One of the things I've learned from being the children's ministry director at the Bridge, is that its just as important to say the good stuff as it is to say the bad.
I'm a perfectionist by nature. Its one of those things that comes with the territory of being the first-born. Add to that my natural inclinations toward order and details, and you can bet that I am always much harder on myself than anyone else is. My guess is that most of us are. Its too easy to notice the bad.
Sure, there's a time and a place to deal with conflict. When something isn't working, its important to take the steps to make it right, and being afraid of the tough conversations doesn't really get us anywhere. But recognizing the good, and even more so, talking about it - that's important, too. Maybe even more so.
When a child is eager to meet and welcome new friends (something that, let's face it, most of us struggle with as adults!), I want to celebrate that. When a kis looks at a photo of a child in Africa, notices their bare feet, and asks if we can buy them shoes, I want to honor that. When I see something that touches my heart, that makes me smile, I want to share it.
Writing a quick email, posting something on Facebook, even sending a short text message only takes a few seconds of our time, but when you combine our moment of obedience with the work of the Holy Spirit, those words can encourage someone, challenge them, even turn their whole day around.
I'm trying to make a habit of not just noticing the good stuff, but talking about it. I think it really is a habit, and like any habit, the more you do it, the more naturally it comes. It really just comes down to time - taking the time to notice what's going on around you, and then taking the time to put it into words.
settling.
This morning in church, I shared about my trip to Africa. I also shared about some of the things that God has been teaching me over the last couple years.
Here is what a lot of it boils down to for me - why are so many of us content to settle for a mediocre life? Jesus said he claimed so we could have full abundant life (John 10:10). Scripture is filled with those who, though not perfect, surrendered everything to God and saw him doing amazing and supernatural things. Jesus endured so many things (torture, humiliation, death) to save us from the pit we dug ourselves into - do we really believe that he did that so we could merely exist? Or are we meant to live a grand adventure?
And if we are meant for something bigger, how do we get there? How do we experience it? There isn't, at least as far as I can tell, a formula, a step by step list of things we do to get from point A to point B. There's no list called "Things To Do To Live An Adventurous Life."
The only solution, if you can call it that, is to forget the stuff that doesn't matter and fix our eyes on the only thing that does - Jesus. Get rid of everything that gets in the way, that pulls us down, whether it be sin, habits, material possessions, or our own plans for our life (Hebrews 12:1-2). He demands everything, because he knows what he has for us is better.
Here is what a lot of it boils down to for me - why are so many of us content to settle for a mediocre life? Jesus said he claimed so we could have full abundant life (John 10:10). Scripture is filled with those who, though not perfect, surrendered everything to God and saw him doing amazing and supernatural things. Jesus endured so many things (torture, humiliation, death) to save us from the pit we dug ourselves into - do we really believe that he did that so we could merely exist? Or are we meant to live a grand adventure?
And if we are meant for something bigger, how do we get there? How do we experience it? There isn't, at least as far as I can tell, a formula, a step by step list of things we do to get from point A to point B. There's no list called "Things To Do To Live An Adventurous Life."
The only solution, if you can call it that, is to forget the stuff that doesn't matter and fix our eyes on the only thing that does - Jesus. Get rid of everything that gets in the way, that pulls us down, whether it be sin, habits, material possessions, or our own plans for our life (Hebrews 12:1-2). He demands everything, because he knows what he has for us is better.
every day for a month.
One of my goals for this year was to blog once a day for a month. And since there are only three more months in the year, I figured I better stop waiting for life to slow down, and just do it already. Starting tomorrow.
To be honest, I have no idea what I'm going to talk about for 30 days in a row, but I'm hoping that the commitment to do will motivate me to just start putting some of my thoughts down in words. And who knows? Maybe I'll even learn more in the process.
To be honest, I have no idea what I'm going to talk about for 30 days in a row, but I'm hoping that the commitment to do will motivate me to just start putting some of my thoughts down in words. And who knows? Maybe I'll even learn more in the process.
this sunday.
This Sunday morning, I'm going to talk at our church worship service. I'll share about Africa, including some photos, and try to find a way to articulate what I think God is doing in me and showing me as a result of that time.
But I'm also going to talk about some of the things that God has been teaching me over the last couple years, some things that he has laid on my heart in regards to the great adventure we've been called to. I've written out what I'm saying, but I'm still tweaking it, praying that God somehow uses my words to speak to those who will listen.
Its a bit nerve-wracking, to be honest with you. There are these things that I feel are so true, so vital, and I'm not sure that I have the words to take what's in my heart and say it out loud. I worry that I won't communicate well, that I'll say something that unintentionally hinders the work of God in someone's life.
Even as these thoughts arise, I'm aware of their arrogance. I understand all too well that it is the work of the Holy Spirit that teaches, encourages, and convicts us. Still, I think about it - and so I'm letting these thoughts push me right back to the feet of Christ, to be him to keep refining me and my words and to maybe somehow use them.
It's an interesting experience, to be sure. And its given me a new appreciation for the people who do this every week.
But I'm also going to talk about some of the things that God has been teaching me over the last couple years, some things that he has laid on my heart in regards to the great adventure we've been called to. I've written out what I'm saying, but I'm still tweaking it, praying that God somehow uses my words to speak to those who will listen.
Its a bit nerve-wracking, to be honest with you. There are these things that I feel are so true, so vital, and I'm not sure that I have the words to take what's in my heart and say it out loud. I worry that I won't communicate well, that I'll say something that unintentionally hinders the work of God in someone's life.
Even as these thoughts arise, I'm aware of their arrogance. I understand all too well that it is the work of the Holy Spirit that teaches, encourages, and convicts us. Still, I think about it - and so I'm letting these thoughts push me right back to the feet of Christ, to be him to keep refining me and my words and to maybe somehow use them.
