I thought I'd lighten up my blog and post some fun observations from this Christmas break. Some of these are things I already knew, but they came up again this week. Therefore, they are included here. I wold also love to hear some of the things you have learned from your holiday and family gatherings. Just remember: we are having fun here, so be nice!
1. It is much easier to wait to open your own presents than it is to wait to give other people what you've wrapped up for them.
2. There comes a time when you really wish your kids would admit they don't believe in Santa anymore.
3. Being able to help someone who would not have been able to do so otherwise give their kids a happy Christmas is one of the greatest blessings. Watching your kids be part of that is even better.
4. I get to swim with dolphins in February!!! Another thing to cross off my bucket list :)
5. When you decide to use your brand new toaster oven, remove the plastic bag with hamburger buns from on top of it. If you don't, the bottom of the plastic bag will be tattooed to the top of the oven.
6. You can actually cook raw hamburgers completely in the microwave, and no one will die of food poisoning.
7. If you wear cowboy boots with red plaid flannel pants, blue & green argyle socks and a maroon & gold bulldog jacket, you will get laughed at.
8. If you are a parent who takes a gazillion pictures, and you give your child a camera, they will also take a gazillion pictures.
9. If you cannot throw a frisbee in real life, you will not do well at frisbee golf on the wii, either.
10. Even if I win, I do not like games that I can't understand HOW they work. If I can't do well on purpose, it's just luck, and that doesn't count.
11. Kid noise is much easier to handle when the adults are quiet and the dogs are outside.
12. Trampolines are MUCH more fun to jump on than to put together.
13. We were required to take home ec in school because they knew we would need to put a trampoline net up one day. Who knew learning to sew would come in handy outside in 30 degree temps?
14. Antiques neatly decorating a house are beautiful, but the chaos in an antique store can make your head swim.
15. Little girls really cannot go more than 4 days without seeing their friends and having a sleepover.
16. If you have, at any time, waved a knife in your child's direction, even unintentionally, and/or lost that same child while they were sitting in your lap, you will never hear the end of it at family gatherings.
17. The older your children get, the more delight they get from pointing out the stupid things you have said and done.
18. There are certain people who, no matter where you are, what you are doing or who you are with, are never far from your heart and mind.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Priority Versus Option
One of my Facebook friends posted this quote as her status the other day: "Never make someone your priority while allowing yourself to be their option". My first reaction was to totally agree with that statement. I mean, who likes the feeling of pining or sacrificing for someone constantly while that person is just taking advantage of their heart and feelings. But, like pretty much everything else that catches my attention, I pondered that thought for a while. I think there is another side to it that we as Christians are actually called TO.
I am very glad that God did not apply that thought to me, to anyone, when choosing to provide a way of salvation for all. I am also glad that He doesn't apply that concept to me on a daily basis. Every day I make choices that place a higher priority on something or someone else than the Lord. I try not to most of the time, and sometimes I do it without even thinking. Many times it is something that is good in and of itself, but should never be given more attention than Him. But no matter where my heart or priorities are, even when He is an option to me on many days, I am always His priority. He always loves me. He is always working to change my heart, mind and spirit to bring them more in line with His. He is always providing opportunities for me to watch Him work in the world and lives around me, even when I can't see it.
He did the same thing for every single person you will ever meet, anywhere, at any time. If you know Him, it is your call, your mandate, to love them as He does-to make serving them and introducing them to Jesus your priority, even if you (or Him) are just an option to them. We are called to love when it's painful, when it is not returned, when it doesn't make sense. That is what He always has and always will do.
Jesus died for me while I was yet a sinner. He did the same for you, whoever you are. Even when He was not yet a thought, let alone an option, for us, He died for us. He loves, cares for and pursues us-first to win our hearts and then to give us real life. We are created by Him, saved by Him, and changed by Him. And we are always His priority. Will you make Him more than an option today?
I am very glad that God did not apply that thought to me, to anyone, when choosing to provide a way of salvation for all. I am also glad that He doesn't apply that concept to me on a daily basis. Every day I make choices that place a higher priority on something or someone else than the Lord. I try not to most of the time, and sometimes I do it without even thinking. Many times it is something that is good in and of itself, but should never be given more attention than Him. But no matter where my heart or priorities are, even when He is an option to me on many days, I am always His priority. He always loves me. He is always working to change my heart, mind and spirit to bring them more in line with His. He is always providing opportunities for me to watch Him work in the world and lives around me, even when I can't see it.
