Joy of Worship

There was this girl at Elmbrook, about my age, who sometimes led worship when I was there. Her name was Bethany.

I loved when Bethany led worship because she always had a HUGE smile on her face. A lot of times when Christians sing worship songs we look like we're constipated. But not Bethany. She exuded joy in worship. You could tell even from the balcony that she was thrilled to be worshipping the King of the universe.

Bethany's example changed my own attitude and facial expressions when I worship. Now when I sing songs of praise, I smile as big as Bethany did. Because it is an honor to connect with my amazing God in that way. When I sing about his holiness, it fills me with excitement. I get to have a relationship with a holy God!

Complete

I'm currently reflecting on Psalm 103 for my Lectio Divina study. This morning I reflected on this section:

Praise the Lord, oh my soul
And forget not all his benefits
Who forgives all your sins
And heals all your diseases


As I reflected, one word jumped out at me. It's the word that is repeated the most in the passage: all. All his benefits. Forgives all my sins. Heals all my diseases.

I wrote next to this passage in my Bible: There's nothing about me God can't fix.

And I started thinking about the description of God as "All in All." As I seek to have God define me, I've started a craft project that I add to each day. On a piece of foam board, I write "Because God is..." and fill it in with something that struck me from my Bible reading. Then I glue a small 2 inch craft mirror to it and write on the mirror "I am..."

For today's I wrote, "Because God is my all in all...I am complete." I lack in nothing because of all of God's benefits in my life. He has forgiven all of my sins. He has healed all of my diseases. I am complete in him.

Words

"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be." - James 3:9-10

I admit, this verse convicts me every time. I've been known to say a few mean things - sometimes in jest, sometimes not. To people's faces, behind people's backs. This time I read the verse, it reminded me of when one of my dogs tries to lick me shortly after vomiting or snacking on a morsel from the backyard (though thankfully they've gotten over that habit). There is no way I want that mouth showering me with kisses.

And it makes me really sad to think God might have the same reactions to my praises when I've been puking up mean words to people made in his image.

Sometimes there seems to be no redeemable thing about people. Sometimes you like them perfectly well, but they're just fun to make fun of. But the bottom line is, God made all people in his image. All of them. I'd never go to someone's house and, upon eating their home cooked meal, start talking about how disgusting it is. Even if it is disgusting. I'd try to be polite. After all, they worked hard creating that food.

But I do that so often with God. Right in front of him (since he's always there), I criticize his workmanship. Then go on to praise him with the mouth that still reeks of vomit.

So this is my resolution: to speak only kind words to/about people, so that my praise is as sweet as the clean-mouthed puppy kisses I love so much.