Happy Mother's Day to the Greatest Mom

Dearest Mom, I love you so much. You made me the best person I know I could be.

You had a rough life, I know, I saw. But, you stood up for yourself when it was right to do so and you showed me how I could too.

You raised five children. Mostly on your own. What a great accomplishment. Four girls and a boy. God couldn't have blessed you more. Well, He could have stopped at me, (the oldest) but then, things happen and life goes on. And the rest of the rug rats came along. HEEHEE

We all have our own brood now and have blessed you with grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I've lost count how many great-grandchildren you have. I know I've contributed four to the count.

Here we are, all together in 2009. When I came to surprise Gordie. We had such a great time.

You are my heart and my love and my forever, mom.

With all our love,

Vicki
Carol
Allson
Mary
Gordie

We'll be with you forever. You're never gonna get rid of us! We love you, mom.

Copyright: piccolamarina / 123RF Stock Photo

Living a Humble Life is Good for You

PsyBlog recently came up with eight psychological benefits of being humble.  As a God-fearing, Christian woman I am well aware of how important it is to live a life of humility.

Proverbs 11:2 says, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”

As well in Proverbs 15:33 “The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom and humility comes before honor.”

God guides us with his words in Titus 3:2 “to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.”

We will be rewarded for our humility, according to Matthew 23:12 “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

God made a promise in 2 Chronicles 7:14 “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

In Proverbs 3:34, “He mocks proud mockers, but gives grace to the humble.”

I believe in God’s promises and I hope that I can lead a life of humility that He is proud of and celebrates my life.

Current society does not celebrate a humble person. They seek those who are over confident and exuberant.  It is the excitement and drama of reality TV that catches the world’s attention, not that of a middle aged woman who wants to help other writers become successful in any way she can.

But, even with God’s grace, I can gain psychological benefits of being humble.

1.     Humble people are better able to cope with anxiety about their mortality.

2.     Humble leaders are not only better liked, but are more effective leaders.

3.     Having high self-control is one key to a successful life.

4.     The humble not only make better managers, but make better employees.

5.     Being humble may make you better in school.

6.     Humble people don’t think they are entitled.

7.     Humble people are more helpful.

8.     Humble people have better relationships because they are better at accepting people for who they are.

Dictionary.com defines “humble”

  

hum·ble [huhm-buhl, uhm-] 

adjective, hum·bler, hum·blest.

1.

not proud or arrogant; modest: to be humble although successful.

2.

having a feeling of insignificance, inferiority, subservience, etc.: In the presence of so many world-famous writers I felt very humble.

3.

low in rank, importance, status, quality, etc.; lowly: of humble origin; a humble home.

4.

courteously respectful: In my humble opinion you are wrong.

5.

low in height, level, etc.; small in size: a humble member of the galaxy.

I am not a proud or arrogant woman. I am a humble woman who wants to please my God and help others. That is how I live my life.

The God-First Life

I don't normally do book reviews. I'm making an exception for a book that is literally life changing. It's titled "The God-First Life" by Stovall Weems. If you're looking for a way to uncomplicated your life and live God's way, this is the book for you. I'm going to share it with all my brothers and sisters in Christ and with anyone and everyone I can talk to about this book. It literally changed my life.

I was having a serious panic and anxiety attack yesterday. My mind raced for something to distract myself so that I could calm down. I reached for the book that arrived in the mail that morning. I started reading and then stopped so I could hunt down a highlighter. There was too much already that I wanted to highlight and focus on. I settled in and started reading in earnest. The words captivated me. The writing style was comfortable and friendly. A quarter of the way into the book and my panic attack and anxiety was gone. I was so absorbed in the book I'd forgotten all about being anxious.

The book comes with a study guide and also a DVD with six sessions led by Stovall Weems, himself. I'm going to be getting them and sharing them with everyone I know at church. There is also a website www.godfirstlifenetwork.com but it won't be ready until July, 2014. I know I'll be one of the first to visit the site as soon as it opens. It will have more information, free resources, coaching, and more.

The book is based on scripture from Matthew 6:33 "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Put God first and everything else will take care of itself. God will see to it.

When Pastor Weems thought about this scripture and how it affected his life, he realized that it had three life-altering points:

1. God as a "way" for our lives. God has designed a path, a way for your life that is designed specifically for you.

2. We don't have to carry the weight of our life alone. Jesus invites you to keep step with him while he does the heavy lifting.

