A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the three different assessments I took at our Bethel Church Ladies Retreats. Our guest speakers, Marshall and Lesley Snider, encouraged us to keep the words in front of us. They told us to find creative ways to display them as a daily reminder. I’ve been thinking about this challenging since our retreat and hadn’t had much success. I’m not super creative or artsy… I can copy an idea pretty well, but I wasn’t even sure where to start. I also didn’t want to do something so big that it hit me in the face. I thought about wall art, however, my hubby would have to be on board with that since we share our space – at home and at the office. After much pondering an idea finally took root. The advertisement for our ladies retreat had a “wordle” so it seemed appropriate to make my own with my own words. For those of you that don’t know – http://www.wordle.net makes word clouds. You pick your words and they generate the word clouds. You can have input into the colors, font, and the direction of your words. The funny thing is, I didn’t 
remember what the word clouds were called, but wordle was the only thing that came to mind. I was so happy to see that it was the first thing to come up when I searched on Google. My word cloud is made up of my core value words and my spiritual gifts. These words reflect who I am. I don’t want to forget their importance or signifigance. When I remember who I am, I am empowered to be who God created me to be and not what the world thinks I need to be. These words are a challenge to walk in God’s calling on my life and live an honest life as myself – no one else. I have placed my wordle word cloud on the desktop of my laptop. I will see it everyday – multiple times a day! I also thought about turing the graphic into a print so I could frame it and place it around the house or maybe the office… I also thought about somehow decorating a canvas… We’ll see where the creativity takes me. For now, I am happy with my new desktop background. I think it suits me well!
Keeping It In Front of You May 4, 2012
Flying By April 26, 2012
It seems to happen all the time in casual conversations. Someone says, “I just can’t believe how fast the month is flying by!” I don’t know about you, but I hear this all the time. In fact, I think that very statement could be one of the anthems of my life. Time just always seems to be flying by. Things that were months or weeks out on the calendar are now just around the corner. Once one thing is off the radar, something else comes up to take its place.
Here are I am thinking about how the month of April has just flown by. Easter always takes up a huge chunk of time and energy. Add a church ladies retreat, a family ladies retreat, my sister moving home, planning a sermon for mother’s day, a local area connection dinner for women in ministry, a party for a friend, randomly getting a new king mattress (hand me down, but in great condition) and then needing to spend the day shopping to find all the bedding for it since we’ve never owned a king bed, preparing all the permissions slips for summer which means nailing down all the details for our summer activities, multiple lunch dates with friends, family and mentors, selling two vehicles… should I go on? I could list all things that I didn’t get to this month, that I now feel guilty about – like not reading enough, not writing enough, not meeting with students enough… No wonder the days fly by! Really??? Anybody else just plain tired after reading all that? I know I am after living it!
Right now I find myself in a situation I find myself in a lot… It’s the day before something, today is the day before my family takes off for a ladies retreat at the Oregon Coast. I’ve been planning and prepping for this weekend away for months. Two weeks ago I was busy preparing the devotional times I hope to share with the ladies, on Tuesday I was printing all my materials and making a pile of all the stuff I need to be remember to bring. Somehow in all the prep and trying to keep up with life that I almost feel too tired to go… This bothers me. My life gets so busy that instead of looking at a weekend away as a blessing, I tend to view it just as another thing I need to do. I should clarify that this has nothing against the event itself or the people who will be attending it with me. It’s good stuff, but more than anything I just want to sit in my pajamas and do nothing. Instead of being social, I want to hide. I’m being real here!
This month was a tricky one for me. I really tried to balance things out, but I don’t feel like succeed. I don’t want my life to just fly by. I don’t want my time to be spent just marking dates off the calendar and throwing myself headlong into the next thing. I know I’ve mentioned it before, but with my schedule, I feel like I live my life a month in advance at times, by the time I actually get to whatever is on the calendar I’m either too tired to enjoy it or my mind is already onto the next month and all things that I need to be doing in prep for that. It’s a vicious cycle!
As I prepare to head into the next big thing on calendar, I pray that God would give me rest. Even in a room full of people, I pray that my little introverted spirit would be refreshed and feel a sense of peace and calm. I don’t want to live life frantically. I don’t want to be so busy that even the good things in my life start to look like things to check of my list. I want to savor the moments! I want to really live in them – not too tired to enjoy them and not thinking about the next big thing I need to be on top of.
