So, I rolled up into the gym on Saturday for an unexpected treat. I love Zumba (an aerobics class inspired by Latin dance), and the two main Zumba instructors were team teaching from 10-10:50. I found my spot in a packed out studio; there were 50-60 folk up in there. IT WAS PRAISE AND WORSHIP ZUMBA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, I think that can sound hokey if you’re like imagining Zumba to some fluffy Christian music or something, but it wasn’t – hokey or fluffy. Not many instructors could pull that off, but these two are funky white girls who love Jesus, and it was worship! Granted, not all of the participants were worshiping, but I was a sweaty, soggy mess by the end. Hands raised. Eyes turned upward, deafening music, and a grateful heart for His blessings on my life. One of my favorite worship experiences of all time. Imagine 2 Samuel 6:14-16, though fully clothed (I love that passage!).

Disclaimer #4: Worship isn’t for my enjoyment; it’s for HIS adoration. BUT, it can be fun and enjoyed!

Here are some of my other favorite times of worship, and I have a correction to my last post. After yesterday, now two of those faves have taken place in a church.

• Several years ago, CeCe Winans led worship for Beth Moore in the ATL. Need I say more? 20,000 women singing “He’s a Wonder” is my all-time, off-the-chart favorite. PURE!
• Absolutely any time I get to connect spiritually with my children – whether we are thrashing about to worship music or discussing a question about Jesus or really praying together. We make lots of stabs at this one and we miss way more than we hit, but we have had opportunities to genuinely worship together, and that too is purity at its finest.
• I love worshiping while I run. I have been running on the Rail Trail when there is no one in sight, no one nearby, and normally that would terrify me. But the sun was brilliant through the trees, and I turned my music off to just experience Him in His beauty. And atop the Cooper River Bridge just a few weeks ago. It’s not the music – I don’t even run to Christian music; it’s just when I am most aware of his blessing of health and strength. Unfortunately, all runs are not created equally, and all runs are not worship experiences.
• On a dock at Lake Jocassee = sun + silence + Scripture + a still lake + lush mini-mountains + no people + no boats + staggering BEAUTY = GOD! One of the ways that I know that I know that I know that I know that we are all without excuse (Romans 1:20).
• In a condo at Wrightsville Beach, NC, where one woman after another shared her life’s secret through torrential tears. We begged Him to heal us and free us, and we sang praises together for His goodness and to His glory (Hebrews 5:7)!
• Years and years ago I was praying for a little girl with cancer. I did not know her nor her parents, but I had been asked to pray for them. In my quiet time I began to intercede on her behalf and something inside of me broke, and I began to sob uncontrollably. I could no longer speak; heck, I couldn’t breathe, but somehow even in that there was prayer and acknowledgement of His power (Romans 8:26-27). That hasn’t ever happened again, but it was neat in a very weepy way.
• On my face on the floor of the Cawthon and Chapman homes many nights as we asked God to do a new thing in Florence, SC.
• Worshiping at UNLEASH in March 2008 only days after learning that God was going to be doing a new thing in Florence, SC – NewSpring Church.
• Yesterday hearing eleven scattered voices speak in confident unison to receive Christ’s death and resurrection as their own at the conclusion of the service at NewSpring Florence.

He is ever worthy of our worship and praise!