“Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:19-20
The room is filled with women, at least 3,500 of them. Eyes are closed, hands are raised, and bodies sway. The sound of all these women singing together praises to God, brings nothing less than chills across my skin. I am joined with these women in song and enjoy the preview of heaven before me. The Ghetty’s lead us in song, singing, “How marvelous! How wonderful! Is the Savior’s love for me.”
Worship is the posture of the heart overflowing with thanksgiving to God for all that He is, has done, and will do.
Tim Keller writes that “the worship of God with the whole heart in the assurance of his love through the work of Jesus Christ is the thing (our) souls were meant to “run on.” (from The Meaning of Marriage) Giving praise to God in worship is the fuel that propels us forward in faith, joy, and obedience. Without worship, our tanks are empty, like a car that has run out of gasoline. We become immobilized, useless, and soul-starved.
This list of thanks that I write each week is a sacrifice of praise, an act of personal worship to the great Giver of all good things. As I add each item to the list, it becomes another note, added to the song of thanks written upon my heart. Giving thanks this way fuels my heart in the same way that joining thousands of women in song at the Gospel Coalition’s women’s conference did. And when we join together each week, sharing our lists in community, a beautiful harmony rises to heaven as a sweet-smelling incense, all for the glory of God.
Joining the community in giving thanks (#1644-1661)
Isaiah 6, Revelation 21
Contentment in His will
Reaching my 7 year anniversary of blogging
shade trees
finding a petting zoo to take the kids to in Atl-feeding deer, sheep, donkey’s, goats, birds, chickens, etc.
taking four boys by myself for the afternoon-no conflicts, problems, just tons of fun!
the simplicity of living these past three weeks on vacation without all our stuff
a wonderful 3 weeks of vacation-fillings, restorative, restful, fun
finishing a couple of books, starting a couple more
hundreds of photos on my camera to go through
A Handful of Everything trailmix for the long drive home
a quiet drive with no sibling fights in the back seat
my Union Jack travel pillow
My MIL’s stint surgery successful
introducing my son to Nancy Drew books:)
the way God works through and in spite of our insufficiencies
That He is all I need
Linking up with:
Such a great conference! Such a great trip! I’m so thankful for times away to renew us and refocus our gaze upon Him.
Yes! And I needed it too:)
Thanks so much for sharing about your experience at the conference. Thanks also for sharing these great insights about worship. I’ve not really thought of it in the way you described. Great post, Christina!
Thanks for your sweet words. So glad you stopped by!
I loved your insight into the heart of God through praise and thanksgiving. I also enjoyed reading your thankful list. He is so worthy of all of our praise and thanks!
He is so worthy! May my heart always be tuned to praise Him. Blessings to you!
It sounds like you have had quite a memorable three weeks away. So glad for you. And my mouth dropped open on the blogging for seven years, I had no idea. I haven’t even been blogging one yet so I am in awe.
I started when my first was eight months old, to share photos and stories of his growth to family and friends far away. A year or so ago I stopped that blog and started a different one because now they are grown and my writing topics have changed so much. Those seven years have gone by fast!
Oh we are so kindred. You know I loved this post.
“Worship is the posture of the heart overflowing with thanksgiving to God for all that He is, has done, and will do.”
I’m taking that with me, friend.
And congrats on your blogaversary!
and you must read more than one book at a time like I do… ; )
You are sweet, Nikki. And yes I do read multiple books at a time:)
Your excitement just BURSTS through this post.
Oh and taking 4 boys out with no conflicts and what sounds like pure fun?? I call that SUCCESS!!
Thanks for stopping by my place today, I enjoyed meeting you and reading this post. Def inspirational
Have a wonderful week, sister!
Patty
Thanks so much for visiting! I consider it a good day when I can take my own children, plus two more and not have anything crazy happen along the way:)
Beautiful post. Amazing the effects of faithfully giving thanks. Blessings to you!
Yes, the effects of giving thanks seem to compound, getting richer, deeper, and greater. Thanks for stopping by!
I heard the Getty’s lead at an Ann Graham Lutz conference this year and loved them. They were so humble, beautiful and intent on pointed everyone to Christ. True worship!!
I loved them! Their heart for worship is amazing. Thanks, Shanda!
Wow… 7 years of blogging! That is quite an accomplishment. I have just started and can’t seem to find anything to say except my list of thanksgiving.
Isn’t that everything? If thanksgiving is all we have, it’s enough:) Blessings!
7 years! Yay! I fill like a baby. LOL!
Beautiful list and i am so happy for you to have had such a refreshing time on vacation and at the conference. God is so good. His gifts never stop coming!!
Being a baby is better than being old!:) Thanks, friend!
My pastor once said that praise is the rafters that hold up our faith. After we have praised the Lord for who he is and what he’s done, we are prepared to approach him in confidence and faith that he has the power to do what we ask according to his will.
Mary Beth
newlifesteward.com
I like that a lot. “the rafters that hold up our faith.” Thanks for sharing and stopping by!
Glad to have found you! I wrote a series on prayer based on the sermon where the pastor used that analogy. You can find it here if you are interested: https://newlifesteward.com/tag/prayer/
So, I seriously considered attending this conference (didn’t work out) and Tim Keller’s book is sitting on my nightstand!
Great list and reminder that our thanks are a sacrifice of praise. Congrats on 7 years of blogging!
So sad you missed it! I think you can listen to it online. Tim Keller and his wife spoke about their book-good stuff if you get a chance to hear it. Blessings!
Lovely blog you have here, Christina. I love your choice of topics! And your gratitude list today. Thank you for commenting at my space today.
Love your name!:) Thanks so much, you are sweet. And I’m so glad you visited!
Love this “the way God works through and in spite of our insufficiencies” …so true! Loved visiting you too and thanks for visiting me !
Thanks! So nice of you to visit me back:)
The way you described worship is so true - it is the most fulfilling thing. I’ve found that when I’m anxious or unsettled, focusing on God, worshiping him in even the most still and quiet way, brings welcome peace.
Yes, exactly. Moving the focus off of me and onto Him keeps me from sinking in the waves. Blessings!
Seven years of blogging … wow.
I like the way you are enjoying both corporate worship at the conference and in your own individual list.
I began blogging before it became so popular, mostly to share photos of my kids when they were babies. A year or so ago I switched to this blog and now I write more about what’s going on in my own “develpment.”
Oh, I can only imagine the beauty in that room! Singing praise to God is one of my favorite things. Thank you for sharing that wonderful experience with us, and reminding us how powerful worship truly is.
Megan @ wwwsunshinethroughthewindows.blogspot.com
And thank you for stopping by! I enjoyed visiting your blogging home as well. Blessings to you!
What a beautiful post! It sounds like it was an incredible 3 weeks. So glad that you were able to have that special time. Congrats on your blogaversary! Many blessings, Lisa