We are praying for a great turnout! Tell your friends, post this in your office and church, and come for a great night of Southern Gospel music, fellowship, and fun! :)

























(UPDATE: This event was a great success! Thanks to everyone who helped out and thanks to each of you who came! We had a great time worshiping our Lord in song and testimony!)

I was blessed and encouraged this morning by a devotional I am considering purchasing to take with me to Namibia. It was suggested by a missionary who is already serving there. Although the weight of what the author is saying is heavy regarding our response to true worship, it comforted me because at times the choices I must make to worship and follow Him above any other are difficult for this feeble body of flesh. The comfort came from being reminded that when I do make those tough decisions, and lay myself and all I seemingly have at the altar, I am doing it so that I may truly worship the Name Above All Names. I claim and desire to follow God despite the costs, so when these decisions come I should have a peace about laying it all at His feet in surrender--knowing that His heart desires exactly this kind of worship. I love the part at the end where it challenges us to say to Him, “I am Yours. Do with me as You will. I give up my right to govern myself, because You are far more worthy to do it, and You will never do me harm. I exist for Your purposes, and for Yours alone.” Can we really say that and mean it? We must!--if true worship is what we desperately seek. May we be encouraged that when we honor God in this way, we are loving Him the way He deserves. And that makes every sacrifice worth the cost.


Wise Worship
-Chris Tiegreen, One Year Walk With God

I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your
bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this
is your spiritual act of worship. ROMANS 12:1

IN WORD Wisdom begins with basing one’s life on
reality. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom”
(Proverbs 9:10). Why? Because fear of the Lord is based on
a true understanding of who we really are and who God
really is. But there is a next step. Wisdom doesn’t begin and
end with fear; it continues into worship. When we really
understand who God is, the natural response is to offer
Him whatever we can get our hands on—and all we have
is ourselves.

All of those in the Bible who encountered the living
God in His glory fell on their face in worship. Like Isaiah,
they would offer themselves (Isaiah 6:8). If we have not yet
gotten to that point of laying ourselves on the altar before
Him—without reservation—we have not yet encountered
the living God. His glory prompts sacrifice. It is the only
wise, intelligent, reasonable response to the magnitude of
His goodness.

IN DEED We often think of worship as words and songs
that come out of our mouths. It is so much more. It is a
lifestyle, a sacrificial way of living that acknowledges every
moment of every day that there is One far more worthy
of our allegiance than ourselves. When His interests consistently
supersede ours, and we act accordingly, we are
worshiping.

Imagine yourself in the throne room of God. See the
altar at His feet. Get on it. Lay yourself out before Him and
say to Him: “I am Yours. Do with me as You will. I give up
my right to govern myself, because You are far more worthy
to do it, and You will never do me harm. I exist for Your
purposes, and for Yours alone.” Do this every morning, then
live out your day mindful of whose you are. In light of who
He is, this is true worship. And true worship is the wisest
thing we can do.

Some days you just don't feel like singing. Though they are especially rare for me, today was one of those days.

I had no intention to sing in the choir during the service tonight. I wasn't feeling it and I certainly didn't want to fake it. Well, tonight our choir--small on a good day--was sparse. Reluctantly, I marched up there in submission, late, and a second alto in tow.

Certainly the same songs were on the schedule regardless of if I'd been in the choir loft or the pew--but it's just especially ironic that the encouragement I needed for today--a day when even a joyful whistle would have had to pry its way out of my lips--came from a song.

Our second song, "Count Your Blessings", was a hymn I'd heard and sung dozens of times before. I'd never really noticed the words before, especially those within the verses. As I was looking at the lyrics on the screen in the back, the words seemingly flew out and smacked me on the face.

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be disheartened, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Those verses pegged my feelings today pretty well... discouraged, burdened, feeling overwhelmed with my load and what God calls me to do at times, disheartened, in need of comfort... So count my blessings, huh? I could do that. By God's grace I've never really been one to allow myself to stay down in the dumps for too long. I'm always anxious to look at the bright side of things. I resolved that as my own therapy for the load I felt today--and one that's likely to stay on me for a time--I would count my blessings, going so far as to write down several (and even share them with you!). So here goes (in no particular order)...

Blessing #1: I have a family who loves me. That real, rare, unconditional kind of love.

Blessings #2-5: I have a roof over my head, food on the table, and a warm bed to sleep in. More than that, I have learned not to take any of those things for granted--as I've met people along my journey who have lacked all three.

Blessing #6: I have a number of friends who I can call on for encouragement, a laugh, a hug, PRAYER... I even have a friend I called on when my mom's co-workers forgot her birthday, I was 600 miles away, and this friend gladly delivered her a bouquet of flowers and a card!

Blessing #7-8: I have a church I can worship in freely with no threat of authorities coming in the doors and arresting, beating, or even killing us. Furthermore, my church is an enclosed building with A/C in the summer and heat in the winter--not that those are needed to "have church", but I've worshiped in places where the congregation would have appreciated those luxuries... especially on these cold and rainy days.

Blessing #9: I have had the opportunity to travel to some incredible places! Many times, more or all of the trip was paid for by people who love me... even better! :)

Blessing #10: God has given me talents as well as wonderful and rewarding opportunities to use them (i.e. writing, singing, photography, jewelry making, and more).

Blessing #11: God has used me for the most amazing opportunity a person could ever experience--leading a lost soul to Christ!

Blessing #12: I am blessed daily by the variety of ways God is continually providing me with the support I need for my upcoming work in Africa.

Blessing #13-14: I have a personal relationship with a God (THE God) who loves me, listens to me, cares for my needs great and small, and desires to give me a full and abundant life. And when the bumps come, He will never leave me. He is my comfort.

Blessing #15: I have money in the bank, in savings, in investments, even in a piggy bank or two!

Blessing #16-17: I have a closet full of clothes for every season. I have extra blankets for those cold wintry nights like tonight.

Blessing #18: I have a car that runs and gets me comfortably from point A to point B. The story of how that car was acquired is definitely a special one.

Blessing #19-20: I have good health and LIFE!

And if I'm granted the blessing of tomorrow, I can revel in all of these blessings and more once again! :) Feel free to share your own with me. I'm happy to praise God with you for all that He's given and done in your life. It is my prayer that even when the storms come, we can still see His loving hand guiding and protecting us. And even if any of these physical blessings in my life get stripped away, I know He will always provide exactly what I need. That realization is one of the greatest blessings of all...