I can see how this all comes back to my core value word that I got to add back (it’s really my aspiration word) – balance! I need to find balance. I know that I struggled with this month so much because my core value of balance is out of whack. Even though April has flown by, here is hoping that I can slow it for May. I guess that is the great thing about each new month and really even each new day, we can decide the pace. I’ve been trying to keep up a little too much in April. I know myself and I know I can’t live this pace continually. It’s up to me now to set the tone for May. Here’s hoping it doesn’t fly by as quickly.
My Seven: Words to LIVE by April 17, 2012
Okay, for those of you who have followed my blog at all know one thing – I LOVE words! They make me happy! When written down, they are the way I most preferred to express myself. They are my friends. Now imagine this: 373 words on a list. I am told to circle any word that stands out to me. This means I make friends with 176 of them.
Now I have to take my list done to 50…then 25…12…10…8…7!!! At this point, I’m almost crying! I’m kind of joking, but not really. It was like killing friends. Each one hurt to cross off my list. This was one of the hardest things I’ve done in a long time. The bright spot was I was allowed to add one word back on to my list. Thus, my seven! My words! These words define my core values! Ready for them?
- Acceptance – I’ve always felt a little different. I often feel on the outside (for various reasons). I have a strong desire for acceptance – to be seen as me and accepted for me. I’m also a strong advocate for acceptance in my ministry. I want the environments I create to be one of acceptance.
- Compassion – This is my heart for ministry right here. I know I have been called by God to serve the church and the world. Through compassion I see my calling. I love people and I want to make a difference in their life. I am moved by their struggles and their pain. I was told you can’t have compassion without passion. I am passionate about loving people and doing something about it!
- Courage – Now if you look at me, I’m not sure you would say “She’s one courageous lady”, but let me tell you, my life hasn’t turned out the way I thought it would. In a lot of ways, God has set me on a different path than I expected. Each step in accepting this calling involved lots of courage. God still has dreams awaking in my heart and I know they will involve courage.
- Encouragement – Back to the spiritual gifts I mentioned yesterday, this is up there for me. I want to be source of encouragement to people. I want to strengthen them and help them through life. I want to be a place people can turn to for support.
- Integrity – Thanks to great leaders in my life at a young age, I’ve been told the importance of integrity. I have been poured into by people of integrity and I want to live up their legacy. Integrity is essential! It’s so core – thus, it’s one of my core value. Integrity isn’t just important to me, but I hold high standards for those I love. I want to help call out integrity in those around me.
- Joy – I crave joy! One prayer that I seem to come back to is – Lord, give me more joy! I want to be a joyful person. I worry that the weight of the world will squelch my joy. I get so overwhelmed that I have to fight for my joy. I have also learned that I am the biggest killer of my joy. I am making changes in my thinking so that way my joy doesn’t leave. I need joy!
- Vision – I know that I have not arrived. I will never be perfect or complete on this side of heaven. While I’m not a visionary, I know that I need to have a vision for my future. I need to know what I’m working towards – what is the vision and how am I making it happen? Without vision life is not worth living. Honestly, life without vision is just movement. I’m always seeking God for what’s next! He is my vision supplier and I will courageously follow him. Wherever He leads!
The word that I got to add back was balance. Marshall Snider (our conference speaker, along with his wife, Lesley) told us this wasn’t necessarily a part of our core value words, but it was more a word we aspire to. I can see how that truly fits with balance. I’m so worried that my ministry lifestyle will lead to a lifestyle that isn’t balanced. How do I balance my calling and my passion with my marriage and future family? I often worry about my future children and if they’ll resent parents in ministry. Balance has always been so important to me. I desire healthy boundaries. Balance – just like joy, I crave it.
Marshall said that people would be able to see our core values in us. He also said that stories will be attached them. People will see me living my values and be able to tell me stories about how they see it in me. I can already see my own stories fitting into these values. If you know me and one of these values sparks a story, do you mind sharing it with me? I’m really solidifying these words in my life and stories will help do that. I love these words. They mean a lot to me. I’m excited to build them into my core and to be me through them. I hope they shed some light on how I work and what means a lot to me.
