Why I Worship

What Is Worship, Why Do We Worship, How to Worship

Increasing Your Capacity

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When God is calling us to increase in our capacity to serve His body, there will be times when we feel as if we are being stretched in every direction.

Here are some great thoughts on stretching by Pastor Jody Andrews in our staff devotional time this morning.

S– Stay Focused. Don’t allow yourself to become distracted from the thing God is preparing you for.

T– Trying never gets the job done. We must determine in our hearts to press on toward the goals set before us.

R– Random accomplishments do not produce sustained success. Success is proven with consistent effort.

E– Easy doesn’t equal “shortcut.” Difficult doesn’t equal “door shut.” Don’t be fooled by your circumstances.

T– Teachable people exceed their teacher. Jesus said “You shall do these things and greater.”

C– Character matters. Your talents may get you on the stage, but only your character will keep you there.

H– How is your serve? We must continually teach ourselves to serve others.

Allow God to STRETCH you today into the man or woman he has created you to be.

Be Blessed!

Adam, Where are you?

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Worship touches every part of the make up of a human being.

It requires us to focus our mind on the concepts of who God is and who he has created and called us to be. It requires us either to bring our bodies into a submissive, humble, and quiet posture before Him or to take an emboldened stance of declaration of His character through the lifting of our hands, the clapping of our hands, or through some type of dance.

Worship also requires us to allow our emotions to respond to God in ways that may sometimes be uncomfortable or even seem out of character of us on an individual basis. Sometimes we worship with a sense of militarism in declaring the character of our God, and sometimes we almost end up in a heap on the floor in tears when we come to the realization of the grace, love, and forgiveness that has been poured out for us.

In any of these situations where worship is taking place, there is one constant… vulnerability.

Vulnerability is the key to true worship. When we come before God in worship; whether in private or in public, we must be willing to lay ourselves bare before God. This is why we refer to certain aspects of worship as “a sacrifice of praise.”

Genesis 3:8-10 brings us what I believe to be some of the saddest words to ever be written:

“When they heard the sound of God strolling in the garden in the evening breeze, the Man and his Wife hid in the trees of the garden, hid from God. God called to the Man: “Where are you?” He said, “I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked. And I hid.””

Gods answer to Adam in verse 11 is so freeing if we will let it get to our spirit; “Who told you you were naked?”

When you come before God in worship, do you come to him hidden and fearing that He will see what you’ve done and feel differently about you, or do you realize that your sin didn’t change His feelings for you?

He knows you… He loves you just the way you are… and he wants to walk with you today…

Where are you?

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I will not forget…

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I’ve heard this phrase said many times and in reference to many different situations. I’ve heard people use it in reference to the remembrance of soldiers who were lost in war, or in reference to some major catastrophe, or in reference to a loved one who has been lost.

The Psalmist, David used it when he came upon a time in his life when he faced one of his greatest foes; Goliath, the Philistine. 1 Samuel 17:34-37 tells of the conversation between David and His King; Saul:

31 Now when the words which David spoke were heard, they reported them to Saul; and he sent for him. 32 Then David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”33 And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.”

34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, 35 I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lambfrom its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37 Moreover David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”

I wonder if David said to himself, on the day that lion came to kill one of his father’s sheep; “You know, I need to remember this day, because one day, I’m probably going to have to use my experience here to help me kill a big ol’ giant!” I wonder if, when that bear came into the sheep fold, he said; “I’m going to take note on this but-kickin’ that is about to take place so I’ll know how to bring down a giant!” Of course he didn’t! We know better.

So what is the lesson here?

Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the mundane, normalcy of every day life that we forget that God is with us in every situation we find ourselves in. David recognized this in his life. He understood the principle of Proverbs 3:5-6  “ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

When we take time each day to acknowledge the Lord’s leadership in our lives, we begin to understand that there is no frame of the movie of our lives where he cannot be found. This brings us to the realization Paul had when he wrote Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” It also gives us the confidence that David had when he saw Goliath taunting the army of God.

Then we can say with all the backing of heaven: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!”

My prayer for you today is that you will look into the eyes of whatever giant you face at this moment and say “I remember when my God did ________________ in my life, and you will be no different, because I can do all things through His strength!”

Be Blessed today!!