4 Notes
The Faith That Produces True Worship
Today I was so encouraged by my weekly time with Jared Ross, preparing for Sunday morning. I am unbelievably blessed to work with such passionate and gifted people here in Haviland. Through our time of dreaming, and discerning what God is doing among our church people and community, it seems we always come back to worship as a lifestyle through our response to God, obedience to God, and an attitude of faith that ignites it into motion.
I am a worshipper today because of my parents, John and Vicki Hinshaw. They took me to church from infancy and displayed for me what worship was really about by being worshippers of God, as did my grandparents Lloyd and Doris Hinshaw. I watched my father, a lifelong pastor, lead public worship weekly and passionately proclaim the glory of God. The older I get, the more I realize how much I gained from his reverent approach to a life of holiness. By example, Dad taught me how to be a worshipper, therefore giving me the confidence to be a worshipper who leads.
Jared has a very similar legacy of worship. Jared was brought to church weekly since infancy as well, and is a life-long attender and member of Haviland Friends Church. He started here, now passionately serves here. He too was taught through people who modeled a life of worship. He too was shown what responding to God could look like in the life of a man. He too was shown what obedience to God’s direction could produce. Jared is now committed to a lifelong attitude of worship, not because he woke up one day and decided to be a lover of God, but simply because people modeled it for him, and therefore he saw the life that he could live. I am thankful for Jared, because I am thankful for all the people who have shaped him, mentored him, discipled him, and walked with him through their own response, obedience, and attitude toward God.
Jared is simply one of the many testimonies we have on display in our little church, and God is not done!
As I have studied a bit today for the message God is stamping on my soul for Sunday, I was reminded of why I am here, why Jared is here, why Josiah is here, and KC, Audrey, Casey R., Lori, and our incredible leadership at HFC. I am here as your pastor because people modeled a life of worship for me. We are here because there has been a plethora of people in our past who have displayed unwavering faith, steadfast hope, and unrelenting worship to God for over 126 years!
Here is the passage…
[4] By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice [i.e. life of worship] than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts [God commends true worshippers]. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.
(Hebrews 11:4 ESV)
Through a life of responding to God and being obedient to Him through an attitude of worship, our life will lead others to do the same. Be the man or woman you long for others to become by living fully for Him and your life will still speak for generations.
Love you all and consider serving you to be one of my life’s greatest blessings!
Pastor Donnie
