What if worship isn’t just about singing in church, but about chasing God’s glory through everyday moments—like running, cooking, or simply watching the sunset? Discover how ordinary rhythms can become opportunities to honor God, invite healing, and nurture deeper faith for the whole family.
Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young, mother of three, children’s author, Bible study teacher, and remarried widow, opens up about her family’s journey through grief and healing. Her story beautifully illustrated that worship isn’t confined to church pews or Sunday morning sing-alongs—it’s a treasure hunt for God’s glory in the everyday moments.
Here are 3 key takeaways for parents, educators, and anyone passionate about cultivating faith with kids:
1) Worship Isn’t Just Singing: Dorina encourages us to redefine worship as “chasing after God’s glory”—seeking and honoring God in all aspects of daily life, whether it’s through music, movement, creativity, or nature.
2) Healing Through Expression: She shared how singing and creative expression played a crucial role in her family’s healing after loss, showing the power of worship in both joy and grief.
3) Invite Kids on a “Glory Hunt”: Dorina’s tip for parents: help children connect with God using their five senses—seeing, hearing, tasting, feeling, and smelling God’s presence in everyday experiences.
📚 FOLLOW-UP RESOURCES:
- Chasing God’s Glory (Children’s Book)
- Glory Gram (Weekly Family Inspiration)
- Devotional Journal: “Breathing Through Grief”
- Glory Chasers Bible Study
Subscribe on your favorite listening platform for practical tips, real parent interviews, and encouragement as we become faith gardeners together!
📝SUMMARY
Rethinking Worship: Beyond Singing in Church
When we hear the word “worship,” our minds often conjure up images of singing hymns in a sanctuary. But what if worship is much bigger than that? On the recent episode of Little Shoots Deep Roots, host Christie Thomas and guest Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young delved into this very idea—inviting families to broaden their understanding of how we can honor God in our daily rhythms.
Dorina, a mom of three, author, writing teacher, and remarried widow, shares how she’s cultivated a culture of worship in her home—through music, movement, kitchen creativity, and even the simple act of noticing God’s hand in nature and relationships.
Worship as Chasing God’s Glory
For Dorina, worship isn’t just about beautiful melodies—it’s about chasing after God’s glory in every aspect of life. “Every day is this opportunity for us to go on a treasure hunt and look for God at work,” Dorina explained. This means celebrating God’s presence not just through music, but through dance, joy, creativity, and noticing beauty everywhere.
She encourages parents to redefine worship as recognizing God’s glory: “We can see God and honor God in all we do, not just in the church pews.” For her family, running, cooking, or just riding bikes around the neighborhood becomes an act of wonder—an invitation to see God at work in the world.
Healing Through Worship: Grief and Redemption
Dorina’s journey hasn’t been easy. After losing her first husband to cancer, she and her daughters—then just 2, 5, and 8 years old—walked a path marked by grief. But in their sorrow, worship became a tool for healing.
Music played a powerful role, particularly for her youngest. Dorina described how her daughter would sing narrative songs from her car seat—processing emotions, heartbreak, hope, and heaven through the lyrics she made up as they drove. Rather than correct or interrupt, Dorina watched as God used music to minister to her daughter’s heart. This practice has shaped the family, continuing as her kids have grown into teens, finding God’s comfort and presence in both lament and celebration.
Worship for Every Child: Beyond Performance
One powerful takeaway is Dorina’s passion for moving worship beyond performance. In their mission and ministry work in Haiti, Dorina and her family saw people worship boldly, regardless of singing ability or instruments. In these gatherings, worship was about exuberance and joy—not perfection.
She advocates for parents to “just sing out to Jesus”—reminding kids (and ourselves) that worship isn’t about having a great voice, but about the heart and intention behind the act. Not everyone is a singer, and that’s okay. Some children will express worship best by moving, serving, or creating.
Creative Avenues for Worship: Cooking, Running, and Savoring Wonder
How can parents introduce kids to creative worship? Dorina recommends inviting children into everyday activities—like cooking together or running outside—and reframing those moments as acts of worship. As you chop vegetables, talk about God’s creativity in the flavors and colors. On a family jog, notice the beauty of the sky and thank God for strong legs and fresh air.
Worship, she says, can be as simple as engaging the five senses. What do you see, hear, taste, smell, and feel that points to God’s goodness? Whether a child is artistic, athletic, contemplative, or energetic, there is space for every kind of worshipper in God’s kingdom.
Resources and Inspiration for Your Family’s Worship Journey
To make these practices more tangible, Dorina created the picture book Chasing God’s Glory, following a mother and daughter as they find moments of worship in everyday adventures. For adults, she offers the Glory Chasers Bible study and the “Glory Gram” newsletter—a wellspring of ideas and encouragement.
Dorina’s final encouragement: go on a “glory hunt” as a family! Notice what lights up your kids—whether it’s music, movement, nature, or service—and creatively connect those moments back to God’s glory. Worship truly can flourish in the most ordinary places, one little habit at a time.
Discover more resources and Dorina’s work at dorinagilmore.com.
Ready to cultivate deep faith in your family? Start by chasing God’s glory—wherever you find it today,
0 Comments