Today was a good day. I worked very hard and am extremely tired, but I'm happy. God is so good and I am appreciating how blessed I am.
I've been in what Andy is calling a "nesting" mood lately. I'm knitting our baby a sweater and blanket (pictures to follow), have been on a cooking/baking spree, and have decided to re-decorate our apartment. I bought a few things to decorate the baby's room and have rearranged pictures everywhere else.
We went on a date on Saturday night to see a movie. I'm not a big movie theater fan but it was exactly what I needed. I ate way too much popcorn, but we had an enjoyable time. I love him.
We had some friends over for a cookout on the 4th of July followed by fireworks at my office. The building is a great location to watch the main fireworks in downtown Atlanta. It was a nice, relaxed time. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Oh yeah, I cooked and baked for that, too!
Andy came to help me with mid-week chapel tonight at the Center. We sang several praise and worship songs and had an extended prayer time. It was such a blessing to hear several of the men just open their hearts and pray. It's amazing to me how God can use and work through anyone--anyone. We had drug dealers, drug addicts, ex-convicts, pimps, and otherwise shady characters BEFORE grace pouring their hearts out to God. I love it. He is STILL redeeming people.
Anyway--I'm blessed and so thankful.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
The Radical Disciple: some neglected aspects of our calling
"We are neither to seek to preserve our holiness by escaping from the world nor to sacrifice our holiness by conforming to the world."
John Stott is one of my favorite Christian authors. The amount of wisdom that simply permeates the pages of his books continues to convict and encourage me.
I'm reading his latest (and probably last) book The Radical Disciple. While nothing so far has been new to hear, it's serving as a good reflection point for me to evaluate who I am in Christ.
These are the characteristics of radical disciples:
1. Nonconformity--escapism and conformism to the world are both forbidden.
2. Pluralism--can be done, but only with affirming the UNIQUENESS and FINALITY of Christ.
3. Materialism--the Church is too captivated with this secular trend; a preoccupation with material things can smother the spiritual life (Phil 4:11; 1 Tim 6:6; Job 1:21).
4. Ethical Relativism--this has permeated the Church with slipping moral standards (cohabitation, sex outside of marriage, etc). Are there any absolutes left?=causes confusion both inside and outside the Church. ONLY absolute is that JESUS IS LORD--this must remain our basis.
"We are not to be completely rigid in decision making but to seek sensitively to apply biblical principles in each situation."
5. Narcissism--this excessive, unbounded admiration of "self" is a result of the New Age movement which teaches that the solution to our problems is within, rather than with Jesus. This permeates the Church, too. Self-love is one of the signs of the last days? 2 Tim 3:2
A lot to reflect about...
Monday, June 20, 2011
Enemy's Camp
Well, I went to the enemy's camp and
I took back what he stole from me (x3)
I went to the enemy's camp and
I took back what he stole from me
You know
He's under my feet (x6)
Satan is under my feet
I took back what he stole from me (x3)
I went to the enemy's camp and
I took back what he stole from me
You know
He's under my feet (x6)
Satan is under my feet
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
How should you feel?
I had two distinct things happen to me today where I decided to do the "right thing." These were both big decisions, one more so than the other.
After the second decision I said to Andy that I should feel better for doing the right thing, but I didn't. He wanted to know why I felt that doing the right thing was equated with feeling better about the situation.
The answer is that I don't know. I just think that doing the right thing should make you feel better but the more I reflect about it I don't think it does.
I guess it's just one of those things. I am glad that I did the right thing, though.
How does doing the right thing make you feel?
After the second decision I said to Andy that I should feel better for doing the right thing, but I didn't. He wanted to know why I felt that doing the right thing was equated with feeling better about the situation.
The answer is that I don't know. I just think that doing the right thing should make you feel better but the more I reflect about it I don't think it does.
I guess it's just one of those things. I am glad that I did the right thing, though.
How does doing the right thing make you feel?
Sunday, May 15, 2011
What's the meaning of life?
I had the privilege to preach to my people this morning and I asked them very clearly what their purpose in life is. Some of them are seeking and are trying to live the life that God wants for them while others are merely pretending. In such a spiritually tense environment we prayed for protection, for deliverance, and for a blessing from the LORD. He did all of those plus more. We were blessed from the beginning to the end of the service.
