Thoughts on children & worship

Rain, rain go away my children want to go outside and play. I'm seriously thinking about buying a houseboat... I could ride it around town with as much rain as we've had.

Thankfully Mom bought the girls these giant bouncy balls last week and they have provided hours of indoor entertainment while we wait for the rain to pass.

Speaking of bouncing, I so often find little subjects bouncing off the walls of my brain, especially in that corner I label "blog ideas". Honestly, verbalizing my thoughts, especially in a blog, is a challenge for me. It takes me a long time to choose my words and to structure and articulate my thoughts in a way that is clear and can be understood by a lot of people who don't personally know me. Since I've shown my{true}self on more than one occasion you all can probably understand why thoughts are easy for me but words are often a little more challenging. I know what I think. Thinking is fun, easy, inspiring; filtering my thoughts through my brain, putting them into words is laborious. Since no one pays me to do this I often find myself looking for something entertaining and lighthearted to post on {aka "easy writing"}, so I dig through my pictures looking for a story to tell. All of that comes easy. Now with this new camera I probably don't even need words. But as I sit here and type I feel the urge and need to drudge through my thoughts, gather them up, filter them through my brain and put them into words... even if it takes me hours and this post doesn't get published until Friday. Exercising my brain is like exercising my body... no pain, no gain.

Here's a picture while I think:

The first subject I just found in the "blog section" of my brain is children in worship. But before I tell you my thoughts on children in worship it would make more sense if I told you what I believe, where I worship and why I even feel the need to include my children in worship.

As far as what I believe... the Apostles' Creed does a fine job {much better than I could ever do} of summing up ALL that I believe. My elementary version is much simpler:: I am a big sinner with a bigger Savior. His name is Jesus Christ. He is 3 in 1 and He lived a perfect life and died a gruesome death so that I can have life eternally.

Justin was raised in the same church in which we are now members, a Presbyterian Church of America. While I love my church I also came across this quote today and it is a true representation of what church really should be. "Church isn't where you meet... church is the human outworking of the person of Jesus Christ. Let's not go to church, let's be the church." Bridget Willard

With that said, we "go to a church" but I also am encouraged because I have seen our church "being a church" in recent months. I love the thought of our church being a body of believers rather than a building full of people. In our church our children worship with us {well, the baby is usually in the nursery... but the girls worship with us}. I love it. I really think that families worshiping together with other families facilitates the concept of church being a body of believers rather than a room full of people who go to church. I'm not sure what other churches do, but the other churches I've been in it is not only accepted but also encouraged for families to worship together. Of all the moments I've had with my children I consider the times on Sunday morning when I hold them while singing songs and hymns of praise the most precious. Some of you will find this concept foreign and maybe even disturbing... no pun intended... you know children can do that, "DISTURB". For our younger children {preschoolers} they offer what is called "Preschool Praise" which is held during the sermon. Our girls both leave the sanctuary during the sermon. But the children are always present for the first half of the worship service which always includes prayer, worship in song and the sacraments {baptism and communion}.

From the Bible on the gathering of believers {children included}:

Nehemiah 12:43 And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away.

Joel 2:16 Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast. {looks like JM qualifies!}

Mark 10:13- 16 People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

I always love to hear your feedback... any thoughts from the audience on children in a worship service? Do your children worship with you? If not, are there other ways you worship together as a family?

How 'bout another picture while I gather my thoughts? Morgan earned her doll!

Sometimes people say nice things in the comments like, "I admire your faith" and while it makes me feel warm and fuzzy I also know the real me. The real me who feels more like Paul in Romans when he writes... "For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing." My biggest struggle now, the one thing that I want to do but I don't is be still before the Lord... just me, my Bible and my journal. Our pastor gave {not only an incredible sermon this Sunday} but also a wonderful resource that was tucked in our bulletins. I scanned it to share with any of y'all who also may be struggling with how to study the Bible and where to start. It's a PDF... you can find it HERE and print it off if you so desire.

How 'bout another picture?

or two?

or three?

Tonight I'll leave you with that. Mom is still here {praise the Lord!} things are happening in our lovely bathrooms and everyday I am treasuring the time we have together. She is a servant if I've ever seen one. A true Proverbs 31 woman. She's sleeping soundly in her bed now and I'm off to do the same... all this brain exercise has me tired! :)

Good night!