The Local Church

My dad recently asked me to write about my journey of growing up in the church to leaving church all together to connecting once again to the bride of Christ.  I consider it a great privilege to recount my journey back to the Father and what keeps me engaged and serving in my local church.

The Vision

As a follower of Christ, we are on a journey.  This journey is not one that the world teaches.  It is not a journey to seek happiness, wealth, independence, political gain, etc.  It is a journey to become holy; to become like Christ.  Christ calls us to be holy because He is holy (1 Peter 1:16).  We are made in His image (Genesis 1:27) and have the responsibility to bear His image to the world.  The local church is our training ground, our accountability to this call and our fellowship with the saints.   It is the church for whom Christ left His throne of glory to come into this dark world and shed his very own blood so that all who believe would have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10). 

So the vision for our local church is to have members who are on this path of holiness.  They are being transformed into the image of Christ.  They are going from glory to glory with the help of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18).  They are serving in the church so not to serve man, but God himself.  They are tithing and acknowledging the supernatural blessing that God has promised when we honor Him in this way (Malachi 3:10).  They are bringing others to church so that they too have the opportunity for salvation and transformation.  They worship God in truth and spirit (John 4:24).  They acknowledge the living God in every aspect of life, not just within the walls of the church building.

So how do we get on this path to make the church an integral part in our spiritual growth and training?  How do we become a people so desperate for God that going to church is not a self seeking endeavor?  Not just a place to simply fulfill a social desire, to rid guilt, to satisfy a check list of “to-do’s, “or simply a place to go “because we’re supposed to?”

My Journey

I grew up loving the Lord.  As a young child I simply loved Christ because I knew that He loved me.  I feel blessed to have memories from this time in order to understand what Jesus means when He says that we must have childlike faith (Matthew 18:3).  I was surrounded by a loving church family and had wonderful parents who trained me in the way I should go (Proverbs 22:6).

Early in my teenage years, the attack of Satan altered my life.  Satan took the sin of someone else against me and started whispering in my ear a false character of God.  My sins were too great and God was very angry.  This led to a great fear of God and eventually to an all out rebellion of this God.  I could not live up to perfection, for we all have sin and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). 

My story has a happy ending.  God put the right people in my life to open my eyes to the schemes of the devil and the love of the Father.  I briefly describe my testimony to set the stage for what I believe is important in winning the hearts and minds back to the Father and therefore back to the local church.  Our battle is not against the flesh but against the spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12).  What keeps people away from church or at best half hearted church-goers?  Satan.  His mission is to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10).  We must know who the battle is against in order to claim our rightful victory for ourselves and those around us. 

Outreach

When I returned to the church in my mid-twenties, there was a key ingredient that the world could not offer me – genuine fellowship.  God placed mature Christians in my path to teach me how to fellowship with Him and with other believers.  I love in Matthew 22 how Jesus sums up hundreds of laws given to the Israelites in two simple statements; love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind…and love your neighbor as yourself.  This is what we were made for.  We desire intimate fellowship with the Father and intimate fellowship with each other.  I think this is vitally important in reaching the unchurched and making a vibrant community for those who do attend church.  We have to offer an environment that encourages and matures genuine fellowship.   

This is what the enemy stole from me early on in my life; a relationship with the Father and relationships with others.  He will never cease in trying to do so.  He keeps us independent, distracted, irreverent, desensitized, tolerant, etc.  When we realize that the enemy will thwart every effort to reach the unchurched, we can turn to scripture for guidance.  In Ephesians 6, Paul gives us two offensive weapons against the devil’s schemes; prayer and the word of God.  When we gather in a community that prays together and studies God’s word together, the enemy has no ground.  I believe this is the basis for genuine fellowship.  We are on a path to holiness with others.  We are doing life together.  We are holding each other accountable.  We pray together and for each other.  We confess our sins to one another.  We study God’s word together and let it change our thoughts, actions and lifestyles. 

