Romans 8:28 All things work together for good to those who love God; who have been called according to his purpose.
As your seeds of faith began to grow, what was it like? Did you suddenly know your purpose in life? Did you find yourself in a whole new world not knowing what to do? What was your walk like?
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Moving around a lot is hard. Especially the older you get and the more introverted you are. As a 16 year old teenage girl who was faced with moving again and changing schools again, life was hard. It's hard enough when you don't have to do those things.
But God placed some of the right people in my path even as I clung to some who maybe God didn't really want in my path. As I've shared so many times, I don't remember a time of not believing, but there were plenty of times when I wasn't necessarily walking the right path. This time period in life is no exception. I had some great friends, but God also gave me a strength I didn't realize I had at the time. The strength to do something my friends weren't necessarily doing. The strength to go to church on my own. To show up for youth class and go on youth outings to be a part of the church choir. Of course the friends I had at the time really just got along with everyone. To look at us we were an odd group, but their acceptance of anything and everything probably was some of God's work that I never realized at the time. My being a Christian was just a part of who I was and they loved me no matter what.
Back to my story though, this wasn't the hard part. The hard part was moving....AGAIN. I begged my mom to let me find a friend to live with for my last 2 years of high school. Literally BEGGED!!!! But alas, that was never going to happen. Fortunately for me my youth pastor shared a great Bible verse in my yearbook: Romans 8:28. Even though I didn't want to admit it, I knew then and there that I had to accept that God was going to be right there along the way and that there was a purpose for everything that happens in life. A purpose that we may or may not ever come to understand. In the past 18 years this one verse has stuck with me and helped me through so many times, both good and bad. And all it took for me to grow as a Christian was one person strong enough to share the right scripture at the right time.
As you began your growth, your journey, did you have a specific verse or story you clung to? That you still cling to? How has it helped you to grow?
Let us pray:
Father, sometimes all it takes is one simple action to set things in motion. Thank you for those simple actions, the ones we realize and even the ones that were so small they may have gone unnoticed. As we all continue to reflect on our growth as Christians, help us to recall the times of growth...even the growing pains. God, I love you. Amen.
Friday, September 5, 2014
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Sharing my Story Day 4: More Seeds
Seeds require a certain amount of TLC in order to thrive, just the same as Christians. Some seeds need more space, some need more water, some need sandy soil while others like a dark rich soil, some need a lot of light and others prefer the shade. Just like the seeds of all the different plants, when the seeds of our Christian faith are being planted, each of us require slightly different levels of care in various areas of our life.
For some it takes someone pushing us along each step of the way and just being out right in our face. For others, we need the gentle some gentle guidance and if pushed too much we will turn the other way.
We learn in Matthew 13 about seeds planted along the way and how not having just the right nurturing in the right soil will result in our own demise. As we continue to reflect and learn our own story, think back on some of those seeds. Were there times in your life when seeds were being planted, but due to certain circumstances they didn't get a chance to take root? Times when maybe you were on fire for God, but only for a brief moment, times when you were on fire for God for long stretches but then something got in the way and so you quickly turned?
I ask that you take some time now to really open up and be honest with yourself. It is okay that there were times in your life when maybe our faith wasn't thriving because the right combination of seed, soil, and care just weren't there at the time. Times when maybe you started to believe, but life immediately got hard so you quit. Times when you were pushed too hard and frightened away from God.
As with every post, please feel free to share your story here in the comments.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Being a teen is hard. There are so many expectations and influences in the world. For me, my preteen and early teen years didn't start out maybe as I had dreamed they would, but I did find a lifetime best friend during this time. Actually made quite a few friends, but one in particular was a seed planter.
At some point, not quite sure when, we started going to church together. I enjoyed being at church with her and I will always choke up and tears will well in my eyes at certain songs because all I can see is her singing to the top of her lungs with that light up the room smile and dimpled cheeks. Such love for God.
Unfortunately we drifted after we were no longer in the same school together. Sure we still spent hours on the phone and weekends with each other, but they stays weren't as often. As a matter of fact, this may be one of those times when the seeds planted weren't getting the nurturing I needed. You see, my friend who used to love a lot of the same music as I did started to only listen to country and Christian music because the other stuff was so bad. I personally felt like I was being looked down upon, judged, because I still loved to rock out to all my 80s hairbands and the rock of the 90s as well as many of the current top 40 hits. I also didn't quite get how country music was any better since there were so many songs out that also promoted the same things being promoted in other music genres. When you are 13 years old or so, you just don't see past yourself too well. So we slowly drifted apart.
Despite this drifting though, she is still one of my best friends and we can pick up the phone (or more like text and Facebook) each other without skipping a beat. As a matter of fact, I doubt she even realized how I truly felt back then and all because of something as simple as music tastes changing. I realize this was one of the times seeds were being planted and attempted to be cared for in my Christian walk, but I let worldly things and people get in the way. And irony of ironies, while I still enjoy my wide variety of music selection, I am now that person who keeps the local Christian station tuned on my radio, rocking out at Christian concerts, and beaming at hearing my children sing those Christian songs with their hands raised in praise.
