10 habits that will build worship into your life.
1. Worship through prayer.
How much of your prayer life is about you and how much of it is about God? Look at the Lord’s Prayer in the Gospel of Mathew (6: 9-13); Jesus starts the prayer off by saying “Our Father who is in Heaven, May Your name be honored.” (NLT) Jesus teaches us an important lesson with this prayer. Prayer starts with God. Consider including in your prayers a time of focused attention on who God is.
2. Get in a regular habit of reading the Bible.
The Bible says that we worship God in “spirit and in truth.” How can we ever worship God without a clear understanding of who He is? The truth about God is essential to worship. Pay special attention to the book of Psalms. No book in the Bible spends as much time carefully describing who God is.
3. Obey God.
Rick Warren mentions in The Purpose Driven Life that we worship God when we obey Him. Whenever you sense God is speaking to you, make it a regular practice to respond immediately. Don’t let procrastination weigh you down. If you can’t do it immediately, write down whatever God has been putting on your heart, so that you can do it SOON!
4. Give.
The Bible teaches us this important lesson: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Mathew 6:21 NIV) God wants us to
surrender our entire being to Him. One way to show this is by making Him Lord of our finances. Be a faithful steward and bring your full tithe to the storehouse.
5. Build deep relationships with other Christians.
The Bible teaches that God designed us to live in community with other Christians. We bring God pleasure by getting to know others and being known by them. At North Point, the primary way we do this is through life groups.
6. Share your faith.
God wants every person on the planet to worship him, not because He is an egomaniac who needs our praise, but because worship is how we are designed by God. He wants the best for us. Take time this week to share your spiritual journey with someone else. Tell them how you came to faith in Christ. Don’t worry about their response. Relax in the knowledge that you are playing a part in expanding God’s world-wide worship.
7. Serve others.
Jesus tells us that “when you did it to the least of these my brothers and sisters, you did to me!” (Matt. 25:40 NLT) When we serve one another, Jesus tells us we are really serving Him. If you don’t think you have any gifts that are useful to serve, you are wrong. God made you with talents and gifts that He specifically gave you to serve others.
8. Build into your life the attitude of thankfulness.
This requires looking at the world through a different set of eyes. When we look through the lens of thankfulness, we see our lives – and everything in it – as gifts from God. Develop your own spiritual exercise each morning that demonstrates that you are putting on your lens of thankfulness. Then begin to thank God for all of the good things in your life.
9. Turn over to God areas of your life that you have never committed to Him.
This is the heart of worship – surrender. God won’t settle for 90 percent of your life; He wants all of it. You might have been a follower of Jesus for years, but you still have areas of your life you may be holding back from Him. What are those areas? Only you know that. Think back over the past month and write down all of the times you remember disobeying clear teaching from God. Then look for patterns. If you find patterns of sin in your life, these are areas of your life you need to surrender to God. Right at the moment, start praying for God to help you overcome that sin. Ask your small group to pray for you.
10. Sing a song to the Lord.
Most people consider worship to be singing. This is one way to worship, but not the main way or the only way. Turn off the radio in your car or home, and sing a song straight from your heart to God’s heart. It will be a joyful noise to the Lord! Sing to the Lord your praises.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
We all need it!
I'm one of those guys that tries my best to say "thank you" to people as much as possible. I try to recognize good things and to encourage people to keep up the fight. I love what I do and I love who I do life with every week. I have the honor of being the pastor of a great church, made up of great and loving people! I am called to it and getting that privilege each week is all I need. But I'll be honest, the last few weeks have really meant a lot to me and Christie....
People have been writing kind notes to us and doing various kind things for us the whole month. Every time I turn around someone is showing us how much we are appreciated. I really appreciate it! I don't need much thanks and sometimes one can forget how it feels to be thanked or honored. Well I have been thanked and honored this month, and for that I say thank you North Point! I love you and I pray God helps me to show appreciation to others. We all need it! Whether we realize it or not....... it does the soul good.
People have been writing kind notes to us and doing various kind things for us the whole month. Every time I turn around someone is showing us how much we are appreciated. I really appreciate it! I don't need much thanks and sometimes one can forget how it feels to be thanked or honored. Well I have been thanked and honored this month, and for that I say thank you North Point! I love you and I pray God helps me to show appreciation to others. We all need it! Whether we realize it or not....... it does the soul good.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Habits
This week, Christie and I are working on some habits. We decided to fast from a distraction, and replace that time with conversation, devotion, and rest. Since we have a dvr, we'll watch a few of our favorite shows by skipping commercials next weekend ;-)
One of the things we've been reminded is how little we miss the distraction, and how much we gain without it. Our children have had fun playing at night instead of watching a favorite tv show, and we've had fun being reminded by our kids that we can't watch tv either.
One of the best things has been replacing that time. Yes, we've still been busy.... but we've done some good things as well. Last night I had some great conversation with Christie about our day. That could never be replaced!
