This last week we had Sweets and Treats at our church. 400 kids dressed up in all different costumes from Thomas the Train to Princesses to scary monsters. 400 mom's, dad's, aunt's, uncle's, and other family took them around the inside of our building. Each kid probably got about 50-100 pieces of candy...minimum. Fun stuff.
We were able to man one of the stations that passed out candies with our home group. We all worked together earlier in the week to put up decoration in our designated hallway and then dressed up all as surfers as we had the "Surfin Safari" hallway. A couple in our home group decided to go against grain and where something completely different.
As the event started I had about 2-3 people ask, "have you seen them yet?" I'm thinking nothing of it. They always have great costumes so I'm sure it's gonna be good. 5 or 10 minutes later they both walked in the room. Dressed as Charissa, Noelle and Myself!
It was amazing. Almost perfect with their cut out faces of the three of us. The guy, he had his foot all wrapped up like I did a few months ago and was wearing my baseball hat that I let him borrow a while back! The girl, she was "pregnant" and had the same shirt that Charissa had and along with that, she was carrying a baby doll with Noelle's face on it as well. Classic.
It was wonderful. It put me in tears it was so funny. After that night I had a revelation.
That was ministry defined in front of our eyes. Walking, caring for, loving on, listening to, and encouraging over this last year with this couple had brought us to such a sweet place. I won't forget that moment. One that will go down as a defining mark in my life.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
School
Back to school....back to school....I can hear Billy Madison signing that as he was headed back for school. Luckily for me I don't have to back to K grade! I have felt the desire in my heart to go to school ever since I was in the Navy and when I got out and went I really did enjoy it but the realities of life set in and I had to take care of my family...shocking I know.
A few months ago I heard the Lord tell me that was my inheritance. It was there for me and all I had to do was take it! Everything else in the world would say that I don't have enough time or to be lazy and do it when it was a better fit. Funny how the Lord doesn't care what the world would say.
I love that. I cherish it. It really makes me feel and understand that he is my covering. He is in control. Thank goodness....it would be much too tiring to try and figure life out on my own.
A few months ago I heard the Lord tell me that was my inheritance. It was there for me and all I had to do was take it! Everything else in the world would say that I don't have enough time or to be lazy and do it when it was a better fit. Funny how the Lord doesn't care what the world would say.
I love that. I cherish it. It really makes me feel and understand that he is my covering. He is in control. Thank goodness....it would be much too tiring to try and figure life out on my own.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Updates
Wow...long time. I really had good intentions for starting this blog but obviously that didn't work now did it. Essentially, unless this is part of someones job, or they really dig writing, then it becomes more of a task to blog then fun and inspiring. Anyway, my last post: July 29th! Who doesn't have a solid 3 months in between each post?
Lots going on. Charissa, Noelle and I just got back from vacation; pumpkin patch, rock climbing, Shamu @ SeaWorld, Life Bible College (doesn't sound like a good time...I'll explain later), shopping, food, sweets....and on. This was really our first "Family Vacation" where we took time away from everything and everyone and were able to do things just the three (or 4 depending on how you look at that). It was only 6 days in all but it was so refreshing!
2 Different Updates -- Both fun. First, Charissa is having a boy! Our little guy (whose name is about 98% solid) will be here in February! When we went to sleep last night I was able to feel him moving around and around....what a blessing! I love how the Lord gives us these precious moments in life where you just know that He is real and that He also wants to bless us!
The second update is that I am back in School. Last week I was accepted into the Degree Completion Program at Life Bible College. The program is pretty sweet. All online. 18 Months. 1 Class at a time for 5 weeks each. Simple. It will take a lot of work but to me that is much easier to handle then 4 classes at a time for 12-15 weeks...yuck! I'll be done in May 2010. Noelle will be almost 3 and our boy will be about 15 months. What will life look like then?
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
All Done
Camp wasn't easy. In fact, as I look back now, a few days past, it was hard. I felt like every time I turned around there was a situation that needed my attention; kids not paying attention or following instruction, being unkind to one another or not doing what they had been asked to do. Unfortunately these weren't the only issues going on.
Here are some of the deeper things that most of these small 8,9, and 10 year olds are already dealing with. Fear, rejection, anxiety, pride, manipulation and more. Isn't it interesting that I have and do deal with these same issues/bondage's? At times I do feel as though I, along with Jesus, am winning the battle, but at other times I do feel defeated. I hate that these kids have some of the same things going on in their life at such a young age. It comes in different forms in my life, most of all, I love to please men more then I think about pleasing God. How awful to say that! It hurts, its honest. I want to change.
On Friday, as we drove back into the church parking lot we saw all the excited mom's and dad's waiting patiently, not wanting to burst out of their skin to come grab their son or daughter to tell them just how much they missed them, we got all their stuff from the class and sent them home. For most of the kids this is the longest they had been from home. Mom and dad were ready to have them back.
