The Purest Form of Worship

In the spirit of keeping things simple and getting back to basics, I am not writing a new post this morning. Rather, I am sharing with you something I wrote a couple of months ago. The following a is a brief article I wrote for our worship team's newsletter over the summer. It includes an excerpt from a blog post, "Martha Gets a Time Out."

THE PUREST FORM OF WORSHIP

Mary. That is such a simple, common name for a woman who in one moment quietly made a choice that placed her at the feet of Jesus, and who without a word demonstrated worship in its purest form. Surrounded by things that needed to be done and people who wanted her to do them, Mary set her gaze on the face of Jesus. She sat down on the floor at His feet and listened to Him as He shared His heart. Worship doesn’t get any more simple and pure than that – wordless wonder as we look on His face and listen to His voice.

Much emphasis is placed in most circles on the various forms of worship: singing, dancing, praying, etc… But I believe that worship in its purest form is a matter of the heart. To gaze on the face of the One we adore and be silent as we take in every word that comes from His mouth—that is true worship.

I often find myself so busy with the stuff of life that I fail to spend genuine time at His feet, just me and Him. It’s in these precious moments, no matter when or where they happen, when my gaze is fixed on Him and my heart is tuned into His voice, that my spirit is renewed and my soul restored.

As worshipers we must make these “Mary moments,” as I like to call them, a priority in our every day lives. He is looking for those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth. He is not impressed with our musical abilities—He gave them to us. He is interested in a pure heart that is completely His. Enter in.

Grimy Smudges & Glorious Reality

Music from the Heart: My Heart Your Home by Watermark


"Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you."    -John 15:4 (The Message)



The words of Jesus are are simple, profound, and life-altering. They challenge everything we think we know, and the truth we find in them sets us free from everything that would keep us outside the place He has designed for us to inhabit: a place in Him.

These words are no exception. Jesus Himself has invited us to live in Him - to move in, settle in and make ourselves at home there. We, in all our fumbling, stumbling, bumbling imperfection, have been extended a personal invitation from the King of Glory to come and dwell not only with Him, but IN HIM. He's not worried about us leaving our dirty fingerprints on the walls or grimy smudges on everything we touch. He welcomes it.

He invites us to this place because He loves us. We accept the invitation because we know that no grander opportunity can ever be presented to us - to be welcomed into the heart and home of God Himself as one of His own. He cleans us up, dresses us in fine clothes, gives us His name, and shares with us all that He is and all that He has, holding nothing back.

No more wandering through the dark streets of this life aimless, hopeless, lost and alone. We have been adopted into His family. We have been found and given a home and a hope. We have become the picture of restoration. The Creator of all things has reconciled us to Himself, calling us His own.

If you don't do anything else today, wrap your heart around this glorious reality - you belong to Him and in Him. He belongs to you and in you. Home just took on a whole new meaning.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; 

the old has gone, the new has come! 

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ 

and gave us the ministry of reconciliation ..."

2 Corinthians 5:17-18

On the Verge

Music from the Heart: More of Jesus by Mylon LeFevre & Broken Heart

We are created for more. More glory, more greatness, more of the the manifest presence of God in every moment in which we draw breath. Why, then, do I so often feel like I am waiting for something to happen, like I'm chasing after some elusive destiny that will never be mine?

Recently I seem to keep hearing things like, "You're on the verge of something," and "Breakthrough is coming." My frustrated reply to these sentiments goes something like this: "I'm TIRED of being 'on the verge' of something! I want to be right smack dab in the middle of something!"

The "something" here is a living, breathing, life-altering move of God - in me, on me, all over me, and through me. Where IS that? And WHY is it not RIGHT HERE - RIGHT NOW?

I don't pretend for a nanosecond to know the answer to any of these questions. All I can offer is the desperate cry of a heart that is craving more - more of everything God is and does and has for me, His daughter.

The dictionary defines "verge" as, among other things, "a limiting belt, strip or border of something." Hmmm. Is it possible that my being always "on the verge" of some great move of God in my life somehow indicates that there is a "limiting border" that is held in place by, oh I don't know, maybe ... me? Could it be that there is something in me that is the reason why that breakthrough has not yet materialized? Perhaps a lack of faith, or a sense of unworthiness to be the recipient of all God has for me, or maybe plain and simple fear. Whatever it is, I want it gone.

What about you? What is it that hinders you from all that God longs to do in you and through you? Do you feel like you are always "on the verge" of something where God's purposes and plans for your life are concerned? Do you long to press past the "verge" and dive head-first into the living, breathing, life-altering move of God in you, on you, all over you, and through you - and all that goes with it? Are you craving more?

Me, too. So, what do we do now? I don't exactly know, but it is probably something different for you than it is for me. Whatever it is, let's ask God to reveal it, then let's do it! That sounds simple enough, doesn't it? Can it really be that easy? Have we (I'm speaking primarily to myself here) really made things so stinking complicated and involved that we have missed the obvious - pray and obey? Ummm, next question, please.

Seriously, though, I'm ready to get on with whatever comes next. I'm thinking along the lines of some strategically placed dynamite and blasting this "limiting border" to smithereens. You in?

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more
than all we ask or imagine, according to His power
that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church
and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations,
for ever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21