How does one "worship"?

God has been urging me to write this post for some time now. I keep putting it off thinking that I have nothing that will help others. Our family is going through changes with my mom, trying to rebuild a burned house, finding a new forever home for a beloved family pet and just trying to get through the insurance red tape. I am exhausted both physically and mentally. As some of you know my beautiful daughter is a worship leader at a local church. Her passion for Christ and her love to serve, along with her amazing voice and musical abilities, make her a strong leader in the world of prayer and faith. I go to her service and I enjoy it greatly. I often have tears in my eyes from the sheer beauty of her voice and ability to bring people to their feet in "worship". I find myself thinking, "I want to be like that!". I have a strong belief in God and know that without Him I am nothing. I also believe that my prayers are heard and my heart is healed with His power. However, when I see others worship, I do not truly understand it. Where does this power and passion and inner joy so strong it makes you jump to your feet, come from? Before each sermon the minister has someone pass the microphone around so others can share a story where "God is at work". I love the stories and I sit silently reflecting on all the ways God has been by my side the previous week. When Raychel sings my heart is filled with joy and my heart is full...is this worship? When the minister is in the midst of his sermon and I can relate to what he is saying and often feel he is talking to me...is this worship? I leave every week wanting to know if what I felt and heard was what others call worship. It was well after 2 am the other evening when I got to bed. I called upon God to help me get through the rest of this week and to let me feel that all will be ok. I closed my eyes and I had a vision of God kneeling beside me and stroking my hair. No words....just stroking my hair. I had tears in my eyes and finally dozed off. Was this worship? Still struggling to be amongst the elite group of those that truly KNOW the He is your path to the future he has planned for you, I was driving to the gym to get some much needed exercise to clear my mind. In the middle of one of my favorite songs a banner came up that showed a Ronnie Milsap song was playing on another station. Without even second guessing I clicked the banner. I do not listen to country but Milsap was one of my favorite artists back in the late seventies. The song that played was "what a difference you made in my life". As I listened to the words I felt an overwhelming fullness in my chest and I started to weep. What is wrong with me?? I just kept crying and listening to the words. And then it came......the feeling that everyone was talking about. The feeling that God was inside my heart and I was His child. The feeling one gets when they are caught up in the moment and feel the spirit and are worshiping the God that makes it all possible. How can this be? A Ronnie Milsap song? Here are the words

What a difference you've made in my life What a difference you've made in my life You're my sunshine day and night Oh, what a difference you've made in my life What a change you have made in my heart What a change you have made in my heart You replaced all the broken parts Oh, what a change you have made in my heart Love to me was just a word in a song that had been way overused But now I've joined in the singin' 'Cause you've shown me love's true meanin' That's why I want to spread the news

God has "fixed" my heart and all my broken pieces. He has changed my life. He has shown me what love is. I can truly say, I finally know the feeling of worship and it came to me in a country song. Go Figure.