Let's pray:
God, I thank you for the differences in each and every one of us. I pray that you will continue to provide us with the individualized nourishment each of us needs in order to be firmly planted in your foundation and to grow so that we may share the joy of you with others and help them come to know you. I thank you for the opportunity to reach out to others and get us sharing our stories just as you expect us to do. In your name I pray,
Amen.
For some it takes someone pushing us along each step of the way and just being out right in our face. For others, we need the gentle some gentle guidance and if pushed too much we will turn the other way.
We learn in Matthew 13 about seeds planted along the way and how not having just the right nurturing in the right soil will result in our own demise. As we continue to reflect and learn our own story, think back on some of those seeds. Were there times in your life when seeds were being planted, but due to certain circumstances they didn't get a chance to take root? Times when maybe you were on fire for God, but only for a brief moment, times when you were on fire for God for long stretches but then something got in the way and so you quickly turned?
I ask that you take some time now to really open up and be honest with yourself. It is okay that there were times in your life when maybe our faith wasn't thriving because the right combination of seed, soil, and care just weren't there at the time. Times when maybe you started to believe, but life immediately got hard so you quit. Times when you were pushed too hard and frightened away from God.
As with every post, please feel free to share your story here in the comments.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Being a teen is hard. There are so many expectations and influences in the world. For me, my preteen and early teen years didn't start out maybe as I had dreamed they would, but I did find a lifetime best friend during this time. Actually made quite a few friends, but one in particular was a seed planter.
At some point, not quite sure when, we started going to church together. I enjoyed being at church with her and I will always choke up and tears will well in my eyes at certain songs because all I can see is her singing to the top of her lungs with that light up the room smile and dimpled cheeks. Such love for God.
Unfortunately we drifted after we were no longer in the same school together. Sure we still spent hours on the phone and weekends with each other, but they stays weren't as often. As a matter of fact, this may be one of those times when the seeds planted weren't getting the nurturing I needed. You see, my friend who used to love a lot of the same music as I did started to only listen to country and Christian music because the other stuff was so bad. I personally felt like I was being looked down upon, judged, because I still loved to rock out to all my 80s hairbands and the rock of the 90s as well as many of the current top 40 hits. I also didn't quite get how country music was any better since there were so many songs out that also promoted the same things being promoted in other music genres. When you are 13 years old or so, you just don't see past yourself too well. So we slowly drifted apart.
Despite this drifting though, she is still one of my best friends and we can pick up the phone (or more like text and Facebook) each other without skipping a beat. As a matter of fact, I doubt she even realized how I truly felt back then and all because of something as simple as music tastes changing. I realize this was one of the times seeds were being planted and attempted to be cared for in my Christian walk, but I let worldly things and people get in the way. And irony of ironies, while I still enjoy my wide variety of music selection, I am now that person who keeps the local Christian station tuned on my radio, rocking out at Christian concerts, and beaming at hearing my children sing those Christian songs with their hands raised in praise.
Let's pray:
God, I thank you for the differences in each and every one of us. I pray that you will continue to provide us with the individualized nourishment each of us needs in order to be firmly planted in your foundation and to grow so that we may share the joy of you with others and help them come to know you. I thank you for the opportunity to reach out to others and get us sharing our stories just as you expect us to do. In your name I pray,
Amen.
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Sharing my Story Day 3: Seeds
Apparently, my sharing has really opened up a flood gate of memories for my mom as she reads my posts and that is exactly what I am seeking to do. Help us all to open up that flood gate and let the memories come pouring forth so that we may begin to share.
Yesterday I asked you to start reflecting on your beginnings, the seeds that were planted. Seeds that you didn't even realize were seeds at the time. Today, we continue on that journey. There are so many memories to access that thinking we could just spend a few minutes reflecting on them would not do justice to the purpose of this time of reflection as we learn what our stories are and how to share our stories.
Take some time to briefly recall your memories from yesterday's post and then lets move forward (or maybe even backward). Just like dominoes, once one is set in motion the others follow suit. Our memories are similar one memory may jog another and another until we are reliving parts of our stories. Where are some of the other seeds sprinkled in your life? Were they seeds the took root or did they fall among a path to be eaten by the birds? (refer to Matthew 13: The Parable of the Sower)
As Christians, there are times when we grab hold of the word for a short time and then let trials of this life or even just other people get in our way of growing. As you think about these times of seeds being planted, allow yourself to explore those times when maybe it was a seed that didn't get a chance to grow. If we are going to bring others to know Christ and share our stories, we must be willing to share our faults as well. Also share about when those seeds did take root.
We are going to continue down this path of seeds for the next few days. Open your heart and mind and let the memories start flowing. Grow confident in allowing yourself to see the good as well as the not so good times. They are all a part of who we are and we wouldn't be the people we are now without them.
As always, feel free to share your story in the comments section if you wish.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Trinity United Methodist Church, Charleston, SC
What a beautiful place.
At the ripe old age of 4, I knew I was loved there. If memory serves correctly several of us were picked up for church in a station wagon or something like that at times...those back seats were so cool. (Of course if this is a ride from a different place and time, then I guess I have some jumbled memories, but hey I was young).
