JustJessie

That's m'boy!

There's nothing like the first time your child sings onstage in church.  It's different from school programs: partly because they practice so much at school and partly because when they sing at church, they aren't just performing, they are worshiping God.  There's this horrible butterfly feeling while you're waiting, far worse than you've ever had for yourself.  Then when they're all lined up mouth open wide and eyes smiling, there is a joy and pride not comparable to anything on earth.  The quintessential "That's m'boy!"

Since Big G has been able to speak, he has been making up (very long) songs about Jesus and his blessings in his life.  He has a genuine desire to worship God, and we encourage that as much as possible.  On the way to church yesterday, we spoke about how worship is pleasing to God and how it opens people's hearts to hear God's word.  So when Big G opened his mouth to sing, he knew what he was doing, and he gave it his all.  Without further ado, Big G's choral debut...

*the cutest blur in the middle is mine.  The lighting and distance were too much for my camera's digital brain.*

A morning prayer from long ago

                                                               

COMPASSIONATE LORD,

Thy mercies have brought me to the dawn of another day,

Vain will be its gift unless I grow in grace,

     increase in knowledge,

     ripen for spiritual harvest.

Let me this day know thee as thou art,

love thee supremely,

serve thee wholly,

admire thee fully.

Through grace let my will respond to thee,

Knowing that power to obey is not in me, but

that thy free love alone enables me to serve thee.

Here then is my empty heart,

overflow it with thy choicest gifts;

Here is my blind understanding,

Chase away its mists of ignorance.

O ever watchful Shepherd,

lead, guide, tend me this day;

Without thy restraining rod I err and stray;

Hedge up my path lest I wander into unwholesome pleasure,

and drind its poisonous streams;

Direct my feet that I be not enangled in Satan's secret snares,

nor fall into his hidden traps.

Defend me from assailing foes,

from evil circumstances,

from myself.

My adversaries are part and parcel of my nature;

They cling to me as my very skin;

I cannot escape their contact.

In my rising up and sitting down they barnacle me;

They entice with constant baits;

My enemy is within the citadel;

Come with mighty power and cast him out, pierce him to deat,

   and abolish in me every particle of carnal life this day.