The Marks of a True Worshipper

The Marks of a True Worshipper
What prompts a young man to love God so much that he relentlessly serves Him and hangs out in His House? These two photos are of my grandson, Payton Wallace: the first one, at age 15, and the second (now age 18) was Sunday when he was praying for a businessman at church. The back of his shirt explains it: "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalm 23:6.

Payton has a true heart of worship. He is an extraordinary young man who could care less what someone thinks about his extravagant love for God. He would rather hang out at the church with his fellow musicians and crew members (the guys that set up the stage, props, and tear down) than anything else. When I hear about all the negatives in this world, I only wish that more focus would be placed on kids like this who are making a difference in their generation.

So what's the big deal about this kind of praising and worshipping God -- people of all ages raising their hands while singing songs of praise? Among the reasons are to show surrender, submission, humility, dependence on God, adoration, to give their all to God. I love the parallel of the universal act of someone surrendering by putting their arms and hands in the air. Another visual is a child reaching up for his father to carry him. Both examples apply to us as we raise our hands in surrender and ask for our Father to carry us..

The Bible says that God looks at the heart us. (1 Samuel 16:7). I honestly don't think He cares if we are standing in place, arms at our side, or raising our hands and can't stand still. He doesn't care if we are worshipping with hymns or choruses. But, He DOES care if we are TRULY worshipping Him. In defense of raising hands in worship, there are many places in the Bible that speak of it: Nehemiah 8:6, Psalm 28:2, Psalm 134:2, Psalm 63:3-4, Psalm 88:9, Luke 24:50, and more.

God looks at OUR heart in worship, and most importantly, is that He has our hearts -- surrendered and tender toward the ONE Who gave His all for us. We will NEVER experience all that God has for us until we are able to TOTALLY surrender and love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, just as Jesus said in Mark 12:30 -- "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." True worship flows from our total love and devotion to God. We will never fully know our Lord until we are able to be a true worshipper that is not just for an hour, one day a week on Sunday. True worship is a lifestyle. Dear Lord, please help us show in our words and actions, our desire to love You and worship You with all of our hearts, souls, minds, and strength. In Jesus' precious name, Amen.

The Pursuit of God

Pursue: to follow, run after, chase someone or something to catch them

Pursuit: the action of pursuing someone or something.

Yesterday, my word of the day was RESTORE. In studying for this word for today, PURSUIT, two scriptures from Psalm 23 jumped out at me. David, the shepherd boy, before becoming King David, wrote Psalm 23 and in verse 2-3 he said “He (God) makes me lie down in green pastures to RESTORE my soul (my will, my mind and my emotions).” God is wanting us to take a break from PURSUING that promotion or that handsome guy or beautiful girl or that next best thing in technology or the bigger house or high tech car in order to be still and know God first. And in knowing God we will know that He desires us to PURSUE wisdom, understanding, and wholeness in spirit, soul and body. In Psalm 23:6, David makes a declaration of faith: “Surely Your goodness and mercy will PURSUE me (follow me) all the days of my life and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.”

RESTORATION and PURSUING seem to go hand and hand. David knew about PURSUING. He PURSUED the lion and the bear and was successful, because he had been in the quiet green pastures with His Shepherd. He could take on the distractions with fervor and defeat them. Remember the analogy Jesus gave about a shepherd who leaves his flock of ninety-nine sheep in order to PURSUE the one that is lost? That Shepherd is Jesus PURSUING you and me.

What if we PURSUED our Good Shepherd? If we did, the distractions and the opposing forces that come to defeat us, would be silenced and rendered "null and void". We would then sing with David "The Lord is MY Shepherd. There is NOTHING that I want." . How can I be effective in the PURSUIT of happiness, joy, peace, freedom from fear and anxiety, lest I be in a place of strength and relentless, fearless and audacious in faith, and wholeness in spirit and mind that can only come from knowing the Good Shepherd.

When I’m out at the stables with my grandson, I notice how those animals PURSUE him. His are the hands that feed them. They trust him for their daily sustenance. They depend on him for their water, their protection from the predators that are out there, and they welcome him with their praises (hee haws by the donkeys, mooing by the longhorn, bleating by the goats and cozying up to him by the dog and cat). Sound familiar? It does if we know what it is to PURSUE God with all of our hearts, trusting in His loving care, and praising Him for breath and life.

"I am the Good Shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know Me.” John 10:14

Bearing Fruit in Old Age

Day 61 of Photo Inspirations:  Bearing Fruit in Old Age
Yesterday I went for my weekly visit to see Mom and my great niece.  On Mondays, the youngest member of the family (20-months old), Mom's great granddaughter, pays her  a visit.  It's always such a special time to see these two together.  Mom's name is Lydia; Anna Lydia is little sweetie pie's name.  It was such a beautiful tribute for my nephew and his wife to name her after the two grandmothers. But, most importantly, Mom has Anna in her life.  Actually, I think Anna has caused Mom to hit the "reset" button, and she's getting additional years added to her life. Mom loves this little girl so much.  There isn't a conversation with her, that she doesn't talk about Anna and her latest antics or words or actions.  No question, she was a gift to Mom at this stage of her life.

At 92, Mom is proof positive that it's possible to flourish in old age. At any given time, you can walk in her home, and she's sitting at her kitchen table, reading her Bible or praying.  The only weekly outings she has are Wednesday prayer service and Sunday church, and to get her hair done.   Quite frankly, she's younger than a lot of young people I know.  She has a "can do" attitude.    Her white hair and taking-it-slower-when-she-walks would tell you otherwise, but she is flourishing in heart and spirit.  

Psalm 92:12 "The righteous will flourish like palm trees;  they will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Planted in the Lord’s Temple, they will flourish in the courtyard of our God. They will STILL BEAR FRUIT IN OLD AGE;  they will be luxuriant and green."  

Thank God there are no age limits to His promises. Thank God that His Word says “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me ALL the days of my life...”  This is MY "Maturity Plan".  It is a plan based on His promises and bearing fruit for Him.  

Some look forward to the rocking chair. I look forward to new adventures with God. Some look forward to relaxing at the beach and letting the younger generation pick up the torch.  I look forward to standing beside the younger generation on the front lines of battle and cheering them on, trusting God to keep renewing my strength. Though we continue to "ripen and mature" on a daily basis, our inner man is being renewed day by day! The best way to grow old is to stay young on the inside. The best way to stay young on the inside is to stay on the front lines of faith in God and loving others -- serving this generation with vigor and vitality.  By the way, THIS generation is EVERYONE that is still alive.  Yes, this IS the Fountain of Youth!