PS – Does anyone else think it’s cool that Marshall had us choose seven words? Seven seems to be following me! I’m warming up to the number even though it is odd (I am strange and only like even numbers).
It’s an assessment, ladies, not a test! April 16, 2012
Roomies!
I got to spend the weekend with a hundred plus Bethel ladies at the Oregon Coast. It was a pretty good time. There were lots of laughs and insightful moments spent with friends. The weather even cooperated! There is nothing better than strolling on the beach with the sun shining (note I didn’t mention the temperature – that was still chilly).
It’s been a few years since I last went on a retreat with our church and I have to admit I was surprised by the sessions. The teaching was powerful – I totally expected that. What I didn’t expect was taking a bunch of tests. Oops, I mean assessments! There were no wrong answers and cheating off of your neighbor certainly wouldn’t have helped you get a better score. We took 3 different assessments. One was a spiritual gifts test, one was the DISC test with a twist, and one was core values test… Assessments… You know what I mean!
The Spiritual Gifts assessment was good for me because I hadn’t really taken anything similar to that since high school. Two gifts tied for top spot on my list – teaching and faith. Seriously, this is me! If you ask me what is most important to me, the one thing I never want to stop doing – it would be teaching! Teaching about what? Faith! These two go hand in hand for me so I think it’s special that they shared top billing! My next gift was encouragement/exhortation. I see my passion for mentoring in this gift. I love to encourage people and bring a bright spot to their day. I love helping people sort through life. I can see this gift in full swing in a lot of my relationships. Love it! These things get me excited and I really feel like I’m living my purpose when I’m doing these things!
The next assessment was the DISC and I have to say that I had already taken this test just over a year ago. I planned on not taking it since I knew who I was. Honestly, my head was spinning from all the numbers and adding in the last assessment and I didn’t want to do another one… But I did. I felt I little quilted into it, but oh well, it’s was good for me. The twist to this test caught me off guard. At first I thought my scores were identical to the last time I took it. However, that fell under a new category – “What is expected of me”. The next category – “Who I am” – still had me as a high C, but it also added a lot of S to my mix. I have to admit at first I was upset that my score had changed. Then I realized having more S in my life was probably a good thing. Both S and C are passive, but one is task-oriented and one is people-oriented. I think this more accurately fits me. I am a high C which means I’m very focused on quality and correctness (my perfectionist nature). However S adds stability and support to my personality. The Biblical advice for both these categories was so awesome because I can see what I need in it: For my C – be more positive, avoid a bitter and critical spirit, don’t worry. For my S – be bold and courageous, be confident and fearless, be more enthusiastic. Seriously, that is me! I need all of those things and all of those things God has already been speaking to me about. You know God is talking to you when things line up and the same voice is coming from multiple sources!
Assessments don’t define you, but they can help you figure out how you tick. I have taken many and really they have helped me convey who I am to others. Like the Myers-Brigs assessment, I know I am an ISTJ (look it up and you’ll find a perfect description of me – http://www.personalitypage.com/ISTJ.html). I can use these terms to help other see how I process. I think that taking assessments in large groups can really open eyes. You see who you are. You see who others are. Instead of it being a matter of preference or taste, you can see the honest truth about others. No judging, no trying to make them like you! We’re all different. Even the boxes we filled in on these pages can’t truly contain us. God knew what he was doing when he wired us this way. I often wonder about why God made me this way. There are so many things I would have done differently. However, after year of assessments (not tests) I can see myself for who I am. The more comfortable I am with “me”, the freer I am to be “me” – not just by myself, but with others!
The next assessment was super powerful and probably the HIGHLIGHT of my entire weekend! Totally rocked me and almost caused a panic attack! I’ll share that tomorrow, so come back and check it out!
The Resignation of Eve by Jim Henderson April 12, 2012
What if Adam’s rib is no longer willing to be the church’s backbone?
This is the question that Henderson is trying to answer. This book was a compelling read. At times I cheered for the stories that were shared, at times I was frustrated and for some stories, I was just plain broken hearted. Henderson gives three different forms of resignation:
- Resigned to – These are the people who feel like things are the way that they are and can’t be changed. They have resigned themselves to doing ministry within these confines.