On a practical level, community must happen outside of the church walls.  This can be done in many ways.  Reliance on the Holy Spirit on how to accomplish this is key.  Human effort will only turn this into a task or strategy that will eventually lose momentum (Galatians 3:3).  Whatever the format, fellowship fulfills the heart’s desires.  It’s transforming and engages people with the heart of God.  It puts them on a path to holiness.  Their hearts become an expression of God himself.  The fruit in their life is seen through their active service in church as well as the community.  Their obedience to the Lord and His call is their act of worship (Hebrews 13: 15-16).  Church strategies for keeping such people in church become irrelevant.  Their hearts have been capture by the only One who can fulfill our deepest desires.  When we find this kind of fellowship with God and with other believers, the devil and his worldly schemes are no match for God’s kingdom at work where two or three are gathered in His name (Matthew 18:20).

The Flow of Blessing

I am the mother of three children.  Since becoming a mother 6.5 years ago, I have probably spent less than $200 on clothing for my children.  I have been beyond blessed with quality hand-me-downs from friends and family to outfit the little people in my house.  This has obviously been great for our pocket book!

So here I am with wardrobe upon wardrobe being given to me and I was ready to take a bunch of clothes to a children’s consignment sale a few months ago to make some cash.  My motives were not evil.  I was simply looking to make a little cash to pay for other needs for my kids.  I was driving down the road one day and God stopped me in my thoughts and asked, “Why are you trying to nickel and dime these clothes?  Do not you trust that I will provide for your needs just as I have given you clothing item after clothing item?”  “But I could really use $100 to pay for x,y and z.” said me.  L

When I stopped arguing, I realized God was asking me not to stop the flow of blessing.  I like to think of God’s blessing like a bathtub.  He continues to fill our bathtub with an ever running stream of water.  The catch is we cannot put the plug in the drain.  He will keep the bathtub full and the water fresh.  Our job is to keep the water draining.  We receive the “water” and then we “let the water drain.”  We receive and then we give.  So in my little situation, I decided to keep the blessing going and give the outgrown clothes to others that I knew could use them just as I once was in need of them.  Obedience is always a key step in allowing God to transform you; to bring you from glory to glory.

This is not a post to brag about my obedience or put down the act of selling clothes to make money.  It is simply to show a revelation that God gave me on keeping the flow of blessing fluid and not stagnant.  In the bathtub example, we have to release in order to receive more.  Before long, our heart gets such a thrill out of the releasing to others that our selfish flesh forgets that there is a release for us too!  The act of giving does become our blessing!  Good stuff J 

Mr. Bean

Ever since the London Olympics back in August, my children are huge Mr. Bean fans.  He did a skit during the opening ceremonies that they thought was hilarious.  I myself did not see this skit nor have I ever thought Mr. Bean was all that funny.  He is now the litmus test for comedy in our house.  If they can imagine Mr. Bean doing it then it is funny.  “Mom, what if Mr. Bean took all of his trash and threw it out the window?”  Such statements are followed by a genuine, uncontrollable laughter.  It's a bit puzzling.  This too shall pass??

Still Smilin’

My sweet little girl (it’s sad that I can’t call her a baby anymore) broke her arm last week at the park.  This momma had a few days of the guilties L  She went down a slide and toppled over the side and landed just right (or wrong I guess).  She’s been a trooper.  She has to wear a cast for three weeks.  She hasn’t even noticed that it is there.  Every once in awhile she’ll point to it and say, “owie” but then she moves along with her business.  The amazing thing is that I can peel it off in three weeks and I don’t even have to take her in for a follow up appointment.  It was such a minor break that they are confident it will heal in 3 weeks time.  Aren’t our bodies amazing?!?

Signs You Might Be Living With Young Children

1.       Smudges on your wall start to appear as abstract art.  If I could just get one more little finger print in this spot I could see a very creative masterpiece.

2.       Your only matching set of “glasses” is made of plastic and decorated with an NFL logo.  These only get used when company comes!

3.       Small lego pieces can be found in every part of your house…the bathtub, freezer, underneath your bed sheets (this is very painful by the way), the flower pots…EVERYWHERE!

4.        The smell of poop does not even register in your brain.  It often takes a friend (or complete stranger) to suggest a diaper change. #totallyimmune

5.       Speaking of diaper changes…diapers really don’t look that bad.  It’s not like you get to use the restroom in peace anyway.  Why bother even having to go to a special room?!? L

6.       Your grey hair is definitely not because of your age…this can only be attributed to the younger population living in your home.

