Prestoncrest Internet Ministry

 

March 16, 2008

We took a few days off this week and went down to the Big Thicket National Preserve just north of Beaumont, Texas. It was very nice to get away for a couple of days and get out into nature, which my family loves to do. We hiked on many of the trails there and went canoeing on one of their local rivers. Being out in the natural world always reminds me of God and I easily see his power through creation. While hiking, I had an interesting thought that I want to share with you today.

The beauty of God’s creation always causes me to worship him. Often I sing or whistle a tune of praise or pray as I walk. This week as I was praying, I realized that my worship, when I am outside, is a very different type of worship that when I am in church. Why is that? I think that my upbringing has trained me to behave in a certain way while I am in church and to be honest, it affects my worship differently. It is always controlled, planned, and organized. I follow the service and do what I am supposed to do at the right time. I sing when we sing, pray when we pray, listen during the sermon, and so forth. All good things, right? Those are good things, but I realized what I am missing, what I “experience” when I am outside; that is a true response to God in my worship.

In being controlled during my “church” worship, I usually don’t allow God, through the Holy Spirit, to touch me as well. While God is truly the audience of our worship, is it alright if we are also moved by that experience. In fact, I think God wants that to take place. He responds to our worship and wants us to feel that response. We in turn, amplify our worship in response to him. That circle of response feeds itself, powered by the Spirit. So the challenge for me is to truly seek God in my worship, whether I am out on a trail or in the church building, and reach out to touch Him and allow Him to touch me as well. I share that challenge with you as well. Really search for God in your worship. Not only will God be pleased with your worship, you will be blessed by it as well.

Thanks for letting me share with you this morning. In the last few weeks, I have received some amazing responses for you as you have shared your experiences with me. They have been powerful and touching to me as well. Please, continue to share your thoughts and experiences. How does the world touch you so that you can only respond in worship to God? Email me back with your stories or if you are comfortable, add you comments below so that others can benefit from you thoughts as I have.

You may find the FOTFD online here.

Now join me as we “Focus on the First Day.”

God bless,
Mike

One song quickly jumped into my head as I was hiking this week, responding to the beauty of God’s creation in praise to Him. The song is called “I Choose Now” by Anthony Evans, who is one of my favorite artists. It talks about how we can choose to worship God immediately, no matter the circumstances. Let the lyrics and music touch you. Both are available below.

I don’t want tragedy to be the only
Thing that leads me to your throne
With every moment of my life
With pain or joy I will cry
You are God alone
You’ve given me the choice to kneel or walk away
I’ve struggled with surrender long enough to say

I choose now
To be humbled in your presence
I choose now
To fall on my face
Cause one day
Every knee will bow but Jesus
I choose now.

 - I Choose Now – Anthony Evans

Sermon

“Action & Agony” (Bob Chisholm)
Mark 14:1-71; Luke 23:32-43

If the story of Jesus’ final week were a TV show, Thursday and Friday would be the part before the last set of commercials where the main character faces the greatest trials and challenges. Obviously, this is no show; and Jesus truly faced the trials in this story we all know so well. Join us to look again at something greater than has ever taken place on TV as Jesus faces the hardest part of His road to Grace and he faces the cross in “Action & Agony.” We will remember His sacrifice and share in our regular memorial of Him in the communion meal.

Go here for more about this series.

Prayer Time

Luke 22:39-44

Jesus’ prayer in the garden is an amazing example of honest communication with God in prayer. Jesus shared the true desire of his heart with his father. He did not want to die on the cross and was planned and he asked God to spare him that experience. If Jesus can share a desire with God that differs from God’s plan, can’t we share anything with God as well? Do so during Prayer Time on Sunday. Then, like Jesus did, surrender your life to God and His will.

Sunday Night

“A New Spirit of Growth” (Bob Chisholm)
Matthew 5:7-8

Bob is leading us through a process taught by Jesus in the Beatitudes. This week, we will build upon the Spirit of Openness that we learned about last week to find “A New Spirit of Growth.” Join us this Sunday evening and experience the New Spirit that awaits you.

Go here for more about this series.

We are encouraged to be a family of believers that choose to come together each week in worship. Come this Sunday with a desire to not just come to church, but come to truly be the church.

This entry was posted on Friday, March 14th, 2008 at 9:24 am and is filed under FOTFD. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.