40 & It Only Gets Better

Reflections on Turning 40

1.  Clinique has become my best friend. I love Clinique Bonus Time!

2.  I still have a lot to learn.

3.  People drift in and out of your life.  Be radical in your hospitality.

4.  Glad to have Julie in my life.  She is my stylist at Hot Locks & keeps my hair looking good!

5.  The key to staying young is hanging out & investing in youth/college students who are changing the world - including your own kiddos!

6.  I have less patience for time-wasters.  I want to use every moment to make a difference and leave the world better than I found it.

7.  I have loved deeply. And I've been hurt deeply.

8.  I have found I love my husband more each year. He is my best friend! 

9.  Staying fit is hard but it's extremely important for your health and sanity. I'm running the mini marathon with K. J. Powell & Karen Curnutte. I did my first century ride 4 years ago and it was a wonderful experience.  Set fitness goals!

10.  Some dreams were greater than I dreamed.

11.  Live SIMPLY!  Thankful to be able to give to people in need, to projects like the ARISE Youth Center & to projects like the Bilingual School in Honduras that are literally changing lives. 

12. I am not perfect.  I am a sinner who loves God.

13.  No matter what your past holds, God can still use you.

14.  I want my kids to look back when they are older and see that I was an imperfect mother who did the best she could. I love my two sons dearly - Elliott and Max.

15.  I want my parents/family to know how great they are and how thankful I am for the family gatherings I had while growing up.  

16.  I pray for my son’s future spouses.  I often wonder if I have met either of them yet.  

17.  I am blessed beyond measure and can never thank Jesus enough. As Dave Ramsey says, “I am better than I deserve.”

18.  Through everything God is faithful.

19.  I am not where I thought I would be when I was younger. But I am where I know God wants me.  Thankful to be in a church that supports women who are called to preach, teach and minister in a church.

20.  More than anything, I cherish my relationship with Christ. Spiritual things matter. Eternity matters.

21.  I love the Church.  I am more passionate than ever to lead the church to be a people who participate in risk-taking mission and service.  

22.  Growing up on a farm taught me humility and a great work-ethic.  I try my best to lead my kids in such a way that their lives will not reflect any entitlement or arrogance.

23.  So thankful for my MOM!  She allowed me to go where ever God called.

24.  Mentors are very important!  I would not be where I am today in ministry without my mentors - Les and Vicki Hollon, Chris Caldwell, Mack Craddock to name a few....

25.  Girlfriends are important.  Thankful for life-long friends like LeAnn New, Gretchen "Abenroth"  and Julie Shahroudi.  

26.  Everyone should be in a "Small Group" at your church.  I love mine - Liz, Lisa, Dolly, Janet, Amy, Molly, Laura, Marla, Ann, Jenny

27.  Books keep me motivated. I love leadership books. I'm currently reading "Multipliers."

28.  You should love your JOB!   I love my colleagues at MCC!

29.  Reading my Bible everyday reminds me of God's Amazing Grace - even when I don't feel it or see it.

30.  Don't be afraid to fail or let your kids fail.  Failure (in a strange way) brings about confidence and direction.

31. I have learned that these things are important if I am to bear fruit for Christ:  Radical Hospitality....Passionate Worship....Intentional Faith Development....Risk-taking Mission...and Extravagant Generosity!

32.  Get an education!  I become more thankful for my education each and every day.  I was the first on either side of my family to graduate from college.  So thankful for teachers!

33.  Take time to sit on the front porch swing with your grandparents.  The wisdom of my grandparents is forever engrained in my memory. 

34.  Christian Community has been so important to me over the years. Thankful for the Christian Communities/Churches I've been a part of over the years - including those in Costa Rica and Honduras!  They have helped form me into the person I am today.

35.  Go on a yearly vacation with your family!  Put your phones away and enjoy each other. Play games together like Sequence and Rummy.

36.  Say I'm sorry when you mess up.

37.  If you fail, try again! 

38.  Ask before you assume what other people need.  

39.  Say your prayers with your family each night before you go to sleep.

40.  A little lip gloss makes you feel better than you think!

2014 - What to do?

What to do in the new year?  From Shane Claiborne!