7.       You have mastered a second language.  You know what every syllable, grunt or sound means that is said by your 18 month old.  (ooo, tay, bumpa, ell, dayda, enna, ma…translated as shoe, okay, grandpa, Bill, Jadon, Sienna, more)

8.       Laughter is usually the best medicine.

Humor

This conversation took place between Jadon and his friend, Josiah while playing hide-and-seek with their sisters.

Jadon:  I know EXACTLY where they are.

Josiah:  Me too…….where are they?  Can you tell me?

Jadon:  They are either in the basement, the living room, the kitchen, my room or my parent’s room.

A Big Shout Out

Whew!  This momma is TIRED!  We just returned from a lovely trip up north to spend time with extended family at our annual reunion.  Due to his work schedule, my husband could not be with us.  His absence was determined just a few days before the trip so a little anxiety crept in as I thought about the 3+ hour drive alone with the kids, not to mention the entire trip without him.  We had a great time and I had lots of help from grandma, grandpa, aunts, uncles, great aunts, great uncles, cousins, etc.  But it was still exhausting.  At the end of the day, I was still the only parent.  The one left to discipline, brush teeth, wipe butts, stop blood, coax sleepy eyes to sleep, ensure protein was eaten and not just sugar, etc. 

I say all of this not to throw myself a pity party (well, not entirely anyway), but to acknowledge that my admiration for single parents grew exponentially this past week.  It is overwhelming to realize that for some, parenting is not a team sport.  My hat is entirely off to you.  May you be covered in grace. 

I think a fun challenge is in order.  Go out of your way over the next few weeks to really bless a single parent.  Even a small gesture will go a long way.  Offer a meal, babysitting, an encouraging note, some groceries, etc.  Even though single parents probably feel like an island at times, they should know that people are willing to swim to them! 

Summer Fun

The highlights of summer thus far…in bullet form!

·       Vacation Bible School!  So fun and the kids are still singing the songs!

·       Basketball camp…I had a blast helping, Jadon had a few fun moments but mostly liked the treats served at the end of camp (good thing Grandpa is a good coach – I think a few skills took)

·       The end of tee-ball.  This was actually quite sad.  Jadon had such a cute little team and they were quite good by the end of the season!  By good I mean all of the kids knew to run to first base and not third base after they hit the ball and they actually sent some runners back to the bench after forcing/tagging them out!

·       A week at grandpa and grandma’s – fun memories!

·       Lots of smores (enough said)

·       Pool, library, parks, bug bites, farmstead, more bug bites, sleeping in, movie watching, sidewalk chalk, more bug bites, etc.

Ahhh, isn’t summer grand?!?  So much fun to be had.

Summer!

I do declare that summer has approached rather rapidly!  We’ve had a very busy spring – a 6^th birthday, a 4^th birthday, the end of the school year, the start of tee ball, a for sale sign in our front yard, a new found skill called WALKING!  The list goes on and on.  Whew.  It’s been fun.

I was sad to say goodbye to kindergarten (much more so than Jadon!), but I am also thrilled to be saying hello to summer.  During my 8 years in the corporate world, I always felt very antsy during summertime.  It was hard to work during the summer months (especially when you are married to a teacher!).  When kids entered the picture, summers meant a time of fun and relaxation with Dad.  I always felt so excited for my kids to be home for the summer but also terribly jealous of the fun they were having while I was at work.  I don’t take one minute of this summer for granted!  I get to be home doing the fun things that were such fond memories of my own childhood.  Having two parents in the world of education made for very enjoyable and memorable summers in my youth.  The pace of life was slower.  Time was spent at the pool, the ball fields, basketball camps, reading, spending the day with friends, watching Nick at Night, etc.  I look forward to similar memories this summer with my own kids. 

Why is it that summer memories mostly involve food?!?  Smores, root beer floats, slushies, ice cream, watermelon, corn on the cob, burgers…now I’m hungry.

Miss Independent

Independence.  Feels good, doesn’t it?  I am in control of my destiny.  I am the captain of my own ship.  I am queen of my island.  That’s right, I’ve got it all figured out. 

This thought process is pretty accurate, right?  Not only does the American culture breed a craving for comfort, but also for independence.  I think we often think of independence as synonyms for success, “making it,” dominance, power, etc.