I absolutely loved getting to sit with a special lady at church. She would give me the coolest treat that I took a guilty pleasure in eating (guilty because I was scared about taking food from a stranger, but it was church right?). Tic Tacs....the orange were the best. And she would always have the cutest mini pack of tissues. Now, I can't tell you her name or even what she looked like, but I do get to cherish the memories. Someone taking an interest in me, loving on me. Of course, as I think back I did have a lot of adults who doted on me at one time or another.
But let's fast forward a little bit. Or maybe it is rewind since I don't truly know the sequence of events or the timeline. When you are 4 there are many things that are cool and from what I've been told....as I still have absolutely no recollection of this....I chose to temporarily borrow (okay steal) a pair of scissors from church. Yes, I apparently was once a thief and of all the places to steal from....church. You got it. BAD BAD BAD
And you know what's worse, I didn't get caught from someone at church. No, I couldn't even tell you how long I had those scissors before I was caught, but I assure you I was caught.
One night, I went to bed thinking I was a fairy princess or something, so I snuck a comb under my pillow and late in the night I would take it out and comb my hair. Welllllllllll, that was a bad idea. It got stuck in my hair. I mean really, really stuck and I just knew I was going to be in sooooooo much trouble if my mom found out I slept with my comb so I did the only logical thing I knew to do at 4.
I climbed out of bed, pulled those scissors from their hiding place, and I cut that comb out with those stolen scissors. Then I hid all the evidence under my clothes in my drawer.
See how smart I was!!!!!
Well, apparently not that smart because it became apparent to my mom when she was brushing my hair that something was seriously wrong as clumps of my hair kept coming out. Now I won't get into all that mess or the mess later when she found where I hid the evidence, but suffice it to say I was punished. And since I didn't have scissors of my own, my mom knew exactly where they came from. According to mom, I was supposed to hand them back to the teacher and apologize. So there may be a chance I also became a liar too. Mom suspects that knowing my personality, I probably just slipped those scissors right back where they belonged and just told her that I handed them to my teacher. I don't remember any of it so who knows????
Again, I may not recall a prayer spoken or a sermon preached or even a specific Sunday School lesson, but there are the seeds. The beginnings. Attending church and memories linked to it. Some good and some maybe not so much. But guess what, Jesus has forgiven me such antics and still loves me with open arms. And he loves you too.
Let us pray:
God, I thank you for this opportunity to reflect on my journey as I learn to look for the signs of your presence. I thank you for being there for me and all of us when our seeds were planted. Sometimes the seeds were just small moments and didn't take root at other times the seeds even had a chance to sprout, but for some reason withered away. God I ask that you be with each one of us as we continue down this journey as it is bond to become emotional and tough at times. I ask that you help each of us to continue to grow to thrive as we grow in our relationship with you through our exploration of how we got here. In your name I pray, Amen.
Yesterday I asked you to start reflecting on your beginnings, the seeds that were planted. Seeds that you didn't even realize were seeds at the time. Today, we continue on that journey. There are so many memories to access that thinking we could just spend a few minutes reflecting on them would not do justice to the purpose of this time of reflection as we learn what our stories are and how to share our stories.
Take some time to briefly recall your memories from yesterday's post and then lets move forward (or maybe even backward). Just like dominoes, once one is set in motion the others follow suit. Our memories are similar one memory may jog another and another until we are reliving parts of our stories. Where are some of the other seeds sprinkled in your life? Were they seeds the took root or did they fall among a path to be eaten by the birds? (refer to Matthew 13: The Parable of the Sower)
As Christians, there are times when we grab hold of the word for a short time and then let trials of this life or even just other people get in our way of growing. As you think about these times of seeds being planted, allow yourself to explore those times when maybe it was a seed that didn't get a chance to grow. If we are going to bring others to know Christ and share our stories, we must be willing to share our faults as well. Also share about when those seeds did take root.
We are going to continue down this path of seeds for the next few days. Open your heart and mind and let the memories start flowing. Grow confident in allowing yourself to see the good as well as the not so good times. They are all a part of who we are and we wouldn't be the people we are now without them.
As always, feel free to share your story in the comments section if you wish.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Trinity United Methodist Church, Charleston, SC
What a beautiful place.
At the ripe old age of 4, I knew I was loved there. If memory serves correctly several of us were picked up for church in a station wagon or something like that at times...those back seats were so cool. (Of course if this is a ride from a different place and time, then I guess I have some jumbled memories, but hey I was young).
I absolutely loved getting to sit with a special lady at church. She would give me the coolest treat that I took a guilty pleasure in eating (guilty because I was scared about taking food from a stranger, but it was church right?). Tic Tacs....the orange were the best. And she would always have the cutest mini pack of tissues. Now, I can't tell you her name or even what she looked like, but I do get to cherish the memories. Someone taking an interest in me, loving on me. Of course, as I think back I did have a lot of adults who doted on me at one time or another.
But let's fast forward a little bit. Or maybe it is rewind since I don't truly know the sequence of events or the timeline. When you are 4 there are many things that are cool and from what I've been told....as I still have absolutely no recollection of this....I chose to temporarily borrow (okay steal) a pair of scissors from church. Yes, I apparently was once a thief and of all the places to steal from....church. You got it. BAD BAD BAD
And you know what's worse, I didn't get caught from someone at church. No, I couldn't even tell you how long I had those scissors before I was caught, but I assure you I was caught.
