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| To be completely lost in worship |
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Want to completely lose yourself in worship on Sundays? Want to totally enjoy God’s glorious presence at church without distraction? Want to sing with utter abandon, deliciously unburdened by self consciousness?
100:4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
The best way to lose yourself on Sunday is to get rid of yourself Monday through Saturday! Give thanks to God and praise his name, two great ways to accomplish just that! By giving thanks in all circumstances (I Thess. 5:18) and continually offering to God a “sacrifice of praise” (Heb. 13:15), you take your eyes off yourself and put them squarely on him, your loving Father!
There are always numerous things for which to be thankful, even on the most difficult of days. Granted, it takes determination! And offering praise to him when you don’t feel like it isn’t easy either! It really is a sacrifice, isn’t it? Nothing takes our eyes off ourselves quite like praising God and giving him thanks!!
This blog may seem like it’s written to you, but it’s really written for me. I just couldn’t keep it to myself! |
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| To add a comment to "To be completely lost in worship" |
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| February 02, 2009 |
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| Amen & amen. |
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| February 02, 2009 |
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Wow brother, I am reading John Piper's book Desiring God {10th Anniversary Expansion}; encapsulated in the intro is: "It is my life. That God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied in Him." pg9.
That also is the goal of the new Bible study I started, anyone can come and just like your blog says....'completely lose yourself in Him'
Blessings bro~ |
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| February 02, 2009 |
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| Thanks Brother for sharing that! |
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| February 02, 2009 |
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Thanks Panda!
You're welcome Jade! =)
Cher, sounds like an awesome book. Please let me know, after you read it, if your life changed as a result. My booklist is so long I can only afford to read life-changers anymore, hehe. |
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| February 02, 2009 |
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It was written for me, just admit it. :), No, Mike, Really, thanks
for sharing. I so needed this tonight , you know my distractions and when
I come to Calvary, It's total focus. Love Ya Much.! |
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| February 02, 2009 |
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You know at the library they have books on tape!! Or CD now!! LOL!!
I'll put away my 8 track!! haha
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| February 02, 2009 |
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| i am so in agreement of all u said amen |
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| February 02, 2009 |
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| Awesome post Mike, and spoken with truth and love... Good advise. this is what we have been learning in Church... it is wonderful when God is trying to teach you something, it just doesn't from one place. It comes from different places... God bless you Mike, thank you for sharing... |
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| February 02, 2009 |
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Terry, I've noticed that! You know, I really enjoy worshiping w/you...you do seem undistracted. I may yet visit New Psalmist, if you thought it was a good idea.
Thanks Marilyn, your comment touched me. Yes, this is offered in humility, it was aimed at me first, as most of what I write is. If I don't learn anything from it, then I wouldn't presume to think that others need it. Isn't it awesome when lessons are reinforced from multiple venues at once? Really is as if God is trying to get something important across...!!
Rebekah, thanks so much sis. Yes, praise and thanks are within our reach! All of us!
Cher, so are you saying, you're actually listening to Piper rather than reading him? lol (C'mon, I know the library doesn't have 8-trk anymore, lol) |
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| February 02, 2009 |
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| It is a good idea. I know you will Love the worship experience, let me know when. |
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| February 02, 2009 |
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| Ok, I'll talk to Laura about it! |
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| February 03, 2009 |
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The other day I was driving and RC SProul was on the radio talking about the hebrew definitions for
"Oh Lord ,Our Lord how majestic is your name "The word Lord in that passage the Psalmist wrote has two different words in Hebrew - the first "Lord " means ultimate soveriegn one,.. the second means savior.
Having said all that if you've been a Christian in the early eighties you ,like me, probably hear Sandi Patti singing that line.Worship ,true worship stays with you for ever.I can remember times I've worshipped decades ago and whole worship services. |
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| February 03, 2009 |
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| Thanks for sharing, this is so true....ouch! |
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| February 03, 2009 |
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Thanks Mike,
I've been trying to recapture that "heart of worship", and am finding it hard to lose the circumstances, or myself, for that matter. Maybe that needs to be the focus of my week. |
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| February 03, 2009 |
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| February 03, 2009 |
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Thanks Cindy!
Bubbles, thumbs up...for God!
Dennis, we all lose it from time to time! Sometimes we even think it'll never return. Truth is, though we may take our focus off God, I doubt he ever takes his off us...in fact I'm sure he doesn't, given Prov. 5:21 (among others) which says "For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths." (emphasis mine!)
