faithrunner

Worship through service at Minnie's Food Pantry Worship is a deeply personal thing, so I admit that what I am about to share may or may not ring true with you.  My hope is to encourage you to change your thinking from worship as attendance at a performance in a building on a scheduled day to an act of total attention to the One who loves you and gave his life for you.  Worship is an expression of our total being. Jesus calls us to love God "with all your soul, with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your strength." ( Mark 12:29-31 ) So, sitting and occasionally standing for an hour and thirty minutes and listening to people perform on a stage is not really the heart of the matter. Yes, gather with your brothers and sisters to worship in word and song, but don't limit your worship to someone's manufactured experience for you. Here are my top 5 ways to worship . Three are individual, and two are in community. Immerse yourself in Scripture ...

 Sunday, June 12, Legacy Church abandoned its usual routine of gathering to worship in music and word to live out our core value , "We are most like Jesus when we serve." ( Mark 10:45 ) We gathered for instructions, prayer, and a song, then headed out to serve. Some groups started earlier that morning. We spread out to serve two homes that were part of Plano's Love Where You Live program, two elementary schools through their PTAs, and the campus of Legacy Church. A group also serve the neighborhood around our campus by prayer walking through the streets and praying for the families there.  It's a risk any time you do this during "regularly scheduled services" on a Sunday morning. You risk guests showing up to check you out (but what better way to demonstrate who you really are), forgetful members who show up not ready to work (they could run home and change and maybe read their weekly eletter and worship guide each week), and people sent by God s...

About two years ago I met Pastor Smith and his wife at a church garage sale. He had just begun as the pastor of a new work, and they were there to gather as many items as possible to begin the work. We talked and shared our stories and promised to stay in touch. About a year later, I finally got down to see his ministry through the Peace of God Missionary Baptist Church in the Joppa Community , southeast of Dallas . The community was founded in the mid-1800's and has been a home for thousands since then. The church gathers in a rectangular building that was built in 1940 . Pastor Smith and his family had repaired and updated the building, which had not been used for some time, by investing their own money, time, and talents. I was honored to share his vision for his work and the potential the Gospel had in the community . (There literally is a church on almost every corner. Something I can relate to in my community, but with a few more potential participants where I serve.)...