One night, I went to bed thinking I was a fairy princess or something, so I snuck a comb under my pillow and late in the night I would take it out and comb my hair. Welllllllllll, that was a bad idea. It got stuck in my hair. I mean really, really stuck and I just knew I was going to be in sooooooo much trouble if my mom found out I slept with my comb so I did the only logical thing I knew to do at 4.
I climbed out of bed, pulled those scissors from their hiding place, and I cut that comb out with those stolen scissors. Then I hid all the evidence under my clothes in my drawer.
See how smart I was!!!!!
Well, apparently not that smart because it became apparent to my mom when she was brushing my hair that something was seriously wrong as clumps of my hair kept coming out. Now I won't get into all that mess or the mess later when she found where I hid the evidence, but suffice it to say I was punished. And since I didn't have scissors of my own, my mom knew exactly where they came from. According to mom, I was supposed to hand them back to the teacher and apologize. So there may be a chance I also became a liar too. Mom suspects that knowing my personality, I probably just slipped those scissors right back where they belonged and just told her that I handed them to my teacher. I don't remember any of it so who knows????
Again, I may not recall a prayer spoken or a sermon preached or even a specific Sunday School lesson, but there are the seeds. The beginnings. Attending church and memories linked to it. Some good and some maybe not so much. But guess what, Jesus has forgiven me such antics and still loves me with open arms. And he loves you too.
Let us pray:
God, I thank you for this opportunity to reflect on my journey as I learn to look for the signs of your presence. I thank you for being there for me and all of us when our seeds were planted. Sometimes the seeds were just small moments and didn't take root at other times the seeds even had a chance to sprout, but for some reason withered away. God I ask that you be with each one of us as we continue down this journey as it is bond to become emotional and tough at times. I ask that you help each of us to continue to grow to thrive as we grow in our relationship with you through our exploration of how we got here. In your name I pray, Amen.
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Sharing my Story Day 2: Beginnings
"Jesus loves me this I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to him belong,
They are weak, but he is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
The Bible tells me so."
Remember singing that one as a kid? Any others?
At a Casting Crowns concert, Mark Hall shared that their new album, Thrive, has the symbol of the tree because in order to thrive we must have the roots going down deep as well as the branches stretching out. As he shared, if we are the kind of Christian solely focused on the roots then we tend to turn people away from Christianity. We become too engrossed in theology and the written word. If we only focus on reaching out to others then at times of adversity we have nothing to hold us to the faith. Instead we need a balance of the two.
Today we are going to start looking at our own life and where we need to start working. We are going to start digging deep to get down to the roots of our faith on a personal level. Where did it all start for you?
Matthew 18:3 reminds us that "unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven."
As we begin this journey of reflection, we too need to become like little children. Whether our roots go back to our childhood days or to a point in our adult life, we still need to become like children. Children tend to be much more willing to share with others. As we age, we start to guard what we say and do for fear of what others may think about us. If we are going to truly get our stories told, we need to open our minds, hearts, and mouth and be willing to share out. Even if you think something is too trivial or insignificant, share, it is part of your story. A story that may bring others to follow Christ.
I ask that you take some time now to sit in the silence and open up your heart to begin this journey. To dust off the cobwebs and dig deep for those precious memories when the seeds of your faith were planted and the roots were beginning to take hold.
_________________________________________________________________________________
I invite you to share with others in the comment section if you wish. Now for my story.
Back to the song....
My story clings to Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called accoring to his purpose." But my story begins long before I even knew what the book of Romans was.
My story is not sensational~ it doesn't involve traveling down a terrible path and suddenly coming to know Christ. Instead my story is probably like many stories...ones that we may feel are insignificant if we compared ourselves to others, but it a story that must be shared.
For me, I can't recall a time when I didn't believe. Sure there are times of frustration and questioning, but I can't recall not believing. My earliest memories are of two specific churches where seeds were planted and my Christian roots began to grow. One is Trinity United Methodist Church in Charleston, SC and the other is Glady Fork Freewill Baptist Church in Pound, Virginia. I know...2 complete opposites if you ask me.
Today I share with you the seeds planted at Glady Fork.
I can distinctly remember feeling as if I was the only grandchild in the center of my Papaw Pilkenton's world. Either I would spend the night or he would pick me up and we would go to church on Sunday mornings. He smelled of Old Spice and Halls cough drops. He looked beyond handsome in his suit and tie, cloth handkerchief at the ready to wipe the sweat from his brow.
We would show up at Glady Fork and I would rush from the car. I couldn't wait. I absolutely loved what we called the Penny March and my favorite hymn (sung as a frequent request when I visited)....Jesus Loves Me. During the Penny March all the children got to go up to all the adults and collect 'pennies' to put in the offering plate. It was amazing to go up and down those aisles with everyone wanting to give you more and more to put in. It is also a tradition that still continues today and my own Tori got to participate recently. She loved it as well.
Now, I can't tell you a thing about any sermon preached or prayer spoken in those days, but I can say without a doubt seeds were planted and roots began to take hold. And the amazing thing....it was only a place I visited once in a while.
