Expression of Worship

A.W. Tozer writes in his work The Pursuit of God,

Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshipers [meeting] together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become 'unity' conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.”

This vivid illustration demonstrates how life lived in worship to God draws us closer in unity to Him and to others.

Believers express their worship for Christ differently. A few examples of a believer's expression of worship is illustrated through prayer, singing songs of praise, and playing songs of worship. The concept behind worship demonstrates the manner to which one communicates their desires and passions to the Lord.

The essence of worship is a beautiful thing. God desires for us to give our entire selves over to Him in praise. I reflect on passages found in the Old Testament where there are numerous examples mentioned of the people of God returning to Him and praising Him in and through all circumstances. Examples include King David, Job, Esther, and Hannah. These stories if anything point to the love each one of them had to follow and live for Christ.

Let us not lose sight of our expressions of worship. We become most open to God when we praise Him and when we offer our lives completely to Him.

Mikaela Nicole

Change in Seasons

There is a time for everything. These words are referenced several times throughout the book of Ecclesiastes.

Today I stepped outside and the weather was beautiful, then within a few hours, the weather had turned frigid cold again. It was as if winter had teased me. The icy breeze began to crawl down my back and crack my already dried out hands.

There truly is nothing quite like change, even when the change lasts briefly only for a few hours. As you attempt to follow my train of thought, let me demonstrate how I like to relate life and its changes to seasons.

Life has periods of contentment and happiness and it also has periods of sorrow and solitude. However contrary these emotions may be to one another, there are positive aspects to each one. Just look outside your window and observe the differences between what the outdoors looks like in the spring and how it appears in the winter.

“April showers, bring May flowers.” It is during spring, we see the ground underneath and the trees surrounding us turn into blossom. Then fast forward six months and once again life is at a standstill. Life is frozen; it is silent, peaceful, and it is waiting patiently.

During the moments of standstill and silence, I find myself looking back on events and circumstances doing my best to learn from the situations so when the time comes I can make the changes necessary.

I love reflecting on my life and recalling several memories from my childhood. My mind travels back in time to when I lived in Colombia. The beautiful capital Bogotá is a city engulfed by the Andes Mountains. Unlike typical locations in the United States, the weather does not change much in Bogotá. Never to fail it rains most days in the morning and then by around one or two in the afternoon the sun once again begins to brilliantly shine outside.

I remember experiencing an earthquake in January 1999 that struck around a 6.0 on the Ritter Scale, in a city called Armenia. That quake took so many lives and it effects were devastating. It was a sudden, unexpected change, lasting for only a few minutes as the ground shook fervently underneath me, and I saw the classroom chalkboard fly across the room. In years following, many groups from the capital went to the city to help with reconstruction and bring about change to become better prepared for unexpected changes.

Change, therefore can be good, no matter how painful it may also be. It may not be easy and it may not be exactly what we wished for, but it is rewarding to know that the Lord is there with us each step of the way. I am comforted knowing the Lord has always been with me and has remained constant, never changing, and always loving.

Hope those of you reading this feel loved at whatever stage in life you are at. Remember there is good to each season of life.

Mikaela Nicole