Decades ago, the church I was going to joined others for a praise and worship service. (If you know me you know I love praise and worship!) As we entered the church, a friend who knew me walked over and said, “Oh no, we are in trouble now!”
Smiling, he said, “In this church, we are not demonstrative in our worship, and we have a woman who will frown upon clapping or raising hands during a song service, going so far as to even confront people about it.”
I don’t think he meant that as a challenge, but then I have never been one to allow others to determine how I worship God. So, I clapped, raised my hands, and sang my praises. And others from our church did the same. And we did get the scowl.
JOY! “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith.” [Galatians 5:22 HCSB]
When I looked up joy in one of my concordances, I found more than 200 references to joy, joyous, joyfully. Christians are not supposed to look like they have been baptized in pickle juice. We are to exhibit not scowls but joy … JOY!
One of the wonderful things about Christian Faith Center (CFC) Caldwell is the joy that I find on the faces of everyone. Greeters, pastors, people who stop me in the aisles to say good morning. There are smiles all around. (The people from The Way are the exact same way!)
JOY! The joy that flourishes in my heart will (for as long as I am able) erupt in raised hands of praise to my God. I will clap. I will sing. I will worship, praise, and thank my God for all He has done … So joyfully thankful for that abundant love He has bestowed upon me. Amen