There are other parts to my story that helped to give me strong roots to become who I am today, but for now I share this one snippet. No detail is too small or insignificant when it comes to God's work in our life. So what are your moments? Are you creating similar moments for others in your life?
Let us pray.
Father, as we begin our journey and start sharing our beginnings, let us see the small moments and reflect on how they shaped our lives. Help us to become like little children and boldly step out of our comfort zones and begin sharing with others the work you have done in our lives. Amen.
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to him belong,
They are weak, but he is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
The Bible tells me so."
Remember singing that one as a kid? Any others?
At a Casting Crowns concert, Mark Hall shared that their new album, Thrive, has the symbol of the tree because in order to thrive we must have the roots going down deep as well as the branches stretching out. As he shared, if we are the kind of Christian solely focused on the roots then we tend to turn people away from Christianity. We become too engrossed in theology and the written word. If we only focus on reaching out to others then at times of adversity we have nothing to hold us to the faith. Instead we need a balance of the two.
Today we are going to start looking at our own life and where we need to start working. We are going to start digging deep to get down to the roots of our faith on a personal level. Where did it all start for you?
Matthew 18:3 reminds us that "unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven."
As we begin this journey of reflection, we too need to become like little children. Whether our roots go back to our childhood days or to a point in our adult life, we still need to become like children. Children tend to be much more willing to share with others. As we age, we start to guard what we say and do for fear of what others may think about us. If we are going to truly get our stories told, we need to open our minds, hearts, and mouth and be willing to share out. Even if you think something is too trivial or insignificant, share, it is part of your story. A story that may bring others to follow Christ.
I ask that you take some time now to sit in the silence and open up your heart to begin this journey. To dust off the cobwebs and dig deep for those precious memories when the seeds of your faith were planted and the roots were beginning to take hold.
_________________________________________________________________________________
I invite you to share with others in the comment section if you wish. Now for my story.
Back to the song....
My story clings to Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called accoring to his purpose." But my story begins long before I even knew what the book of Romans was.
My story is not sensational~ it doesn't involve traveling down a terrible path and suddenly coming to know Christ. Instead my story is probably like many stories...ones that we may feel are insignificant if we compared ourselves to others, but it a story that must be shared.
For me, I can't recall a time when I didn't believe. Sure there are times of frustration and questioning, but I can't recall not believing. My earliest memories are of two specific churches where seeds were planted and my Christian roots began to grow. One is Trinity United Methodist Church in Charleston, SC and the other is Glady Fork Freewill Baptist Church in Pound, Virginia. I know...2 complete opposites if you ask me.
Today I share with you the seeds planted at Glady Fork.
I can distinctly remember feeling as if I was the only grandchild in the center of my Papaw Pilkenton's world. Either I would spend the night or he would pick me up and we would go to church on Sunday mornings. He smelled of Old Spice and Halls cough drops. He looked beyond handsome in his suit and tie, cloth handkerchief at the ready to wipe the sweat from his brow.
We would show up at Glady Fork and I would rush from the car. I couldn't wait. I absolutely loved what we called the Penny March and my favorite hymn (sung as a frequent request when I visited)....Jesus Loves Me. During the Penny March all the children got to go up to all the adults and collect 'pennies' to put in the offering plate. It was amazing to go up and down those aisles with everyone wanting to give you more and more to put in. It is also a tradition that still continues today and my own Tori got to participate recently. She loved it as well.
Now, I can't tell you a thing about any sermon preached or prayer spoken in those days, but I can say without a doubt seeds were planted and roots began to take hold. And the amazing thing....it was only a place I visited once in a while.
There are other parts to my story that helped to give me strong roots to become who I am today, but for now I share this one snippet. No detail is too small or insignificant when it comes to God's work in our life. So what are your moments? Are you creating similar moments for others in your life?
Let us pray.
Father, as we begin our journey and start sharing our beginnings, let us see the small moments and reflect on how they shaped our lives. Help us to become like little children and boldly step out of our comfort zones and begin sharing with others the work you have done in our lives. Amen.
Monday, September 1, 2014
Getting Started with Sharing My Story....Why?
Psalm 22:22
I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation I will praise thee.
Today starts my personal challenge and a challenge I give to you. As I prepare to begin a study on sharing your story of how God has worked in your life, I share with you who may be looking for a place to begin as well. Let's make the month of September a month where we take time daily to reflect on who we are in the Kingdom of Christ. How did we get here...to where we are today? How can we share our stories with others? Does our story even matter? How can my story really bring others to know Christ?
Why testify? Why share our beliefs? Our stories?
Scripture can be found throughout the Bible about testifying, about sharing our testimony of God's work in our life. What better way than to share through story? Even in the Bible stories are told to share God's work. People are more interested in hearing a story, to find that something we share is similar to something they have gone through themselves. They like to be able to relate to an experience.
Does our story have to be perfect? No. And guess what! You don't even have to be a great writer or speaker, you just have to learn what your story is and then be bold enough to share it just like is says in Psalm 22:22. Be willing to share God's name, to praise him to others.