3. God's way is better than ours. The Bible says that God's way is perfect, refreshing, trustworthy, right, and enlightening.

Doesn't that sound exactly what you're looking for?

God's way for your life is the best possible way you can live.

I know it.

Do you know it?

P.S. I'll definitely do more blogs about this book. It just begs for more posts on God's way.

Perseverance, my take on Making it through Life

I am truly a persistent woman. I think having OCD can do that to a person. I'm like a dog with a bone when it comes to some things I have on my mind and how I want to live my life.

David Sarnoff said, "The will to persevere is often the difference between failure and success."

That makes sense to me. I have failed at many things in my life, but I've learned lessons from each failure, least of which is to not do something that way again. I am rarely knocked down for good. I get back up and I'm back in the thick of the action, trying to follow my dream or help someone else follow theirs.

"Persist and persevere, and you will find most things that are attainable, possible." Isn't that a great quote by Lord Chesterfield?

That's how I make my way through life. I'm persistent. I don't think things are impossible. That word rarely enters my vocabulary.

I wanted to join the US Marine Corps when I was in high school, so as soon as I graduated, I headed off to boot camp. If you ask my father, he'd say I'd been more bull-headed and stubborn, than persistent, but it doesn't matter. I had a goal and I attained it.

I wanted to write for a living. I didn't let anything deter me from that goal either. I started out as a technical writer so I could provide for my family but when the time came, I moved to writing fiction full time and haven't turned back. I wrote twelve novels and novellas that were published. I was very persistent. I didn't take no for an answer. I found a publisher who was willing to work with me and together we got some great books on the market.

Life has thrown a few obstacles in my way. But, to me, they were just challenges to be overcome. Chronic illnesses, mental illness, pain. It didn't matter. I didn't let any of them obscure my vision of how I wanted to make it through life. Successfully and Faithfully.

Be persistent. Persevere. Don't ever give up. "There was a widow who kept going to the judge and saying, "Make sure that I get fair treatment in court." For a while the judge refused to do anything. Finally, he said to himself,"Even though I don't fear God or care about people, I will help this widow because she keeps on bothering me. If I don't help her, she will wear me out." Luke 18:3-5

I live my life with the purpose that God has prepared for me. He wants me to help others overcome traumas in their lives. I can do that. I have the way to help these people. I know it works, because I've been using the technique my entire life. I will not give up. I will bring this technique to fruition. It's my purpose in life.

I live my life with perseverance and faith. How do you live yours?

Image credit: photoman / 123RF Stock Photo

What Defines You?

This is a great quote:

"Two things define you. Your patience when you have nothing, and your attitude when you have everything."

What defines you?

Are you an A type personality? Do you have a set schedule and a routine? Do you live by the clock?

Are you more laid back and relaxed? Do you let the worries of the world worry about themselves and you live carefree?

Or, maybe you're a bit of both?

I checked the Internet about "what defines you" and I was amazed at the number of quotes there are from various people about defining yourself and what defines a person. I thought I'd share them with you.

"Don't let other people define you. It's not their life; it's not their story. Live your own life, and write your own story. Define yourself."

"Smile despite the circumstances and laugh throughout the pain. Life is full of hardships but it is how you deal with them that will, in the end, define you." -- Nishan Panwar

"Don't ever let a negative past define you, let it be a lesson that strengthens you and leads you on the right path to a positive, better and brighter future." -- Rashida Rowe

"Be able to define yourself at all times. Do not wait for someone else to come and define you. Accept and embrace your individuality. Be inspired to be the BEST YOU and never let no one get your self esteem down."

"It's not who I am underneath but what I do that defines me." -- Christian Bale

"It's not what you achieve, it's what you overcome. That's what defines your career." -- Carlton Fisk

"What you invest your tie in defines who you are." -- Todd Duncan

"Life experience is what defines our character, if it means getting your heart broken or being lied to. You know, you need the downs to appreciate the ups. Going on the adventure or taking that risk is important." -- Nev Schulman


So, what defines you?

Giving Thanks to the One Above

I'm all about giving credit where credit is due. Gratitude is everything. Our Heavenly Father deserves so much thankfulness for all that He's accomplished in my life and in this world.

