True Worship - My Journal

True Worship: An Expression of Obedience, Praise, Honor, and Adoration

Matters of the Heart —Sharing my Journey with God, and my faith with others.

Written by Carol

Dear Worshiper,

Welcome to True Worship: True Worship is any expression of obedience, praise, honor, adoration, and gratitude offered to the true God by a regenerate soul who knows the truth about God and loves him. This devotional was born out of my journey of rediscovery, as I returned to God's heart, learned to worship Him in spirit and truth, and allowed that Worship to extend beyond Sunday Church Services into everyday life. This lesson on Worship is currently being taught by my Senior Pastor, Dr. Joel Tudman, at Faith Center Sunrise. Whenever a lesson is taught in Sunday Worship or Bible Study. I like to take it a step further and put my notes in a journal format to refer to them when I have an issue that needs reinforcement. Worship is not just a song we sing; it is a surrendered life we live. It is in the quiet moments, the hard seasons, and the midnight hours, just like Paul and Silas in prison. I have learned that real Worship breaks every chain, opens hearts, and invites God’s presence into the darkest places.

My prayer is that this message blesses you, strengthens your relationship with the Lord, and draws you into deeper, more intimate Worship. As you write, reflect, and pray, may the Holy Spirit meet you on every page.

 Worship That Breaks All Strongholds

The story of Paul and Silas in prison is found in Acts 16:16-40. This chapter details their imprisonment, their continued prayer and praise to God, an earthquake that releases them from prison, and the jailer's conversion.

Acts 16 teaches us about God's leading and the power of the Holy Spirit in spreading the Gospel, as well as the importance of faith, perseverance, and joy in Christ, even in the face of hardship. It also highlights the significance of praying for God's guidance and direction. 

Devotional Thought:

There is a kind of Worship that does not wait for a breakthrough; it brings the breakthrough. Paul and Silas, shackled and bloodied in the prison of Philippi, did not let their chains stop their praise. At midnight, the darkest moment of their situation, they lifted their voices in prayer and Worship. 

An earthquake shook the very foundation of the prison, doors swung open, and every chain was loosed.

This is not just a historical account; it is a spiritual principle. When we choose to worship God even when it hurts, walls fall, chains break, and hearts are changed. Worship is warfare. Praise is power. And your midnight melody may just be the key to someone else’s freedom.

The Heart of True Worship

Scripture Focus: Psalm 99:5-9, John 4:23-24

Final Thought

Worship is not about music or mood; it’s about meeting God at His footstool and bowing low in our hearts even when life is full of issues. True Worship exalts God because He is holy, not because everything is perfect around us. Worship is our surrender, our echo back to God of who He already is.

Heart Check-In

Am I worshiping from a place of truth (from the bottom of my heart), or is this just an emotion?

Is there something I’ve placed on the throne of my heart that needs to be surrendered?

Do I worship even when I don’t feel Him?

Prayer Starter

Father, I come to Your footstool today, not asking for anything, but to exalt You for who You are. You are holy. You are worthy. Let my Worship resonate through the walls of my heart and out into the lives around me. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Worship Moment

Do you have a phrase, lyrics, or thought that rose in you during Worship this week? Was it a whisper, a scripture, or a song? Leave a comment on this page, and it will remain here.

Here is mine:

Power in the name of Jesus that breaks every chain.

For your Glory, I will do anything, just to see you and praise your name.

Psalms 9:1-2 (NIV)

I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders.

I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

Bake Turkey Sausage Empanadas

Click the link above for the recipe.

Recipe for Humility and Trust in God

 

This is a spiritual recipe for growing humility and trust in God. It talks about important ingredients like really giving up control, relying on God every day, and having a heart that listens. It suggests practices like being grateful, praying regularly, and taking brave steps even when you're scared. The daily directions include starting each day by surrendering to God, affirming trust in His presence, and journaling to deepen your relationship with Him.

Ingredients:

1. Genuine Surrender (Psalm 46:10)
"Be still, and know that I am God."

   Acknowledge your limitations and deliberately give control back to God each day.

2. Daily Dependence (Proverbs 3:5–6)
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding..."

  Choose to rely on God's wisdom rather than your understanding.

3. Listening Heart (John 10:27)
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me."

  Spend quiet time in God's Word and prayer, learning to recognize His voice.

4.  Gratitude & Remembrance (Numbers 15:39-41)

  Constantly remember God’s faithfulness, which strengthens your trust and humbles your heart.

5.  Consistent Prayer & Intercession (Numbers 14:13-19)

Pray not only for yourself but also to intercede sincerely for others, acknowledging dependence on God’s power.

6. Faithful Patience (Isaiah 40:31)
"But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength..."

Trust God's timing and resist trying to rush or "fix" situations yourself.

7. Courage to Face Fear (Isaiah 43:1-3)
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you..."

Face your fears honestly and replace them daily with God’s promises.

8. Transparency and Authenticity (2 Corinthians 12:9)
"My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."

Be open and vulnerable with God (and selectively with trusted believers). Openly recognize your need for Him.

