And I Long to Worship Thee

The following note that I entered in my Bible...

...as I read Daniel 3:1-30, the account of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego when they refused to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, reminded me of an experience that I had regarding worship. 

But first a little more information about our story from Daniel. This command from King Nebuchadnezzar, to worship was to be the response for all the peoples in his kingdom whenever they heard “the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipes” or ant other kind of music. But the trio of Israelite men would bow to worship no other god than the true and living God.

How this text really ministered to me  

While recovering from an extremely painful surgery, wherein I spent many hours either silent or in tears, my husband began singing to me songs of the Christian faith. When I heard him singing (when I heard the sound of his music), I was reminded of the comforting biblical truths they expressed and that sparked in me a response of quietly singing with him.

At the moment I began to sing with my husband, a flood of pain-relieving tears poured from my eyes. In worship of my God and King - the true God, not a false manmade god - the pain in my body fled. Now I wept with joy for the goodness and compassion of my Lord’s acknowledgement of my love for Him, expressed in my worship at a time when worshipping Him was the last thing on my mind.

And we see this also with the three Israelite men who were cast into the fiery furnace. The difference was that at the sound of the music, rather than fall to worship a false god, they remained standing by faith, committed to worship only Yahweh.

That was a worshipful response and for it they were cast into the fiery furnace. But in that dreadful place, I’m sure like Paul and Silas in the Roman jail, their worship became very vocal. Whether that was prayer or singing or both, their reward was the visitation by a fourth man, the Lord Himself, who prevented the fire from harming them and literally walked in the now-quelled danger with them.

True Worship yields divine intervention

What divine and amazing rewards the Lord pours forth when we worship Him in the most difficult, painful and even dangerous experiences of our lives. At the sound of our praise and worship, which is music to His ears, He sends forth protection, relief, freedom and peace.
We see His protection from death here in Daniel. We see His rescue from physical bondage in the Roman prison when Paul & Silas worshipped in song. And I experienced relief from excruciating pain when my mind, controlled by suffering, turned to worship. 

The Martyrs and how they sang in the fire

And now I begin to understand how those who have been martyred - lit on fire and burned at the stake for their faith - have been able to enter God’s presence, joyfully worshipping in song. as the fire consumed them.

They knew the divine power that Yahweh releases to rescue one from physical suffering when that suffering isn’t what is preeminent in their minds. Rather it is how God will use their suffering for His glory and in that they revel as they are empowered to worship Him even in the danger and/or pain. Their suffering is then transcended by His glorious presence as He walks with them in it just like He did in the fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. How amazing is our God?

But  you may ask, what about Paul when he prayed three times for relief? 

We read in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 about a suffering that the apostle Paul experienced. He asked the Lord three times to remove what he called "a thorn in the flesh". Though we are not certain of what his physical problem was, we can be certain that the Lord did indeed intervene in his suffering. 

Paul's description of what the Lord did for him reads, "Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in your weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

How wonderful. Strength for weakness, sufficient grace for our insufficiencies, joyful praise for our sufferings! I'd say that the Lord ministered to Paul even though his pain remained. But God's marvelous grace was more than enough to motivate Paul to rejoice in his discomforts. 

But there's something of even greater significance to all of this

However glorious these truths are, and they are wonderfully marvelous, they are not the most astounding truth as far as human suffering is concerned. As I thought about the grace that God gives His children, I realized that He did not give this same grace to His own Son on the cross.

Jesus experienced the wrath of God, so that I can experience His grace

Jesus went to the cross to bear the wrath of God that I as a sinner deserved. In His suffering there on the tree, He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46).
Jesus could not cry out to His Father for help in His great distress for His Father had, in fact, turned away from Him. This is because He became sin, who knew no sin for me. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21).

This is stunning, the most glorious exchange ever! Jesus took my sin and graciously gave me His righteousness. He experienced poverty so that I might gain His riches! "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though being rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Our Savior suffered like this for those who wanted nothing to do with Him

What adds further amazement to this unimaginable grace, is that Jesus suffered agony without any help from heaven for me while I still wanted nothing to do with Him. As one who had no use for the Creator, the full weight of the suffering that I should have experienced, without any relief, without help from the throne of grace (which I now experience daily) fell on Jesus. This truly is the most startling truth concerning human suffering. Jesus, God in the flesh, was denied this grace so that I can now experience it.

This is so humbling!

These truths realized create in me a humility, a desire to think less selfishly about my own suffering and recognize therein my Savior’s agonizing physical, emotional and spiritual pain on the cross from which  He was denied relief.

How can we respond, other than to truly worship our amazing Creator and Redeemer?

I now long to lift my voice in worshipful gratitude in every opportunity that my suffering provides. And, of course, with every breath that is free of suffering.

