I’ve been busy lately writing in a couple other places than here.
So take a look at the short article I wrote for The Worship Community this morning. I’m not a worship leader, but my husband has been for as long as I’ve known him, and even so, I write for the WC once in awhile.
Sitting Down (For the Record)
During worship, I sometimes sit.
You’ve seen me. But then I disappear when everyone else stands, because now I’m hiding behind the dozens of standing bodies of everybody else worshiping. I’m still there. But I’m sitting.
When the worship leader says stand,
And he says,
Raise your hands.
Close your eyes.
Praise Him…
Sometimes I’m sitting.
I know there’s freedom in worship and for the record I’m really not trying to be a rebel (If I was, I’d show up with a scowl and come in for the sermon only after the music is done. Or I wouldn’t come at all.)
But I sit, sometimes…
Click here to read the rest of the article and Why I Sit sometimes.
And then come back. Because last week, I wrote a short post on healing for my dear friend Jenni Clayville (who has walked the same road I have and has been brave enough to share her story on her own blog). She posted my post on Friday here.
Itches and Miracles
It hurts to heal. Or at least itches.
When I was a little girl I would scrape my knee/shin/elbow like all little girls do. After a band-aid was in place my father would tell me not to itch it. I would think, “It doesn’t itch yet, it just hurts!”
But he was right; as soon as the wound would begin to heal, it would begin to itch and I’d want to rip off the bandage and scratch scratch scratch until it felt better.
But what I didn’t realize was the itching it would have reopened the wound. The scrape, even if it hurt and itched, needed the environment of the bandage to heal.
And time. And then a miracle.
It’s the same with us. With our big stories and big wounds and I-don’t-think-it-will-ever-be-the-same situations…
Click here to read the rest of the post. If you haven’t met Jenni yet, you’ll love her.
Tags: adultery, healing, Jenni Clayville, story, The Worship Community, Worship
Hey Sarah, I couldn’t get through to your new post … Why I Sit. I’ll try again later, gotta head to work but I’m looking forward to reading it. Always enjoy your posts. God Bless! Aine
Aine – It’s up now… =)
I love the way you described how you feel sitting and listening to the music. When my boys were tiny, I would sit while holding them. You are right, the music has a different sound.
YOur post on sitting – that’s good. Really good.
I really like your perspective on both of these!
I guess i never thought about healing and itching!
but its true! it itches! 
it is definitely a different ‘feel’ when you sit in worship! i have done it also and i really appreciate how you described it!
I really enjoyed how you described being cocooned by the music. Worship is very personal and intimate, yet we do it in large, corporate ways. It’s a shame that we get used to a certain “style” and sometimes see difference as “not good enough for Him” or “radical” or “strange.” God asks us to be in His presence – whether that takes the form of kneeling, standing, sitting, crawling, grasping, shouting, whispering, singing – whatever. As a worship leader myself, I sometimes even find myself feeling oddly out of place, raising my hands while I praise Him (depending on the audience). To be comfortable in worship is a great freedom to let you really hear and embrace the truth. It’s wonderful you rest in that comfort and freedom. Bless you. ~ Mela
Sarah… you’re so awesome! I LOVE what you wrote about sitting in worship AND what you wrote on my blog. As a worship pastor… i too just want to sit sometimes… to kneel, but then my mic would be WAY above my head
your words are beautiful. sometimes i sit for that same reason.
but right now i am scowling, and not coming at all.
pride? not this time (well maybe a little). mostly sad and hurt.
Hi Denise,
I learned a valuable lesson from a traumatic situation in my life. When you are looking up you don’t notice what’s happening around you. Keep looking up. God is on the throne and still in the business of miracles. I scowled for a long time too but kept going to church. No one else missed out on anything but me! I was only cheating myself. God is waiting for you to come back actually he is hoping for your return.
Your friend in Christ…
i love you denise. you don’t know how special you are. thank you for sharing this.
Thank you, I needed the itching reminder today.
Sarah,
I went over the Jenny’s page and read your post. WOW! We are in the itching and healing phase and it hurts the worst I think. When you are mixed up in lies you can’t see the road ahead of you. You can’t see that what you have single handedly destroyed may take a lifetime to earn back. I’m working harder than ever. I love my boy so much….I would work until the day I day to win that back!
Thanks for your beautiful words.
Jessica
Thank you Jessica. I hope you both heal quickly and with new strength. =)
I sit too…
good to know i’m not alone. =)
You’re such a syndicated rockstar! Saw both of those posts/articles this week.