I missed going to worship service last Sunday, due to illness.

I missed seeing my church friends and family.

I missed praying with my women’s prayer group.

I missed hearing the pastor’s message.

I missed singing choruses and hymns.

But I didn’t miss out on worship.

After resting most of the morning, I took a brief stroll in the yard.  I dressed in frayed, blue pants and a stained sweatshirt and pulled on my chore boots–definitely not my Sunday-go-to-meeting best clothes.   I walked the short circuit around the house to see the  flowers that had come into bloom that week.

Orange poppies have begun their brief but vivid show.  A new (to me) variety of geranium graces the front porch.   Dame’s rocket has claimed a corner of the asparagus patch.  The iris have unfurled their fleur de lis flags of white and gold and violet.

I marveled at the beauty in God’s creation and was thankful that He had created flowers with such exquisite color, shape, and fragrance.  When I gazed more closely at the blossoms, I saw even more amazing details.  Our God is an awesome God.

On Tuesday I read a quote from my brother-in-law’s sermon:

Worship is to encounter and experience the presence of the living God, Jesus Christ, and to respond in reverence, adoration, and praise to Him.

I encountered the Lord on the path around my house. I was reminded that He is the living God, the great Creator of life.  How could I respond except with reverence and praise?

Even though I was not in the church building, I didn’t miss out on worship last Sunday.  My worn and stained clothes weren’t a problem, because I was dressed in my Sunday-go-to-meeting heart.

A heart God is making new, ready to worship

For it’s not where we worship that counts, but how we worship—is our worship spiritual and real? Do we have the Holy Spirit’s help? For God is Spirit, and we must have his help to worship as we should. The Father wants this kind of worship from us.    John 4:22-23   RSV

  Let heaven and earth praise him,   Psalm 69:34   NIV

 I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
    I will glorify your name forever.   Psalm 86:12   NIV

You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.   Nehemiah 9:6   NIV

 I will sing the Lord’s praise,
    for he has been good to me.   Psalm 13:6   NIV

I will proclaim the name of the Lord.

    Oh, praise the greatness of our God!   Deuteronomy 32:3   NIV

*          *          *          *          *

Thanks to Steve and Marlene Pedigo for the Westfield photo and sermon quote.

*          *          *          *          *

linking with Laura Boggess

linking with Jennifer Dukes Lee

linking with Essential Fridays