“As the deer panteth for the water,
So my soul longeth after Thee
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship Thee

You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship Thee

You're my friend and You are my brother
Even though You are a King
And I love You more than any other
So much more than anything.

You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart's desire.
And I long to worship Thee 

 

Posted by Sharon Kaufman

And I Long to Worship Thee

on January 25, 2026 0 comments

How I Experienced Hospitality at its Best

It was a Sunday morning and after the worship service ended, my husband left church to visit a friend that was in the hospital (out of town). 

That meant that I would need a ride home. I thought of asking a friend who lives close to me, but she didn't sit in her usual place (down the isle from us). Instead, another friend sat next to us, who usually sits elsewhere. So after the service ended, I asked Myrian if she could take me home. She was happy to do so. 

We left the church and made the short five-minute trip to my house. But, I didn't get out of the car immediately because we had been engaged in conversation which now continued in the parked car in front of my house. In fact, we continued to talk for about an hour in Myrian's car. 

All this time, I was being nudged by the Holy Spirit to invite Myrian into my house, which wasn't in perfect condition - it looked lived in. But I just continued on with our conversation until I had to go into the house to feed the dog. Even then, I didn't invite Myrian in (I'm ashamed to say!). 

Once in the house and after feeding the dog, I looked around the living room area of my home and it hit me. What was keeping me from welcoming in my friend? The house simply looked a little lived in. 

Besides, it was lunchtime and I had an opportunity to feed the hungry - that was both of us. But what could I serve my friend? And then I remembered the homemade soup - delicious at that - in the refrigerator from the day before. 

It was time for me to swallow my pride and obey the mandate given in Scripture to 

be hospitable. So back out to the car I went and finally asked Myrian to come in for lunch. She was delighted. 

I put the soup in a saucepan to heat and while it was heating, I set about to make a simple salad to serve alongside the soup. Next on the table - after pushing aside the papers that were occupying the space we needed for our soup bowls - was some wonderful artisan sourdough bread and butter. Finally, the table was ready with a savory and delicious repast - the perfect meal that Myrian and I needed to nourish our bodies and satisfy our hunger. 

We ate and continued to enjoy the sweet fellowship we have in Christ. What a precious time we had, encouraging one another, laughing and be nourished by the love of Christ as we ate the leftovers from the day before. I've never had a better meal! And what the Lord taught me through this joyful appointment was priceless. 

At that time, I had been reading a book called The Gospel Comes with a Housekey by Rosaria Butterfield. It was the testimony of how the Lord had redeemed Rosaria through a Christian family's ministry of hospitality to her. I had been convicted while reading the book for having had a worldly mentality when it came to opening my home to welcome others. Now the Lord was showing me the joy of welcoming others, prepared or not, into my home, perfect or not.

Through this sweet time with Myrian, I've come to realize that all the busyness and frenzy to get my home perfect for guests had limited me in welcoming others into my home. My home is not a museum nor is it the White House and it especially is not to be shut up to others when it's not perfect. 

We live in our home and it looks lived in. When I thought about that, it hit me that life happens in my home. Productivity via life creates a mess sometimes. And sometimes people come to my door before that mess is cleaned up. Do I typically invite them in? No. Instead. I'll step outside and casually visit with them on the front porch. 

But the Lord has provided a home that should be His first and foremost. If He truly lives here, He would never hesitate to warmly invite anyone who drops by to come inside, no matter what life has done to my house. 

For a welcome mat to be laid at my doorstep and yet nary a welcome extended by me is paramount to hypocrisy. It is anti-Christ! How stingy I've been with what I've always said belongs to Him. 

What blessings I've missed because of the mentality that my house must have a "photo-finish" look to it for a welcome to proceed from my mouth. And how enslaved I've made myself to the flurry of cleaning and polishing this place I call home before anyone can enter in. What I've actually done is to pamper and polish a house instead of loving and caring for others in the lived-in home I have been blessed to share with them.  

And for the very reason I call it home (not "house"), it should be a home, not just a house. There are phrases that express the meaning of home: "being at home" means for one to have a relaxed sense of well-being, to be able to let all the agitating aspects of life go and simply calm one's self in a peaceful state of mind. Should this benefit of my home be only for me? Would Jesus want me to invite others in to "be at home" here also? Would He want me to use my home as a vehicle to minister to those who are harassed by life?

This, I believe, is what happened when I invited Myrian into my lived-in home. That was true hospitality! It was not me entertaining guests. It was the Lord Jesus ministering to both of us as He used a little piece of earth on which a shelter had been erected in 1941 to calm us, to enjoy one another, to bring laughter and to remind ourselves of the kind "welcome" the Lord Jesus has extended to us. This truly was God's will being done on earth as it is in heaven. In fact, it was "heaven on earth"!

