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The Blog Has Moved!

I set my priorities for 2010, and I've already completed step #2 for simplification!

I have moved my blog to a new location! It has been given a brand new name and theme as well! I am excited and want to welcome you, so be sure to check it out and let me know what you think! Are you ready? 2010 is going to be the MOST incredible year EVER!!!


Take This Life And CHUNK It!

http://christinepechstein.wordpress.com/

Finished setting up my ping.fm which should simplify my social media life! Wow, it's not even 2010 yet, and one goal/priority is done!

Don't stop investing in your people/yourself. Today's training technology allows MANY affordable options for improvement/growth!

THIS...Is Today's Homeless

It seems that when we speak of the homeless, we mean the traditional stereotyped individual. Most times people use the following words to describe them:

bum
unemployed
uneducated
stupid
can't read
smells
dirty
thief
liar
druggie
alcoholic
smoker
ex-convict
violent

But, let me ask you this.

Do you really know who the homeless are in YOUR community?

Single parents
Married couples
Families with children
Employed
Under-insured/Uninsured (health care expenses that bankrupt people)
Individuals with Disabilities
The ill
People laid-off
Educated
Skilled
Widowed
The people just unable to make ends meet despite their low income jobs!!!

For example: Look at how many students in your community are on the reduced and free lunch program. What percentage is this? Every one of them is one disaster, unexpected expense, or job loss away from homelessness.

Despite their best efforts in these circumstances, homelessness can't be avoided. We may not be able to end the poverty overnight, but we CAN provide shelter overnight. All it takes is someone to open a building, their mind, and their heart.

How long are the waiting lists for services?
Affordable housing?
Is the housing affordable for a single income (single parent household?)
Ask yourself again...
How long are the waiting lists?
Is it transitional housing or a true shelter?
Can it be accessed all year round?
What happens if the funds/grant money disappears? Will it still be around?
Is there a family friendly place to go immediately without all the red-tape?

Jesus didn't have red-tape.
Nor did He have a waiting list.
And He didn't judge those who just couldn't make it without help.

I know some homeless who work.
I know some homeless that utilize pay as you go cell phones for employment.
And I know some homeless who will not be able to afford the rent on the median wages even after attending school to further their education.
I know single mothers who live at the poverty level, because there IS only one income.
I know single fathers who pay child support, yet can't afford a place to live-AND they work a full-time job.

THESE...are today's homeless.

And as communities, it is OUR responsibility to minister and provide HOPE.

We can't fix everything, but we can provide as the needs arise...

without question...

without passing judgment...

Before you leave this post, I HOPE you ask yourself two things:

1. WHO do I know that could end up homeless, because they ARE barely making it or currently unable to make ends meet?

2. Where can they find HOPE in Christ in MY community 24/7/365?

I HOPE you will take the time to read the following post...
"When I Say, "Whoa!" and God says, "Go!" about HOPE.

Together we can ALL help people find HOPE!

I say, "Whoa!" and God says, "Go!"

When I started attending church as a new believer several years ago, I knew I would get involved somewhere in church, and I figured I had some time to kind of "ease" in to something I'd become passionate about. I've always been a passionate person, so I figured finding my passion would simply be in a church activity. Little did I know, God had other plans. Within the first year of my faith, I began to blog here, I joined the Project One:Eight group at church, and started working on local missions in the community. And life was great. Or so I kept telling myself.

But something inside of me wasn't at rest. There was something much more. There was something I was missing. And soon a vision, a dream, and a passionate desire filled my mind, heart, and spirit. I could feel a calling to start a homeless shelter in our town of 40,000 people. My passion was not JUST limited to what I'd be doing with my church, it was what I'd be doing in my community! That was a moment our Pastor calls a TCE moment: This Changes Everything! I also remember this is a huge, "Whoa!" moment. I desperately tried to put the brakes on and go back to my simple little life. It didn't work;-)

I knew almost immediately a book was on the way, but I didn't know what I'd be writing on exactly. I toyed around with a few ideas, started a draft, and trashed it. What the book evolved into was no ordinary book. Instead, I followed the prompting to write a Christian life management agenda/calendar/life management workbook. Move Into Action is an all-in-one life management agenda to assist individuals with managing their hectic lives, volunteer in the community and church, while living a Christ-focused life. As the first edition came about in 2008, I knew without a doubt that I wanted to donate 90% of the book proceeds after expenses to fund a shelter called HOPE.

