Remembering Saturdays and Sundays

When I was a little girl our Saturday nights were busy. It was bath night for everyone in the family. Everyone's shoes were polished so they looked their best. Our clothes were laid out for a quick dressing in the morning. Usually Mom and Dad practiced music for the next day. Mama on the piano and Daddy singing. It was the same every Saturday night. We were getting ready for worship.

Sunday mornings were always the same. The girls were ready and waiting in the car for Daddy who always had morning chores to do and didn't finish fast enough. We were late leaving so Daddy would speed his way across the 15 miles of gravel roads to our small country church. It was a thrilling ride, climaxing with a dip for our stomachs as we headed down a long hill toward the Iowa River Bridge. Every Sunday was the same.

The music was my favorite part of worship when I was a kid and as I grew into a teenager. We sang the good old hymns. The words were so important to me, teaching me God's truths set to music and singing songs of adoration and praise: "This is My Father's World," "For The Beauty of the Earth," "O God, Our Help in Ages Past, Our hope for years to come, Our shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal home!" "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty," "Great Is Thy Faithfulness," "How Great Thou Art," and "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee."

We sang songs of dedication: "O Jesus, I Have Promised," "O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee," "Onward, Christian Soldiers," "Give of Your Best to the Master," "Lead On, O King Eternal," "Teach Me to Pray, Lord, teach me to pray; Tis is my heart cry day unto day; I long to know Thy will and Thy way; Teach Me to Pray Lord, Teach Mme to Pray," "I Will Sing the Wondrous Story Of the Christ who died for me."

I have to admit that music, even now as a senior adult, is key to helping me worship. I love the words and the music and the way they prepare my heart to hear the Word of God and to worship my Holy Father. We must be careful that our worship is in spirit and truth.

"The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men, Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder;"" (Isaiah 29:13-14a NIV).

May our worship be in spirit and in truth unending.