Serving the Lord With a Singing Heart

What a blessed day we had in church! Lydia woke me up at 7 a.m. I wanted to sleep in so bad, but I got up like a good girl. I didn’t sleep very well, because the neighbor’s movement-sensing light in the backyard kept turning off and on all through the night. It was really bothering me. My leg ached as I prepared for church; that’s what happens when I don’t get enough sleep. It sure will be nice to receive a new body when I get to Heaven! =)

Well, Dad, Josiah, and I were leaving the house when our next-door neighbors came out of their house. I smiled, called a good morning, and waved to the kids. Sundays are just another day for them; it’s sad. I was reading in Proverbs 13 this morning when this verse caught my attention: “There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.” Our neighbors think they are rich with their brand new campers, cars and boats, etc., when they are spiritually poor. We must look poverty-stricken to the neighbors, riding our 15-year-old car (ha, ha!), but we have true riches…riches that will endure for all of eternity. I’m so glad to be saved! I have the privilege of getting up early and going to church. God is good!

Okay, here’s a little tidbit about Holland. We had to stop on the highway while a piece of the road was raised to allow a boat to pass. Ha! Imagine all the cars on a highway coming to a stop for one sailboat!!! Only in Holland! =D

Hugo and Mischa had the chairs all set up, when we got to church, and Steven was in the process of setting up the sound system. Hugo and Mischa both complimented my new hat. =) It’s so cute! Can’t believe I found it here! I love anything that looks old-fashioned.

Anyway, Mom has caught this cough virus thing that seems to be going around, so she stayed home, and Lydia stayed behind to take care of her. Poor Mom! I feel exhausted just listening to her cough. With both of them home I had my work to do plus theirs. I wiped tables, set up the coffee stuff in the kitchen, got the nursery ready, managed to practice the songs before the service started, played for the song service, and I was also in the nursery. Needless to say, I was busy, busy, busy. =)

When Dad started the service there was only Mischa, Steven, Hugo, Rudy, and a visitor. Talk about discouraging! By the end of the song service the usual Sunday morning crowd had made its appearance. Whew! It really helps the Spirit when people are on time for church. I know I feel more encouraged playing the piano when I hear many voices singing. It’s like Dad says: the more coals there are in the stove, the hotter the fire burns. =)

Mildred was supposed to help me in the nursery, but she had been working all night and didn’t make it. So, I took the kids out myself. It was only the four girls--Ellaya, Nyssa, Imani, and Jamie. I read them a Bible story right away, with Jamie sitting on my lap crying for her momma. After quieting Jamie, for a short time at least, I read to the girls about Daniel. Lydia mentioned that we should teach the children Ephesians 6:1. Good idea! So, I attempted to do that. When I mentioned that we were going to try to memorize a Bible verse, Ellya informed me she couldn’t. I proceeded to tell the girls that I had learned Ephesians 6:1 when I was about their ages. I didn’t mention that a positive attitude certainly helps. =) I believe we got as far as memorizing the reference. Pretty good. I’m hoping the other ladies will work with the kids when they are in the nursery. Then we colored and sang together. That was fun. Ellaya brought her floor dominoes from home, so we played that together. I was playing a song on the piano for the girls when Susanna came in, meaning the service was over.

I talked with several of the ladies while drinking a refreshing glass of water. People seemed to be leaving earlier than usual, so I went to the kitchen and helped Susanna clean up the coffee, etc. Steven called those who would be doing the ABC discipleship course to follow him to one of the classrooms. That left only Morena, her boys, Denny, his girls, Shelby, and Mike, her friend.

Denny has recently become convinced that rock music isn’t something a Christian should be listening to. Praise God! It’s good to see people growing. Denny has the kind of personality that loves to persuade others of what he believes. He’s been telling everyone what he’s found out about rock music. Well, Denny began a conversation with Mike about music. Meanwhile, Shelby and I had a conversation of our own. We talked about clothing, music, friends, and so forth. It was a blessing. I truly enjoyed it. I think we talked for an hour-and-a-half. Wow! =)

Well, everyone was getting out of the discipleship class when Dad called that it was time to go. That was fine with me. Boy, I was hungry! Mom and Lydia had dinner waiting when we got home. Spaghetti has become our Sunday dinner tradition. The food tasted wonderful, but I suddenly realized how exhausted I was when it settled. We got dinner cleaned up, and Dad read to us. Then both Mom and Dad went to take a nap. Well, I’m going to go recuperate from my “day of rest.” =) Today was a blessing! It was wonderful to be serving in the Lord’s house.