All I need to know I learned in Church....

Let me start off by saying that this Sunday was an extra special one because my mom can home from Nigeria and is not going to go back. So we were in an more emotional state than normal because of the situations surrounding her trip and return home. Also the boys didn't go to church tis week so it was just mom and I and it was awesome to spend that time with her just the two of us (well and everyone else at church).
Mom and I got to church at 7am to setup the coffee ministry and get the treats together. Dad has pulled a muscle out of the river the day before so he stayed home. We pushed through the coffee ministry prep and got done a couple mins before normal so we could get into the sanctuary and take a seat without rushing in and just making it before they start singing.
Worship was amazing, I felt the words I sang them and meant them and was glad to be their praising my God. It was awesome to see all the people come and welcome mom back to church and ask her about her trip. The ones who already knew the story just came up and hugged her and showed her love knowing she had an extremely stressful and trying time.
But most of all, the sermon was deep, it was convicting and it was right on target for what I needed to hear. We went over just 2 verses and they are extremely powerful.
Romans 12:1-2 1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual^[a] act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
There are two verses so I will tell you the two main things that stuck with me from this sermon.

1. Verse 1 - To offer your self as a living sacrifice means to be willing to do it. To offer is to do it out of your own desire to please Him and know that that is what is pleasing to God. You can not do it out of force, ritual, routine, or with an unhappy heart. It has to be your heart's desire to please and worship the Lord as a sacrifice to Him.
   
2. Verse 2 - Not to conform ourselves to the pattern of this world. That we should not be going along and acting as the world acts. Pastor Andy said it best on Sunday, "We should not look ANYTHING like the world, AT ALL!!" There should be nothing about us and about our lives of the world. We should be different, we should be an example and we should be a holy reflection of God's love for other to see and desire to have.
   

I just loved his quote so much I had to share it with everyone I love. So I had to put te rest of it to go along with it you know...God Bless everyone....Have a great week.