- Resigned from – These are the people who have been frustrated and shut down by the system. They walk away from the church and some from God as a result.
- Re-signed – These are the people who know the limitations and frustrations and charge ahead. They have signed up knowing that their ministry is valuable and are working to create change for those who follow.
Henderson uses stories of real women to display each category listed above. The first two categories were the hardest for me. It was hard for me to see women who think they need to be “allowed” to do ministry. Some of them hold the stance that women can’t teach or lead men in anyway (unless they under age 12). Some of them hold very tightly to the verse about women being silent in the church. While these women frustrate me, I can tell they are comfortable with their beliefs and find ways to serve regardless of their limitations. The resigned from category was probably the worst of all. It’s sad to think that capable women are walking away from ministry because of the church. In all honesty, with some of the limitations put on the women in these churches, I’m pretty sure I would leave as well.
My beliefs about women in ministry have been in a very formative state over the last few years. In fact, even in the last 5 years I’ve changed a lot of my views and really gave the issues some thought. When I was in high school, I didn’t think too much about the issue of women in ministry. We had a female pastor on staff at our church and I saw women being valued in ministry, so there wasn’t really an issue in my mind.
As I grew up and went off to Bible College, I learned that not all dominations hold the same views as the Assemblies of God. I also learned that even in Assemblies of God churches there was some disconnect in what the church practiced. For example, the AG will license and ordain female pastors. Up until a year ago, women couldn’t be board members at our church. It was with great wisdom that we looked at our by-laws and made the change. There is a double standard to say that women can be pastors but not board members.
When I was younger, I held to the philosophy that women could be pastors, but not senior pastors. I was told that women are too emotional to hold should a position and that a man should always be the head of the church. I accepted this. I’m not sure why, but I did. Only recently as I went through the licensing and ordination process in the AG did I realize the disconnect in my own thinking. It doesn’t make sense to say we’ll ordain women just like men, but they have certain roles that are off limits to them. In this regard, I am blessed to be a member of the AG because they value women in ministry so highly. I don’t personally feel called to be a senior pastor at this time, but I know if the Lord laid it on my heart, I could. Very few women could say this have this same opportunity.
I think the church misses out when they limit women and what they can do ministry. The church runs the risk of being seen as outdated and unfair in women’s rights. It’s hard for a business woman who operates her own company to be told what she can’t do in the church. The strange thing is that for most churches what women do outside the church isn’t a problem – they can be CEOs for major companies, principals, astronauts… the sky is the limit, but not in the church. This doesn’t feel right to me.
In a lot of ways in all comes down the Scriptures. It’s hard to look past verses like 1 Corinthians 14:34 that says, “Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says.” After much study, I personally believe that this verse is closely tied to the cultural context of the time. Paul was addressing an issue in that specific church with those specific women. We see that Paul greatly values women in ministry when he references them in the closing of many of this letters. Paul didn’t write that verse to put women on the bench. He viewed them as key players.
Henderson brought up a point with many of the women he interviewed. While many of them brought up 1 Corinthians 14:34 as the reason for the limitations on women in ministry. Since they didn’t view this as a cultural response, he asked them about head coverings (1 Cor. 11:16 – If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head.) Almost all of them said that this was a cultural reference. Henderson’s question and mine as well is – how do you choose which verse is cultural and which one isn’t? This seems like a double standard to me.
People will probably be arguing about this topic until the Lord comes back. I have in no way scratched the surface of the issue. One of things that give me confidence in my beliefs is how I see Jesus treat women. He never undervalued them. He spoke with them, let them follow him, he love them! I don’t think it was just a coincidence that the first person to see Jesus resurrected was a woman. In a lot of ways, I’m blessed to serve where I am. I know that I am supported by the AG in my ministry and by my hubby who is no way threatened by my own call to ministry. My prayer is that I can step forward and make a way for women in ministry. I want to be a voice telling them that they can do it. It’s not always easy, but when God calls you to something, he will make a way! I believe this!
