There I was, sitting my four of my daughters, listening to them worship and worshiping with them. It was beautiful and weighty all at the same time.
Now as a mom, I have my moments...moments that, at the end of the day, I look back on and mourn. Do you have those...or is this just me?
I regret saying something. I wish I hadn't given so-and-so that disappointed look when they had an honest accident. I wish I had laughed more and criticized less.
The list of my failings as mom can, in my very realistic opinion, go on and on. to the point that I sometimes wonder if homeschooling them is the best option simply because I'm their primary, adult influence... 24-7. *insert panic*
Because quite honestly, there are times where I feel anything but adequate.
But moments like these...they are ones that I want to remember. to hold in my heart. and to highlight for my girls. Because they'll be... *poof*... gone before I know it.
So out came my camera, as I tried to be as discrete as possible while taking pictures. You know, being that worship + cameras make it hard to truly worship.
One of the reasons I reallllly love homeschooling my daughters is that I get ample time to teach them about real life.
The kind of life that has lasting meaning. a powerful, positive impact. and a true, deep understanding about who they have been called to be.
Real life => Learning how to honestly walk with Jesus on a daily basis.
Because let's face it...our children NEED to know how to handle the power of God with confidence and humility. especially in the world today where new counterfeits are being offered at every corner:
- fascination with vampires.
- wicc*an.
- drugs.
- casual s*ex.
As Christians, I believe we need to be intentional about teaching our children to worship. Because worship, according to the Word, is the avenue that is used to enter into His throne room.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalms 100:4
not through prayer. not through being good. but through true worship of the Father do we gain intimate access to him.
In our house, worship is really important. It's always been a key element to both Jet's and my relationships with the Lord. If you're ever at my church and you see some lady flanked by many daughters...chances are, if that lady is grooving, that it's me. *laughing*I simply can't stand still when music is on. especially if it's worship. :)
That said, our girls have inherited our love of music, the Lord, worship, and dance. Even Alana, from the time she was around 10 months, would go around the house singing "Ho-ee! Ho-ee!" over and over. (translation "holy")
So for Valentine's Day, we got the girls another Hillsong Children's DVD: Supernatural.
Love. It.
All the girls love it!Even Lani...she was dancing and raising her hands and singing. but this is all I could get, being that she was on the move.
She's her momma's daughter! ;)It's 45 minutes of solid worship (12 songs)...with teachings and testimonies scattered in between songs should you choose to have them added (on the main menu).
I love watching young people lead young people into the Throne Room. I think there's such power when the older ones of a generation take the time to train the younger ones.
Not to mention my girls realllllly love that there are passionate believers that are THEIR AGE! Young children wholeheartedly worshipping in all different ways: dance, raising of hands, shouting, instruments, rap...
Selah was like, "Look at ALL those kids!" when she first saw it. (It's an amphitheatre of over 3,000 kids worshipping). And they are begging to go to one of their kid's conferences!
Each song presents a new concept (everything is new when you're young, right?) So it's an opportunity to go more in-depth with them. talking to them about the words that they're singing, so they actually have meaning when they're singing them and not just doing it in rote.
Today we discussed what it means to be "supernatural"...
Having a DVD like this presents an open door that I wouldn't have had otherwise, you know? I mean, sure I can sit them down and say, "Okay today we're going to talk about the word supernatural." and then proceed to talk to their brain.
But when they've been worshipping (dancing, singing, smiling, turning their thoughts to God) with songs that include that word, then the new-found meaning speaks to every angle of their understanding.
It's like they can use their 5 senses to get up close and personal with the understanding of it.
I'm excited for when we go into detail about what the song about the armor of God! I have visions of getting out their play armor and really making it into something 3 dimensional. ;)
"On The March" (the one that talks about the armor of God)...
While we were worshipping, I felt certain things rise up in me...certain visions, different aspects of ministry I believe I'll be involved in, etc...Worship has always been a time when the Lord will speak to me, planting things in my heart.
So I told my girls that. explaining to them what the Lord was doing, how he tends to fill me with hope and expectation for the future, giving me a vision of what He has called me to.
And Charis looked at me, on the point of tears (because remember, she's the one that wants to "do it right") and said, "But he doesn't do that with me."
Perfect opportunity to explain to her that her relationship with God won't look like mine. And that, in fact, her relationship with God will even change as she gets older....
After all was said and done, she smiled again and turned back to worship, completely content that she had a freedom to have a different experience. :)
.....
Once when the girls were lifting their hands, Selah instructed Raegan to put her hands up "so God can fill them with oil."
I know most wouldn't have a clue what they're talking about...and may even question what in the world we're teaching them...but to me, this made me smile.
Because they know (Selah has seen firsthand) that God has done that with me (especially my hands) during worship on countless occasions. So for them, to expect God to do it, is nothing out of the ordinary.
After all, we do sing "Fill me, Lord." my girls just truly expect Him to. With oil. ;D
....
Selah is always on the move. Dancing as a form of worship is perfect for her. When she was about 2 months old, both my pastor and I saw a vision of her dancing all different varieties of dance. Well...that's definitely proving true of who she is. She loves ALLLL things Dance.
This video is a perfect glimpse into how not sedated our worship is. :) I wish I could get some of the other videos to upload, but they just won't? (I'll probably go back and try and add some later...when Techy Hub is home)
Now to give you a complete view of our crazy worship...I have to say, it IS crazy. I mean, after all our oldest is only 7. So while it is a time where they are really trying to focus in on Jesus, there are also...
- Moments of Fighting over a toy...
Raegan was really upset that Alana was playing with something that she apparently "wanted". Hence the throwing herself in the floor.
Ah, the powerful atmosphere of worship. :)- Periods of Distraction...
After the aforementioned fight, Raegan decided she had better protect her territory and focus her attentions on the toys.- Total indifference instead preferring to Sit back and watch...
All of which I have to say is totally fine. If you want to try incorporating something like this in your child's day, expect it not to go "perfectly".
Because when all is said and done, that's life. And we need to learn to worship him in the midst of it. not apart from it, right?
