I'm married to a pastor. Because our church has multiple services on Sunday mornings, his Sunday gets underway before mine. And for most of our married life, that has meant that we ride to church in 2 different cars at 2 different times.
I remember when our boys were very small. I had a 4 year old, a 2 year old, and a baby. Sunday mornings were hectic getting 3 little boys ready all by myself. Perhaps it was to preserve my sanity. Perhaps it was because I knew I desperately needed my heart prepared before our worship services. But at any rate, I remember that on one early Sunday morning, I made the decision to put in a worship cd, crank up the volume and sing along as we prepared for church that morning. While searching for 6 little shoes...combing 3 little heads...nursing one baby and feeding 2 more...songs that ascribed worth to God filled our home. Somehow, putting on the worship cd put everything in its rightful place...including my heart. Even when things were rushed and hurried and pretty chaotic, God used the worship music to minister to my heart and prepare me for the morning ahead.
As the boys got a little bit older, we bought them their own kids' worship cds. And as we had started a few years earlier, the sound of these cds filled our home each Sunday morning. Our oldest son was charged with the responsibility of putting in some God-honoring music that would prepare our hearts for the teaching that day. And soon the music would fill each room of the house---afterall, it was always cranked, never held back. The boys would be singing and dancing, and despite the "things" that regularly went wrong on Sunday mornings (like grass stains on their khakis before we ever even left for church), the music put everything in perspective. It was all about Jesus.
Sometimes I'd tell my husband, "I feel sorry for you. You miss Sunday mornings."
Our Sunday morning routine carried on for years, just as it had begun. As the boys grew and changed, so did the style of our music. But never did the message change: Jesus is King. Naturally, without a word of instruction, our oldest son would awake and crank up his ipod. And whereas I had previously been the one to choose or buy the music, now he was selecting the music that brought glory and honor to his Savior. And despite our fight to be on time and the stress that goes along with that, we had a powerful worship service right here before we ever left home.
And I'd tell my husband: "I feel sorry for you. You miss Sunday mornings."
These days our oldest son's schedule frequently mirrors that of his dad's. And the one responsible for setting the tone in our home is our middle son. And as the music continues to play on our drive to church, the songs of worship and praise fill our van. We sing (often off-key) all the way to church.
And I'm grateful that through Sunday after crazy Sunday, God has been faithful to remind me...and our boys...what it's all about. We have hundreds and hundreds of Sundays to look back upon and remember:
You are holy, great and mighty
The moon and the stars declare who You are
I'm so unworthy but still You love me
Forever my heart will sing of how great You are
I remember when our boys were very small. I had a 4 year old, a 2 year old, and a baby. Sunday mornings were hectic getting 3 little boys ready all by myself. Perhaps it was to preserve my sanity. Perhaps it was because I knew I desperately needed my heart prepared before our worship services. But at any rate, I remember that on one early Sunday morning, I made the decision to put in a worship cd, crank up the volume and sing along as we prepared for church that morning. While searching for 6 little shoes...combing 3 little heads...nursing one baby and feeding 2 more...songs that ascribed worth to God filled our home. Somehow, putting on the worship cd put everything in its rightful place...including my heart. Even when things were rushed and hurried and pretty chaotic, God used the worship music to minister to my heart and prepare me for the morning ahead.
As the boys got a little bit older, we bought them their own kids' worship cds. And as we had started a few years earlier, the sound of these cds filled our home each Sunday morning. Our oldest son was charged with the responsibility of putting in some God-honoring music that would prepare our hearts for the teaching that day. And soon the music would fill each room of the house---afterall, it was always cranked, never held back. The boys would be singing and dancing, and despite the "things" that regularly went wrong on Sunday mornings (like grass stains on their khakis before we ever even left for church), the music put everything in perspective. It was all about Jesus.
Sometimes I'd tell my husband, "I feel sorry for you. You miss Sunday mornings."
Our Sunday morning routine carried on for years, just as it had begun. As the boys grew and changed, so did the style of our music. But never did the message change: Jesus is King. Naturally, without a word of instruction, our oldest son would awake and crank up his ipod. And whereas I had previously been the one to choose or buy the music, now he was selecting the music that brought glory and honor to his Savior. And despite our fight to be on time and the stress that goes along with that, we had a powerful worship service right here before we ever left home.
And I'd tell my husband: "I feel sorry for you. You miss Sunday mornings."
These days our oldest son's schedule frequently mirrors that of his dad's. And the one responsible for setting the tone in our home is our middle son. And as the music continues to play on our drive to church, the songs of worship and praise fill our van. We sing (often off-key) all the way to church.
And I'm grateful that through Sunday after crazy Sunday, God has been faithful to remind me...and our boys...what it's all about. We have hundreds and hundreds of Sundays to look back upon and remember:
You are holy, great and mighty
The moon and the stars declare who You are
I'm so unworthy but still You love me
Forever my heart will sing of how great You are
~ Phil Wickham
3 comments:
Wow … I found this very convicting! What do I do when my morning is hectic? I fret and get frustrated and irritated … thanks for such a sweet and gentle reminder! This is soooo well written!
My Sundays are a sharp contrast to yours, I find it extremely challenging to be a ministry wife and alone every Sunday. I will try this though, it gives me hope! You have so much wisdom, thanks for sharing it.
(((Hugs to both of you))) That's exactly why I had to do it, Barb ~ it WAS/IS challenging! My own expectations got/get in the way far too often. But somehow, when I humbly and prayerfully align my heart to my Father's, there's joy and blessing untold. I can honestly say I LOVE Sundays...I LOVE our church family...and I LOVE serving with Jon. Much love ~
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