To bow or not to bow heads

Today I attended a funeral for a friend of ours and during the service I was reminded how my heart tells me to lift my head while we prayed.  For me this is not new.  Everytime someone says bow your head in prayers I find myself raising my face to God. 

I did a teeny bit of research to see why we actual bow our heads when praying.  Here is what I found; that is not scriptural persay or is a must.  It is a sign of adoration, submission, means of respecting God is King, humbling yourself and probably many more.

Being at my friends funeral I wanted and needed to look up.  When my kids are hurting they look up to me for comfort.  It is only when they do something wrong do their little heads go down.

Why I look up.  My reasoning seems so simple.   If I bow my head I do not feel His light on my face.  As though I am missing something by looking down.  I raise as though to say, "God I praise you and thank you despite losing my friend."  I feel darkness when I look down.  Brightness shining as I close my eyes and head up.  As though I am a cat soaking up the sun on the only spot on the floor.

Basically it doesn't matter how I pray or you pray.  I chose to face our God when I am talking to Him.
It is not up to a "church" or man to dictate how my relationship should be with Him.  The fact that when I do it my heart is sincere and looking to Him is all He can ask for.

Giving the battle to the cross

Yesterday my God Daughter made her confirmation.  Who knew she would grow up so fast.

God is so proud of His princess as she made her way through the day.  Oh how she looked so beautiful in her dress and outshinning the dress is her stunning personality glowing from the inside.  As I see her I remember when she was born and all the birthday parties and being there for her baptism.  Having given my life to Jesus 4 years ago now and growing in a new real faith I have learned what it means to truly be a GOD parent.  It is actually not even about me!  That shinning cross in the picture is all about my relationship to the man who died for me on the cross.  Because of that relationship and forever growing faith I can pray for her like I never knew how before.  If she ever wants to learn or talk about God I can be that God parent to teach her like I never would have before.  I can be there for her if things go wrong in her life or she steers off the wrong track.  I have Jesus's love in me and I will love her no matter what.

My heart remembers what my aunt said to me  as I enjoy my God Daughters day from clicking on the next errow through pictures on facebook.  "Heather our church doesn't think you exist (are a God parent) anymore because you don't go to our Catholic church anymore."  As I look at picture after picture of my beautiful God daughter I give the battle to the cross:

"Lord why would one of your churches have such a rule?  I can not see any where in Your word where that is right or something You would want.  Papa I grew up in that church and the God I was taught about there is who I know now in our church.  It shouldn't be about being Catholic, United, Presbytery should it?  I just want to be known as a follower of You.  Dean and I would have loved to be there and are so thankful we know that You Jesus were there with her.  Lord it doesn't matter why we weren't invited or what the case may be.  No one can take away we were still there in Your spirit for her special day and we will always love her and be her God Parents.  We will be praying for her and her family always.  In your precious name. AMEN"