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Worship
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Posted by: lostseed
I think Ive posted something like this before, but Ill do it again with a better example. Sorry If this seems like a double post from the past.
I go to church, my dad does too, we are kind of the same. But today at church
again like last week, last month, etc (I dont go much), I am never comfortable being the only person standing there feeling very odd while everyone is dancing and singing.
1. I have no singing voice.
2. I don't dance or jump around, not even alone.
3. I'd LIKE to feel comfortable, but I don't feel like I'm that way to go and make a scene.
Some times I feel bad, but Im not trieng to dishonor God or anything. I just really cannot bring myself to say, Im going to sing in this monotone voice, Im going to raise my hands with my body heat rising and sweaty face and palms.
I have a bit of anxiety, but I dont think thats the main issue, its not pride. Im not proud, its just that I dont think I am like these people. It seems me and my dad are the only people who are not comfortable with the whole singing thing. I like church to hear the Word, and when they sing for sometimes 30 minutes I get very bored from standing, and I dont feel like Im growing at all.
Any Suggestions?
Posted by: Christian Commando
What I have learned from over the years, it's not all the extras, but wether you get fed by God in the message or not.
Yes, it is good to get involved and it should help prepare a person for recieving a message by being involved in praise and worship of God and christ. But, not all people are the same and God knows that better than any other.
He will know and touch you as works best for you, but do your part in seeking that which God touches you best by or thru. It doesn't matter if others think less of you not getting involved in alot of physical praise and worship motions. not everyone is comfortable with that style.
Getting closer to God is what is important. After all, you cannot please people best, if not pleasing God first.
God Bless!!
Posted by: MarkSentMe
I am a new Christian. I still don't know when I'm supposed to raise my hands and 9 times out of 10, I "AMEN!" at the wrong time, so it seems like I am a smart-alek! But, what I have discovered is, people are accepting of me and my quirks. No one is looking at me or judging me. I do like the singing, even though I have a voice like a toad! Or as my daughter's friend would say,"You have a stinky voice!" But that's OK. God can use my rotten voice to help someone else not feel so self-conscious 
At our church, we do sing for about 30 minutes and get the message for about 30 to 35 minutes. Since we don't have other readers or do the communion thing, our pastor is preaching for a solid half-hour or so. So the music is a welcomed opener.
Perhaps, you can stand with your eyes closed and see how the music takes you. We have "special music" several Sundays each month and I sit with my eyes closed. This way I feel like I'm not staring at the person who is singing a solo, and sometimes the music is very soothing and comforting.
Maybe there is a hymn that you particularly like and can talk to the music minister about singing that one occasionally. We seem to be singing "Just as I Am" a lot. I'm pretty fond of "I Surrender All". Actually I'd like to sing Nirvana's "Come As You Are" as an invitational hymn! Now you know why I'm not in charge of this! If I was up there playing the piano, the invitational hymn would be "Chopsticks" or "Mary Had A Little Lamb"!
Posted by: Ericsmom
It's just great that you're learning about the Lord and how to worship Him.
I understand how you feel about the singing, raising hands, and dancing. It's something I've been working through for about 2 and half years. Here's a summary of what I've found so far for myself-
"Sing aloud ... make a joyful noise unto the God ... (Psa. 81).
Since the verse says make noise, I can make noise - having a beautiful singing voice isn't required - thank goodness. When I'm at a collegial football game, I scream my head off. (Don't want to say which one b/c that might cause problems).Ha Anyway, I had to ask myself - How do I show my excitement about the Lord to the Lord?
Dancing in the church - I really had a problem with this one. But after attending a conference where a dancer danced to the song "The Spirit of the Lord is Here" and the spirit fell in an awesome way, I started changing my mind. Additionally, after reading the diaries of Maria Woodworth-Etter, she said the devil had preverted the dance. The enemy doesn't want us praising the Lord in church or out of church. The enemy has a counterfeit for everything. Anyway, there are numerous scriptures about dancing before the Lord such as
"And David danced before the LORD with all his might ..." (II Samuel 6:14).
Sometimes during church singing time, I say the words instead of trying to sing. Also, I change the words so they mean more to me. For example, "me," "my," to "us," "our" - that way I'm asking the Lord to bless the entire congregation, the entire spiritual family instead of just myself. I find a lot of our songs are about the Lord blessing us and I'm thankful for every blessing but I also want to bless our Father. How do you praise/worship the Lord? Some people sing to the top of their voice in the shower and dance before the Lord in their private prayer time. There are many things we do that's worshiping the Lord. Definitely learned, the more I praise and worship Him, the more my relationship grows in Him.
Again, it's great that you're learning - May
"The grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the intimacy of the Holy Spirit be with you." (II Cor. 13:14).
Posted by: GA5966
Wow, I am proud of all of you. Mark you are funny I loved how you comically told your story. God has a great sense of humor I mean look at the world. You are all right on. This is my take I am very uncomfortable during song service and if I have a friend nearby who is in worship it helps. But now where we are there are few people and my friend who helped me not feel so akward during worship is thousands of miles away in WA. I have been told by the Lord it is my time to do it on my own. I feel like I am all red in the face but I stand during song service and sing with all my heart even though I don't have the voice of an angel more like a crow (HA HA). Praise is a form of battle and sometimes I have had to praise whole heartedly to allow the battle to be won and fought right in the church. I will not tell you it is easy but God doesn't want us to stay in our comfort zone. I have caught myself being more verbal at my son's football games as well. No not making a spectical just joining in the fun with the other parents you know cheering on the home team. God is the hometeam so we need to cheer him on to. Hope this helps some.