A Lively Church

The other Sunday morning, we walked into church, and I was struck with the vibrant life that I felt as we entered the lobby. There were dozens of people standing around chatting. Our children ran to their favorite people and greeted them with hugs.

There were people of all ages from various backgrounds, businessmen and women, Amish families, moms and dads, and loads of children everywhere. Nearly everyone was talking and smiling and appeared genuinely pleased to be at church.

We checked our children in for kid’s church and then headed into the sanctuary to get settled before worship. As we walked into church, a group of girls near our daughters’ ages ran up, and they all greeted each other with enthusiasm. We went to a bench and got things organized and settled. As I looked around the auditorium, I saw people walking in to find their seats. But they weren’t just filing in solemnly and quietly. No, there were moms and dads corraling multiple children while juggling coffee cups and diaper bags. There were people walking across the room to greet a friend before they sat down. There were waves and greetings tossed back and forth across the room. And it felt alive!

When worship started, there was a group of kids in the back worshipping in their own way with coloring and drawing and chatting to each other. Other children went to their favorite adults to worship with them. I sat back in my seat and took a moment to realize just how absolutely blessed we are to have this church community in our lives right now.

Children are celebrated and welcomed. The children are welcome to go to kid’s church after worship or they are welcome to stay with their parents and listen to the message. If there is extended prayer or ministry time at the end of a service, parents are encouraged to bring their children up from kid’s church so they can be part of it. When the children are dismissed to go to kid’s church, the rest of the church speaks a blessing over them that declares that the children are “safe, wanted, and loved.”

At the weekly prayer and worship night, you are likely to find children either participating by waving ribbons around, coloring in their color books, or playing with their friends in the family room.

I’ve been in churches where children were expected to not be seen or heard. It was almost as if they didn’t actually exist in the church. I’ve also been in churches where children were expected to be completely silent and still, no exceptions. I wonder how those churches survive.

I’ve heard a saying, “If a church isn’t crying, it’s dying.” Our church is rarely silent on Sunday mornings, and I can’t help but think that’s how it should be. We are blessed to find ourselves in a church where children are so welcomed. To have unmarried men and women so selflessly pour their time and energy into our children’s lives. To have other children who will be our children’s friends.

Our church has grown significantly since we started attending in the fall of 2020, and I can’t help but wonder if it’s partially due to the way they view children. 🤔

Anyways, all that to say, I love the church we find ourselves at right now, and I will continue to enjoy it for however long God allows us. And if anyone finds themselves in need of a church in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, feel free to check out Branch Community in Gordonville.

Lead Me Gently

Isa 40:11b “and [He] shall gently lead those that are with young.”

God, I’m so tired! I don’t know why!

I

What is wrong with my brain? Why can’t I find the joy I know you have?

Shall

I feel like I’m spiraling! I feel like a terrible mom!

Gently

I have so many tears!

Lead

Please make the children sleep! I can’t do another night with so little sleep!

Those

I’m begging You for help! I literally am unable to do this right now!

That

You promised to lead those with young gently. I’m not feeling the gentleness right now! I need more gentleness!

Are

You’re here. I sense Your presence beside me. I want You. I crave You.

With

Please give me Your peace. Please comfort my soul.

Young.

Please just hold me while I cry. Please make it all better and help me to remember that You do care. Thank you.

Gently: to lead, give rest, lead with care, guide to a watering place or station, cause to rest, bring to a station or place of rest, guide, refresh (Strong’s Concordance)

Rest sometimes looks different as a mama in the thick of raising little ones. And yet in the darkest of nights, when I’m up again for the tenth time and I’m exhausted and begging God to please somehow make it better, I feel Him come beside me, lift my weary arms, and strengthen me to keep going and give comfort to the children who call me mom, the children who call for me in the middle of the night like I call for God. And I am so thankful for His promise to give us rest and refreshment in the middle of the intensity.

Let the Children Come to Me

It’s Wednesday afternoon. That means it’s time to load up our three children and the little boy I babysit into their carseats and head off to church for an hour.

Every Wednesday afternoon from 2 to 3, you will find me and four children in the prayer room at our church. Why? Because we are taking what is called a “prayer watch.” We spend one hour playing worship music and spending time in the presence of God.

