It all matters

Last weekend my husband and I took a trip to the Phoenix, AZ area. We led worship at a great church, met some amazing people and had some wonderful time to ourselves. We enjoyed the sun and even the heat. Sounds crazy, but living in Alaska for 10 years makes you appreciate warmth from the big yellow thing in the sky. (My AK friends know what I'm talking about). After being there and connecting with the church that we were ministering in, we made a big decision to move our whole family. We will be helping a growing church in the Phoenix area leading worship and connecting with the community. I am excited, overwhelmed, ecstatic, blessed, in awe and sad to leave the friends I have made here. So many emotions and feelings.

I recognize that our lives will be changing in so many ways. Yet, some things will stay the same. I will miss the green and lush vegetation of the northwest. I will miss the coolness, the marked seasons, the rain. But I look forward to the beauty I will find in the terrain of the desert. I look forward to the new friendships that will be formed, the ministry that will take place and the sweet memories that will be made. I look forward to my kids discovery of something new, the friends they will meet and the growth that will take place in their lives.

As a family we have weathered some storms. I realize those storms are all a part of God building us and shaping us into more of Him. I am excited to see how God will use those situations so we can minister to others and encourage them.

This morning as I was getting ready for the day I put on a song from Deluge. It is called "Worshiping You". As I listened to the words and took some time to really meditate on them, I was struck by the simplicity of my relationship with God. He desires me to give it all to Him, to trust Him and to allow Him to love me as I fall more and more in love with Him. The chorus says, "Here I am, worshiping You. With all I am, worshiping You. Bowing down, in Spirit and truth. With lifted hands, worshiping You." I thought, yeah Lord, here I am. Here I am with all my fears, my dreams, my hopes. Here I am with all my insecurities, doubts, unbelief. Here I am with all that is in me. Everything.... holding nothing back, because You know Lord. You know it all. I bow down to You in surrender, not just physically but spiritually too. Lifting my hands, giving it all to You.

So tonight as I was in the car with my husband, complaining about a situation, God spoke to my heart and said, "Is this worship to me?" Ouch..... My worship to Him is more than lifted hands and singing from my lips. It is interaction with my family, helping my children, listening to my husband. It is washing dishes and folding laundry. Worship is respecting my husband, loving my children and being a good friend. It is honoring my parents and in-laws. Worship is living this life God has given me and pointing others to Him through my actions.

Another part of the song says, "I'm gonna worship You forever, I;m gonna worship You." If we really think about that, it is so mind blowing. We get to worship the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, FOREVER. Wow! What an honor.

As you go about your day, remember that it all matters to God.