Worship Him! How to Please God!

Hi Friends,

Today we will learn more about:

• Psalm 147:11, John 4:23
• The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
• This Week's Schedule & Give-Away News

"Because of His love God had already decided that through Jesus Christ He would make us His children--this was His pleasure and purpose."

Last week we learned from Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life, "Bringing enjoyment to God, living for His pleasure, is the first purpose of life." 

I say bringing enjoyment to God is all about intention.  How can we please Him?  What can we do?  Do you know that Psalm 147:11(CEV) states, "The Lord is pleased only with those who worship Him and trust His love."
                       
Bringing pleasure to the Lord is called WORSHIP!  And, this is the part that really caught my attention, and really made me happy...  Anything we do that pleases Him-- is and act of worship!  All this time, I thought worship was the singing part of our service, or when we sing in praise to Him.  It's not. Well, it is not the only part.  It is EVERY part of a service.  It is the sermon, the reading, the Scriptures, tithing, prayer, Baptism, candles, healing, you name it!  All of these things bring pleasure to the Lord...all of these things are a form of worship.  Great, isn't it?

And, we are all capable of worshipping Him...in one form or another.  Mr. Warren's book states this:  "Anthropologists have noted that worship is a universal urge, hard-wired by God into the very fiber of our being---an inbuilt need to connect with God.  The reason God made us with this desire is that he desires worshipers!"  That's us!

"Jesus says, The Father seeks worshipers."  John 4:23

That says it loud and clear, doesn't it?  Can you think of ways, besides those listed, when you worship?  It could even be through card-making, if your heart is on pleasing Him! (One of our favorites!)  It could be through raising children.  It could be by serving others.  Or, it could be singing.  How do you worship the Lord?  How about sharing a way in the comment section? I'd love to hear it.  When do you worship Him?  While washing dishes, in the shower, on a walk, only in church?

Here's the BIG PART...  Worship is a lifestyle. 

I wish I could hear your reactions right now.  What would you take out of your lifestyle?  Swearing? Smoking? Using the TV as a babysitter?  What would you want to add to your lifestyle?  Vegetables?  More "thank yous" and "good jobs" to the children? One way in which I worship is to thank Him through the day.  It is usually for what I consider the "little" things.  The birds that land on our feeders.  A breeze that lifts the humidity for a moment. I also love to love my husband and family and friends as much as I possibly can.  Things like that.  I also like to take any song... and change the words to it into a prayer for people on my prayer list.  Did you know that you may have been lifted up to the Lord from a tune from rock or country music?  I still remember and like the music...I change the words.  What will you add?  What will you change?

A little more.  This is really interesting.

When we do use the word worship to refer to music that we raise up to Him to Glorify Him...there is no particular style that is truly called "worship music."  In fact, according to The Purpose Driven Life, worship was around way before music. Most of us will think of a certain style of music when we think of "worship music."  Some of us call it "praise music."  Someone may say, "First we sang a hymn, then a praise and worship song." Worship music has nothing to do with the volume of the music or the speed of the music.  God loves all types of music because He invented it!  We may not like all of the different styles of music...but He does!  It is more about the intention.  "If it is offered to God in spirit and truth, it is an act of worship", states Mr. Warren.  And, don't worry about a certain style of music not being Biblical. There aren't any musical notes anywhere in the Bible. 

Another shocker...there is no music called, "Christian Music."  There are Christian lyrics.  It's the words that make a song sacred, not the number of beats or instruments used in it.  The music is always, "Music to His ears!"  The words, may be another thing all together!  That is why I can say that I can worship Him with the tune from ABC Song.  (Which is also the tune to Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, and a couple other songs!)

It is all about your intentions.

More on how we can please Him next week.  More from The Purpose Driven Life also.  We are still in Chapter 8.  I can't wait to share more with you!  Don't forget to share how you worship in the comment section, if you don't mind.  Oh, if you do that before Tuesday 8pm, it will qualify you for the "Card of the Week" Random Drawing on Wednesday!  I will also be sharing my scrapbook page as part of the ABC Scriptural Study that Patter Cross is leading.  (I told you about it on Wednesday, January 5th's post.) It is amazing. She is such a fabulous and inspiring leader and writer.  I made it into my art room finally!

This Friday promises to be very interesting and thought provoking.  We welcome Michele G. to the He IS Able blog.  Michele will be sharing her first segment  of "Precious Women of God--This Includes You!" This is the
He IS Able Bible Study with a Twist!  I can't wait for you to read what Michele has prepared for you!

Friday is also the last day to qualify for the He IS Able 6 Month Anniversary Give-Away! It is super easy to qualify...simply answer one or both of the following questions in the comment section...and check the side-bar for other details including prizes!

Tell of one thing you have learned or done differently because of this blog.
Easy Peasy!  There are some great prizes waiting for the person who leaves the comment that will be randomly drawn.  It does need to be a comment that answers one or both of these questions.  You are encouraged to leave other comments also, but they will not count towards the Give-Away!

I hope your week is full of worship!  I hope you make conscious decisions
to make your life please Him in all that you do.  That's what I will be working on doing.  I hope you will post our badge, located on the top of the sidebar, on your blog.  Just copy and paste it!  If you do so, please let me know your blog URL, and your mailing address, and I will be happy to send you a card to use from the He IS Able blog!  God Bless!

He IS Able,
Traci S.