My sense of independence was really broken this week and I am thanking God for that.  We were never intended to live a life of independence.  As my pastor often says, God has called us to live a life of interdependence.  The perfect model of this is the interdependence of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

On Tuesday evening I fell on my tailbone extremely hard.  I was bed ridden for the next day as I could not get up without fainting.  I was so out of control of my body.  I had no sense of independence whatsoever.  I needed assistance with everything.  I had to reach out and ask for help from friends so my husband could return to work.  I had to receive this help and love despite the fact that it was uncomfortable because my sense of independence was being shattered.  My pride was being crumpled like a piece of useless paper.

The breaking process is never fun, but there is always beauty on the other end.  This beauty has a name.  His name is Jesus.  In the process of asking for help, I went deeper in learning how to receive love.  I went deeper in learning how to receive healing.  I went deeper in friendships.  I went deeper in my respect for my husband who continues to lay down his life for me in good times and bad.  I went deeper in my appreciation for the power of prayer.  I went deeper in my love for my parents who still showed concern for me as if I was 4 years old again and had just fallen off my bike. 

Interdependence is a very joyful, peaceful way to live.  I would crush my tailbone all over again to go deeper in this lesson.  I don’t want to pretend any longer that I am queen of my own island.  My life already has a royal master who sympathizes more with my pain and suffering than I will ever comprehend.

Growing Too Fast

My oldest little person turned 6 last week.  That fact alone really seems impossible.  A few days before his birthday, his belief in Santa, The Easter Bunny, The Tooth Fairy and all other magical creatures that mysteriously visit you while you sleep (the concept is really quite creepy) came to an end.  I was really quite sad about this.  My husband and I have always said that believing in such “people” will be something fun for our kids, but we won’t go out of our way to convince them that they are real.  So the time came when Jadon was asking questions and starting to think about these scenarios with too much logic.  How does a bunny leave candy for children without any arms to hold said candy?!?  His questions were too demanding to brush them aside.  The truth had to come out.  He just smiled as the truth was revealed as if he had figured it out years ago.

I’m not sure why this is so sad to me?!?  I guess it’s because it’s just one more sign that he’s growing too fast.  I think believing in fantasy and having a wild imagination are such magical parts of childhood.  On the bright side, I guess he now knows that all of these gift givers do not have endless pocketbooks!    

Crazy Times

In a little over a week’s time we will have a “for sale” sign in our front yard.  Preparing to sell a house is a lot like preparing for a wedding (if you’ve done neither, I have a few points of advice:  #1.  Elope and #2. Live with your parents until you can afford your dream home…..ha!).  Like planning for a wedding, there are so many minor details that you come to a point where you throw your hands in the air and say what is done is done, what is undone will remain undone.  We are to that point.  We have been working really hard the last two months to prepare our home for a potential buyer.  We’ve replaced bathroom floors, painted, stained the deck, fixed doors, painted some more, seeded the lawn, etc.  And by “we,” I clearly mean my husband.  But we are one now, so his labor is my labor - BUT my labor pains will never be his. J  My husband has conquered this intense labor with perseverance and grace.  Hopefully all of his hard work will be a blessing to the next home owners.

I haven’t had time to really think about all of the realities of actually selling our home.  Anyone that has tried to sell a home in the last 5-7 years knows how scary it is from a financial perspective.  It is a really tough market out there, but we feel strongly that God is calling us to another community so we know He’ll work out the details.  I’ve had glimmers of sadness here and there at the thought of leaving our first home, but I’m sure the fullness of that will hit me when it actually sells.  So if you think of us over the next few weeks, we would love your prayers as we take a step of faith and follow God’s lead.  Let the “fun” begin.

Faithful

I am reading the book of Matthew right now and I always find the stories of Jesus miraculously feeding thousands of people so fascinating.  First of all, it is just an amazing miracle that shows the depth of his compassion to feed a famished crowd that has taxed him in every way.  Chapter 14 details the miracle of feeding 5000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish.  Skip ahead one chapter and Jesus is once again surrounded by thousands of people who are in desperate need of nourishment.  The disciples ask Jesus where they will get enough food to feed everyone in such a desolate land.  What?!?  Weren’t you just with Him when he fed 5000 people (not counting women and children)?!?  And now you ask how He is going to feed this many people.  Oh ye of little faith.

