Day 8......Planned for God's pleasure

Hey there:

This has to be, so far, one of my favorite of the chapters so far. I love the description of worship, and the clarifications thereof as well. We get into a lot of religious speak in churches and in our daily lives as well. We associate certain things or certain types of songs as "worship" when really, it's all worship. The way we live our lives, do our jobs, and love one another. It's all worship to God. There is so much that has been so unclear to me in my walk with the Lord because so much of what I valued was church sponsored (or accepted) ideas and ideals that have little to nothing to do with our daily walk as Christians. It's so very easy to look at things and try to understand or explain them. But what we fail to realize is that we cannot use our finite minds to explain everything about God......even everything He is. He's my first love, my Daddy, my helper, my counselor, my provider, my healer, my all in all. He should be that (and more) to all of us, yet at times we forget how special we are to Him. I remember a few years ago preaching a sermon, and right there in the big middle of it, the Lord just put some words in my head to speak to the people, and to myself. He said, "Tell them they are My favorite!" You are God's favorite........His favored child above all. I know parents aren't supposed to have favorites, but God can, and does, view us ALL as His favorite. When that truly hit me I got a little choked up. God really loves me.......He really loves you. Not because of what you did or didn't do, but because of who you are. He LOVES you! That's the greatest news I think I can ever give you. With Him there is nothing impossible, and without Him, we can do nothing. Jesus spoke those words. His love is not here today, and gone tomorrow. No, He loves without conditions. When I strayed, and ran from Him for over 7 years........He kept nudging me, and sending folks to tell me about Him. The mistake they all made was, they never told me He still loved me. They all told me I was sinning, I was going to hell, I was killing myself...........all that I knew. Although I don't believe I was on my way to hell. This is backed up by scripture......once you surrender to Jesus the only way to be "unsaved" is to renounce Him aloud, publicly. I truly believe that with all my heart. (One of the first things that folks are required to do in satanic cults is to renounce Jesus as the Son of God. They don't ask them to renounce anyone or anything else. No. Tell me, why would satan require someone to renounce something that leads them away from Jesus? He wouldn't. His goal is to keep folks from knowing how much he hates them, and how much God loves them.) Don't ever forget that God loves you, and Jesus loves you. I have "Jesus Loves You" written on my back windshield. It's very interesting to see the reactions of folks who pull up behind me. Some are having a rough day, some are mad because I'm not going fast enough for them (don't know how that's possible....hehehehehe), or for whatever reason things aren't going well for them that day. Some seem to calm down a bit. Others look away. While yet others smile. I'm not some great person who always does everything right. I make mistakes and I can get just as confused as the next guy. But one thing I know.......I'm God's favorite. It brings tears to my eyes just say it....it also brings a smile to my face. Never forget........YOU are His favorite.

"What common task could I start doing as if I were doing it directly for Jesus?"

You know......I don't really have much of an answer for this. I really do try and do everything as if I'm doing it for Him. Perhaps housework and washing dishes, and cleaning the restroom........those would certainly qualify. Hehehehe. Have a great day and God bless. :-) James