As we begin this walk of discovering our own testimony, I ask that you spend a few moments in pray prior to drafting your story. Each evening I will post some scripture, a question to reflect on, and then I will share my own story as it relates to the question. You see, I do not feel that we have just one story. I feel we have many stories and we just have to learn how to find them. They may be right on the tip of our tongue or hiding in the depths of our mind waiting for the cobwebs to be cleared. Give yourself permission each evening to really explore and open up your heart and mind to hear God as you reflect. Give yourself permission to draft out a messy story. Just get the thoughts down. Then challenge yourself throughout the month to seek opportunities to share your story with others.
I leave you tonight with a prayer and look forward to tomorrow when we will begin digging deep into our testimony seeking out where the first seed began to take root.
Father God, I ask that you prepare us for the month ahead. I ask that you open up our hearts and minds and help us to listen for you. Help us to become stronger in our faith as we journey down this road of reflection and begin to do so much more than just share scripture with others as we learn to share our story. We seek to do just as you have charged us: become fishers of men, praise your Holy name, and testify to others. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation I will praise thee.
Today starts my personal challenge and a challenge I give to you. As I prepare to begin a study on sharing your story of how God has worked in your life, I share with you who may be looking for a place to begin as well. Let's make the month of September a month where we take time daily to reflect on who we are in the Kingdom of Christ. How did we get here...to where we are today? How can we share our stories with others? Does our story even matter? How can my story really bring others to know Christ?
Why testify? Why share our beliefs? Our stories?
Scripture can be found throughout the Bible about testifying, about sharing our testimony of God's work in our life. What better way than to share through story? Even in the Bible stories are told to share God's work. People are more interested in hearing a story, to find that something we share is similar to something they have gone through themselves. They like to be able to relate to an experience.
Does our story have to be perfect? No. And guess what! You don't even have to be a great writer or speaker, you just have to learn what your story is and then be bold enough to share it just like is says in Psalm 22:22. Be willing to share God's name, to praise him to others.
As we begin this walk of discovering our own testimony, I ask that you spend a few moments in pray prior to drafting your story. Each evening I will post some scripture, a question to reflect on, and then I will share my own story as it relates to the question. You see, I do not feel that we have just one story. I feel we have many stories and we just have to learn how to find them. They may be right on the tip of our tongue or hiding in the depths of our mind waiting for the cobwebs to be cleared. Give yourself permission each evening to really explore and open up your heart and mind to hear God as you reflect. Give yourself permission to draft out a messy story. Just get the thoughts down. Then challenge yourself throughout the month to seek opportunities to share your story with others.
I leave you tonight with a prayer and look forward to tomorrow when we will begin digging deep into our testimony seeking out where the first seed began to take root.
Father God, I ask that you prepare us for the month ahead. I ask that you open up our hearts and minds and help us to listen for you. Help us to become stronger in our faith as we journey down this road of reflection and begin to do so much more than just share scripture with others as we learn to share our story. We seek to do just as you have charged us: become fishers of men, praise your Holy name, and testify to others. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Dreams Bigger Than You Can Imagine
"So let go of your plan
Be caught by my hand
I'll show you what I can do
When I dream for you!"
About 5 to 6 months ago I was begging that God just speak to me like he spoke to Moses. He heard me loud and clear. So loud and clear in fact that on the radio that morning I was captivated by Pastor Todd Carnes from Radius Church was speaking exactly about this and why God doesn't speak to us that way. Now while that is a post for another day, it plays a part in what is happening in life right now.
Three weeks ago as I sat in meetings it was the first time ever that I felt I was in the wrong place doing the wrong thing. As a matter of fact, I had never dreaded going back to work as much as I had this past summer. And to make it even more frustrating I couldn't get out of the funk.
You see I feel like there is a place I'm supposed to be and I just can't figure out what that place is, but I know God is working on me to simply trust in him. Something I can do so easily on so many things in my life....you know, trusting that my kids are going to thrive and I just need to be patient, etc. I just can't seem to let go on parts of my life like job security, the future, etc. The only thing I knew I had to do and couldn't wait for was to go to the Casting Crowns concert.
For the past few months, the most energized I have been has been going to meetings to get our i-Reach team started at church. In other words...Evangelism. Bringing others to know Christ. Sharing Christ's love. Sharing our stories. So much in fact that I am going to be leading a study on Wednesday evenings helping others to learn how to tell their story, how to build relationships, and how to share God's love. I am so excited and nervous about this opportunity.
An opportunity because I stopped long enough to really listen. An opportunity because God laid it on my heart to share a brief testimony among strangers/family when visiting an old childhood church when I was in Virginia. Yes, shy very introverted me spoke out to an entire church of basic strangers. It was really quite remarkable as God laid it on my heart to do this the Thursday prior and I didn't even know what to say other than thinking back to some roots, memories. Ironically prayer concerns that day were for the children...returning to school, those who accepted Christ over the summer and returning to the temptations in the world. I knew then that my testimony to this group was that what they are doing, keep doing it because you never know what the future holds. I shared how awesome it was to watch my own daughter participate in the penny march just as I had when I was about her age about 30 years ago when I would go with my Papaw Pilkenton to church. While there is so much that shaped who I am and so many churches along the way, each piece plays a small part and no detail is too small.