This lack of faith is so obvious when you read these stories back to back in the bible.  But how often do I ask the same silly questions??  Whether it is finances, time, agendas, everyday details that stress me out, etc., I hear Him lovingly saying “Haven’t I come through on this time and time again?  Don’t you have faith enough to know that I will come through again?”  He is so faithful.     

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things!

I tend to get on “kicks.”  Here are my latest favorites.  I’m bound to get some sort of free product with this plethora of free marketing exposure J

I gave up pop last summer so I’ve found a few alternatives when I crave a yummy drink.  This still has too much sugar, but the rest of the ingredients are pretty good!  It is delicious, especially on a cold, winter day!

My hubby’s uncle gave us a bread maker last summer and I am slightly obsessed!  Is there anything better than a hot loaf of fresh bread?  If you answered, yes then you’ve never had a hot loaf of fresh bread.  Or you are crazy.

The best salad spinner ever!  This is the Sharper Image brand (found it at Bed, Bath and Beyond).  No more soggy lettuce.  It also keeps my lettuce nice and crisp for several days in the fridge.  Mmmmm, love me a good salad!

This bag of goodness is kind of the latest trend on all of the healthy eating blogs, but I don’t care if it is trendy.  It is very yummy and so good for you.  It is a grain and cooks similar to instant rice.  We use it for stir fry, taco bowls, with pesto, in risotto, etc.  Very yummy!

This popcorn is amazing!  I’m not a huge popcorn lover, but the hint of lime and salt is so, so good. 

These books are absolutely adorable.  My mom introduced us to these books last year when she came to visit after Kya was born.  My kids love them!  The stories and pictures are precious.

Finally, this is my FAVORITE one year old J

Goodnight, Baby!

I just put my youngest to bed with a touch of sadness.  When she wakes in the morning she will no longer be my baby, but my one year old!  Wow!  What an amazing year.  It is beyond my understanding how 12 months can pass so quickly.  Celebrating first birthdays is always a bittersweet moment for me.  On the one hand, I absolutely love the 12-18 month stage.  It is my absolute favorite.  On the other hand, the first birthday marks a big milestone and the end of the baby phase.  I have no desire to relive the baby stage (I have very needy babies) but there will be no more first smile, first roll, first tooth, first clap, etc.  Sweet memories!  In the midst of the chaos of three kids, it is easy to see why God calls children our rewards.  So true!  Nighty, night.      

Perspective

I went to a women’s conference this weekend and got my soul rocked a bit.  The guest speaker was Carolyn Custis James and she was fabulous.  I’ve not read any of her books yet, but after hearing her speak I am very anxious to do so.  Her passion is to mobilize Christian women for the body of Christ by communicating that women bear the image of God and were created to fight alongside our Christian brothers to see the kingdom of God come to this earth (…on earth as it is in heaven).  We talked a lot about the plight of women across the globe and how we need to open our eyes to the injustices taking place right under our nose; sex trafficking, extreme poverty, patriarchal societies, etc.  These injustices go against everything the kingdom of God stands for and they AFFECT US.  Because we were created in the image of God, we are called to reflect this image to the world and injustice is not the heart of God. 

After listening to the information this weekend, it’s hard not to feel guilty.  I was raised in a loving home, have a great education, have a wonderful husband who treats me as his equal, have great children, the list could go on and on.  Some days my biggest dilemma is figuring out what to serve for dinner!  I needed this weekend to reset my perspective.

So now I have a choice.  Do I sit here and fester in this guilt?  As easy as that might be, guilt is not the answer.  One, guilt is not the voice of God and two, it accomplishes nothing.  Guilt implies that I am not worthy of not having to suffer such injustices.  God does not think less of me because I’ve had an easier life compared to others.  He wants me to use my resources to restore His vision.  He wants me to understand that His gospel is not just a middle class gospel.  He wants to deepen my hatred of evil and injustice (the bible says that to fear the Lord is to hate evil).  He wants to spur my heart into action to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves.  This is a high calling and one that cannot be accomplished without total reliance on the Holy Spirit. 

