Made for Worship (Connecting with My Creator)

Along the way I’ve discovered that my soul was made for worship. In the past I only saw worship as a way to give something back to God. I knew God loves to hear the sound of our heartfelt worship, and that through worship we returned the glory to where it belonged—God.

Now don’t get me wrong, these are very good (and biblical) reasons for worship. But, recently, it’s been my experience that worship also impacts me, speaking to my heart, lifting my spirit, bringing me joy, turning my focus to the Source of my Strength, and drawing me—heart and soul—to the very throne of God. Worship is a powerful way to open the lines of communication with my God.

I’ve discovered that, as with most things God asks of us, worship helps me more than it helps Him. My relationship with God is significantly enhanced by my sincere and authentic worship. The very act of worship reminds me of my place in the universe, the place that I belong—prostrate before the throne of God.

So join me as I throw back my head and worship with reckless abandon, joyfully engaging in a dialogue of the heart—a deep, meaningful conversation with my loving Creator.

Final Thought: Beginning church with songs of worship and praise is an invitation for God to connect with us; it prepares our hearts and minds for a life-changing exchange between heaven and earth.

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Personal Epiphany: A man determined to cherish evil must be very careful about doing any type of good, even for his own personal gain, because often the very act of doing good produces positive changes in his character, and, if continued, may eventually lead to the reckless abandonment of the very evil he once cherished.

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Personal Challenge: It is a constant struggle for me to set my priorities and focus on the most important thing in my life—my relationship with God. So, this week, I’m challenging myself to find a way to use my time more wisely, to set my focus on the eternal, and to put God back where He belongs—at the center of my life.

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Question to Ponder: Are your priorities leading you to temporal or eternal treasures?

Created for Joy (Living God’s Way)

Along the way I’ve discovered that living in Christ is living in joy. We were created for happiness, for laughter, for singing, for dancing—for joy!

Too often I allow the world to close in around me. Too often I allow the darkness to start pressing in, squeezing out the light, threatening to swallow my joy. Too often I allow the burdens of life to drag me down the path of despair.

These moments are a painful reminder that I, once again, need to turn my burdens over to the strong, broad shoulders of the only One Who can handle it all—God.

Once I’ve released my burdens, God whispers joy’s true melody to my heart, reminding me of this powerful truth: The constant taking—the building up of stuff (useless junk); the piling up of fake, frilly friends; the constant attempt to pretty-up of my sad, soiled life—does not lead to true, sustainable joy. Instead, the road to eternal joy lies in the building of genuine community; participating in honest, heartfelt fellowship; the growing of deep, lasting friendships; fulfilling God’s purpose for my life; and, most importantly, the continual building and strengthening of an eternal relationship with my ever-faithful God. These are the true cries of our desperate souls. These are the source of sustained joy. These are the true treasures of life.

So join me as turn from the barren promises offered by a desperate world and turn to the true source of sustainable joy—God.

Final Thought: Laughter matters! Living devoid of laughter and genuine joy is not truly living.

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Personal Epiphany: The mind is the engine of life, propelling us toward our ultimate destination by the power of our thoughts.

Between the Blogs

Personal Challenge: My focus is notorious for wandering, and with all the distractions this world has to offer it is very easy for me to wander down the wrong path. So this week I’m challenging myself to prioritize the things in my life in order to minimize the distractions and keep my focus where it ought to be—on God. I am determined to guard what I put in my mind and pay more attention to what I think about, look at, read, watch, and dwell on. I am determined to be more conscientious about those things that I allow into my life.