Month: November 2015

Let the Children Come to Me

Posted on by Wendy
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Yesterday, we had a couple visit our church, with a baby. He was fifteen months old. They sat on the very back row. The baby made some noise from time-to-time and I could hear the parents trying to quiet him with gentle hushing. Personally, the baby sounds made me smile.

Is there anything much closer to the heart of Jesus than a very young child? Children weren’t very well thought of back in Jesus’s day. Yet, three out of the four Gospels record the incident of parents trying to bring their children to Jesus to be blessed. The disciples tried to stop the parents, but Jesus intervened on their behalf.

He said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14 It then goes on to say he placed his hand on them.

Many churches now have the much sought after children’s church. Parents want to worship in peace and quiet and not be bothered by squirmy, noisy children. There are also people within many congregations who have little tolerance for noisy children. They want their worship experience to be completely without the distractions that young children can cause.

The result is some churches have no children at all in their worship service. I find myself asking once again who worship has become about. Is it about our comforts and preferences or is it about glorifying God?

Young children can certainly be noisy, but is excluding them from worship the right thing to do? They usually love children’s church where they often color and sometimes get a snack, but isn’t there something sacred about a family sitting on a pew and worshiping together?

How will they learn hymns? How will they learn that they are part of a family, part of the Body of Christ, if they are always whisked away, right after the singing? Isn’t there something to be learned from seeing everyone around them quietly listen to the pastor reading the scripture, or better yet, see the people around them pulling out their own Bibles?

There are times when a child is screaming, that certainly calls for removing them. But, in a society where we watch television, listen to music and play on our smart phones all at the same time, can the little sounds that a child makes be that distracting?

I went and introduced myself to the parents and the precious little boy after service. They were a little apologetic. I told them not to be. I found others in my church family, saying the same. They made me proud.

A church with children present, whether noisy or not, is a church where parents are trying to introduce their offspring to Jesus. They are trying to teach them about the importance of worship. These parents know that children always learn best by example.

A church who welcomes children in their midst has their eyes on Christ. As followers of the One who said “let the children come to me,” who are we to get in the way?

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

 

Who We Worship

Posted on by Wendy
Are we self-focused or God focused when we worship?
Are we self-focused or God focused when we worship?

Our church has just moved into a new building, well, new to us. It was built some time in the sixties and was in need of extensive renovation. God blessed us with the funds and the resources to renovate and remodel and it looks like a brand new church. The sanctuary even has beautiful new gray carpet.

The question has now been raised, if it’s okay to post a sign in the fellowship hall asking the people who worship there not to bring food and drink into the sanctuary.

Predictably, the responses have been on both sides, ranging from, “Of course we can’t eat and drink on that new carpet;” to, “Visitors may be turned off if they can’t bring their coffee with them to worship.”

Personally, I think there’s a deeper issue that’s going on here.

In the past couple of decades, churches have done a lot of changing to accommodate young believers who were leaving the church and to draw in the masses of unchurched.

The music has changed. Many churches offer what comes very close to a rock concert complete with a light show. The dress code has relaxed. Blue jeans and shorts are completely acceptable at many churches. Video screens are sometimes employed to show movie clips or sometimes the entire sermon. Some churches have even changed their doctrine as well, going along with what society thinks at the moment.

Yet, a recent Pew Poll from last May, shows that from 2007 to 2014,  Americans who call themselves Christians, have dropped from 78.4% to 70.6%.

Could the church’s quest to remain relevant be backfiring?

The definition of worship is: to show reverence and adoration for a deity, honor with religious rites.

It seems that worship has shifted from focusing on God to focusing on self. We ask questions like; “What do I get out of the sermon?” But, if worship is supposed to be God focused. Shouldn’t the question be, “What can I learn about God?” or “How can I demonstrate my adoration of God?”

Was worship ever supposed to be centered on what I can learn about me?

If the worship service is God focused, shouldn’t the question be, “Is the music pleasing to God?” rather than, “Is the music pleasing to me?”

If the hour of worship is God focused, shouldn’t we be emptying our minds of all distractions and opening our hearts and souls up to the Holy Spirit? Is it acceptable to God, for us to balance a coffee cup and have a snack during the sacred time of prayer?

Is it considered out of line or judgemental to ask those who worship to fast for sixty minutes a week, on Sunday mornings?

While this little debate rages on in many churches, the answer may need to come from the heart. The answer should have nothing to do with the color or condition of the carpet in the sanctuary.

Perhaps the answer should simply be, “What is pleasing and acceptable to God?” Does anything else really matter?

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

The Quest for Thanksgiving

Posted on by Wendy
Let's intentionally be and live like people who are thankful.
Let’s intentionally be and live like people who are thankful.

