Seek the Place of Meeting

Sorry for this late promised post. This week has been quite crazy preparing for the next 2 weeks of exams. I have been doing so much maths that I was burning with frustration against the people who came out with all the mathematical theorems and formulaes. But as I thought further...life would be quite different (in a very bad way) if mathematics isn't around. Just a thought. Hmm, I digress...

By the way, Pastor Gary & Sis Lorraine have posted at the IGNYTE blog recently. Do check it out if you haven't. Pastor Gary's post will give you a better idea of what 'worship' is, while Sis Lorraine shares how she prepares for this Saturday's Worship Experience.

So...continuing from my previous post. I was on the way to school when I started thinking about tomorrow's (oh wait...it's already today!!) Worship Experience. And God brought me back to some of my past worship sessions. And in particular, one worship session stood out. Oh...by the way, the 'worship' used in this post refers to worship with songs. There are also other forms of worship.

I had the privilege of attending some worship sessions led by well-known Christian bands - Delirious, Sonic Flood, Casting Crowns, Planetshakers... And WOW!! The atmosphere, electrifying...the music, beautiful...the band, awesome...I admit God has touched me at these events. However, the encounter that was most memorable was not found at any of these events. Instead it was in a relatively simple place that I found my Place of Meeting with God.

So what place is it? It is the Olive Room. Haha...any blur looks? I probably sparked off doses of nostalgia for my 'older' readers :P For those with blurness, Olive Room was at the previous Paya Lebar building, which was one of the places Trinity's youth ministry used to worship. It was much smaller than our chapel...slightly longer than a classroom, and could probably squeeze 150 odd people. The room wasn't anything like our chapel...the walls were white and plain, in fact plaster were coming off them. No spinning colour lights...but we try (ever tried reflecting cds off an OHP?) The worship band was comparatively simpler. But this was the place that I found my Place of Meeting with God.

I still remember it was my first SP camp. I was in JC1, and have been in Trinity for around 1.5 years. I am a second generation Christian, so worship isn't something new to me. But the worship that took place that first night of camp caught me by surprise. Like I said in the previous paragraph, it was a simple worship in a simple place. But sometimes simple is best (first night of BattleCall anyone?) Anyway, during worship, I felt a draw...a urging on. It felt like I was being pushed deeper into worship. And along the way, God was teaching me a new way to worship Him. And as I went deeper, I found myself in the Place of Meeting with God. Imagine being in the courts of God...you can see God on His throne; yet at the same time you can feel His arms around you...hugging you...holding you. A great king who sits on a throne but has his loving arms around me. Greater touch of the love of God I have never felt.

That worship session was a huge stepping stone in my walk with God. Every time I worship Him from that day onwards is a desire to seek that place of meeting with Him. It doesn't matter what songs you are singing...how powerful the atmosphere is...who is in the worship band...who the people are beside you...what they are doing...all of that don't matter. Worship is about your response to God. Just you and Him. It can be worship in your own TAWG...at a small group setting...during church service...or at a mega worship concert...all that matters is for you to seek that place of meeting with God. Trust me...when you meet God, and He puts His arms around you...it beats everything else! Period.

So...have you found your place of meeting with God?