Without reserves

Today, I had the privilege to help Danny do back-up singing for his worship and had a bird's eye view of the children during worship. (You see, I'm usually hidden behind the piano, thanks to my height-deficiency =P). Learnt a few lessons today.

Now I know how the worship-leader feels when some children look so dis-interested during the worship session. It can be quite discouraging to the worship-leader who has made the effort to contemplate on the songs, prepare slides and come early to practise for the worship session. It is almost like getting tomatoes and rotten eggs thrown at you. Press on, all you worship-leaders who feel as if you are not making an impact on the children on Sunday mornings! Remember that even if we change their attitude of worship just by a fraction, it is a step forward. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to transform their hearts and minds, we are just vessels for this work to be done.

Amidst the crowd of children showing varying levels of interest in worship, I noticed this somewhat mentally challenged boy sitting in front, singing loudly and making gestures to punctuate his singing. He did not give regard to his surroundings, how he sounded, how he was behaving. He gave no regard to what was happening around him- he was just worshipping His God. I was very touched. It is so amazing to see this one child respond in the manner he did. What does it matter in God's eyes that he is not on par intellectually with the others? He is special, cuz God created him to give Him undivided attention.

Even the hearing impaired children at the side with Winnie interpreting songs for them were signing passionately to the strains of the melody. The strains of melody that they cannot hear, but feel.

A message struck me. Self-consciousness, self-awareness, fear of being judged, pride... are these holding back our children from fully and un-reservedly immersing in the spirit of worship? The lesson of the worshipping child sitting right in front was that it is sometimes good to lose awareness of oneself to give of the best worship to God.

Let's press on in this battle!
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" -Gal 6:9.

posted by: Adena