Extraordinary Worship

God has shown us RADICAL GRACE through the sacrifice of Jesus and his redemptive act of love on the cross.

The ONLY true response to that radical grace is through EXTRAORDINARY WORSHIP.

When we fully consider what God's grace means to us....that it has given us true life and freedom, we cannot just live normally after that. We cannot just go through the motions of each day. If we really consider that grace, then there has to be a response.   Extraordinary worship.

What does that look like to me?

• singing and praising God with reckless abandon- in my church, in my home, in my car, in my shower, in my life
• lavishly giving- my money, my time, my possessions
• loving His children- orphans, widows, my neighbors

Have you ever tried not to smile or laugh when someone is intentionally trying to make you smile or laugh? It is almost painful and often impossible (if they are good).  Well, God is good at showing radical grace. The perfect act of grace is finished and He continues to show grace to us each and every day.  It is impossible for us to stare that in the face and not respond appropriately. 

Gush with words of gratefulness. 

Respond with shouts of praises. 

Serve with overflowing hearts. 

Lay our lives at His feet. 

That is extraordinary worship and that is the only way to respond to God's radical grace. 

When I consider the path before us with the adoption of siblings from Ghana I am sometimes scared. There is no doubt our lives are going to change drastically.  We will have struggles. Some times will be difficult. Then I realize that is the point. If I keep my life easy and comfortable am I truly worshipping extraordinarily or just ordinarily? Isn't there an implied message of sacrifice when you worship extraordinarily? Sacrifice is usually not easy or comfortable but it is an intentional response. It is a way to say, "God, you gave me everything, please show me what you want me to do with it." Give? Adopt? Serve? Speak? Pray? Fast? Listen?.....

This blog took root at my church Sunday. To hear the message that I heard see below:

Louie Giglio

Passion City Church January 27th podcast  

Water

I am so thankful that I am a work in progress.  I am thankful that God has not left me where I was yesterday, or last month, or last year.  I am thankful that He continues to work in my heart to mold me into a better person.

Yesterday I was visiting the Georgia State Capital to get a few more adoption documents State Sealed (I AM FINISHED....BY THE WAY!!!!! WOO HOO!!!!)  Anyway, I parked in a parking garage and was trying to find the quickest and easiest way out to the road.  The closest exit to my parking spot led to an outdoor stairway and I was only on the second floor so I thought I would just use that exit.  WELL...I don't think that exit is used very often.  Especially since it leads outside and it was pouring down rain.  When I opened the door it was as if someone had put a bucket of water over the door jam as a booby trap.  Immediately a load of cold, smelly, stagnant water was dumped on my head. Gross! I literally gasped.

Once I got my bearings I thanked God that my phone and my folder with precious documents did not get drenched.  Then I did my best to wipe, dry, shake the rest of my body.  Of course, after a while I began to dry and it wasn't that big of a deal.  However, even as I dried, I stunk.  It was clear to me that the water had been stagnant above that door jam for awhile because it had a very bad stench which was now in my hair and covering the right side of my sweater.

It was dirty water because it hadn't been refilled, purified, refined, or moved.

I never want to be like a puddle of the same old water day in and day out. I want fresh, clean water to refill me each day. Living water.

I never want to be like sewage, stinky water full of grime and disease. I want to be purified and refined. That doesn't just happen.  It is a process.

I don't want to be like a stagnant bucket of water that remains unmoved and unused.  I want to be moved and changed daily to be more useable and purposeful.

Thank you Lord for pouring your rain down on Atlanta for the past 4 days and reminding me that you are still working on me. Create in me a clean heart Lord and renew a right spirit within me.