If I had lived during the time of slavery, Hitler’s reign, the civil rights movement, etc., it’s easy to say that I would have done something!  I would have been a voice that spoke out against such injustice.  But that was then so luckily there were people before me that did that.  But what about now?!?  There are 5 year old girls who are in Brothels right here in the United States.  There are teenagers in the US who are convinced to join “the game” and are sold into the world of sex trafficking.  Pornography is a rampant problem in our country (in the church as well) that is largely funding the sex trafficking industry.  There are women in other countries who are not allowed to show their face in public because their value is so demeaned in their culture.  There are single mothers who have to put their young children to work just to survive. 

So what do I do with all of this?  My heart has been sobered and burdened.  I don’t want my life to be based on seeking the next pleasure or comfort.  I don’t want to do the daily grind and spend the rest of my waking hours in front of the TV.  I want my life to matter.  When I stand before the Lord on judgment day, I don’t want to have to explain why my “uniform is clean” and why I didn’t get in the game and fight the good fight against the enemy.  Fighting the good fight does not mean that we all have to be missionaries, in charge of nonprofit organizations, or spear head the next great movement of God.  It simply means fighting for those around you until justice is restored.  It is fighting for the fatherless child across the street, the child in school who is being bullied, the single mother at work who is barely staying above the poverty line, the teen in your youth group who is on the verge of being kicked out of his house, the missionary who came and spoke at your church who is taking the gospel to a dangerous part of the world, sharing the whole gospel (salvation and restoration) with the co-worker who just left her abusive husband, the list could go on forever.  I want to be in the game and FIGHTING!        

Different but Necessary!

This BLOG post has been on my heart for a long time now and I feel that God has given me the words to communicate it appropriately (at least that is my prayer!).   I have a wonderful mix of Christian people in my life; family, friends, acquaintances, colleagues, etc.  We all profess Christianity as our belief system, but we might all do that in a different way through different denominations.  Since rededicating my life to the Lord over 7 years ago, I have really questioned God on the subject of several denominations within the same faith.  Why do we have so many?  Is any denomination more right than the other?  Does God take pleasure in one denomination over the other?  I have really prayed and sought God on this for answers.  There are some examples in scripture that have pointed me to answers.

First of all, I feel that God has revealed to me over the last several years that different denominations serve a valid purpose for the advancement of His kingdom.  We are all unique individuals and He is given us a unique “worship DNA” so to speak.  Some are naturally bent towards worshipping God through lively music, mission trips, sacred traditions, intimate fellowship, etc (the list could literally go on and on and on).  So as long as Jesus is the person we are worshipping and professing as messiah and Lord, it doesn’t matter if I go to the mega church down the street or a home church next door, as long as that is where God has called me.   Different denominations and church settings allow for the unique expression of how God wired a person to worship Him.

In 1 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul warns the Corinthians that they are becoming divided by proclaiming their allegiance to Paul or the disciple Apollos.  Paul said their allegiance is to Christ and not to the messenger.  Isn’t this what we do in modern day Christianity?  We proclaim allegiance first to a church or denomination that, oh by the way, is Christian.  I think we too need to heed this same warning.  I am a Christ follower first and foremost and I happen to worship at this particular church that God has called me to.  We must never hold our theology as more important than Christ himself.  Our theology can become an idol and the object of our worship.  This is very dangerous.

I think why this is a passionate subject for me (I’m quickly treading the line of soap box here!) is that I think it really grieves the heart of God when we get a superiority complex within the Christian faith.  When we start believing that our way of doing things is better than their way, it does nothing to build the body of Christ for the advancement of His kingdom on earth.  There are times when we can agree to disagree and offer grace and understanding as we all seek to share in the mystery of our Christian faith.  In the book of Acts, Paul and Barnabas differed greatly on including Mark on their next mission trip.  Paul felt that Mark couldn’t be trusted due to previous actions and Barnabas wanted to extend grace and include him.  The two of them were both right in their stance.  They agreed to disagree and thus went their separate ways.  So what did God do?  He used this division and spread the gospel twice as far than if they would have stayed together!  I think it’s a prophetic picture of how the Christian body can take hold of this spiritual reality of advancing the gospel, even if we don’t all do it in an identical way.  When we start to point the finger at each other and gain a superiority complex, the gospel becomes stifled.  Now does this mean that anything goes?  No way.  I’m specifically speaking to Christian churches that follow the bible in their teaching and hold Jesus as the messiah and Lord.  Does this mean that we might not agree on how to interpret everything in the bible?  Of course (take the multiple biblical theories on the end times!).  At the end of the day, there is still a sense of mystery to the Christian faith that is absolutely beautiful.  Seeking Christ above all else will prove more beneficial than seeking to defend a certain theology at any cost.       

