Occasionally I'm guilty of something I don't know how to handle or categorize in my mind to know if I'm crossing a line in rational thinking that would be justification enough to be admitted for further emotional evaluation. I hesitate to mention it to my friends, especially those to whom Sunday morning is just a blip in their day-timer when they dress a little nicer and have to remember to not let anything indiscreet slip from their mouths that would distinguish them from this select group of people and thereby question the validity of their membership. It doesn't happen every Sunday, but it is happening with increasing frequency. It's just this........I'm so disappointed when the last note fades from a medley of songs that has ministered to my spirit as I offered my worship to my Savior, and I don't want this time to come to an end. The world had faded to the point where I sense the Spirit of God so strongly and I resent having to say my goodbyes. Just once I would love for the worship pastor to quietly say that God desires that there be no sermon and we're not leaving until the last person has worshipped to their heart's content as we hear the instruments in agreement join in with the praise team for the chorus of Agnus Dei. It's on these occasions that I can't tell you who is in front of me or what the weather is like outside, because I'm on a different plane. The instruments are in such harmony that it makes my heart swell with the beauty of being given the privilege of offering these earthly songs to praise someone who deserves so much more than anything I could humanly conjure up and yet He accepts it because He loves me and He knows that it is the best that I have. Times like this make me long for heaven with an ache and an expectancy I can only associate with waiting for my wedding day and the birth of my children. This is so far beyond those events, that I feel like I've not done the concept of eternity any justice to link them with something so common.
I've heard some people say that if heaven is just a repeat of church, they really don't know what they'll do for a million years multiplied. Their nervous laugh is a dead giveaway that they have never experienced true worship. I can't wait to not have to worry about repeating the song over and over and violating the time frame. I don't want to worry about mascara streaming down my cheeks because of the tears. I just want to worship God and revel in the beauty of His presence. Millions of humans joined in a chorus that has no beginning or end that echoes of the great love that redeemed mankind from eternal punishment has to be the mother of all songs. I think I have a grappling on why the creatures just say "Holy, Holy, Holy" over and over again. I don't imagine we'll have to break for coffee and donuts or stand around the water fountain catching up on each other's news before bracing ourselves to go in for another session of praise and worship. What else can be of any significance that would equal the splendor of just bowing at His feet?
Experiencing Worship, The Study
Used by churches all over the world to help teach worship, the Experiencing Worship study can help your worship team too.
Your team will learn why we worship and gain a better understanding of how to worship.
One user said..."Your 5 week study course has made a tremendous impact on my life in the study of worship... I would like to express my thanks for a well written study course that leads into a higher realm of praise and worship."
The Paul Langford Project
This is the debut album by EXW friend Paul Langford. Paul is a Chicago based singer, arranger, keyboardist, producer and conductor. Paul has a career that spans 14 years. Paul's work includes arranging for groups like GLAD, Voices of Liberty, VoiceTrek, The Chicago based "Caroling Party" and Day of Discovery Singers. His arranging has appeared on recordings side by side with greats like Gene Puerling and David Maddux, and he has sung with Don Shelton, Bonnie Herman and Bob Bowker, among others.
Used by churches all over the world to help teach worship, the Experiencing Worship study can help your worship team too.
Your team will learn why we worship and gain a better understanding of how to worship.
One user said..."Your 5 week study course has made a tremendous impact on my life in the study of worship... I would like to express my thanks for a well written study course that leads into a higher realm of praise and worship."
This is the debut album by EXW friend Paul Langford. Paul is a Chicago based singer, arranger, keyboardist, producer and conductor. Paul has a career that spans 14 years. Paul's work includes arranging for groups like GLAD, Voices of Liberty, VoiceTrek, The Chicago based "Caroling Party" and Day of Discovery Singers. His arranging has appeared on recordings side by side with greats like Gene Puerling and David Maddux, and he has sung with Don Shelton, Bonnie Herman and Bob Bowker, among others.