In Spirit and Truth

It’s time for a brief review. The definition of Worship according to the Timabridged Putnam Dictionary is: (v.) Extolling the character and acts of God in thought, word, and deed. I have been focusing on the first half of this definition for some time, and for good reason. Worship must first be for who God is and not what he does. If we were to neglect God’s character as the basis of our worship, then worship would be based on our experience. When we felt God’s presence we would worship, but when times got hard, we would turn a cold shoulder. God is worthy of our worship based on His identity alone. God’s characteristics merit our praise even if he never directly intervened in our lives. Having built this foundation, I want to move on to the second half of our definition of worship – extolling God’s acts! “Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the LORD and m

Psalm 92:1-2 “It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night.” As I write this, I sit five hundred feet below the surface of “The Caprock” in Texas. I am at One Way Elementary Camp in Ceta Canyon, just a few miles from the Palo Duro Canyon State Park. It is still dark outside, but in just a few minutes the sun will rise; and when it does the canyon walls will explode with vibrant color. In my heart I join with the psalmist and the hymn writer, “Early in the morning my song shall rise to thee!” Those that know me well, know that generally I am not a morning person; but this week is different. Every day this week I will be up before daybreak. Every year this week helps me understand why the psalmist and the hymn writer use the morning to praise. First, God’s hand is evident. There is a magical quality to the morning. The sun peeks over the horizon, the flowers unfold