Administrator, Mentor, Party Planner? April 10, 2012
There are a lot of things that I didn’t realize went with the territory of ministry. Yes, I figured where ever I served I would be doing administrative tasks in some form. I’m well organized and I have a mind for details. Over the years, I have felt a stronger call to the pastoral side of ministry as well, but admin is something I know will always be a strength of mine. When I first saw myself going to into ministry, I thought there could be nothing better than spending my days at the church and investing in people. This is still very true. I love being a mentor and being a part of the lives at Bethel Church. Mentoring is a passion of mine and the students that I get to build relationships with are the highlight of my ministry experience.
However, one thing I really didn’t think through was large event planning. Working in children’s ministry gives Jeremy and I the opportunity to throw multiple large events each year. Girl’s sleepovers, harvest parties, giant Easter egg hunts are all a part of normal calendar of events for us. Take this weekend for example, nothing like throwing a party for 2,500+ children… The breakdown for this event looks like 60,000 candy filled eggs, pony rides, face painting, balloons, inflatables, petting zoo, prizes and more. Now, let’s be honest, Jeremy and I don’t pull this off all by ourselves – that would be impossible. Days like this involve a team of dedicated volunteers. The planning and prep does land on our shoulders and it’s important to make sure all the details come together. There is a lot that goes into a big day like our Easter Eggstravaganza. After 7 of them we’ve watched it grow and expand. Each year is a little different and each year is a chance for improvement.
Another example of party planning would be the Missionettes Sleepover. This event is fun for me because we have a new theme each year and it gives direction to the crafts, games and decorations. I told Jeremy after our last sleepover that I’m positive that our future children will have the coolest birthday parties because we are so used to planning parties. The crafts at the sleepover are items they can take home to remember the event. The games are fun and run off energy – this greatly enhances the chance of sleep that night. It’s a big party!
The purpose of these big events is to provide fun opportunities for people to come to our campus and see how great it can be. Church shouldn’t be intimidating or scary. It most certainly shouldn’t be boring. These events are open to our people, but they are also extremely invite-able. It gives our congregation something they can bring neighbors and friends to. Not only are they easy to invite people to, but our volunteers get to rub shoulders with the community and share genuine love with visitors. Through our smiles and friendly conversations, we have an open door to share what we believe as a church.
So, did I think that party planner would be high on my list of skills going into ministry? No. It can be overwhelming at times, but mainly it’s just fun. There is a lot of room to dream and get creative. Ministry really lends to a diverse résumé – administrator, organizer, teacher, mentor, large event planner, hall monitor, counselor… The list goes on! I have truly learned to be a jack of all trades. However, I hope that I’m not a master of none. Personally, if given the choice of what I would want to master it would be teacher or mentor. No matter what hat I’m wearing or how many balls I’m juggling, I hope that I can serve with a smile and a willing heart.
All In March 3, 2012
I love it when my Bible reading grips me and really moves me! I would love to say that I have feeling every single day, but that wouldn’t be truthful. Lately, however, I’ve been extremely moved by my reading. I love it when I think “This is so good! I have to blog about this!” My desire to blog about something means that it really touched me, so much so that I can’t keep it to myself! Yet again, I will share with from my reading in 2 Corinthians.
I could probably post the whole chapter because it was so good, but that would be super long, so here is 2 Corinthians 6:1-13:
Companions as we are in this work with you, we beg you, please don’t squander one bit of this marvelous life God has given us. God reminds us,
I heard your call in the nick of time;
The day you needed me, I was there to help.
Well, now is the right time to listen, the day to be helped. Don’t put it off; don’t frustrate God’s work by showing up late, throwing a question mark over everything we’re doing. Our work as God’s servants gets validated—or not—in the details. People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly . . . in hard times, tough times, bad times; when we’re beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating; with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; when we’re telling the truth, and when God’s showing his power; when we’re doing our best setting things right; when we’re praised, and when we’re blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted; ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die; immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all.
Dear, dear Corinthians, I can’t tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life. We didn’t fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren’t small, but you’re living them in a small way. I’m speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively!