My earthly father used to tell us, his children, about the most welcoming family in the church that he attended growing up (where his own father was the pastor). 

This family was not only the most welcoming in the church, but they were also the most financially deprived family in the church. There was hardly anything of value in their home. The couch was old, threadbare and broken down. Yet folks visiting there sat on that couch with no hesitation because of the warm reception they received from this family. Their feeling at home there had nothing to do with the furniture. Rather it was the Christ-like hospitality extended to all who entered.  

There was a great deal of laughter and love in that little ramshackle house. As a child, my father loved visiting there. The joy inside the home was contagious. It was the healing and strengthening joy of the Lord shared by all who entered. This family truly used their home to bring glory to God. 

I do not know the name of those saints, but you can bet that they are with the Lord now and He's welcomed them into His eternal home with the words we all long to hear from Him, "Well done, my good and faithful servants...enter into the joy of your Master."

And those are the words I long to hear my Savior say me when I meet Him face to face. And it won't be because I entertained others in my sparkling clean museum of a home. It will be because I welcomed others as Christ has welcomed me. 

Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, welcome one another, just as Christ has welcomed you to the glory of God. (Romans 15:5-7)

Posted by Sharon Kaufman

How I Experienced Hospitality at its Best

on September 07, 2025 0 comments

Grace - The Great Exchange

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. That though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you, through His poverty might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)

For those who know the Savior, this post really needs no introduction. The truth remains that His grace is far greater than my sin. He has given Himself to us and the riches He imparts to our fainting hearts never, ever diminishes. If anything, the longer we know the Lord Jesus, the greater our awe. This is what we experience here on this globe and I cannot imagine what glory awaits us when we have shed these fleshly bodies and at last see Him face to face!

Christ's riches for my poverty

His welcome for my shame

His strength for my weakness

His cross for my blame

His wisdom for my foolishness

His cheer for my rage

His pardon for my guiltiness

His freedom for my chains

His fathering for my orphaned heart

His peace for all my fears

His humility for my arrogance

His joy for all my tears

His hope for my hopelessness

His perfection for my sins

His goodness for my selfishness

His mercy never ends

Now Christ is all I'll ever need

All I had was doom and strife

I now have His eternal love 

And His grace transforms my life

Copyright 2025 Sharon Kaufman

Posted by Sharon Kaufman

Grace - The Great Exchange

on September 02, 2025 0 comments

The Gift of Gifts

Every good gift and every perfect gift 

is from above, coming down from 

the Father of lights with whom there 

is no variation or shadow due to change. 
James 1:17

 Of all of God's gifts, the most highly acclaimed

Came on the first Christmas, by the angels proclaimed

When they sang "Glory to God in the highest of places."

To the shepherds below, as they fell on their faces.

"For to you this day there is given a Savior."

And He is the Gift to those whom God favors.

Yes, He is the Gift that was sent from above

He was wrapped in humanity and destined to love

All those who now come to the manger to see

God in flesh now appearing, and on bended knee

They rejoice that the Gift came to loose captive's chains

To free those who know of sin's terrible pains.

The Gift went to Calvary, the Gift bled & died,

On a cross that was splintered, two thieves at His side.

The Gift went to Calvary, He went there in love,

To pay for our faults and transgressions thereof

That kept us from God, in His sinless perfections.

The Gift died to bring us God's love & redemption.

The Gift was then buried but was raised from the grave,

For us to be sure that our sins God forgave.

Oh, let us rejoice as we think on the reason

This Gift came below to restore us to Eden.

Copyright sharonKaufman.com 2022

Posted by Sharon Kaufman

The Gift of Gifts

on December 19, 2022 0 comments

A Well Rested Soul

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her. Luke 10:38-42

From this passage of Scripture, do you generally identify more with Mary or Martha?

I am both women. I can easily become distracted and frustrated because of my busyness. When this is the case, I always experience a sense of loss - an opportunity to sit and listen to Jesus that's lost and gone forever. I regret this and must confess it as sin. 

But as for the times when I sit at Jesus' feet, I never regret those times, nor do I feel like I missed out on anything the best of my busyness holds out to me. It all has to do with the difference between the eternal and the temporal.

