From Haiti...
The simplicity of connecting with a little girl through a hand clapping game.
Putting new shoes on the feet of 500 children and knowing the immense impact that will have on their family.
Praying with every child that received a pair of shoes.
Overcoming barriers to lead someone to Christ through the help of a translator.
Working along side others to lay the foundation for their church.
Watching others on the team grow while on this trip.
Finding value in traffic and learning so much about culture through observing out the window.
The joy in singing "Jesus loves me" in English while children all around you are singing along in Creole.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Thursday, September 1, 2011
For The Ladies
Here's a post just for the ladies....
Out of nowhere I've suddenly become a reader. I love it. It used to take me months or even years to finish just one book, but not any more. Lately I've started and finished books in just days, and I've also discovered that I am one of those people who will read more than one book at a time. On Sunday, Phil and I stopped by Border's to take advantage of their going out of business sale. We both left with a new read. I finished mine on Monday. ...sigh... I thought about picking up Phil's book (which he hadn't yet started), but instead found this...
Out of nowhere I've suddenly become a reader. I love it. It used to take me months or even years to finish just one book, but not any more. Lately I've started and finished books in just days, and I've also discovered that I am one of those people who will read more than one book at a time. On Sunday, Phil and I stopped by Border's to take advantage of their going out of business sale. We both left with a new read. I finished mine on Monday. ...sigh... I thought about picking up Phil's book (which he hadn't yet started), but instead found this...
Have you heard of it? Check out this excerpt from chapter one that I found on the (in)courage website.
If my story were a planet, then your rejection of me would be my nuclear holocaust. This fear of rejection drives me hard, eating away at my courage. And so I am cautious in my love. I am timid in my faith. My life tells a small story. I long to be seen, but I feel safe when I’m invisible.
So I stay a good girl. And I hide.
I hide behind my smile and laid-back personality. I hide behind fine and good. I hide behind strong and responsible. I hide behind busy and comfortable and working hard toward your expectations. And if I do not meet your expectations, I hide behind indifferent. And though the purpose of my mask is to fool you, don’t be fooled.
The energy it takes to live for you is killing me — to see me through your eyes, to search for myself in your face, to be sure you are pleased as it regards me. I want you to always regard me.
Please, by all means, regard me. I beg you to see me, to notice my goodness, to ignore my failure, to be inspired by my beauty, to be captivated by my essence. I want my loveliness to overwhelm you such that you cannot catch your breath.
And then there is God.
I know God is big enough to redeem the unruly, the rejected, and the addict. I know about the God who reaches way down into the pit and the One whose love stretches to the heavens. But I fear he misses the details. What about the girl in the middle?
I want to let go, rest, and believe, so that he can hold, refresh, and redeem. But what if I do and he doesn’t? I feel fear. It washes over me with its lies and half-truths. The lies aren’t blatant. They marry themselves with a little bit of truth so the distinction is blurry at best. And so I practice the presence of fear and refuse the presence of Jesus.
I lived this toxic way for many years before I understood about The Rescue. I live it still, when I forget that I’ve been found. Even for those to whom truth has been revealed, fear can be a loud and abusive motivator.
Fear drives.
But Love leads.
That invisible good girl pushes me around. Fear drives, pushing and shoving. Love leads, working deeply and gently within. As I risk exposure to this Love, I catch a glimpse of his goodness, I am inspired by his beauty, I am captivated by his essence. His loveliness overwhelms me such that I cannot catch my breath.
And before I realize it, there has been a holy shift. My insatiable need to prove my own goodness to God and the world fades into the background, and instead I receive truth and offer worship to the only One deserving of it.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
I Shouldn't Have To Ask
This past week I've really been struggling with something. As soon as I got back from Haiti I knew I wanted to go again...to be with the people there, continuing to show the love of God, and helping to rebuild their church. As the weeks drew on I started to feel a bit uneasy about the possible decision to return, especially within the same year. I just haven't felt God calling me to go back like I felt him clearly calling me to go last month. But, I still would give anything to be able to return.
Growing up I remember hearing these words from my parents...."I shouldn't have to ask you to do that. You should already know that it's expected." Sometimes parents, like our heavenly father, need to directly ask us to do something in order for us to learn its importance. But once we learn the importance of that task, do we really need to be asked each and every time to do it again or should we simply obey and do what we know is already expected?
Today, I started to wonder if God was just trying to get my attention for that June trip. Trying to teach me the importance of spreading His word to the ends of the world and showing His love to all. But now that I know the importance of this, does He really need to directly ask me to go and serve others each and every time? I certainly do not mean to say that I'll never be directed by Christ again, but I do wonder if this is why I want to go serve those in Haiti and haven't heard a clear calling by God this time.
To be honest, I'm just not sure and still searching for answers on this one....
Growing up I remember hearing these words from my parents...."I shouldn't have to ask you to do that. You should already know that it's expected." Sometimes parents, like our heavenly father, need to directly ask us to do something in order for us to learn its importance. But once we learn the importance of that task, do we really need to be asked each and every time to do it again or should we simply obey and do what we know is already expected?
Today, I started to wonder if God was just trying to get my attention for that June trip. Trying to teach me the importance of spreading His word to the ends of the world and showing His love to all. But now that I know the importance of this, does He really need to directly ask me to go and serve others each and every time? I certainly do not mean to say that I'll never be directed by Christ again, but I do wonder if this is why I want to go serve those in Haiti and haven't heard a clear calling by God this time.
To be honest, I'm just not sure and still searching for answers on this one....
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Today I'm Feeling...
FRUSTRATED!
Ever miss a quiet time? I have. More than just a few times. It never ends well, and today was no exception. I only had 3 things on my plate...2 vet appointments and an oil change, but one full cup of spilled fruit punch later and my day had officially been labeled a disaster.
It was the unforeseen that had gotten me. The fact that I hadn't fully let go of my worry about some upcoming yet unavoidable expenses that I was taking notice of last night started things off. This coupled with my avoidance of time with God this morning could have looked something like me personally holding the door open for Satan today while asking God to move to the back of the line. Worst mistake ever. Three vet appointments all with yearly vaccines isn't exactly cheap, but finding out 1 dog tested positive for heartworms sent me edging towards that downward spiral. A text message from Phil confirmed that I had accidentally sent him to work with a turkey, ham, and cheese sandwich with a side of mold on the bread. He could have cared less, but I felt horrible. And the spiral continued. The oil change was awfully quick, but our trusted mechanic just wanted to inform me that the truck needed an alignment terribly bad and that the tires too should be checked out. I knew about the tires...they were on that list I was talking about from last night...but an alignment for the truck was not. Only an alignment for the SUV...sigh. The spiral continues. So does my headache, which has been confirmed to be due to the wisdom tooth trying oh so hard to finally make it's appearance in the 26th year of my life. My jaw and existing teeth don't agree. The 4 year avoidance of that expense is quickly coming to an end. All to be topped off by a glorious display of frustration (that I'm glad the only witness, my cat, cannot speak about) when I spilled my fruit punch flavored Mio water all over everything (including that cat).