As they slowly faded away and there was finally a silence in the air, I felt the Lord telling me something. "The hard part is over, now you know them, they know you and trust you as a voice in their lives." I am broken but I love that the Lord will not only still use me but He still loves and cares for me....ahhh...it's that simple!
Here are some of the deeper things that most of these small 8,9, and 10 year olds are already dealing with. Fear, rejection, anxiety, pride, manipulation and more. Isn't it interesting that I have and do deal with these same issues/bondage's? At times I do feel as though I, along with Jesus, am winning the battle, but at other times I do feel defeated. I hate that these kids have some of the same things going on in their life at such a young age. It comes in different forms in my life, most of all, I love to please men more then I think about pleasing God. How awful to say that! It hurts, its honest. I want to change.
On Friday, as we drove back into the church parking lot we saw all the excited mom's and dad's waiting patiently, not wanting to burst out of their skin to come grab their son or daughter to tell them just how much they missed them, we got all their stuff from the class and sent them home. For most of the kids this is the longest they had been from home. Mom and dad were ready to have them back.
As they slowly faded away and there was finally a silence in the air, I felt the Lord telling me something. "The hard part is over, now you know them, they know you and trust you as a voice in their lives." I am broken but I love that the Lord will not only still use me but He still loves and cares for me....ahhh...it's that simple!
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Good and Hard Times
F45 Camp is past the halfway mark. At this time the boys are watching a movie and the girls are probably at their house sleeping or talking with the lights out. Boys and girls are just different. The Lord is so spectacular the way he created us all. There have been so many different things that have happened. For instance, we were eating and I took a second just to listen to all the conversations....the girls were chit-chatting away and the boys were all planning and strategizing on how to beat the "really hard level" on the newest video game.
I love it. Camps been difficult and fun at the same time. I have enjoyed teaching and instructing, correcting and encouraging, loving and caring. I feel the Lord telling me that this is the hard part. "Pushing in and pressing through" are the things that are happening right now. Once this camp is over there will be more of a sense of unity and the kids will definitely know what to expect out of me. Boundaries.....boundaries....and more boundaries. Living in them is a place that is fit for all! I'm excited to see what will come with these relationships in the next few months.
I love it. Camps been difficult and fun at the same time. I have enjoyed teaching and instructing, correcting and encouraging, loving and caring. I feel the Lord telling me that this is the hard part. "Pushing in and pressing through" are the things that are happening right now. Once this camp is over there will be more of a sense of unity and the kids will definitely know what to expect out of me. Boundaries.....boundaries....and more boundaries. Living in them is a place that is fit for all! I'm excited to see what will come with these relationships in the next few months.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
"Follow Me"
The last two weeks I have been planning our Foundation45 summer camp. This is our age group that is just out of Children's Ministries and not quite old enough for youth group. Some call them "tweens," I call them 45ers.
Foundation in Christ for 4th and 5th graders.
The theme for our camp is, "Follow Me," based out of Matthew 4 where Jesus calls these fisherman to follow him. My goal, and what I feel the Lords goal, is to help these kids from a place of knowing about God to having a close relationship with him.
Here are some scriptures that I am planning on tying all this together:
As I put together this series (4 teachings) I am finding that as I choose to "follow" the Lord more and more each day that my life is different. When I don't allow him to go ahead of me (pride/fear) I end up wasting time and energy. I pray that these 45ers will come away with a deeper relationship with Jesus and that they will be able to place him first in everything they do.
Friday, July 11, 2008
My 26th
My birthday was yesterday. 26 years. Wehew! It was actually a birthday that I won't soon forget. Not the best but definitely the worst. It's hard to say that as I would have loved it to be the best, but alas, I'll have quite a few more:)
Both Charissa and I had, let's just say, not the best day ever. Living here at the church and working here makes for an interesting combination. We aren't here for fun (although it is) and we aren't here because it is a nice place to be (even though it is). We are here to grow. Ever heard of "growing pains?"
I'm happy to have input into our lives. In fact, I deeply desire it. I want to seek wisdom and find knowledge every minute that I'm here. Even when it comes on my birthday without any warning. When someone that I trust wants to point something out about what I may be doing or not doing. It may be a hard pill to swallow but I want to digest it...to pray about it and to seek the Lord in those areas of my life.
I want to grow. Chairssa wants to grow. It hurts. It's worth it.
Both Charissa and I had, let's just say, not the best day ever. Living here at the church and working here makes for an interesting combination. We aren't here for fun (although it is) and we aren't here because it is a nice place to be (even though it is). We are here to grow. Ever heard of "growing pains?"
I'm happy to have input into our lives. In fact, I deeply desire it. I want to seek wisdom and find knowledge every minute that I'm here. Even when it comes on my birthday without any warning. When someone that I trust wants to point something out about what I may be doing or not doing. It may be a hard pill to swallow but I want to digest it...to pray about it and to seek the Lord in those areas of my life.
I want to grow. Chairssa wants to grow. It hurts. It's worth it.
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