As far as sitting at Christ's feet daily in devotion to listen for the purpose of love for the Savior and the rest He gives, others have said it better than I: 

"We Christians must simplify our lives or lose untold treasures on earth and in eternity. Modern civilization is so complex as to make the devotional life all but impossible. The need for solitude and quietness was never greater than it is today." A. W. Tozer

"This perpetual hurry of busyness and company ruins me in soul if not in body. More solitude and earlier hours!... Surely the experience of all good men confirms that proposition that without a due measure of private devotions the soul will grow lean." William Wilberforce

"A man can no more take in a supply of grace for the future than he can eat enough for the next six months, or take sufficient air into his lungs at one time to sustain life for a week. We must draw upon God's boundless store of grace from day to day as we need it." D. L. Moody

"Nothing can be more healthful to the soul of the
believer than feeding upon the Word, and digesting it by frequent meditation." C. H. Spurgeon

"There is greater rest and solace to be found in the presence of God for one hour, than in an eternity of the presence of man." Robert Murray M'Cheyne

"Remember that it is not hasty reading, but serious meditation on holy and heavenly truths, that makes them prove sweet and profitable to the soul." Thomas Brooks

"He who lives with little prayer - he who seldom reads the Word - he who seldom looks up to heaven for a fresh influence from on high - he will be the man whose heart will become cold and barren." C. H. Spurgeon

But of course, Jesus said it best in Matthew 11:28-30, and who would want to refuse such an invitation?:

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

In searching for the encouraging quotes listed above, I also came upon this anonymous hymn that so aptly describes the wonderful exchange that is made while sitting at the feet of our Savior. 

At the Feet of Jesus

Sitting at the feet of Jesus,

Oh, the words I hear Him say!

Happy place! So near, So precious!

May it find me there each day;

Sitting at the feet of Jesus,

I look not upon the past;

For He’s been to me so gracious,

I’m forgiven, cleansed at last.

Sitting at the feet of Jesus,

Where can mortal be more blest?

There I lay my sins and sorrows,

And, when weary, find sweet rest.

Sitting at the feet of Jesus,

Where I come to weep and pray;

While I from His fullness gather

Grace and comfort for each day.

Bless me, O my Savior, bless me,

As I sit here at Your feet;

Now look down in love upon me,

Let me see Thy face so sweet.

Lord, give to us the mind of Jesus,

At His feet we long to live;

With Christ's love, now kindly seize us,

So we His welcome freely give.

From the hymnal Select Hymns from 1911 (slightly revised)

Don't miss another opportunity to come to Jesus for the rest your soul so desperately needs!

Posted by Sharon Kaufman

A Well Rested Soul

on October 07, 2021 0 comments

Lessons from Sophie - Dwelling in Safety

Note: We said 'goodbye' to our sweet Sophie the day before yesterday (July 11th, 2021). In memorium, I decided to look back on three posts I added to my blog when Sophie was very young, with the tag "Lessons From Sophie". These posts, inspired by our little dog, were demonstrations to me that Sophie modeled regarding what my relationship to Lord should look like.

After reading these, I've decided to update and repost them. May Sophie encourage you the way she has continued to encourage me. And now, after having left us, these memories from her are also a sweet comfort to me. 

This is the first of the three articles, originally posted on May 24th, 2008, when Sophie was a little more than a year old: Lessons from Sophie - Dwelling in Safety:

"Do not fear for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

One of the first posts I wrote was about my cute little dog, Sophie (click here to go to that post). She provided a great lesson for what it means to wholeheartedly love the one who feeds and cares for her (me).

Now she has again impressed upon me what it means to trust and depend upon her master (again, that's me; though to be accurate, I really am her mistress).

I have noticed an interesting behavior that Sophie displays when she is frightened of something - the vacuum cleaner, for instance. The first time I became aware of this behavior was when Robert and I were in the garden working. Robert was operating the rototiller and, of course, Sophie was afraid of it.

How she handled her fear is how I want to handle myself with the Lord when I am tempted to be afraid of any created thing. Instead of running away from what she feared in the garden that day (the rototiller), she got up as close to Robert and me as she could without getting tangled in the rototiller. As fearful as she was of the threatening raucous monster, she was more sure of my protection of her. She seemed to know where real safety was - right beside me.

Sophie does the same thing in the house when I am vacuuming. She gets up as close to me as she can, sandwiching me between herself and the dangerous suction machine. She doesn't try to tackle the intruder herself, in fact, she doesn't even offer warning barks. Sophie just knows that she will dwell in safety if she is next to me.

For me, this doesn't always come naturally. The enemy's design is to use my fears to separate me from my beloved Savior. But, oh, how I want that trouble to draw me to the Protector of my soul instead. When I am tempted to be anxious about what is in front of me, I desire to instinctively run to Jesus and put Him in between me and the peril. This is what will truly bring great comfort to me and great glory to my heavenly Father.

Besides, knowing this wonderful truth, isn't God good to put the examples before us in such delightful ways? I see my little dog do this thing easily, like it is her only option. May running to my Lord be the only thought in my head also. Only in His presence will I find rest and safety.

"In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety." Psalm 4:8

Posted by Sharon Kaufman

Lessons from Sophie - Dwelling in Safety

on July 13, 2021 1 comments