Ho’Omana…
I watched in curiosity as a fellow teacher walked across the playground with arms lifted high. Entering the teachers’ lounge, I inquired what was going on. “Was a fly after you?” I said, “it looked like you were having your own private worship service.” Her face lit up the room when she replied, “It seemed like a good day to worship.” The joy of worship erupted out of her. She didn’t need a song. She didn’t need to be in church. She lives life believing that it is always a good time to worship. She lives a life of worship and her light shines everywhere she goes. I want to be like her when I grow up, joyful and unhindered in worship!
What is the theme of your life? As my mind scrolls through my list of friends and family, themes begin to reveal themselves to me: Service, Worship, Mercy, Joy, Overcoming, Contentment…
Ho’Omana: It is the value of worthwhile work; it is an attitude of intention and full presence in whatever you do. It is the Hawaiian word for worship.
Colossians 3:23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people
Before you can give full attention and presence, you need to know the One you are giving that consideration to. If you don’t know Jesus as your friend and father, now is a good time to introduce you to my best friend.
Romans 5:6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.
Jeremiah 29:12-13 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Romans 10:9 -10 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.
I will pray that through these words and scripture you will feel “safe in the arms of God” fully experiencing Ho’Omana.
As we commit our whole selves to Jesus in obedience, He meets us, and then we truly know what it means to worship in spirit and in truth. John 4:23-24
There are around 500 verses in the Bible with the theme of worship. Abraham worshiped in sacrifice, building an altar to God. Genesis 21:33. Moses pled for the release of the Israelites – he said, “Let my people go so that they may worship.” Exodus 10. He also worshiped in repentance, often building an alter to remember who he was worshipping. Exodus 34:8 David worshiped in song and dance, even to the point of becoming undignified. 2 Samuel 6:22
What is Worship?
Worship is to honor with extravagant love and extreme submission (Webster’s Dictionary,1828).
Ho’Omana: It is the value of worthwhile work, it is an attitude of intention and full presence in whatever you do.
My pastor and dear friend Steve Whitten describes worship like this: “Every act of obedience is an act of worship.”
RT Kendall says “Worship is any activity which is carried out under the impulse of the Spirit of God.”
It is a state of our hearts.
It is a lifestyle.
It is serving.
It is obedience.
It is healing.
It is a living sacrifice.
It is communion.
It is using our gifts.
It is creative.
It is longing.
It is faithfulness.
It is listening.
It is expectation.
It should be every breath every Aloha of every moment of every day
It is Surrender…
It is Colossians 3:23
What is one word that comes to mind when you think of worship?
How do you worship?
What are the things you do that make you mindful of God, His presence and the need to have a heart of worship?
Do you have a song in your heart today? If not here is a good place to start.
“Is He Worthy” by Chris Tomlin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkRiYsTN7KY
Every day is a good day to worship our God, our Father, our Creator and Friend.
Check in next week for another message to prepare your heart for worship or better yet, drop me your email and it will arrive right in your mailbox.
My name is Keri Willis. I am a semi-retired educator. I spent a great deal of my career working with adults with developmental disabilities and many years in elementary education, in the classroom and as an administrator. My main ministry now is coordinating the women’s ministry for our church in San Diego, CA. I have been married thirty-four years and have two grown and married children. I now have a head of full grey hair and good ideas.
I believe we are created to use our gifts and to be creative. That comes in many forms for me. I love to woodwork and use power tools, design, decorate, garden, and create new recipes. And I love to write. One major lesson I have learned in my writing journey is that I need to be still and listen to hear God’s voice before I am prepared to put into words the message he has instilled in my heart. This has been much easier since I am no longer working full time, but it is so easy to get distracted and not listen, which almost always ends with an empty page in the form of writer’s block.
While I have written many articles for newsletters and local newspapers, I did not consider myself a writer until I self-published my first book, Teapots and Power Tools. https://www.amazon.com/Teapot…/dp/1466458763/ref=sr_1_3…
The idea emerged as I was working on a project in my garage. I had worship music playing, power tools out and saw dust flying. I glanced up and saw my delicate teapot sitting on my router table. The message was clear. Sometimes we are using the power tools God gives us and sometimes he just wants us to be still and have tea with him. The book became the foundation for a women’s retreat, and then my amazing niece helped me work through publishing it on Create Space (now KDP).
At least five other projects are in different stages of production. I joined hope*writers to help motivate me and keep me focused and accountable. I am still trying to figure out the whole website and blog thing. That is my next goal for myself; that and finish writing at least one of my projects!
Teapots and Power Tools: Effectively using the tools God has equipped you with, while taking time to “Be Still and Know That He is God”
View more posts
