As anxiously as I have been anticipating this day, God has laid a couple of important things on my heart these last couple of days:

1.  Not all families are starting back to school in the same manner we are.  Chuck, Allie, and I had to privilege yesterday to volunteer at 6 Stones’ Operation Back to School.  What an amazing event!  I could not, however, believe some of the statistics I was hearing about the need in our area.  52% of the families in the HEB school district are currently applying for some kind of assistance.  Over half don’t have the basic necessities!  Right down the road from us.  I would never have imagined this.  And even in Grapevine, where I live, the numbers are growing.  I must never forget that some mamas haven’t taken their children back-to-school shopping – not for the same reason I haven’t (I have the pickiest child on the face of the earth and she doesn’t like anything) – but because they can’t afford it.  While Allie spent half the afternoon today planning and packing her lunch for tomorrow, we must think of the mamas who couldn’t feed their kids today.  I hope the event yesterday was only the beginning of a lifelong quest for our family to seek out those less fortunate to help – and to have hearts overflowing with gratitude for what we have been given.

2.  I am reminded that the teachers I am handing my darlings off to have a hard job.  That they have chosen to pour themselves out day after day to make my children better.  What a gift!  What a calling!  But what a challenge.  And I pray I don’t forget that many of them will work long hours at school and home and still have to get done for their own families the tasks and chores I will – starting tomorrow – have some uninterrupted time to do.  And I realize how draining that can be.  So I pray that my daughters (Shelby to the extent she can) will be the kind of considerate, disciplined students that will make their jobs easier.  And I pledge to try to find ways to show appreciation to them and help when possible to make their jobs lighter.  Teacher friends, I am praying for you.  And I love you.  And so I hope you will forgive me tomorrow as I try to say ever so softly, “Yipee

Diaper rash cream is a good thing.  It gives babies, and Shelby, much needed relief in times of irritation.  But used the wrong way, it made my dog very sick.  And this is where I finally explain why I think worship is like diaper rash cream.  God created us to worship.  It is ingrained in us.  Every fiber of our being longs to connect with something or someone higher than ourselves.  This is GREAT in relationship with God.  As grateful believers in Jesus Christ, we are filled, renewed and complete when we “worship the Father in spirit and truth”.  But if we are not worshipping the one true God, we will worship something because it’s a part of our nature.  Josh Riley’s definition of worship that I used early this week says we worship what we value and treasure in life.  I value my relationship with my husband.  I treasure my time with my kids.  I love my job (best part time job ever).  I am grateful for my car, my home, and the computer I’m typing this on.  But if I place any of those things (or anything else) in priority above my relationship with God and what He would have me do, I am worshiping the wrong thing.  And in the long run, it will make me sick.  Heart sick.  Soul sick.  I fear my deepest struggle is in worshiping myself.  No, I don’t sing songs to myself, or pray to myself; but I am guilty time and again of putting my own desires and my own agendas above what God has for me.  And that’s never good.

In the same way we are meant to worship only God, we are not designed to be worshiped ourselves.  Here is where Justin Beiber comes in.  My daughter Allie’s infatuation with the Beibs, is long over and I am grateful.  Don’t get me wrong, he sings a catchy tune, but his reported behavior of late has been self-distructive, often illegal and narcissistic.  I have heard celebrity apologists state that the fact that he is 19 and has more money than Rockefellar is to blame for his bad behavior.  I think they are missing the point.  This kid has been in the spotlight since he was a pre-teen and he has been worshipped by millions.  Think worship is too strong of a word?  You tube a public appearance or concert footage and see if it doesn’t change your mind.  We are not designed to be worshiped and don’t know what to do with it.  No wonder he thinks he is invincible.

I would challenge you to look at what worship means to you and how you have carried it out.  It has been very interesting for me to spend a couple of days on this topic (maybe it hasn’t been for you, but I never said this blog was all for you ;)).  I’ll finish with the words of Jesus – which is definitely a challenge to me, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord Your God and serve Him only.'”