James Langston's Blog - Posts Tagged "granny"
Going to Church with GrandMama - Reflections
Grandmamma's Prayers
Excerpt from Chapter II - "Let's Go to Church!"
If memory serves me correctly, I was about five or six the first time I attended church with GrandMamma. The roads were mostly dirt, so we either walked or rode in wagons to and from church.
My most memorable part of the ride was the rhythmic sounds the chains made as they brushed against the leather collars around the mules’ necks.
Invariably, we would meet up with others along the road also headed to church.
Whenever that many saints came together, it was only a matter of time before someone started singing one of those old spirituals.
When they did, others joined in until everyone was singing. One of my favorites was “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.”
Swing low, Sweet chariot,
Coming for to carry me home.
Swing low, Sweet chariot,
Coming for to carry me home.
As the Spirit began to flow, some clapped their hands, others stomped their feet. All the kids would grab straw off the wagons and throw it into the air.
An inexplicable excitement compelled everyone and everything breathing to participate in this time of jubilee! And, by the time we got to church, we had already been to “church!”
Please understand, I’m not saying that an outward display of what some term “physical gymnastics” is a true sign of worship.
However, I do believe that if the Spirit of the Lord is present, there will be visible responses as He moves on hearts and lives.
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When these sons and daughters of former slaves and their progeny began to worship, they were participants in the greatest event on planet earth – the Praise and Worship of the Lord.
The Gospel of John says, “. . . true worshippers shall worship him in spirit and in truth . . .” This they did to their fullest.
A Church service should never be geared to simply excite and stimulate the flesh. Conversely it should not feel like a stroll in a graveyard!
There must be balance, with emphasis always on allowing the Holy Spirit to have preeminence.
The Word says, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”
Sadly, this spontaneity (the moving and operation of he Spirit) is so lacking in worship services today.
We have become so adept at form and fashion worship (a disjointed mixture of flesh, flesh and more flesh) that true worship (which comes as the heart is broken before the Lord) is as scarce as the proverbial “hens” teeth.
When Ezekiel wrote,
“And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh,” he was describing a powerful flowing river that breathes life into whatever it touched!
If the river does not flow, the deacon cannot pray, the choir cannot sing, and the preacher cannot preach! Only the flowing river quenches the thirst and satisfies the soul.
My GrandMamma was a very orderly lady. Her clothes, her hats, and even the way she walked all bore these unique defining qualities.
Yet, when she worshipped the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, she displayed a youthfulness and vigor rivaling her years.
Pilgrim Outreach Ministries Bookstore
Excerpt from Chapter II - "Let's Go to Church!"
If memory serves me correctly, I was about five or six the first time I attended church with GrandMamma. The roads were mostly dirt, so we either walked or rode in wagons to and from church.
My most memorable part of the ride was the rhythmic sounds the chains made as they brushed against the leather collars around the mules’ necks.
Invariably, we would meet up with others along the road also headed to church.
Whenever that many saints came together, it was only a matter of time before someone started singing one of those old spirituals.
When they did, others joined in until everyone was singing. One of my favorites was “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.”
Swing low, Sweet chariot,
Coming for to carry me home.
Swing low, Sweet chariot,
Coming for to carry me home.
As the Spirit began to flow, some clapped their hands, others stomped their feet. All the kids would grab straw off the wagons and throw it into the air.
An inexplicable excitement compelled everyone and everything breathing to participate in this time of jubilee! And, by the time we got to church, we had already been to “church!”
Please understand, I’m not saying that an outward display of what some term “physical gymnastics” is a true sign of worship.
However, I do believe that if the Spirit of the Lord is present, there will be visible responses as He moves on hearts and lives.
[image error]
When these sons and daughters of former slaves and their progeny began to worship, they were participants in the greatest event on planet earth – the Praise and Worship of the Lord.
The Gospel of John says, “. . . true worshippers shall worship him in spirit and in truth . . .” This they did to their fullest.
A Church service should never be geared to simply excite and stimulate the flesh. Conversely it should not feel like a stroll in a graveyard!
There must be balance, with emphasis always on allowing the Holy Spirit to have preeminence.
The Word says, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”
Sadly, this spontaneity (the moving and operation of he Spirit) is so lacking in worship services today.
We have become so adept at form and fashion worship (a disjointed mixture of flesh, flesh and more flesh) that true worship (which comes as the heart is broken before the Lord) is as scarce as the proverbial “hens” teeth.
When Ezekiel wrote,
“And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh,” he was describing a powerful flowing river that breathes life into whatever it touched!
If the river does not flow, the deacon cannot pray, the choir cannot sing, and the preacher cannot preach! Only the flowing river quenches the thirst and satisfies the soul.
My GrandMamma was a very orderly lady. Her clothes, her hats, and even the way she walked all bore these unique defining qualities.
Yet, when she worshipped the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, she displayed a youthfulness and vigor rivaling her years.
Pilgrim Outreach Ministries Bookstore