So...... start some new habits this week. Turn off the computer, the tv, the video game, and dive into the word. Dive into some good conversation with your family. Dive into some walks around the neighborhood to meet some neighbors and point people to Christ. You'll be glad you did!
One of the things we've been reminded is how little we miss the distraction, and how much we gain without it. Our children have had fun playing at night instead of watching a favorite tv show, and we've had fun being reminded by our kids that we can't watch tv either.
One of the best things has been replacing that time. Yes, we've still been busy.... but we've done some good things as well. Last night I had some great conversation with Christie about our day. That could never be replaced!
So...... start some new habits this week. Turn off the computer, the tv, the video game, and dive into the word. Dive into some good conversation with your family. Dive into some walks around the neighborhood to meet some neighbors and point people to Christ. You'll be glad you did!
Friday, October 3, 2008
Let 'em Come!
Last night was a very biblical night for me. My children go through phases thinking my favorite Bible verse is Matthew 19:4, or that I need to practice it more!
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
It always seems to come in waves and pairs, never alone. I was in la la land, probably had been out for about 45 minutes, when the door to my room opens suddenly. Now for some reason, God has blessed Christie with the ability to sleep through almost anything. I on the other hand, I wake up to all the bumps and creaks in the night. My bed is also closest to the door!
So..... about 12:30 am the door opens and in comes child #1. "What's wrong", says papa. "My alarm clock went off and now I need you to come up and set it for the morning", said child #1. "Just go back to sleep and don't worry about it", replies papa in a soft voice, laden with disbelief over the importance of the midnight disturbance. That was it. Not so bad. I can go back to sleep pretty quick when I don't have to get up! And so I did.
Unfortunately, the door suddenly opens again about 3:30 am. At this point I'm at the peak of my 1st rem cycle, and it takes me a minute to discern if I'm dreaming. I wasn't! Child #2 was dreaming. So I scoot over and open up the covers just enough to let the little children come unto me, for such is the bedroom of parents. Being the light sleeper of the family, I can't go to sleep like that, but its ok. I hug. I hold close. I console. I monitor heart rate and breath rate. When the little one is deemed at peace with the world, I gently roll back the covers and exclaim, "time to go back to bed sweetie". Intending to give a night-night kiss and turn back over, the expected happened. Arms extended in the "carry me back up and tuck me back in please daddy" formation. What do you do?!?
My oldest starts middle school next year, and my youngest is already too old for t-ball. Time is fleeting and soon the door to my bedroom will never again open in the middle of the night! So......... I get up. I snuggle. I listen to the breathing and feel the heart beat. I love the heart beat!
Guess what? God's joy is the heart beat of his children as well. He knows when I'm afraid, and he waits for me to come running every time. He promises to draw us close to his heart and to drive away all fear, doubt, worry........ whatever is heavy in our lives. Draw near to him today!
BTW...... it was a swarm of bees that brought #2 running to daddy. I hate bees too!
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
It always seems to come in waves and pairs, never alone. I was in la la land, probably had been out for about 45 minutes, when the door to my room opens suddenly. Now for some reason, God has blessed Christie with the ability to sleep through almost anything. I on the other hand, I wake up to all the bumps and creaks in the night. My bed is also closest to the door!
So..... about 12:30 am the door opens and in comes child #1. "What's wrong", says papa. "My alarm clock went off and now I need you to come up and set it for the morning", said child #1. "Just go back to sleep and don't worry about it", replies papa in a soft voice, laden with disbelief over the importance of the midnight disturbance. That was it. Not so bad. I can go back to sleep pretty quick when I don't have to get up! And so I did.
Unfortunately, the door suddenly opens again about 3:30 am. At this point I'm at the peak of my 1st rem cycle, and it takes me a minute to discern if I'm dreaming. I wasn't! Child #2 was dreaming. So I scoot over and open up the covers just enough to let the little children come unto me, for such is the bedroom of parents. Being the light sleeper of the family, I can't go to sleep like that, but its ok. I hug. I hold close. I console. I monitor heart rate and breath rate. When the little one is deemed at peace with the world, I gently roll back the covers and exclaim, "time to go back to bed sweetie". Intending to give a night-night kiss and turn back over, the expected happened. Arms extended in the "carry me back up and tuck me back in please daddy" formation. What do you do?!?
My oldest starts middle school next year, and my youngest is already too old for t-ball. Time is fleeting and soon the door to my bedroom will never again open in the middle of the night! So......... I get up. I snuggle. I listen to the breathing and feel the heart beat. I love the heart beat!
Guess what? God's joy is the heart beat of his children as well. He knows when I'm afraid, and he waits for me to come running every time. He promises to draw us close to his heart and to drive away all fear, doubt, worry........ whatever is heavy in our lives. Draw near to him today!
BTW...... it was a swarm of bees that brought #2 running to daddy. I hate bees too!
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