Awana Awards Night

Tonight was the Awards night for our church's Awana program. Karsyn has just completed her first year of Awana, and was a Puggle. She absolutely LOVED being a Puggle and going to class with her friends each week. She had three amazing teachers who love her as if she were their own- Mrs. Christy, Mrs. Shannon, and Mrs. Tammie. She has learned Bible verses, Bible stories and songs. We often have a very difficult time getting her to leave on Sunday nights when it's time to go home. Our Awana program is headed up by Derick and Krissy and they do a fabulous job. This ministry is so important to our church! I am grateful for the people who give of their time and talents to make it possible for our children. We appreciate you so much!

Anyway....

If there are any of you that regularly follow this blog, you may have noticed that I've been absent lately. I haven't posted for a few weeks, and before that, I only posted light-hearted things about my kids. I've found that I can look back over this blog and the posts I've written and kind of get a literal picture of where I am in my walk with Christ. And when I look back over the past month, it is obvious that my walk has been shallow and self-centered.

When I am walking closely with Him, spending time in the Word, on my knees in prayer, I can't help but write about the things that God is speaking to me. Lately, I've been so busy doing projects at church that I've neglected my time with Him. I've walked with some friends through a difficult season and have been confused and upset. Instead of turning to God and trusting His purposes, I've been angry. And sad.

Have you ever felt that way?! It's like you KNOW that you should be in prayer, you know you should walk patiently down the road before you trusting that His ways are better, yet you're just stuck in your own stubbornness and unwillingness to submit. I have. And sadly, I probably will again.

If I'm going to be completely honest, I need to also confess that I've been a little bit  hugely self righteous. I have been upset because people that I counted on to help me with some of these projects at church have been unwilling to help. Because I'm a "yes" person, I don't understand (or have sympathy) when people just refuse to help. Especially when they don't even respond or give you a reason why they can't help serve. They just DON'T. Do they have good excuses reasons? Absolutely! Is it my place to judge? Absolutely NOT. And I apologize  to those of you that I have been upset at (even if you didn't know I was). I'm positive that I was wrong and I'm really sorry.

(((((I'm trying to be completely transparent here with you, so try to not judge me too harshly on this next confession. I'm cringing as I type, but want to be honest with you in where I've been in hopes that it may help someone reading this. )))))

I was standing in my kitchen the week before last and talking complaining about how tired I was of being the person who always signed up to coordinate baby showers, take meals to the sick and new-moms, served on committees at church, did service projects, volunteered to help friends with anything they needed, etc. while raising two kids.  I am embarrassed to admit that I actually made the statement "I don't want to. They don't ever help me with anything". Shame! How ridiculously far I was from having the heart of a servant!

My husband said to me something along the lines of "but you're not doing it because of how you feel about them. You'd be doing it because of how you feel about Christ". Slap. In. The. Face. And I needed it. At that moment it was like a lightbulb clicked on and I realized how ridiculously petty and judgemental I had become. Who am I to judge why or why not someone else chooses to serve? Why is it my place to try to do everything myself instead of allowing God to use me as He sees fit? The bottom line is this. God has laid it on my heart to serve. Because of that calling, I need to be obedient and willing to do it- even if no one else does. Even when I'm tired. Even if I've had a sleepless night before. Even if it's hard.

Can this be taken too far? Yes, but friends, let me tell you- There is so much work left to be done in my heart! Sometimes it scares me that I've been a Christian for many years and grown up in the church, but still an so far off target of where I need to be. I have much more growth that needs to happen.

I was thinking about all of this in the shower the other day and remembered that poem that was supposedly written on the walls of Mother Teresa's room called "Anyway". I've heard it many times, but never 'got it' until this past week. Here it is:

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway.

 If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.

 If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.  Succeed anyway.

 If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.  Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.  Create anyway.

 If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.  Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten.  Do good anyway.

 Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.  Give your best anyway.

 In the final analysis, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway.

