There is a quote by John Piper in my Sunday School lesson which gives insight into the essence of worship.
Just what is true inner worship? John Piper puts it like this: "The inner essence of worship is to know God truly and then respond from the heart to that knowledge by valuing God, treasuring God, prizing God, enjoying God, and being satisfied with God above all earthly things."
Most would ask, "What's in it for me?" John Piper tells us that we gain "deep, restful, joyful satisfaction in God which overflows in demonstrable acts."
Then the question could be, "What's in it for God? Piper says that these demonstrable acts overflow into "acts of praise from the lips and demonstrable acts of love in serving others for the sake of Christ."
So, what is in it for others? I would answer a demonstration of our loving service to them.
Oh Lord!
I lift my hands in praise.
My hearts flutters within your presence.
I value your inner dwelling,
treasure your faithful promises,
prize my very life and salvation.
I value your peaceful tranquility.
treasure the blessings you provide.
prize my waking healthy moments.
I value your Word,
treasure your Walk with me daily.
prize my Heavenly protection.
I lift my hands in praise,
Thanking you for your love,
for the love of friends and family,
for opportunities to share You.
AMEN
Showing posts with label Sunday School. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sunday School. Show all posts
Sunday, February 23, 2020
Sunday, June 17, 2018
Go Ye!
Humor and true story! 😅
It was a Saturday night and four couples had gotten together to go out to eat and enjoy a few hours of hours of social time. They had agreed to meet at a restaurant which specialized in grilled steaks and seafood. The restaurant was full when they arrived. After waiting for a table to be cleared, they were finally seated. The table just so happened to be located in the center of the restaurant where they were readily seen and heard by most of the people at the other tables. It didn’t take long for the couples to have the full attention of most of the patrons. They were all laughing and having a good time with one humorous story after another being told. During one of the comical jokes going around the table, one of the men in the group was in the middle of an uncontrollable laughing spell when he suddenly had to sneeze. The sneeze came on so quickly he did not have time to cover his mouth, and as he sneezed, his top front teeth propelled out of his mouth and landed in the middle of the lady’s lap sitting next to him. She was so taken by surprise that she immediately hollered out, “Oh! No! Your teeth are in my lap!” She made no effort to touch or remove them and by that time all those in the restaurant looked at the group and everyone was laughing as the man quickly reached over and retrieved his teeth.
I can usually find humor in any embarrassing situation as long as the embarrassment is not on me. I suppose that why it is so hard to follow the whispering of the Lord when I suddenly feel an urge to tell someone I meet about Jesus, to openly bring up the topic of my feelings and love for Jesus, or to render a kind action when it is unknown what will be the outcome? Yet Jesus said, "Go, ye therefore..."
In our Sunday School lesson today, the writer wrote, "God equips us, positions us, and calls us to live out our faith in Him as we invest the time, energy, and resources He has given us to make Him known." This means that I must prepare, listen, and be alert in order to glorify God. I need to be courageous in my faith, regardless of possible embarrassment.
It was a Saturday night and four couples had gotten together to go out to eat and enjoy a few hours of hours of social time. They had agreed to meet at a restaurant which specialized in grilled steaks and seafood. The restaurant was full when they arrived. After waiting for a table to be cleared, they were finally seated. The table just so happened to be located in the center of the restaurant where they were readily seen and heard by most of the people at the other tables. It didn’t take long for the couples to have the full attention of most of the patrons. They were all laughing and having a good time with one humorous story after another being told. During one of the comical jokes going around the table, one of the men in the group was in the middle of an uncontrollable laughing spell when he suddenly had to sneeze. The sneeze came on so quickly he did not have time to cover his mouth, and as he sneezed, his top front teeth propelled out of his mouth and landed in the middle of the lady’s lap sitting next to him. She was so taken by surprise that she immediately hollered out, “Oh! No! Your teeth are in my lap!” She made no effort to touch or remove them and by that time all those in the restaurant looked at the group and everyone was laughing as the man quickly reached over and retrieved his teeth.
I can usually find humor in any embarrassing situation as long as the embarrassment is not on me. I suppose that why it is so hard to follow the whispering of the Lord when I suddenly feel an urge to tell someone I meet about Jesus, to openly bring up the topic of my feelings and love for Jesus, or to render a kind action when it is unknown what will be the outcome? Yet Jesus said, "Go, ye therefore..."
In our Sunday School lesson today, the writer wrote, "God equips us, positions us, and calls us to live out our faith in Him as we invest the time, energy, and resources He has given us to make Him known." This means that I must prepare, listen, and be alert in order to glorify God. I need to be courageous in my faith, regardless of possible embarrassment.
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