Worship

Each Sunday I head to a Christian church to worship. Usually it is my own church, where our membership is held, but when we’re away we’ll seek out another. In La Veta, Colorado, this year we visited their First Baptist Church. When we’re in Tulsa, Oklahoma, we visit the Sheridan Avenue United Methodist Church where family attend. When we visit Pahrump, Nevada, it will be the Choice Hills Baptist Church. With my son’s family it’s the Alliance Baptist Church in Fort Worth.

The music changes a bit from one to another. We lack an organist, have for several years. Yet there is a not only a joyful noise, but it’s harmonious with a baby grand piano, guitar and mandolin or bass fiddle. Another has an upright piano. Still another has organ, piano with a small band, including drums. Each of them will sing some of the same songs, each glorifying His name.

The name of the church is not important. The location is not important. Specific songs are not important, either. The importance lies in the gospel message of Jesus Christ as God’s son, who died that we might have life – abundantly!!

I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10 KJV)

The churches I attend must provide this message, or I will not return.

I must, within their walls, be able to speak with our God. That I might lay before Him those I hold up in prayer, just as those He taught held each of us before Him since time began. Other than the example our Lord gave us, what better prayer is there than this:

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. (Ephesians 3:14-21 KJV)

Here we are prayed for, God is worshipped, His son is acknowledged, His love is defined, His ability unbounded and His glory is forever. Truly, for this cause, I, too, bow my knees unto our Father for you, too.