16: Living Sacrifice: Part 2 : Spiritual Worship

Spiritual Act of Worship


Romans 12:1-2
Therefore, as brothers and sisters in Christ, offer your bodies as living sacrifices for the Lord, Holy and pure, for this is your spiritual act of worship.  And do not be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, then you will know what God's will is For your life, His Holy, Perfect and Pleasing Will.

My Dearest Daughter,

Being in our family, it's easy to be good at musical praise and worship. It's a part of who we are. We are always leading worship at the church, and you and your brother have grown up singing praises.  I see you with our book and pen and at only 4 years old, you're writing worship songs to the Lord.  You are good at this part of worship, it comes easy to you. 

Here, Paul speaks of a new kind of worship - a "spiritual act of worship" and it's to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to God. - Meaning to give Him control over our lives.

Darling, this world can be so evil - young girls having boy-friends, kissing, holding on to a bad relationship, having oral and open sex.... these are all things that shows Satan has control, not the Lord. 

When God has control of your life, you will have these "fruits" in your life -

Read all about these in Galatians 5.

-Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Gentleness, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Self-control.

When the Lord control you these will be evident in your life.  I think personally that self-control is the hardest one is self control, because without it, none of the others are possible, but the most imporant is Love.  A Love for Christ also means a love for others- and with love, you will begin to grow in the rest of these fruits.

Be a LIVING SACRIFICE, give him your ALL.

When I lead worship, I often let the people know that one of the reasons I open up my arms in worship,  is because it's an act of surrender... I'm actually picturing GIVING him, handing him, ALL of me.
 
But the most beautiful part about opening up my arms, and giving God my all, is that I'm not only in the position to GIVE him my all, I'm also in the position to RECEIVE all the God has to offer.  And believe me... God a lot more to offer me, than all I have to offer him.  (that's a little confusing, but it makes sense when you really think about it).

So offer him your all today, I'm sure you'll be blessed with what he has to offer you in return.

I love you.

15. Living Sacrifice Part 1: Be Holy and Pure

Be Holy and Pure

Romans 12:1-2

"Therefore, as brothers and sisters in Christ, offer your bodies as living sacrifices for the Lord, holy and pure, for this is your spiritual act of Worship. And do not be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by  the renewing of your mind, then you will know what God's will is for your life, His holy, prefect and pleasing will."

There is So much to Gather from this passage of scripture, Four big points come clear to me. So I've split it up in the next 4 chapters for us to review.

This first thing I notice is Paul says to the Roman Church, to offer our pure bodies to the Lord.

Without stain, without sin.  Now of course I know we are sinners, all of us are guilty - However, God's grace, is enough to wipe all of our sins away and make us pure again.

Daily, you would make it a habit of waking and asking the Lord to keep you PURE throughout the day.  He will gaurd your ears from bad words, your eyes from evil, your heart sin - if you ask and daily, you need to ask for forgiveness for the sin you have done.

He won't ever get tired of you coming and asking him to purify you, infact, He rejoices in it.  So do it daily, with a humble heart, thankful of Christ's Sacrifice.

Pray the prayer David taught us:

Psalm 139:23
Search me God and know my Heart.
Test me and know my Anxious Thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me and

lead me to the Road of Everlasting Life.

He will make you pure.  He will make you Holy.



14. Jesus Isn't Make Believe

Hey Baby Girl,

I was just thinking about all of the fun we have playing make-believe.

Sometimes we pretend we're tigers, sometimes you say we're princesses, running from the wicked witch.  Sometimes, many times, you say 'let's pretend you (mommy) are the mommy, daddy is the daddy, baby is the baby, and I'm the sister!"  I'm not sure how you get such a kick out of that one, but somehow you always do.

As much as we play make-believe, I want you to understand that this whole spiritual world that I tell you about,is NOT pretend.  God is the creator, Jesus his Son, the Holy Spirit our Comfortor, the Angles and Demons they are all very real.

We're not playing games when we call on the name of Jesus.

 He is our Master, the Boss, the Boss of everything we do.  He is always there with us.  He is not here to catch you when you do something bad, but to walk through life with you, as a Father, a friend, as your God.

Jesus isn't make Believe.

He's real, He's alive, and one day, he's gonna take you home with him, to that beautiful place he's made for you.

In John 14, Jesus talked about how he is gone to prepare a place for us, a place with many manions.

He's coming for you baby girl, just wait and see!

13. Love Others

My Dearest Daughter,

He has made you with so much personality and social skills, I imagine that gifting will be working with people. 

Don't dimish your gifting, or act as thought it's not special.  People, lost people, are the most important thing to Jesus.  People are the ONLY THING you can take with you to Heaven.

But beware, as you focus on telling others about Jesus, and how to have a relationship with him, make sure YOU strive for more of Christ.

Never be satisfied!

This is not just your mom's advice.  Jesus himself didn't tell the disciples the most important thing was to preach or save souls, or cast out demons, but rather he spoke this in Mark 12:29-31.

Someone asked "What's the Most Important?"

Jesus replied,

"The most important commandment is this: "Hear, O Isreal!  The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind and all your stregnth. 
The second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself.  No other commandment is greater than these."