HOPE stands for House Of Prayer Every day.

Why HOPE? It's simple really. Churches are flooded with activities, church staff is taxed to the max with their time, and churches aren't open 24 hours a day. Yet, HOPE in Christ is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year. But, if it's 3am, and a single mother is at her witts-end, where would she go for a prayer? Where would a recovering addict go when they really needed prayer as the night clubs were about to open for the evening? Where would someone go who needed fellowship, coffee, or a safe place to get off of the streets and have HOPE? There wasn't any place available after hours. And yet HOPE should be available to people at any time.

As soon as I started sketching the workbook, I felt that a reverse tithe was how the center would be funded. So, 90% of the profits after expenses is donated. HOPE is a community center by day and a shelter at night. Prayer support is available 24 hours per day. Jesus is accessible to someone wanting to change their life in the middle of the night.

During the day individuals can take a class such as interviewing or job hunting, meet with their social worker, gather information on community services without having to run to 99 different agency appointments without transportation or gas money, take a class on budgeting, learn life management skills, apply for replacement social security cards and birth certificates, attend a Bible Study, and learn to worship in a safe and friendly environment without feeling judged.

And by writing an agenda, calendar, and life management workbook that would be sold each and every year, HOPE would be funded privately by individuals and churches wishing to purchase the workbooks.

No federal/local budget cuts.
No government mandates on how our services are provided.
No grant money red-tape.
No hidden or personal agendas.
Just God's will to reach His people.

Of course, me being human, I have tried to offer God these excuses:

"I don't know how to run a shelter. I have no experience."
"It seems impossible. Are YOU sure this can be done?"
"What about liability? What about local reaction?"
"I think you have the wrong person. I can't do this!"
"WHY me?"

And then He has provided the answers with a shelter about 30 minutes from here who has given me all of the above answers. It was out of the blue. BOOM...HERE is how it's done!!!

Except of course, the "Why me?" question. I still don't know.

All I know is I have this giant vision that only God can make possible. He can turn it into reality. I can't. I'm just following this path in front of me. And it is UBER scary. I found myself thinking, "What IF I fail?" I simply remind myself that I can't do it without God, nor am I trying to. Keep seeking Him for the answers, tools, and people He leads me to. I also remind myself that I can't limit God with MY small and limited mind-set. ALL things ARE possible with God. Most things ARE screwed up with Christine acting alone. So, I am making sure that I am not acting alone or running ahead of God. And I will tell you all. It is still scary. But, that is not an excuse for me to sit on the "but". I am still moving!

Sometimes I really want to know the "Why me" part. And so far I have only come up with one answer. Because I am insane. I am CRAZY in love with God and will live an insane life, defy the norm, try until I can't try anymore (which is NEVER!), and cry my eyes out in prayer to make sure I am within His will and not mine. I am a people lover who believes with all my heart that every person is a creation of God's and everyone has a purpose. Every person has potential-not just the people with homes, cars, 2.5 kids, a pet, and an education. And I am very passionate about what I do, is NOT change people into clones of what society believes is normal. Haven't we screwed up our lives enough trying to achieve that?! I teach people how to live for what THEY are passionate about and manage their time accordingly to their priorities in nine life areas.

I think the "why me" is simply because I am crazy enough to do this.

Yet, despite my fears, I AM NOT AFRAID TO HELP PEOPLE AND BUILD THEM UP-TREAT THEM AS MY EQUAL UNDER THE GUIDANCE AND CARE OF OUR LOVING FATHER IN HEAVEN.

I have no other explanation as to the "why me." And maybe that is not so much the why...it is merely the passion that I have. But, none of that is important!

My prayer tonight is that we sell enough of the 2010 life management agendas that we can make this a reality as soon as possible. God moved me "into action", I answered the call, saw the vision, and I am on a mission to accomplish His mission.

YET WE CAN'T DO IT ALONE!

Every church, every believer, every organization, everyone who can help spread the word for HOPE can help with this first shelter.

And it doesn't stop here in my neck of the woods. HOPE is needed across the entire globe!

We are merely trying to take the first step here. And the vision takes us to where you are. And you....and you...and you...to each city...

If you would please take a minute to do a few things we would be so grateful!

