Week 5: Worship

Feb 20, 2008 07:59 AM
Worthship.
Understanding the worth and worthiness of the one being worshiped.
I don't see it as an activity I attend or even a lifestyle choice. It is the overflow of understanding who and how great our God is.
Somewhere along the way, it stops being what we do and becomes who we are.

Feb 20, 2008 09:33 AM
Amen Sister Lenni:)

Feb 20, 2008 01:35 PM
I really like how Chrissie emphasized Acts 17 during her interview on the podcast. It echoes what Leni is saying about worship is "who we are".

I'm curious what people think the reasons are why it's so EASY to settle into worship as just another activity? Even a quick read of the First Testament reveals that this is not simply a modern problem, but one that has plagued even devoted followers of God for eons..

What's at the core of that?

Feb 20, 2008 02:04 PM
Putting the cart before the horse I'd say. Loading up the cart with all I'm givin' God and pushing it along instead of taking His burden and sharing His yolk...

I think that the "acts" of a christian life can be deceptive.
If we arn't grounded in the one and only act done for us...Christs death on the cross and understanding the HUGE price that was paid by his death, well then, my acts are all for not. Worship becomes a thankful responce. So, maybe people haven't been thankful throught out history...to awnser you question with alot of words and a guess.

So, the core could be unthankfulness

Feb 20, 2008 03:03 PM
I was thinking that too...

At Staff meeting yesterday, we closed with open prayer time, and even though it was a "busy" meeting, with lots of "stuff" being handled, when we went to prayer, every Staff member prayed a prayer of thanksgiving. it seemed to "seal" all the work that had been done. By seal I mean not just legitimize it (only God can do that) butit's like we got out of God's way and let Him protect it. Whatever "acts" we had accomplished, whatever stuff got done, it's like thankfulness PROTECTED those things from our potential arrogance, thankfulness PROTECTED our worship from being corrupted by hollow activities and the people we serve were PROTECTED from poor decision making...all because we took time to OFFER (there is that word again) thanks to God.

"Offer" really describes it for me yesterday too....my thanks had to be wrenched from my hands. I can't explain it, but I've felt it before: I did NOT want to offer my thanks! It was somehow valuable to me. I hung on to it like a child holds on to a "blankie"...I was NOT going to give it up! it's like I live under the impression that there is only so much of it to go around, and keeping it for myself somehow benefits me....I don't know really...just thinking as I type.

Feb 20, 2008 04:01 PM
I think of my kids when they where little. (not you, just thinkin' and typin')
When I'm training them, I require them to say thanks out of respect. I will still tell them that I need a thanks or an I'm sorry, but it sure means more when they just give it to me.
One says it more than any other. She has something to weigh it by. She is thankful for the food I cook because she has done without. She is thankful when I wash and fold clothes because she has had to wear dirty things before. She is thankful when I tuck her in because she was left alone. She has somthing to compare it to.
I've come to a place in my walk with Christ that I have realized (I remember the very day I really realized) that I didn't get what I truly deserved. I have things I live with, consequences to sin, but not what I deserved, eternal separation from God. Nothing else on this earth has been as faithful as that! Nothing.
With that I worship my Lord. With that I scrub a toilet, with that I sing, with that give.

Feb 20, 2008 10:30 PM
Lenni - I agree that we do not get what we deserve from God because of our sin. I too live with consequences of my sinful choices, and am eternally thankful that He has forgiven me and I can live knowing I will never be separated from my Lord! I guess that is one area that I live in worship : )

Thank you for the thoughts!

Feb 21, 2008 05:15 PM
Right on Lenni!
Sometimes it's all about context.

Feb 22, 2008 12:11 PM
Wowweee you guys rock.

Anything that encourages my humble disposition towards God serves to facilitate the sense of connectedness that adds color to an otherwise darkened sense.

Never thought that before and not even sure it makes sense, but sounds interesting enough o post.
Love you guys when I read this stuff.

Mar 03, 2008 05:19 PM
I have just recently come to the full understanding or worship. In the past, I has thought of worship as the "worship service"; something to be done on Sundays. Now I have learned that making videos, playing guitar, or even just singing in the car can all be acts of worship.