We've been really blessed this past week. I spent some time in great conversation around the dinner table with men who are growing in their recovery, in their character, and in their relationship with God. The conversation reinvigorated and encouraged me.
In Bible class on Monday night we didn't follow the lesson plan but instead had a heart-to-heart about what a relationship with God looks like. The 20 of us had a great discussion for the hour as I answered questions about the Bible and Jesus and listened to their feedback. It was a really blessed time. I couldn't wait to get home to tell Andy all about it but was a few minutes later getting home because the class went past the normal time.
This past Friday night we had a special group come and sing for our 133 men in addition to visitors. It was a great time. The Spirit sat so heavily on the chapel that we did two altar calls. Can you remember the last time you were in a meeting and the leader felt led to have a second altar call after the first one was finished? It was one of those times when the meeting did end the men just kind of sat there and didn't want to move. They were still basking in God's presence. What a blessing!
I prayed that night for some men, for myself, and to just worship. As I did I began to reallypray which was such a blessing for me. Anyone who knows me knows that when I truly pray I cry. I can't help it. It's just how it comes from my heart. I haven't cried while I've prayed for the past couple of months but I did that night and it was so refreshing.
We've had some difficult situations this past week, too. One of our trucks was in an accident, another man was injured and rushed to the hospital on the job, one man disappeared from work, etc, etc. While it's been difficult I've been encouraged. God is doing great things among us and as a result Satan is pushing harder but we persevere and claim the great promises of God.
I don't know what the meaning of life is for you, but I've find my purpose and got to live it out this past week. Thank you, LORD!
We've been really blessed this past week. I spent some time in great conversation around the dinner table with men who are growing in their recovery, in their character, and in their relationship with God. The conversation reinvigorated and encouraged me.
In Bible class on Monday night we didn't follow the lesson plan but instead had a heart-to-heart about what a relationship with God looks like. The 20 of us had a great discussion for the hour as I answered questions about the Bible and Jesus and listened to their feedback. It was a really blessed time. I couldn't wait to get home to tell Andy all about it but was a few minutes later getting home because the class went past the normal time.
This past Friday night we had a special group come and sing for our 133 men in addition to visitors. It was a great time. The Spirit sat so heavily on the chapel that we did two altar calls. Can you remember the last time you were in a meeting and the leader felt led to have a second altar call after the first one was finished? It was one of those times when the meeting did end the men just kind of sat there and didn't want to move. They were still basking in God's presence. What a blessing!
I prayed that night for some men, for myself, and to just worship. As I did I began to reallypray which was such a blessing for me. Anyone who knows me knows that when I truly pray I cry. I can't help it. It's just how it comes from my heart. I haven't cried while I've prayed for the past couple of months but I did that night and it was so refreshing.
We've had some difficult situations this past week, too. One of our trucks was in an accident, another man was injured and rushed to the hospital on the job, one man disappeared from work, etc, etc. While it's been difficult I've been encouraged. God is doing great things among us and as a result Satan is pushing harder but we persevere and claim the great promises of God.
I don't know what the meaning of life is for you, but I've find my purpose and got to live it out this past week. Thank you, LORD!
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
life moves too fast...
I don't know why but it's always amazing me how much life just keeps moving. Sometimes I just want to stand still and soak it all in. I spoke with a friend in Delaware today to wish him a happy birthday. We both agreed that life is moving too fast but neither of us could come up with a solution to slow it down--only to try and enjoy it.
Why does life have to move so fast? When I was younger I thought that life couldn't move fast enough...I wanted to move out, wanted to finish college, wanted to get married... and now that I have all that I want to slow down long enough to enjoy it.
In ministry I feel like I don't get to enjoy "my" people long enough. Every few months I'm tossed into a new full-time ministry (four places in two years) and with each I have a new group of people to build relationships with and to love...not a lot of time to stop and enjoy being with them it feels like...just time enough to enjoy being with them and reflect about them and miss them some time later on down the road.
The past few months have seen lots of changes in my personal growth and character. I dealt with a very difficult situation at work and it knocked me off my feet for a while. For about a month I simply existed. I didn't enjoy anything...simply went to work and came home and vegged out. I'm glad that's taken its course. Andy was super supportive and loving during the whole fiasco. I love him. I didn't blog during the whole time because I just didn't have anything to say.