1. Please include HOPE in your prayers.
2. Help us promote the life management agenda in your newsletters, traditional media outlets, and social media avenues.
3. Purchase a personal copy/and or promote this workbook to your entire organization/congregation to purchase in bulk.
4. Imagine yourself with a catastrophic life changing event that means you can't pay the rent or mortgage, and you have no alternatives for your family. Where would you go? Where would YOU find HOPE?

THIS is today's homeless. (Be sure to read the next entry titled just that.)

THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS!

Preview the Move Into Action, Life Management Agenda here:
http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/move-into-action-life-balance-agenda/4850851


Preview all of Christine's workbooks here:
http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=3291225

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

As I reflect upon the birth of Christ, I think about what it is I truly celebrate. I celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas. It is not like any other day, any other meal, any other gathering...it is the birth of the Savior I celebrate. It is Him I prepare my heart for. It is He that I plan to spend all eternity with. While I do enjoy the lights, the gatherings, the food, and the people, I have to admit that NONE of it means a thing. But, Jesus-Emmanual-God with us means everything.

What do we need to celebrate Christmas?
A Tree?
Lights on the house?
A ham and all the fixin's?
Presents?
Money?

What if none of that was available? What then?

We celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas. So it seems to me that all we really need is Jesus. Yet what do we really celebrate if we chase everything but Him? Are we so busy that we forget to celebrate what we intend to? Do we let relatives, traditions, or general busyness interfere or dictate what we celebrate?

Close your eyes for a minute and think about Christmas. What's the first thing that pops into your memory? For me it's Jesus, in a manger, born of the Virgin Mary in a stable in Bethlehem. It is all about the miracle of hope. It's about Jesus. I could have no lights, tree, decorations, or gatherings. Simply for me, I just need to spend the day with Jesus.

He is what I celebrate at Christmas.

As I listened to our Pastor read Scripture during communion on Christmas Eve, I found myself in tears.

Matthew 26:26
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."

Those words pierced me as I held the communion wafer in my hand. There were 1500 people at our Christmas Eve service and each piece of bread/each wafer/for each person present, Jesus was broken and we all had a piece of Him (in a sense). He died so we each could find salvation in Him. That just broke my heart to know that for each of us present in church that evening, His body had been broken for. That is a lot of breaking.

Me.
My kids.
The person sitting next to me.
The person sitting clear at the other end of the room.
Each of us, Christ died and was broken for us.

And then I thought about the entire world.
Jesus was sacrificed for each one of us in this entire world!
I just thought in my head about his body, being broken and a piece of Him being given to each person in the world and it just became astounding.

Christ died for us all. And I know we know that, but when you think about how one man's body could be broken and given to all (re-read the passage and it's context), it defines Christmas as nothing like an ordinary holiday. It is not! It is a miracle! A tiny baby born in a manger. No glitz. No glamour. No accommodations. A baby born so that we could ALL find salvation. He knew his body would be broken for us all. It's Jesus' birthday, yet how easily that is forgotten!

Not every person in family circles has Him in their lives. And those who aren't active followers of Christ are more focused on the glitz, glamour, and the endless chaos that accompanies Christmas. But for the people who are Christ-followers, it is more important to celebrate Jesus' birthday, the freedom He has brought us, and realize just how much He has done for us, because of WHO he is and WHY He was sent.

So, on this very day, in my living room from Hutchinson, Kansas, I just want to say once again..."Happy Birthday, Jesus! YOU are my King, my Savior, and I love you more than I could ever speak. Thank you. God with us!!! YOU are the reason I celebrate-not just today, but every day. The purchase price of my freedom, eternity, and ever lasting life was your blood. Your broken body purchased me, and you have given me more than I could ever deserve. But by our Father's grace and mercy, I have been saved by you. Jesus, the Messiah, I love you."

Amen...

Just One Question

Earlier on my facebook page, I commented:

Just thinking that as long as people can blame the church for their lack of growth, and lack of what is missing in their spritual lives, they'll never take responsibility for "tuning" into their own personal relationship with God. Where's the personal accountability? I don't think blaming the church is what will get us... out of that one...just what's on my mind...

And boy did I get some responses! Not by the number of responses, but the responses that were given were doozies for me.

I think it all stems from conversation with non-believers and believers, seekers, returners, and just people I converse with in general.

"I can't get this at my church."
"My church does this...does yours?"
"I disagree with this...that...the other..."
"It's a matter of difference between Pastors."
"I don't agree with our leadership."
"This is how it's always been."
"This is why it should change...because it always HAS been..."
"I was hurt at xyz church."
"I never got to learn that..."

