Sassifrass: Enter with Boldness

Sassi is just shy of her second birthday. Most of you that have raised children know that the label "Terrible Twos" carries great weight. It is terrible but only for those trying to tame the two year. old. Sassi being who she is a always ahead of the curve; embracing her twoness already. Granted she has always been one to exert her independence but of late she is pushing slightly on the boundaries to see that point where they will budge no further. She likes to look at the world around her as her world and all the people are her people. She struts confidently through life boldly going where no one will go for fear of people pointing and staring.



Church is a case in point. Her church boldness started this way. Standing in the pew, "dancing" with the big girls. She may always be a step behind but her arms would go where there arms had just gone, flowing and swaying with determination. 


But pew dancing transformed into a more full body experience; boldly moving into the aisle. She began to stand and follow their movements, still a step behind, occasionally rendered frozen in awe of the liturgical dancers ability to move so freely. 

But then this happened. She went from boldly dancing and watching in the aisle to joining in worship standing, in the aisle, with her full body! As the doxology began and those in the chancel area raised arms to indicate worship and praise to the Holy One from whom all blessing flow - so did Sassi. Although I absolutely adore this picture that her Papa took from the balcony, I wish everyone could see what I saw from the pulpit; her face. She wasn't just mimicking other people's movements. I know this because I saw the glorious, open mouthed, in awe grin. As she boldly entered the presence of the Lord throwing caution to the wind she enjoyed something that many of us may miss in worship - feeling, seeing knowing God.

In fairness, Sassi approaches everything with confidence and abandon. Her first ride on hr Christmas trike. Although Dad is close enough for safety, she has no clue nor no care where he is. She is ready to go!




Here she is telling Papa how to make sausage balls trying to run the mixer, handle the scoop and with her eyes keep him in line.

Sassi helping preach the sermon.

There are no limits to her boldness for approaching life but in church, during worship, she has a freedom to engage in the fullness of worship, dancing, singing, praising, even helping with preaching. She is blessed to be in a church family that not only tolerates her freedom but encourages it. I am sure someone has a problem, but they are intuitive enough to keep it to themselves. There are too many people that encourage her bold engagement in church and worship. Fortunately, her ever diligent parents are there to reign her in when boldness moves into precociousness. Although, in fairness, she is encouraged in that too by those who love her. 

What if we were so bold, in worship, in praise? Hebrews 4:16 says, "So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most." Most of us have reasons for coming to church and many more have reasons for not going to church. But the reason we are to go to is stated plainly and emphatically in this scripture passage. We go because we need His grace; His mercy. We are urged to go boldly and eagerly to receive His great gifts and blessings. 

What is your attitude/approach when you go? Are you boldly embracing what is available to you or are you passively waiting for God to deliver like a Domino's pizza carrier? Or do strut into that church as if you own the place (you do) and boldly go straight to that altar of God and engage in worship? Just asking...

And why do we? Because..Hebrews 1:3

"He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,"