These are random thoughts.
I'm at work and am currently working on piecing together some things.
I can not say that I am a strong Christian, or even that I am faithful- because I'm just not. I am a human being whose only credits are that I belong to Christ. It is He who lives within me giving me strength and working in me to perfect me. But I am no where close to that. I am a continual work in progress. i am what Paul writes about in Philippians- I am not perfect, but I am forgetting what is behind me (it's washed clean under Christ's blood) and I am pressing on towards what He is calling me heavenward for. (Ph. 3:12-14). I have faith that he is going to use me in mighty ways- but I know it will not be of my doing. But of His own doing within me. I am grateful for the chance to be His servant- to be the servant of the most high God.
I Samuel 4:21-22 Was Israel seeking their own glory? It seems like they had such a hard time not being defeated because they greatly wanted their own glory. when they were at war with the Philistines and were losing their battle- they broke the Holy commands about entering God's temple. The ark of the Lord was to stay in the Holy of Holies where only the priests could enter. The sons of Eli violated this by entering anyway. They didn’t' have the faith that the Lord would protect them in battle so they took matters into their own hands. I am so much like Ely's sons. I have so many difficulties trusting. My own heart contradicts itself. But I know that's not true because I am Christ's new creation- the old heart is gone and the new heart is here. What is my problem then? It cannot be a matter of my heart if Christ is the creator of my heart. It is my flesh that is bad. My flesh desires something else. My flesh wants to do things myself rather than to go with my heart in just trusting.
I used to be involved in a lot more organizations that I currently am. Then I became an RA and my understanding of involvement and leadership changed. I lessened my involvement because my heart belonged on the floor with my "girls". The Lord showed me what it means to be a servant.
I Samuel 9:21 "Soul replied, 'But I am only from Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important of the families of that tribe"
"Whatever happens may the Lord give you joy." -Philippians 3:1. Sometimes, a lot of times, things on this earth do not go our way. It has nothing to o with our effort. But regardless we are to count it all joy. The Lord calls us to live joyful worship filled lives despite our circumstances. our hope is not on earthly things, but in the Lord. "We put no confidence in human effort. Instead, we boast about what Christ Jesus has done for us." -Philippines 3:3. He has saved us from the necessity to worry about the things of this world, but focus on the hope for the future (Phil. 3:8-9, 3:12-14). Our calling as leaders is to allow our very lives to speak glory to the name of Christ. To allow Him to bring us closer to the end result He has for us as well as allowing us to play a part in that formation in others. Countless people on this campus and elsewhere have been used by the Lord to show me attributes and qualities He desires for me to have, such as servant hood or patience. Worship is about more than signing beautifully written praise songs to a church ceiling or PowerPoint projector, it's about allowing the Lord's glory to be revealed in and through our lives of service and leadership.
"Worship is the appropriate response to God's self revelation." That means that when Christ’s love is truly at home in our hearts, we will live lives that worship him- that give him Glory. Dictionary definition says that worship is giving honor, and honor is due glory. In revelation it says that when we worship on earth the elders in heave join in worship.
"Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it." -I Peter 3:15 this means that I am to worship Christ as Lord in and with my life. this means being faithful to keep the time commitments, show up to things on time, do every task given to the best of my God given ability. "Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you are working for the Lord and not for people." Col. 3:23. It's hard not to get caught up on working for other people even if that's under the cleaver disguise of caring about others opinions. For me, living my life as worship means doing everything for the Lord.