Youth Ministry

Today our son-in-love will be ordained. Now, he's been a licensed pastor for several years, a youth pastor for about 5+, and I know you don't have to be "ordained" to BE a pastor- but we are very pleased to be able to be a part of this day.

Why? Well, not just because Ben is a fantastic, loving, generous and kind young man- but because he is a fantastic, loving, generous and kind pastor.

I am so thankful for youth ministry. I am so thankful not only my kids were very involved in the youth group when they were young- but they still are. I am SO thankful Nick and I were very involved in youth ministry also. We really began to grow in our faith and our intimacy with Jesus- because our kid's youth pastor and because of youth ministry.

Nick and I neither one really attended a church when we were teenagers, as a matter of fact- I had never heard the words "youth ministry" until after I was saved at the age of 30. So when I say the kids were in the youth group, well- Nick and I were also. We got to experience along with our teenagers all they were learning and growing in.

We participated Sunday mornings, Sunday evenings and Wednesday nights. Instead of family vacations we went where the youth group went- mission trips, ministry trips, camps- you name it. We wanted to be apart of it with our kids.

The very very best thing we EVER did was to put our kids spiritual life before anything else. It was the best foundation we knew how to give them. Our hope and prayer for our kids is NOTHING in this life comes before their intimate, abiding, fellowship and oneness with Jesus. Nothing.

There is one thing Nick and I know for sure- for life has taught us this- you WILL have trials, tribulations and circumstances. But if you don't have Jesus as your Center- as your Life- as your Anchor, as your Foundation- then you will fall apart, grow weary and lose heart. You need Him, to hold you together, to be your Strength, to be your Source of all things.

Parents, please please please remember this- your children's formative years of growing in their dependency in Jesus are but a few- the years they are in your home, seeing your intimate relationship with Jesus, seeing if your words and actions ring true- are short, valuable years.

What and Who are you speaking into your children? What priorities are they learning from you? When they are in their 20's, 30's and beyond- and trials, tribulations and circumstances come into their life- what will they depend on to be their strength and source?

Is what you are teaching your children today as priorities in their life- going to able to get them through when hard times hit?

What gets you through when hard times hit? Or do you?

Who, or what is your priority, priorities? Because they see...and they know. They see us say one thing and do another. And they live by our example.

If you have a child in youth group- what kind of example are you for them? Because "youth group" doesn't start at the church or with the youth pastor- it STARTS at home and it ENDS at home.

And yes, although our kids had a great youth pastor that we still love- there are some things I wish we had done differently IN OUR HOME and WITH OUR FAMILY. It's not too late for you, if you have young children.

I have loved seeing Allison and Ben fill in the gaps, already with a 7 month old baby, that Nick and I left wide open. Things I wish we had done. I pray each day God will fill in the "gaps"- even today with our kids and grandchildren.

Always worth it

It's easy to make easy decisions.  It's hard to make hard decisions and even harder to stay committed to those hard decisions for the long haul. But it's worth it.  Always worth it.  

Am I the woman?

Adam and Eve were blame-shifters. Adam blamed Eve- and God- because he chose to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil when God had told him not to. Eve blamed the serpent because he deceived her.

Neither one took responsibility for their own actions.

That's how many relationships operate. We like to blame the other person in the relationship. Whether it be our spouse, children, siblings, parents, co-workers, even our brothers and sisters in Christ- we choose to lay the blame on someone else instead of our self.

In 2 Samuel 12 Nathan confronts King David with a story about a rich man taking a poor man'a lamb to feed a traveler. David said the rich man should die for taking the poor man's only lamb that he loved and cared for like a daughter. Then Nathan said to him, "You are the man!" Because David had taken Uriah's wife and his life.

David RECEIVED the truth and the word from the Lord, through Nathan. He said, "I have sinned against LORD."

How often do we receive the truth and the word from the Lord, that "maybe I am the problem"? Maybe I am the man, or the woman?Instead of blaming someone else?

"I have sinned against the LORD."

Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart;

Test me and know my anxious thoughts;

And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me,

And lead me in the everlasting way.- Psalm 139:23-24

Maybe the beginning of healing any relationship begins with ME, seeing things through God's viewpoint instead of how I want to see them? Instead of blaming other's to look, through God's eyes and heart, at our self?

Maybe healing and restoration comes by coming to end of my SELF and to allowing God reveal to ME how I may be offensive, hurtful or wicked.

Goodness! 3 years ago!

The day after I ran my first and ONLY marathon! : )

February 16, 2014 · 

Happy Sunday! Well the last 25 hours have been an adventure. Mainly one of pain! Still in pain! And what happens when I get stressed out? Cold sores! So not only does my legs and foot hurt, I have another cold sore! Well, amen.

I know this may sound crazy to some but running and finishing that marathon was a "spiritual experience" for me. I only shared with a few people I was training for this- since early December. I didn't even sign up for it until a few weeks ago.

But they all prayed. I got emails and text telling me they were. When my legs were falling apart and my mind was losing- the prayers of the saints lifted me and carried me.

And I know running a marathon is not something some people would pray about- but if God gives us the desires of our heart and this was my desire- wasnt it from Him? Running truly brings you to the end of yourself. You got nothing more to give- so you HAVE TO DEPEND ON HIM.

I don't want to be anywhere else for any other reason in all of my life. Living in dependency and intimacy with Jesus!

"Lord Almighy"- at mile 21 there was a small church with a live band handing out water. One woman was holding a sign "we are praying for you". An older gentleman was picking up cups singing with the band "Lord Almighy". I ask the woman to pray for me. And I said "amen" to the older gentleman and thanked him.

I thankful for my brothers and sisters that dont even KNOW me yet lift me before our Father.

Prayers of the saint availath much!

Homeless

There's not too much that is more sad than a chronically homeless older sister.  My sister, M, is 8 years older than me- she is 54.  I am not going to go into the sad details of her life but here she is- all alone at 54.  Burned every single bridge behind her.

My two older sisters have tried to help her by allowing her to live with them for short periods.  It truly was a disaster and nearly drove one sister to the end of her rope.  She almost destroyed the other sisters marriage.  My younger sister and I will not allow her to live with us.  

As believers, and we have this commandment from Jesus, "love your neighbor as your self"- how do you love your older, homeless sister that has mental and emotional issues, cannot work, can be violent, who lives in constant inner and outer chaos, has problems with drugs, who is loud and abrasive, who cannot be trusted- how do we love her as we love ourself?

I wish someone would tell me.  Because I don't know.  

She called and left a message at 11am last night.  "Someone come and get me.  Someone take care of me."

But she refuses to take care of herself.  She refuses to help herself.  She wants to live with someone.  Someone take care of her.  Give her cigarettes, soda, food, a comfy home, run her around- she wants to work the system.   

I can't do it.  And it makes me feel terrible.   

I just don't know what to do.

I'm going to call the YWCA in Columbus, Ohio.  Try to somehow get her somewhere to where she can get some sort of help.  But I'm 10 hours away.  And to be honest, I'm not sure what I would do if I were closer.  

My friend, Scott says, "I'll be there for you but I won't go there for you."   My sister drags me down a pit.  She feels me with despair, fear (not for myself but for a more and more of this same old stuff with her), deep sadness (for a life wasted)- so many things.  She has 5 children and doesn't have a relationship with any of them.  Many of them are on drugs and have spent time in jail also, who have children that they do not raise or care for, don't work= plays the system.  It's all so heartbreaking sad.

I thank God.  I truly do.  I, too, could have just as easily went down that path.  I thank God for Nick.  A man that loves me and provides for me- emotionally, physically, financially, spiritually- in all ways.  I truly am blessed.  I wouldn't be where I am without Nick.  I thank God for His provision, loving care and kindness.  

So what's the difference?  Why did her life go her path?  The same reason Adam and Eve's path went the way it did and now we are all born on that path.  They wanted to do it their own way, be independent.  And that is my sister.  She always rebuked authority.  She always, still does- and tries in any way she can to drag others down her path, she wants her own way.  