Sometimes I get so disheartened when I hear it. Okay, more than sometimes. Most of the time. I wonder to myself...if I were someone thinking about going to church and I heard stuff like that, I'd just forget about it! We need to just stop it! We have a responsibility to ourselves and to our own growth. Why do people feel justified to blame their stagnant growth on the church? We have been given the right to salvation, but aren't there responsibilities that come with rights? And doesn't having rights require a proper attitude? Maybe this is the root of the issue.

I thought about the sermon I listened to today in one of our sister churches and how it taught me several things. I was excited to pull so many things out of one message! And the one that stuck out to me the most was about our personal responsibility to tune in to God to experience Him, know Him, learn about Him. Yes, the boom box our Pastor held as he dialed to tune in a station was an incredible, yet simple illustration that I could relate to. We want to learn all about God and experience Him, we've been given the keys, tools, and hall pass to do so, but how many of us are actually using them on a daily basis? We're just not tuned in. So is that the problem of the radio manufacturer or the person operating the radio who has yet to try to tune in properly?


I imagine this conversation: "Well, I'm just not liking that church over there. I'm not getting anything out of the teaching."

And, I can't help but wonder, "What are you DOING with the teaching?"

Sitting in church and hearing the message is only PART of it. Growth happens when we take it out into the real world and do something with it. And if you read the Bible, you'll know exactly what to do and how to do it. How's that? It's so simple! Jesus showed us how!

We are only in church on Sundays about an hour and fifteen minutes to an hour and a half at the most. The majority of our time is spent outside the church walls. And our life doesn't happen only when we sit in church. Nope. It happens outside of church. And that's where personal responsibility comes in to play.

The church can give you the teaching, stories, and application Jesus modeled in the Bible. But, you have the responsibility to apply it to your own life, your own situations, and your own relationships outside of church...everyday. It's the same as being given a key to a building. If someone gives you a key, yet you don't make a conscious decision to do something with it to unlock the door for yourself, stop whining about not being able to enter!

I asked just one question on my facebook status today, and it made me really think about some of the things I've heard. I think the solution is many times up to us. Our lives are what we make them. Our attitudes shape our experiences. And until we reshape our attitudes, beliefs, and learn to create learning opportunities every day to grow further in our relationships with God on a conscious level, we may be missing what the church today really has to offer. After all, are we there to worship God or ourselves? I hope in worship that we are focused on the Father!

So my one question is this: Does our own attitude toward the church need an adjustment, so we are focused on the truth and our own responsibility for impilenting the teachings in our lives beyond the sixty-minute sermon?

How Much Does It Cost Me?

I learned a VALUABLE lesson today in church and at the grocery store. I am a greeter, a job that I absolutely LOVE. And today, I have seen God busy at work, but also teaching me a lesson in service, love, and how it works from the heart. I am also in a hurry, because today is a family day-our Sabbath-and I want to spend it relaxing, puttering, and enjoying my family. So, in 43 minutes, I will be at my parent's house on Main Street watching the Toys 4 Tots Motorcycle ride where hundreds of motorcyclists drive through our town on decorated motorcycles. It is one of those simple things I truly enjoy. It tickles my heart!

I had to be up early today. I was tired from a function that kept me busy yesterday and on my feet. As soon as I stepped out of bed this morning, I realized how much my feet hurt. They are sore. They literally feel bruised. I think it's time to toss the high heals! But, despite it all, I got up, tip-toed around the house, gave my two sick kiddos meds, and headed out (a little late) to church to greet. And to me, it's not just welcoming people into the House of God. Greeting is that, but it's also about BEING there to meet the needs of people as they enter and leave. I try not to cry, but from where I love God-that place so deep inside, there are no words or ways to describe it. So tears just have to do sometimes.

After church when there were only a few people remaining, my daughter who likes to assist with her developing gifts of service (YEAH GOD!!!) and I were standing at a few sign up tables and talking with people as they were exiting the building. A woman with two little girls, 19 months and 10 months old I believe, said she loved our church.

HERE IS WHERE I CRY....
She had never been to our church before and she liked ours. She felt welcome. She related well to the message. And she wanted to come back. She was thanking us??? I chatted with her, introduced myself and daughter, and I got to make small talk with the smallest of the visitors-her two very young toddler daughters.

