Preparing for Sunday Morning Worship

Good Saturday Morning! Hope your weather is as beautiful as it is in Tennessee. I thought this would be an appropriate day to share with you about some things I have been reading about preparing for Sunday morning worship. I don’t know about you, but some times I don’t prepare for Sunday morning worship the way I should and it affects my whole day. I have found that if I prepare mentally and physically the night before to receive a word from God it changes everything. I have two things to share with you. The first was a quote from Mark Hall from Casting Crowns that I received via twitter this week and the second was an article that I found on John Piper’s website @ Desiring God. I hope you enjoy.

Mark Hall:
Do we worship & serve as debtors trying to pay God back for what He has done or as His children responding thankfully to Who He is?
You're no debtor. You're a child of the Most High! Let your worship and service be a response to His goodness and presence in your life

John Piper:

“Take Heed How You Hear!”: Ten Practical Preparations for Hearing the Word of God on Sunday Morning by: John Piper

A Meditation on Luke 8:18:
Take heed then how you hear; for to him who has will more be given, and from him who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.

1. Pray that God Would Give You a Good and Honest Heart

The heart we need is a work of God. That’s why we pray for it. “I will give you a new heart” (Ezekiel 36:26). “I will give them a heart to know Me” (Jeremiah 24:7). Let’s pray, “O Lord, give me a heart for you. Give me a good and honest heart. Give me a soft and receptive heart. Give me a humble and meek heart. Give me an fruitful heart.”

2. Meditate on the Word of God

“O taste and see that the LORD is good” (Psalm 34:8). On Saturday night, read some delicious portion of your Bible with a view to stirring up hunger for God. This is the appetizer for Sunday morning’s meal.

3. Purify Your Mind by Turning Away from Worldly Entertainment

“Putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21). It astonishes me how many Christians watch the same banal, empty, silly, trivial, titillating, suggestive, immodest TV shows that most unbelievers watch. This makes us small and weak and worldly and inauthentic in worship. Instead, turn off the television on Saturday night and read something true and great and beautiful and pure and honorable and excellent and worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8). Your heart will unshrivel and be able to feel greatness again.

4. Trust in the Truth That You Already Have

The hearing of the Word of God that fails during trial has no root (Luke 8:13). What is the root we need? It is trust. Jeremiah 17:7-8 says, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose trust is the LORD. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream.” Trusting in the truth is the best way to prepare yourself to receive more.

5. Rest Long Enough Saturday Night to be Alert and Hopeful Sunday Morning

“All things are lawful for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything” (1 Corinthians 6:12). I am not laying down any law here. I am saying: there are Saturday night ways that ruin Sunday morning worship. Don’t be enslaved by them. Without sufficient sleep, our minds are dull, our emotions are flat, our proneness to depression is higher, and our fuses are short. My counsel: decide when you must get up on Sunday in order to have time to eat, get dressed, pray and meditate on the Word, prepare the family, and travel to church; and then compute backward eight hours and be sure that you are in bed 15 minutes before that. Read your Bible in bed and fall asleep with the Word of God in your mind. I especially exhort parents to teach teenagers that Saturday is not the night to stay out late with friends. If there is a special late night, make if Friday. It is a terrible thing to teach children that worship is so optional that it doesn’t matter if you are exhausted when you come.

6. Forebear One Another Sunday Morning Without Grumbling and Criticism.
“They grumbled in their tents; they did not listen to the voice of the LORD” (Psalm 106:25). Sunday morning grumbling and controversy and quarreling can ruin a worship service for a family. When there is something you are angry about or some conflict that you genuinely think needs to be talked about, forebear. Of course if you are clearly the problem and need to apologize, do it as quickly as you can (Matthew 5:23-24). But if you are fuming because of the children’s or spouse’s delinquency, forebear, that is, be slow to anger and quick to listen (James 1:19). In worship, open yourself to God’s exposing the log in your own eye. It may be that all of you will be humbled and chastened so that no serious conflict is necessary.

7. Be Meek and Teachable When You Come

“Receive with meekness the word implanted, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21). Meekness and teachability are not gullibility. You have your Bible and you have your brain. Use them. But if we come with a chip on our shoulders and a suspicion of the preaching, week after week, we will not hear the Word of God. Meekness is a humble openness to God’s truth with a longing to be changed by it.

8. Be Still as You Enter the Room and Focus Your Mind’s Attention and Heart’s Affection on God

“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10). As we enter the sanctuary, let us come on the lookout for God, and leave on the lookout for people. Come with a quiet passion to seek God and his power. We will not be an unfriendly church if we are aggressive in our pursuit of God during the prelude and aggressive in our pursuit of visitors during the postlude.

9. Think Earnestly About What Is Sung and Prayed and Preached

“Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature” (1 Corinthians 14:20). So Paul says to Timothy, “Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything” (2 Timothy 2:7). Anything worth hearing is worth thinking about. If you would take heed how you hear, think about what you hear.

10. Desire the Truth of God’s Word More Than You Desire Riches or Food

“Like newborn babies, desire the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation” (1 Peter 2:2). As you sit quietly and pray and meditate on the text and the songs, remind yourself of what Psalm 19:10-11 says about the Words of God: “More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.”

Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible.

Psalm 40

Studying Psalm 40 this week.

(Psalm 40:2) "He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

Lord, thanks for saving a messy person like me and lifting me up out of the pit. May I continue to talk about your saving power and faithfulness in my life. I pray that many will see what you have done and be amazed. Thank you for loving me in spite of my constant bent toward sin, and for keeping all your promises to me, even when I break my promises to you.

Psalm 40 (New Living Translation)

Psalm 40
For the choir director: A psalm of David.
1 I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
and he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.
3 He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the Lord.
4 Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord,
who have no confidence in the proud
or in those who worship idols.
5 O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us.
Your plans for us are too numerous to list.
You have no equal.
If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds,
I would never come to the end of them.

6 You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings.
Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand[a]—
you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings.
7 Then I said, “Look, I have come.
As is written about me in the Scriptures:
8 I take joy in doing your will, my God,
for your instructions are written on my heart.”

9 I have told all your people about your justice.
I have not been afraid to speak out,
as you, O Lord, well know.
10 I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart;
I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power.
I have told everyone in the great assembly
of your unfailing love and faithfulness.

11 Lord, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me.
Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me.
12 For troubles surround me—
too many to count!
My sins pile up so high
I can’t see my way out.
They outnumber the hairs on my head.
I have lost all courage.

13 Please, Lord, rescue me!
Come quickly, Lord, and help me.
14 May those who try to destroy me
be humiliated and put to shame.
May those who take delight in my trouble
be turned back in disgrace.
15 Let them be horrified by their shame,
for they said, “Aha! We’ve got him now!”

16 But may all who search for you
be filled with joy and gladness in you.
May those who love your salvation
repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!”
17 As for me, since I am poor and needy,
let the Lord keep me in his thoughts.
You are my helper and my savior.
O my God, do not delay.

Jeremy Camp - There Will Be A Day - Video Devotional

I just wanted to share this video devotion from Jeremy Camp's song "There will be a Day". It has meant a lot to me this week. The last couple of years have been tough as I have watched my dad suffer with kidney disease. He has been in and out of the hospital many times. He started dialysis a little over a year ago in hopes that he would soon be able to get on the transplant list. Unfortunately he received a call from the transplant coordinator a few weeks ago. She told him that he would not be a candidate for a kidney transplant. Although I know he was so disappointed, he continues to fight this disease taking it day by day. This past week he was in the hospital again. It hurts me to see him go through so much suffering, but as I sit beside him while he was asleep, God reminded of Revelations 21:4. There will be a day of no more suffering or pain or tears. Thank you to all my friends who have been praying for him. He was able to go back home on Friday and seems to be doing better.

Teacher of the Year

I am so thankful for the many people that God has brought into my life, but today I just wanted to honor this special lady. You see, she has a special place in my heart as I have covered her with prayer over the last few years. She was my daughter's first grade teacher. She touches so many children's lives or should I say hearts. Recently she was named "Teacher of the Year" at Lakeview Elementary School. She is also a nominee for Wilson County "Teacher of the Year". I wanted to share this letter or recommendation that I wrote with the help of my wonderful mother-in-law, Rosemarie.



Re: Letter of Recommendation for Teacher of the Year for Ms. Suzi Gregory

If asked, “Who was your favorite teacher?” most of us can quickly identify the “one” who truly “made the difference,” e.g., the teacher who inspired you, made learning fun, and believed in you, sometimes even when you didn’t believe in yourself. Suzi Gregory is, without a doubt, an educator who will be identified as “favorite teacher” by all of her current and former students. From a parent’s perspective, she is one of the most outstanding teachers I know. Her wonderful disposition is comprised of compassion and an understanding of individual differences, as well as her love of, and for, teaching and learning. She possesses an innate ability to assess each child’s needs and adequately provide appropriate support services that are, by the way, second to none.

I could elaborate about her innovative teaching methods or how she continually strives to keep abreast of current research and resources; however, I believe that it is more important to tell you how she impacted the life of my child. As one of Ms. Gregory’s girls, my daughter went to school, not only with a smile on her face, but excited and anxious to begin the academic challenges awaiting her arrival. In turn, she came home with that same “happy” smile, each and every day. She absolutely loved everything about Ms. Gregory and the learning environment she created in her classroom. I believe the experience of being with such a dedicated and motivating teacher was an inspiration, as my daughter’s love of school continues to flourish.

Even though Ms. Gregory would send home a schedule of daily activities, I didn’t need to read it to know the events of the day. My little girl would race to her bedroom, be transformed into Ms. Gregory and “act out,” in her pretend classroom, every activity she experienced. Ms. Gregory’s classroom contained a wealth of rich resource materials and each day my daughter became an investigative explorer as she participated in the amazing learning adventures created by her teacher.

Her love of reading, writing, and storytelling were transferred to my child and that love remains with her to this day. Ms. Gregory always encouraged the children to use their imaginations when reading, writing, and during involvement in creative design projects. She has the knowledge, skills and ability to know how much is possible for each young mind because she takes time to get to know each individual child. She sets high expectations and accepts nothing less than meeting, or exceeding, the learning goals and behavior objectives set for each child. Uniquely, she teaches to the whole child, not the whole class.