So why do I say this all?! Because I want a pity party? Most certainly not. Although this has helped me vent a bit. I say it because the second after my glorious display of frustration I muttered an equally hilarious statement out of frustration..."why?!" while looking up with hands stretched out and palms up. A display that is almost instinctual, not necessarily an actual question for Him. However, I felt the oh so loving, gentle touch of God and I quickly knew exactly "why?!". I stopped communicating. He was there, all along, knowing exactly what was coming around each unforeseen corner today, but I chose to go about my day without Him. Without His help and strong arms to carry all of that anxiety and frustration. By not having some quiet time with Him, reading His word, I wasn't letting Him talk to me. Even more than that, I knew that my thinking about giving God all my previous financial worries was certainly not as productive as actually doing it. Actually praying to Him about it. So this afternoon (or prevening, as Phil calls this time of day) I spent some time catching up with Him. This no doubt has meant that the grass didn't get mowed and the laundry didn't get hung up, but I'm 'A okay' with that!
Ever miss a quiet time? I have. More than just a few times. It never ends well, and today was no exception. I only had 3 things on my plate...2 vet appointments and an oil change, but one full cup of spilled fruit punch later and my day had officially been labeled a disaster.
It was the unforeseen that had gotten me. The fact that I hadn't fully let go of my worry about some upcoming yet unavoidable expenses that I was taking notice of last night started things off. This coupled with my avoidance of time with God this morning could have looked something like me personally holding the door open for Satan today while asking God to move to the back of the line. Worst mistake ever. Three vet appointments all with yearly vaccines isn't exactly cheap, but finding out 1 dog tested positive for heartworms sent me edging towards that downward spiral. A text message from Phil confirmed that I had accidentally sent him to work with a turkey, ham, and cheese sandwich with a side of mold on the bread. He could have cared less, but I felt horrible. And the spiral continued. The oil change was awfully quick, but our trusted mechanic just wanted to inform me that the truck needed an alignment terribly bad and that the tires too should be checked out. I knew about the tires...they were on that list I was talking about from last night...but an alignment for the truck was not. Only an alignment for the SUV...sigh. The spiral continues. So does my headache, which has been confirmed to be due to the wisdom tooth trying oh so hard to finally make it's appearance in the 26th year of my life. My jaw and existing teeth don't agree. The 4 year avoidance of that expense is quickly coming to an end. All to be topped off by a glorious display of frustration (that I'm glad the only witness, my cat, cannot speak about) when I spilled my fruit punch flavored Mio water all over everything (including that cat).
So why do I say this all?! Because I want a pity party? Most certainly not. Although this has helped me vent a bit. I say it because the second after my glorious display of frustration I muttered an equally hilarious statement out of frustration..."why?!" while looking up with hands stretched out and palms up. A display that is almost instinctual, not necessarily an actual question for Him. However, I felt the oh so loving, gentle touch of God and I quickly knew exactly "why?!". I stopped communicating. He was there, all along, knowing exactly what was coming around each unforeseen corner today, but I chose to go about my day without Him. Without His help and strong arms to carry all of that anxiety and frustration. By not having some quiet time with Him, reading His word, I wasn't letting Him talk to me. Even more than that, I knew that my thinking about giving God all my previous financial worries was certainly not as productive as actually doing it. Actually praying to Him about it. So this afternoon (or prevening, as Phil calls this time of day) I spent some time catching up with Him. This no doubt has meant that the grass didn't get mowed and the laundry didn't get hung up, but I'm 'A okay' with that!
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Loooong awaited...
Soooo...yes, I'm finally getting to this.... Haiti!
First, some fast facts...
*Haiti is one hour behind us currently, but only half of the year. They think day light savings is silly.
*Our travels to and from Haiti were thankfully uneventful with only minor delays.
*Our travels (by bus) in Haiti were very eventful: no paved roads, often very narrow roads, loads of traffic, and maneuvers I never thought a school bus could pull off!
*It was very hot and outrageously humid!
*We had showers every night!
*The food was delicious! Did you know a tree ripe pineapple turns red on the outside and is nearly white inside...and the taste, ohhh, the taste is glorious!
*We did visit the beach and it was crystal clear!
*I had no clue how gorgeous the geography of Haiti was....mountains!
*The media portrays Port-au-Prince as a crime-ridden city when in actuality we felt quite safe.
*Every person we passed on the way to and from our job site had a purpose: going to the market, selling goods, cleaning something, taking care of someone...all hard working people.
*Nothing could have prepared me for the realization of truly how little the average Haitian has....we are so blessed and take so much for granted!
*Those who know English are eager to use it and want to teach you French/Creole.
*The second question, after "what is your name", that we were commonly asked was, "are you a Christian?" We learned that this is because of the influences of Voodoo practiced in Haiti. They now guard themselves and will not accept gifts from those who are not Christians. Why we here still feel the need to actively choose to dabble in ways clearly led by Satan, but claim "we can handle it"?, I still don't understand....
*Church in Haiti is lively...I loved it!
A Typical Day...
We'd often wake up when the sun came up (5:30am) or when the roosters started crowing (5:35am) and had some individual quiet time. Breakfast was always at 7am and by 8am we were on the bus for the hour drive to our job site. We were asked as a church to adopt the project of demolishing and rebuilding/expanding the first of the 34 churches that Pastor Rene Joseph has started. It had some damage during the earthquake and they drastically needed the extra space. So, our job site was Delmas 31, the church, and we worked mainly on clearing out the building, taking the tin roof down, bringing down the walls with some help from a less than optimal excavator, moving rocks, and manually breaking apart the cinder brick/concrete to remove the rebar. We were so thankful to have lots of man power on the team! The ladies helped where we could and often spent time with the children that curiously hung around to see what we were up to. Our work days typically ended around 2pm when we would head back to Pastor Rene's home (where we were staying). Dinner was prepared anywhere from 3-6pm, and we simply ate when it was ready. We'd have a group devotion/debrief in the evening and then some down time to just hang out. With the sun going down earlier there, it wasn't unusual to head to bed by 9:30 on some nights.
First, some fast facts...