AND THEN IT HAPPENED--
After she left, a woman who knows her stayed a bit afterward to let me know she needs a Christmas Dinner box that our Project One:eight teams are doing. She went and got this woman's name and number and gave it to me.

Not only did this woman attend church today, but God also saw to it that she will have a Christmas Dinner for her family.

Dude...BAWL like a baby, I am. Yet, I cannot put it into words. It's just what we are supposed to do...minister anytime anywhere, be available, and meet needs when they are RIGHT in front of us.

BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE!
On the way home, I needed lunch meat and bread, so the kids and I could have lunch. And truthfully, my budget for this month is bust. It's slow and I thought I'd grab one loaf of bread and one package of bologna...the stuff you eat when you have a buck. But, hey-it's all good!

I called my Dad to find out if they would be home to watch the motorcycles, so we could join them at their house. He and my mom were shopping at K-Mart for some stuff and he asked me to see how much the bread at the grocery store was. The soup kitchen needed 10 loaves. I called him back and he said it was cheaper at the store than the outlet. To save him time, I told him I'd just buy the 10 loaves for the soup kitchen since I was already there, saving him the trip later. I decided I could just deliver it for him, since he and my mom were busy and I wasn't. So my daughter and I grabbed 10 loaves in the bread aisle and continued our shopping.

GOD PROVIDES:
As soon as we turned the corner in the store, I kid you not, there was a cart of clearanced bread... 39 CENTS per loaf for wheat and 69 cents for white. This was even cheaper!!! There were nine loaves, so we snatched all of them to take to the soup kitchen. We nearly fell over! As soon as the need was realized, and we took action to meet the need, the provision was right there!!!!

MEETING A NEED:
There was a woman who came by looking for one of the clearanced loaves to take home. When we heard her ask for one, I told my daughter to run one of those cheap loaves over to her. We'd buy one of the full priced loaves in lieu of that one. My daughter came back and said the woman was so happy.

I called my dad and told him that God had provided and had to tell him the exciting ways in which He was working. And after my daughter and I came home from delivering the bread to the soup kitchen, I had to share the thoughts that were racing through my mind and heart.

1. God provides-and FAITH and BELIEF are important in BELIEVING that HE does and He will!
2. Service, Meeting Needs, and Love-they ALL cost us something. You cannot love and be loved without love costing YOU something, You cannot be blessed (even with the provision of cheap bread) unless you make the sacrifice and take time to do something- buy it, deliver it, offer to assist someone, etc.
3. Always share with those around you-family, friends, and people gawking in the aisles about what God has done!!! Oh, it was AMAZING!!!
4. Don't be afraid to give and give generously! (THIS was a lesson to me.) I didn't have it-I still don't. But, it was there, I got it, and I have FAITH that God will provide for my family just the same.
5. GIVE your time. Time is always worth the COST! I got up with sore feet and sick kiddos to make sure I was able to greet this morning. Not because I serve the people who come in and out per say, but because I am there to be what Jesus needs me to be to people. I do it for Him. And it just requires that I show up to see how He will use me.

If you do not give more than you have, it doesn't COST you anything. Giving what you have excess of is not cost. Cost means you have less to give but give more. Otherwise, it is only giving excess. People don't need excess. They need you. They need to be loved by you.

If the cost is love, do you really think love will cost you more than you can afford to give?

Talk about cost with Jesus. And then answer that question.

This was a valuable and teachable day.

17 minutes until the motorcycles blast down Main Street...

Be Still And Know He Is There

As our Pastor's son celebrates his 11th birthday today, he lays in Pediatric ICU for serious kidney issues that just seemed to happen overnight. As I have prayed intensely today, I find myself with a song going through my head over and over and over again. It started when I physically went to the church to pray. I found myself on my knees in prayer with no distractions, no phone, no twitter, no nothing except for God and I. After praying I got off my knees and just sat in one of the pews. And I just thought. I wasn't ready to leave. I kept looking up at the ceiling. In the center of the ceiling in our sanctuary, there is a wooden circle. I imagined it to be a lid that opens and leads straight to heaven. All the prayer, worship, and praise would go straight from that lid if it were to open and into the throne room of heaven. That was powerful!

And in that moment, I felt as though I could sense God's presence. And this song has been playing in my heart since then. I think at that time I realized that God will show His people who he is not just during times of harvest, blessing, and when we say things are good. God will show His people who He is in all circumstances-good and bad, when He reaches us in those defining moments when we seek Him. He doesn't just show us who he is when things are peachy. He's not reserved just for the peachy people of the world.

