I Choose Today

I Choose Today...

I Choose Today to Exclaim!

Molinda Hern April 17, 2024

Today, as I gaze out of my window and soak in the lush greenery of spring, I’m reminded of our journey exploring various ways of worship. This season, as all of creation awakens, provides a perfect opportunity to step outside and celebrate God’s boundless creativity, echoing the exuberant praises found in Nehemiah 9:5-6 (AMP): “Stand up and bless (praise, honor) the Lord your God from everlasting to everlasting. May Your glorious name be blessed And exalted above all blessing and praise.” [And Ezra said], “You are the Lord, You alone; You have made the heavens, The heaven of heavens with all their host (the heavenly bodies), The earth and everything that is on it, The seas and everything that is in them. You give life to all of them, And the heavenly host is bowing down [in worship] to You.” Everything that exists — on earth, in the seas, and in the heavens — is a masterpiece of God’s creation. This alone is reason enough to exclaim in worship! So, let’s make today a day of exclaiming worship! Step outside, take in the wonders of God’s creation, and let it inspire your worship. How does nature speak to you about

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I Choose Today to Worship with Authenticity

Molinda Hern April 13, 2024

In the last few posts, we have learned some Hebrew words, and their meaning, for worship: Towdah (תוֹדָה) – giving thanks to God for His provisions and blessings, and Avodah (עֲבוֹדָה) – we are also called to worship Him through our work and service, and  “Shabach” (שָׁבַח) – which signifies joyful and loud praise of God’s attributes and deeds, urging believers to openly express adoration and gratitude towards Him. Today, we are going to conclude our series with a Greek word for worship: προσκυνέω (proskyneō). This word conveys the act of showing reverence, homage, or worship towards God. This word for worship comes to us from the story of Jesus and the woman at the well. She was expressing her frustration about the place of worship for Samaritans being different than the Jews, basically asking who was right. Jesus, on the other hand, was explaining to her it is not a “where,” but the “who” is being worshipped (God) and the heart of the worshipper that matters. He explains in John 4:23-24, ”But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship

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I Choose Today to Shout my Worship!

Molinda Hern April 11, 2024

Over the last week, we have learned of some beautiful ways scripture teaches us how to worship God: Towdah (תוֹדָה) – giving thanks to God for His provisions and blessings, and Avodah (עֲבוֹדָה) – we are also called to worship Him through our work and service. Today, let us explore an expression of outward worship of God: “Shabach” (שָׁבַח). The word “Shabach” (שָׁבַח) conveys a sense of loud and joyful proclamation or celebration of God’s attributes and deeds, encouraging believers to openly express their adoration and gratitude towards Him. Psalm 117:1-2: “Praise (הַלְלוּ) the Lord, all nations! Extol Him, all peoples! For great is His steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise (שָׁבַח) the Lord!” Psalm 145:4: “One generation shall commend (יְשַׁבֵּחַ) Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts.” Isaiah 12:6: “Shout (זַעֲקִי) and sing (רָנִּי), O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.” These verses highlight the theme of exuberant praise and worship of God, emphasizing His greatness, steadfast love, and mighty acts. I know some people are uncomfortable raising their hands in praise at church. But what about at home, or in

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I Choose Today to Worship God Through my Work

Molinda Hern April 9, 2024

In my previous blog post, we explored the beautiful practice of Towdah (תוֹדָה) – giving thanks to God for His provisions and blessings. Taking time to reflect on His goodness helps us realign our perspective, especially during challenging seasons. Today, let’s delve into another dimension of worship, deeply woven into our daily lives: Avodah (עֲבוֹדָה). Avodah, in its essence, goes beyond words of gratitude—it encompasses our very actions and efforts. Just as we express thankfulness through listing God’s blessings, we are also called to worship Him through our labor and service. This concept of Avodah, rooted in the Scriptures, reveals that from the very beginning, God designed our work to be a form of worship unto Him, Genesis 2:15: “The Lord God took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden, to work [וְלַעֲבֹד, vela’avod] it and to guard it.” Here, we see that even in the pristine environment of Eden, God assigned Adam the noble task of cultivating and caring for the garden—a sacred duty that was not merely about physical labor, but a means of glorifying God through stewardship and diligence. As we reflect on the concept of Avodah—worship through work—it’s crucial to consider how we

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I Choose Today to Prepare my Heart for Worship

Molinda Hern April 4, 2024

Worship. On Sunday mornings we go to church and worship the Lord when we sing. We may even go to a whole service or concert and worship through song. If you know me at all, I absolutely love praise and worship. Music, words of worship, and harmonious melodies speak to my heart. I’ve even been known to raise my hands when singing. I get lost in it, unabashed in how I appear. But worship is more than just singing; it is an attitude of the heart. The Bible talks a lot about worship, but not just the worship of song. There are many ways and occasions of worship. Over the next couple of weeks, we will discover together the many ways we can worship God. We will learn together, not only pleases God, but how it affects us. When we worship: It allows our hearts to be softened/open Deepens our faith Alleviates fear As we pour ourselves out to God, He pours Himself into us It allows God to move our hearts so we can hear from Him There are more benefits to worship, but you get the point.  Worship means something to God and it means something to us.

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