Worship. True Worship.

We were in Kampala once again this week doing pretty much the same programs we've been doing for the last few weeks. That includes (in one breath), the babies' home, Victory Primary School feeding program and teaching, three different high school scripture unions, the children's hospital, and Brainstorm Primary School program and English lesson. One of our primary school programs got cancelled on Wednesday due to rain, but it was still a pretty full week! Now, some of the top moments this week:
           -Sunday School (of course!!)

Bryan and I have a special friendship.... 

           -Attending the Passion Kampala conference on Saturday night!
           -Teaching about past tense verbs at Victory - some pretty great P3 students!
           -Teaching another English class at Brainstorm using the story of Jesus calming the storm (we may or may not have acted the whole thing out, including the screams of fear during the storm)
           -worship. worship. worship.

Teaching about past tense verbs!

Ready for the Passion Conference!

I know I touched on worship a bit at the end of my last blog, but I've come to realize that there's absolutely, positively, NO WAY to even get close to summing up the idea of worship. It's become so much more to me than singing and playing an instrument; it's a way of life. Even as I sit here writing this post, I can't think where to start, what to say to explain what I've learned to you. Maybe I'll start with the last conclusion I made in my journal, "You know what? I think true worship is what happens when we see God for who He really is, which is only possible through the Spirit... Therefore, "worship in Spirit and Truth."

We were all sad at our first project without our sister, Cassie,
who went back home this week 

One of my favorite nights here in Uganda has become Friday night - partly because we almost always stay up late having "girl time" and laughing our heads off, but also because Friday night is Worship Night. Instead of having our typical devotions, we all come together to bless God's heart in worship. I think those times of worship are when our team as a whole is the most susceptible to the Holy Spirit, to His presence. When we draw close to Him, He speaks to each of our hearts individually. There are two quotes from the book Romancing the King by Brian Lake that I'd like to share with you:

          "The highest priority of worship is that God invites us in His presence; not that we selfishly invite Him into ours."

          "True worship eliminates the distance between God and us."

Worship draws you into God's presence like nothing else; it's amazing! But, as I've said before, worship isn't just that time of singing at church or devotions, it's a way of life - a sacrifice of all that you are so that every part of your life blesses our Beloved's heart. "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is true worship." (Romans 12:1) God doesn't want just a part of your life, a part of your time, a part of you - He wants ALL of you! And we have to realize that worship isn't for us, it's not meant for us to be filled (although we are filled through being in His presence), but it's meant for Him. Our gift to God is our worship; it's how we bless Him.

"Bless the Lord, O my soul

O my soul

Worship His holy name

Sing like never before

O my soul

I'll worship Your holy name" 

-10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman

Every blessing!