I am so thankful, Jesus- that You came and provided, through your blood and body, Your surrender of  Yourself, Your yielding to the Father- You provided through Your death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and even seating at the right hand of God- You provided for ME- and even my sister ANOTHER WAY- the only Way to real, true Life, Peace, Joy, Contentment, Forgiveness- and so much more!  Oh Jesus, I choose You.  I choose Your way.  Not mine.  

That's my prayer for my sister, and all of my family.  For those of us that are believers, to daily choose His way and not mine.  To abide.  To rest.  To have intimacy.  To have continual fellowship.  Which results going His way....and not mine.  

So, Lord, guide me in to the way I should go with my sister.  I know You love her.  I know You died and rose again- shed Your precious blood, surrendered Your body and life- so we can receive all Your riches and inheritances.  Grace.  Mercy.  Peace with You.  Forgiveness.  Life and godliness.  

May I live and walk in the truth that YOU live in me.  You guide me.  You are my Life.  

Amen.  

Living above our Circumstances

Last night, while teaching I said, "You know....we ARE seated in the heavenly places right now.  We are in Christ and where Christ is- we are.  And we know He is seated at the right hand of God.  In Him, we are also.  We are so focused on the temporal that we forget the most real part of who we are, our core being, our spirit, our inner man in reality exists in the eternal realm- in Christ- and now we are ABOVE all our circumstances."

It's been a long week.  I studied and prepared for the conferences/studies all day Sunday.  I work Monday, Monday night, Tuesday, Tuesday night, Wednesday, Wednesday night Patricia and I prepared together.  Up at 5am Thursday and leaving the house for the first study by 7:30am.  Got to work at 11:30am.  Cleaned a house.  Back home to start preparation for NEXT WEEK'S study.  Leave my house at 6:15 for the second study and home at 10:30pm.  So, I'm already pretty tired.  I get up this morning and pay the bills. I call to get Macey a vet appointment which is going to be quite expensive.  Our dishwasher has been broken for two weeks.   Cody has tried to fix the circuit board but....it was just too zonked.   So I found one at the Sears outlet in Greenville, scratch and dent for $250.  The truck won't run because it needs an alternator.  Last month was a month of unexpected and unplanned bills.  Batteries for two vehicles, a radiator for the Jetta, dog shots and heartworms, annual memberships for Christian Heathcare ministries.  It was just a big hit to a wallet that was super hit from Christmas.  And Nick and I are really really really working hard to pay off a certain bill (most of our money goes to this) by August which will be- oh my goodness- I can't even tell you what that will be.  Not just a relief but a huge accomplishment- through lots and lots of not only hardwork but dedication and commitment.  After that bill is paid we are going to do everything we can, Lord willing and providing, to pay our house off in less than 10 years.

But for now.  Here in the moment and mundane...

It's time to LIVE out what, not only what I teach, but I know to be REAL and TRUTH.

This stuff is temporary.  All of it.  Bills.  Macey.  Dishwashers.  Working hard to pay off bills.  Temporary.  But how I handle all of these things...inwardly and outwardly...are NOT temporary.  That comes from the eternal.  The Eternal One that lives in me.

I am above my circumstances, in Christ.  I don't have to live IN or UNDER my circumstances ANY MORE.

Get my mind, my heart, my will, my emotions around that truth.  And then I am aligned, again, with God...and His purpose and perspective IN these things...that is to conform me to His image.  To let Him, and His truth penetrate deep into my heart, then flow through me to others.

One of Patricia's friends just found out she has liver cancer and will die within two weeks.  One of Allison's friends from high school has a 4 year old with bacterial meningitis, and in a coma, in Texas.  One of Ben's friends little baby was born at 26 weeks and had to have his little hand amputated.  A man and his child was terribly burned in a house fire in Ky.  JT and his children are still trying to find a new normal while mourning Joyce's unexpected death a month ago.  These are the sadnesses, the heartbreaking and the tragic.  These are people.  Hurting and mourning.  People created in God's image.  The crown of all His creation.  These are the "things" that matter.  Not all the stuff that will fade away in this temporal realm.

