COME!

giggles, laughter, screams, doors left open, wet floors, slam (snowball on the window), hollering for help, food, hot chocolate, dryer running, sledding, walks, fires, bundled up children, neighbors....the list goes on. There’s something new in town that beckons us all to ‘COME’. We’ve answered the beckoning call of the outdoors the last few days and STOPPED the usual. I didn’t experience anything unique to all the others on the East Coast, but I recognize the refreshing peace it’s brought across our family. We’ve even heard prayers that praise God for his creation in a new way...one that even makes little hearts (and big) hope for snow days in heaven. I didn’t want the cars to get out of the driveway. It was an unplanned “staycation” as I’ve heard about in the economic downturn. I would normally not trade worship at our church for being home...ever. BUT, as the Lord would have it, we didn’t shovel Saturday and couldn’t find one early enough to start digging Sunday. It was good. I realized again how worship shouldn’t be isolated to church on Sunday. I know all of creation calls for us to worship, I know the smiles and laughter in my home cry out for me to worship, I know the hugs from family and friends and the prayers prayed ask for my praise, I realize the ways I even hurt and cry out to God can be worship, BUT...do I know why my God says worship is good? I forget it’s not necessary for HIM, but for ME!!

We have so many challenges that I want to ‘fix’ before I worship. Of course I call out to Jesus...I need HIM! But then my affections are STILL on ME! In the end I’m really only worshiping....myself. I do it well. So much so I don’t even notice...it’s my 2nd nature. That’s where I miss Jesus. Jesus gives me a ‘new nature’ that isn’t so independent and strong. I thought today about how when you have this much snow, we do a lot of the Nestea plunge....face or hind-parts first. It’s an abandonment I forget. One of complete freedom. It’s one (among the many) thing that makes snow cry ‘COME’. And then it hit me, it’s sooo much better when
Jesus says COME! Surprisingly, it’s not the ‘COME’ of the world. This come is like the snow...it’s one of freedom, an abandonment of self falling into his trusting arms. This doesn’t require me to do anything but let go. Really, this is how worship can look each and every day. It’s really refreshing to just COME. What happens from there is where living in the Spirit flows. Instead of fixing and frenzy, I can live with freedom! Our Nestea plunges are nothing in comparison to the satisfying fall into the arms of the one who catches us, holds us and gives us the water of LIFE! I worship simply because I come, hear and drink. May our Lord be glorified as we simply let go and COME this Christmas and each new day he gives!

Revelation 22:17 NIV The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.