how should I worship

“Most people want to help make this world a better place but many do not know where to start. I have found that the first place to start is right in my own head.

If I do a good job there, I can work outwards from there and bless others. This site is a personal blog about the things I need to keep telling myself – not too many things. Just the simple fact that very little is required to make life happy.

As simple as that sounds, I need to prove it in my mind everyday, time and again. I do this through my passion for prose, free verses and non-factional opinions. I do this because the dark valleys of life often slide in unannounced. Nonetheless, as the saying goes, it is still better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.

My joy will multiply if these musings ever help anyone that stumbles on them .”

I believe in connections. I believe God Soft Hands Jesus moves across these blogs. I believe my GSHJ invites me to move in connection.

One simple “like” from a name unknown. One unexplained sense to have a look. A landing page post not written for me. So why this sense it is of He? To the “About” page to look behind, to taste the sweat of another on a keyboard far away. And here is why, here is He. This is why He whispered so quietly in me.

“Most people want to help make this world a better place but many do not know where to start. I have found that the first place to start is right in my own head.”

A better place – yes! But what can I do? I am only me. No one listens to me. I can’t change anything or anyone. Not really. Not like I see others change lives. Not like others have changed me. Ah well … maybe one day …

“As simple as that sounds, I need to prove it in my mind everyday, time and again.”

A long time ago I watched a video. The speaker was inspirational. One of those guru type inspirational speakers. I have seen a few. I have even met a few. And I have thought myself changed. The memory is of this speaker painting a picture. Of approaching the Pearly Gates and being asked in breathless excitement, “How many did you bring me?” How many saved souls. How many lives changed. “How many did you bring me?”

I looked behind me and saw no one. And as well as inspired I was unworthy. I brought no one. Only me. And here was this speaker. He would have thousands behind him. We all should have thousands behind us. And I saw no one. Make disciples. Preach the Good News. Save souls from an eternity of separation. Bring thousands. It is the clarion call I hear again and again. Revival. Mission. Outreach. Education. Junior Church. Mega Church. Where did you find God this weekend. When did you last admit you are a Christian. Why are not at church each Sunday. Wait until you become a mature Christian.

And I saw no one.

It took several years for GSHJ to get through my thick skull. He used others. He took the direct route. He never gave up on my giving up. And slowly – bit by bit – I began to hear.

The biggest gift – the best gift – the ONLY gift I can ever bring … is me. The only “How many did you bring me?” my God Soft Hands Jesus ever wanted was …

One.

And it took me years to get that. It took me years for me to get the “why”. And my getting it – my “why” – is mine alone.

But what I hear Him ask is this.

“Tell them I have no number other than one. Tell them one is all there ever is. One is all and all is one. Forget the big numbers. Forget the worldly measure of “success”. Forget the inspiration that tastes good in the mouth yet leaves your stomach sick. Tell them I do not count and never have. Tell them I never will. I will never judge thirty years “service” better than none. I will never applaud headcount other than one to one. I will never hold higher one who gave more. For if you give you – there can never be “more”. Counting is conditions and conditional love. That is why I only see one. Unconditional never compares. Unconditional love always shares. Love without condition will never count. Not more than one in one right now.”

For all those who think “my blog is not enough” …

One simple “like” from a name unknown. One unexplained sense to have a look. And here is why, here is He. This is why He whispered so quietly in me.

Who is this “name unknown” my GSHJ invited me to … ? It is –

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AYOKA – Things I should be telling myself

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A sense to connect is yours alone.

All I ask is that you listen and hear without numbers.

That you listen to One.

Thank you –

paulfg

The morning after the night before!

And a heartfelt thank you to all who took part. Those who wrote, obviously, but also those who read and commented.

“Secret Santa Blog Day” began life as a suggestion to write a post about “worship” and have it published on another’s site. The writer would have no choice in which site it is published, and the publisher would have no choice of which post they published. Sort of like the workplace “secret santa” (which has presents) – but in this case with “posts”.

But almost all the authors who initially volunteered were already connected with Church Set Free. So the theme of worship was moved to this blogsite – and the “anonymous secret” element was dropped – and the name for the day evolved into “Secret Santa “Worship” Day” – and along the way a few more bloggers volunteered (they may call it “were ensnared”).

And, then, yesterday – ten posts went up.

All of them written independently. None of them edited or changed. Ten ordinary human-beings writing as they were moved to write. Their only guidance? That one word: “Worship” – and their own relationship with “God” and “church” (or whatever all that “stuff” means to each).

If you have read them all you will have noticed many differences. And one common thread running throughout all –

L O V E

Love in relationship. Love in living. Love in being. Love in connecting. Love as worship and worship as Love.

L O V E.

That common thread blew me away!

Because this word “worship” seems (so often) to be just another “and do this” when it comes to God stuff.

You turn up on “Sunday”, and you worship together. And then you go home again. Worship done. God done. For another week. All the guilt attached to the weekly attendance (or not). All the routine that is worship (or not). All the “we all know what worship is don’t we” (and mainly do not).

So on a personal level – to see others write about worship was very helpful … but to see what they wrote “worship IS” to each … ? That was truly amazing!

It was my privilege to be part of yesterday –

Thank you – writers … readers … commenters … sharers – and everyone who “connected”.

((hugs))

Paul