From Your Pastor...
Jeremiah 29:11 ‘For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’
Matthew 17:20 ‘He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”’
Hebrews 11:1 ‘Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.’
Ephesians 2:19-22 ‘So then, you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, 20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone; 21 in him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.’
John 4:23-24 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Yes, I added two more scriptures to the list from last month. Did you know that my FAVORITE time of week begins at 10:55am on Sunday mornings? Not because I get to stand up front and lead the worship service, but because we are together, in the presence of God, to WORHIP!
Thus far this year, something new has been happening. I belong to a Clergy Covenant Group and we have been focusing on the Wesleyan Covenant of Acts of Compassion, Devotion, Justice, and Worship.
Too often pastors lead worship with all the attention to details and yet lack worship time. I have made it a priority to be a part of worship this year and that brings with it some challenges. I get emotional during an anthem, I forget the next line to the Lord’s Prayer, something speaks to me during the sermon that is not in the notes, etc.
When this first started, I was frazzled, but as I forgive myself for not being perfect, I am strengthened by the time we are together in worship and that makes all the difference for me.
What times of worship are strengthening you?
Are you still practicing your mountain-moving faith? Me, too!
Blessings, Pastor Linda
