worship

worship |wr sh p|
noun
the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity : the worship of God | ancestor worship.
ï the acts or rites that make up a formal expression of reverence for a deity; a religious ceremony or ceremonies : the church was opened for public worship.
ï adoration or devotion comparable to religious homage, shown toward a person or principle : Krushchev threw the worship of Stalin overboard.
ï archaic honor given to someone in recognition of their merit.
ï [as title ] ( His/Your Worship) chiefly Brit. used in addressing or referring to an important or high-ranking person, esp. a magistrate or mayor : we were soon joined by His Worship the Mayor.

verb ( -shiped |wrpt|, -shiping |wrp|; also -shipped, -shipping) [ trans. ] show reverence and adoration for (a deity); honor with religious rites : the Maya built jungle pyramids to worship their gods.
ï treat (someone or something) with the reverence and adoration appropriate to a deity : she adores her sons and they worship her.
See note at revere .
ï [ intrans. ] take part in a religious ceremony : he went to the cathedral because he chose to worship in a spiritually inspiring building.
DERIVATIVES
worshiper |wrpr| (also worshipper) noun
ORIGIN Old English weorthscipe [worthiness, acknowledgment of worth] (see worth , -ship ).
(I enjoy reading this)

Worship

Our gift to God but yet is never enough nor could satisfy God.  I hope and pray I don’t sound disheartening but the truth is we cannot because we cannot match up to his righteouness and holiness.  Let me be a little more clear in what I am trying to get across.  It doesnít matter how perfect pitch someone sings, how someone plays the guitar beautifully, someone knowing all the hand motions to a camp fire song, those people closing their eyes because everybody else is, how humble someone says they are and flawless they are.  The simple truth is worship is complete surrendering of ourselves to him.  We are in a state of praise of who God is and what his son did for us on the cross!  When we close our eyes, we close our eyes in humility for who God is. (I, myself cannot explain the reasoning why every individual does it but I can tell you for myself why I do it.)  I close my eyes because I want to humble myself in front of God and his glorious Kingdom. (Luke 18: 9 ñ 14 The Pharisee and the Tax Collector)  And when I conduct musical worship and participate with others I thank God for all that he has done in the lives that are participating in unity through worship and I ask that God will give me the words to speak to them.  I lay down all that I have for God my voice, my guitar and my life.  But enough about myself, I am not the reason about this message.  God calls us to be disciples and make disciples of all nations.  And He calls us to praise and thank his name for all that he has done and will continue to do in our life!  That is what worship is, praise and thankfulness!!  Music IS NOT THE ONLY ACT OF WORSHIP!! (Again I want to make that very clear) We can worship God in so many ways it will make your head spin.  Cleaning, playing, singing, writing, painting, reading, screaming, running, talking, listening, creating (any verb ending in an ìingî)  We just need to focus that whatever we are doing, we are doing it with all our strength, mind and spirit.  We are doing our best for God.  At Echo when we would work around the Mount Hermon campus this was the question we would discuss at days end what are the acts of worship.  Would there be a solid answer? Not all the time.  It would take deep thoughts, ideas, and concepts that provoked discussions.  So I would encourage you to ask the question to yourself or others, What is worship?  We shall continue this journey together.

ìYou shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.î Luke 4:8

Reading Material
Emerging Worship By Dan Kimball

Listening Material
My Savior My God ñ Aaron Shust
Wholly Yours ñ David Crowder Band
Carried to the Table ñ Leeland
Everlasting God ñ Lincoln Brester
Divine Romance ñ Phil Wickham
Song of Hope (Heaven Come Down) ñ Robbey Seay Band
Holy One ñ Rush of Fools
Happy Day ñ Tim Hughes

Enjoy

Grace and Peace

PJ