be further down the road than I once was.
I used to think worship was something that happened on Sunday. Between 11:00 and 11:30. Before the preacher preached.
Somewhere along the way I began to believe it included the preaching too.
Then I realized that it included my Bible reading and prayer time.
Then I found myself worshipping while listening to Rich Mullins.
Then, gasp, U2.
Later, I found myself praying for those I work with. I worshipped at work.
After years of simply cheering for my University of Tennessee Volunteers, I realized that I can worship Him in that as well.
Worship is not an event. It’s not something to do. It’s not something to turn off and on.
Worship is a lifestyle.
There is a commercial that comes on every year before and during football season that describes, for University of Tennessee fans, life as being Orange and White.
That’s what worship is to me.
Worship is life. And life is worship.
Are you figuring it out?
