Response: 5 Reasons Children Should Be in The Main Service Regularly

Experiencing a local church that is almost like from the Church in the Book of Acts, even in the most unlikely places (Ch*na), is, well, the blessed experience ever.

I had a little friend who was 1.5 year-old. He sat quietly and attentively with his parents (sometimes), esp when his father (elder of the church) leads the message. They were teaching him already how to be in church since infancy.

"Train up a child the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

I salute parents who join their children to worship, esp when the kids are "well-behaved".

I also grew up attending church with my parents for Sunday service. However, I had the freedom. I always made mischief running around the sanctuary, eating those communion flat bread chips after service, and always asking to go out to play. =P

Here are the 5 Reasons Children Should Be in The Main Service Regularly:

1. Children should not be removed from the main body for convenience sake. 
2. Children are a part of the Body of Christ.
3. Children need Godly examples of how to worship.
4. Children need to feel like they are a part of the church community.
5. Children who don’t feel like a part of the church community will leave church when they’re older.

Read the entire article here: http://www.churchleaders.com/children/childrens-ministry-articles/261362-5-reasons-children-main-service-regularly.html

Kristie Anyabwile (Young, Restless, Reformed, Female)

An excerpt from Young, Restless, Reformed, and Female Interview with Kristie Anyabwile:

As a part of the fall, women have a sinful desire for the man’s place of leadership. This desire is manifested in the church when we fight for positions of authority and leadership that are outside Scripture’s teaching. …Women often become discouraged and bitter when don’t see opportunities to use their gifts in the local church. …There could [also] be a real temptation toward spiritual pride and self-righteousness… (Rom. 12:13; 1 Cor. 8:1) or deceiving ourselves into thinking that we’re wise… (1 Cor. 3:18)…

Read Exodus 23-24

Some years ago a Rottweiler attacked our golden retriever puppy at a kennel. The worthless animal climbed out of its run and into Molly's and nearly killed her. He left her with dozens of gashed and a dangling ear, My feelings toward that mutt were less than Davidic. Leave the two of us in a cave, and only one would have exited. I wrote a letter to the dog's owner, urging him to put the dog to sleep.

But when I showed the letter to the kennel owner, she begged me to reconsider, "What that dog did was horrible, but I'm still training him. I'm not finished with him yet."

God would say the same about the Rottweiler who attacked you. "What he did was unthinkable, unacceptable, inexcusable, but I'm not finished yet."

Your enemies still figure into God's plan. Their pulse is proof. God hasn't given up on them. They may be out of God's will, but not out of his reach. You honor God when you see them, not as His failures, but as His projects. (Max Lucado, Facing the Giants)

Here are my thoughts:

• God will not send me to where He does not permit. Acts 16:6-7
• People are still a work in progress. Therefore, forgive, consider, patience, honor God by offering these people back to him.
• How to LOVE? Know God's Law. What is LOVE? Know God's Grace. #reading #exodus

Memory verse of the day:  Exodus 23:20-22 (NCV)

I am sending an angel ahead of you, who will protect you as you travel. He will lead you to the place I have prepared. Pay attention to the angel and obey him. Do not turn against him; he will not forgive such turning against him because my power is in him. If you listen carefully to all he says and do everything that I tell you, I will be an enemy to your enemies. I will fight all who fight against you.