From there God reminded me that part of my teaching passion and passions in general is writing. The idea was planted and is currently growing as we prepare to begin our new Wednesday night studies.
Then just last week I received an email:
**(Omitted personal information, but basically this email described an encounter with a parent of a child who is failing to thrive).....I told her that I would forward her your blog, and maybe she might find some insights or something she hadn't considered. So I ended up going to your blog myself, and clicked on LifeStory. Oh my! Talk about renewing my spirit today!!!! What words of encouragement you so beautifully share! From the songs (You have such a wonderful voice!!) to the scripture and God-moments, you bless and praise Him at every turn!!
I am asking God to abundantly bless you and your family as you continue to let His light shine through you! 
Have a great weekend, my friend!
Again a reminder about writing. While I know my blog doesn't get a lot of traffic, I believe strongly that the person who the posts are for will find the blog. Just like in teaching, it is a matter of making a difference one child at a time.
Speaking of children, I think there is a reason God needs me to stay still and trust in him besides the needs of my own children. During the past couple of weeks, He placed a child back in my life. A child with a story that absolutely broke my heart years ago and continues to break my heart today. So apparently I'm still in the right place, I'm just not patient enough to wait to find out his plans for me.
Finally the Casting Crowns concert arrived. God spoke so much at this concert through the songs sang.
The first few lines of "House of Their Dreams" hit so hard because it described exactly how I was feeling just a few short weeks ago:
"A corner office was his dream, more like a prison now it seems
Somewhere on the corporate climb, he left his warrior behind.
Now he's just a worker at a daily grind, steals his years and numbs his mind
His strength is fading, his dreams are blind, this is not the life he had in mind"
That's where the hitting home ends. But yes, it feels that way from time to time as I question how much of my beliefs about teaching and learning are being sacrificed to meet the requirements of the job.
Shortly after this, the following song was shared. A song I came across a few weeks ago. A song that revitalized me, comforted me, and has given me the strength I need. The strength to be open to what God really has in store because His dreams for me are so much bigger than any I can ever come up with on my own. While this song played at the concert, God spoke so loudly to me that not only am I in the place I need to be right now, but that He has so much in store for me starting with evangelism, stories, and writing. What all of it means, I do not quite know, but I do know that I have to let go of my plan so He can dream for me. A song he sent this time not to help me through the pain and trials of my children, but a song to remind me that he is still working on me too.
As I leave you, I ask that you pray with me.
Father God, I know I can be so frustrating for you at times as I hang on tightly to the world around me, to the safety nets I perceive to be there. I also know that your love for me is so amazingly all encompassing that you are the ultimate safety net, I just need to learn to trust and let go. I know your plans for me are so much bigger than any plan I can ever dream of. Thank you Lord. Thank you for loving me, holding me, strengthening me, your child. Amen.
Be caught by my hand
I'll show you what I can do
When I dream for you!"
About 5 to 6 months ago I was begging that God just speak to me like he spoke to Moses. He heard me loud and clear. So loud and clear in fact that on the radio that morning I was captivated by Pastor Todd Carnes from Radius Church was speaking exactly about this and why God doesn't speak to us that way. Now while that is a post for another day, it plays a part in what is happening in life right now.
Three weeks ago as I sat in meetings it was the first time ever that I felt I was in the wrong place doing the wrong thing. As a matter of fact, I had never dreaded going back to work as much as I had this past summer. And to make it even more frustrating I couldn't get out of the funk.
You see I feel like there is a place I'm supposed to be and I just can't figure out what that place is, but I know God is working on me to simply trust in him. Something I can do so easily on so many things in my life....you know, trusting that my kids are going to thrive and I just need to be patient, etc. I just can't seem to let go on parts of my life like job security, the future, etc. The only thing I knew I had to do and couldn't wait for was to go to the Casting Crowns concert.
For the past few months, the most energized I have been has been going to meetings to get our i-Reach team started at church. In other words...Evangelism. Bringing others to know Christ. Sharing Christ's love. Sharing our stories. So much in fact that I am going to be leading a study on Wednesday evenings helping others to learn how to tell their story, how to build relationships, and how to share God's love. I am so excited and nervous about this opportunity.
An opportunity because I stopped long enough to really listen. An opportunity because God laid it on my heart to share a brief testimony among strangers/family when visiting an old childhood church when I was in Virginia. Yes, shy very introverted me spoke out to an entire church of basic strangers. It was really quite remarkable as God laid it on my heart to do this the Thursday prior and I didn't even know what to say other than thinking back to some roots, memories. Ironically prayer concerns that day were for the children...returning to school, those who accepted Christ over the summer and returning to the temptations in the world. I knew then that my testimony to this group was that what they are doing, keep doing it because you never know what the future holds. I shared how awesome it was to watch my own daughter participate in the penny march just as I had when I was about her age about 30 years ago when I would go with my Papaw Pilkenton to church. While there is so much that shaped who I am and so many churches along the way, each piece plays a small part and no detail is too small.
From there God reminded me that part of my teaching passion and passions in general is writing. The idea was planted and is currently growing as we prepare to begin our new Wednesday night studies.