1. Do for one person what I wish that I could do for everyone, but can’t.
2. Practice resurrection.  Make ugly things beautiful and bring dead things back to life.  Paint a new mural in our neighborhood.  And make some cool stuff out of trash.  Look for God in the unlikely places.
3. Interrupt death.  Do something regularly to interrupt the patterns of violence, bullying, war, and other mean and ugly things. 
4. Give more money away than I keep.  And do it in a way that takes away the power of money and celebrates the power of love.
5. Write letters and notes to people, letting them know I am thankful for them.  Write a note asking for forgiveness from someone I need to ask to forgive me.
6. Do something really nice – that no one sees or knows about.
7. Compliment someone I have a hard time complimenting… and mean it.
8. Pause before every potential crisis and ask:  “Will this matter in 5 years?”
9. Get outdoors often.  And enjoy things like fireflies and shooting stars.  Take someone to the beach or the mountains for their first time. And regularly get my hands into the garden… so when I type on the computer I can see dirt under my fingernails.
10. Learn a skill – like welding – and use it for something redemptive, like turning a machine gun into a farm tool.
11. Rather than emphasizing the best of myself and finding the worst in others – let me work on the worst in myself and look for the best in others.
12. Be aware – and beware — of blessings.  Do something to abstain, fast, or delay gratification.  And do something to indulge in a gift of God.  Then do something to end inequality and move the world toward God’s dream for every person to have “this day our daily bread”.
13. Believe in miracles.  And live in a way that might necessitate one.

My Christmas Eve Prayer

Lord, Hear Our Prayer:

Good and gracious God, on this holy night you gave us your Son, the Lord of the universe, wrapped in swaddling clothes, the Saviour of all, lying in a manger. 

On this holy night in which God joins heaven and earth, let us offer our prayers for the church, the world, and all those in need.

We pray for the Church around the world as it celebrates the birth of Christ. Bless all those who are entrusted with Christian ministry that your Word might be proclaimed with truth and courage across our world. Grant your wisdom to all who govern, that in honouring the earth and its diverse races, cultures, and religions, we may celebrate the light of this holy night.

Lord, Hear Our Prayer:

Grant reconciliation to those overcome with conflict and violence, that they may live in the peace of this holy night.

We pray for all who are cold, hungry, or alone this night. Embrace with your tender care all who wander alone or have no place to lay their head, they may experience the hope of this holy night.

We pray for all who are anxious, depressed, or ill. Draw near to those who find this season a source of pain or grief, and to all who are suffering or sick, especially those we remember in our own hearts ... that they may feel the comfort of this holy night.

We pray for parents, families, and newborn infants. Strengthen families in the bonds of love and commitment, that they may delight in the joy of this holy night.

We pray for ourselves and for the blessings of Christmas. Open our hearts to your presence, that we may be transformed by the new birth of this holy night.

Lord, Hear Our Prayer:

We give thanks for all the faithful departed who have been bearers of the Word made flesh. Give us grace to follow your holy ones in lives of faith and commitment.  Help us give our lives away for the building of your Kingdom here on earth.

Joseph and Mary searched for a place to stay that night Jesus was born but there was no room in the Inn.  We open our hearts and make room for you to be born anew in us.  

Lord, hear our prayer!

Amen!

CHOOSE JOY

A few highlights from today's message:  The Gift of Joy

Joy and Happiness are not the same thing...

Happiness is fleeting because it is based on my pursuits but Joy is permanent because it is based on God's pursuit of me.

Happiness is based on circumstances but JOY transcends the events & disasters in our lives. Joy is a divine dimension that cannot be shackled by any circumstance.

JOY is abiding and not striving....(John 15:5, Gal 5:22)

I CHOOSE JOY...

I choose JOY because I know that God keeps his promises (he is faithful).  I choose JOY because I know God is always at work around me.  I choose JOY because I know that God is in the midst of what ever has happened, whatever is happening and whatever will happen.

Magnificat - Mary's Song - Luke 1:39-56

God is unfolding his plan for salvation and healing and he chose two very humble women to play a part.  Their lives were about to be radically altered but they humbly embraced their role in God's story.  Maybe God is telling you to....Embrace your story...Be faithful to your story...don't compare your story to someone else's story...

Mary knew her need for a Savior.  She calls God - Savior. This is significant because one does not call God Savior unless one recognizes her need to be saved.  And, Mary knew we needed a Savior.  The world is broken.  There is violence, abuse and wars of many kinds. There are people who are well fed and people who are not. There are people who have parents and people who do not. There are people who have shelter and people who do not. There are people who have a voice and people who do not.  There are people who are free and people who are not.  Our world needs a SAVIOR!  We need to know our sins are forgiven. We need to know we are loved. We need to know that this life isn't meaningless. And once you recognize your need to be saved, nothing can't contain you because you'll be singing "My soul magnifies the Lord"

Bill-Board - You Know It's a Myth. This Season. Celebrate Reason (New Jersey, 2010)
Mary's unwavering faith enabled her to keep her blessed state of excitement.  We must notice her faith in a God that is bigger and better than anything this world has to offer!