*Haiti is one hour behind us currently, but only half of the year. They think day light savings is silly.
*Our travels to and from Haiti were thankfully uneventful with only minor delays.
*Our travels (by bus) in Haiti were very eventful: no paved roads, often very narrow roads, loads of traffic, and maneuvers I never thought a school bus could pull off!
*It was very hot and outrageously humid!
*We had showers every night!
*The food was delicious! Did you know a tree ripe pineapple turns red on the outside and is nearly white inside...and the taste, ohhh, the taste is glorious!
*We did visit the beach and it was crystal clear!
*I had no clue how gorgeous the geography of Haiti was....mountains!
*The media portrays Port-au-Prince as a crime-ridden city when in actuality we felt quite safe.
*Every person we passed on the way to and from our job site had a purpose: going to the market, selling goods, cleaning something, taking care of someone...all hard working people.
*Nothing could have prepared me for the realization of truly how little the average Haitian has....we are so blessed and take so much for granted!
*Those who know English are eager to use it and want to teach you French/Creole.
*The second question, after "what is your name", that we were commonly asked was, "are you a Christian?" We learned that this is because of the influences of Voodoo practiced in Haiti. They now guard themselves and will not accept gifts from those who are not Christians. Why we here still feel the need to actively choose to dabble in ways clearly led by Satan, but claim "we can handle it"?, I still don't understand....
*Church in Haiti is lively...I loved it!
A Typical Day...
We'd often wake up when the sun came up (5:30am) or when the roosters started crowing (5:35am) and had some individual quiet time. Breakfast was always at 7am and by 8am we were on the bus for the hour drive to our job site. We were asked as a church to adopt the project of demolishing and rebuilding/expanding the first of the 34 churches that Pastor Rene Joseph has started. It had some damage during the earthquake and they drastically needed the extra space. So, our job site was Delmas 31, the church, and we worked mainly on clearing out the building, taking the tin roof down, bringing down the walls with some help from a less than optimal excavator, moving rocks, and manually breaking apart the cinder brick/concrete to remove the rebar. We were so thankful to have lots of man power on the team! The ladies helped where we could and often spent time with the children that curiously hung around to see what we were up to. Our work days typically ended around 2pm when we would head back to Pastor Rene's home (where we were staying). Dinner was prepared anywhere from 3-6pm, and we simply ate when it was ready. We'd have a group devotion/debrief in the evening and then some down time to just hang out. With the sun going down earlier there, it wasn't unusual to head to bed by 9:30 on some nights.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
We're Back
Yes, we are indeed back from Haiti...safe and sound! I was reminded by Phil that a good number of those checking this for updates about the trip in fact do not have Facebook, so to those we seemed to have disappeared and never returned. My apologies!
Our trip was beyond amazing. I can't wait to share all about it, but I'm having trouble knowing here to start. We had been forewarned that re-entry to the US would come with an adjustment period, but I certainly wasn't prepared for all of the thoughts and emotions that I've been flooded with since Friday. Please hang tight and check back often...I'm planning to update a lot this week to fill you all in on what we did while in Haiti and how we saw God working!
Our trip was beyond amazing. I can't wait to share all about it, but I'm having trouble knowing here to start. We had been forewarned that re-entry to the US would come with an adjustment period, but I certainly wasn't prepared for all of the thoughts and emotions that I've been flooded with since Friday. Please hang tight and check back often...I'm planning to update a lot this week to fill you all in on what we did while in Haiti and how we saw God working!
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
I Should Be In Bed
It's true, with only a few hours until we leave for the airport, I should certainly be in bed by now! We leave our house at 3:30am in order to pick up two of our team members and be at the airport by 5am. An early day with 2 short-ish flights and 1 lengthy layover between them...we should be in Port-au-Prince by 3:30pm tomorrow.
For those who have been eagerly awaiting more information about our trip and exactly what we will be doing...you'll have to continue waiting. The truth is we really don't know exactly what we'll be doing. What we do know is that we have been asked as a church to adopt the demo and rebuilding of Pastor Rene's church as our long-term project. So, it is very likely that we'll begin with this project while we are there.
Well...while I did have numerous grand thoughts to convey before leaving, my last-minute nature has left me with no time to tell them.... It was my hope to be able to update this blog throughout the trip, but we are not certain how much internet access we will have and will only be taking 1 laptop for the entire group. For now, we've adopted the "no news is good news" approach and look forward to sharing all about our trip once we get back!
For those who have been eagerly awaiting more information about our trip and exactly what we will be doing...you'll have to continue waiting. The truth is we really don't know exactly what we'll be doing. What we do know is that we have been asked as a church to adopt the demo and rebuilding of Pastor Rene's church as our long-term project. So, it is very likely that we'll begin with this project while we are there.
Well...while I did have numerous grand thoughts to convey before leaving, my last-minute nature has left me with no time to tell them.... It was my hope to be able to update this blog throughout the trip, but we are not certain how much internet access we will have and will only be taking 1 laptop for the entire group. For now, we've adopted the "no news is good news" approach and look forward to sharing all about our trip once we get back!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Meet The Team
With only one week until we leave for Haiti, I thought I would post a picture of the group so you can be familiar with the names and faces of those going with us. We have grown so close in the past few weeks of preparation....we are one crazy bunch of folks who are awfully eager to see how God will use us!! Please continue to keep us in your prayers, day by day, as we are there.
From left to right...
Top: Greg, Mack, Stephen, John, Bill
Middle: Brad, James, Brandt, Brittany, Adam, Phil
Sitting: Torria, Kenna, Rose, Ashley, Rachel, Rachel, Lisvette
Kneeling: Jen (Team Leader), Geoffrey (Outreach Pastor)
Top: Greg, Mack, Stephen, John, Bill
Middle: Brad, James, Brandt, Brittany, Adam, Phil
Sitting: Torria, Kenna, Rose, Ashley, Rachel, Rachel, Lisvette
Kneeling: Jen (Team Leader), Geoffrey (Outreach Pastor)
Friday, June 3, 2011
The Secret of Contentment
Each morning I start with a devotional and some time reading God's Word....it does wonders for my day! Since the beginning of the year I've been using the "Encouragement for Today" devo from Proverbs 31 Ministries. You can register online and every weekday morning they'll send you one by email, and it's free! Today's message hit home, so I thought I'd just post the entire thing. Enjoy!
The Secret of Contentment
“…for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” Philippians 4:11b
Have you ever noticed how over-extending yourself tends to bring unwanted pressure into your life?
