"today....our Daddy was pleased"

"That service was great!" "This is what a church service should be." "I've never seen so much emotion in a Christmas service." "I could feel the music through the seats." (I really liked this comment) "The church was singing so loud!" "Was this service recorded? I want a copy!"

These comments were a few of the ones that I heard this past Sunday after our Christmas service at East Rowan High School. It was so exciting having everyone from the Salisbury Campus together at one service. There is always so much work that goes on behind the scenes before an event such as this, but when you see the excitement in the eyes of people as they come into the school, and you hear them sing praises to the Savior as we celebrate His birth......its like a major recharge. No matter how tired you thought you were, the joy of the church lifts you up. And as the Worship Pastor here at HRCC, there is nothing that pleases me more than to hear the church come together in worship. Whatever you may have been thinking about when you walk into HRCC; it really doesn't matter which service you attend, if you focus your heart on the worship, and you become a worshiper.....then you are replacing everything in your mind with worshipping God. And that is our purpose......that is what we are called to do....worship God. So many times we think that we have to do things in a certain way to please others, or to be noticed by others. If you are like me, you probably have learned that it is very hard to please others. It is almost next to impossible to please everyone. But, when we decide to worship God; we realize that He is pleased with our worship. It doesn't have to be in tune; it doesn't have to be in time; it doesn't have to be flawless; it doesn't have to be perfect. All that your worship has to be is you and God. And when He has your full attention.......all of your focus.......all of you.......He is pleased.

One of the most amazing comments I heard about this past weekend was from a lady that said to me; while trying to hold back tears, but losing..... "I know that today.....our Daddy was pleased." My prayer for her, and for everyone that worships at HRCC, is that we all remember to take the time during this Christmas season to do our best to please our Daddy.