What a Toddler Taught Me About Worship

As I was looking into my handsome, 19-month old nephews eyes this morning, attempting to spend time with God, the Lord showed me what true worship is for the life of a busy parent. As I sat on the couch, in the midst of a battlefield of incoherent babbles, the same short song playing over and over, thanks to the “push this” button and a busy attention-grabbing boy, I thought to myself, wow, being a parent means that I’ll have less time to spend with God.

God spoke into my Spirit, no Heather; you’ll actually have more. Now, if you’re a parent you’re probably thinking to yourself, Heather, you’re just one of those crazy aunts, what are you talking about? My life is chaos! Oh, but dear friend, you have the opportunity to live out the gospel each moment of the day as you love that little one.

Sure, you may not be able to study the bible like John McArthur or prepare a sermon that could rival the likes of Charles Spurgeon, but you certainly can live out the gospel, dying to yourself to serve that little human being.

Every wipe, bath, change of clothes (again), book read or game played is an act of worship. That’s right, worship. It is the gospel on display. It is sacrificial love in action.

Don’t be discouraged, because you feel as though you have no time to spend with God anymore. Rejoice that God has given you a little one to serve, love and sacrifice your life for and in doing so, you are truly spending time with your Maker.

The next time you wipe a booger, change a diaper or deal with a temper tantrum, remember that it is an opportunity to offer up worship to God.

Thank you father that even busy parents can spend time with you. In fact, they have more time to spend with you as they love and serve the child you have so graciously given them. We are blessed. Thank you for the gift of children to reveal to us our deep need for you. Thank you for using them to make us more like your son Jesus. Amen.

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. (or dirty hands, noses or mouths) emphasis added mine – John 13:12-14

 

Kill Sin, Before it Kills You

“Even their children remember their altars and Asherah poles”….Jeremiah 17:2

Are we so desperate to kill sin in our lives for the future generations? Do we earnestly desire for our children to be free from the sin that has so entrapped our hearts in rebellion towards God that we’re willing to go great lengths to eradicate it from our own hearts?

Or are we comfortable where we’re at? Are we not willing to go to hard places, to humble ourselves for the sake of the future generations? 

Do we take the time to stop and think about how the choices we make now can have devastating consequences for our children and theirs? Did we take the time to stop and think about these things before we signed the divorce papers, before we took another sip of alcohol, before we chose to commit adultery on our spouse, before we took just one more peek at some abhorrent site on the internet, before we gave into materialism, before we became obsessed with getting ahead in life?

The list could go on. I know in my own heart I have to battle against the desire to take over control. To be a woman who stomps on her husband, making him feel like less of a man, because “I can do it better.” I know this is something I have to kill, slay, and get rid of at all costs for the sake of my children and theirs. Yet, I know that I am not that woman. In Christ, I have the victory and by His grace, I will walk in it.

What is it for you? What has to die in order for your children to walk in true freedom and not give into the sin that has entrapped your heart? The reality is, we have the victory in Christ from those generational sins passed down to us. If we’re willing to do the hard work and walk in humility, living a transparent life for the sake of own our personal healing. Then, we’ll see the generations changed. We’ll see revival, freedom, and victory in the life of the church.

Whatever it is, take drastic measures to rid it from your life. Not just for your own walk with God, but for the generations after you.

Please know that if you have made a poor choice, God can redeem it. He is full of grace for you and His love is without limits, but please, I beg of you, for the sake of the future generations of the church, do the hard work of allowing God into those hard places of your life, walk in humility and repentance and you will experience the transformational work of Christ in your life. We will see generational sin broken and we will walk in victory as the church, together, for the glory of God!

An Exchange of Treasures

“If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
Matthew 19:21

Jesus offers the rich man in Matthew 19 an exchange. An exchange of treasures, one far more valuable than the other. However, the rich man loves his own treasure too much, so he walks away, sad.

As I reflect on my own life, what are the treasures I hold on to so dearly, believing that in them I’ll have some lasting joy and comfort? In different seasons of life’s journey for me, it’s been; money, a man, fitness, pride, and the approval of man.

Jesus offers for me an exchange of treasures. One offers lasting freedom and joy, while the others put us in places of bondage, fear and insecurity. I have learned the joy of dying to those idols, placing them in the hands of Jesus, for an exchange of great joy, peace and true freedom. However, I must always be on guard, because those idols love to creep their way back into my life, stealing my joy.

Jesus calls us to let go of our idols in order to follow Him. What idol is weighing you down that keeps you from running towards Jesus Christ?

The first step is to embrace Jesus for all that He is and find life and freedom from sin in His name. The second is to do some deep self-examination. Christians sometimes falsely believe now that they’re a Christian they won’t struggle with idols, or if they are, they won’t tell anyone, because their’s too much shame in that and other Christians will be disappointed in them. They hide behind fear, yet, in church and bible studies shout of victory in the name of Jesus, sing praise songs with vigor and intensity, yet all the while, they neglect, deep, self-examination. They neglect accountability. They refuse to be honest with others about the brokenness of their own lives, for fear of being shamed by others.

I’m at the point in my life where I’m okay with admitting I have flaws, fears and deep insecurities, because I believe that I’m my confession of those things, God will meet me with healing and greater treasures.