Sometimes I think we busy ourselves in order to gain more, find acceptance among peers, land a better position, and gain riches of all kinds. Perhaps we live under the illusion that having such riches is what makes a person complete, content, and deliriously happy. Yet, when we discover that’s not the case, we’re left feeling empty and discontent.
Contentment and security are not found in career titles or in the kind of car we own. The logo on our car only tells others what kind of car we drive — not who we are. True satisfaction, in its purest form, is found in the wealth of who God is and the riches He graciously lavishes upon us.
Recently God’s been showing me that when I constantly want more than He has given me, it reflects a heart that is discontent. It’s like I’m telling God, “I’m not satisfied with what You have provided for me. I want more.”
In wanting more, I place undo pressure on myself in an attempt to get what God hasn’t provided. Naturally, anxiety is the result when I focus on things other than God and His will for my life.
The pressure to have more and do more can lead us down paths we never intended. In our attempt to fill the vacuum of our empty souls, we discover that external luxury is only a cheap substitution for spiritual wholeness. As our key verse points out, Paul knew the secret of finding contentment. “…for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”
Take note that Paul wrote these words in a high stress situation as he sat in jail awaiting a verdict for a crime he didn’t commit. I don’t know if I could find contentment if I were in his sandals. I would probably strum my wooden cage with a rock singing pitifully, “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen. Nobody knows my sorrow.” Finding contentment doesn’t mean we have to like our current situation, but it may require an appreciation for it. Let me explain.
Paul learned that the fruit of contentment is developed when we are thankful for what God has provided whether we like it or not. That’s because peace isn’t the absence of pressure. It’s the presence of God and our attitude toward His provision in the midst of our stress. By expressing gratitude, Paul experienced richness of being, not having.
You may be in a hard place right now and you’re longing for freedom. Maybe you’re in a job that feels like a dead end; perhaps you have two of them! It may be that you live in a space too small for your family and you hate it. You’re not where you planned or hoped to be and you certainly don’t like it.
The truth is, we don’t have to like where we are or what we have, but if we will choose to thank God for His provisions regardless of our feelings toward them, we’ll experience the same contentment Paul encountered.
Being thankful doesn’t mean that God will eventually remove us from our situation. He may; He may not. Rather, being appreciative sets us free from the desire to have and lets us rest in the riches of contentment. And when we reach a place of contentment, we don’t need earthly riches galore.
God becomes our greatest treasure. In Him, we have everything we need.
Instead of focusing on what God has not provided, make a list of what He has. Then, thank God for His provision.
Reflections:
Does my heart always long for more than what God has provided?
If so, why and what do I need to do to find contentment?
Power Verses:
Psalm 103:1-5, “Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits — who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
The Secret of Contentment
“…for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” Philippians 4:11b
Have you ever noticed how over-extending yourself tends to bring unwanted pressure into your life?
Sometimes I think we busy ourselves in order to gain more, find acceptance among peers, land a better position, and gain riches of all kinds. Perhaps we live under the illusion that having such riches is what makes a person complete, content, and deliriously happy. Yet, when we discover that’s not the case, we’re left feeling empty and discontent.
Contentment and security are not found in career titles or in the kind of car we own. The logo on our car only tells others what kind of car we drive — not who we are. True satisfaction, in its purest form, is found in the wealth of who God is and the riches He graciously lavishes upon us.
Recently God’s been showing me that when I constantly want more than He has given me, it reflects a heart that is discontent. It’s like I’m telling God, “I’m not satisfied with what You have provided for me. I want more.”
In wanting more, I place undo pressure on myself in an attempt to get what God hasn’t provided. Naturally, anxiety is the result when I focus on things other than God and His will for my life.
The pressure to have more and do more can lead us down paths we never intended. In our attempt to fill the vacuum of our empty souls, we discover that external luxury is only a cheap substitution for spiritual wholeness. As our key verse points out, Paul knew the secret of finding contentment. “…for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”
Take note that Paul wrote these words in a high stress situation as he sat in jail awaiting a verdict for a crime he didn’t commit. I don’t know if I could find contentment if I were in his sandals. I would probably strum my wooden cage with a rock singing pitifully, “Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen. Nobody knows my sorrow.” Finding contentment doesn’t mean we have to like our current situation, but it may require an appreciation for it. Let me explain.
Paul learned that the fruit of contentment is developed when we are thankful for what God has provided whether we like it or not. That’s because peace isn’t the absence of pressure. It’s the presence of God and our attitude toward His provision in the midst of our stress. By expressing gratitude, Paul experienced richness of being, not having.
You may be in a hard place right now and you’re longing for freedom. Maybe you’re in a job that feels like a dead end; perhaps you have two of them! It may be that you live in a space too small for your family and you hate it. You’re not where you planned or hoped to be and you certainly don’t like it.
The truth is, we don’t have to like where we are or what we have, but if we will choose to thank God for His provisions regardless of our feelings toward them, we’ll experience the same contentment Paul encountered.
Being thankful doesn’t mean that God will eventually remove us from our situation. He may; He may not. Rather, being appreciative sets us free from the desire to have and lets us rest in the riches of contentment. And when we reach a place of contentment, we don’t need earthly riches galore.
God becomes our greatest treasure. In Him, we have everything we need.
Dear Lord, I’m grateful for what You’ve provided for me. Fill me with Your peace so that I may be truly content in Your blessings. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.Application Steps:
Instead of focusing on what God has not provided, make a list of what He has. Then, thank God for His provision.
Reflections:
Does my heart always long for more than what God has provided?
If so, why and what do I need to do to find contentment?
Power Verses:
Psalm 103:1-5, “Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits — who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Haiti
As I mentioned earlier, Phil and I are heading to Haiti. We are going with a team of 16 others from our church. We leave on June 15th and will return June 24th. This is the second of 5 planned trips that our church will be making to this area this year. We will be staying in Port au Prince and traveling about an hour north, along the coast, each day to work in Arcahaie. Here, Pastor Rene Joseph has been able to purchase 80 acres of land that is being developed into a walled community to assist those displaced by the earthquake in the area. We will be partnering with Pastor Rene and Loving Hands Ministry in order to provide construction assistance and simply help meet the needs of the Haitian people. Check this out....
God has been working in our hearts for quite some time regarding missions, and we are so excited to take this step. Please be praying for us and our team as we are preparing for this trip. Pray for our safety as we travel to an unstable area, the courage to be completely open to how God will use us, and the strength to rely on God when Satan tries to interfere.
