Two Nights Out

On this cold, rainy, dreary evening, I was out with a dear friend.  We were enjoying our annual January night out.  (Yes, we know it is February but we take what we can get!)  As we always do, we saw an inspiring movie and ended up sitting afterwards at a pub speaking of life, God, and well, more life.

Two nights before this I also enjoyed a time with good friends.  I have become increasingly aware that the blessings of life come in evenings like these.  And it is in these blessed evenings that God is exalted over all as we challenge and encourage each other to live out a life of worship. 

Worship has been a topic for me lately as we are doing a Bible Study at our church on intimacy and worship and also some other reading involving putting God above all.  That means, God above all.  All things, all thoughts, all ideas, all work, all relationships, all hardships, all schedules, all agendas, all goals and all "good works".  I am constantly  reminding myself that my goal in life is to exalt the Holy One.  "That I am not primarily a worker for God; I am first and foremost a lover of God." (Satisfy my Thirsty Soul, by Linda Dillow) 

It challenges me to double check my motives and my heart as to what I do and why I do it.  Is my goal to be invisible so that I might illuminate the power and majesty of God?  Are my words and my works singing out a song of adoration to our Lord?  Do we have a hidden or even maybe a subconscience agenda to lift ourselves up?  This quote hit me as I re-read it today-The true gospel is a call to self-denial. It is not a call to self-fulfillment.--John MacArthur.  Let us strive to have less of us and more of Him.

On this Sunday, this day of worship, I think of those worshiping in Zambia.  The widows in George compound, the fine people at Pastor Johnson's church, and those out in Chongwe village.  I think about how  they worship with such abandon to Him.  How those who have so little can be so filled with joy and so eager to raise their hands to adore the One who gives and takes away.  Oh, that in all circumstances I too may glorify the God of the Universe.




Women In Chongwe Village Worshiping Together