So this week I began revamping alot of things to get it ready for the next phase of ministry here at Crossroads. (some of you may not know, but I will be done as youth pastor at Crossroads Church of God on June 17)  I started by cleaning out my desk, which was easy to do physically but emotionally tiring, as you sort through applications from students for leadership, adult leaders, former event plans, lessons, and all that has been your life while in service here at Crossroads.  Then I began refomatting the hard drive on the laptop, so it can be used as the worship station out in the youth room, and can now be at the speed needed to be to show the videos and whatnot!  Then it hit me….you know what I just erased media shout…I just screwed up, although Barb has the churches copy and I can install it again, I was still like dangit!!  But then God moved and I just sat back and listened as He was planning this service out for me for the weekend.  Do not install Media Shout, do not have the words up on the screen, in fact strip the youth room down of seats, and just leave it as an empty room…enough room for the students and ME (God) to be in…. Remove all of the distractions of the normal week and let this week be all about ME!!  As if every week should not be, this week just seems more special….Here is the direction of the night!

I borrowed this book from Jason’s office (jason, I will bring it back Tuesday…lol, he does not even know i have it) and in this book called Inside, Out worship  by Matt Redman it states this on page 99.  As a congregation, we had lost something of our focus in gathered worship, with too much attention on outward things and not enough focus on the heart of our offerings.  SO for a season the pastor was prompted to take away the sound system, band and all other outward props so that we might rediscover the heart of what it really means to worship in spirit and truth together.  The song simply described and gave voice to what God was doing in us….

This is where the song Heart of Worship came from

 When the music fades, all is stripped away, and I simply come, Longing just to bring something that’s of worth, that will bless Your heart…..I’m coming back to the heart of worship, and it’s all about You, all about You, Jesus!!

My question to you…if you simply come, is that enough for you and your relationship…do you have to actually have all of the props and external factors when worshiping Christ, or is He just enough…Maybe you are in a point in your life when all is being stripped away….like possibly being laid off from a job (laughing cause I am in that boat) and maybe you do not see what is ahead…you have an idea, but you cannot see clearly…in which the key is you do not look down long enough to lose focus off of what God is trying to do in your life.

This heart of worship has to be something that is of worth…and the only thing that is of worth for me to give God is my life, in its’ entirety!  Not just a portion, for that is not the effort that Christ gave us while on the cross!!  So in this time of my life, my focus is dang straight on God, and I am not looking down!! Not letting the crap of the day, get in the way of how and Who I am worshiping!  

Maybe you need to strip yourself of pride, the phone, facebook, friends, athletics, family, and whatever may be getting in the way…and give voice to what God is doing in your life!  God is doing something, and maybe you are looking down and not seeing it!!  

Unworthy but His,

Tug

PS.  lights are off in youth room, chairs are out of the room, plain jane to focus on God!!! Let’s Bring it!!