We have already seen some amazing answers to prayer specifically regarding our safety. One of our team members was eating dinner at a restaurant and telling her family about the trip. A man came to the table, apologized for eavesdropping, and asked if he had heard correctly that she was going to Haiti. She said yes, and he explained to her that he was an ambassador for Haiti. After the earthquake he was relocated to the States. He said he was more than willing to speak to our group to help us prepare. On top of this, he's close friends with the Chief of Police in Haiti. He gave her both his contact information and the Chief of Police's and asked to contact him if we had any trouble arise while there. Praise God! A real answer to prayer and some tangible sense of security!
God has been working in our hearts for quite some time regarding missions, and we are so excited to take this step. Please be praying for us and our team as we are preparing for this trip. Pray for our safety as we travel to an unstable area, the courage to be completely open to how God will use us, and the strength to rely on God when Satan tries to interfere.
We have already seen some amazing answers to prayer specifically regarding our safety. One of our team members was eating dinner at a restaurant and telling her family about the trip. A man came to the table, apologized for eavesdropping, and asked if he had heard correctly that she was going to Haiti. She said yes, and he explained to her that he was an ambassador for Haiti. After the earthquake he was relocated to the States. He said he was more than willing to speak to our group to help us prepare. On top of this, he's close friends with the Chief of Police in Haiti. He gave her both his contact information and the Chief of Police's and asked to contact him if we had any trouble arise while there. Praise God! A real answer to prayer and some tangible sense of security!
A Chance Encounter
Phil and I were in Dick's Sporting Goods this weekend looking for some clearance shirts we could get for an upcoming missions trip to Haiti (yes, Haiti, more on that to come....). We couldn't find anything, so we were in and out within minutes. The nice older gentleman working as a greeter noticed and asked if there was anything we needed but couldn't find as we were heading out the door. I stopped, and simply stated that we were looking for wicking clothes for a missions trip. He instantly started asking questions about the trip, where we were going, and what church we were with. He then simply asked how we had seen God work in our own lives. After sharing, he then began to tell us his story. His marriage of 14 years ended with his wife leaving him. Not only that, but she took everything they had....the home, cars, and money. She then left him with one statement, "We'll see how your God takes care of you now." Goosebumps!
I couldn't imagine being in his situation. But what came next was the true inspiration. While being forced to live in a homeless shelter, he completely surrendered to God who then gave him a true peace about his circumstances. A local church comes to the shelter for a bible study once a week, but he wanted more, so he started his own study with others at the shelter. From this he was able to bring another man living there to Christ. Praise the Lord! This is a man who is truly at peace with his situation, relying on God wholly, and with the courage to share his circumstances to bring God all the glory.
God used this man within my own life as well. I've been praying recently for the courage to share the love of God with others who I do not know. To notice those small opportunities that Christ puts in front of me and act on them. I'm not going to win someone over and bring them to Christ with some great theology debate...it's not appealing to anyone. I don't know all of the books of the Bible in order, I only have a handful of verse actually memorized, and I'm still learning what all those parables mean. I'm a sinner and certainly not perfect. What I do know...that no one can deny the physical, tangible ways that Christ has worked within someones life. It's so raw and true, just as with this employee's story. Would you pray for my continued strength to surrender to Christ in these instances? This is especially important as I prepare to go to another country to share the love of God with people who are hungry for His mercy.
I couldn't imagine being in his situation. But what came next was the true inspiration. While being forced to live in a homeless shelter, he completely surrendered to God who then gave him a true peace about his circumstances. A local church comes to the shelter for a bible study once a week, but he wanted more, so he started his own study with others at the shelter. From this he was able to bring another man living there to Christ. Praise the Lord! This is a man who is truly at peace with his situation, relying on God wholly, and with the courage to share his circumstances to bring God all the glory.
God used this man within my own life as well. I've been praying recently for the courage to share the love of God with others who I do not know. To notice those small opportunities that Christ puts in front of me and act on them. I'm not going to win someone over and bring them to Christ with some great theology debate...it's not appealing to anyone. I don't know all of the books of the Bible in order, I only have a handful of verse actually memorized, and I'm still learning what all those parables mean. I'm a sinner and certainly not perfect. What I do know...that no one can deny the physical, tangible ways that Christ has worked within someones life. It's so raw and true, just as with this employee's story. Would you pray for my continued strength to surrender to Christ in these instances? This is especially important as I prepare to go to another country to share the love of God with people who are hungry for His mercy.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Finally!
Phil got a job! (yes, it's full-time with benefits)
It all happened quite fast, but perfectly. Phil told me about a company that had a few listings in the Charlotte Observer recently, with one in particular that he was interested in. He emailed in his resume and within an hour they had called! After a bit of phone tag they finally touched base and wanted to set up an interview. He was then offered the job on the spot. Words can't describe how much of a blessing this is. The position is one we've prayed for since day one, a supervisory role with a company that is excited to use his degree to its fullest. Best of all, my husband comes home happy!!
"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."
Psalm 37:4
I've been thinking a lot about the verse above. I've read it often, but recently I have been understanding it much better....
Delight yourself in the Lord - Boy has my understanding of this drastically changed! Often, I don't give the word delight enough credit. Sometimes I think of it as a half-hearted emotion you fake every now and then to show interest. Oh so wrong! If I truly take delight in something, I'm passionate about it. I can't stop thinking about it, learning more about it, and talking about it to others. I've learned that really delighting myself in the Lord means living all out for Him. It's more than church on Sunday and prayers at meal-time...that's the half-hearted, fake emotion kind of delight that's so far from the mark. I have to instead challenge myself to always think of Him, learn more about His Word, and build a relationship with Him.
, and - That comma before 'and' is important to me now. It reminds me that there's a pause before the second half of this verse...a humbling pause the makes sure I'm focused on all that delighting myself in the Lord means. Only then can the rest make sense.
He will give you the desires of your heart - I used to have major trouble with this part of the verse. I never understood how, as sinners, Christ would just give me the desires of my heart. Of course I now know that is not the case at all. But, coupled with my inadequate understanding of 'delight', it now makes sense why I have felt so much frustration with Christ and His seeming lack of willingness to give me the desires of my heart. You see, God is not my servant. This is why He makes it clear that I must first delight myself in Him. Ultimately, it is God's purpose that is accomplished, and through prayer our desires are intertwined with His.
I mentioned before that Phil and I have prayed for a long time for a position like the one he found. I know Christ heard those prayers, and I'm confident that a year ago it was one selfish prayer we had been praying. We wanted a position like this for Phil, to better himself, his career goals, our happiness, and our finances. But nothing happened. God didn't deliver. Satan was sure trying, but we thankfully began to relentlessly delight ourselves in the Lord. Over that year, we abandoned ourselves and followed Christ. We started to see the real meaning of this verse as many of our desires radically changed in order to live a more obedient life for Christ. While we still prayed for a position like this one, we instead only wanted it if it would honor His plans. A drastic difference from before. It is such a peaceful, secure feeling to place your heart in Christ's hands and experience your desires intertwining with His.
