Random Thoughts on Worship

I wrote this on Sunday, after the worship service at my church. These thoughts are kind of disconnected, and don't necessarily flow too well. It's just what was flying through my mind at the time.
Why should it matter how I worship, how I praise? I don't feel right sitting down with my hands in my lap while praising my glorious, beautiful, wonderful, incredible, indescribable Savior. I want to stand and gaze at the heavens, to stand in wonder of my Lord. His Word commands me to "Shout for joy... worship with gladness... and... joyful songs." (Ps. 100) I am commanded to praise Him JOYFULLY. When truly joyful, my emotions can not be contained while sitting still.
If I raise my hands in honor of my God, why should I be judged and whipsered about? Worship is a personal act, and there is no "right way" to worship. My Lord reaches down to me every day, and sometimes I need to remind myself to reach up to Him. He meets me where I am. If I want to raise my hands, to stand up, as a symbol of being closer to Him, why should it matter what you think?
For that matter, I WILL raise my voice. I am to "make a joyful noise unto" my Lord. No, I can't sing. This will not, will never, stop me from singing out to Him with all that is within me. I apologize if my off-key voice is messing up your "experience." My Lord knows that I am singing to Him and Him alone, and He loves it. In fact, my Father thinks I have a beautiful voice, and wants me to raise it up to Him.
"Every tongue in heaven and earth shall declare Your glory, every knee shall bow at Your throne and worship" (Ancient of Days) On the flipside, maybe you praise best on you rknees. Perhaps you feel closest to our Father while you're sitting in church singing hymns. Possibly you connect with the Lord of all on a beach, under the stars. Maybe God speaks to you through the classic Gregorian chant, maybe it's through the beat of a drum. That's okay.
His Word commands us to worship joyfully and with gladness. It does NOT say "with a full band," but it also does NOT say "only with piano or organ." My Father will meet you where you are. He knows how to still your heart, how to turn your mind to Him. He will find you. You can find Him anywhere. Worship doesn't have to involve music. Worship can be done wherever, whenever, whatever, however, whoever you are. He will meet you.
Friends, I beg you, leave it to our Father to decide what is acceptable, who is using outward gestures of worship "just for attention." He knows whether we are pouring out our hearts for His glory or ours. I truly believe that our Lord doesn't care HOW we are praising Him, just so it's genuine.
Hymns, choruses, praise songs, poems, chants, instrumentals, drama, dance, speech, standing, sitting, kneeling, off key, on key, eyes closed, hands raised, a capella, as long as it's an act of love to God; an offering of thanks to Him for His love; if it's for Him and not you, he LOVES it. And if it's truly for Him, that's all that matters.

Yet Another Reason I'm Glad to be Homeschooled.

Last Thursday, Bo fell and sprained his ankle pretty badly. As he's been hobbling around on crutches, I had to help him feed his snakes last night. We got the snakes fed and back into their cages without a problem. I told him to finish putting the bricks and things on top of the cage, and left the room.

This morning, I was sitting at the table, doing school as usual. When I got up to use the bathroom, I smelled something that smelled a bit like a hot glue gun. Our fireplace wasn't on (for some reason IT has that smell), so I decided to check around.

Suddenly, it dawned on me-the heat lamp! The snakes have a light on the top of their cage that keeps them warm, and we had set it on the ground last night. The light is on a timer and was off at the time of feeding. Between Bo's crutches, the feedings, and me being on the phone (oops.), we must have left it on the ground. (This has happened before.)

I dashed (ha!) into Bo's room, and sure enough, the lamp was on the floor. I picked it up to find that the carpet AND padding had burned clear through to the wood- no flames, just melting. Just a couple more minutes and the wood would have begun to burn.

Another thing dawned on me as I returned the lamp to its proper place: I am SO GLAD that I'm homeschooled. If I had been at school, there wouldn't have been anyone home, and our house could have potentially burned to the ground- one of my biggest fears.

Thank you, Jesus!

ADDENDUM!!!! I have a new baby cousin! Ian Joseph MacMullen, 6 lbs, 10 oz.
My first cousin on the Hobson side that is NOT a canine!!! I find him rather adorable.

Another Wonderful Weekend.

Unexpectedly, we threw together a little "Mini-reunion" of our Peru team. Ruth was in the States for conferences, so Kelly brought her up to Marilyn and Doug's. It was amazing. We went out for Chinese food on Thursday night, then Ian, Kelly, and I walked from the church to Marilyn's house. It was... interesting. After the adults got back, Ian made frape de maracuYA in the blender, Kelly and I were laughing at nothing, Ian was playing guitar, and both of the guys were passing massive amounts of gas. All while the adults were attempting to carry on actual conversation. It felt so familiar. I could not believe I had missed them so much. On Monday morning Doug made breakfast for Mom, Ruth, and me, then Mom and I went to pick up Kelly from Ian's house.
Here's a small sampling of the pictures.






Top Row, L-R: A foiled attempt; Hi, I'm 5;
Second Row: Frape de Maracuya; Ruth, Marilyn, and Mom
Third Row: My big brother and Me; picking up right where we left off
Fourth Row: Family; Ruth and Me
Fifth Row: Kelly & Me

On Friday night we had the rehearsal dinner for Tina's wedding, then the wedding was on Saturday. It was beautiful and went really well, and TINA IS MARRIED! Wow.
Bo and I stayed and Nana and Papa's on Saturday night and went to Nanny and John's church on Sunday. The praise and worship there is amazing. After church we went out to eat with Mike and Tracy and their kids, then came home.