Directions (Daily Application):

1. Begin Each Day with a Surrender
Start your day by humbly placing it in God’s hands, admitting your dependence, and asking for guidance.

2. Daily Affirmations
Verbally remind yourself of Isaiah 43:1-3, affirming your trust in God's presence, especially in challenging situations.

3. Reflect Regularly (Listening and Journaling)
Record insights from your time in God’s Word, noticing how He speaks directly to your fears and challenges.

4. Express Gratitude
Regularly thank God for His faithfulness, mercy, and protection, building trust through remembrance of past victories.

5. Pray for Courage and Patience
Seek God's strength to face fears courageously. Ask for patience and the ability to trust His timing—even when waiting feels hard.

Tropical Fresh Salad

Click the link above for the salad recipe.

Recipe for Restoring Trust

 

What is Trust?

Trust—Good relationships are built on trust, which includes confidence, belief, faith, certainty, assurance, credence, and reliance.

I want to recommend a book about trust that I am currently reading:

“ I Want To Trust You, but I Don’t.” The author is Lysa Terkeurst, and the book is available on Amazon.

Now, to the recipe.

Serving: 1 heart in need of healing

Prep Time: A Season of Patience

Cook Time: God’s perfect timing

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of Prayer (to seek God’s guidance in every relationship)

• 1 cup of Discernment (to recognize who is trustworthy)

• ¾ cup of Grace (to forgive and release bitterness)

• ½ cup of Boundaries (to protect your heart while healing)

• 1 tablespoon of Vulnerability (to open your heart when the time is right)

• 1 teaspoon of Patience (to allow the trust to grow naturally)

• A pinch of Hope (to believe that good relationships still exist)

• A dash of God’s Word (for daily nourishment and strength)

Instructions:

1. Start with Prayer – Pour your heart out to God, expressing your fears and wounds. Ask Him to lead you to trustworthy people and remove those who are not meant to be in your life.

2. Stir in Discernment – Use wisdom and caution when building relationships. Test the fruit of a person’s actions, not just their words.

3. Fold in Grace – Remember that no one is perfect. Offer forgiveness, not for their sake alone, but for your own peace.

4. Add Boundaries – Set clear limits on how much access others have to your heart until they prove trustworthy. Healthy boundaries are necessary for restoration.

5. Sprinkle in Vulnerability – In small doses, allow yourself to open up when God gives you peace. Trust grows in layers, not all at once.

6. Let it Simmer with Patience – Don’t rush the process. Some wounds take longer to heal, and some relationships take time to rebuild.

7. Season with Hope and God’s Word – Keep your heart hopeful, knowing that God is bringing the right people into your life. Meditate on scriptures about trust, such as Proverbs 3:5-6.

Serving Suggestions:

• Best enjoyed with faith and encouragement from trusted believers.

• Serve with a side of wisdom—trust is given in steps, not leaps.

• If bitterness appears, add extra Grace and forgiveness to soften the heart.

Final Thought:

Just like a good dish, trust takes time to develop. It cannot be rushed, and every ingredient plays a role in bringing healing and restoration. The key is to let God be the Master Chef—He knows exactly how long it takes to refine your heart before trust is fully restored.

Supporting Scriptures for the Recipe for Restoring Trust

1. Prayer – Seeking God’s Guidance

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by Prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

2. Discernment – Recognizing Who is Trustworthy

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Matthew 7:16 (NIV)

“By their fruit, you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles?”

3. Grace – Releasing Bitterness & Offering Forgiveness

Colossians 3:13 (NIV)

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”

4. Boundaries – Guarding Your Heart While Healing

Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

Ecclesiastes 3:1, 5b (NIV)

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens… a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.”

5. Vulnerability – Opening Your Heart When the Time is Right

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

6. Patience – Allowing Trust to Grow Naturally

Psalm 27:14 (NIV)

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

7. Hope – Believing in Good Relationships Again

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

”‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

8. God’s Word – The Foundation for Trusting Again

Romans 15:13 (NIV)

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

 

How to Make Healthy Salad Bowls

Click the link above for the Salad Recipe.

A Gift of Salvation From God

 

  “ A Recipe for Salvation”

The recipe for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. It contains all the ingredients and steps for a spiritual transformation.

Just as I love to cook delicious meals, I like to approach salvation as a beautiful, life-changing recipe, a gift given to us by God. Here’s my recipe card, complete with scriptural ingredients and instructions!

🥖 Recipe: The Gift of Salvation

Serving Size: One Heart at a Time
Preparation Time: Instantaneous upon sincere belief

🥣 Ingredients:

1. Acknowledgment of Sin

    Romans 3:23: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

2. Recognition of God’s Love

    John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

3. Belief and Faith in Jesus Christ

    Romans 10:9: "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

4. Grace of God

    Ephesians 2:8-9: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works so that no one can boast."

5. Repentance & Turning from Sin

   Acts 3:19: "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord."

6. Confession & Invitation

   Revelation 3:20: "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they will be with me." 

7. Baptism (Expression of Your Faith)

  Acts 2:38: "Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'"

8. Continued Growth in Christ

    2 Peter 3:18: "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever!"

🍽️ Preparation Instruct ons:

1. Open Your Heart:

   Humbly recognize your need for a Savior and your inability to save yourself.

