Ready For Worship
Happy New Year! I hope you are ready for a terrific 2012!!! We have some great things already planned as a church family for this year. Many of us have established some resolutions. Have you resolved to read your Bible through this year? Have you resolved to memorize 100 verses for Centurion of Scripture? Have you resolved to pray more or study more this year? Maybe you are working on a diet or cleaning out the garage/storage areas of your home. Whatever it is, I hope you are successful.
Our church family is already planning Bible classes, Lads to Leaders, Vacation Bible School, Back to School Bash, and much more! We are moving forward with our building plans which we hope to be completed by year's end. Plus, many more things that are yet to be announced. Stay tuned for more good news! God is doing great things in Gulf Shores!
One of the ways we are trying to improve our work and worship is to better organize our worship services. Paul urges us to do things "decent and in order" (I Corinthians 14:40) and the Lord requires us to do things in "spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). Instead of starting with announcements, we will have a short song, welcome, prayer, and standing for the reading of God's word. We hope that this will get us ready for worship!
As we begin our new year, we will be reading the "Psalms of Accents." These particular psalms would be sung on the way to worship in the temple. Consider the following explanations:
· The first stage = Psalms 120-122. These three psalms focus on the "vision" of the people. The anticipation of worship must begin with remembrance and direction.
· The second stage = Psalms 123-125. These three psalms focus on our "consecration". Out of our vision we come to consecration and a look at what God is doing for us on a daily basis to keep us clean and pure.
· The third stage = Psalms 126-128. These three psalms are the stage of "jubilation" and enjoyment. Our consecration leads us to a rich enjoyment of the Lord and his blessings.
· The fourth stage = Psalms 129-131. These three psalms are the stage of "amplification". Our jubilation causes us to amplify every aspect of our life, starting with a child-like faith.
· The final stage = Psalms 132-134. These last three psalms take us full circle to the "maturation" stage. The final psalms help us to consider the maturity of praise, love, service, and worship.
We need to stay focused this year. My prayer is that each of us will grow closer to the Lord in 2012. Buildings can be built. Numerical growth can happen. And, great events can be planned. But, none of that compares to your personal walk with Jesus Christ. You need to draw nearer to God in 2012. Then you will bear the fruit of the Spirit and bless God's kingdom! All of that begins with your own personal commitment and resolution to put God first in 2012. Let's have a great year!!!