When I think of Thanksgiving, I think of eating turkey and dressing with the people who I hold most dear. We cook together and spend the day together. We watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade together. We enjoy each other.

There have been years when I have participated in really large gatherings and years where I have spent the day with only immediate family.

My Thanksgiving Day has never included shopping. For many years, the day after Thanksgiving, known as Black Friday, was the first official shopping day of the Christmas season. But, a few years back, some enterprising retailers decided to open on Thanksgiving Day.

Those poor employees who worked at those stores, had to give up Thanksgiving with their families. I’m all for free enterprise, but seriously, I’ll bet the CEO’s didn’t work. I’ll bet they were with their families enjoying the holiday. Thankfully, there has been a lot of push back from consumers and there is a decent list of retailers who are staying closed on Thanksgiving this year.

Some of the larger names include Costco, Sam’s, TJ Maxx, REI, Staples and GameStop. I’ve included a link if you would like a more complete list.

http://fortune.com/2015/10/27/thanksgiving-day-stores/

I remember a time when the stores were closed on Sunday too. I truly admire Chick-fil-A and Hobby Lobby for continuing to stand by their Christian principles and refusing to open on Sunday, even if the practice costs them money.

A recent extensive Pew Poll, found 70.6% of Americans claim to be Christian. We are still the majority here. Perhaps it’s time that we become a little more vocal and active regarding our beliefs.

It’s a well-known fact that strong families are the backbone of a strong society. Having a parent miss out on Thanksgiving Dinner to run a cash register at a retail store, is not something that we have to support with our dollars.

We could also make it our business to support those retailers who have chosen to stay closed on Thanksgiving and allow their employees to enjoy the holiday. We have the numbers to make the difference. Maybe we should.

Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday. It’s a day to take a pause and be truly thankful for all that we have been given. Just being an American citizen is a huge gift to be thankful for in itself.

Most of us have so much to be thankful for, even if we forget sometimes. One of our greatest freedoms is freedom of religion. Perhaps, it’s time for Christians to send a message to corporate America that there are some things that we hold dear. Time with our families is one of those. Giving thanks and setting aside a time to do so, is another part of our core beliefs.

Thanksgiving Day is three weeks from today. What if we all took the next few weeks to not only be intentionally thankful for all we have been given, but also to pray that the world around us would be convicted to feel less entitled and more thankful for their gifts too?

True change begins in the heart. Who knows what kind of difference we can make?

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

 

Listening Quietly

Posted on by Wendy
Desperately seeking quiet
Desperately seeking quiet

I live near a town which is home to a large university. It never ceases to amaze me when I go into a coffee shop, how many students are working on homework on their laptops. It’s often noisy. Sometimes there’s even live music, yet they tap away on their keyboards. Sometimes they even have ear buds in their ears too.

It’s not as if their isn’t a library or any place, quite frankly, that would be quieter than a noisy coffee shop. Can they really be learning anything?

I’ve witnessed my son attempting to do his homework in front of the television. It never works out very well and I always make him turn it off, much to his dismay.

It’s amazing how noisy our society can be. When I was a kid, there was children’s programming on Saturday mornings. That was pretty much it. We could catch a daily hour of Sesame Street, but the 24/7 extravaganza of kid’s shows was nonexistent.

We have raised a generation of kids who are literally uncomfortable with quiet and in doing so, many of us have become the same way ourselves. We have to have the radio or television on for background noise. If we go outside to rake leaves, we bring our music with us. If we cut the grass, we take our music with us.

It seems like we will do just about anything other than be alone in a quiet place.

Why is that? For one thing, we get bored very easily these days. Thanks to laptops and smartphones, we have endless entertainment. There’s always something funny on Youtube, Facebook or Instagram. Why should we ever be bored?

But, when we ask ourselves when we make time to talk to God, the response is often when we lie down at night, or when we are driving, or maybe when we are in the shower. Those are all fine times to talk to God. The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing.

However, when we lie down to go to sleep, they day is done. We can’t really ask for guidance on a day that has already passed, and if we’re honest, we will likely go to sleep before we get any of the answers we may be seeking.

When we are driving, we are still doing something. We are watching for other cars, or for our turn, or for a red light.

We often complain that we don’t hear from God. Could the reason be that we don’t stop and listen? I mean sit quietly somewhere with no music, television, cell phone, etc…, and actually talk to God and listen for His response.

Elijah was one of the greatest prophets in the Old Testament. He communicated with God regularly. In one instance, there was a powerful wind, but God was not in it. Then there was and earthquake, but God was not in it. Next, there was a fire, but God was not in the fire either. Finally, there was a gentle whisper and at last, Elijah heard God.

