Living Life to It's Fullest - My Act of Worship

I meant to get a blog posted, but as some would say, "I had too many irons in the fire." Many things have occupied my time these past two weeks,  but now I am back, and have caught up reading my friends blogs. Today, I want to respond to my son's blog that deals with commercialism, materialism and religious holidays. It is sad that so many of our holidays especially those observed for religious purposes are seen as Hallmark holidays, a means for commercial promotion. However, I do not believe we can just blame government for the loss of the true meaning of our holidays and the reason for their observance. How do I see holidays? I see holidays as events that I may or may not participate in based on my choosing. 

However, I like celebrating anytime. I will tell you up front that I am about living life to its fullest, and holidays just give me more reason to celebrate.   Being in community is very special to me, and we (Joey and me) spend many days before each holiday putting our house in order just for that purpose. I do many things to "set the stage" for everything I do, as a sister blogger, Robin, would say. Cleaning and putting up the old and taking out the new. I love decorating and setting the stage for the holidays, all holidays. We intentionally make room for family, neighbors, church family and anyone else we can con into our space. We take every opportunity to speak into others lives the very thing that brings meaning into our lives, Jehovah God, and his son, Jesus Christ. You cannot come into our space and not be presented with the fact that God and Jesus are a part of our lives.  That is my worship to God. Let me explain.

What constitutes worship?

1. We are made to WORSHIP God and God alone. Romans 12:1 tells us to "Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship." How do we do this? We deny ourselves and put God first. This calls for a disciplined, self-denial lifestyle. I am not saying that I am a worship is perfect in God's eyes but my heart's desire is to please him.

2. We are to LOVE God, and God alone. When it comes down to what really matters with God, Matthew 27:37-40, the bottom line is this, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart....This is the first and greatest commandment..." Mark 12:30 says to, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, with all your strength." 

 

3. We are to LIVE for Christ and Christ alone? " The Bible also tells us that, "The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives.' Psalms 37:23 How often have you just sat and watched your child at play, even as it slept. Did your child have to grow into a mature adult before it could bring you pleasure. Hardly not. With the exception of sin, God planned us and enjoys watching everything we do.

4.  We are to LOVE others, and without love our worship is void? "...A second is equally important (to loving God): Love your neighbor as yourself. All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments." Matthew 22:37-40  Paul explains this by saying, in 1 Cor.13:3, "No matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love. 

With this being said, I use everything God has given me to worship him and to love Him and others. So the heart of the matter is that if we are not intentional about how we worship, we just might wind up worshiping our material things, our children, our churches, our money, our clothes,our country, etc.  By being intentional we can accomplish good in the midst of the world's goal of commercialism and materialism, or even in its goal to stamp out any remembrance of God or Jesus Christ. 

PS -  Yes, I worship God on Sunday mornings as most other Christians do, but I do not limit my worship to cooperative worship.

I serve a Risen Savior. He is not dead, He is Alive. I am alive in and through him and I am going to live life to it's fullest. This is my act of worship. How do you worship God other than Sunday morning worship?