Well, it is 5pm Sunday afternoon here and it is 4am Sunday morning where most of you are. You still have a wonderful day of worship to look forward to. What will you bring to your day of worship? Will you just be looking for what “church” can give you today? You know, one thing I have learned is that my worship doesn’t depend on where I am on Sundays. In Africa, we went to some pretty interesting churches. Many times I couldn’t understand the language. Sometime I couldn’t appreciate the music. However, I could ALWAYS worship. Because worship isn’t dependent on those things. It comes from inside you. Oh, those things can enhance your worship but they can’t take away from it. What will you take to worship today? A clean heart? A spirit ready to praise your Creator? Don’t leave home without those.
Today our worship experience was definitely enhanced. We went to a progressive Baptist church here in the city of Singapore. The church is so big it is held in a pavilion – like a great hall in the superdome. As we got off the subway we were joined by many others making their way to this church service. When I say there were THRONGS of people, I’m not kidding. I’m sure there were at least 5000 people in the service. As we made our way to our seat, the three worship leaders were already leading the crowd in the song “I am a Friend of God!” Behind them were two choirs of young adults and they were dancing and singing as well. Yes, there were bright lights everywhere and many of you would have thought we were at a Chris Rice concert! The air was absolutely electric! We sang praise songs for nearly an hour and it was incredible. One song we sang that I had not heard before was “Divine Exchange”. Oh, my, did it touch my heart. Be sure and look for that one at your local music store.
After the singing, two offerings were taken (at the same time). One was the regular offering and one was a mission offering. A blue bag and a red bag were passed and they were clearly marked.
The regular pastor and his family were traveling today so we heard a guest pastor. He spoke from God’s Word concerning a harmonious family. There were three main points:
1. In the relationship between wives and husbands, switch your mind on to submit and love. (Wives, submit to your husbands. Husbands, love your wife as Christ loved the Church.) You know I always get a little itchy when pastors start preaching about submission. I understand what the word means, but so many times, we, as women, just hear the submit part. That was not true today. He spoke on submission but actually spent more time speaking to the husbands on loving their wives sacrificially. I was pleasantly surprised. (You know, submission is easy when sacrificial love is evident.)
2. In the relationship between children and their parents, turn your emotions on to obey and encourage. (Children, obey your parents for it is fitting in the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children.)
3. In the relationship between families and God, act on your will to remember and restore. Remember God’s Word and HE will restore your family in the last day.
It was a great sermon and the Lord spoke to me so much during it. I was reminded of the blessing my family is to me. I have a husband who loves me sacrificially on every count. Therefore, it is easy to submit to him as the leader of our family. Our children have blessed us by being obedient and continuing to glorify God in all that they do. God’s Word is important to Rick and I as a couple and we have tried to pass that importance on to our children. God has continued to keep our family close and ever searching for His will for our lives.
By the way, after the sermon this morning, many came to know Christ as their personal Savior. PTL!
Well, I didn’t MEAN to preach today. But it was such a great worship service this morning. I hope your worship this morning is heart touching and life changing. The chorus of that song, “Divine Exchange” said this:
I live to worship You
I breathe to worship You.
You are all I need and I will ever seek Your face.
As I worship you
You lead me to the place
To the place of Divine Exchange.
Find that place today and have a great worship experience.