Little did I know then was that I was so tired because I was PREGNANT! We are expecting our first child in mid-October (yay!). We are very excited (and I must admit--I'm a bit anxious, too). This all just goes to show that life keeps changing and moving SO fast.
We need to take time to figure out who we are and why we are. I know that I am a chosen child of God, called to a very specific ministry and committed to it more today than yesterday. I know that I love my husband and that outside of my personal relationship with God he is the stabilizer in my constantly changing world. I know that life isn't going to slow down just for me (although sometimes I do tend to think the world revolves around me :-) ) so I need to learn to enjoy what I have and how to cope with the never-ending change.
Why does life have to move so fast? When I was younger I thought that life couldn't move fast enough...I wanted to move out, wanted to finish college, wanted to get married... and now that I have all that I want to slow down long enough to enjoy it.
In ministry I feel like I don't get to enjoy "my" people long enough. Every few months I'm tossed into a new full-time ministry (four places in two years) and with each I have a new group of people to build relationships with and to love...not a lot of time to stop and enjoy being with them it feels like...just time enough to enjoy being with them and reflect about them and miss them some time later on down the road.
The past few months have seen lots of changes in my personal growth and character. I dealt with a very difficult situation at work and it knocked me off my feet for a while. For about a month I simply existed. I didn't enjoy anything...simply went to work and came home and vegged out. I'm glad that's taken its course. Andy was super supportive and loving during the whole fiasco. I love him. I didn't blog during the whole time because I just didn't have anything to say.
Little did I know then was that I was so tired because I was PREGNANT! We are expecting our first child in mid-October (yay!). We are very excited (and I must admit--I'm a bit anxious, too). This all just goes to show that life keeps changing and moving SO fast.
We need to take time to figure out who we are and why we are. I know that I am a chosen child of God, called to a very specific ministry and committed to it more today than yesterday. I know that I love my husband and that outside of my personal relationship with God he is the stabilizer in my constantly changing world. I know that life isn't going to slow down just for me (although sometimes I do tend to think the world revolves around me :-) ) so I need to learn to enjoy what I have and how to cope with the never-ending change.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Growing church leaders
Gordon MacDonald was at our church this weekend and led us in a journey about the rapidly changing world in which we live.
Many of the things he said were truly profound. Each lecture session was followed with small group discussion time. There was a lot of healthy discussion among church members and overall I am encouraged by the weekend.
Our church has short tenure for its pastors. Dr. MacDonald says that a church will never really be able to grow with such short tenure (he says that you need at least five years). What he suggests instead is an intense discipleship model.
While he was pastor at Grace Chapel (the first time) he held a three hour meal and meeting at his house every Monday night with about 12-15 people. He made them commit to meeting together, no matter what, for about a year. At the end of the year that many leaders were trained to help grow the church and lead the church in spiritual vitality.
I listened to a leadership podcast recently where the pastor being interviewed said that he keeps a list on a 3x5 index card with the names of who he sees as future leaders. He then invests a majority of his time in them.
The concept is to invest in a small group of people and train them to lead the future of the church so that it can carry on without the pastor.
That's what Jesus did. It must be a good model.
Many of the things he said were truly profound. Each lecture session was followed with small group discussion time. There was a lot of healthy discussion among church members and overall I am encouraged by the weekend.
Our church has short tenure for its pastors. Dr. MacDonald says that a church will never really be able to grow with such short tenure (he says that you need at least five years). What he suggests instead is an intense discipleship model.
While he was pastor at Grace Chapel (the first time) he held a three hour meal and meeting at his house every Monday night with about 12-15 people. He made them commit to meeting together, no matter what, for about a year. At the end of the year that many leaders were trained to help grow the church and lead the church in spiritual vitality.
I listened to a leadership podcast recently where the pastor being interviewed said that he keeps a list on a 3x5 index card with the names of who he sees as future leaders. He then invests a majority of his time in them.
The concept is to invest in a small group of people and train them to lead the future of the church so that it can carry on without the pastor.
That's what Jesus did. It must be a good model.
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