Worship

It has been quite a few Sundays since I have written a "church blog." When I wrote my first one, I didn't intend for there to be more. I didn't have any sort of plan or idea in mind for it. When I have felt I might be able to share the message I received in my own words, then I have tried. Otherwise, I haven't tried to force it. I have wanted these blogs of mine to come, not easily, but freely, and with assurance behind them, that they are things from within my heart, and things that I want to say and share to please and worship my Father. Today, the pastor of the church was attending somewhere else, and another member of the church spoke. According to research, 7 out of 10 adults that attend church regularly have never felt the spirit of God with them while in attendance. Why is this? Why do we attend church? What is worship? I have to admit, I have been attending church for the very reason most others do. For myself. I started going back to church at the beginning of the year for me. He said one of a preacher’s biggest peeves is to hear someone say that they didn’t get anything out of a sermon; that it didn’t do anything for them. What is worship? Well, it is certainly not for those in attendance. It’s not for you and it’s not for me. It is for God. To worship Him! This isn’t something he pointed out himself, but I feel like it has arisen in someone’s head besides my own. And I thought about it. Don’t we go to church also to learn about God and His word and to help us learn to apply it in our lives? Doesn’t learning benefit us? Sure it does. But what is it for? It’s not just for you. It’s for God! You do these things for God and in God’s way. If the sermon doesn’t “do anything for you;” if the choir sings a hymn you don’t particularly like, or if you don’t think they sing prettily enough; well, it’s not for you. We should not feel as though we ourselves deserve something from or for going to worship in church. We are all of the flesh; we have all sinned; we all deserve death. But yet, God sent us His only Son. And yet, God gives us so many blessings. God doesn’t have to do these things, but He does. And what about outside the church? Is worship only to happen then and there? Only to happen 1 hour out of 1 day of the week? No. Worship is to be 24/7, 365 days a year (yes, those extra days that come in leap years count too). We are to praise Him in the good times and in the bad. We are to share Him and follow Him always. I know some people are thinking, or have been thinking, Beth has become a religious nut. Always saying, “Praise God!” when something good happens; always telling everyone around her that she’ll pray for them about every little thing. Does she have to bring God up all the time and bring Him into everything? Why wouldn’t I? He is the Great, the Mighty, and the Awesome God! He gives us everything! Why shouldn’t I be praising Him always? Shouldn’t you? And I also know some are thinking; Beth thinks she’s so perfect. She thinks she’s so good of a person and she thinks she knows everything, what’s right and what’s wrong. She thinks she’s all that. Well, you’re wrong. I am a million miles from perfect. I am probably even a million miles from good. I am of the flesh and I am weak and I sin, just like everyone else. There’s a lot of ugliness in here, just as there is in you. I have only decided to open my heart wider for Jesus. I have only decided I want to give my everything over to Him; not just little parts and bits and pieces sometimes; not just when I feel like it; or when I think I’m going to get something out of it for myself. Forever and for always; in the good times; and in the bad. Even when I’m not content with the way things are going; I am going to be glad in the Lord, for He is One Who Sustains Me, He is the God Who Provides; and with Him I need not worry about worldly things. The man who spoke today told everyone they could pick up a sheet of paper on the way out if they’d like; it’s got titles and names of God on it and some reflection questions. Yes, I am also telling you that some of the wonderful names I have used for God in this blog, I took from that very paper. I don’t pull every word straight from my own head, of course. I don’t know if anyone is interested, (just as I don’t know if people are interested in these blogs) but I want to post what is on this sheet of paper here. Check it out (or not!)

Names, Titles, and Descriptions of God

1. God Most High
2. God My Rock
3. God of All Comfort
4. God of Grace
5. God of Glory
6. God of Truth
7. God of Hope
8. God the Father
9. Lord Our Maker
10. The Eternal God
11. The Spring of Living Water
12. Great, Mighty, and Awesome God
13. Creator of Heaven and Earth
14. My Redeemer
15. My Strong Deliverer
16. The God Who Sees Me
17. God My Savior
18. Father of Compassion
19. God Who Provides
20. Sovereign Lord
21. The One Who Sustains Me
22. The Faithful God
23. Judge of All the Earth
24. Lord God Almighty
25. My Hiding Place
26. Shepherd
27. Our Mighty One
28. I AM
29. God of Peace
30. The Potter
31. God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

Reflection Questions: Ponder/pray and reflect on one name, title, or description of God each day.

1. What does the name of God, title, or description of God tell you about God?
2. Does this name call you to worship God for who He is and/or to thank Him for what He has done?
3. How can you apply this name, title, description to your daily life or to a trial/tragedy/trouble you are currently facing? EXAMPLE: Name: The Lord My Rock. Lord there is a lot of uncertainty in both my life and the world. I praise your name – The Lord My Rock because You alone do not change. You alone are the ROCK I can stand on when life situations bring about anxiety and uncertainty. You alone are the ROCK I can stand on when friends forsake me, the world rejects me, and darkness threatens to overtake me. Thank you God for being the Lord My Rock. Amen!

A hymn – Tell It to Jesus

Are you weary, are you heavy hearted?
Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.
Are you grieving over joys departed?
Tell it to Jesus alone.
Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus,
He is a friend that's well known.
You've no other such a friend or brother,
Tell it to Jesus alone.

Do the tears flow down your cheeks unbidden?
Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.
Have you sins that to men's eyes are hidden?
Tell it to Jesus alone.
Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus,
He is a friend that's well known.
You've no other such a friend or brother,
Tell it to Jesus alone.

Do you fear the gathering clouds of sorrow?
Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.
Are you anxious what shall be tomorrow?
Tell it to Jesus alone.
Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus,
He is a friend that's well known.
You've no other such a friend or brother,
Tell it to Jesus alone.

Are you troubled at the thought of dying?
Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.
For Christ's coming kingdom are you sighing?
Tell it to Jesus alone.
Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus,
He is a friend that's well known.
You've no other such a friend or brother,
Tell it to Jesus alone.

-ladyworpledinker