It's an interesting experience, to be sure. And its given me a new appreciation for the people who do this every week.
africa photos.
I said, "It doesn't count if you don't get a stamp in your passport."
She said, "Well, I got rained on in Germany. Does that count?"
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Africa photos are up on Facebook.
She said, "Well, I got rained on in Germany. Does that count?"
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Africa photos are up on Facebook.
re-entry.
I'm home, and glad to finally be here. It felt so wonderful to sleep in my own bed last night. Even if I did wake up in the middle of the night and think I was still in Africa.
I'm still processing the things that God taught me, the things he wants to me learn from my time there. I suspect I will be for a while. And unfortunately, I don't have a lot of down-time available to do it, as I'll be driving back to Frederick the day after tomorrow (Friday) for Kelli's graduation party. And of course, in between then and now, there are all the little details that come after a trip - unpacking, laundry, catching up on the things I've missed while I've been away, re-stocking my refrigerator, etc.
Sometimes I think that God gives us an experience because there is something in particular he wants us to do as a result. I'm thinking through some of those possibilities, trying to discern what next step I need to take. To be honest, I kind of expected to have a huge a-ha moment while I was there, where God would clearly speak and tell me to do something big and scary and wonderful. Since he didn't, I'm trying to listen for the still, small voice, even as the noise of "normal life" tries to cloud up my senses.
But sometimes, I think that God gives us an experience just to prepare us for an opportunity that he is sending our way. There really isn't anything to do, any specific next step to take, but instead just a need to be ready for what comes. And so maybe that is what God is doing in me, too.
I'm still processing the things that God taught me, the things he wants to me learn from my time there. I suspect I will be for a while. And unfortunately, I don't have a lot of down-time available to do it, as I'll be driving back to Frederick the day after tomorrow (Friday) for Kelli's graduation party. And of course, in between then and now, there are all the little details that come after a trip - unpacking, laundry, catching up on the things I've missed while I've been away, re-stocking my refrigerator, etc.
Sometimes I think that God gives us an experience because there is something in particular he wants us to do as a result. I'm thinking through some of those possibilities, trying to discern what next step I need to take. To be honest, I kind of expected to have a huge a-ha moment while I was there, where God would clearly speak and tell me to do something big and scary and wonderful. Since he didn't, I'm trying to listen for the still, small voice, even as the noise of "normal life" tries to cloud up my senses.
But sometimes, I think that God gives us an experience just to prepare us for an opportunity that he is sending our way. There really isn't anything to do, any specific next step to take, but instead just a need to be ready for what comes. And so maybe that is what God is doing in me, too.
poverty.
I’m one week into my two-week stay in Gabon, Africa. My sister Kelli and I have been joint blogging about our trip at a separate blog (The Africa Adventure). One of the things I mentioned there is that I was surprised how much the poverty here hasn’t overwhelmed me. I do expect this to hit more when I get back to the US, and I see and hear people talk so casually about the excess we have as Americans. I do think, though, that I’m getting a better sense of perspective and the right priorities. Even as Kelli and I have been thinking about and planning for the souvenirs we want to take back to friends and family, I’ve been thinking about Hope House and my conversation with Pastor Israel, about the way that they’re unsure sometimes of where their next meal is coming from. I do want things to remember my time here, and I want to take a few gifts home to thank friends and family for their support over the last several months, but at the same time, I’m not comfortable spending a lot on them.
On Saturday, after we return from Bongolo, we’ll be going to back to Hope House one more time. I’ve asked Tim if we can stop and buy some food to take with us. He suggested meat, as that is probably the thing that blows their food budget the most.
I just keep thinking, how can I spend frivolous money when there are people who don’t have enough food to eat? I remember a while ago, I read a blog post from Shaun Groves after he had returned from a Compassion trip (I think to the Dominican Republic), and he talked about this very thing. I wish I could find the specific post so I could link to it, but he talked about needing to adjust back to life in the US, to find a balance between giving to the poor and yet appreciating the blessings that God had given him. This is something I’ve been thinking about for a while, and I expect this trip will just continue to bring it into focus.
On Saturday, after we return from Bongolo, we’ll be going to back to Hope House one more time. I’ve asked Tim if we can stop and buy some food to take with us. He suggested meat, as that is probably the thing that blows their food budget the most.
I just keep thinking, how can I spend frivolous money when there are people who don’t have enough food to eat? I remember a while ago, I read a blog post from Shaun Groves after he had returned from a Compassion trip (I think to the Dominican Republic), and he talked about this very thing. I wish I could find the specific post so I could link to it, but he talked about needing to adjust back to life in the US, to find a balance between giving to the poor and yet appreciating the blessings that God had given him. This is something I’ve been thinking about for a while, and I expect this trip will just continue to bring it into focus.
africa updates.
We set up a blog so Kelli and I can both post updates on our upcoming trip to Africa. If you're interested you can follow us here:
The Africa Adventure
Less than a week to go!
The Africa Adventure
Less than a week to go!
graduation party invites.
My sister Kelli just graduated, a few days ago, from school to be a Physician Assistant. My mom, sister, and I are throwing her a graduation party a few days after we return from Gabon.
I've come up with a few different invitation designs, all from random inspiration I found online. These needed to serve as both a graduation announcement and party invitation. We're close to deciding which one we'll be using, but in the meantime, I'm wondering - which is your favorite?
(Note - I've blocked out the party address, just for a sake of security).
What do you think? Which one would you choose?
I've come up with a few different invitation designs, all from random inspiration I found online. These needed to serve as both a graduation announcement and party invitation. We're close to deciding which one we'll be using, but in the meantime, I'm wondering - which is your favorite?
(Note - I've blocked out the party address, just for a sake of security).
What do you think? Which one would you choose?
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