enjoying the ADVENTURE: genuine worship...

being honest, it's been a really long time since I've been able to genuinely worship God in the way I like...by singing. Yes, we go to church every Sunday and there is always worship music to sing with. But there is more to worshiping God then just singing along, at least for me. I know for some, singing isn't what they enjoy doing or how they prefer to worship. I've had friends who enjoy being out in nature talking with God, others who enjoy reading, some who like to write, and many others who have found their special place of worship in something else. I love to write and so I keep a journal, but if I really want to get deep down, I need to sing.

It's been a little more than two years since we left WV and I left singing. For the 4 or 5 years before that I had been singing in either H2O or with Kidzone, and it was the best time of my life. During this time God really opened my eyes and grew me into the person I am today. I am so thankful for that opportunity. Not only did I mature as a person but the gift that God gave me was able to mature. Its been very hard being away from the type of singing that I enjoy, let alone the opportunity to sing. I was given the chance to sing when we were living in Va, but was unable to participate when we moved a few weeks later. Oh so close! But since being in PA, I just haven't been able to get back to it. Sure, I could try out for the worship team, but I'd just be singing along. I'm not asking to have a solo if that is what you are thinking, but worship here is so much different than what we're used to. Thus the reason I haven't felt my worship on Sunday mornings go too far. I know that God loves it when we sing, but there is a deeper connection that I'm missing.

Today proved to be a bit of a rough day for me. Emotionally that is. The afternoon rolled around and I decided I needed some quiet time, alone time with God if I was going to get out of my funk... no pun intended. So I grabbed one of our fold up chairs, some water, my sunnies, and my journal and headed outside to enjoy this beautiful day.

I wrote for a while but the sun in my eyes started bothering me so I layed my head back and just started listening to the sounds around me. It was then that it hit me, what I really needed was some genuine worship time. I grabbed my worship notebook for some inspiration and started flipping through pages. Within seconds I was back to where I needed to be... singing with God. Song after song I sang and let my heart pour into the words. The songs, I knew by heart, which made it so much easier to close my eyes and concentrate on what I was singing to God. There were quite a few times that I actually broke into tears from the reaffirming words and promises of God, but I kept singing through those tears. I think God spoke back in several ways to me today, but it seemed when I came across one of his amazing promises the wind would blow... God was telling me he was here with me!

It was such a relief to finally get away from everything and everyone that hinders my worship and just let go. I wanted to leave you with a couple of songs that really touched me today. Two of my favorites from when I was singing with H2O. The first is 'I will Overcome' (by Charlie Hall). It was a great reminder for days like today when I feel like I'm being overcome by the world.

And I can see that my hands are trembling

I can see that my legs are weak

I can see that my head is spinning, but I will overcome

And I know that my heart is hurting

And I know that my soul it aches

And I know that it seems I'm failing, but I will overcome

O Lord I'm strong in you, O Lord I'm wise in you

O Lord I can see in you, so I will overcome

O Lord I'm loved by you, O Lord I'm free in You

O Lord I'm complete in You

So I will overcome, I will overcome, I will overcome

God listen to me shout; I'm so far from anywhere

And I'm calling out

Lead me, lead me to the rock that is higher than I

You're my breath, You're my breath, You're my very life

Infinite, Holy King meets weak and frail Christ in me

And I will overcome not by my strength but by your grace and love

And finally a song that is so dear to my heart. Every time I sing this song I remember the setting in which we sang it. It was a song that Cameron King and I used to do, just the two of us and a guitar, at Sola on Wed. nights; one of my favorites. It is such an intimate song, a quiet praise to our Maker and a song that always comes my heart when I want to worship.

Priceless Treasure (by Charlie Hall)

Priceless treasure, Jesus the Christ;

The jewel of my searching demands my life.

So I bow to You,

and I kneel to You,

You have my heart.

Oh, marvelous Savior,

You came down from heaven to us.

Oh, beautiful treasure,

You made us His daughters and sons.

Oh, that we could reflect You,

show you to the world that you love; Jesus the Christ