May 31st

I love leading worship every Sunday in my own church. I also enjoy visiting retirement homes to offer worship services to the residents. While not as regular as my weekly duties, these sporadic trips to different places are a wonderful opportunity to share the Word and to touch the lives of folks who are sometimes a bit forgotten.
My last attempt, didn’t go quite as planned. I arrived a few minutes early, was welcomed by the staff and told where to set up, and when I arrived only one person was there. Announcements had been made, schedules drawn up and people informed, but other than that one lady, no-one showed up.
Now, I’m a fairly adaptable and patient person, so I decided to wait for a few moments. Maybe folks would come. Maybe not. I would wait and see. Naturally, while waiting, I struck up a conversation with the one person present in the room. While talking, I started thinking about what I would do if no-one else arrived. Would I stay? Would I go? Would I complain to the management about not helping folks get to worship?
The decision was pretty easily and quickly made. I was there for the forgotten. For the lonely. For those who needed and wanted to hear God’s Word. I was there for that one lady sitting across the room from me. After five minutes or so, I went and sat right beside her and we chatted away for a half hour or so. She told me her story, I shared my favourite Psalm with her, and together, we worshiped not in prayer or song, but in sharing God’s love. She repeated time and time again how God had helped her make it through tough times. I acknowledged her witness and learned from her deep and unshakable faith. It was a holy, and wholly beautiful time together, a moment of sharing made all the more special because it was just me, Vera, and Jesus together in faith.
Worship can be big and bold, with a mighty organ, powerful praise band, and pews filled to overflowing. It can be a small, hesitant choir leading a tiny congregation in a tired old city church. Or it can be two people in a room getting to know each other. What makes either situation holy is not the trappings or the numbers, but the understanding that whenever two or more are gathered in Jesus’ name, He will be with them. Add to that a genuine desire to know and love that other person in the room with you, and you have the recipe for a deeper blessing than virtually anything else can offer.
Like I said before, I love to lead worship. It’s just part of who I am and how I express my love for God. The other day God gave me the opportunity to worship Him more quietly and intimately than I have in a long time. Together with Vera, I had a chance to bask in His glory and hear of His wondrous works, leading worship not so much by doing, but simply by being present in His name. I am truly grateful for that blessing and I pray that God might help you find an opportunity to worship Him as deeply and closely. All it takes is for you and someone else who loves Jesus to get together, share His love. and He’ll take care of the rest. At least that’s the way I see it.