Take Your Vitamins

When I think of Spiritual Disciplines I think about vitamins.  Vitamins are those good nutrients we eat in our food and take as supplements to help our body be healthy.  We grumble about vitamins at times because we want to "skip" them or dive into foods that are comfortable, but when we do and if we do too long our body reacts. We get sluggish, have a tough time sleeping, and maybe even get sick.  Sound anything like our spiritual lives? 

Yep? It is okay to nod your head.  Our spiritual lives can have the same reaction when we don't have some healthy practices in our lives.  Practices like being part of a healthy worship community and prayer are the same as our spiritual lives like exercise and enough water are to our body. 

There are a number of Spiritual Disciplines I've practiced over the years and it has taken some time to come up with the combination which works for my schedule, so feel free to try a few for yourself to see what works best.  There are some key elements you need to include in your combo:

1. Worship with a worship community and not on a boat, in a field, or on the TV.
2. Prayer in the morning and at night for starters, the more you pray the more you're gonna want to pray more (think prayer-endorphins).
3. Scripture reading from the Bible. Online Bible reading is fine, but nothing can quite replace opening your Bible to find the book, the big number, the little number and smile when you do.

The combo pieces are the HOW you practice the key elements. 

• Worship-Where?  With whom?  How engaged are you in worship?  How do you prepare for worship?  How do you share worship with someone else?
• Prayer-Do you sing your prayers?  Write your prayers?  Say them aloud or silent?  Do you give God a chance to respond?
• Scripture-What do you read?  How do you determine what you will read?  Do you use a devotion with the scripture for a daily "nugget" to ponder?  Do you write in your Bible or a notebook your reflections?  Do you underline in your Bible? 

**You may write in your Bible...there, I said it**

Some combinations I've tried which you may want to try as well...

• Worship, prayer (I pray a lot and in a lot of different ways), and daily devotion through an app on my phone
• Worship, prayer, and daily reading through an app on my phone
• Worship, prayer, daily scripture writing in a notebook, and daily reading through an app on my phone

Recently I've bumped it up and have found what seems to be providing quality God time in my everyday.  I can also tell when I don't have them in my day...I feel sluggish and grumpy.

• In the morning I read the daily scripture from the YouVersion app.  Sometimes I'll make an image or use one of theirs to share the text.  Some days I just read the scripture over and over a few times.
• I pray from the text I read.
• When I get to work I write a scripture passage from one of those "Year in the Bible" Pinterest pages.  I have a notebook dedicated to these writings.
• I pray from the text I wrote.
• When I get home, while the children do their homework or at a later time, I exercise for about an hour.  This can be walking with a friend or doing some cardio with a video.  
• I pray during the "cool down" portion of the workout.

It may seem like a lot, but I need it.  Just one scripture for a few minutes in the morning isn't enough and I wasn't receiving it into my heart/mind.  It was like a flash in my day that came and went, the opposite of what should happen with a Spiritual Discipline. I don't know about you, but the days can be long and difficult without a sturdy foundation beneath you.

So, what's your combination?  Start small if you feel overwhelmed.  Begin with regular worship, prayer in the morning and using a devotion app on your phone.  After doing that combo for a week or so, bump it up.  Add another prayer time.  Add underlining the scripture from the app in your Bible (you can write in your Bible...see, I said it again).  Find that combination where you feel your cup filling, your conversations with God being more regular and vulnerable, and your foundation sturdier.

You got this!

P.S.  As parents, our kids are watching and see the importance of worship, prayer, and scripture just like they watch to see if we eat all of our veggies at dinner.

Rebooting

Lately I've been working through a list of articles to write and the outline for a book (YIKES!) which have been on my heart and a ton of sticky notes for a while.  When to write, what to do with these thoughts, etc. have kept my notes and outlines in a pile collecting dust.  Imagine my surprise when I logged into Blogger to see some content published many moons ago.  So, just like the movies where they remake, reboot, re-(fill in your own blank), I'm going to keep going with this blog and not worry about starting up something new.

My last article written in 2016 and here we are in 2019...three years shouldn't have so much change, but it does, especially in kiddo years.  We now have a tween and a younger elementary age in the house.  No more nursery for us!  Life is filled with youth group, bikes without training wheels and sometimes I don't cook because they can.  It's refreshing.  It's also a whole new season with all new stuff coming at us as parents.

Wait...let me rephrase that...It's a whole new season with all new opportunities, blessings, and glimpses as we parent.  Perspective is everything.