It all happened quite fast, but perfectly. Phil told me about a company that had a few listings in the Charlotte Observer recently, with one in particular that he was interested in. He emailed in his resume and within an hour they had called! After a bit of phone tag they finally touched base and wanted to set up an interview. He was then offered the job on the spot. Words can't describe how much of a blessing this is. The position is one we've prayed for since day one, a supervisory role with a company that is excited to use his degree to its fullest. Best of all, my husband comes home happy!!
"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."
Psalm 37:4
I've been thinking a lot about the verse above. I've read it often, but recently I have been understanding it much better....
Delight yourself in the Lord - Boy has my understanding of this drastically changed! Often, I don't give the word delight enough credit. Sometimes I think of it as a half-hearted emotion you fake every now and then to show interest. Oh so wrong! If I truly take delight in something, I'm passionate about it. I can't stop thinking about it, learning more about it, and talking about it to others. I've learned that really delighting myself in the Lord means living all out for Him. It's more than church on Sunday and prayers at meal-time...that's the half-hearted, fake emotion kind of delight that's so far from the mark. I have to instead challenge myself to always think of Him, learn more about His Word, and build a relationship with Him.
, and - That comma before 'and' is important to me now. It reminds me that there's a pause before the second half of this verse...a humbling pause the makes sure I'm focused on all that delighting myself in the Lord means. Only then can the rest make sense.
He will give you the desires of your heart - I used to have major trouble with this part of the verse. I never understood how, as sinners, Christ would just give me the desires of my heart. Of course I now know that is not the case at all. But, coupled with my inadequate understanding of 'delight', it now makes sense why I have felt so much frustration with Christ and His seeming lack of willingness to give me the desires of my heart. You see, God is not my servant. This is why He makes it clear that I must first delight myself in Him. Ultimately, it is God's purpose that is accomplished, and through prayer our desires are intertwined with His.
I mentioned before that Phil and I have prayed for a long time for a position like the one he found. I know Christ heard those prayers, and I'm confident that a year ago it was one selfish prayer we had been praying. We wanted a position like this for Phil, to better himself, his career goals, our happiness, and our finances. But nothing happened. God didn't deliver. Satan was sure trying, but we thankfully began to relentlessly delight ourselves in the Lord. Over that year, we abandoned ourselves and followed Christ. We started to see the real meaning of this verse as many of our desires radically changed in order to live a more obedient life for Christ. While we still prayed for a position like this one, we instead only wanted it if it would honor His plans. A drastic difference from before. It is such a peaceful, secure feeling to place your heart in Christ's hands and experience your desires intertwining with His.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
(in)courage
Check it out...I'm quite a fan of this newly discovered website! Such a great community of support and encouragement!
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Poo-Pourri
On a less serious note...I'm convinced God's hand was with the inventor of this stuff! It's amazing and a must have for anyone
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Lukewarm
Right now I'm reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan, a book about falling in love and truly chasing a relentless God. I came across a section in the book addressing the profile of the lukewarm...those halfhearted and partially committed folks who say they're following Christ. I'll be the first to admit that my journey as a Christian has been filled with far too many times where this has described myself. As I read through multiple examples of lukewarm tendencies, this one stuck out to me...
Lukewarm people do not live by faith; their lives are structured so they never have to. They don't have to trust God if something unexpected happens - they have their savings account. They don't need God to help them - they have their retirement plan in place. They don't genuinely seek out what life God would have them live - they have life figured and mapped out.They don't depend on God on a daily basis - their refrigerators are full and, for the most part, they are in good health. The truth is, their lives wouldn't look much different if they suddenly stopped believing in God.
Holy cow, did that hit home! I constantly wonder why myself and Phil are still sitting here without jobs and if there is something bigger that we're missing. I quickly realize that this description would perfectly describe our lives. Had we not trusted in the Lord when I quit my job to move into an area with high unemployment, that it were His plans for both of us to start our marriage searching for jobs, we would be living life in this lukewarm territory described...comfy and cozy in our unfaithful worlds. I do believe, as always, that He had this road mapped out before us as a time for us to run from lukewarm and back into His arms.
Lukewarm people do not live by faith; their lives are structured so they never have to. They don't have to trust God if something unexpected happens - they have their savings account. They don't need God to help them - they have their retirement plan in place. They don't genuinely seek out what life God would have them live - they have life figured and mapped out.They don't depend on God on a daily basis - their refrigerators are full and, for the most part, they are in good health. The truth is, their lives wouldn't look much different if they suddenly stopped believing in God.
Holy cow, did that hit home! I constantly wonder why myself and Phil are still sitting here without jobs and if there is something bigger that we're missing. I quickly realize that this description would perfectly describe our lives. Had we not trusted in the Lord when I quit my job to move into an area with high unemployment, that it were His plans for both of us to start our marriage searching for jobs, we would be living life in this lukewarm territory described...comfy and cozy in our unfaithful worlds. I do believe, as always, that He had this road mapped out before us as a time for us to run from lukewarm and back into His arms.
Monday, April 4, 2011
My Dream Job
I had the amazing opportunity to apply for "my dream job", a position that I truly felt would be a wonderful next step professionally. I applied early and was given a phone interview. Saturday, when we got back in town from a trip to Greenville, a letter from the agency was waiting in the mailbox. I had not been chosen to continue to the in-person interviews. I felt so very confident about everything up until that point and was sure this would be my ticket out of unemployment.
To be honest, I heard a whisper last week. One I shared with Phil, but we quickly dismissed in fear that He would hear us saying it out loud.....as if He wasn't the one who whispered the thought to us in the first place! After the..oh..30th time of telling others that I had applied for "my dream job", I finally heard it. My dream job. There is no doubt I have a tremendous passion for children who have autism and their families. I have been blessed to find a profession that is something I truly love, it's not work for me. However, I do think I have neglected to let Christ take back that passion He gave me and channel it into the specific job that would fulfill His dream for me.
In the midst of all of this, I feel so blessed. My relationship with Christ has grown tremendously and in ways I wouldn't have paid attention to had I been employed. Phil and I are so thankful that we have been able to grow together and really put Christ at the center of our marriage. It is the most peaceful feeling in the midst of hard times! While this has been an awfully frustrating time period, we are not struggling. We continue to lay it all in the Lord's hands and He in turn continues to provide.