I found myself nodding as I was reading this! It just came to life in The Message. I’ve read this passage numerous times in the NIV and while I knew it was important, it never really hit me the way it did this go around. I think this time I could see pieces of myself in the passage. I’m no where near as cool as Paul, I can’t raise my hand and say that is me – I’m all in, I know what that looks like in its entirety. There were parts where I knew exactly what he meant and others where I know I haven’t been there, I haven’t lived that call. While my lifestyle is very different from Paul’s, I hope that if faced with each of the situations mention that I would chose to go through with it – all of it. There is great good listed and great pain. Am I willing to have one and not the other? Ministry has it’s highs and lows, will I accept them as they come? I think that Paul makes an excellent point when he tells the Corinthians that he didn’t fence them in. They are doing it themselves!!! Their lives aren’t small, but they are living them in that way. It makes me wonder in what ways have I fenced myself in. Am I living a small life or am I running in wide-open spaces? To me, it all comes down to being all in. I can’t have one or the other. I have to embrace the good and the bad in order to have the kind of life that Paul is taking about. By keeping myself from pain or hurt, am I building fences in my life? These are just some of the thoughts bouncing around in my head. It’s so good when God’s word really opens up your heart and makes you start to evaluate and re-prioritize!
So my questions to you (and me) are this: Do you see yourself in this passage? How can you relate to Paul? What things did he list that you haven’t experienced? Are you willing to? Are you held captive in a pasture or are you roaming free in wide-open spaces?
No Masks March 1, 2012
I think everyone struggles with masks. I think we all have to make a conscience effort to be real and live the truth. There is a pull deep within us to hide ourselves, to hide our thoughts, to hide our faith, to have the true us be unseen. It’s safer to have a mask on in someways. People can’t hurt you as well when they don’t know you. Masks are something we can start to collect as well. We can wear one with each group of people in our lives. We have a church mask, a work mask, a friends mask, a family mask… you get the idea. I wonder if we wear these masks for too long, if we’ll even forget what we look like without them.
Recently, I’ve felt a strong calling to be more honest. I know that sentence might sound strange. You’re probably wondering if I have some kind of lying problem. Before you jump to conclusions, I wouldn’t say that I have a lying issue. I would tell you have a strong filter. I have learned, partially due to my ministry responsibilities, what I can say and what I can’t say. Being in a position of authority means you can’t let your mouth run away with you. The Bible has a lot of strong things to say about taming the tongue as well. I know that having a filter is a good thing. Not everything that is thought needs to be said (or posted on Facebook or posted on a blog). With all that being said, I have turned my filter into a mask in a lot of ways. I have kept myself from speaking the whole truth so that way I remain acceptable. Masks are all about being acceptable. We hide behind them because we think that at the base of it all, who we are is not acceptable.
There are some days, were I feel like the heavens open up and I get one or more influences in my life giving me the same message. After hearing the same things from a couple difference sources I really start to pick up that this might be what God is trying to tell me today in this moment. So I thought I would share with you the message that has been blasting it’s way at me today. First off, I was checking my Facebook and since I’ve “liked” one my favorite authors, I get his posts now in my news feed. This is what Donald Miller posted about an hour ago:
Be true today. Your relationships will be fewer but grow deeper.
This is totally what I’ve been wrestling with! If I’m being true then I’m worried about what means for my relationships. If I’m true about certain circumstances, will I be accepted and affirmed or will be shut down and silenced? Being true really means putting yourself out there. Now it’s personal. There is no mask that can’t prevent you from getting hurt when you are being true. I loved this quote from Donald because it reminded me that while some relationship will not accept the truth – some will and those that do will flourish. I would rather have a few honest, deep relationships then a bunch of shallow relationships with people who I feel I must wear a mask for in ordered to be accepted.
The second thing that really spoke to me today came from my Bible reading in 2 Corinthians 4:1-2 (MSG):
Since God has so generously let us in on what he is doing, we’re not about to throw up our hands and walk off the job just because we run into occasional hard times. We refuse to wear masks and play games. We don’t maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes. And we don’t twist God’s Word to suit ourselves. Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open, the whole truth on display, so that those who want to can see and judge for themselves in the presence of God.