He did the same thing for every single person you will ever meet, anywhere, at any time. If you know Him, it is your call, your mandate, to love them as He does-to make serving them and introducing them to Jesus your priority, even if you (or Him) are just an option to them. We are called to love when it's painful, when it is not returned, when it doesn't make sense. That is what He always has and always will do.
Jesus died for me while I was yet a sinner. He did the same for you, whoever you are. Even when He was not yet a thought, let alone an option, for us, He died for us. He loves, cares for and pursues us-first to win our hearts and then to give us real life. We are created by Him, saved by Him, and changed by Him. And we are always His priority. Will you make Him more than an option today?
Monday, December 7, 2009
Covenant Renewal
It is common for people to join a church, get their name on the roll, and be satisfied that they have met the requirements for church membership. Some even see this as a guarantee of salvation. One of the reasons I love Northbrook so much is that membership is viewed very differently. It is a commitment we take seriously. When you join Northbrook, it is not a forever or until you decide to join another church kind of deal. Every year we take time to evaluate where we are as a church as well as individually in ministry and mission. Tonight was our annual Covenant Renewal Celebration. It was such a special time of fellowship and family. We are a Baptist church, so of course there was a lot of food involved. But I am convinced we could do this thing with crackers and water and still be just as blessed.
Our current series is on the "One anothers" in scripture, so we had a contest to see who would use the number one most creatively in their dress. Hannah used Uno cards, and Caleb went with the "Bear one anothers burdens" idea. Chuck tried to use applause to judge, but ended up giving them the Sonic gift card & telling them to share it. Hmmmm....
Amelia Lancaster was one of the few who had the courage to stand up and say in three words only what she likes about Northbrook. Even at 9 years old, her church is her "family in Christ". How cool is that?
After a time of worship, Tim Wheat, who was Northbrook's first paid pastor, gave an encouraging and challenging message. It was neat to me that he kept referring to Northbrook and the things that "we" are doing. I love that former Northbrookers still refer to their relationship with this church family in the present tense. Even when they have moved on to other ministries, they still feel a sense of ownership and belonging.
Then we sang the song that our current pastor, Chuck, wrote for Northbrook. I can't ever sing this song without tears, because never have I been in a church where the words are so true.
This fall we have added three men to our Pastoral Leadership Team. Tonight we had a chance to pray for and dedicate Larry Butler, Wayne Rushing and Jason Brooks. They are all wonderful, Godly men who I know will serve Northbrook well.
Like I mentioned earlier, membership is not something we take lightly at Northbrook. We have to take time to ask ourselves every year, "Am I willing to be held to Biblical standards by this group of people, even when it's not comfortable?" "Am I willing to commit to regular attendance at large and small group gatherings?" "Am I willing to uphold the unity of my church, speak positively and pray for her leaders?" "Am I willing to give sacrificially of myself, my time and my resources to support the ministry of this church?" "Am I willing to serve these people and alongside them in fulfilling the great commission in our church, our community and our world?"
These are questions we have to answer before signing the covenant for another year. If the answer to any of these questions is no, we also provide a regular attender card that communicates a desire to be part of the fellowship without being able to be a fully committed member. I love the moment where everyone signs their cards together. It is a feeling of being a part of something so much bigger than myself, yet intimate and personal at the same time.
My heart breaks for people who leave a fellowship of believers because it is too hard or personal, because it challenges their comfort level, because it asks more of them than what they are right now. Being a part of a church like Northbrook is hard. It asks a lot of us. But God's standards are high, and I am so very thankful for a church that does it's best to live up to them, challenges it's members to do the same, and isn't afraid to admit mistakes. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.
Our current series is on the "One anothers" in scripture, so we had a contest to see who would use the number one most creatively in their dress. Hannah used Uno cards, and Caleb went with the "Bear one anothers burdens" idea. Chuck tried to use applause to judge, but ended up giving them the Sonic gift card & telling them to share it. Hmmmm....
Amelia Lancaster was one of the few who had the courage to stand up and say in three words only what she likes about Northbrook. Even at 9 years old, her church is her "family in Christ". How cool is that?
