You have to go to "my hubby's blog" on 1/26/07. It's entitled "Building Partners". Here in America we call it "networking," and my husband has became the master... not by any choice of his own I guarantee you. I am the outgoing social one, and when we began this adventure my husband would have rather pulled his fingernails out than contact all these people. But he has now had contact with some of the greatest and creative church planters in America, and many of them are partnering with us in some way.
Remember Moses? Basically he said, "I am not a good speaker." And God said, "Who gave man his mouth." That is sort of what my husband was like when he knew God had called us to a faith ministry. Actually my husband had said, "I will never go with an organization where I have to raise support." And I think God said, "Who owns the cattle on a thousand hills?"
Well, here we are, and there God is with that usual smile on His face whenever we say never. My husband also said he would never go to France... that's a whole different story.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Thoughts from a stay at home mom with lots of small kids
Thought # 1
I was so excited this week that my 6 1/2 year old son began writing letters on his own. We have done no handwriting program (he has struggled greatly with fine motor skills). We've done phonics very loosely (we began a program, but with three younger children it got lost in the chaos). We talk about letters all the time and their sounds and read lots of books. A few days ago he was sounding out the letters, coming in and out of the room with a marker in his hand, and then said, "Mom come and see this." So I walked into our newly finished, newly painted upstairs bathroom, and my son says, "Look mom, "C" for Caelan, "A" for Austin, "L" for Levi... all written in red marker on the wall.
What did I do? I said, "Wow Levi, that is so good. Let me show you where you can write some more letters," and I took him to the white marker board in the play room. (Did you know that crayola washable markers do not wash off the wall and cannot be covered by paint alone?)
Thought # 2
After folding my 4,000th piece of laundry, I was thinking, why do we even fold laundry when we are just going to wear it again soon and go through this whole process. It takes up so much time. I've decided I'm just going to make piles and everyone can dig out their clothes every day.
Thought # 3
Don't have 4 or more kids before growing at least one up that can dress themselves, help someone else dress, and help with house work.
Thought # 4
Find out if your insurance covers counseling before chooseing a profession where you're couped up with many small children in a small space all day long where the highlight of your day is running at least 7 miles with a double baby jogger.
I was so excited this week that my 6 1/2 year old son began writing letters on his own. We have done no handwriting program (he has struggled greatly with fine motor skills). We've done phonics very loosely (we began a program, but with three younger children it got lost in the chaos). We talk about letters all the time and their sounds and read lots of books. A few days ago he was sounding out the letters, coming in and out of the room with a marker in his hand, and then said, "Mom come and see this." So I walked into our newly finished, newly painted upstairs bathroom, and my son says, "Look mom, "C" for Caelan, "A" for Austin, "L" for Levi... all written in red marker on the wall.
What did I do? I said, "Wow Levi, that is so good. Let me show you where you can write some more letters," and I took him to the white marker board in the play room. (Did you know that crayola washable markers do not wash off the wall and cannot be covered by paint alone?)
Thought # 2
After folding my 4,000th piece of laundry, I was thinking, why do we even fold laundry when we are just going to wear it again soon and go through this whole process. It takes up so much time. I've decided I'm just going to make piles and everyone can dig out their clothes every day.
Thought # 3
Don't have 4 or more kids before growing at least one up that can dress themselves, help someone else dress, and help with house work.
Thought # 4
Find out if your insurance covers counseling before chooseing a profession where you're couped up with many small children in a small space all day long where the highlight of your day is running at least 7 miles with a double baby jogger.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Shalom
Isn't that what Jews say to each other? Did you know that shalom means "peace". Sounds a little like the 70's when people made a "V" with their fingers and said, "Peace dude."
Well, God showed me so many awesome things this weekend at our church from a semon about peace. Check out the sermon on podcast at C3.org.
One of the first points was: Stress robs us of peace.
Did you know that 40% of the things we worry about never happen? 30% are about the past. 12% are about health issues. Therefore leaving only 8% of things to truly worry about. Of course if you are a believer those are ruled out also. So where does that leave us?
Well I actually heard this sermon twice. I went to church both Saturday night and Sunday morning and I think I need to start doing this as a habit. Some of us need to be told things many times until we get it... sort of like my kids. I'm sure you and your kids are not like that.
Anyway this morning I really started pouring over the scripture in the worship outline and God blew me away with one scripture I have read a million times, taught it, encouraged people with it, and memorized it.
It was Phillipians 4:6-7
"Do not be anxious about anything , but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
God showed me that in this verse their is a command, an action, and a promise. It's very simple, yet we seem to make it very complicated to have peace. God says (through Paul), "Do not be anxious about anything..." period, end of command, that's it. Sort of like, "Do not kill"... or "commit adultry". It is a command.
But he does not just leave us hanging. He tells us how to do this (our action). Pray, petition, give thanks, present. How simple. It's sort of like us telling our kids, "Don't touch the hot stove." Why is it so hard for them to follow that command. If they do follow that command, what happens? They don't get burned. See where I'm going with this?
