From the Pastor,

Started out to write this early in the month. I thought it could be done that way and I would have some of my work done. Guess what, I can’t seem to move that far ahead. Think about it this way. We had just begun Lent, starting to think about being penitent. Looking for ways to seek God at a more intimate level, to know ourselves and our relationship with God in a new and refreshing way. As we proceed through this season of the church our goal is to reach that level, that place in our lives when God is real and present to us.

Jump now to March, and we are mid way in the process of Lent and our searching. We are looking forward to Easter Sunday and all the things that go with it. Somewhere in here we come to a realization, we have our eyes opened and suddenly all things are clear. Well not totally clear but you know, a clarity that opens our eyes so we can see that little blemish in our worship ways. You don’t see it? Well look again, there in the midst of all the hubbub of life, if you are like me, you are again too busy for God. It seems like that is the substance of the season, looking and finding where we are apart from God in worship.

That brings me to what I want to share with you this month. Worship, just what is it and how do we go about living it. First off, it is integral to being a Christian. The children of Israel found as they wandered in the wilderness that worship was the essence of being with God. They learned, (it only took 40 years) that in worshiping God they received the bounty he held for them. Moses learned that giving God glory at every turn, stopping to acknowledge God at every turn, seeking his guidance and direction continuously was what would lead them out of the wilderness.

Enough about Moses and the children of Israel, what about the children of God who are brothers and sisters in Christ. Well I looked in my Bible’s concordance, which is very limited and found six (6) references to worship or worshiped in it. Look at these phrases: Matt. 4.9 – if you will fall down and worship me; John 4.24 – who worship him must worship in spirit and truth; Romans 12.1 – which is your spiritual worship; Revelation 22.3 – and his servants will worship him....... and then I looked to see about worshiped. Matthew 28.9 – took hold of his feet, and worshiped him; Revelation 5.14 – and the elders fell down and worshiped.

If you just look at those brief little phrases and add them together it appears that worship is the essence of life in Christ. I would encourage you to read the rest of the scriptures listed and read a bit more to get the context of their message. Think about worshiping with us on Sundays. Think about how you might worship as an individual and also corporately.

As a footnote, many people tell me that they don’t get anything out of worship in church. We’re not supposed to get a bunch of good feelings out of worship. Worship in the Lord’s house on the Lord’s day is just that, worshiping the Lord. It is about us giving to him, about focus on the Lord. So come worship him, bow down in your heart before him, and always seek his ways.

Pastor WaynO