Then Sings My Soul Saturday

Amy Wyatt at Signs, Miracles and Wonders launched this weekly Saturday post back in March of this year. Songs are great, and she gives us a venue to talk about why they are.

Here are her instructions: "Just write a post on your blog about a song. It can be a song that has spoken to your heart during a difficult time... a song that brings back a special memory... a song that makes you want to sing along to the top of your lungs... a song that makes you glad... a song that makes you want to dance... a song that has inspired you... a song that makes you feel like the words were written just for you... a song that makes your soul sing." (And she has a Mr. Linky so everyone gets to share. By the way, "Then sings my soul" is a phrase from How Great Thou Art in case you were wondering.)

The song that has inspired me this week is Chris Tomlin's Made to Worship. This has become the anchor song of the new kids music ministry we have at church called Kids: In His Service.

You and I are made to worship.
You and I are called to love.
You and I are forgiven and free.

When you and I embrace surrender.
When you and I choose to believe,
Then you and I will see what we were meant to be.

For kids to understand that they were created to worship God is a big leap for them. Kids are very confused about worship. Frankly, I think we're all a little confused about worship, myself included. I am reading a very revealing book called Teaching Kids Authentic Worship by Kathleen Chapman. She says that most of the songs we sing in church today are NOT worship songs. She brings us to the roots of worship, saying that anything that doesn't solely address "God alone" is outside the realm of true worship.

Just the fact that "You and I" are mentioned in Made to Worship means that it's not about God. Oh sure, God made us to worship, but the song itself is not about worshipping "God alone." It's an interesting and challenging premise. More to come as I finish the book.

Is Made to Worship still a powerful song with a powerful Biblical message? Oh yeah! In the bridge of the song, Tomlin works in Scripture (Luke 19:14): "Even the rocks cry out! And even the heavens shout at the sound of His holy name." God wants everything in His creation to worship Him.

When kids embrace this message--Wow! God wants them to worship. God wants to see them collaborating, sharing the gifts and talents He gave them, to lead others in worship. God wants them to grow in the knowledge of His Word and to share that with others. And God created us to do just that.

My prayer, as I approach Wednesday nights, is that God will continue to work through each one of His special creations--that they will know they were made to worship and made to find joy in being in His presence.