God is saying when you are stressed: pray, petition (the root of the word "petition" is petere meaning "to seek, request"), give thanks, and present your requests. Easy enough, right? so why do we make it so hard. Our order of things is usually: think about your problem over and over; try to figure out how you are going to handle it; talk to a friend about it; lose sleep over it; think about it some more; talk to another friend; obsess over it; exercise to relieve the stress; have a girls night out to forget your stress; watch T.V.or a movie (especially a chick flick); take your frustration out on your spouse and kids ; and then when nothing else has taken the stress away, and we don't know what else to do, go to God. So why are our fingers so scarred from the stove?
The promise is, if you can do these few very simple things, "...the peace of God which transcends all understanding (think about those words "transcends all understanding") will guard (whick means "protect from danger") your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." How simple!! So why can't we do it? What is wrong with us? Why does our human nature say I think I'll try it my way just one more time. Maybe it will work this time. When will we learn? How many more times do we have to be burned until we obey?
Well, God showed me so many awesome things this weekend at our church from a semon about peace. Check out the sermon on podcast at C3.org.
One of the first points was: Stress robs us of peace.
Did you know that 40% of the things we worry about never happen? 30% are about the past. 12% are about health issues. Therefore leaving only 8% of things to truly worry about. Of course if you are a believer those are ruled out also. So where does that leave us?
Well I actually heard this sermon twice. I went to church both Saturday night and Sunday morning and I think I need to start doing this as a habit. Some of us need to be told things many times until we get it... sort of like my kids. I'm sure you and your kids are not like that.
Anyway this morning I really started pouring over the scripture in the worship outline and God blew me away with one scripture I have read a million times, taught it, encouraged people with it, and memorized it.
It was Phillipians 4:6-7
"Do not be anxious about anything , but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
God showed me that in this verse their is a command, an action, and a promise. It's very simple, yet we seem to make it very complicated to have peace. God says (through Paul), "Do not be anxious about anything..." period, end of command, that's it. Sort of like, "Do not kill"... or "commit adultry". It is a command.
But he does not just leave us hanging. He tells us how to do this (our action). Pray, petition, give thanks, present. How simple. It's sort of like us telling our kids, "Don't touch the hot stove." Why is it so hard for them to follow that command. If they do follow that command, what happens? They don't get burned. See where I'm going with this?
God is saying when you are stressed: pray, petition (the root of the word "petition" is petere meaning "to seek, request"), give thanks, and present your requests. Easy enough, right? so why do we make it so hard. Our order of things is usually: think about your problem over and over; try to figure out how you are going to handle it; talk to a friend about it; lose sleep over it; think about it some more; talk to another friend; obsess over it; exercise to relieve the stress; have a girls night out to forget your stress; watch T.V.or a movie (especially a chick flick); take your frustration out on your spouse and kids ; and then when nothing else has taken the stress away, and we don't know what else to do, go to God. So why are our fingers so scarred from the stove?
The promise is, if you can do these few very simple things, "...the peace of God which transcends all understanding (think about those words "transcends all understanding") will guard (whick means "protect from danger") your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." How simple!! So why can't we do it? What is wrong with us? Why does our human nature say I think I'll try it my way just one more time. Maybe it will work this time. When will we learn? How many more times do we have to be burned until we obey?
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Old Friends
Tonight was a very special night.
My husband began working part time at my sister's and brother-in-law's church over a year ago. It was only a temporary position while we were preparing for the mission field. The church was a long drive for us and I had a newborn and three young children at the time. But we fell in love with the church. It is Cleveland Community Church (C3) in Clayton, NC. They really reach the people that literally would not go anywhere else. Most of these people would never have found Christ had C3 not existed.
It doesn't feel much like a church except for the overwhelming presence of the Holy Spirit. It feels more like a rock concert... and I love it! And apparently alot of other people do to. One of the most awesome things about it is that I often meet someone who came the week before, and this Sunday they have their entire unchurched family with them. I have met visiting unchurched family members say that if there was a church like this where they lived they would go to church.
Well, there are so many more things I love about C3, but that is not why I am writing this blog. I am writing this blog because a group of people from the church we attented before C3 came to visit. It is called Faith Baptist Church, in Youngsville, NC. You don't realize how worshipping with people for 8 years establishes them like family in your heart.
Growing up my father was a pastor, and we moved every 3 years except when we were in highschool. I remember thinking how strange it was as an adult being at Faith Baptist for a number of years and watching the children grow up. When you move every three years you don't see the children in the church grow up. They seem to stay the same age. You also don't realize the relationships that develop as you weekly meet, worship, pray, chat, encourage, and share life.
Well, a group from our old church (Faith), which I really feel is like my home church, came to visit C3 tonight. I was almost nervous I was so excited to share with them this new place where we were learning so much, things that we feel God wants to teach us before going to Paris to plant a church. When I saw them and worshipped with them, and got to hang out over dinner after church, I went home feeling like one might if they could just crawl up into the arms of a heavenly father and just rest. The feeling of family was stronger than if my own family had shown up. Their smiles, each unique personality, many remembered stories and laughter... I just wanted to hug them and talk with them and hang out with them for hours. I really missed them and love them so much.