"But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." - 1 Corinthians 15:57

I live a life of gratitude. My faith is unfailing in the Lord. He has put me through many trials in life, but I don't mind.

Not really. Maybe I did at the time. I haven't lived a perfect life, but I don't think anyone can claim that prize.

I've made choices I know now, probably weren't the right ones, but they're done and over. It got me to where I am today, and for that I am grateful.

I live a life of victory because I do what I love. I write for a living. It can't get better than that for me. You may be doing what you love and isn't that wonderful?

I have so many blessings I've lost count. Can you say that about your life? Do you have so many blessings you've lost count?

Life is all about choices. I choose to live a faithful life filled with God's love. How do you chose to live your life?

I may have Bipolar Disorder. I may have Fibromyalgia. I may have Narcolepsy. I may have low back issues and arthritis and thyroid disorders and so many other things I have to keep a list otherwise I'd forget and I wouldn't be able to complete those forms at the doctor's office. But, none of it really matters. It's how I cope with what I have that counts.

I cope with God's help.

I read His word daily. It guides me and keeps me on the path of righteousness. I pray continually. I have an ongoing conversation with our Lord and Savior. Why? Because I know that He loves me and watches over me.

When was the last time you talked to God? When was the last time you gave thanks?

7 Cardinal Rules in Life

I've found out that there are seven cardinal rules in Life.

Yep. Life. The big "L".

Did you know there were seven? I thought a lot more. But, here we can distill it down to seven. I'll help you out.

In reverse order.

7. Smile. You don't own all the problems in the world.  Did you think you owned all the problems? Can't be bothered with just your own, you have to take ownership of everyone else's problems as well? Well, knock it off. Forget everyone else's problems and worry about your own.
There. That's outa here.

6. No one is in charge of your happiness, except you. Well, here we go again, wanting to be in charge. This one is giving you permission to be in charge of your own happiness. Just don't let anyone else be in charge of it. Not their problem. See number 7 above.

5. Stop thinking too much. It's alright not to know the answers. They will come to you when you least expect it. Whoa. Pretty big one, eh? Least used sentence in the world: "I don't know." Everyone thinks they have to have an answer. It's okay to say, "I don't know."

4. Don't compare your life to others and don't judge them. You have no idea what their journey is all about. That's really what it's all about, right? Not knowing what the other person's journey is? I get that. I have Bipolar Disorder, I don't expect anyone else to understand that, regardless of walking a mile in my shoes. But, in return, I don't want to change shoes with you, either. I'm comfortable in mine. Yours might pinch my toes.

Besides, the Bible says that Christians are not to judge each other. So, don't. Okay?

3. Time heals almost everything, give it time. That's a good one to think about, don't you think? We really need to just give some things enough time to work themselves out and heal.

2. What others  think of you is none of your business. I had to re-read that sentence a couple of times before it made sense. Now it makes perfect sense. I don't care what you think of me, it doesn't matter. The only person who is subject to my thoughts is God. He thinks I'm a pretty darn good person. I happen to agree with Him. Enough said.

1. Make peace with the past so it won't screw up the present. I guess I know why that's number one. It's a big point to make. It's all about forgiveness. You forgive yourself. You forgive others. You forget your past. It's done, over. Move on.

So, those cardinal rules aren't so bad. Can you live with them? Now that I've gone through all seven, I think they're worth living.

What about you?

My Safety Net

I pondered about what to write about and I browsed through my images looking for inspiration. I found this image. It says, "Being a Christian doesn't mean I won't fall... it means Jesus will catch me when I do..."

I am a Christian.

I will fall.

It's inevitable. From the moment Eve took a bite of the apple from the Tree of Knowledge, I've been doomed to fall.

But, since God sent His only Son to Earth to live a sinless life and then be sacrificed for the sins of all the people, He's given me a safety net.

Jesus.

There is a wonderful book titled, Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. It starts out at the beginning of the year, and you read one entry every day. I read the 2013 edition.

I had a simple routine. I would get up every morning and take out my mouth splint for my TMJ, take my allergy drops and add three minutes to the timer. During those three minutes, I'd read the entry for the day from Jesus Calling. It was like getting a treat every morning. I looked forward to each entry. Even going on business trips or whoever, I took this book with me and read the daily entry.

