All in When Worship is...
Some of the times I have felt most alive in my life have been during times of worship. When I think about those time which have propelled me forward in my Christian walk, worship has been key.
Worship creates those spaces for heaven to mingle with earth. There have been times when I have been aware of the presence of angels singing alongside us, when I have heard God’s voice clearly or when I have felt His enabling power rise up within me to equip me to do what I need to do. There have been times when I have felt faith rise, when I have been overflowing with gratitude and joy...
As Christians, we know that we are in a battle. But there are seasons. And sometimes we find ourselves on the frontline.
Think World War One trenches. You know the enemy is nearby. You can feel the guns going off and every now and again a bullet flies close and it may even wound you or a friend. At that moment there feels like every justification to scream and panic and run home. To forget that you may be just one soldier but you are in a battle which is part of something larger...
For a long time I didn’t want to be involved in worship, because I didn’t want it to be about me. I didn’t want to be standing up there, self-conscious, wondering if I sounded great or terrible. I didn’t like the fact that during those times my mind was more bothered about myself than God. So I stepped back. I didn’t look for opportunities to be involved and when moving to Peru I didn’t get involved at the start for that reason.
I remember telling a pastor friend who led worship my reasons when he asked me why I didn’t get involved. He laughed kindly and said: ‘We alll have to face that! It is always going to be a challenge!’...
How often do we embrace uncomfortableness in worship?
Leading worship and being part of a group of worshippers is a vulnerable experience. Looking around there are people expressing themselves before God. Whether they are grumbling and judgemental or laid out on their bellies expressing their adoration, it can be clearly seen by those around.
Feeling free to worship openly takes time and has both its steps forward and steps back. There are times and places where dancing feels free and natural and other times where rubbing your nose feels risky in case someone mistakes it for raising your hands! ...
I have a confession to make. Up until recently, I never really understood ‘praise’ songs. You know the ones I mean - the lively, get-everyone-clapping songs. The loud, 'belt-it-all-out' ones at the beginning. I never saw them as anything more than an unnecessary warm-up to the real thing - the more intimate, slower songs...
When I had a newborn baby, I expected to be changing a lot of nappies (or diapers for my American friends!). Perhaps, I was surprised by the sheer quantity in the first few months, but I knew that much of the early months would be spent changing and changing nappies and clothes.
But when God gives me a spiritual baby, suddenly I am surprised when things aren’t easy or fun at times. I mean, they can be fun. I’m not saying cleaning up poop is fun, but most parents do have good memories of tickling tummies and smiles and giggles as a nappy change is done...
