I read in my devotional yesterday about a youth pastor who was struggling. Youth attendance had dropped from 25 down to 14 and he was beginning to feel he needed to resign and find something else to do, rather than ministry, although that is where his heart was. He didn't feel he was effective, that the youth just were not responding. So one Sunday evening, a little before the youth would begin to arrive, he went to the sanctuary and sat at the piano and began playing. He closed his eyes and began singing worship songs to the Lord. Never opening his eyes, he continued through the songs for nearly 45 minutes. When he paused, and opened his eyes, he saw several youth standing in the pews and with lifted hands and tears flowing, were worshipping the Lord. He said he realized that what he needed to teach them was verse by verse the book of Songs of Solomon. The book of Songs of Solomon is a love story, and it tells of God's love for us, if you read into it. The youth group grew by leaps and bounds as they studied it. And it all started with worship.
I find that when I am feeling depression coming on, or when I am angry, or when I am in despair - that if I put on praise and worship music, that the atmosphere around me, and in me, changes. My anger or frustration or depression dispates and I am at peace. I find myself singing along, and sometimes I can't even work if a song comes on that touches my soul. I must stop and just worship.
I usually just ask Alexa "Alexa, play praise and worship", and she does. But I also have my CD player where I can put on many of the praise and worship cds I have. And I still have my cassette player around here somewhere. I'm sitting here thinking of how we started out with vinyl records, to 8 tracks, to cassettesm, to cds, to downloads (which I don't mess with). And now Alexa can just bring up whatever I want her to play. Convenient, for sure. And sometimes, the Holy Spirit will bring a song to mind and you find yourself singing it. I especially love those times. But if I don't listen to the songs to know the words, I can't sing them!
Sharing with our friends at lunch the other day I commented about how I love worship. I can usually sit for a long time and just worship the Lord. I especially love my time alone with God and I have music playing and can worship Him without distractions. However, one of my complaints with some churches is that the worship team doesn't stop. Of course if you say anything, they will tell you, "we let the Holy Spirit tell us when to move on". And that's great. But after going through the chorus 20-25 times, I shut down. My worship comes to a halt and I am done. And I love worship! I feel by that time they are not worshipping; they are performing to get a response. My opinion only, obviously. Maybe it is just me. Maybe my gift of worship is waning. I love to worship. But I can think too that God is saying "move on! It's not about you, it's about ME!"
I love how God not only receives m worship, but He also goes above and beyond in answer to my prayers. Remember my request to Him about the board meeting I was to have on Monday - and it had gotten cancelled? My boss had not spoken to me about why it was cancelled, or anything about it. The only note I saw was that it was 'being pushed out' which to me meant find another date before our August scheduled meeting. Yesterday I was looking to find that hour and a half on all these leaders' calendars... but couldn't find anything until the end of June. I hadn't sent the invite yet.
Well, I had to stop and and work on some travel arrangements for one boss and then I had to tell him to create a profile at our travel company so that I could be his delegate and .. well, it was almost 4PM so I sent him a text and asked him to call me. He wasn't answering my instant messages on Teams. So he calls me and during the course of conversation I asked him why the board meeting had gotten cancelled. He said "because Chuck (the president) had said to cancel it". Ok.... then he explained they weren't quite ready to start these board meetings. I commented about trying to find another date/time and he told me "No, don't reschedule it. We'll start with the next scheduled one in August if we are going to have them." Wow. God not only cancelled THIS one, I don't have to reschedule it. Yay! I don't like taking minutes and especially for a group I don't even know! See how good God is to me?! Scratch that reschedule off my list!
Today I will be finishing up his travel arrangements for a trip to Colorado next month and whatever other meetings I still have to complete. This has been a week of scheduling meetings - many of which were sent to me last week. I think I've done about 30 myself without adding in those I have to work with others on. It's been a busy week, for sure. Productive too, in most respects.
Side thought... I thought my son was going to 'give me up' the other day when he was here. He referred to things I had written in here, without specifically stating where he got the information from. I was waiting for hubby to ask me when did I talk to him. Sigh. Yes, it is nearly a daily thing - but will just say a 'frequent' ask - "have you talked to or text'd or heard from any of the kids (or grandkids) today?" Seriously. And 99% of the time the answer is no. But if something is said and I haven't told him I've talked to them and what about, I get in trouble. After all, if I haven't talked to anyone, and they know stuff, how do they know stuff if I said I haven't talked to them? I just don't think about sharing some things when I do talk with them. And most times, it isn't anything to share, it is just checking in. Not that I'm keeping secrets, for if I share it on here it isn't a secret, right? I just don't want to be told what I can write and what I can't write.
Guess I need to stop and start preparing for my day. I already have several things I want to get completed. So I will leave you with this....
Psalm 29:2 (NKJV): Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness."
Worship... the very act can change the atmosphere of your day. Worship is action; worship is a verb
Blessings!
2 comments:
I'll try to be a little better about those obscure references. Maybe next time I just won't say "I already knew" or whatever. Not trying to sound rude, but I am sure we all don't need/want PT reading blogs and confronting the writers about what they say.... Though, in my case, I could care less if he were to read about things I write (whether about him or not).
No worries. He didn’t say anything. Sorry about lunch today. He wouldn’t relinquish the gift cards back to me. I had suggested while I was gone you and or the youngest could meet him for lunch or dinner, to fill up his time. And by golly, he is determined to do it. I told him this morning I should get to go too since I’m hone - and he turned and walked away without saying a word. Obviously I’m not invited! Altho I bought the gift cards!!
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