I pray that all children have a Ms. Gregory during their early years of education, a teacher who not only loves and cares for them as if they were her own, but one who is also a role model of excellence. Beyond that, Ms. Gregory is a teacher of “excellence” and she needs no award to prove that she is the teacher of the year. My words are so inadequate to truly paint you a picture of what a gifted teacher and educator she is. The proof lies in the lives of students that she has impacted over the last 32 years. She not only impacted their lives for a year, but provided them with the tools they needed to become lifelong learners. There are a lot of good teachers, but a great teacher is the one who is as pleased as the student/s when they succeed. Ms. Gregory has shared many gifts that her successful students will never forget. Neither will I.

It is for all of the above reasons, and more, that I highly recommend Ms. Suzie Gregory be given consideration for the honor of being named Teacher of the Year.

Sincerely,


Christy Gold

Family Nights

Yes. We are crazy. These are some photos from one of our family nights. We were playing Nerf Dart Tag. So much fun. I am still laughing about the bullet proof vest fitting Doug like a bib. The first night we played, we only had two small guns. We had to take turns. No fun. So the next night, while Doug and I were on a date night, we headed over to Target and bought ourselves some powerful Nerf Dart Machine Guns, bullet proof vests, and protective eyewear. We planned a surprise attack on the kids. Fun had by all!

Over the past few months, it seems as though our family has been running from one activity to another. Don't get me wrong. School, sports, church, and other extracurricular activities are good things to be involved in, but we, as families, need to make sure we are spending quality time together at home not just in the car on the way to our next activity.

As Tedd Tripp points out:

"The most powerful way to keep your child from being attracted by the offers of camaraderie with the wicked is to make home an attractive place to be. Young people do not run away from homes where there are solid relationships. They do not run from homes in which the family is planning activities and doing exciting things."

Tedd Tripp, Shepherding a Child's Heart

I have found the best way to incorporate the family time is to plan for it. It sounds crazy that we have to plan for this time, but if we don't, we tend to fill our lives with other activities outside the home. There are so many resources available for ideas for family nights. Family nights should be an evening we set aside each week where we eat a special dinner together and do a fun activity.

A Prayer for Parents

I wanted to share a prayer with you that has been dear to my heart over the last few weeks. I actually keep it posted in my planner and I carry it around in my purse, because it seems as though I have to refer to it quite often, especially when I start to feel like a failure as a parent. I don't know about you, but often I beat myself up over how I continually mess up as a parent. Sometimes it seems as though we are swimming upstream when it comes to parenting our kids in today's culture. I am realizing how I need to stay on my knees in prayer and rely on God.

As I was reading Focus on the Family Magazine the other day, I came across this article. It was taken from the "Complete Marriage and Family Home Reference Guide" by Dr. James Dobson.

There's hardly a parent alive who does not have some regrets and painful memories of their failures as a mother or a father. Children are infinitely complex, and we can no more be perfect parents than we can be perfect human beings. The pressures of living are often enormous.

We get tired and irritated; we are influenced by our physical bodies and our emotions, which sometimes prevent us from saying the right things and being the models we should be. We don't always handle our children as unemotionally as we wish we had, and it's common to look back a year or two later and see how wrong we were in the way we approached a problem.

All of us experience these failures! No one does the job perfectly! That's why each of us should get alone with God and say:

Lord, You know my inadequacies. You know my weaknesses, not only in parenting, but also in every area of my life. I did the best I could, but it wasn't good enough. As You broke the fishes and the loaves to feed the 5,000, now take my meager effort and use it to bless my family. Make up for the things I did wrong. Satisfy the needs that I have not satisfied. Wrap Your great arms around my children, and draw them close to You. And be there when they stand at the great crossroads between right and wrong. All I can give is my best, and I've done that. Therefore, I submit to You my children and myself and the job I did as a parent. The outcome now belongs to You.

I know the Father will honor that prayer, even for parents whose job is finished. The Lord does not want you to suffer from guilt over events you can no longer influence. The past is the past. Let it die, never to be resurrected. Give the situation to God, and let Him have it. I think you'll be surprised to learn that you're no longer alone!

"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Phillipians 3:13-14).

Words of the Wise

Proverbs 22:17-19

17 Listen to the words of the wise;
apply your heart to my instruction.
18 For it is good to keep these sayings in your heart
and always ready on your lips.
19 I am teaching you today—yes, you—
so you will trust in the Lord.

Dear Friends,

As I continue to memorize Romans 12, God is showing me on a daily basis what it means to be a living sacrifice. These scriptures are becoming engraved on my heart as I have had several opportunities to share and teach these scriptures to my children in our day to day living (sleeping, eating, going-to-school, being on the basketball team, hanging out with friends, family life, chores, ordinary living). That is what it means to have it in your heart and ready on your lips. I especially love verses 9-21 in the Message version.

Romans 12:9-21 (The Message)

9-10Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

11-13Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

14-16Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.

17-19Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."

20-21Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.


Have a Blessed Day!!