I challenge you baby girl, to memorize these scriptures, and say them every morning when you wake up, and ask Jesus to help you keep his commandments.  Tell him how much you love him, tell him how you need His love to overflow in you.

Love Jesus is easy, he only blesses us and loves us.  Loving people, if we try to love them with our won efforts, can be very hard sometimes, because people might not be as loving as Jesus.  But we Must love them, and not just any love, the love we have for ourselves, you must love them with that love as well.

So how can you show God you love HIm more than anything? 

You cannot just put on a show, and pretend to love him most.  He see's intro your soul.  You cannot trick Him.  You must abandon all else, and just love him.

Spend time in worship, sitting in His presence, Praising Him, Bowing to Him, loving Him for all His is and does loving Him in blessing and in sorrow -

And people - Think you how love yourself... you feed yourself, you feed others... you clothe yourself, you clothe others.  You spend money on yourself, spend money on others.  If we really did love others and we love ourself, we would never think of putting our won needs first.  Never think of taking care of yourself, because you deserve it, no , instead you would think of blessing others, as equally as yourself.  You would seek ways to bless others, to love them as best as you know how. 

You, Alanna, are already an example to me of this love.

It's beautiful.

Whenever we go out shopping for a new toy, you want one for you, and one for your friend.

Whenever you see a new dress you like, you want one for you and friend!

Whenever you grab something to eat from the fridge, yo grab enough for you and whoever is home with you.

Whenever you paint a picture, it is for someone else, to bless them.

In all of these, you are doing as God said, and Loving others as yourself!

Keep it up Baby Girl!  And think of ways to continue doing it each and every day! 

Your Heavenly Father is so Proud of you.

12. Friends

The man of many friends [a friend of all the world] will prove himself a bad friend, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18: 24

Make no friendships with a man given to anger, and with a wrathful man do not associate. Proverbs 22: 24

He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love, but he who repeats or harps on a matter separates even close friends. Proverbs 17: 9



Proverbs 27:6 (American Standard
"Friends mean well, even when they hurt you.  But when an enemy puts his arm around your shoulder, watch out!"

Proverbs 27:6 (New Living Translation)

 ⁶ Wounds from a sincere friend
      are better than many kisses from an enemy.

I can honestly say that your Daddy, Joseph Lee Rountree, is my very best friend.

There's a great confidence I have in him, as a friend and as a mentor.  He is my greatest support in life, but there's many times, I feel like he's my greatest 

To have a good friend, you have to BE a good friend.

I pray you are even closer to your friends in adulthood than I.

Remember to listen to their needs and be there to help them. Friends appreciate eachother, they value each-other.

If you find yourself having a hard time with a friend, just sit back and see if it seems your having a hard time, because she's challenging you, encouraging you to be a better person and challenging your expectations.

Love you Darling!

11. You CAN

Phillipians 4:13

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Dearest Daughter,

My precious baby girl, I believe with all of my heart that you can do anything you put your mind to.

Whether it's learning a new language, passing a test, making new friends, staying pure, recording an album, being on TV.... I believe you can do it.

If God gives you a dream or a vision to do something that seems to big for you to do, then be excited! Because it means He will lead the way for you, and give you the wisdom, understanding and open doors for you!

Unfortunately, there is a high chance, that because God has given you a dream, an annointing, and a calling, our Enemy is upset and wants to steal, kill and destroy your vision, your hope and your future. 

He is sneaky, and might use people you love and trust the most to put you down, or give you the spirit of defeat, and make you think these Bad words:
"I can't."

Watch out for these words.  Don't let them enter your vocabulary.  They have demons attatched to them!

Remember what Paul said,
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Paul said that, after reflecting how hard he had faught to stand for Christ - he was vicously persucted, yet He had decided to stand for truth.  And God gave him strength to do so.

Jesus said to us:

"All things are possible for those who believe."

Sometimes you might even feel off with how much confidence you have, but it is not self-confidence, it is God confidence.

I am amazed by the wonderful woman you are, and can think of so many perfect ways to describe you.

YOU are amazing, beautiful, talented, gifted, wise, intelligent, loving, powerful, kind, sassy, friendly, giving, classy and Confident in who You are. 

Fight to stay this way!!!

You can, and you will.

10. Loving Others as Yourself

So how can you show God you love Him more than anything?  You cannot just put on a show, and pretent you love him most.... He see's into your soul. You cannot truck Him.  You must abandon all else, and just love God.  Spend time in worship, sitting in His presence, Praising Him, Bowing to Him, loving Him for all His is and does loving Him in blessing and in sorrow -

And people - Think you how love yourself... you feed yourself, you feed others... you clothe yourself, you clothe others.  You spend money on yourself, spend money on others.  If we really did love others and we love ourself, we would never think of putting our won needs first.  Never think of taking care of yourself, because you deserve it, no , instead you would think of blessing others, as equally as yourself.  You would seek ways to bless others, to love them as best as you know how. 

You, Alanna, are already an example to me of this love.

It's beautiful.

Whenever we go out shopping for a new toy, you want one for you, and one for your friend.

Whenever you see a new dress you like, you want one for you and friend!

Whenever you grab something to eat from the fridge, yo grab enough for you and whoever is home with you.

Whenever you paint a picture, it is for someone else, to bless them.

In all of these, you are doing as God said, and Loving others as yourself!