Monday, April 2, 2012

Happy Monday!

I love this time of year when it is still just the right temperature outside to grill and eat outside for dinner. I love eating outside on the deck. We usually eat a little slower and talk a little longer. Our table has always been important and tonight it was really great. Just a couple of hints about eating outside... You can place a small bowl of peppermint oil on the table and it repels the flies and other flying insects. You can also empty a beer in a bowl and set it on another table and it will draw the flies. The beer is cheaper, but the smell of the peppermint oil is so much nicer!

Prayer: “Father, give me a clean heart and clean hands to worship You all throughout the day. Amen.”

John 4: 24 “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Today I have been studying Psalm 15 and Psalm 24. Psalm 24 prays to have a clean heart and clean hands before going in to worship. How timely this prayer came as we continue through this Holy Week of worship. Both psalms begin with the questions of who may enter the temple and worship in the presence of God. The remaining verses of the psalms give the requirements for those who desire to worship in the temple. These psalms remind me of the time of confession and settling things with your neighbor before partaking in Eucharist.

The emphasis in the verse from John is on God’s Spirit. This meditation uses the funny quote from an old deacon who prays, “Lord, please let something happen today that is not printed in the bulletin.” Most of us worship in habits because of our traditions. We sing familiar hymns, the organist play a chord and we all know what to sing, we know when to stand and when to sit etc…but our worship should never become routine. The word spirit in this verse refers to our spirit. We need to worship with our inner most being using our emotions, listening to words we have heard a zillion times, but really listening to their message. When we worship, our hearts must be involved. We have a God who loves us so much and we need to show Him with our hearts how much we can show our love. This type of spirit filled, Spirit led worship has anointed preaching, praying , praise and worship. This is the kind of preaching that changes lives. The presence of the Holy Spirit in worship can enable each of us to be transformed into active worshipers of our Holy God. Let us ask God to help us worship with our whole heart making worship a priority.

Take joy in the journey. Wear comfortable shoes and carry an umbrella. Count your blessings and say your prayers. Love you all so very much, Bruce, Gaylene, Geni and Travis.

Gcapplenotes@aol.com

I am not moved by what I see. I am not moved by what I feel. I am only moved by what I believe and I believe God.

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