At this point, I knew God was really talking to me and affirming my decision to be truthful. I love my God and I have given my life to serving him whatever capacity He sees fit. I have trusted Him to equip me for the work He has called me to. I know that it can be easy in matters of faith to wear masks and play games. Some manipulate and maneuver just as this passage says. Here is what I am saying: I will be true. I will be to who I am. I will be true to who God has called me to be. I will truthfully deliver the message He has given me. I will not hide behind masks, I will not back down in hard times. I will speak up. I will be honest. I will not let fear keep me from living a life that speaks for itself. When I’m living a truthful honest life, I know that God is my judge. No matter what people say they will not be able to condemn me. Today, I am making the conscience decision to be truth in all I do and all I say. I will be me and I will do what God has called me to do. If my relationships are fewer as a result… I can promise you that the one relationship what will go deeper is the only ONE that matters. I’m trusting God with the truth and living in it today!
Some weeks… February 15, 2012
Okay, some weeks are pretty free and life is fairly easy going… then I have weeks like this week where I am filled to be brim with good stuff. I’m talking about things I like to do, things I enjoy, things that matter to me. However, add them all together and it starts to feel like a bit much. So here is a glimpse into the first half of my week and my projection for the second half of my week. (Note some of you will read this and think that I’m a wimp and have accomplished really nothing of worth… that is fine if you are super human and super cooler than me. I am not super human and I like naps).
Sunday started off like any other Sunday. I get up and get ready while my dog sleeps snuggled into my bed. I’ll be blow drying my hair and look over at him so peaceful like and I am reminded that life is not fair. I am certainly not a morning person, but a lot things happen in the morning hours – like church. So I must get up and take part in these activities with people who enjoy the morning. I try to smile and pretend that I wouldn’t rather be in bed. By the time children’s church rolls around I’m usually pretty alert, but starting to get hungry for lunch. I know it’s so silly, but I often think a lot about lunch while I’m helping with the kiddos. Maybe I should pack a snack??? But then they all look at me with those eyes that say “did you bring enough to share with the group?” and of course, I didn’t… so I scrap the snack idea and just wait for my first meal of the day to happen around 1:00pm. Sunday was a life group Sunday and the group was meeting at our house that night. I got home and started to eat almost immediately. After my late lunch I started to clean my house in anticipation of the company I would have over that evening. Once the house is clean enough to make my conscience happy I then decide to spend my last few free hours sleeping – oh yeah! Gotta love a Sunday afternoon nap! I wake up to discover my hubby has fallen asleep on the couch. That never happens! We are both dopey but welcome our company shortly after 6:00pm… After 2 hours of meeting and listening to Jeremy talk on the phone with his brother about blinds and my favorite TV show, it’s off to bed.
Monday morning has a way of being different than all other mornings… It’s a beginning of a new week. This week happens to hold the Missionettes sleepover where I can expect to be responsible for 80-100 girls and volunteer leaders. Needless to say, Monday morning is spent focusing on nothing but the sleepover. Monday at noon I head off to lunch with my mother-in-law. We have a monthly lunch date to spend some time together out of the office and develop our friendship. After lunch, I head to the store to by eggs, flour and an onion. The eggs and flour are for baking project later that evening. The onion is for my husband. I have a few quiet hours at home and then I have a youth student over to bake cookies with me.
Tuesday while getting ready I hear my cell phone go off saying I have a text message. I find that my mom has decided to give Jeremy and I a couch and an over-sized chair. I tell Jeremy and he gets excited because these are nice pieces of furniture. We accept and make plans to pick up the furniture next Thursday… then on Monday… and then we decide to pick it up after work! Yep, we’re decisive. Since Tuesday was Valentine’s day Jeremy was sweet and got us take-out for our staff meeting meal. After work we headed up to my parents to pick up the furniture. We realize the furniture doesn’t fit through the doors well, so have to load it by going round through the backyard where there are double doors that make things a bit easier. We load up a church van almost completely full with furniture. Jeremy and I decide we’re starving and stop to get fast food on the way home. We know that with furniture in the van we’ll want to set up ASAP when we get home. The rest of the night is spent moving what seems like all the furniture in our home around to various places and then moving them back again. Good times.