Here is a great entry from January 15th: "My Face is shining upon you, beaming out Peace that transcends understanding. You are surrounded by a sea of problems, but you are face to Face with Me, your Peace. As long as you focus on Me, you are safe. If you gaze too long at the myriad problems around you,  you will sink under the weight of your burdens. When you start to sink, simply call out, "Help me, Jesus!" and I will lift you up.

The closer you live to Me, the safe you are. Circumstances around you are undulating, and there are treacherous-looking waves in the distance. Fix your eyes on Me, the One whenever changes. By the time those waves reach you, they will have shrunk to proportions of My design. I am always beside you, helping you face today's waves. The future is a phantom, seeking to spook you. Laugh at the future! Stay close to me." Philippians 4:7; Matthew 14:30; Hebrews 12:2

Isn't that a wonderful piece? Just call out "Help me, Jesus!" and He will save me.

I truly believe that.

Do you?

Maintaining a Positive Attitude

People are always telling me I have a great attitude. I mostly shrug it off and say, "I'd rather have a positive attitude than deal with the opposite."

The more I think about it, the more I have realized that I really do have a really good positive attitude about life in general.

Right now, I'm going through some serious stressors.

• One of my dearest friends died last week. I'm attending his services this weekend.
• My mother-in-law went through a series of strokes and is hospitalized. 
• I'm trying very hard to get a handle on my new business, Succeed at Writing, and learning how to market, gain clients, and create services.
• I have suffered with TMJ/TMD pain issues for ten years. Since last October it has  been so serious that I've had to change my eating habits to only eat smoothies or very soft food. No chewing allowed.  I had an MRI that showed the two joints that help you open and close your jaw are not working properly. I've seen two oral surgeons and I'm scheduled for an outpatient procedure at the end of the month to correct it.
• I have carpel tunnel syndrome in my right hand. I've had it in my left hand and had it surgically corrected. I've been told by doctors that I cannot get it corrected in my right hand until my jaw is fixed.
• I was scheduled to go to Arizona last December to see my new grandson when he was born, but my doctors told me I couldn't travel while I had these jaw issues. So, I had to cancel my flight plans. He's now two months old and I've yet to see him except in pictures.
• My granddaughter turned six yesterday and while talking to her she begged me to come out and visit. It was so difficult trying to explain to her that I couldn't travel until after my surgery. I truly hated disappointing her.
• Because my mother-in-law is hospitalized, my husband has scheduled a trip to see her this weekend, so I will be left alone. (I'll have my dog and parrot to keep me company.)

Any one of these things can cause a Bipolar trigger and send me into a tailspin. I'm using positive thinking techniques to get through each of them. I'm also using tools I've learned through therapy to find ways to keep myself distracted from the pain/discomfort/stress of any one of these issues and most specifically, being left alone while my main support person leaves for three days.

I'm trying very hard to maintain a positive attitude through all of this. I think that I'm definitely blessed that none of my issues are truly so serious that they are debilitating. There are other people in the world who are in a much worse condition than I.

I'm attempting to keep the worrying to a minimum. Worrying doesn't really accomplish anything. It does cause stress and I've done well to keep from sinking into an anxiety episode.

I'm keeping busy with various projects. I'm going to be a workshop presenter at the next Florida Writers Association Annual 2014 Conference. So, I am working on the handouts I will give the attendees.

A business plan must be created for Succeed at Writing, so that is another project I am working on. I've been working with a business coach who lives in Sweden. He has been tremendously helpful in keeping me grounded and following correct procedures along with giving me the right amount of positive encouragement to be excited about the future plans for my company.

I am a board member for the Florida Writers Association and also the Board Liaison between the FWA board and the Writers Group Leaders. I make sure they are kept up to date on all communications and help answer any questions they might have. I also read all of their meeting reports and give them positive encouragement.

I'm attempting to keep at least two weeks ahead on my blog, Your Writing Coach, so that at any time, I am prepared in case of an emergency.

I'm presenting a workshop in May, titled "Finding the Time and Commitment to Write" for a writing group near me. This is an exciting workshop to give because of the anticipated group participation.

As you can see, I have plenty to keep me busy. Some might think I'm overloaded, but I'm not. I compartmentalize each task and schedule work on each one on a calendar I keep open on my desk. Seeing it there gives me the feeling of comfort in knowing that I'm in control.