For God to be our comforter, we'd have to experience Him as such when we actually NEED to be comforted. For Him to be our healer, we'd have to experience Him as such when we actually NEED to be healed. For Jesus to mend us we'd need to have mending done. Otherwise, we wouldn't be able to experience Him as He met our needs.

Isn't it comforting to know that even in the worst times that God will be there to show us who He is? That we can actually EXPERIENCE his love and mercy?!

So speak to me and show me who you are...

and He will if we only remember to look for Him in every situation. He will be there!


Watch and listen to Aaron Shust, Stillness

Are You Really In Love?

I celebrated my 40th birthday yesterday, so today I got teased for wanting to take a nap after lunch today. And it never fails. I climb into my soft, cozy, pillow top bed, lay my head on my absolute favorite side sleeping pillow with the silk pillow case (silk keeps your hair from messing up when you sleep), and get all cozy in the covers when suddenly a bolt of lightning zaps my brain.

A thought.
I thought about how blessed I am. How blessed to be in love!

Another thought:
I thought about how much I absolutely love God.
I thought about how much I love specific people.

And a few additional thoughts:
I thought about how I love.
How complete it is.
How completely insane it can make me (wanting to live and love Jesus) with no other care in the world!
How it makes me crave time with Him.
How love makes me crave to be with those I love.

And blammo...I sat up, got out of bed, and headed for my laptop! I can't wait. I have to blog!

I realized in that twilight zone (time span between awake and sleep) that GENUINE love is about SURRENDER!

Love makes us surrender:

• our own agendas
  
• to share our time with someone else
• making sure we meet their needs
• taking time to talk/chat/pray in their presence
• love on them
• help them
• listen to them
• put our hearts on the line
• TAKE RISK to make the love we feel worthwhile
• risk that we might be hurt
• surrender to growth, maturity, and completeness

I'm not talking about superficial love. Superficial love is something here today and gone tomorrow, much like a passing fancy or a crush. The love I refer to when I say that love is totally about surrendering is a deep love. It is constant. It is a love unlike any other, so much in-fact that we will go to great lengths to sacrifice our personal agenda to show our love to them. Love is not out of obligation when it is the right kind of love.

The word surrender in dictionary.com is defined as:

–verb (used with object)

1.	to yield (something) to the possession or power of another; deliver up possession of on demand or under duress: to surrender the fort to the enemy; to surrender the stolen goods to the police.

2.	to give (oneself) up, as to the police.

3.	to give (oneself) up to some influence, course, emotion, etc.: He surrendered himself to a life of hardship.

4.	to give up, abandon, or relinquish (comfort, hope, etc.).

5.	to yield or resign (an office, privilege, etc.) in favor of another.

–verb (used without object)

6.	to give oneself up, as into the power of another; submit or yield.

So, if surrendering ourselves means we are giving ourselves up, committing to, or yielding to a choice, we are more than likely giving up our own selfish desires to focus and embrace those of another. When we are living for the Lord and His will then we have chosen to be surrendered in His love. Un-surrendered love is selfish love. That is when we are focused on our own personal agendas, focused more-so upon our own needs to the point that we can't see much past them in fear of being hurt or losing something. Self-served love is lonely love, because it is not shared with another and typically keeps us paralyzed from experiencing it with any others.

Surrendered love is not out of someone twisting our arm. In fact it is quite the opposite. If we are forced into love, we will only love while it the arm is twisted and causing pain. As soon as the obligation, the hurt, or the twisted arm forcing the love is gone, it will not remain. And that is not genuine love or genuine surrender of the heart. It was only given out of joyless obligation. When love is genuine is doesn't just disappear. It remains, takes root, grows, and strengthens. But it required surrender to get to that point.

A truly deep, undivided love, will cause us to surrender our hearts and risk something greater than what existed before the risk occurred. If love were not great, it just wouldn't be worth any risk. And if there was not any risk in deeply loving and trusting another, it would be easier for us to do. And easy love doesn't develop deep bonds, deep trust, deep faith. But as Christ showed us and we are taught, love IS worth the risk, because love IS how we surrender ourselves to love and serve others and surrender to the will of God with joy in our hearts.

To love IS to surrender. We just can't love without it. Just make sure you know who it is you surrender to! Once you surrender completely, you will know that you are truly in love for the right reason.

