God's Creation

Here is a question that you can ask yourself - How does God's creation call for us to worship Him?

My response: God is everywhere and can do anything. “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account (Hebrews 4:13).” He created us and we are here because of His desire. With His supernatural abilities to be anywhere, I am in wonder and amazement that God would choose to love me and have a relationship with me.

As I ponder God’s handiwork, I fall to my knees in worship. As Vernan Whaley stated in his book (Worship Matters), God created light and a picture of what He can do for me through the cross of Christ (pg. 13). I can rest assured that I am chosen and belong to God. I can declare His praises who brought me out of darkness and into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:8)!

As I stand outside and watch the snow fall on the ground, I am reminded of God’s magnificent wisdom. He has order and makes plans that will always work. Seasons come and go, yet there is nothing that surprises Him. Everything, from the birds of the air to the fish in the sea, display God’s wisdom and order. As I stand outside and worship the Lord in His creation, I recite what Job said to God, “My ears had heard of You but now my eyes have seen You (Job 42:5).”

In addition, the fact that God created man and wanted a relationship with him is astonishing. He could have stopped with the sun and moon and stars. To take it one step further and think that God has chosen me is amazing. He wants this relationship to last forever! My worship is best described in what is written in the Psalms, “One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple (Psalm 27:4).”

Friberg's Friday Favorite

I really like this song. However, I would change the bridge and sing, "...work together for YOUR good..."

Idols...

In Chapter 2 of Bob Kauflin's book (Worship Matters), he talks about idol worship in today's society. Honestly, when I hear someone talk about an idol, I think of a couple of things. (1) I think of large, gaudy statues that people worshiped in Old Testament times. I really can't believe that people bowed, sacrificed, and believed that these statues could do anything for them. (2) Because of our music culture, I also think of American Idol. Does Clay Aiken really ooze idol to you? Perhaps to some, he does.

As described throughout the Bible, idol worship is simply worshiping anything other than God. In the Old Testament, people physically displayed their displeasure with God by outwardly worshiping various images. In turn, they expected blessings from the air, sun, sea, other people, birds, and anything else (again, other than God).

While all that may seem strange, people continue to worship idols today. They may not be solid gold images of people or animals, but plenty of things (jobs, treasures, relationships, and possessions) can pull our affections and worship away from our Creator. Things that one can physically touch and see can influence how they worship. As believers and followers of Christ, we want to live a life of worship that honors Him. How can anything He created be more valuable than Him?

Jesus said it best in John 4 in His conversation with the women at the well in Samaria. "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks." (John 4:23)

God is worthy of all my worship (which is more than a song service on a Sunday morning). Might I continue to worship Him with everything that I am, in everything that I do.

Wednesday's Brian Teaser

Something for fun:

What animal am I?
[ex: a dull person = boar]

1. parts of a chain = ?
2. tellin' untruths = ?
3. a lamenting cry = ?

(first one to correctly answer all three will get a song!)

What To Do When Things Don't Go As Planned

On occasion, a worship leader may start a song out alone. What happens if they start in the wrong key? Well, at a massive conference (WorshipGod08 - Sovereign Grace), it happened. Bob Kauflin explains how God can move in spite of our errors and mistakes.

Mark Driscoll made this very interesting post.

(HT: Bryan McWhite)

A New Year

I have a goal for 2010 - to blog about my experiences in worship.

Here is the plan: I am going to use this blog to write down the different things that I learn from God with regard to worship. Whether it is a song service (rehearsal or Sunday morning), a good book, a Bible study reaction, or something I hear from a friend, I want to journal how God is speaking to me.

I look forward to many wonderful and spectacular times with God. May this endeavor draw me closer to God and plant me near His refreshing water (Psalm 1).