Offer Your Bodies as a Living Sacrifice

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. — Romans 12:1 

Happy hallow's eve.

Sunday we made pumpkin succulents, and they turned out beautiful.

Tonight we'll had out candy to the neighborhood kids.

And we'll celebrate with a potluck and constume contest at work.

But everyday we celebrate God's mercy.

Worshiping Him with our actions, words, and spirit.

Do Not Conform to This World

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. — Romans 12:2

This is a tough verse to swallow.

It's hard not to confirm to the pattern of the world.

But God is ready to tranform us into something much better.

Renewing our mind so we can test and approve God's will for us.

His good, pleasing and perfect will.

Yesterday, my writing team took me out to lunch to celebrate Boss's Day.

I am blessed by my coworkers and friends.

Be Transformed By the Renewing of Your Mind

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. — Romans 12:2

God calls us to be in the world but not of it.

To be transformed by the renewing of our minds in Christ.

Not to conform to the pattern of this world.

All this so we will be able to test our for ourselves what God's will is for us.

To approve what He has in mind for us.

God's good, pleasing and perfect will for you and me.

True and Proper Worship

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. — Romans 12:1

God's mercy is overwhelming and completely undeserved.

In view of His great sacrifice, He calls me to offer myself to Him.

As a living sacrifice, pleasing to God.

Only He can make me holy.

Through Jesus I can come into His presence.

This is my true and proper worship.

Yesterday our church hosted a graduation ceremony for the Rescue Mission, nearby.

It was a joyful time of celebration.

 

Lord, My Rock

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. — Psalm 19:14 

Today I sang in choir again at church for the first time in 3 weeks. 

It felt wonderful.

It was an orchestra Sunday and the Pt. Loma Strings joined our orchestra for some of the songs.

I wasn't sure if I would have enough breath support to sing all of the hymns and praise songs as well as the anthem, but God kept me going.

May the words of the mouth and the meditation or my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord.

You are my Rock and my Redeemer.

My Savior and my Lord.

Do Not Conform to the Pattern of This World

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. — Romans 12:1 

It's so easy to conform to the pattern of this world.

But God wants something better for me.

He wants to transform me into His image and renew my mind.

He wants me to be able to test, discern, and approve what God's will is.

We already know that His will is good, pleasing and perfect.

God knows what's best for me.

May These Words Be Pleasing

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. — Psalm 19:14

The words that come out of my mouth often seem to be rush out before I think them through.
At times I have foot in mouth disease.
So I have to ask God to hold my tongue.
So my words will be pleasing rather than harsh and abrasive.
Muzzle my tongue, Lord.
Contain it so it becomes pleasing to you.
Let my words be encouraging.
So I can give you all the glory.
Our neighbors have decorated their house with pumpkins.
We are hoping to pick up one this weekend.
Just not the inflatable kind!

Living Sacrifice

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God — this is your true and proper worship. — Romans 12:1

God has been merciful to us.

He asks me to offer myself as a living sacrifice to Him.

Giving myself back to Him each day, doing His will, following His way.

This is the kind of worship He asks of me.

To give Him my life and my heart and mind.

To be a living sacrifice, doing things that are pleasing to Him.

Living a life that is holy and that glorifies His name.

Sing Praise to God

I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the Lord. — Psalm 104:33:34

First Presbyterian Church Choir 2011

I loving singing praise to the Lord.

I will sing praise as long as I live.

A few weeks ago I had a chance to record several songs and hymns for our worship services.

Our quartet recorded some, I did a duet, and I got to sing a couple of solos.

Last Sunday, one of those solos was included in our online service.

The words were from Chronicles and quoted God's word to us:

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray,

Then will I hear from heaven and will forgive and heal their land.

Very timely for our world today.

Even with the violence and hatred in our city and our country, I rejoice in the Lord.

May My Meditation Be Pleasing

May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the Lord. — Psalm 104:34

We rejoice in the Lord and in the beauty of his holiness.

Here's the beautiful sunset we saw from our patio last week. 

Yesterday we filled our patio with friends and family and had a fun dinner together. 

After the fireworks we headed back home for s'mores. Max tried them for the first time, and they were a hit.

What an incredible world we live in.

Our God is amazing.

We are blessed.