by Doug Bing, Washington Conference president
Why is family worship important? Why are we encouraging this spiritual growth investment?
You know at airports how you have TSA security checkpoints?
You empty your pockets of everything. You take off your shoes and belt. You place your computer in a separate tray and send it all through a scanner. You are pretty sure that you will pass through without incident, but in the back of your mind there is always a worry.
Did you forget something, and they are going to stop you and search everything you have? When you finally arrive on the other side and collect everything you are discombobulated or disoriented from taking apart the details of your travel accessories.
Well, Barry Bateman, the director of Milwaukee airport, coined a word and added a bit of comic relief to the stress of travel. He directed that signs be made to read: Recombobulation Area. Every day travelers comment positively on the signs and smile.
You won’t find the word Recombobulation in a traditional dictionary.
The definition that most have assigned to this word is this: a place to go and collect yourself after going through security. At each area are places to sit along with tables to place your things and get everything back in order.
Each day we should have a time of spiritual recombobulation.
A time to sit quietly with God and collect yourself before you go about your day – individually and as a family.
A time, as Jesus said, to come aside and rest for a while. To live like Jesus and spend time each morning or evening in a devotional connection with our Father God. Jesus always had someone wanting to talk to Him and each day He went aside to pray early in the morning. It was His recombobulation time.
I need that time. We all need that time. Please take that time for this Altar Project month and beyond.
There’s an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth.
Activity Prompt
Discuss as a family how you want to shape your family worship time this month. Talk about why family worship is important to each of you, what you'd like to learn, what habits you would like to form. Determine together a time of day and talk about family accountability. Take time to pray together!
Prayer Prompt
Lord, help our family to grow in You as we seek to alter our family altar. Remove the distractions from our lives. Help us form new habits to be still in Your presence, to rest in you, to find peace and courage to face the challenges of life. Protect our family. Protect our time together in family worship. Show us Your truth. Amen.