Happy Birthday BLOG!

Well it has been one whole year since I began my blogging career.  I have to admit, it’s been kind of fun!  A big shout out to my five readers who humor me with their regular check-ins.  J I thank you!  It’s fun to look back and see how much has changed in a year.  When I began blogging, I had a very large belly and was eagerly anticipating the birth of our third child.  A year later and we are getting ready to celebrate her first birthday!  Time goes too fast.  Also a year ago, I was heavily involved in planning for a major telecom merger at my job.  Now I am heavily involved in planning play dates, weekly dinner menus and other household activities.  Life is a bit different than a year ago, but I am thankful for a faithful God who doesn’t change even if my circumstances do.  Life is good! 

James Chapter 5 – You Have What it Takes!

I guess the next time I challenge myself with a BLOG series I need to set completion dates (goal setting 101).  I’ve got one more chapter in the book of James to complete my bible study BLOG series.  Seriously, you must read this book if you haven’t.  It’s so practical.

A few of the verses that jumped out to me in this chapter happen to be a theme that my pastor preached on a few weeks ago!  Isn’t it cool when God repeats His messages to you through different mediums?!?  He is always speaking…we just have to slow down and listen. 

James 5:  17 – 18 “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours; yet he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the land.  Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the land produced its fruit.”

Elijah was an incredible prophet who had a deep relationship with God (you can find a lot of his story in the book of 1 Kings in the Old Testament).  We can often hold such biblical pillars to a higher standard of being able to do the work of God.  However, this verse is clear in that he was a man with a nature like ours.  He didn’t have a special “in” with God that the rest of us have to view from the sidelines.  He had an “in” with God because he spent time with Him, he knew God’s character and believed that God would act on his behalf.  So when Israel was once again in complete darkness, Elijah spoke with boldness to King Ahab that “As the Lord God of Israel lives, I stand before Him, and there will be no dew or rain during these years except by my command!” (1 Kings 17:1).  Can you imagine the boldness to tell a king that it is not going to rain for 3.5 years?!?  Not only did God answer his prayer, but He told Elijah where to go for shelter so the ravens could provide food and water for him during this drought.  This kind of faith is inspiring and it came from a man whose very nature is the same as ours.  God wants us to read these stories to make us bold in our faith and to ask for His will to be done with the confidence that He will answer.  Now God may not be asking us to proclaim drought on the land for 3.5 years, but He’s asking us all to do something in order to advance His kingdom.  Ask Him what that is, pray in agreement with heaven for this to be done and then watch God deliver on His promises.  Risk it!  Take the adventure!  I dare you! 

Alarm Clock

Who needs an alarm clock on a Saturday morning when you have a three year old who is perfectly capable of waking the house up by yelling, “Moooooooooommmmmmmmmm, can you wipe me?”

2011 Book Picks

I try to read several books each year (try being the key word).  This isn’t some lofty goal to better myself and the world.  I just really love to read.  Anyway, of the books that I read last year, here are my top three favorites that I would highly recommend.  In no particular order:

·         The Help by Katheryn Stockett

This book is wildly popular for good reason.  I thought it was wonderfully written and a beautiful story of standing for something in the face of real danger.  The book really made me reflect on the civil rights period and extremely thankful for those who risked their lives for the greater good.

·         Loving Our Kids on Purpose by Danny Silk

In my opinion, this is a must read for anyone who has children, especially if chaos has replaced peace in your home.

·         Heaven is For Real by Todd Burpo

This is another book that has become extremely popular.  This book is simply but beautifully written by Todd Burpo, whose young traveled to heaven in back during a near death experience.  It is such an awesome story of childlike faith.

Hopefully 2012 will prove to be as productive in the reading department.  Happy reading…

Happy New Year!

I hope you all have a very blessed 2012!  Sienna has resolved to get her Barbies in shape this year J