I love what I do. I enjoy helping writers succeed. I am excited about the path my new business is taking. Physical problems aside, life is pretty darn good. Why shouldn't I have a positive attitude?

I can give you some tips on how to maintain a positive attitude:

• Prayer. Reading God's word.
• Don't focus on the negative side of any situation.
• Do only what genuinely makes you happy.
• If stressors occur, keep your mind focused on positive outcomes. 
• Worrying doesn't help. It only causes stress. It doesn't accomplish anything.
• Find distraction opportunities. Read. Watch a movie. Work on a puzzle of any type. 
• If you have a dog, take him/her for a walk. 
• Take yourself for a walk.
• Call a friend. Chatting to another person always helps me keep perspective.
• Remember, there are other people with far worse issues. 
• Volunteer your time, if it works in your schedule. If it doesn't, it will only stress you out.
• Stay connected to family and friends.
• Don't read newspapers or watch the news or listen to news type talk radio shows. I have stopped this and feel so much better. I do have a link with CNN that sends me anything of extreme importance. Other than that, I have barred all news shows from my home.
• Maintain balance in your life. 
• Nourish your dreams.
• Form a support team for yourself and use it.

What about you? Do you maintain a positive attitude? How do you maintain it? I'd love to know your tricks and tips.

I Won the Lottery - Or How to Live on Ten Thousand Nothings a Week

If I didn't know better the following would really be a cause for alarm:

This is to inform you that Ministry Of Finance Benin Republic have

concluded to release your sum of Two Million Two hundred Thousand

dollar ($2,200.000.00 US-dollar) to you today and It will be send to

you through MONEY GRAM; So kindly reconfirm, Your Receiver Name, Your

Address, and your Telephone number to this office For your approval

payment of Two Million Two hundred Thousand dollar ($2,200.000.00

US-dollar) signed to release immediately to you.

Contact this person immediately. Name: Mr. Elleny Ofia. E-mail (

ellenyofia@yahoo.com ) The maximum amount you will be receiving each

day From tomorrow is Ten Thousand dollar ($10,000.00) daily until the

total $2,200.000.00 US-dollar get complete Transferred to you.. Mr.

Elleny Ofia will send your first payment to you tomorrow, if you send

the above mentioned information to him. Send Your Receiver Name, Your

Address, and your Telephone number to him now..

Best Regards

Ms.Delima Akin

Where do these people get off on preying on people and their emotions?  I'm burning up right now with anger for all of those who received this in their e-mail today and may not have as much knowledge that I do and will follow the instructions provided. 

For God's sake, please, if anyone of you or know of someone who does receive this kind of letter, delete it immediately. I realize they come in waves. But, it's been a dry spell for awhile, so some of you out there, or maybe not my readers, but someone you may know, might think this was the real deal. That they were rich. They could retire. They could have everything in the world they ever wanted.

Is that what makes us happy? To have worldly goods? To have the biggest house, the best car, and send our children to the best schools? Do you want to fill your life with so many "cherished" objects that all you do is spend all lay lounging and reading while you watch your maid dust them?

God wants so much more than that for you. He loves you so much you can't even imagine how much. God's love isn't about WHAT you have but WHAT YOU ARE MADE OF. 

How are you going to cart all your belongings to heaven with you? God won't want them in His house, anyway. They don't go with the decor. 

God wants you to pack your heart, your mind, and your soul with all that defines you. Those things you can take with you to heaven. 

So weigh this next sentence carefully.

"I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." - Matthew 17:20-21

Our faith may seem small and insignificant (especially in times of hardship and testing), but as our faith grows, so does our potential to overcome great obstacles and achieve noble goals.

Have faith.

Believe.

Trust.

Faith is the key to living a life beyond what you can ask or imagine. You don't need money. You don't need fine jewelry or fancy clothes. You need only what God asks of you. "throw out the guilty, shame-laden, sin-encrusted stuff and fill you with Jesus."

You only need you and your heart filled with the love for Jesus and yourself and others.

Pray on that.

Resource: Women Opening the Word Immeasurably More by Casandra Martin

Be Joyful onto The Lord and Rejoice

Just writing the word "joy" brings a smile to my face. Look at the word:

J O Y

Doesn't it make you smile as well?