2. Mix Faith and Grace:

   Believe with your whole heart that Jesus Christ died on the cross, paid the price for your sins, and rose from the grave, conquering sin and death.

3. Fold in Genuine Repentance:

  Decide intentionally to turn away from sin and toward God’s loving and righteousness. 

4.  Invite Jesus In:

   With sincerity, ask Jesus Christ to come into your heart, acknowledging Him as your personal Savior and Lord.

5.   Seal the Deal (Baptism):

    Publicly declare your new life by following Jesus' example through baptism, symbolizing the washing away of your old life and beginning new.

6. Serve with Love and Gratitude:

Daily nourish your spirit by studying God's Word, praying, and fellowshipping with other believers. This keeps your salvation fresh and vibrant.

🙏 Simple Salvation Prayer:

"Dear Jesus, I know I'm a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose again. I turn away from my sins and ask You to come into my heart as my Savior. Guide me and help me live for You. Thank You for Your grace and the gift of eternal life. Amen."

The steps for continued growth in Christ, as outlined in this recipe, include:

Daily Nourishment: Keep your spirit nourished by regularly studying God's Word. This helps you understand His teachings and apply them to your life.

Prayer: Prayer is a way to maintain a strong connection with God, communicate with Him, seek guidance, and express gratitude.

Fellowship: Connect with other believers. Sharing experiences and supporting each other in faith keeps your spiritual journey vibrant and fresh.

Quinoa Salad

Click the link above for the recipe.

A Recipe for Faith

 

Daily Bread - Faith 

Faith, like a well-loved recipe, takes time, patience, and the right ingredients to develop. It’s not something we master overnight—it’s something we stir, knead, and nurture daily. Just as a good meal nourishes the body, faith nourishes the soul, bringing strength, peace, and joy in every season of life.

So today, let’s step into God’s kitchen and prepare a timeless dish—one that satisfies beyond the table.   

Faith: A Divine Recipe

Serving Size: Unlimited

Prep Time: A lifetime of seeking Him

Cook Time: In God’s perfect timing

Difficulty Level: Made simple with trust

 

 Ingredients:

🥄 1 cup of Trust in God (Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding…)
🥄 2 tablespoons of Prayer (Philippians 4:6 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer…)
🥄 3 teaspoons of Patience (Hebrews 6:12 – Imitate those who, through faith and patience, inherit what has been promised.)
🥄 A pinch of Trials and Testing (James 1:2-3 – Consider it pure joy… because the testing of your faith produces perseverance.)
🥄 1/2 cup of God’s Word (Romans 10:17 – Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.)
🥄 A dash of Obedience (James 2:26 – Faith without works is dead.)
🥄 A handful of Encouragement from Fellow Believers (Hebrews 10:24-25 – Encourage one another… not giving up meeting together.)
🥄 1 overflowing cup of God’s Grace and Love (Ephesians 2:8 – For by grace you have been saved through faith.)

Directions:

1. Start with a firm foundation of trust in God. Just as every good recipe begins with solid ingredients, faith starts with believing that God is in control—even when we can’t see the full picture.

2. Stir in daily prayer, allowing it to blend into every moment of your life. Prayer is the seasoning that enhances our faith, keeping our hearts connected to God.

3. Gradually mix in patience. This key ingredient requires time to develop. Just like a slow-cooked meal brings out the best flavors, patience refines our faith in God’s perfect timing.

4. Sift through trials and testing. Trials may feel bitter at first, but they are the heat that strengthens our faith, much like refining gold. Don’t be afraid to let God work through your challenges.

5. Fold in the richness of God’s Word. Scripture provides nourishment, direction, and truth—it’s the flour that holds everything together. Without it, faith loses its structure.

6. Sprinkle in obedience. Following God’s instructions—even when we don’t understand—allows us to experience His blessings. Think of it as the yeast that helps our faith rise.

7. Garnish with encouragement from fellow believers. We are called to support one another and lift each other as we walk this journey of faith together. A shared dish is always more enjoyable.

8. Let it rest in God’s hands, allowing time for faith to mature. God’s timing is always perfect, and what He prepares for us will always be better than what we try to create on our own.

 Serving Suggestions:

🍽️ Best enjoyed daily, paired with a heart of gratitude and a side of worship.
🍽️ Share generously with others—faith grows when shared!
🍽️ Store in God’s everlasting love, never expires and is renewed each morning (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Final Thought:

Faith is like a home-cooked meal—it takes love, care, and time to prepare. The more we trust the process, the richer and deeper it becomes. We may not always see the full recipe God is working on in our lives, but we can trust that His hands are always guiding the ingredients.

As you go through today, I encourage you to reflect: What ingredient do you need to add more to your faith? Do you need more trust, more patience, or more time in God’s Word? Take a moment to pray and ask God to strengthen your faith—He is always faithful.

And remember, in God’s kitchen, nothing is wasted. Every ingredient, every season, every moment is part of His perfect recipe.

Country Style Cheddar Biscuits
Click above for the recipe.