After a time of worship, Tim Wheat, who was Northbrook's first paid pastor, gave an encouraging and challenging message. It was neat to me that he kept referring to Northbrook and the things that "we" are doing. I love that former Northbrookers still refer to their relationship with this church family in the present tense. Even when they have moved on to other ministries, they still feel a sense of ownership and belonging.
Then we sang the song that our current pastor, Chuck, wrote for Northbrook. I can't ever sing this song without tears, because never have I been in a church where the words are so true.
This fall we have added three men to our Pastoral Leadership Team. Tonight we had a chance to pray for and dedicate Larry Butler, Wayne Rushing and Jason Brooks. They are all wonderful, Godly men who I know will serve Northbrook well.
Like I mentioned earlier, membership is not something we take lightly at Northbrook. We have to take time to ask ourselves every year, "Am I willing to be held to Biblical standards by this group of people, even when it's not comfortable?" "Am I willing to commit to regular attendance at large and small group gatherings?" "Am I willing to uphold the unity of my church, speak positively and pray for her leaders?" "Am I willing to give sacrificially of myself, my time and my resources to support the ministry of this church?" "Am I willing to serve these people and alongside them in fulfilling the great commission in our church, our community and our world?"
These are questions we have to answer before signing the covenant for another year. If the answer to any of these questions is no, we also provide a regular attender card that communicates a desire to be part of the fellowship without being able to be a fully committed member. I love the moment where everyone signs their cards together. It is a feeling of being a part of something so much bigger than myself, yet intimate and personal at the same time.
My heart breaks for people who leave a fellowship of believers because it is too hard or personal, because it challenges their comfort level, because it asks more of them than what they are right now. Being a part of a church like Northbrook is hard. It asks a lot of us. But God's standards are high, and I am so very thankful for a church that does it's best to live up to them, challenges it's members to do the same, and isn't afraid to admit mistakes. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Nothing Makes Us So Lonely As Our Secrets
The past few weeks have been very hard. I've been carrying some pretty heavy stuff, and, as the title of this entry (which is a quote from a guy named Paul Tournier) says, that stuff that we carry in secret really does make us lonely. Today I am home alone cleaning my house in preparation for my family's visit next weekend. Alone-ness feeds loneliness as well. Obviously, this could have been a set up for a really bad day. But God had other plans.
Last week a special friend gave me an early Christmas present-a DVD with winter scenes set to Christmas music. I love gifts like that. She thought enough about me to know that my heart was needing a little bit of home. Our schedule has been so crazy that I have not had a chance to watch it until this morning, so I put it in while I was folding clothes. It was like the Lord just wrapped His arms around me and reminded me that he is my Daddy. In those pictures of cold, lonely places all covered in white, He reminded me that there is immeasurable beauty and living water flowing freely in his presence. All the time.
For the first time in a while I was able to crawl into His lap and just cry everything out. I could tell Him how I felt, where I've failed and what I need. Really need. All of the things that there are no words for, no ways to communicate so that people will understand, the things that are so deep inside that I don't understand them myself-they all came out of my heart to His. As He says in Romans 8:26-27, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will." I am so thankful that my Daddy knows my heart so much better than I do, and that His Spirit prays for me and through me when I just can't do it myself. And, in this moment, I find myself much less alone.
Last week a special friend gave me an early Christmas present-a DVD with winter scenes set to Christmas music. I love gifts like that. She thought enough about me to know that my heart was needing a little bit of home. Our schedule has been so crazy that I have not had a chance to watch it until this morning, so I put it in while I was folding clothes. It was like the Lord just wrapped His arms around me and reminded me that he is my Daddy. In those pictures of cold, lonely places all covered in white, He reminded me that there is immeasurable beauty and living water flowing freely in his presence. All the time.
For the first time in a while I was able to crawl into His lap and just cry everything out. I could tell Him how I felt, where I've failed and what I need. Really need. All of the things that there are no words for, no ways to communicate so that people will understand, the things that are so deep inside that I don't understand them myself-they all came out of my heart to His. As He says in Romans 8:26-27, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will." I am so thankful that my Daddy knows my heart so much better than I do, and that His Spirit prays for me and through me when I just can't do it myself. And, in this moment, I find myself much less alone.
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