Worship

Well, this is my first "official" post, if you don't count the one where I introduced myself, that will be related to my life in a spiritual way.  I am excited to see what all you followers/readers have to say about what I read and what I say. So you know, some of my posts are going to be based off the things that I am learning in my class, but others are going to be ones that I just feel like posting.  This post is one of something that I am learning in my class.  For class we had to read a chapter on the spiritual discipline of worship, in the chapter they list 7 steps into worship (I have listed them below)

1. Learn to practice the presence of God daily
2. Have different experiences of worship
3. Find ways to really prepare for the gathered experience of worship
4. Have a willingness to be gathered in the power of the Lord
5. Cultivate holy dependency
6. Absorb distractions with gratitude
7. Learn to offer a sacrifice of worship

Looking over the chapter and thinking back over my last few days, I have realized that some of these steps were hard or steps that I have never done.  I found that #6 was somewhat easy for me to do because this past Sunday at church I was blessed to have a 3rd grade girl sit with me for the whole service because her dad was playing in the Brass for the service.  Most of the time when I am at church, I am completely focused, taking notes, listening intently, and making sure that I am comprehending the message.  This Sunday was different tho, I found it very hard to pay attention because I had this lovely little girl next to me asking me questions about communion, what we Pastor Kyle was talking about, and showing me her coloring that she was working on.  It wasn't until the very end of the service that I remembered what I read about absorbing distractions with gratitude that I took time to really thank God for the opportunity to experience a child like faith through that service.

Now I am going to be completely honest and say that the ones that I found exceptionally hard were #3, #4, and #5.  #3 says to find ways to prepare for the gathering of worship, but I find it hard to prepare Saturday night for what is going to happen Sunday; I look at what songs we are going to be singing and look that lesson but I don't put a full effort into it.  This something that I want to get better at but I know it will take time.  #4 is hard because it requires you (me) to forget my agenda and give everything over to God, to be submissive to God.  This is hard for me because I am always thinking about what I have to accomplish during the day and what I have accomplished if I did it right.  I know that this is something that I can get better at with time, but I think this is something that is going to be hard.  Lastly, #5 is hard for me because I am always doing all I can to get the things I need to succeed and survive on but in reality I need to be dependent on God and have faith in HIM!!!!  Like the others, this is going to take time to get better at but it is something that can be "fixed".  I look forward to the day when I am completely and utterly dependent on God and can rely on Him for everything.

Well that is all for now, thanks for reading and please comment or ask questions if you would like!!

Introduction

So, I must admit that this is completely new to me and I am unsure of what I am doing but I am extremely excited to see where this blog takes me and what God has in store for me with this blog.  First of all, I am writing this blog because it is a school assignment for my Spiritual Formation class and each post that I do will deal with a topic that we are talking about but as well as other things that I may feel like blogging about.  The ultimate purpose of this blog is to reflect on the Christian life in general and my spiritual journey as a child of God. So I guess I better start tell you a little about me since you will becoming acquainted with me through reading my posts.

Well, my name is Morgan Kotrch and I am a student at Kuyper College.  I love reading books, watching movies, writing sometimes and just being around family and friends.  I grew up in a Christian home and first became a Christian when I was at a young age of 5 or so.  When I was in middle school I rededicated my life to Christ and from then on I tried to live my life as best I could, but I am human and that wasn't very easy.  I got baptized my junior year of high school and I will always remember that day.  Now from that time on, I have had many trials that God has placed in my life but I am learning that I need to fully rely on Him and I will be always be protected.

So that now leads up to this time that I am at now, still trying to live my life for Christ and be the child that He loves no matter what.  I want to thank you for for reading my posts and going along this journey with me.  God Bless!!