I've been looking forward to writing this post; however a bipolar episode got in the way. I wasn't so joyful then. I was fragile and crying and afraid of the bad voices attacking me. It was anything but a joyful time, but always, in the back of my mind, this blog post hovered. 

Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in The Lord always; and again I say, Rejoice."

Even through the bipolar episode, I knew God had my back. He guided me through the darkness and through the severe allergic reactions I had to the medication my psychiatrist prescribed to make the bad voices go away and He helped me find security in His word. I handed Him my broken heart and He made me whole.  

Anywhere you look you can find joy. 

A baby's smile

The laughter of a child

The cuteness of a puppy

A loved one's embrace

The warmth of a sandy beach

An unexpected surprise

A good family meal

An answer to a prayer

Quiet moments in God's presence

Worship in church

Embrace the joy!

I know if you look hard, you can find joy in your life, and if you can't, contact me and I will share some joy with you. 

Writer's Resource: 1,000 Key Scriptures Bible Wisdom for Your Life

Image credit: studiom1 / 123RF Stock Photo

To Make or Not to Make (Poll Results) - Writing.Com

Would you make a New Year's Resolution? What resolution would you make? Why don't you have some fun with this poll.

To Make or Not to Make (Poll Results) - Writing.Com

Hope

It's just a small word, isn't it.

Hope.

It opens up many avenues to think about. A person can ask for hope. Someone can give hope to another. We can hope for good weather. A student can hope they get  good grades on their next test.  For those of us who live in Florida, we can hope for a silent hurricane season.

A mother can hope their child grows into a responsible adult. A child can hope for many presents under the Christmas Tree. A father can hope for the bonus he's expecting at the end of the year to be a good one.

Do you hope?

Do you believe in hope?

Do you hope to be a person of significance? Do you want to make your mark upon the world? What impression do you want to leave?

In Colossians 1:27 it reads, "To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery which is Christ i you, the hope of glory."

Through faith in Jesus, you become a person of significance, importance, magnitude.

Is't that a wonderful statement?

Did you ever feel like you didn't count for much for were insignificant? Did you feel like no one noticed you?

You don't have to think like that anymore. Following Jesus makes you significant.

You are an amazing person.

Yes, I said it. You. Are. An. Amazing. Person.

Believe in it.

George Herbert said this, "He that lives in hope dances without music."

Doesn't that bring a wonderful image to your mind?

It's all about your mindset and believing in God. You must trust Him completely. He does not take His love for His children lightly.

"Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put hope in you." Psalm 25:5

Hope can move mountains.

Hope is in the tiniest newborn's cry.

Hope is in the eye of a child sitting on Santa's lap.

Hope is in you.

I hope all of you have a very Merry Christmas and find all the love and laughter meant to make your life full of joy.

Image credit: iqoncept / 123RF Stock Photo

Worship - Why and How?

First, do we all know what the definition of "Worship" is?

According to Merriam-Webster:

: the act of showing respect and love for a god especially by praying with other people who believe in the same god : the act of worshipping God or a god

: excessive admiration for someone

In the context of this blog post, we are going to be talking about Worship as it relates to God. So, I ask again, Is there a Right Way to Worship God?

Or maybe I should define the question further, is there only one right way to worship God?

Where did worship come from? If you look in the bible it starts with men finding a place to build an altar and offer either burnt or fellowship offerings.

Deuteronomy 27:5-7 "Build there an altar to tool upon them. Build the altar of the Lord your God with your God. Sacrifice fellowship offerings there, eating them and rejoicing in the presence of the Lord your God."

The first mention of the word "worship" in the bible appears in Exodus 39:2-7 "They made the ephod of gold, and of blade, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen. They hammered out thin sheets of gold and into strands to be worked into the blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen - the work of a skilled craftsman. They made shoulder pieces for the ephod, which were attached to two if its corners, so it could be fastened. Its skillfully woven waistband was like it - of one piece with the ephod and made with gold, and with blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and with finely twisted linen, as the Lord commanded Moses. They mounted  the onyx stones in gold filigree settings and engraved them like a seal with the names of the sons of Israel. Then they fashioned them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel, as the Lord commanded Moses."

The reason for the fancy clothing were intended to show dignity and honor. The elaborate designs served to elevate the priests to a position of stature in the eyes of the people. The garments may also have helped the people esteem the worship of God and an awesome and mysterious privilege.