My favorite song right now is Chris Tomlin's, I Will Follow. Phil and I are so eager to respond as soon as the Lord tells us what to do. We so badly want to run after His plans for us, it's just that we're still searching for what those plans are. We are so eager that at the same time, we feel a bit vulnerable to the lies that Satan produces. Please pray for us to continue fixing our eyes on the Lord and discovering His plans for us.
To be honest, I heard a whisper last week. One I shared with Phil, but we quickly dismissed in fear that He would hear us saying it out loud.....as if He wasn't the one who whispered the thought to us in the first place! After the..oh..30th time of telling others that I had applied for "my dream job", I finally heard it. My dream job. There is no doubt I have a tremendous passion for children who have autism and their families. I have been blessed to find a profession that is something I truly love, it's not work for me. However, I do think I have neglected to let Christ take back that passion He gave me and channel it into the specific job that would fulfill His dream for me.
In the midst of all of this, I feel so blessed. My relationship with Christ has grown tremendously and in ways I wouldn't have paid attention to had I been employed. Phil and I are so thankful that we have been able to grow together and really put Christ at the center of our marriage. It is the most peaceful feeling in the midst of hard times! While this has been an awfully frustrating time period, we are not struggling. We continue to lay it all in the Lord's hands and He in turn continues to provide.
My favorite song right now is Chris Tomlin's, I Will Follow. Phil and I are so eager to respond as soon as the Lord tells us what to do. We so badly want to run after His plans for us, it's just that we're still searching for what those plans are. We are so eager that at the same time, we feel a bit vulnerable to the lies that Satan produces. Please pray for us to continue fixing our eyes on the Lord and discovering His plans for us.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
The Discipline of Dismay
Earlier this week Phil and I were at the bookstore when I noticed the book, My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. I've never read it, but would like to. I flipped to the devotion for that day and found this....
The Discipline of Dismay
At the beginning of our life with Jesus Christ, we were sure we knew all there was to know about following Him. It was a delight to forsake everything else and to throw ourselves before Him in a fearless statement of love. But now we are not quite so sure. Jesus is far ahead of us and is beginning to seem different and unfamiliar— “Jesus was going before them; and they were afraid” (Mark 10:32).
There is an aspect of Jesus that chills even a disciple’s heart to its depth and makes his entire spiritual life gasp for air. This unusual Person with His face set “like a flint” (Isaiah 50:7) is walking with great determination ahead of me, and He strikes terror right through me. He no longer seems to be my Counselor and Friend and has a point of view about which I know nothing. All I can do is stand and stare at Him in amazement. At first I was confident that I understood Him, but now I am not so sure. I begin to realize that there is a distance between Jesus and me and I can no longer be intimate with Him. I have no idea where He is going, and the goal has become strangely distant. Jesus Christ had to understand fully every sin and sorrow that human beings could experience, and that is what makes Him seem unfamiliar. When we see this aspect of Him, we realize we really don’t know Him. We don’t recognize even one characteristic of His life, and we don’t know how to begin to follow Him. He is far ahead of us, a Leader who seems totally unfamiliar, and we have no friendship with Him.
The discipline of dismay is an essential lesson which a disciple must learn. The danger is that we tend to look back on our times of obedience and on our past sacrifices to God in an effort to keep our enthusiasm for Him strong (see Isaiah 1:10-11). But when the darkness of dismay comes, endure until it is over, because out of it will come the ability to follow Jesus truly, which brings inexpressibly wonderful joy.
It couldn't have hit the nail on the head any harder!!
There is an aspect of Jesus that chills even a disciple’s heart to its depth and makes his entire spiritual life gasp for air. This unusual Person with His face set “like a flint” (Isaiah 50:7) is walking with great determination ahead of me, and He strikes terror right through me. He no longer seems to be my Counselor and Friend and has a point of view about which I know nothing. All I can do is stand and stare at Him in amazement. At first I was confident that I understood Him, but now I am not so sure. I begin to realize that there is a distance between Jesus and me and I can no longer be intimate with Him. I have no idea where He is going, and the goal has become strangely distant. Jesus Christ had to understand fully every sin and sorrow that human beings could experience, and that is what makes Him seem unfamiliar. When we see this aspect of Him, we realize we really don’t know Him. We don’t recognize even one characteristic of His life, and we don’t know how to begin to follow Him. He is far ahead of us, a Leader who seems totally unfamiliar, and we have no friendship with Him.
The discipline of dismay is an essential lesson which a disciple must learn. The danger is that we tend to look back on our times of obedience and on our past sacrifices to God in an effort to keep our enthusiasm for Him strong (see Isaiah 1:10-11). But when the darkness of dismay comes, endure until it is over, because out of it will come the ability to follow Jesus truly, which brings inexpressibly wonderful joy.
It couldn't have hit the nail on the head any harder!!
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Worship
Last night we went to a praise and worship event at church called Satellite. Four area worship leaders came together and brought some of their favorite songs to share. It was such an awesome night!
One of the local worship leaders was sharing a story about a point in time when his walk with Christ took a drastic change. He told us of his upbringing, how his grandmother was the secretary of the church he attended, which was a major factor in even going in the first place. He shared with us about an event he had gone to where those who were attending would simply shout out their favorite hymn number that they wanted to sing. As he sat with the others he heard his favorite song begin to play, "Stand up! Stand up for Jesus!", but soon realized one odd thing. As they all were singing this song, nobody was actually standing. A little ironic, don't you think?! How can we say one thing, but act completely the opposite?
Have you ever been in church while everyone was sitting and singing, to later see a few people rise to their feet? Or have you been standing with others as they lift their hands to Christ, fall to their knees, or even clap and sway? Lately, I'd say in the last 2 or 3 years, I've been amazed over and over by one thing in particular, and I was reminded of it yet again last night. Youth who lift their hands to Christ in praise. There's just something about it that hits me time and time again. As I stood singing with everyone else, folks all around the room were praising the Lord, but the 8 youth in front of me continually caught my eye.
I'll be honest and say that my knowledge of worship within the Bible in a bit limited. I mean, we all know its important, but why? What does the Bible say about worship, what is it, what does it look like, why do we do it? A few weeks ago our worship leader tackled this topic with one of the most amazing sermons I've ever heard....check it out here. It made be appreciate these youth even more.
