holding back...

People's attitudes at my church really turn me off at times. I love worshiping God, but sometimes its hard to contend with all of the gossip, rude remarks, and ungodly actions that take place at church sometimes. The other day a lady in my church was cursing, and that totally put me off the rest of the night as I was steaming inside. Sourness within the hearts of the people I worship with is usually the only thing that turns me off.

I'm shy. I don't want people to hear me, but God is helping me.

I'm a pretty closed person when it comes to emotions, so I find it hard to open up like I do in worship in front of others, but I'm working on it!

Long ago, Joshua had led the people of Israel to the promised land. They’d been successful in their battles against their enemies, and there were few threats clouding their collective horizons. Joshua gathered the people together, and reminded them of all the great things God had done for them, and their ancestors. God had set them free from Egypt, guided them through the desert wilderness, and brought them to a land of milk and honey, along with great stock market returns. A self-satisfied people were at risk of falling under into the grasp of other gods, and neglecting that which had got them there in the first place. That’s when Joshua called on the people of Israel to renew their relationship with God, and to make God the focal point of their lives. "Decide this day who you will follow; as for me and my house- we will serve the LORD!"

Through.....

Faith, we believe in Christ

Worship, we celebrate in Christ

Scripture, we learn and grow in Christ

With joy, we compassionately serve one another and the world in Christ.

"Light on a Hill." In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus candidly told his followers "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." Then, as now, we’re to reflect the light of God’s love into the world around us. Think about that for a moment, and think about all that light can do. It can illumine dark places, driving doubt and despair away. Fear vanishes, and hope is restored. Doctors tell us that those without adequate light can become physically ill, because light warms the soul; it reassures the lonely, and comforts all those who fear the unknown in their psychological closets. Light beckons people to it’s circle, like moths to a porch light. The inventor Ben Franklin began Philadelphia’s street lighting system where he placed a lantern on a pole outside his home, and people would walk to it because they could see better beneath it. How can we be Christ’s shining witness on a lampstand- God’s light on a hill????

That isn’t the only metaphor which Christ used with his disciples; he also called them salt. We can let that word picture run loose in our imagination, and consider how salt flavors the stew. It raises the blood pressure; too much of it can ruin our food; without it, the stew is pretty bland.

**** are you ready for duty on God’s battleship

I hope so, because the ship is leaving port; but as for me and my house- we will serve the Lord!

God Bless

This is interesting. I've also noticed that I hold back at church myself. But only at church. I figured it was just some personality quirk because I'm not all that comfortable around people in general.

I have no problem showing my love for Him and worshipping any other time. But like ChristsChick said just hard to open up.

I would also like to share this...

Sometimes when we can't open up, sometimes there is something in our lives that is blocking our praising and glorifying God.

It could be a sin...it could be we are having a hard time to forgive someone..

The Lord desires to see some traits in us to the point that He will work and rework and rework us as clay in His hands until we minifest the traits He desires.

Pray about it and ask God to make clear what the problem is...why you cannot open up...Pray for deliverance...

Endure until you see the fulfillment of God's word. Stay on track.