1 Corinthians 13:2-4 (New International Version)

²If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,^a]">[a] but have not love, I gain nothing.

⁴Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

Isn't It Time You Got Dressed?

After having several conversations with people this week, I realized how important it is to get dressed. No, there have not been any people I know sighted without clothes. In fact, they are wearing clothes, but not the right type of clothing for the jobs they are doing.

Think about clothing. Think about uniforms. Think about sports.

Clothing serves multiple purposes, does it not? It protects us from the harsh elements. It protects us from wandering eyes. It sets us apart from other mammals.

Uniforms identify teams. Uniforms give us a sense of belonging to a specific group. Uniforms set us apart. Uniforms are a way of showing our team spirit. When we are in uniform, we know it's time to warm up, be ready, and psych ourselves up for the play. When we are in uniform, our attitudes transform, we toughen up, and we know it's GAME ON!

Now think about sports. Our uniforms and clothing do more than just prepare us for the game. They also protect us from the dangers that lie ahead as we engage in our specific roles of play. The clothing we wear protects vulnerable body parts that would otherwise be left exposed to bone crushing injuries. Without properly dressed and protected players, a win would be hard to come by.

The risk from injury is too great to be play unprotected. Yet we wander around everyday unprotected!

With that said, think about your spiritual life. How many of us are battling the opposition each day, yet we fail to suit up properly? The Bible tell us how to dress for protection, so why don't we spend more time actually suiting up? Without putting on the full armor of God, the opposition can take us out one by one. And pretty soon, our teams become paralyzed. Our players are being crushed. Their gifts go unused. They hurt. And sometimes they leave their positions. The opposition keeps damaging our people, because they are not properly suited up for protection, yet it is completely preventable!

The damage done in the Kingdom and it's people doesn't have to be as intense as it is with the proper clothing, uniforms, and equipment. It's time to get dressed and it's time to stop the destruction. Everyday we must suit up and stand firm! Getting dressed is not just for football players! Getting dressed is not just an option we have every morning when we decide if jeans or khakis are the pant of the day.

Suit up in the armor of God. Get your team spirit every morning. Identify who's side you fight for and stand firm with confidence. We can't afford to continually be injured by the enemy!

Ephesians 6:10-18 (New International Version)
¹⁰Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. ¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ¹⁸And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Respect The Gifts

I recently had a friend ask why I hadn't blogged for a few days. My answer: I don't blog everyday. I don't blog every few days. I only blog when something hits me as an urgent message that I need to blog about and broadcast. If those conditions aren't met, I don't blog. I don't want to blog for the sake of blogging about a subject. I blog with urgency and only hen I am ignited so to speak to reach others through my blog.

Anyhow-at church we are in a sermon series about Spiritual Gifts. And I've taken the spiritual gifts assessment. I'd taken one the first time two years ago. It hasn't changed drastically, however there are the same gifts that have strengthened in that time. Wow, I can say that using your gifts does refine them. They become sharper the more you use them ;-)

What I have realized after hearing the sermons and small group discussions-for me personally...I am afraid of my gifts.

While I am afraid to use them, I do use them anyway. I use them everyday! I use them regardless of being scared! So, why am I afraid of my gifts?

Most of my gifts are related to knowledge, prophecy, and communication. And with that comes so much room for error. There is so much room for human mistakes. There is so much room for people to criticize me. There is so much room for people to always pick apart what I say no matter how well I say it. And there is room for miscommunication if I were to be wreckless. I must not rely on myself and instead rely on God. And I think, why me? He needs someone smarter. He needs someone who's more experienced. Yada, yada, yada. And then I shut it. I will use them as He calls me to by seeking Him and not me. And yes-it is scary until I focus on who He is ;-) Perspective!

What I have learned for myself is that with using my gifts comes an overwhelming sense of responsibility. And I'm not simply talking about one type of responsibility. I don't mean that I ONLY have to be careful and consider each thing I write, speak, communicate in my life management and teaching, and writing in my blog or magazine. It is so much deeper than that.

I have a responsibility to USE my spiritual gifts.
I have a responsibility to use them properly.
I have a responsibility to use them wisely.
I have a responsibility to not waste them.
I have a responsibility to sharpen them.
I have a responsibility to be careful with them.
I have a responsibility to learn how to use them.
And of course, as I said earlier, I have the responsibility of thinking before speaking/writing.