One of the local worship leaders was sharing a story about a point in time when his walk with Christ took a drastic change. He told us of his upbringing, how his grandmother was the secretary of the church he attended, which was a major factor in even going in the first place. He shared with us about an event he had gone to where those who were attending would simply shout out their favorite hymn number that they wanted to sing. As he sat with the others he heard his favorite song begin to play, "Stand up! Stand up for Jesus!", but soon realized one odd thing. As they all were singing this song, nobody was actually standing. A little ironic, don't you think?! How can we say one thing, but act completely the opposite?
Have you ever been in church while everyone was sitting and singing, to later see a few people rise to their feet? Or have you been standing with others as they lift their hands to Christ, fall to their knees, or even clap and sway? Lately, I'd say in the last 2 or 3 years, I've been amazed over and over by one thing in particular, and I was reminded of it yet again last night. Youth who lift their hands to Christ in praise. There's just something about it that hits me time and time again. As I stood singing with everyone else, folks all around the room were praising the Lord, but the 8 youth in front of me continually caught my eye.
I'll be honest and say that my knowledge of worship within the Bible in a bit limited. I mean, we all know its important, but why? What does the Bible say about worship, what is it, what does it look like, why do we do it? A few weeks ago our worship leader tackled this topic with one of the most amazing sermons I've ever heard....check it out here. It made be appreciate these youth even more.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Test Him
Tithing. One of the 5 areas that Phil and I have been focusing on as a means of deepening our relationship with Christ. It is also the only area that Christ actually tells us to test him. Well, we took him up on that offer! About a month ago we got a letter from a good friend and her husband who were trying to raise money for a missions trip they felt led to go on this summer. We without a doubt wanted to support them, but initially weren't sure how much to give. We ended up writing a check for an amount much larger than we had thought we would send. It was certainly a sacrificial gift and one that made us a bit nervous, but we trusted that it was what the Lord wanted us to do. Low and behold, 3 days later I received a very unexpected refund check from East Carolina University that was for just over double the amount we had given to our friends for their trip! For those who don't know, I graduated from ECU in December and have no reason to get a refund as I am not an enrolled student. It turns out the refund was given for reasons unknown regarding a study abroad trip I took back in May. God does provide...test Him!
One Of These Days
Do you have a to do list? Phil and I do, and it's long. A long list of things to do around the farm, the house, and within our life. We are constantly saying, "One of these days we'll..."
...trim the hedges
...clean out the garage
...clean out the attic
...finish the barn
...build more shelves for the linen closet
...re-stain the dock
...fix the leak in the sunroom roof
...fix the broken burner on the stove
...exercise more
...finally get a job!!
It just seems like it never ends, but today we were able to take advantage of some gorgeous weather and finish the first on the list. While outside we had the radio turned on to my favorite christian radio station (New Life 91.9) out of Charlotte. A song by FFH came on called One Of These Days. If you haven't heard it, check it out here. I immediately started thinking about how often I go about my day constantly looking around at all of the stuff that seems to clutter my life, but neglect to pay attention to the God that created it all. Our God who created our life and stands to guide us through all of it if we would just turn to Him. I neglect to remind myself daily that one of these days I'll meet my Savior face to face. How dare I ignore using every second I can for His glory while here on earth and instead get wrapped up in all that I feel I need to get done one of these days. Rather than uttering, "One of these days I'll get to that list" and planning my day around all that I feel needs to get done, I should be reminding myself that one of these days I'll come face to face with Christ. I need to be planning my days around growing closer to Him, deepening our relationship, and discovering His plans for me everyday. It suddenly becomes quite clear that my to do list isn't quite as pressing as I once thought it was.
...trim the hedges
...clean out the garage
...clean out the attic
...finish the barn
...build more shelves for the linen closet
...re-stain the dock
...fix the leak in the sunroom roof
...fix the broken burner on the stove
...exercise more
...finally get a job!!
It just seems like it never ends, but today we were able to take advantage of some gorgeous weather and finish the first on the list. While outside we had the radio turned on to my favorite christian radio station (New Life 91.9) out of Charlotte. A song by FFH came on called One Of These Days. If you haven't heard it, check it out here. I immediately started thinking about how often I go about my day constantly looking around at all of the stuff that seems to clutter my life, but neglect to pay attention to the God that created it all. Our God who created our life and stands to guide us through all of it if we would just turn to Him. I neglect to remind myself daily that one of these days I'll meet my Savior face to face. How dare I ignore using every second I can for His glory while here on earth and instead get wrapped up in all that I feel I need to get done one of these days. Rather than uttering, "One of these days I'll get to that list" and planning my day around all that I feel needs to get done, I should be reminding myself that one of these days I'll come face to face with Christ. I need to be planning my days around growing closer to Him, deepening our relationship, and discovering His plans for me everyday. It suddenly becomes quite clear that my to do list isn't quite as pressing as I once thought it was.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Fan or Follower
I thought I'd start by back tracking just a bit to catch up on the happenings of Phil and I as of lately. We're excited that we've finally found our home church (Southbrook Church) and were able to really get plugged in there around New Years. At that time, our pastor was just starting a sermon series that ended up shaking both Phil and myself. As a church we started discovering the differences between being a fan of Christ as opposed to true followers of the Lord. We uncovered some harsh truths about our own lives and inevitably also our new marriage. What we discovered was that although we longed for a Christ centered marriage and had sought to prepare ourselves for this during our engagement, now that we're actually living it out we have missed the mark completely. We were simply fans of the concept, but never actually let go of the control of our marriage in order to truly follow what Christ has planned for us. At that point, we decided it was only right for us to accept a challenge from our pastor for a 1 year commitment to becoming true followers of Christ. Over the next year we're focusing on using 5 tools to help us in this process, which include:
1. Reading the Bible: cover to cover this year
2. Praying: daily and deepening our prayers
3. Missions: locally and internationally
4. LifeGroups: committing to a small group
5. Tithe: giving back to God
So, how's it going so far?? AMAZING! But more on that later...
1. Reading the Bible: cover to cover this year
2. Praying: daily and deepening our prayers
3. Missions: locally and internationally
4. LifeGroups: committing to a small group
5. Tithe: giving back to God
So, how's it going so far?? AMAZING! But more on that later...
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Getting Started...Finally!
So, after much thought, I have decided to finally start this blog. The idea came after quite a few people suggesting keeping a journal through mine and Phil's search for employment. That we would undoubtedly be able to look back on these times and find Christ's hand throughout the process, growing our relationship with Him throughout the way. We are so excited that we have already been able to discover God's fingerprints in many ways, not just through our search for jobs, but in our own lives and new marriage. We decided to share some of our experiences with others in hopes that you too would be able to find some fingerprints of your own. Also, this is simply one of the easiest ways to keep in touch with family and friends who we otherwise don't get to see very often. Enjoy!
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