How have I missed this for so long? All the serving we do in the church, the mission projects we do in our communities and around the world, the tasks we keep ourselves busy doing...they are ALL a reflection of our relationship with Christ. Even the work I do in our home for my husband and kids. It's not because they 'deserve' it. It's because my acts of service to them in doing daily tasks are an act of worship to a worthy God. The next time I need to do things like washing and folding clothes, cleaning off the dirty high chair for the seventh time each day, picking up my husband's shoes, changing dirty diapers, sweeping my kitchen floor, or taking out the trash, I will stop and try to remember that even in these daily tasks, God can be glorified. 

As hard as it was to write this post, I am both convicted and motivated. What is God calling me to do? What is God calling you to do? In what areas have you been unwilling to submit?

I love each of you. To any that are still reading (and will still do so after this post), thanks for the grace you extend as you are shown what my heart really looks like. I will post tomorrow with pictures and information about the big clothing giveaway we did this past weekend. Have a great day!

And so it begins...

Tomorrow morning we officially launch the new 'contemporary' service at our church. I am so excited about seeing what God's going to do that I can hardly stand it.

I've struggled lately because of the comments a few "church" people have had to say about this service. They feel that we're trying "too hard" to get people into church...that we're changing too many things to make church more entertaining and fun...they're saying that we were only ever commanded to GO out into the world to lead others to Christ, and not to work so hard to bring them into our church. W H A T?!?!?!

I have been hurt, I have been angry, I have been shocked by comments such as these. I believe that we (like Christ) are to become "all things to all people" so that HE may become known. Is this the most comfortable place for me personally? No, but it is completely a place I have been called to. I am saddened when I think about what God must feel when he watches us scream, jump and yell at the television over our favorite sporting event, yet we're afraid to do anything but solemnly stand and mumble words when we praise Him.

Maybe (DEFINITELY!) there are people that can be reached by using a different format for church. Maybe what works for one doesn't work for all? Maybe we should spend our time praying for the opportunities for outreach and for people coming to KNOW the Lord instead of judging the things that others are attempting to do to make this happen. Maybe it's time for some people to get out of their own way and to let God work. Why is it that the 'church' is often harder on each other than the rest of the world is?It's fine for people to have different preferences, but is it really our place to judge and decide if someone else has the right to pursue a different ministry opportunity?

Now, don't get me wrong. I am including myself in this group. There have been MANY times I have done the same thing- judged without thinking; assumed that I knew better. The bottom line is this- We (myself included) need to be willing to go to places that are outside of our comfort zone. We need to do whatever it takes to reach a lost and dying world. We need to support each other and serve together as ONE body since we are all serving the same Lord. Pray for your neighbor instead of judging. I am going to work harder at this, too.

Please pray for our service that begins tomorrow. The stories we have heard just this week since our "pre-launch" last week have been amazing. There is great potential for God to work if we will just get out of the way. Love to you all!

If you'd like to read my last post about this service, you can find it here:
Obedience Part 2

WBC Choir Family

In January of 2009, I joined the Woodlawn Worship choir. What a blessing this group has been! When we have practice, it is truly a worship service in itself. I count many of the members among my closest friends, and am thankful for all that I have learned by being a part of this group. My wish for each of you is that you would find an area in your church where you can serve that makes you feel the same way. Maybe it's running the projector during the worship service, greeting people at the door as they arrive at church, taking care of children in the nursery or AWANNA programs, serving as an usher, working with the youth, helping on the Stewardship committee, or any other number of positions. God has uniquely equipped you with gifts and talents that make you able to serve somewhere. Church isn't just about showing up and 'receiving' all the time. We all need to be giving back as well, so find a place where you feel passionate about helping and get going! Maybe you think you're not talented enough, smart enough, kind enough, outgoing enough, or any of the other excuses the Devil will send your way... Get past that! It's like that phrase you've probably heard, "God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called!" . Wherever you think He may be leading you to serve, be obedient and jump in!

Below I have posted some pictures from this weekend's choir social.

Here are our leaders: Pastor Mike and Mrs. Lynn

Then here is the group: (or at least it's part of the choir along with their spouses and kids)