What Sundays are REALLY about

I am very well aware that what I am going to write on this entry many of you will probably think is the most obvious thing in the world. HOWEVER, I encourage you to think about this, just as I was encouraged by God to think about this...

What are Sundays REALLY about??? Are they just about what you're going to cook for lunch that day? Are Sundays about meeting up with your best friends at church? Are they about just following the SAME routine weekly....meaning: show up to church because it's what you're SUPPOSED to do but only HALF-HEARTED worshipping (meaning going through all the motions with no EMOTION behind it...), then wondering halfway through the service what your dinner plans are for that day, or maybe even working on your chore list...what are Sunday's REALLY about???

(Before I continue, because I realize this could be a toe-stepping on entry...I want you all to know that this is something that God has been working with me on this week...so in other words, I'm preaching to myself too!!! I think that this is a struggle with ALL of us, but THANK THE LORD I was dealt with on this earlier in the week, and I now have something to really think about!)

Okay, moving on...what are Sunday's REALLY about??? As I was laying in bed last night, praying for God to help me really focus on Him during worship tomorrow---it dawned on me, did I REALLY understand what worship was about??? And of course, my mind was thinking "what kind of STUPID question is that??? OF COURSE I know what Sundays and worship are about!!! It's about taking time out to give back to the Lord...to go bless the Lord, and worship Him, and be thankful for what He's done...it's our time to spend fellowshipping with our CREATOR and our DELIVERER!!!!" And of course, when this question permeated my heart last night, I was fuming with anger because by this time in my life...I KNEW what Sundays were all about, and I KNEW what worship was meant for....and THEN, as the know-it-all that I try to be sometimes---i was thinking in my head "Hello!!! I only do this EVERY Sunday and Wednesday!!!" Hehe...I do not regret being this ARROGANT last night because God had something to say to me....and it got my attention FAST!!!

In my best understanding of this time of listening to God, my heart heard very clearly "OH REALLY???" And then, to my shock (or whatever emotion it was last night), I began to realize what I've REALLY done in worship recently (despite my BEST efforts to stay focused on the Lord)....and to be perfectly honest, my thoughts have not always been on devoting that SMALL amount of time SOLELY to the Father...sure my motive is good, but in all honesty, by the end of the service...I'm having a pretty hard time not thinking about what I'm going to have for lunch that day or wondering what other people are thinking....

And it became VERY clear to me...I"M A VERY DISTRACTED PERSON!!!! When I realized this, it was like a kick in the butt because here I was thinking that I was doing a great job growing in the Lord, and then I realize that I don't think I've ever spent even ONE Sunday 100% completely devoted to what I'm supposed to do (no wonder I've felt empty sometimes!!!) So then, after realizing my fault as a human (how many of us AREN'T distracted), I began to ask God about what the problem was, and how come I can't stay focused like i want to....(by the way, when you begin to ask questions like this sincerely...expect an answer---and be prepared for whatever it is!!!)

I'm not so sure that I was READY for my answer...but I got it quickly and clear as daylight. I have a VERY CLUTTERED mind!!! Seriously---do you KNOW how many things go through my mind at one time???? I mean, just being honest---in any given 30 minutes, I could have a song stuck in my head, be reflecting on the day that I had, be playing card games in my head (you know that you play games online WAY TOO MUCH when you can play them in your sleep...although it is MUCH easier to win that way!!!), or sadly...have stupid images of whatever I had watched on TV that day...

I experienced this in its FULLEST last night as I was TRYING to focus on God in my prayers before I went to bed last night (I lay down and reflect quite a lot!) God's point was illustrated QUITE well when in my best attempts to stay focused, i was IN AND OUT of my thoughts toward Him (meaning, that as I was TRYING to talk to God...my THOUGHTS interrupted me, and all the clutter in my mind started to take over...NOT THE BEST FEELING IN THE WORLD!)

Before long, I found myself yelling to my head "HEY, I"M TRYING TO TALK TO MY FATHER HERE!!!" But it still took a while to get really focused on God, and that was a TERRIBLE feeling...but PRAISE GOD, He can work through even the most cluttered of minds!!

So I wanted a solution, right?? I mean, wouldn't you???

It's really an easy one---but it's going to seem HORRIBLE to my flesh (yes, flesh gets in the way again!) The answer was "get rid of the clutter." My mind is cluttered---and I realized last night that it needs to be filtered...and THEN, there will be order, and I can focus on my Father like I desire to...

So what does this mean for me??? It meant that I had to look in my life...and just LOOK at a day (by the way, please don't think that ALL OF THIS came from last night---it was honestly God dealing with me little by little over the course of a week...this was the PEAK, however!!!) Anyway, so I was challenged to really look at my day...well hmm, I slept in (probably a little to long), then I visited with friends and introduced them to the preaching style of Ed Young, Jr. Then I went grocery shopping and realized I was bored---so I came home and played games on the computer until I FINALLY got around to doing my quiet time an hour earlier than I'm used to so that I could maximize my time with my husband. Then when Erik got home, I played Monopoly with him, and then we watched TV again for an hour...VERY CLUTTERED day...how much time did God get??? Less than an hour!!!

Now, want to know what's really getting me??? After Wednesday this week, I felt like I really wanted more God in my life---and I prayed to Him that I was going to spend more time with Him, and pray more, and maybe even read some literature that I enjoy such as books by Francis Frangipane...I miss doing stuff like that.

Have I actually FOLLOWED THROUGH with this??? NOPE!!! And I wonder why I was feeling EMPTY yesterday???

I don't know what your answer is or if you've even felt this way before---but I realized last night just how CLUTTERED my mind is....especially during worship...

And last night, God made it ABUNDANTLY clear to me that during worship, He wants the focus to be on HIM...not what our lunch plans are...not on our chores for the day...not on what anyone else around us is doing...the focus HAS TO BE ON HIM!!!

How many of us actually live up to this??? I will honestly admit that i have not been there yet...I'm not proud of it, but I'm PLEASED that God has revealed the problem to me...now it's up to me to start working with God to get rid of the clutter in my MIND!!! He helped me get rid of the clutter in my house...and I know that He will help me get rid of the clutter in my MIND too!!!

It is my sincere desire to REALLY WORSHIP God...and i mean ALL OUT too...I want to dance before God, I want to fall down in adoration before His feet---I want to know why I'm there with no ulterior motive...just to worship my creator, the one who forgives me time and time again, and the God who is SOOOOOO PATIENT with a girl who has the tendency to be a little more than selfish and self-centered. I want to be with my Father---I want to REALLY understand what my Sundays are about...NO MORE ROUTINE...NO MORE FAKING IT...

I am ready for God to completely TRANSFORM every area of my life---starting with my heart---I am READY TO WORSHIP MY GOD, are you????