Today, I want to tell you just how special you are. First, you are unique and different. God made you that way. There is no man, women or child quite like you. In fact, there has never been anyone in the history of the world like you. You are not one in a million, you are one in six billion. Use these differences to glorify God. Be excited about being different. God made you to be you and not to pretend to be someone else. God made you with a purpose in mind. Your house, your office, your community, your family, your school, your church - they just aren't the same without you. God made you with a purpose in mind. He made you to solve a problem in this world. Somewhere, there is a person that only you can reach, a life that only you can touch, a situation that only you can fix, a hurt that only you can heal. This is who God made you to be. God was delicate and deliberate in creating you. Every detail, every hair, each unique fingerprint and every nook and cranny. He knows your name. He chose you. You are adored. You are famous in His eyes. God spoke billions of galaxies into existence, but the crown of His creativity - is you. Not the Great Barrier Reef, or Mount Everest, or Victoria Falls - it's you. He fashioned you with the utmost of care. You wear a crown of glory and honor in His immense world. When you look into the mirror, you see scars, pain, wrinkles, misery, despair, sorrow, tired eyes, eyeglasses, thinning hair and a paunch. God sees glory and honor reflecting in your light. But God also made you with unique quirks, with troubles and with weaknesses because it is through your weaknesses that God is made strong. It is through our weaknesses that we learn to rely on God's graces. In His kingdom, the weakest is the greatest. He can use you in a mighty way. You are not a mistake. You have too many exquisite details to be a mistake. The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. - Zephaniah 3:17 We all do not serve God in the same way. God doesn't want to create a drone army of people who walk alike, talk alike, sing alike, look alike, dress alike, or act alike. God wants his people to be unique, chosen, royal and special in every way. Jesus paid the ultimate price for you. Because you are worthy in His eyes. He has forgiven you - past, present and future. He loves you and He wants you to love Him. There is nothing more remarkable than this. We call this the gospel. It's a huge deal. There is nothing on this earth or in this galaxy that tops the love and the passion that God has for you. You are his dear child. When you have come to grips with this reality, I am convinced that your lifestyle will also be one of worship. It has to be. There is no other way. This is the reason behind this book.
About the Author: Steve Brown "Lifestyle Worship - Poems, Prayers & Ministry Resources" is Steve Brown's first book. It is a telling of his journey through faith. Steve is a worship leader, singer, wannabe songwriter, and guitarist at Messiah Lutheran Church located in the Northeast corner of the United States. His book includes a collection of faith-inspired poems, prayers for a variety of situations, articles on things related to faith - his ministry and his calling, and responsive writings to be used in the church or for home devotions. Steve runs a blog titled "Worship Ideas You Can Use" at http: //sjbrown58.wordpress.com and has two previously published works including an article titled "Two Thanksgiving Litanies" published in The "Reformed Worship Journal" June 2010 and "Speaking in Tongues" published in "Rev Magazine" May/June 2007, page 78. Steve started blogging in 2008 as a result of being prodded by his Pastor and soon discovered that he could also dabble in poetry and to a lesser extent - songwriting. Steve currently serves as his church's worship coordinator, Website blogger, Facebook contributor, runs the children's message ministry, sings in the choir and is a singer/songwriter/musician on his church's worship team with a passion towards worshiping His savior, listening to and performing contemporary Christian music, and playing the guitar. Steve is happily married, has one son, a daughter-in-law, and also enjoys working around the house and yard, especially in his vegetable and fruit gardens. His full time job is as a mechanical engineer in the Research and Development sector. To God alone be the glory!