King of cheese (Dan), I remember that one! And yes, there have been specific times of worship in my life too that I'll never forget. And there are entire phases of life too when we are able to lose ourselves in Him on Sundays. Right? |
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| February 03, 2009 |
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| Amen!! It's an awesome feeling to be in worship and it seems like you and God are the only ones there! If we (including me) would remember to set our cares away on Sunday and every other time we're with God it would be awesome! |
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| February 03, 2009 |
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In EVERYTHING give Thanks and Praise. There are days that we get up and we just don't feel like praising and thanking our Father because everything seems to be falling apart. It isn't, it just appears that way. It is not what we see, but what we don't see. Our Father is continually at work in our lives and we just have to pull up that wisdom, that second eye(my interpretation) that he has given us and not believe everything that seems so real in this realm.... Everything that he does is for our good, our good. When we get into that mood just realize, He got you up this morning, you're actually moving around, seeing, smelling, feeling life and this is not on your own, it is His grace and mercy that made this possible. PRAISE, WORSHIP Him who gives us life and the ability to go ONE MORE DAY....... Praise Him for giving you the wisdom not to run over the strange person who just dotted in front of you, Praise Him for giving you the strength not to open your mouth when someone is being rude, Praise Him for giving YOU His grace and mercy new each day.... Praise Him for food, clothes, health, strength and hopefully a sane mind(LOL).... PRAISE HIM FOR EVERYTHING little and big... PRAISE HIM at all times (in the car, bathroom, classroom, where ever)... Sunday is not the only time to Worship. I love the Worship time when it is just me and Him..... That's everyday.....
Got a little carried away, but if I didn't PRAISE Him, Worship Him every chance I got, I couldn't survive.... |
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| February 03, 2009 |
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| I know we can't all sit up front at church but it helps me to not be distracted. I have to tune out even others worshipping to center my thoughts on Him. I also know that He desires we fellowship too but when the actual worship part is going on, I have to focus on what He is saying to me and me to Him, sorta like intimacy with my husband (can I say that?) it is just us and no room for others at that time. That is my intimate time with the Lord. When I am in tune with the Lord all week, it is always an awesome time in church Sunday. The Pastor even preaches better....(I have one of the best on the planet) and I totally know it is because I am HEARING him because my heart is ready to. You always bring my thoughts front and center, brother and you are much loved. juanita |
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| February 03, 2009 |
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mstovall - getting carried away in praise of God is a bad thing? Never! lol, thanks for going off in such a good way!
Jesus Freak - "seems like you and God are the only ones there" ...amen, feel the same way! |
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| February 05, 2009 |
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YES!!! there are phases but how great would it be to lose the world and truly gain an overwhelming ,fanatical sense of worship - like when you first got saved. Years of dealing with other Christians, churches , politics, varying opinions and just plain getting your heart stepped on and teeth kicked can leave you feeling like God cares but now YOU don't.
Sometimes we need something to wake us up to get that "Joy" again.
One way is to forget yourself and just start doing for others. There is nothing like helping others to remind you why we're here.
Another great one is to get around baby Chruistians .Sometimes their Joy is contagious.
But youre right Mike, getting lost in worship is the way to clean out the past week.
Dont think about the left or right or who is there just get lost and let go ...it truly is cleansing. |
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| February 05, 2009 |
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"Years of dealing with other Christians, churches , politics, varying opinions and just plain getting your heart stepped on and teeth kicked..."
I'm feelin' some of that, King! And yet.... This morning, I had one of those quiet times you never forget. When God opens your eyes to one of those amazing little truths that just leaves you in complete awe, for days, maybe even weeks, or longer.... It was one of those occasions where not only my heart felt it, but my whole body felt as though jolted by low intensity current.... Awesome. Lord God, my Father, I thank you....you have my heart!
So the blog may actually be inadequate, in the sense that there are specific things you can DO (like King of Cheese says) to encourage thankfulness and a sacrifice of praise. Like serving others, or spending time DAILY in God's word and in prayer. Today God's rich life giving word made it easy for me to give thanks and praise!
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| February 05, 2009 |
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| Love it i would like to post this to my blog for all my friends to see if you don't mind and you sure are right about it seeming to be written to me I think god intended it for me! lol |
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| February 06, 2009 |
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| The Father loves the true worshiper. We must get our focus off of ourselves and put it on Him, and the funny thing is when we do that we gain perspective on all the issues and concerns we have in life. . |
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| February 06, 2009 |
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Permission granted, tojam5!
Bro Todd - you're right, it is a beautiful experience! |
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| February 12, 2009 |
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| Awesome blog Mike and so true |
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