Worship redefined . . .

So I started reading Extravagant Worship by Darlene Zschech last week . . . it will probably take me a while to get through it simply because I really want God to speak to me as I read it. I already have a passion for worship and leading others in worship. This summer I began leading worship at our church, and I've realized that it's sometimes a battle. The devil isn't happy when God's people praise and worship Him!

Anyway, back to the book . . . I've only read part of the first chapter, but here are a couple of quotes that jumped out to me:

Our worship pleases the Lord. There is real strength when believers bring a corporate offering of praise to God in the church. I love the sense of storming heaven with our praise when we unify in faith. I love when we, the body of Christ, can just BE together in His magnificent presence.

The Lord enjoys the diversity of sincere worship when expressed through His Spirit and in truth. Worship should be a way of life, with many facets of expression. The insistence that there is only one way to worship God has often left the body of Christ confused, fragmented and frustrated.

Extravagant worship grabs God's attention. . . . Throughout the stories in the Bible, whenever someone demonstrated extravagant worship, God reacted with extravagant blessing. It's cause and effect. Extravagant worship brings extravagant results. What makes worship extravagant? It must cost us something!

Definitely food for thought and something I intend to keep pondering in the days to come!