Distracted? Praise Him!

Our world is just too busy! When I was raising wee ones several years ago, the buzz word for the accomplished mom was, "busy." If you weren't busy enough, that implied laziness or a less-than life. It was a competition to prove who was doing the most or who was the weariest. It was the old, "do better, try harder" false gospel of what matters.

Busyness can be a tool to distract us from what really matters: our relationship with God. I struggle with this, and I know I am not alone. Just the other day, my pastor-husband spoke from the pulpit about worship, that we tend to categorize it as just a Sunday activity—that could not be further from its truth!

The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught." Isaiah 29:13.

Worship is a matter of the heart, not place. Although worship as a community of believers is important (scripture is clear about that; see Psalm 109:30 and 1 Corinthians 14:26), and if your heart is not directed toward your Lord, then who is your Lord?

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1.

Whoever or whatever we give our hearts and lives to, is the object of our worship. If our minds and hearts are given to our tasks, our televisions, our time, our money, rather than turning to our God, our worship is really with those things. I am not trying to "get religious" on you, I am "getting real." My life is deeper, more meaningful, when it is God-directed, instead of Kerry-directed. And when I am worshipping my God, I cannot worship myself. Praise Him!

Abundant Life by Jenna Vick Silliman

Jenna Vick Silliman, 2012

Do you want to focus your life on what is really important to you? Write your own obituary!

Jenna Vick Silliman lived the abundant life of Jesus Christ!

Jenna danced for the last time as she twirled off the planet! Jennifer Elizabeth Vick Silliman (Jenna) was born on February 18, 1958 and died at age 107 on March 1, 2065. Born in San Francisco, California she was the daughter of James Allan Vick and Jacqueline Frances Pearson. She was married to Clifford Arthur Silliman (Cliff) who preceded her in death. Together they had eight children, Daniel James (Married Elizabeth Jarvis), Valerie Joy, David Arthur (Married Charisa Nelson), Michael Aaron, Joshua Andrew, Stephen Matthew, Luke Thomas, and Peter Stanford and ___ grandchildren… and ___great-granchildren…[It will be glorious to have a LONG list of all the grandbabies here!]

Jenna was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, married Cliff at age 22, and homemaking was her chosen career. She resided in Sequim, Washington for 65 years, but delighted in traveling, dancing and flagging in worship, speaking, and encouraging disciples for Jesus all over the world.

Jenna was a prayer warrior and made a lifestyle of living in unbroken fellowship with God. Her favorite verse in the Bible was Psalm 16:11/Acts 2:28 “In the Lord's presence is the fullness of joy!”

She was a writer and author of many published books, the most well-known is “Shall We Dance?” about dancing in the Holy Spirit.

She was known for loving King Jesus with all her heart, for her inspirational speaking, her colorful clothing and twirly skirts, and enthusiasm for the abundant life of the Lord. She will be missed by many.

Her life was not a journey to the grave…rather she danced till she dropped, body thoroughly used up and worn out so that she arrived at those gorgeous pearly gates screaming, “Whoohooo! What a ride!”