wor·ship  noun, verb, -shiped, -ship·ing
the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity: the worship of God.

When does worship begin for you? When does your feeling of adoration for God start? Does it start when you get to church? Is it the parking lot that reminds you of your creator? Or is it when you walk into the Worship Center? Maybe it’s when you see a friend and they ask you how last week went and say that they prayed for you. Or maybe you are like me and you have so much stuff going on in your mind that it is hard to focus on one thing. For me, worship begins with focus. Do you ever wonder why I close my eyes sometimes when I am leading worship? It’s so I can get focused. When my focus is on God my worship begins. When my focus is taken away from God my worship ends.

In 1994 when I first came to Crossroads (Known as E.V. Free then) there was a sign at the entrance of the Worship Center that read, “Silence is the best preparation for worship”. I am sure that is true for some people. Silence is a way to prepare for worship. I prepare for worship by thinking of how great our God is. For me, singing is a great way to prepare for worship. Wait a minute, you say, isn’t singing worship? No singing is singing. Singing becomes worship when I focus on God. I am completely capable of singing and not worshipping. That’s why sometimes I have to close my eyes and talk to God while I sing and then all of the sudden I am worshipping, expressing reverence and adoration for God. Sometimes it is one of you that will catapult my singing into worship. Last Sunday this was the case. I looked into the front rows and noticed an elderly man with his hands raised a little bit and his eyes turned toward heaven as he was singing. “Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna”, were the words he was sending to Heaven. As soon as I noticed him I shut my eyes and thanked God for this man’s testimony. All of the sudden I was no longer thinking, “Is this song too contemporary? Are the guitars too loud? I wonder how it sounds out there?” I was just worshipping and my worship did not stop until after we sang “Just As I Am”. Then I had to start thinking about the announcements and taking the offering. But for a moment I was alone with God in our Worship Center. I felt Him speak to me about surrender. I said, “Yes Lord”.

What is your worship like? Think about it this week. Remember that worship is a feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity. I hope my experience will help you experience Him.

Cliff and the Ensemble will be leading worship this Sunday. I am taking the weekend off. Robin and I are going to Disneyland with my son, Garett and his fiancé Kaitlin. Then on Sunday I will be preaching at a small church in Strathmore. Let’s pray for each other as we worship our God this week.
Pastor Morri