It was many and many a year ago
In a kingdom by the sea
That a maiden there lived
Whom you may know
By the name of Annabelle Lee
And this maiden she lived
With no other thought
Than to love and be loved by me.

Why did my eighth grade English teacher make me memorize lines from this poem by the weird Edgar Allan Poe? I don't really know. And why do I remember it plus some more after 25 years!? The best answer I can think of is to use it to in my blog to introduce Day 8 to you!

When I found this poem and read it again Poe said the two young lovers had a love greater than even those that are older and wiser. The angels in heaven were so jealous they caused Annabelle Lee to become sick and die. So the lone lover whose soul had been knit to his bride would just spend the rest of his life near her tomb by the sea. The small mention of theology in this poem is definitely mixed up but it makes you wonder what it would feel like to love another so deeply. I know that God loves us beyond what we could imagine. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like for a human to love God immensely, not in the romantic sense, but in that, pleasing Him was the essence of all their life.

Summary Sentence: You were planned for God's pleasure.

In Day 8 of The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren begins by giving an excellent description of why God made you. He chose to make each of us. He obviously didn't need to make us. When you were born God smiled. I love to imagine that the greatest ruler and creator of all existence was glad when I was born. That means I have significance and this realization gives me an excitement to become more familiar with such a One. The author then says the first purpose of our life is to bring enjoyment to God and live for His pleasure.

A way you can give pleasure to God is to worship Him. What definition does the word "worship" bring to mind? Bowing down to a bronze statue? No, not the answer. Going to church on a Sunday morning? Not all the way. What about standing and singing loudly all four stanzas that you memorized to a hundred year old hymn? That would be impressive but still not the complete answer.

Rick Warren defines worship as bringing pleasure to God and then further describes true worship. First, worship is far more than music. The style of music you choose to bring honor to God reveals your personality and background. It's okay just as long as you sing it to God with a pure motive and the words follow the teachings of the Bible. Remember you are worshiping God with your song, not bringing attention to yourself. Second, worship is not for your benefit. It should be used to bring honor to God. Worship isn't a good feeling you get from the preacher's sermon on Sunday morning. It's an act of attending church with an attitude to change and become better for God. Third, worship is not a part of your life; it is your life. Yes, you definitely worship God outside the walls of church. Worship is a lifestyle of always trying to do the right things for God.