There was a group who put up the Billboard that said "This Season. Celebrate Reason."  Although I revere reason - it's only up to a point.  Faith tells us that although reason is a gift - it is not a God. Reason cannot explain everything.  Reason cannot explain the purposes and plans of God.  We must have faith as people of God - that God's promises are true. 

Quotes:

"The Church—I repeat once again—is not a relief organization, an enterprise nor an NGO (Non-Government Organization), but a community of people, animated by the Holy Spirit, who have lived and are living the wonder of the encounter with Jesus Christ and want to share their experience of deep joy, the message of salvation that the Lord gave us. It is the Holy Spirit who guides the Church in this path.” — Pope Francis, Message for World Day of Peace

"It is the nature of joy that all questions grow silent and nothing needs explaining."  Rudolf Bultmann  

“The only condition for joy is the presence of God.  Joy happens when God is present and people know it.”   Barbara Brown Taylor

Scripture:

Isaiah 35:1-2 "...it will greatly rejoice and shout for JOY..."

Luke 1:46-47 "My soul magnifies the Lord and rejoices in God, my Savior..."

Psalm 51:12 "Restore unto me the JOY of your salvation..."

Romans 12:15 - "Weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice..."

John 15:5 - "Abide in me and you will bear much fruit..."

Galatians 5:22 - "The fruit of the spirit is love, JOY,...."

John 16:22 - "No one can take your joy away."

James 1:2-4 - "...whenever you face trials....count it all JOY..."

Challenge:  This season - sing your song of JOY!  Don't be ashamed.  Sing your song of JOY as you walk beside those in need...sing your song of JOY as you use your gifts of teaching, hospitality....sing your song of JOY as you love your family....sing your song of JOY as you serve the elderly...sing your song of JOY as you share the message of salvation....

Sing it loud - My soul Magnifies the Lord!

Unspeakable JOY

This weekend I'll be sharing a message on THE GIFT OF JOY. This will be the third message in our RE-GIFT series during Advent.  I have been so inspired during the past two days as I have read so many scriptures on JOY!

Even though I will be sharing the message using the Magnificant found in Luke chapter 1, I have really been inspired today through 1 Peter 1:6-9 (I"ll let it speak for itself)

⁶ So be truly glad.^[a] There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. ⁷ These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

⁸ You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. ⁹ The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.

When have there been times that your JOY was simply unspeakable?  too much for words? When has there been JOY rising in your soul and you knew that JOY would never let you go?

Whatever it is - stop now and thank God for it! Let JOY grow in you and produce a song of thankfulness.  Let JOY push through the cracks in your heart - even in the midst of your hurting!

PRINCE OF PEACE!

Isaiah 9:6–7 says, “For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father [of Eternity], Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and of peace there shall be no end” 

The government that is upon the shoulders of Jesus is not a political government; the verse is referring to the governing of our lives. We are not supposed to be running our own lives. In fact, we are not capable or qualified to run our own lives. Not one of us is intelligent enough to know what is best. That is why we should be thankful for God’s interference.

I like the promise that there will be no end to the increase of His government and peace. The more His government increases in my life (the more He governs my life, my thoughts, my conversations, my decisions, and my actions), the more peace I am going to have.

Peace doesn’t come from success and money and promotions and feeling good about everything in life. We find peace in the kingdom of God, which is righteousness, peace, and joy within us. Being right with God, knowing we are right with God, and doing the right thing out of knowing who we are in Christ is a process, but it leads us to peace, and peace leads us to joy. - Joyce Meyer

Advent Conspiracy: Replace Consumption with Compassion!

How about we do things a little differently this year?

Let's replace Consumption with Compassion!

-Spend Less:  What was the one gift you remember getting for Christmas last year?  Next question:  What about the fourth gift?  Do you remember that one?  Truth is many of us don't because it wasn't something we necessarily needed or wanted.  Spending less isn't a call to stop giving gifts; it's a call to stop spending money on gifts we won't remember in less than a year.

-Give More:  The most powerful, memorable gift you can give to someone else is yourself.  And nobody modeled this more than Jesus.  The main point is simple:  When it comes to spending time with those you love, it's all about quality not quantity.

-Love:  It all boils down to LOVE.  Love from a Savior. Love to a Neighbor in need. 

-AdventConspiracy