This is the time to pray...to seek the Lord and intercede on behalf of the hurting.  Pray with our mind, will and emotions for them...not to have our mind, will and emotions consumed with the stuff of this world.

That's living above our circumstances.  Not in them.  Or under them.

Preparing

This kid!

My goodness.  I can't tell you how much I love this little one.  When I walk into the room where he is- and say, "Hey Shug"- he turns to look at me and his eyes light up and this huge smile crosses his face.  My heart just about explodes.

I heard someone say, "Everyone should have someone whose eyes light up when you walk in a room."  I think they may have been been talking about grandparents and grandchildren because I feel like Roman just lights me up from the inside.

Oh Jesus, how I pray we cultivate within Roman a deep and abiding love for You.  May he learn to hear the voice of You, Father and be lead by You, Holy Spirit.

Laptop Stand?

I guess you would call this my "laptop stand"?  Nick made it for me because the little table is too low and causes my right arm and hand to hurt.  I love it!

"It"

Some people have it better than me.
Some people have it worse than me.

Some people have it better than me but are worse off than me.
Some people have it worse than me but are better off than me.  

I guess it all boils down to attitude and gratitude some people have- and me.  

How to warm your hands.....

Nick came up to me and put his cold hands on my face and said, "My hands are so cold. I can't get them to warm up." (From biking this morning.)

Being the loving, sympathetic wife that I am- and wanting his hands not to be so cold I told him:

"Go wash the dishes and they will warm up."

Growing In Grace

This video is from last night.  We were going through how God created us- body,soul and spirit.  Also, what negative and positive programmed flesh is- and exchanging it for Christ's life.  Some of it's easy to hear and some is not.  It helps to have the lesson to go along with it.  

Roman's First Daffodil

I know I can be terribly sentimental. I think more so in the spring. Spring represents life and death to me.

Life- because I am spring baby. I love the earth awaking and blooming forth glorious treasures. My hands long to feel the cool dirt on my hands and smell- resurrection and life! 

Death- because my Mom passed from this life in the spring. She loved daffodils. She loved to walk up to the field from our house and gather bunches and bunches. Fill our house with smell of renewal and the cheery faces of the daffodils. 

I do,too. They remind me of her. 

Yesterday our little Roman got to smell his first daffodil. I got to put the very daffodil in this picture up to his little nose and watch him. Like his Esse and his great-grandmother he liked it! I will dry this daffodil and put it in my journal. I will date it and note it was Roman's first daffodil. I got to experience this with him. 

I am one rich woman. Some people think money represents wealth but that is not true. Wealth comes from knowing and living from the simple and profound gifts from God.

Giver

You know, there are some people that I greatly admire and aspire to be like.

Who? Well, it's the givers. I want to be like them.

You know the ones- 

they always have a smile to give, 

always have a word of encouragement, 

the ones that stop and hold the door for you,

the one that sees someone in need and helps, 

the one that opens their wallet and checkbook, 

the one that gives their time freely.

You see them at church all the time:

opening doors to welcome,

teaching,

in the nursery loving on the babies,

in awana with the children,

with teenagers coming along side them spiritually, emotionally and physically,

in the food pantry each week serving those in need,

taking a dinner to a family,

giving to help a family in need at church or elsewhere,

showing up to take to the doctor, 

straighten their house, 

mow their yard,

help with a repair, 

buying angel tree gifts for children whose parents are in prison,

filling a shoe box for a child who has never received a Christmas gift,

making a telephone call or sending a note/card

visiting in the hospital,

preparing a lesson to share Jesus,

giving a gift card.

You know those people- the one's that give continuously and faithfully. They see a need- and they help. They share. They give their money, their time, their love, their encouragement- they give them self. They don't do it for accolades or praise. They just do it because they see a need.

I want to be a giver. Not just a receiver. Not a hoarder.

A giver.

In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”- Acts 20:35