Believe me, I tried to find some kind of play on words for that because...well, you'll see.
Last week and yesterday, I wrote about worship. I was honest about my struggles with worship at the church we've been attending the last few months. As I said, love the people. Pastors are solid. I'm just struggling with worship.
I rarely know the songs. I can't follow the words on the screen very well because I don't know the tunes. It's just...been a challenge.
But, I don't want to be like I used to be and make it a big ridiculous deal because that is just immature, petty crap. The songs are good. People are worshipping. It's just me, BUT, God is so faithful to use trials to build character and mature us, and for me, not being able to participate well in worship is a trial.
I've also shared what I've learned from this trial. I've learned worship isn't about what I sing or how I sing it but the One I choose to sing for and to.
Worship is a response to God reaching out to me.
Even music I "don't get" can get me to God if I have the right heart to find His hand in it.
I told you about the two boys on the front row who took pleasure in their worship and how I could feel God's pleasure in them. That is beautiful worship. Seriously. It does not get better than that.
Today I went to church, and before I ever reached the sanctuary, I saw the worship leader. I like him. He's a good worship leader. As we chatted, he mentioned that he read Friday's post on worship. He was very complimentary and asked if he could post some of it to the worship blog for the church.
Are you laughing? At least chuckling? It gets better.
First, I have to say that the order of the service was rearranged to the "traditional" order of service, which totally threw me. While I have no reason to think my blog had anything to do with that, I did mention that last week in one of my posts. If you will recall, I said we do worship after the sermon. It was different, but we left church singing, which I like.
That's at least worth a smirk, but the really belly laugh...
I knew all but one song we sang this morning. ALL BUT ONE SONG.
In fact, I knew them so well, I could sign most of the words.
Even better?
One of the songs we sang is EXACTLY what God has been saying to me all week long.
If I am with you, nothing can stop you.
What do you think could ever come against you that could nullify my promises?
Nothing can stop my Word.
Nothing.
Maybe you've heard the song before. Maybe you need to hear the words right now.
We sang it this way:
If our God is for us, then who could ever stop us?
And if our God is with us, what can stand against?
And you'll have to wait until later to hear about the whole sermon thing, but for now....
I'm shaking my head. I hope you are laughing. Isn't that just so God?
And, yes, I do believe God was laughing through the whole thing, nudging whoever was close, saying, "She is going to laugh so hard!"
And I did...and am.
There are so many things about God that leave me in silent awe. He is just so beautiful, so wondrously, can't take Him all in, beautiful, and one of my very favorite aspects of Him is His sense of humor. I love that enjoys having fun and just enjoying mine and His relationship--us. I love that He has given me His sense of humor. Some say it is vicious, in a maybe not-so-good way. I think it is God-size fabulous. It's just so very Him.
Last week, I didn't mention laughter as a means of worship. It never even crossed my mind, but funny enough, today, it's my absolute favorite kind of worship.
Blessings!
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