worship is never canceled

In times when we can't go to church, we must remember: we are the church. That may offer little comfort to those who are needing to get to the building where they get their spiritual fill-up for the week, but let's talk about it for real: the church building is the church building because Christians gather in it, right? So, we could then say that wherever we gather, church is... or church is because we gather... because we bring the church with us... because we are the church. So the good news is that Sunday morning feel-good-fill-up you look forward to all week long, you can get it any time you want.

So now that we agree we are the church, let's talk about how we conduct our worship service. We all worship differently... that's the stuff denominations are built on... but for the most part we:

• Pray
• Praise
• Worship
• Study

all of these things we can do outside of the church building and even... in our own homes.

PRAY  We pray all the time, right? I mean we "pray without ceasing." Okay, maybe we don't but we can. For me, prayer is conversation. I speak. I listen. I speak. I listen. I listen. I listen. I speak. Sometimes my prayer time starts with, "I'm troubled and I'm not sure why but I'm talking to You because I know that You know." These days my conversation usually starts while watching or reading the news (Father, send your help to those in need) and sometimes in conversation I find out that I am the help He sent. For the purpose of our worship service, though, maybe our prayer would be an invitation to spend this set apart time together. Something like: "Father, I am so glad You're here with me always. That You've sent me a comforter and that You will never leave me or forsake me. I want to spend some time with You right now. I set this time apart for You."

PRAISE  What's your favorite praise song? Sing that. Then, meditate on the words and sing it again. Then talk to the Father (yup, we're praying again) about His goodness. Praise is an expression of admiration. One of my favorite praise songs says:
            Lord, You are more precious than silver.
           Lord, You are more costly than gold.
          Lord, You are more beautiful than diamonds, and
          Nothing I desire compares with You.
When I sing this it reminds me how great our God is and it humbles me to know that He, being all that He is, wants to hear from me. So after I sing and meditate I enter into a place of humble gratitude which puts me in the position of Worship.

WORSHIP   Worship comes from a place of humility, love and reverence. It's a You're so big and I'm so small experience. It's a Your way is the way experience. It's a surrender experience. Worship aligns your spirit with The Spirit. I like to enter into worship in song. Sometimes I'll sing:
          As the deer panted for the water so my soul longeth after thee.
          You alone are my heart's desire and I long to worship you.
          You alone are my strength, my shield. To You alone does my spirit yield.
          You alone are my heart's desire and I long to worship you.
It is during this time that I feel the world peel away from me in layers as I stand in the presence of truth and we continue to converse (pray) and I listen intently for what is His will for my life... which puts me in position to Study.

STUDY    The Word of God is as true and relevant today as it was the moment it was written. Spending time studying the Word of God is the most productive way to spend your time. All the keys to unlock the success for your life are in there. I like to use a study guide that presents a new scripture every day to read and then meditate on. Before I read, in conversation (prayer) I ask God to make evident to me how what I am reading applies to my life. Then I read for understanding (as opposed to reading for completion... you know when you read something just so you can say you read it) then I meditate on it. Many times I find answers to questions or dilemmas I've been wrestling with through studying a scripture I've already studied. God is good about giving a fresh meaning to something we thought we already knew.

When worship service is over, I feel refreshed, renewed and have a deeper connection to my purpose. Hopefully, that's how you feel when you leave your church house. I'm just saying that feeling, that filling up of the gas tank for your soul, can happen anywhere and anytime God is present. And that, family, is all the time.

I offer this for your consideration because I miss congregating with the beautiful people who gather at my church building but I know that no matter the situation God Is and He is always available for conversation. So, until we gather again, may we continue to have Worship Service.

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