Sometimes we dance or spin in circles with the ribbon flags. Sometimes, the children “play” the keyboard and sing along with the songs. Sometimes, the girls draw pictures while I supervise the two one year old boys’ explorations of all the sound equipment. Every once in a while, I get to do about 2 minutes of sitting in quiet conversation with God. Most of the time, tho, I am worshipping Him as I chase down one toddler and settle a dispute over the crayons with another one.

Why do I do this? Why do I prioritize taking four children ages 4, 2, 1, and 1 to church to worship for one hour? Because it is important to me to cultivate a heart of worship in each of our children. I want them to have conversations with God as easily as they have them with me. I want to build their faith that their prayers make a difference. I want to set an example of prioritizing time in God’s presence, no matter what else is going on in our lives. I want them to see that no matter how seemingly inconvenient it might be to do this every Wednesday afternoon, it is still important enough to me that we do it. I want prayer and worship, singing and dancing, and listening to hear what God is saying to be a normal part of our children’s lives.

The other week, we found our 4 year old’s little purse that she has been missing for months! Her immediate response was to say, “Thank you. God! I love you!” and then she drew a picture for Him to show her gratitude.

Once the song “Make Room” by Casting Crowns was playing. One of the lines in the song says, “Is there room in your heart for God to write His story?” Our daughter turned to me and said, “Mom, I can see God writing His story.” She went on to list ways she sees God writing His story in her life.

I imagine that God smiles when He sees the children’s pure worship. It doesn’t bother His ears when the notes they play aren’t perfectly in tune with the song. He delights in the colors that they choose for their pictures. I can almost hear Him chuckle when He sees their portraits of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. He isn’t bothered that their worship sometimes looks like running in circles and giggling as they chase each other around the room. Their freedom in His presence is a delight. Their confident faith and sweet sensitivity to His voice is amazing.

Our children have so much delight in taking part in prayer watch that they ask if it’s time to go yet whenever they know it’s Wednesday.

It’s only one hour a week. Sometimes, it can seem like maybe I did nothing except try to calm the waves that are toddlerhood, and I wonder if God really cares about this one mother and the four tiny humans she brings. I sometimes feel guilty that my prayer watch is not as deeply reverent as some of the others that also hold prayer watches. I don’t get grand revelations or big breakthroughs, but still I go. And I do enjoy it.

No matter what chaos we bring into the room. No matter how frustrated I was trying to get everyone fed, changed, dressed, out the door, and loaded up to leave on time. No matter what. I walk into that room, crank the worship up, and I feel peace. I know that in His presence, there is rest. And it restores and energizes me. And by the time we leave, everyone is in a good mood and relaxed. That’s what the presence of God brings.

What I Would Have Missed

This evening, as I watched two of our children play in the bathtub, I was thinking again how different my life might have been had it followed the path I thought I was on. Now, a lot of times, this thought can make me feel sad, and like I’ve missed out on all the adventures that I might have had. It can also feel like I’ve completely lost myself, which is NOT an inspiring train of thought. But as I sat there watching the children splash, my thoughts went down a different path.

There are so many things I would have missed if my life had followed that alternate path.

I would have missed saying yes to being a mom.

I would have missed watching the baby tackling his big sister to the ground.

I would have missed the endless imaginary stories that I’m told every day.

I would have missed seeing the confidence that she could for sure do a complicated dance move from her uncle and aunt’s dance team performance.

I would have missed the frequent refrain of “Mom, read me a book” or “Mom, I need some snuggles.”

I would have missed the enthusiastic celebrations of things like staying in bed all night and getting poop in the potty for the first time.

I would have missed hearing the authority with which they declare, “When I say ‘no’, then ‘no’!”

I would have missed hearing her introduce herself to strangers and then say, “She is my sister, and he is my brother.”

I would have missed hearing them say, “I love you, Mama.”

I would have missed the absolute joy that they bring to my life.

I would have missed the challenges that this particular path brings.

I would have missed the moments I have to stifle my laughter when they pray that the curtains would sleep good tonight.

I would have missed all the times they ask “Can I help?”

I would have missed all the opinions and questions and astute observations of such amazing little humans.

I would have missed the chance to daily influence the next generation in such a personal way.

I have an amazing life, and I’m glad I said yes to this path. I’m thankful that I don’t have to miss these moments, even tho it means I’m not having the moments I’d have on the other path. I don’t regret my choice. I hope you don’t regret yours.