At long last, I've gotten the opportunity to update this journal...I wrote a poem a few days ago, which I figured I'd share. It's referring to a WORSHIP experience I had last Sunday. It was awesome. It was the first time (in a long time) that I could 'whole-heartedly' worship God (without distraction). I was grateful for this experience:

I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High. Psalm 7: 17 (NIV)

WORSHIP

You draw me close

Even when I've kept my distance so long;

You remove all my cynicism

And give me a song...

You take me into your presence

Where the outside world cannot see;

You saturate me wholly,

By your Spirit, you set me FREE!

You lift me to heights unknown

As I hear your gentle whisper in my ear,

It's all about your intense moving;

And not about emotions or tears...

My mind goes numb to the outside world

My body limp under your control,

My mouth sings praise unto your name,

As your glory fills my soul!

Experiencing your peace inside out

I could linger a lifetime there

Expressing my Love, & grattitude and praise

As I utter your name in prayer.

Written: October 16, 2005

There are times when you're praying, and even though you're praising God - it almost becomes like 'intercessory' prayer because other's needs are coming into your mind...and so you're bringing 'needs' (prayer requests) before God. While this in itself is not a bad thing, sometimes I just feel like I'm robbing God his rightful PRAISE. Because He deserves our "thanks!"

...Then there are the times like I described. "PRAISE". Nothing but!

We were singing the Chorus "I'll Worship Only (at the feet of JESUS)" when God really drew me close to him...and I could only utter out praises...no pleading, just praise...just THANK YOU... just grattitude.

He is your praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes. Deuteronomy 10: 21 (NIV)

The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God, the Rock, my Savior! 2 Samuel 22: 47 (NIV)

Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. 1 Chronicles 16: 9 (NIV)

I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. Psalm 63: 4 (NIV)

"Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people. Luke  1: 68 (NIV)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1: 3 (NIV)

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name. Hebrews 13: 15 (NIV)