Close Encounters

New ways to be in worship. I was shown a few this weekend.


Mary Anne, my trainer, was at a women's conference this weekend, so I didn't get my weekly ass kicking. I missed it, but I'll get to gym a few times this week to make up for it. Instead, we got ourselves up early and did chores. Usually this is Sunday afternoon work, but we knew free time was not a guarantee this weekend.

Randy had to get his car looked at, as his check engine light came on. Meanwhile, I took off to Costco, Sam's Club, Party City, and Fry's to accumulate all the necessities for the evening's reception.  It turned out wonderfully! I even picked up a 3 tier glass server for treats. On my last stop, I picked up a bag of ice and a couple packs of frozen strawberries. Got into the Time Machine and turned the key in the ignition. Nothing.

The car wasn't completely dead, the battery seemed to be working fine, you could tell it was getting power. It just wouldn't kick over. Soooooooo I was late to mic check on a hot AZ afternoon in a grocery store parking lot with frozen goods in tow.

Luckily, I have favor. The driver of the vehicle in front of me offered to help jump me. Even though it didn't work, I was so happy I wasn't alone. I thanked him over and over, and invited him to our service at Grace Walk. I called Randy to come get me, so we could get the supplies to the church. We could worry about my car later, which we ended up doing.

The service was awesome. It was billed as, "Close Encounters," and it was every bit that. Randy would tell me the next day, after the Sunday concert that it was the first time he's felt the Holy Spirit come down upon him in such a powerful way. He was almost afraid of it because it was such an intense feeling. I am sorry I didn't have the opportunity to receive the same experience. This is where I was shown how to worship in a new way.

I worked behind the scenes the whole time. I spent all of the 3 services either setting up, cleaning from the night before, or setting up again. On Saturday night, Daniel, one of the church staff members, came in with a video camera and asked for a minute of my time. He asked me to describe what worship meant to me. I can't remember exactly what I said, except that worship itself wasn't an activity to do, but a state of mind to be in. If I'm in that state of mind, anything  I do becomes worship, because it's devoted to Jesus in adoration. So in my work, even though I was not out enjoying the worship music, I was participating in worship. I offered my labor, my excellence in detail, my care in presentation, everything to the cause of Christ this weekend. I had Holy Spirit power.

While waiting for the AAA tow truck late Saturday night in a grocery store parking lot, Randy and I laughed and joked. We listened to Blood, Sweat, and Tears for no reason and decided it's pretty awesome. We were almost interrupted when the tow arrived and we had to switch back to productivity. I love my husband. We didn't let the situation with the time machine stress us out. We spent the day in the will of God, and returned after our congregation had been served to take care of the obstacle the enemy placed before us to trip us up. And even in the parking lot, we didn't argue or fret. We knew we were loved and taken care of by a Father who never leaves us without.

Sunday was all of this, amplified. So many lives touched by the Holy Spirit! It isn't the worship team that brings the power. The worship team offers their talents to create a mood where individuals feel open and safe to cry to the Father. The Spirit ministers and opens hearts. Close encounters happen all over the sanctuary. I'm called to lead others in worship. Now I know that doesn't mean learning a piece of music. It means living my life in a state of constant worship, and inviting others to do the same.

Thank You Father. I adore you for what you have done in the lives of people around me. For the lives that were touched or changed this weekend. For the food I chose that I brought into the church, that it nourished and satisfied people's appetites. For each of the workers in the Body that you have called to worship. For our pastors. If you never did a thing more for me, I'd still adore you all the days of my life. For wanting to favor me, for wanting to bless my family. For my health, for the health of my teammates. For my children waiting to be born, they might see the wonders of creation. For all that I couldn't possibly express. Thank You God. Amen.