Perhaps, being quiet should be more active than we think. Perhaps if we were to seek more quiet, alone time with Him, where we just sit and listen, we could hear Him too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Calling All Athletes, Brainiacs and Artists

Posted on by Wendy
Jesus tells us to bring whatever we have. He will do the rest.
Jesus tells us to bring whatever we have. He will do the rest.

When I subbed in an art class a couple of weeks ago, I noticed that some of the kids who were at the top of their class academically, seemed to struggle with art. On the flip side, some of the kids who struggled in the classroom, created some of the prettiest and coolest fall creations, in their class.

I also observed that the kids who struggled with art, were quick to not try to do their best. If they couldn’t be the best at something, they didn’t really want to try.

Kids like to do the things they are really good at and tend to discount the rest. Athletes have historically looked down on the kids in the band. Yet, if you’ve ever been to a high school football game, the marching band plays a huge part in rallying the fans. The game is better because each group brings their own talent and shares it.

The Church could learn a lot from kids. Are adults really much different than they are?

We all have unique gifts and talents that we are meant to share. Administration may seem incredibly boring and not very spiritual at all, but it’s impossible to run a church without strong administrators and planners. Someone is behind the scenes baking goodies for Sunday morning fellowship. That also may not seem very spiritual, but friendships are often sparked and community gets built over coffee and refreshments on Sunday mornings.

The people who greet newcomers have just as big a part to play as the pastor and his sermon. We are all a part of the Body of Christ and we are all needed.

The Church needs the artists and the thinkers, the right and left brainers. We all have something special to contribute to the church, and also to the world at large.

Each of us has an individual ministry of some kind. There really are no small players in God’s plan. The entire idea of not being “good enough,” to contribute, comes from us comparing ourselves to each other. When we focus on Jesus, then we know that we simply bring what we have, no matter how small or insignificant we believe it to be, and place it at His feet.

Then something miraculous happens. Like the fish and loaves, He multiplies it and it becomes way more than we could have ever conceived on our own.

All we are asked to do is willingly share whatever gifts we have been given. He will do the rest.

Sometimes I need reminding. Maybe you do too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Battling Entitlement Issues

Posted on by Wendy
The opposite of entitlement is humility.
The opposite of entitlement is humility.

There’s a lot that has been said lately about entitlement. Our kids feel like they are entitled to everything from the newest electronics to straight A’s without having to do anything to earn them. A large portion of our population has decided that they shouldn’t have to do anything to earn a paycheck. They feel like the government should just give them one.

And before we get to feeling  too self-righteous and looking down on those we feel have their hand out, I have to ask how Christians are doing with our own entitlement issues.

You know how it is; we say a prayer for something that is really important to us and we feel that God should answer it immediately, in a way that suits us, thank-you very much.

There’s a great story in the Bible that illustrates humanity’s ongoing struggles with entitlement issues.

In 2 Kings, there was a commander named Naaman. He was a very good soldier and apparently well liked by all who knew him. Unfortunately, he had leprosy. That was a big deal back then. He desperately wanted to be healed.

A young girl from Israel, who happened to be a slave, told Namaan’s wife that there was a prophet in Samaria who could heal him. Her faith is noteworthy in this story as well.

Namaan went to see Elisha, the prophet, at his house. Elisha sent out a messenger to tell him to go wash himself seven times in the Jordan river and he would be healed. Wow! Healing was right around the corner, within his grasp. Was Namaan thankful or excited?

Nope. He was angry. He wanted Elisha to come out and wave his hand over him and heal him. He didn’t want to do any work and he wasn’t going to either. He was willing to ride away in his chariot angry and sick, rather than follow the steps to being healed.

Does this make you squirm at all? It makes me kind of uncomfortable. How many times do we have the opportunity to be healed and whole, but we aren’t willing to do the work? We don’t want to exercise. We don’t want to give up sugar, or drinking, or smoking. We don’t want to extend forgiveness and grace to heal broken relationships.

We also don’t want to do what it takes to receive true healing from God, which can only come from surrendering to Jesus. Then a closer walk, requires sustained daily prayer and the study of the Bible. Like Naaman, we have so much freedom and power in our grasp, but we have to be willing to do the work.

Luckily for Naaman, his servants stepped in and begged him to go to the Jordan and do what he was told. He was healed, just as he was told he would be. At last, he was thankful.

It seems that the best way to keep ourselves from feeling entitled, is to walk closely with God. When we keep our eyes on Him and try to answer His call instead of following our own whims, we can walk in humility. Humility is the opposite of entitlement.

We can also surround ourselves with Godly people who will help point us in the right direction when we stumble, like Naaman’s servants did. In the end, their love and support put him on the right track.

Entitlement issues can be hard to tackle. They seem inborn on some level, but with God at the center of our lives and a little help from our friends, we really can defeat them.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