I know most of them will not read this blog, but I want to thank them for coming. Even though I know they didn't come just to see me (for ministry reasons they were just wanting to check out what some other churches were doing), I want to say thanks. It was a gift God gave me that He knows will be remembered in my heart for a long time. Thanks Ty and Jennifer, Emily, Michael and Debra and family, K.C., and Amy. I really love you guys and am so excited to see what God is going to do at Faith.
My husband began working part time at my sister's and brother-in-law's church over a year ago. It was only a temporary position while we were preparing for the mission field. The church was a long drive for us and I had a newborn and three young children at the time. But we fell in love with the church. It is Cleveland Community Church (C3) in Clayton, NC. They really reach the people that literally would not go anywhere else. Most of these people would never have found Christ had C3 not existed.
It doesn't feel much like a church except for the overwhelming presence of the Holy Spirit. It feels more like a rock concert... and I love it! And apparently alot of other people do to. One of the most awesome things about it is that I often meet someone who came the week before, and this Sunday they have their entire unchurched family with them. I have met visiting unchurched family members say that if there was a church like this where they lived they would go to church.
Well, there are so many more things I love about C3, but that is not why I am writing this blog. I am writing this blog because a group of people from the church we attented before C3 came to visit. It is called Faith Baptist Church, in Youngsville, NC. You don't realize how worshipping with people for 8 years establishes them like family in your heart.
Growing up my father was a pastor, and we moved every 3 years except when we were in highschool. I remember thinking how strange it was as an adult being at Faith Baptist for a number of years and watching the children grow up. When you move every three years you don't see the children in the church grow up. They seem to stay the same age. You also don't realize the relationships that develop as you weekly meet, worship, pray, chat, encourage, and share life.
Well, a group from our old church (Faith), which I really feel is like my home church, came to visit C3 tonight. I was almost nervous I was so excited to share with them this new place where we were learning so much, things that we feel God wants to teach us before going to Paris to plant a church. When I saw them and worshipped with them, and got to hang out over dinner after church, I went home feeling like one might if they could just crawl up into the arms of a heavenly father and just rest. The feeling of family was stronger than if my own family had shown up. Their smiles, each unique personality, many remembered stories and laughter... I just wanted to hug them and talk with them and hang out with them for hours. I really missed them and love them so much.
I know most of them will not read this blog, but I want to thank them for coming. Even though I know they didn't come just to see me (for ministry reasons they were just wanting to check out what some other churches were doing), I want to say thanks. It was a gift God gave me that He knows will be remembered in my heart for a long time. Thanks Ty and Jennifer, Emily, Michael and Debra and family, K.C., and Amy. I really love you guys and am so excited to see what God is going to do at Faith.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
New Years!!
I guess it is mid January and my Christmas blog is still up. Does that tell you any thing about my January? I still have clothes in my suitcase from our trip mid-December. I just got my Christmas boxes out of the living room last week. Pretty pathetic, huh?
I'm beginning to realize this may be how it is until my kids get old enough to help with not only housework, but with the Christmas Holiday. With a household of 6, four of them being six and under, it takes every ounce of energy and time to keep this household afloat... and that is on a normal day if you are organized and on top of things all day long. So needless to say, I begin every day in the red (meaning behind). So when you add Christmas shopping, house decorating, Christmas parties (yours or other peoples), extra activities like gift wrapping, sending Christmas Cards, etc... added toys after Christmas, Kids off their normal schedule... We just sort of survive until we can take down the dead tree, let the Christmas boxes sit in the living room for a week, (because it takes that long to take them all down in the middle of four small kids six and under), and finally put them away. Then I can attempt to tackle the large pile of clean clothes I dig through most days to find at least one child something to wear. I can also dust that inch of dust off my shelves, and clean both bathrooms for the first time in a month (I can't believe I just told you that).
I am just resigning myself that it will probably take me until February every year to get our house back on schedule. It feels so good to admit reality, accept what I can do, and leave the rest to God. Whew, I feel like I just shared at a 12-step group. I'd appreciate any prayers!!... especially from those mothers who know. :-)
I'm beginning to realize this may be how it is until my kids get old enough to help with not only housework, but with the Christmas Holiday. With a household of 6, four of them being six and under, it takes every ounce of energy and time to keep this household afloat... and that is on a normal day if you are organized and on top of things all day long. So needless to say, I begin every day in the red (meaning behind). So when you add Christmas shopping, house decorating, Christmas parties (yours or other peoples), extra activities like gift wrapping, sending Christmas Cards, etc... added toys after Christmas, Kids off their normal schedule... We just sort of survive until we can take down the dead tree, let the Christmas boxes sit in the living room for a week, (because it takes that long to take them all down in the middle of four small kids six and under), and finally put them away. Then I can attempt to tackle the large pile of clean clothes I dig through most days to find at least one child something to wear. I can also dust that inch of dust off my shelves, and clean both bathrooms for the first time in a month (I can't believe I just told you that).
I am just resigning myself that it will probably take me until February every year to get our house back on schedule. It feels so good to admit reality, accept what I can do, and leave the rest to God. Whew, I feel like I just shared at a 12-step group. I'd appreciate any prayers!!... especially from those mothers who know. :-)
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