POINT TO PONDER:God wants all of me
REFLECT: How did today's reading impact you?
God wants all of me. God doesn't want a part of my life. He is not interested in my Sunday morning sacrifice, my partial obedience, my half-hearted commitment. As our memory verse for this week reminds us: I am to love the Lord with ALL my heart, soul, mind and strength. Rick Warren reminds us that worship is for God, not for me, and it pleases God when it is Accurate, Authentic, Thoughtful, and Practical. 
       "Let us be grateful and worship God in a way that will please Him,
   with reverence and awe." (Hebrews 12:28 - Today's English Version)
Worship that pleases God is accurate, based on the truth of Scripture, to worship God as He is truly revealed in the Bible. It is also to be authentic- from my heart. God-pleasing worship is deeply emotional and deeply doctrinal. We use both our hearts and our heads. Real worship occurs when my spirit responds to God, not when my emotions are moved by the music. My biggest distraction in worship is me-- my interests, my music style preferences, my worries over what others think about me.
What is the most appropriate or authentic way to express praise to God? A quick study of Psalms shows that there are many forms, many positions- but as David found out, God is looking much deeper than the external: 
       "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (I Sam 16:7 - New International Version)
The "theme song" for this week has been "Heart of worship" by Matt Redman. For further study, look at the story behind this song. We'll be singing it again this Sunday.
We are also encouraged that God is pleased when our worship is thoughtful. God is not pleased with thoughtless singing of hymns and praise choruses, or "vain repetitions" of cliches in songs or prayers. I must engage my mind. The reading suggests some ways to honor God with fresh words and ways. Let me add a few more:
  1. try to pray without saying the words PRAY, ASK, THANK.
  2. If I am not singing for the right reason, stop singing, and pray the words to God.
  3. Reflect on God's character, not just what He does for me. 
   "Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God --
   this is your spiritual act of worship" (Romans 12:1 - New International Version)
Passive worship is an oxymoron. Let's live today for the Audience of One!
PRAYER:
"Gracious Father, I desire to bring pleasure to You today by the way I live... May my words, actions, heart, mind, soul, emotions, strength - all of me be in unison in surrender to You. I want to find a creative way today to say I love You. Amen"
FOR MY CONSIDERATION:
    What "vain repetitions", heartless thoughts, self-centered habits are hindering my worship of God? How can I break out of the mold to authentic expression of love for Him?
This week's Memory verse: 
 	"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and 
	with all your strength."                         Mark 12:30 (NIV)
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