Passing on A Legacy of Worship

Love GOD, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that's in you, love him with all you've got! Write these commandments that I've given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night. Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates.Deuteronomy 6:5-9 (The Message)

Get them inside you, and then get them inside your children”. I don’t think the order of these statements is an accident :). I think there’s a reason God instructs us to get His words inside of us first before getting them inside our children. Just as with most things in life, our children learn from what we model. So, if we desire our children to be worshippers, we must live a lifestyle of worship before them---ouch, I felt that. :)

I think this begins with our own personal concept of what worship is. If we equate worship with singing, and raising our hands, but we feel decidedly uncomfortable doing either, then what? Are we destined to be awkward squawkers, making a joyless noise unto the Lord? :) Good news! Music is merely a vehicle of worship, and it is only one expression of worship. As for hand-raising, well, that is merely an outward expression of an inward thought of the heart--- and guess where God’s attention is?:)And whose attention matters? If our hearts are focused on worshipping God, it doesn’t matter if our hands are still at our sides. :) I kind of think that when we really get caught up in who God is, the music and words of songs can sometimes inspire the heart in ways that no other medium can… even if we’re not singing ourselves. You might even at times find a freedom inside that finds new ways to express your heart to God. In the end, the point is that it is between you and God :), and that is all that really matters.

Romans 12 says that when we, “offer your [our] bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your [our]spiritual act of worship.” If the way we live our lives becomes a spiritual act of worship then the following questions come to mind: Do we honor God in our speech? In the way we treat our spouse? Our neighbors? Do we use our gifts and talents for His glory in every context we’re in, not just at church where other Christians are watching? Do we take time to thank God for things, and acknowledge His presence, or admire Him at times other than before a meal or in a church setting? Ouch, ouch and ouch again :). When I look at the way I live in the daily details of life, I don’t see a life that consistently reflects a heart of worship. “Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 7:24-25) Apart from Him we can do nothing… not even worship Him. I am so very thankful for His grace that works in us both to will and to do His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)

Today many of the messages our children receive come not only from watching us, but also from the media that’s available to them: books, television, and music. What better resource for us as parents than to use these mediums as agents for good---to help us live out Deuteronomy 6:5-9, and nurture our children in a lifestyle of worship.


Here are some resources to consider:

Jesus A-Z, by Yvonne Riley, et als. Narrated by Crystal Lewis. Part of being able to worship authentically is knowing the object of our worship well. This book is a great stepping stone to this as it describes the attributes of Jesus in language that a child (5-6+, though I began using it with Nikki when she was 2 ½ year old) can understand. The CD also includes a couple of original songs written and sung by Crystal Lewis. She has some children singing with her as well.

Passion Hymns for a Kid’s Heart, by Joni Eareckson Tada (stories behind the hymns & devotionals, includes CD)

Hip Hop Hymns ( a fun way to get kids to learn those wonderful hymns of the faith with theologically sound words, and music they can relate to---a great “bridge”)

Worship Jamz (1-3, Christmas)"dance-to-able" renditions of familiar hymns, Christmas songs, and praise & worship songs

Praise Baby Series (similar to the Baby Einstein concept of random images of children,
nature and other objects set to music)

Kids in Worship songs sung by kids for kids; top-quality music ( unlike some of the "cheezy" stuff that's out there :))

Here I Am to Worship: Kids-- kid-friendly renditions of popular worship choruses, sung by kids for kids, again "top-quality" music