A Little Study on Worship

What is worship?  Is it a frame of mind or a flow of emotions?  Below is a little bit of what I found in the Scriptures about worship.  :)

1. Worship is giving praise to the One Who is Worthy!

"Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous!  For praise from the upright is beautiful."
Psalm 33:1
"You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created."
Revelation 4:11

2. Worship is a form of declaration!

"The Lord lives!  Blessed by my Rock!  Let God be exalted, the Rock of my salvation!."
2 Samuel 22:47
"And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!""
John 20:28

3. Worship is realizing who I am in the presence of a Holy God!

"But I am a worm, and no man;"
Psalm 22:6a
"So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone!  Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.""
Isaiah 6:5
"When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.""
Luke 5:8

Sadly, I think that a large amount of Gods' people in America don't really understand true worship.  Even I'm not sure if I really understand the way God wants to be worshiped.  Far too often we find "entertainment" more appealing.  The question I asked myself today is "do I worship God in the way He desires me to?".  "Why does it matter?" some may ask.  It matters to me because I know that I was created for Him and I want to please Him!  Just like I love my earthly father and desires to please him in my actions/words.  Worship comes in many different forms (music, sacrifice, obedience, our lives, etc.) but they are all equal in purpose- to glorify and honor the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords!

May He find our lives in a constant form of worship!
Learning to delight in Jesus,
Hannah   

Life

This life is a race.  It's hard, it's fast, and then it's over.  The Scripture says that our life is "a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away." (James 4:14)  The question I have been asking myself frequently is am I using this life and the time given to me by God, wisely?  If I could look back at the end of my life and see all of my "successes" would they be to the glory of God or for the furtherance of my own personal goals?  No one knows the day or the hour in which they'll be called home.  That is why Paul urged the believers in Colosse to do everything heartily, as unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23).  I know for me it is hard to remember that verse during the business of every day.  But God is merciful and remembers that I am but dust.  Although He does not lower His standard I am comforted with the knowledge that He is indeed here, walking beside me and assisting me along the way.

I leave us with one last question:  If we knew we only had a year to live would the way we live our lives look different?

Learning to delight in Jesus,
Hannah

Waiting

Last Wednesday a kind lady at church came up and gave me a gift bag after service.  She said that she tried to give every high school graduate this devotional book (Streams in the Desert by L.B. Cowman) and she hoped I would enjoy it.  Later I read the devotional for that day and it brought tears to my eyes.  It just seemed to speak to the place where I am right now in my life.  Below is the poem that was at the end of the devotion.  I hope it blesses one of you today as much as it blessed me!

"I longed to walk along an easy road,
And leave behind the dull routine of home,
Thinking in other fields to serve my God;
But Jesus said, "My time has not yet come."

I longed to sow the seed in other soil,
To be unshackled in the work, and free,
To join with other laborers in their toil;
But Jesus said, "It's not My choice for thee."

I longed to leave the desert, and be led
To work where souls were sunk in sin and shame,
that I might win them; but the Master said,
"I have not called you, publish here My name."

I longed to fight the battles of my King,
Lift high His standards in the thickest strife;
But my great Captain had me wait and sing
Songs of His conquests in my quiet life.

I longed to leave the hard and difficult sphere,
Where all alone I seemed to stand and wait,
To feel I had some human helper near,
But Jesus had me guard one lonely gate.

I longed to leave the common daily toil,
Where no one seemed to understand or care;
But Jesus said, "I choose for you this soil,
That you might raise for Me some blossoms rare."

And now I have no longing but to do
At home, or far away, His blessed will,
To work amid the many or the few;
Thus, "choosing not to choose," my heart is still.

Pilgrim's Progress 

What a sweet, convicting reminder!
Learning to delight in Jesus,
Hannah 

Book Review: "It's (not that) Complicated"

I'm sure most of you have heard of Anna Sofia and Elizabeth Botkin's new book, "It's (not that) Complicated".  I wasn't certain if I would like it or not.  Their previous book had been difficult to read (not that the writing was bad but the content was overwhelming, in my opinion) although I did learn a lot.  I was pleasantly surprised by the simple truths and everyday examples given in their newest book.  It is easy to read, easy to understand, and more down to earth.
It's (not that) Complicated tackles the important subjects that every girl needs to have an opinion on.  The Botkin sisters do a very good job of addressing the underlying issues in many relationships in today's society.  The simple truths they share from the Scripture will open your eyes to a whole new way of looking at the "tough" relationships.  Instead of always being led by your emotions and allowing your heart to lead you, they challenge you to lead your heart.  While the rest of the world either goes searching for a guy or sits waiting for a guy, you are encouraged to simply follow God.  When your heart is in the right place then your thoughts will be in the right place and then your actions will be right.  They're all linked together.  The biggest thing I took away from this book was that if my relationship with God is right then my relationship with everyone else will be right.  I don't need to follow a list of rules and regulations in order to make sure I "stay pure".  If I am anxious to please, honor, and glorify my King in everything I do (including relationships) then His Spirit will lead me in the ways in which I should walk.
Some of the topics covered in this book are:
~ How to be a better sister to your brothers
~ How important it is that you have a good relationship with your parents
~ How you can prepare to be the wife a godly man would want
~ How to interact and communicate effectively to young men (in all purity)
~ What to do until he comes
And so much more!  One thing I really liked about this book was it's inside tips and explanations from everyday young men.  It really helped me to understand what men think about girls and how they think in general.

I highly encourage every young woman to read this book.  It will be challenging, it will be convicting, and hopefully it will be life-changing.
May the Lord bless you all this week!
Learning to delight in Jesus,
Hannah