Maka Yesuspun mulai berbicara dan mengajar mereka, kata-Nya: "Berbahagialah orang yang miskin di hadapan Allah, karena merekalah yang empunya Kerajaan Sorga. Berbahagialah orang yang berdukacita, karena mereka akan dihibur. Berbahagialah orang yang lemah lembut, karena mereka akan memiliki bumi. Berbahagialah orang yang lapar dan haus akan kebenaran, karena mereka akan dipuaskan. Berbahagialah orang yang murah hatinya, karena mereka akan beroleh kemurahan. Berbahagialah orang yang suci hatinya, karena mereka akan melihat Allah. Berbahagialah orang yang membawa damai, karena mereka akan disebut anak-anak Allah. Berbahagialah orang yang dianiaya oleh sebab kebenaran, karena merekalah yang empunya Kerajaan Sorga. Berbahagialah kamu, jika karena Aku kamu dicela dan dianiaya dan kepadamu difitnahkan segala yang jahat. Bersukacita dan bergembiralah, karena upahmu besar di sorga, sebab demikian juga telah dianiaya nabi-nabi yang sebelum kamu." - Matius 5:2-12

01 March 2008

Bring Those Babies To Church

My heart goes out to the parents of small children. I know first hand the kind of problems they face. Training up a toddler in the way he should Go is a constant job, a continuous battle, seven-day-a- week task, not to mention an awesome responsibility. After six days of their whining chorus at home and three hours of embarrassment while shopping, the last thing some young mothers want to face is an hour of agony and humiliation at church.

Many young mothers have asked herself, "Why do I keep bringing them to
church?" As she enters the auditorium she utters a silent prayer that The kids will be good and the sermon short. The service begins. While mother is picking up toys, drying eyes, wiping noses, swatting, scolding, trying to sing, listen, and pray, the toddler is pouring juice on her dress. To the toddler, church is an exciting adventure. Songbooks are a challenge to take, stuffed toys make great missiles to launch over four or five rows, and the collection plate would make a great hat. Young parents take heart!

Let me assure you of this:
1. Your children do not disturb others nearly as much as you think they do.
2. If people without children are determined to sit at the back of the church, then they deserve any distraction they get.
3. Most people really do understand your plight and remember back to The days when their children were infants and toddlers.
4. Remember that you are both wanted and needed in the worship service.
5. Have faith that the hand, which now hurls crayons, will one daySpread the seeds of the Kingdom.

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