My last article written the youngest would come to worship for a little bit and then leave for children's church.  Now, she stays in church the whole time and loves it.  She really does.  She loves to find the hymns and sing, find the scriptures in the Bible and follow along.  She loves to draw pictures on her bulletin, ask her father a million questions in a whisper (he's hard of hearing so this goes nowhere), and if at all possible irritate her sister.  She's awesome.

Baby girl's sister is now a youth and usually sits with family, but sometimes sits with friends or another family.  She likes the freedom of being the host of a pew or being received by another.  She pretends to not be listening during the sermon, but I catch her nodding her head or looking at me like I'm nuts.  I know she's really listening when she tells me something she learned or has a question later in the day.  Following worship I can tell how much she's been able to worship by the level of irritated she is or isn't with her sister.  She's magnificent. Life is filled with more new than old and sometimes I need to take a minute to breathe it all in and sigh it back out.

It feels good to be back to writing and I look forward to celebrating children (and now tweens) in worship with you!  If you have a topic you'd like to see an article on, don't hesitate to send it my direction.  You never know how the Spirit will lead.

Twirling as Worship

Following the children's singing of "Zacchaeus Was A Wee Little Man" with the children's choir, our youngest took off to find my husband in the back of the church.  Not finding him she began to make her way to where I was sitting at the front of the church awaiting the second child's singing.  She had taken only two steps when the organ began to play "For the Beauty of the Earth" and the congregation began to sing.  That's when the twirling began.  She twirled and waltzed all the way from the last pew to the front pew.  She grinned and glowed.  Upon arriving where I was standing she grabbed my hand and I became her dance partner.

As a parent, pastor and front sitter realized we were on display.  How much twirling could and should be allowed?  What was the right avenue to not squish, but guide a child in full body dancing mode?

Then she looked at me as we sang the refrain, "Lord of all, to Thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise." 

So, she twirled and twirled and twirled.

My regret is that I didn't let go of my own inner need to dance and join her in the aisle.  I remained her dance partner, but didn't leave the comfort of my pew corner.  I lament my choice.

During this season of Thanksgiving, I'm thankful for my little twirler and the way she embodies praising God with all of her heart.  For her innocence and inability to worry over what others will think about her expressions of thanksgiving.

With Thanks,
Rev. Lissa Long

The Wiggler

This is our youngest on her first day of sitting in "Big Church".  No judgment on the picture...I took it before worship began.  Why?  Not because it was her first something, but because this is what she just knew worship preparation meant.  You sit down, open a book and put on your reading glasses.  She'd never been in "Big Church" before.  This little nugget of God's wonderfulness had been dropped off at the nursery the minute the doors opened for years, so how did she just know?

I remember in learning systems and behavioral classes the ongoing debate between NATURE vs. NURTURE.  Was it NATURE that directed our behaviors or was it NURTURE?  Which came first?  Depending on your answers, that is what would direct you behaviors in your community.  Around and around we would go!  What about our little ones in worship?  What part is NATURE and what part is NURTURE?

With our youngest, I'm going to go with the theory it was a whole bunch of both.  She had seen her father (I don't wear reading glasses) sit down many a time at home, restaurants and the like, immediately putting on his glasses so he could read the paper or menu.  She found the hymnal in the pew and used it as her reading material.  I can only imagine her little mind thinking, "I sit down and begin to read, but will need some glasses."  The funny part is she didn't know how to read and doesn't wear reading glasses, so these pieces were her fulfilling her image of what she imagined as worship.  More so, is her face of wonderment and preparation.  I was able to capture her looking around the sanctuary.  Imagine all you could see the first time you sat in a sanctuary.  Imagine all that you would hear.  Maybe even smell.  Oh the exploration of the newness!

This would be when the bells chimed and the wiggles began.  Her nose, eyes and ears had taken in all that could be consumed.  Now she wanted to touch everything.  The pew cushions.  The paraments covering the Lord's Table. The Bibles in every pew rack.  Every hymnal.  Think about all the things there are to touch just in a pew alone.  Who needs Disney really? 

Friends, this is when we as parents and fellow worshippers need to take a time out and remember our baptismal vows.  We promised as her parents to raise her in the faith.  To engage her in the life of the church of Jesus Christ.  More so, all those wonderful people around us had made the same vows to child after child after child.  If only the Bible said something about wigglers in church...

                     Oh wait...