Then just last week I received an email:
Hello, my friend!
Since I don't believe in coincidences (I believe all our steps/paths are guided), I wanted to tell you about an encounter I just experienced, and how you have once again blessed my day!!Again a reminder about writing. While I know my blog doesn't get a lot of traffic, I believe strongly that the person who the posts are for will find the blog. Just like in teaching, it is a matter of making a difference one child at a time.
Speaking of children, I think there is a reason God needs me to stay still and trust in him besides the needs of my own children. During the past couple of weeks, He placed a child back in my life. A child with a story that absolutely broke my heart years ago and continues to break my heart today. So apparently I'm still in the right place, I'm just not patient enough to wait to find out his plans for me.
Finally the Casting Crowns concert arrived. God spoke so much at this concert through the songs sang.
The first few lines of "House of Their Dreams" hit so hard because it described exactly how I was feeling just a few short weeks ago:
"A corner office was his dream, more like a prison now it seems
Somewhere on the corporate climb, he left his warrior behind.
Now he's just a worker at a daily grind, steals his years and numbs his mind
His strength is fading, his dreams are blind, this is not the life he had in mind"
That's where the hitting home ends. But yes, it feels that way from time to time as I question how much of my beliefs about teaching and learning are being sacrificed to meet the requirements of the job.
Shortly after this, the following song was shared. A song I came across a few weeks ago. A song that revitalized me, comforted me, and has given me the strength I need. The strength to be open to what God really has in store because His dreams for me are so much bigger than any I can ever come up with on my own. While this song played at the concert, God spoke so loudly to me that not only am I in the place I need to be right now, but that He has so much in store for me starting with evangelism, stories, and writing. What all of it means, I do not quite know, but I do know that I have to let go of my plan so He can dream for me. A song he sent this time not to help me through the pain and trials of my children, but a song to remind me that he is still working on me too.
As I leave you, I ask that you pray with me.
Father God, I know I can be so frustrating for you at times as I hang on tightly to the world around me, to the safety nets I perceive to be there. I also know that your love for me is so amazingly all encompassing that you are the ultimate safety net, I just need to learn to trust and let go. I know your plans for me are so much bigger than any plan I can ever dream of. Thank you Lord. Thank you for loving me, holding me, strengthening me, your child. Amen.
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Your Next Breath
"The moment we take our last breath on Earth, we take our first breath in Heaven."
Isn't that such a glorious thought? As I was driving past a church today, I noticed this on their sign and made sure I kept it in mind until I could write it down.
Think about it, of all the things that we need as living beings, the ability to breathe is one of them. For some each breath comes naturally and often goes unnoticed as we go about our daily life. For others with ailments such as a simple common cold, asthma, COPD, and so much more, there are moments that we struggle to get the breath that is so easily taken for granted. Yet we keep breathing until it is time for our last breath.
But then what?
Well, for those of us on earth who have come to know Christ as our risen Savior and have admitted that we are sinners who can only be saved through the one and only Christ, we get to take another breath. Our first breath in Heaven. A breath that will no longer know what it means to struggle to catch that next breath.
Can't you just picture it? Living your earthly life the best you could, striving to be who God wants you to be, then eternal life. Breathing your last breath here on earth and the next breath you take in Heaven with the Maker of it all. God our Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. The radiance of it all as you take in your new home, your true home.
And then, just like in school on that first day as you listen for your name to be called, roll will be called and you will anxiously await hearing your name, all the while realizing you took your first breath in Heaven.
Lord, I pray that anyone who happens upon this post will consider the eternal life you have to offer them. I pray that those who read this will continue to work on their relationship with you and will continue to work for your glory. For those who haven't come to know you, Lord, I ask that you keep this seed growing inside them and that they come to know you so that they too may have life everlasting. Amen.
Isn't that such a glorious thought? As I was driving past a church today, I noticed this on their sign and made sure I kept it in mind until I could write it down.
Think about it, of all the things that we need as living beings, the ability to breathe is one of them. For some each breath comes naturally and often goes unnoticed as we go about our daily life. For others with ailments such as a simple common cold, asthma, COPD, and so much more, there are moments that we struggle to get the breath that is so easily taken for granted. Yet we keep breathing until it is time for our last breath.
But then what?
Well, for those of us on earth who have come to know Christ as our risen Savior and have admitted that we are sinners who can only be saved through the one and only Christ, we get to take another breath. Our first breath in Heaven. A breath that will no longer know what it means to struggle to catch that next breath.
Can't you just picture it? Living your earthly life the best you could, striving to be who God wants you to be, then eternal life. Breathing your last breath here on earth and the next breath you take in Heaven with the Maker of it all. God our Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. The radiance of it all as you take in your new home, your true home.
And then, just like in school on that first day as you listen for your name to be called, roll will be called and you will anxiously await hearing your name, all the while realizing you took your first breath in Heaven.
Lord, I pray that anyone who happens upon this post will consider the eternal life you have to offer them. I pray that those who read this will continue to work on their relationship with you and will continue to work for your glory. For those who haven't come to know you, Lord, I ask that you keep this seed growing inside them and that they come to know you so that they too may have life everlasting. Amen.
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