Starting with two of the songs we sang, "All Creatures of Our God and King" and "In the Garden". Both reminded me that Jesus is everywhere and in everything. His praises are sung by sun and moon, water and fire, as well as humans and angels. When the sun shines it is praising God. When the water flows it too is fulfilling it's purpose and making music to it's Creator. When the breeze blows, the clouds sail....from birdsong to a roaring lion, from the songs sung in our churches to the choruses echoing the halls of heaven....all give praise to the One who made them, who loves them. It's a wonderfully diverse world and the Lord gets praise from all of it. Only we as humans get to decide whether or not to join in this worship song.
The next song, "In the Garden". reminded me that I need to stop and take time to listen to Jesus. He has something to say, and He wants to spend peaceful, quiet time together so we can commune. Sometimes it gets hard to take that time, but it is so important to my life. And I do love those sweet moments together, it's hard to go out from them into the hard world.
Our sermon got me thinking of the Holy Spirit and the simple way we are to live in Him and let Him live through us. Let the gifts He gives us shine through us. Something else caught my attention as well, and it's funny as this comes on the heels of my Mom's journal entries on church. The simpleness of the early church....they devoted themselves to study, fellowship, the Lord's table and worship. What a wonderful formula for our churches, learn God's Word, be together, share in communion remembrance, pray and worship as one. It's funny how God just makes everything so much simpler.
Praising, spending time, living under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, study, fellowship, communion, worship, and prayer....these are the the Lord's simple guidelines for a successful Christian life. And as we spoke about in Bible study that morning, we may not be able to obtain perfection in life, in our love for the Lord or in our behavior, but if we keep going forward in these things, Christ will do what we cannot do. And that brings me to another song on the radio as I drove home from church....Toby Mac's "Beyond Me". This simple perfection is beyond me but it spurs me closer to the Lord and reminds me to press on.
Acts 2:46
46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity
Philippians 3:14
14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
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