Reasonable Service?

Romans 12:1 (KJV) "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."

What does reasonable service mean?  The NASB uses the phrase "spiritual service of worship."  The ultimate worship you can offer God is you.  All the hallelujahs in the world won't compare to the delight the Father will have in you if you surrender yourself as an act of worship.  When we recognize that we have nothing to offer God, we've actually begun to realize how important our relationship with Him is.  In order to take full advantage of that relationship (i.e. love, joy, peace), we have to give up everything we think we are.

This is my prayer: "God, I am nothing outside of you.  Lord, I have nothing besides what you have seen fit to give me.  Everything that you have given me, I now give back to you to show you how much I love and trust you.  Help me to take you at your Word.  Help me to know that your grace is sufficient for me.  I don't need to hold on to things to feel important or safe.  I don't need to focus on money, titles, positions, advancement, friends, family, or anything but you.  As long as I keep you in my sight, I will walk on the water.  For I can do ALL THINGS through Christ who gives me strength.  In Jesus' matchless name, I pray.  Amen."

With My Whole Heart

God gave me these lines last night:  With my whole heart, I offer me.  With my whole heart, I surrender.  With my whole heart, I love you.  With my whole heart, I worship you.

Amazingly enough, a friend of mine (Lynn Pearson) posted this on facebook this morning:  "Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. Give me understanding and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Psalm 119:33,34"

Doing anything with your whole heart implies that you have poured your all into it.  That's where I need to be.  I need to pour my all into my worship of the only wise God, our Savior.  Remember the old hymn "I Surrender All" that we used to sing at altar call?  Well, I surrender ALL.  That's what worship is really about, focusing everything on God.  Not just your music, not just your words, but your EVERYTHING.  That means your job, your entertainment, your friends, your family, your church.  God should be the center of our universe.  I don't mean being holier than everybody on the planet; I mean that if the heart of God is within you, there will be some sign. 

Do people notice that your life isn't about you?  

Just Beginning - Need Your Support

Well, here I go.  I'm starting this blog-thing to see if it helps me do what God has called me to do, which is worship Him and lead others to do the same.  I was looking for ways to impact the world around me, and this idea was suggested.  Let's see what happens.  I will most likely be posting narrative weekly.  Pray for me! - Jenn