Created things and worship

On this adventurous journey called life, I've recently been led down a path of learning.  I'm learning things I thought I already knew, which is a good lesson in itself. 

I'm learning a lot about worship.  I'm not talking about standing in church and singing songs of praise (though that clearly can be a form of worship).  I'm talking about the worship Jesus described to the Samaritan woman at the well, worshipping in spirit and in truth.  I'm talking about the kind of worship Paul described in Romans, spiritual acts of worship with our bodies. 

I've been spending some time this week in Winona, MN.  Winona is a beautiful city situated between the bluffs and the Mississippi River.  There is a beautiful park by a lake, which faces the bluffs.  It's one of my favorite places to hang out, and one of those special places where I sense God's presence. 

Today I committed to spending one hour in silence at this park to hear from God and write down whatever came to my mind.  Here is part of what I recorded today:

The lake is a place of worship. Everything here worships God. The wildflowers bow down before His majesty. Tree branches and waves dance to the music of the wind. The birds sing under the care of their God.


People come here to refresh body and mind in the presence of His created beauty. They may think of this place as an escape, but I prefer to see it as a place to run to.

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirst for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” (Psalm 42:1-2)

I watch the ducks on the water and ponder how similar we are. To most people, I probably appear to be calm and in control. In reality, I’m paddling like a maniac to keep my head above water. Thankfully, like the duck, my Father cares for me. He loves me with an undeniable, reckless, faithful kind of love. He keeps me afloat.

What can keep me from worshipping Him with all my heart, mind, and strength? Only me. Oh sure, I can blame people and demons, but the truth is, it’s only me that gets in the way. My selfish spirit, my narcissistic focus, my sinful nature. The old me.

“What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24-25)

God's faithfulness never disappoints

Funny how art imitates life.  Tonight I was watching an episode of "Frasier."  The main character, Frasier Crane, talked about how you not only love your children, but you fall in love with your children.  How true.

And you don't even realize how much you are in love with your children until they leave you.  I remember Jeremy moving away to go to college.  I dreaded the summer weeks when Kelsey would leave for camp.  And this week, Emma is spending time with her grandmother.  Absence definitely makes the heart grow fonder.

Remember how, when you were in love with someone, you wanted nothing more than for them to be happy?  How you loved to make them smile?  Emma sent me a picture message tonight, via the cell phone, of her smiling.  How could I ask for anything more in life?  :)

I remember this summer just three years ago.  My father had passed away a few months before, as well as a  beloved aunt and uncle and a nephew.  My dog, just 4 years old, was sick with terminal cancer.  No one in this house was smiling.  I clung to this Scripture with all my heart:  "Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring up."  (Psalm 71:20)

Tonight was  a reminder of the faithfulness of God.  He has restored my life from the depths.  "I will praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel.  My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you- I, whom you have redeemed."  (Psalm 71:22-23)    

At least I'm not crazy

It started with a devotional in the morning:

"I am life and light in abundance.  As you spend time "soaking" in My Presence, you are energized and lightened.  Through communing with Me, you transfer your heavy burdens to My strong shoulders.  By gazing at Me, you gain My perspective on your life.  This time alone with Me is essential for unscrambling your thoughts and smoothing out the day before you.  Be willing to fight for this precious time with Me. " (from "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young)

A little later, during a beautiful morning walk with the dog, I began meditating on a time in my life when God saved me from a dangerous, tempting situation, one I had placed myself in.  I began to recall other times in my life when God had rescued me and protected me from consequences I should have suffered.  I was in awe of His mercy.

Then I began to wonder at the things He has given me that I do not deserve.  Family, friends, health, generous provision of every sort.  I earned none of it, and in light of my previous thoughts, I deserved the opposite.  I was in the grasp of His love, and there is no better place to be.

I went about my day and my to-do list, and as the day wore on, frustrations began to mount.  People and computers and animals...none of them were conforming to the plans I had for my day.  I found myself snapping unfairly at loved ones, when words from the devotional floated back into my brain: "transfer your heavy burdens", "unscrambling your thoughts and smoothing out the day", "be willing to fight for this".

Looking at my never-ending list of chores, it seemed crazy to take more time away from work.  Nothing would ever get done!  But I decided to fight.  I found the only sure room in the house to be quiet (bathroom) and hid myself away.  I began to pray and pour out all my irritations and worries, and I was amazed at how many there were!  No wonder my mind was so muddled and unable to accomplish anything!  When I had finished, I didn't have any answers.  I felt better though.  Yet, I was still not ready to go "back out there."

I reached over and picked up one of my favorite books, "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan, which I'm reading for the third time.  I picked up where I had left off, and this is what it said:  "If one person "wastes" away his day by spending hours connecting with God, and the other person believes he is too busy or has better things to do than worship the Creator and Sustainer, who is the crazy one?"

If anyone in my family happened to be walking past the bathroom at that point, they heard me laugh out loud.  As if I hadn't realized the fullness of His love that morning, I was now being treated to a combination of blessing and humor from the God of the universe.  We will always be blessed by coming into His presence.

God, thank you!  At least I know I'm not crazy!