So, as far as I can tell so far, worshiping consisted of altars and elaborate and fancy clothing of the priests to show the people how much a privilege it was to worship God.

With me so far? I hope so, we haven't even begun yet.

In Deuteronomy, the Bible showed that God commanded an altar be built of plain stone without using tools. It was their simple beauty that became the frame for the awesomeness of our God.

Sacrifice. Fellowship. Rejoicing. All characteristics that are core to who God's people are and how it teaches us that "worship" is vital.

In Women Opening the Word Living Stones Casandra Martin defines worship this way, "Worship begins with God. The first steps into worship begin with awareness. ... Worship begins by opening our eyes and hearts to the truth that we are entering the presence of God. He created the pathway to worship. He opened its door, covering the way with the blood of His Son and inviting us to draw near to Him. In worship, we meet God." To Casandra, "That is the most defining, amazing thing about worship. It is the place where we come to heart-to-heart with our Savior."

What do you think? Does worship begin with God and offer us an opportunity to have a one-on-one with our Lord?

Do you think that is the right way to worship?

Being aware of God's presence, to me, means that I'm close to God. That we are communing together in an intimate way. That it's a personal association I have with God that I have with no other.

By being personal, I think that it brings in a uniqueness to my worship. My worship is unique.
Your worship is unique. Someone else may worship entirely differently. We are all unique and in being so have unique relationships with our Lord and God.

So,  must be be joined together in some type of union to worship God? Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."

Does God only listen to our worshiping when we are with others? I don't think so, I think whether we worship on our own or with others, God promises to hear and answer our prayers in line with His will.

However, according to Jesus, in 1 John 5:14-15 we can find a special sense of His presence and power during times of united prayer. "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us - whatever we ask - we know what we have what we asked of Him."

So, what happens when we truly worship?

Should we expect to be changed?

How so?

By surrendering. Casandra Martin says, "Every time we come into worship, we should expect to walk out different from how we arrived. Within that expectation is a challenge. Are we willing to be changed? Surrender is the deep call of worship."

God wants to work in our lives. He uses our worship time to do so. God is always on the look out for ways to transform us. Transforming us so that we are more like Jesus.

And, guess what? The more we look and act like Jesus, the richer our worship experience becomes.

When we worship, our eyes are opened to who God is and who we are. With God's help, we are becoming more like Jesus. God thinks that's the greatest gift we could ever give Him.

What do you think?

By worshiping, truly worshiping, we can strip away all the masks we use on a daily basis that hide us from each other and from God and we can delight in God's grace. With God's grace on us, we have the power to transform into the likeness of Jesus.

By surrendering to God, we give up the ordinary path we've traversed, with so much difficulty, and take on God's sense of direction and pace. We now follow God's lead. We are His.

Wouldn't you much rather go on a journey where you know God is leading, than anyone or anything else?

So, I'll ask you this question: Why do you come to worship?

Have you surrendered yourself to the power of worship?

Reference: Women Opening the Word - Living Stones by Casandra Martin

Image credit: gelpi / 123RF Stock Photo

The Best Way to Know God

God asks that you let your body, mind and spirit relax in His Presence. He loves you. Can you imagine how much God loves you?

I bet you can't.

I know I can't fathom the depth of God's love.

Although He tells us how much.

First, let's find out why. He tells us in 1 Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."

How much does God love us? We have to search Ephesians 3:16-19 where the apostle Paul writes "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with the power through His Spirit in your inner being. So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Can you imagine now?

I still can't.

But I can feel. I can feel God's love.

Think of the deepest ocean, the highest mountain, the widest valley, the longest road and you still wouldn't come close to how much God really loves us.

Thank God for His love. Thank God for His blessings. Thank God for Him.

I thank Him for you.

When you sit quietly in God's presence, you are opening yourself to receive God's blessing.

Can you feel it enveloping you and making your heart swell?

God travels with you through all your journeys. The high road. The bumpy road. The rough times. The good times. Everything you do is because of Him. Can you understand that? Can you accept that you need God?

When you have learned to thank God for all the hard times and the good times. When you have learned to thank God for your difficult journeys then, and only then, have you realized that to need God is the key to knowing Him, intimately.

That is the gift of all gifts.

This is how God loves us. "He tends His flock like a shepherd. He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young." Isaiah 40:11

reference: Jesus Calling by Sarah Young