This year I would like to work on something and make it intentional to help my relationship with God become deeper. I am picking a word for the year and making that thing to focus on through out the year.

My word is WORSHIP.

Worship is:  when we give our deepest affections and highest praise to something. 

Deuteronomy 6: 4,5

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is the one Lord:

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 

We are to make KNOWN his praise and to learn how to worship. As a mother I also want to teach my children how to worship as well. 

There's so many things going on around us. What if we work on shifting the focus of surrounding worries that's always changing, to our father, who NEVER changes and stays the SAME? 

Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. 

Malachi 3:6

For I am the Lord, I change not; therefor ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. 

I have always thought of worship being singing to God and singing about him. God gave me the talent of my singing voice and its something I honestly do not use as often as I probably should, even around my house. But worship is so much more and doing so much more. I have realized that worship is one of those things that I am continuing to learn more about and as I am learning about it, I want my children to see me worshiping our God and learn from me as well.

So the question is this, how can I worship and home when I am not at church? And what kind of things can I do with my family or even alone?

Let take a look together at some ideas that might fit into your home and into your daily life! I plan on implementing some of these as well. 

Deuteronomy 6:6-9

And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:

And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.

And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

Words of worship around the home. What does that even mean? We are to love the Lord with everything that we have and if someone walks into your house and looks around even at your home decore, do you think they would see that you "Hang it on the door posts?" Words of worship around the home could simply mean having bible verses in decore that might be your favorite or even a verse your family finds special! Another idea for words of worship could simply mean having post-it note praises or verses as well around your home. I have a few spots that I have sticky notes of things I want to be reminded every day of what God has done for me, what I know he CAN do for me and also just how great he is! You could put these in your kitchen cupboards as well as a quick reminder!

I mentioned singing and songs above. Yes this is a form of worship. You could have a playlist on whatever app you use on your phone to put together your favorite hymns or songs that are sung at church. I also recommend listening to biblically sound podcasts. Theres quite a few that I have on my spotify that I quite frequently listen to. The majority of the time I listen to them are when I am driving or in the kitchen. Being more intentional about listening to them Ive noticed has really been a positive influence on my bonus daughter and she comes to me often about some Christian podcasts she'd like to listen to. Its a wonderful reminder to me to keep going and to not stop. 

Galatians 6:9

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 

When I pray over my meals, I notice I pretty much say the same thing. So it seems another way to worship would be to add a word of worship phrase in our everyday prayer. Just telling God how awesome he is and how much we DO adore him. Yes he already knows that hes pretty great, but again, we need to worship him. Two things happen here. The first thing is, it puts language into worship. The second thing that happens is our children see us use our words to worship him in prayer! 

Learn to worship out of a place of hardship and discomfort. There has been plenty of times I should have been worshiping him instead of sitting in my anxiety and fears, being overwhelmed by things I cannot control. I am learning that worry is flooded out by worship and it has been one of the best things!

My latest blog about my flight disaster really was the start of a turning point for me. It was what it was and even though I was so sad for the thought of ALL of us not to be together for Christmas and I was going to just make the best of it.  Was I COMPLETLY getting go? That would be a no. But God is ALWAYS on time, and he was ON TIME! 

Theres SO MANY other ways to worship God but these are the things that have come to my mind first! We need to do these things EVERYDAY, not just on Sunday or just at church when we need to get filled or when we need the Holy Spirit to come fill our homes and churches. Ourkids need to seethis everyday in our own lives as a family.

Is this consistant with how I've lived before my children this week? ** GUT PUNCH**

Think about this! The children of Israel crossed the Red Sea........They looked back at that sea closing as they all crossed it, and worshiped, even thought they still had to cross the desert. And it took 40 YEARS! 

Exodus 15: 19,20,21

For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.

And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.

And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

God is still good when the waves roll high
God is still good all through the night
When I've done all I can and I don't understand
God is still good
Clouds of doubt may darken my way
But showers of blessing may come any day
He'll bring me through and I'll stand and say
God is still good

I am pretty sure we can go right on ahead and sacrifice some time and effort to worship God. Its really the least we can do in comparison to what he did for us!