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
-Mathew 19:14

So, the next time you have a wiggler or are worshipping near a wiggler, remember those incredibly awesome vows you have taken during baptisms.  Remember the words of Jesus Christ.  And smile.  Just smile and giggle and engage in their wonderment.  They are trying to figure out what this wonderfully new part of their life is all about.  They are cataloguing everything they see, smell, hear, touch and sometimes taste (pew pencils and pens usually) into the WORSHIP part of their growing heart.  As the grown-ups, we can help direct them and lovingly share our worship with them.  Hear are some of our favorites...

-Arrive to worship a little early for the chance to walk around the sanctuary together, allowing for questions and some exploration (baptismal font, Lord's Table, parament colors, stained glass, etc.).
-Get seated with a little time to "wiggle in" to their pew spot.  This will feel like a puppy circling before taking a nap.
-Have a scrap piece of paper, pencil, crayons handy for coloring on during worship.
-Put away your phone and other distractions.
-Lend your ear at their level when they have questions, "What is that person doing?", "Why do they use a cane?", "It smells funny in here", "Can I have a parakeet?" and my favorite from our oldest when she was 5, "I think my tooth is falling out."

Also, don't be afraid to see worship as a child.  Something you finally get to do that you've been waiting FOREVER (maybe it has been days or weeks or months).  Something filled with music and words and sights for your eyes to capture.  You have a WORSHIP file in your heart as well that may need a little tending.

With Joy,
Rev. Lissa

*By the grace of God, the tooth fell out 10 minutes after worship.  Glory to God!

New to THIS Child

Friends, it has been a long time.  I began this blog while my kiddos were little bitty and moved into an annual blog there after.  This is a topic I still have lots to explore, learn and share!  The children are now 9 and 5 and asking more difficult questions than ever.  Our youngest just sat through her first worship service!  Not our choice, but how do we tell a child "no" to sitting in worship?  Thus the importance for an outlet and a renewal of Worshipping Parent.  We now have "new to this child" situations and our eldest is giving us new turns along the way as well.

I am reminded how Jesus led the disciples.  Gently and sometimes with one-on-one discussion.  Why?  They needed it to fully grasp what was before them as they followed Jesus.  Expectations are often miscommunicated or not communicated at all within our workplaces, marriages and children.  It isn't that we want to not communicate, okay, sometimes I just want silence, but that's something else.  We just forget.  A typical Sunday morning at our home includes the cat waking me up, although the rest of the family is sleeping, and then a slow movement of the house.  Coffee on, one child and then the next.  Then my husband.  We have breakfast, read the paper and depending on whose day it is will watch yet another Sofia the First episode or the latest movie on a loop. That's when the tower of bliss begins to crumble.  It will be time to get dressed. There are tears over dresses and hairstyles, little sisters bugging big sisters, big sisters snapping at little sisters, and questions that everyone asks and are answered.  Sometimes we forget to say, "This is a joyful day of the Lord!  We are going to church this morning which is extra special because it is communion Sunday. Would you like to talk about what worship will be like before you go?"  Right.  Instead it is a litany of "no you can't wear your Mardi Gras mask for church even though it is fancy" and "did you feed the fish?"

Example...Last week our youngest asked to sit in worship.  I didn't want to say no.  I wanted to joyfully say yes. But, she had already been especially wiggly and we had already burned through our worship bag AND it was the point where Time With Children kids were leaving for children's church.  In front of 200+ people.  At the front of the church.  I said in a whisper with a kiss, "I love you.  Next week.  We need time to prepare for worship okay?"  She smiled and skipped off.  Truth?  When I said "we" in that moment, it wasn't her, it was her dad and myself who needed to mentally prepare for this season of her life and ours.  We (the hubby and I) and we (the hubby, the kid and I) talk during the week, on the way to church and a lot of whispers during church. She was ready and so were we.  We were exhausted, but it was time.

I'm holding on to the title this week of "New to THIS Child" because I don't want to assume Sumner will need the same things her sister did as she worships.  They are different kids with different ways of processing and experiencing life. 

There are so many ways we try to provide for our children's successes in life...education, friendships, extra curricular activities, etc.  Sunday may not be the easiest day, but it is a consistent day of the week we can purposely prepare our children.  We send them to school and have them do their homework so they will be successful adults in the professional world.  We shouldn't neglect the faith foundation building before us either.

Have a blessed week and know you are not alone as a Worshipping Parent.
Rev. Lissa Long

World Communion Sunday

World Communion Sunday

Tomorrow morning our church and thousands of churches around the globe will be celebrating World Communion Sunday.  It is a Sunday to celebrate something we do each Sunday, but often forget, that the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is for all of God's people in our community and communities around the world.  Preparing your child(ren) for World Communion can come in two parts:  sharing about Communion and sharing about God's vast kingdom throughout the world.