Now we come to today. I woke up and cleaned my entire house, steam vacuumed all by one room of my house (I didn’t do our guest room because pieces of a disassemble futon are scattered around it n0w – yes, you better believe that drives me crazy). I have finished a book and started a new book. I have responded to many emails and phone calls regarding the sleepover because the deadline to register is today. I will dress up in clashing mismatched clothes for a class dress up day tonight and I will come home and pass out. Tomorrow I will set up and decorate for the sleepover. Than I will go shopping for all the food and door prizes for the sleepover. Soon enough Friday will be here and I won’t stop moving until midnight when I make my class go to sleep. However, I won’t sleep because every sound I hear I will assume that some student is trying to sneak out.
Okay… this got quite long! Sorry! I just thought I would share the fast paced, high action life I live! It’s a fun life, but let me tell you – I see another nap in my future… most likely a 6 hour one when I get home on Saturday!
The Resolution Ceremony February 11, 2012
On Wednesday night our church did something a little different for our midweek programs. Instead of being split up all over the building according to our age, we joined together for a powerful evening. We recently showed the movie “Courageous” as a family movie night. Out of showing the movie, we felt compelled to do a resolution ceremony of our own. For those that haven’t seen the movie, 4 fathers make a resolution about being a man of God and what that means as a husband and a father. The resolution ceremony gives men an opportunity to stand in front of their families and commit to being the spiritual leaders of their households.
There were a couple reasons this night was so cool for me. The first would be that we got worship together as a whole church and that meant my hubby was by my side. I don’t often to get hear Jeremy singing next to me so I always enjoy the times were the two of us can praise the Lord together. It was also great to be there with all age ranges. I normally attending the earliest service at our church on Sunday mornings. As you can imagine, not a lot of youth are in that service because of the time and because they have a Sunday School class at that hour. The energy that comes from worshiping together as a whole church is very exciting and one I wish I would experience more often.
The pastoral staff were invited up to the stage first to lead by example. This would give the guys a chance to see what the ceremony would look like and have the men of our team going before our congregation. I’m not usually the type of person that likes to get up and hang out on stage. I’m much more in my element in a back classroom with kids. Lucky for me, I just had to stand there… and not laugh. That was tough!!! The men turned to face their wives and children (no children in our case). Jeremy took my hand and repeated after our regional presbyter, Myron Ness, the word of the resolution. Now here is the kicker – Jeremy has been ill all week with a high fever. Jeremy was cold medicine to get through the evening. Jeremy doesn’t do well repeating after others… add all these things together and you get a very funny moment. Jeremy tired his hardest to follow along, but couldn’t keep up. I’m standing in front of the entire congregation in what is supposed to be a hallowed moment and I’m trying not to lose it and totally bust up laughing. Jeremy was in the same boat as me. We held it together, but wow, it was hard! That is a memory I won’t soon forget!
After the pastors took their vows, we called over 50 guys up on to the stage. We have a big stage at our church and it was completely full of men committing to this resolution. It was quite the sight to see. My favorite part of this ceremony was the young men who are not married and do not have kids that came forward. These men are making a conscience decision while they are young that they want to be men of honor and are going hold themselves to this high standard. I was extremely impressed with them. One of the young guys up on stage used to be in Jeremy and I’s children’s ministry a long time ago. As a kid he had a lot of anger and was working through some big issues that life had dealt him. Now as a high school student, he helps us in children’s church each Sunday. It was great to see how God doesn’t leave us where we are at. I’m not sure 5 years ago, I could have pictured him on stage repeating those words, but there he was on Wednesday. It was awesome!
Now this wasn’t planned, but I think this ceremony was the perfect thing to do before Valentine’s Day. I would much after hear my husband commit to being a man of God and striving for God’s best in his life much more than I would like to receive flowers or candy(not that receiving flowers or candy are bad things). Flowers will wilt and candy was disappear, but the memory of those words will remain, especially for those who will hang the resolution vows on their wall as a reminder. It’s important to challenge men to lead in matters of faith. It’s important for the younger generations to see men fighting for their families. It’s important for kid’s to see their dad pray for them. Even though some moments of the evening involved humor, for the most part it was a serious evening as men agreed to a serious call. I’m so proud of all the guys who took part in the resolution ceremony. My prayer is now that their words are followed by solid actions and that families are forever changed for the better because of that night.
Amy Scott's Thoughts 