How’s That Box Workin’ For Ya?

May 16, 2012 in Mentoring with 2 Comments

You know that box you try to put God in?

He doesn’t fit.

I know because I’ve tried it. Many a time.

Here are a few signs that you’ve tried to cram the Almighty into a small space:

- He’ll never be able to be a witness for Christ after all he’s done.

- God would never use someone who hasn’t been to seminary to lead a church.

- Attending church on the internet is not real.

- Jesus would never want anyone to get a tattoo.

I know so many people who are considered unqualified for ministry. These men and women are leading others to Christ each and every day. Seminary degrees can be extremely useful, but without God’s power, that piece of paper doesn’t do much. Did you know that people are turning their lives over to Christ left and right via the WWW? And that they are experiencing fellowship without ever seeing someone’s face? And don’t even get me started on how many people I know who use their tattoos to minister to the lost. Tattoos aren’t my personal cup ‘o tea, but they work for others.

My point here is that we cannot assume, in our finite minds, that we know all that God can and will do. I have seen God use “inappropriate” people to accomplish His will on this earth puh-LEN-tee.

After all, if God can speak through Balaam’s donkey, I think He can speak through anyone.

I’m just sayin’.

Seasons

May 14, 2012 in Encouragement with 4 Comments

When Chris and I got married, we learned VERY quickly that marriage wasn’t this blissful state of being all day, every day like we thought it would be. When we began ministering on a staff at a church, we experienced days where we wanted to toss in the proverbial towel. And after trying to become parents for nearly four years, we had our first son, Noah. We were thrown into parenthood and rapidly understood that it was also going to be filled with the good, the bad, and, dare I say it, the ugly.

I’m referring to diapers and spit up, not my baby :)

If you are alive right now on this earth, you know there are good times and bad times. Chris and I gave a name to the good, easy times. We call them South Wind Seasons. Living in the south we know how pleasant a south wind can be on a very hot day. In these seasons relationships are typically strong. There is a lot of rest and reflection on how blessed we all really are. We “feel” close to God. We often are on top of the mountain and can truly enjoy the view. Everything just feels “right” in this season. It’s a very necessary season that provides a rest from the next season…

The North Wind Season.

This season is often full of hard, difficult days. When north winds come in the winter, they are bitter cold. It can be an easy 30 degrees outside but with a 40 mph wind out of the north that cuts right through you, you may feel like you’re in North Dakota. It seems like everyday is an effort. Relationships can be strained and take just about everything you have to make it through the day without a fight. You wonder if your prayers are making it past the ceiling. You may have even wondered where God is in the midst of your pain and trials.

Oswald Chambers wrote in My Utmost for His Highest (March 7th):

Huge waves that would frighten an ordinary swimmer produce a tremendous thrill for the surfer who has ridden them. Let’s apply that to our own circumstances. The things we try to avoid and fight against – tribulation, suffering, and persecution – are the very things that produce abundant joy in us. “We are more than conquerors through Him” “in all these things”; not in spite of them, but in the midst of them. A saint doesn’t know the joy of the Lord in spite of tribulation, but because of it. Paul said, “I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation” (2 Corinthians 7:4).

South Wind Seasons are enjoyable and provide a sense of peace for us. And they are necessary. But don’t mistake these seasons for the times where you truly grow. The growth typically comes during the North Wind Seasons.  Plants don’t bloom until they’ve successfully struggled and eventually pushed through the soil. This is the season where we are in the valley where it’s lush and full of life. The only thing is we don’t realize the beauty of this season until we make the treacherous climb to the top of the mountain. And there, we start a new South Wind Season where we see the beauty of the valley as well as the steep climb we took to get there.

Do you see the pattern, friends? We need both seasons to be all Christ wants us to be and to experience His presence that is always with us. Always.

I don’t know what season you are in right now but I want to encourage you to embrace it. If you are “living easy” right now in a South Wind Season and even find yourself with some mental, emotional and physical margin, don’t try to fill it. You need this rest. But if your circumstances are challenging right now in this North Wind Season, push through them. Keep praying, keep worshipping, and keep seeking God even when you don’t feel like it. And when you do, I am confident that you will experience true joy. Not in spite of your trials, as Paul mentions, but in the midst of them. You may be praying that God would calm your storm. What He may choose to do is calm you instead.

One-Word Friday

May 11, 2012 in One-Word Friday with 13 Comments

How can I pray for you today?

Share with my one word that best describes your situation.

Guilty Pleasures

May 9, 2012 in Question For You with 6 Comments

I have many things that I like that quite frankly, I probably shouldn’t. I mean, for the love, is Modern Family the funniest show you’ve ever seen? And Cam, isn’t he just fantastic?

*sigh*

I also love to watch Dancing With The Stars. I just do. 

Your turn.

What is your guilty pleasure(s)?

They Call Me Integrity Lady

May 7, 2012 in Home Education, Mentoring with 2 Comments

I have the awesome privilege of being a part of a weekly Homeschool Coop called Ignite. Each Thursday during a normal school year, 30+ moms and a whole lot more children get together for a time of fellowship and learning. The moms teach the classes and man the nursery while the children attend the classes being taught. It’s really very awesome. We just had our last official day at Ignite and are breaking for the summer with the exception of weekly gatherings at parks and swimming pools. (I still don’t know what pool will fit all of us…there are more kids than I can count for we are a procreating bunch. Ahem.)

During the year, I assisted with P.E. for our K-2nd graders. It was fun. Their all time favorite activity was dodgeball. One thing I noticed a while back was that if the teachers weren’t looking, the kids would act like they didn’t get hit and they would stay in the game. So, I asked the teacher, Kelsey, if I could give a little lesson on integrity. 

I explained to the children what integrity was. I basically told them that even though we may not be paying attention to everything, that God was watching. I explained that having integrity meant that you do the right thing even if no one is watching. They seemed to get it and would even come up and say, “I did integrity today!” Too cute.

One week I was gone from Ignite. One of the boys, Ben, came up to the other teacher, Nicole, and said, “Hey, where’s Integrity Lady?” He forgot my name but didn’t forget what I taught him. The next week when I returned, he said, “What’s up, Integrity Lady?!” 

I love it.

So, now at Ignite, I am known as Integrity Lady. And I just think that’s hilarious.

I am curious about you, though. Who are you when no one is looking? Consider these scenarios:

1. You’re in a public restroom and you drop some paper towels on the floor. Do you pick them up or leave them for the cleaning crew?
2. It’s two o’clock in the morning and you are sitting at a red light. No one is in sight. Do you take off or wait patiently for the green light to appear?
3. The guy in front of you drops a twenty on the ground at an amusement park. Do you keep it or run after him to give it back?

I guess my question for you today is…do you have it? Do you have integrity?

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