I've looked through some of my favorite children's books on Communion and found some resources that may help as your prepare your family for worship tomorrow: (also check out some of my earlier blogs)

"We see symbols inside our church-a loaf of bread and a cup.  Jesus left them to help us remember that he was here.  On Passover night Jesus had a special meal with the friends he loved most.  They gathered to eat and to pray.

Jesus said, "Every time you eat bread together and drink from the cup, please remember me."  The loaf of bread and the cup remind us of what happened that night.  When we see these symbols, Christians remember how much Jesus loved us."
-Symbols of God's Love:  Codes and Passwords, Jeanne S. Fogle

"Holy Communion, or the Lord's Supper, is a joyous event celebrated by Christians everywhere.  Through the Lord's Supper, we

-Give thanks to God
-Remember Jesus
-Celebrate Jesus giving his life for us
-Celebrate our togetherness

The pastor tells us about Jesus and the last meal he shared with his disciples.

What is special to you about the Lord's Supper?"

-A Children's Guide to Worship, Ruth L. Boling, Lauren J. Muzzy, Laurie A. Vance

Use these excerpts to spark discussion, coloring, improv acting, or whatever way your child expresses themselves best.  For some children you may have many mini conversations and activities.  Our 5 year old will draw a picture one minute, then a few hours later want to crawl in our lap with some questions, and then later we will see her setting up communion in her play kitchen. 

In looking through your resource for discussing God's vast kingdom, take a walk through your house!  Do you have pictures of travel?  Is there a map or a globe?  Is there maybe a piece of art or clothing that is from another country?  Gather 2-5 items and use these to discuss other people around the world.  If you have a computer, look up these countries and discover what other children in those countries do that is similar and different.  Maybe sing "He's God the Whole World In His Hands" or "Jesus Loves the Little Children" with your family.  The impact of helping your child realize that there are other children around the world will help them grasp the incredible love God shares outside of their home.  Sometimes this is hard for even grown-ups to understand!  Take your time and have fun watching your child's world grow before you eyes!

Finally, tie the pieces together.  Go through some of the aspects of worship with your children.  Maybe there will be some difference tomorrow than on other Sundays.  Can they look out for them with you and let you know?  Remind them that there will be children and adult all over the world praying, singing, praising, and giving thanks to God.  There will be churches of all different sizes and shapes participating in the Lord's Supper just like them.  Again, be prepared for them to take their time absorbing and processing.  It may be a lot of little spurts of questions.

Engaging your children prior to worship is part of preparing them for worship (you too).  It helps them to get in the mindset of worship (you too).  It helps them to process questions, concerns, and joys (you too).  Just think of all the preparation and homework you do on a school night.  Why do you plan that into your day?  So your child will be able to excel right?  Same with worship.  The amount of time we are able to share and learn together, the stronger you child will feel in their faith journey...You too.

Have an incredible evening with your family and wonderful World Communion Sunday!
Lissa

*I'm working on some information on Christians and Holidays.  I would love to know your thoughts and questions.

You want to skip and they want to go.

So, you just want to sleep in. Linger over a cup of coffee.  Take the day. Get some things done. Maybe go to the park or beach early in the morning and commune with the Lord via nature verses sanctuary. Sounds almost blissful in your mind and you have your heart set on this day of treasures. Then, you let your child(ren) know about the plan. They on the other hand are not so excited, but quite angry and upset that they won't be going to church this morning. What do you do?

Well, the norm of reaction would try to use your rational with your children. This usually doesn't work and most often backfires because you have opened the box of "fun things to do" and your list will become the last on the list.

Next, you try to bribe them. We can go into this, but you know this isn't the best approach in your heart.

Then, you realize that your kids are right. Going to church, hearing the lesson and celebrating the risen Lord indeed is the best choice for the morning. Now you are 30-45 minutes behind schedule and just have to wing-it. GO YOU!!!! The peace and joy that fills your heart after you drop the tot in the nursery, hand over yet another pencil to your child in the pew, and the first prayer is said simmers those tensions. God is good!

Breathe in and out. Take the time for the Sabbath that you were thinking about earlier this morning. Meditate on how God has used your kids to support you and encourage you on your faith journey. The Spirit is never without some clever ways to move us nor love up on us.

Lissa