If I let fear paralyze me, because of the intense responsibility I feel that accompanies the use of my gifts, I let my fears become bigger than God. Do not let your fears become bigger of God! So regardless of being unsure, fearful, and scared, I must keep using them to the best of my ability while being prayerful, while communicating and seeking guidance from God, and while using them in His Kingdom. The reason I spend so much time seeking God is so I know HOW to use them responsibly as He guides me to. I mean, how could I possibly use the equipment that God has gifted me with to play on His team, if I never knew what position on his team to play, how to play, and how to work as a team member in his Kingdom?

Knowing what your gifts are is not the end of understanding your spiritual gifts. There are responsibilities we have in using those same gifts and that knowledge comes from God. In order to know His will, we must continuously seek Him.

Oh, and I had to add this before closing:
When my kiddos get a gift and they are already talking about what they want NEXT Christmas, etc., I make sure they have taken care of the previous gifts they've gotten. I like to ask them-how did you take care of what you were already given? Did you respect it? Did you take care of it? If not, then I want them to think about why they are not satisfied with what they already have. I want them to think about adding more responsibility to what they have. Can they handle it? Do they really want it? Can they take care of it properly?

Before they talk about getting more or better gifts than what they already have, they need to think about what their role has been with the gifts they do have.

It's something helpful to us all to think about HOW we treat the gifts we have.

If we can't handle what we have and love and cherish it, why would we ask for more?

Message in A Bottle

Back in the 80's when music was "da bomb", the band The Police sang a song called Message A Bottle. It wasn't one of my favorites and when it came on the radio, I would only listen to a few minutes before I'd switch the radio station. Back in the day, I was more into the music of Madonna, The Tubes, Van Halen, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and The Go-Gos. I was definitely living as an 80's child enjoying the wide array of music, big haired bands, and funky clothing. Um, yeah. Thank goodness God is a gracious and merciful God. I was certainly an EGR (extra grace required).

While I still enjoy some the music from those days gone by (although I don't dress that way any longer-whew!), most of it comes from my mp3 player so I can control which songs I hear. But, since this particular song wasn't something I liked back in the day, it's not something I have on my mp3 player now. And when I am tired of the same ol', same ol, I'll bravely and selectively turn to the car radio. While driving my daughter to the high school I heard this song, Message In A Bottle. Yet the lyrics caught my attention and I didn't change the station. Without having to think at all, it reminded me instantly of why I blog about the messages I do, teach, and relay information that I feel just CAN'T wait! You'd think I was stuck on an island sending out an SOS or something!

I hope that someone gets my...
I hope that someone gets my...
message in the bottle

Sending out an SOS...
Sending out an SOS...
Sending out an SOS...

The internet is the ocean, my blog is the bottle, and there is an important message about living our faith out loud URGENTLY. Ok, so why so urgently?

I don't know when the end of time will come.
I don't know when Christ will return.
I don't know any of that.
That is not what I mean when I say urgent. I'm not claiming to know things I don't.
In fact, I don't know jack!

What I do know is that our days in the life we have been given by God in which to use our gifts to reach others IS LIMITED. Do I know when I will die? Do i know when you will die? Do I know anything specific about time? No, no, and no. The only thing I know is that our lives here on this earth to do what God has gifted and called us to do is limited. And when you think about only having a short span to do it in-THAT MAKES IT URGENT!

Take me for example. I will be 40 this next Saturday. How much more time do I have to live for God? How much time do I have to use my gifts, talents, and passions to make a difference in this world by living how he is calling me to live? If I look at the big picture of time and space, I have very little time. It truly seems that I only exist for maybe a minute compared to the thought of eternity. But in that quick minute on the scale of eternity, it equates to about...maybe another 50 years IF I get to live until I'm 90? Wow, cool...50 years-I've got time! Or do I? Do you? Do any of us? We just don't know. So we'd better be living-now.

It's urgent that we do not waste time. Don't waste it in your calling and use your gifts in ministry. And don't waste precious time in your relationships, in your marriages, in your parenting, in your work.....just don't waste time! We can't afford to! We can't continue to treat it as though it is a renewable natural resource. We have no control over how much time we have. The only thing we control is how and where we spend it.

And while some people will think that 50 years is forever away, I can tell you it's not. I blinked and all of the sudden I will be 40. I'm going to blink again and another 40 years will slip by.

If you are not living for Christ now, when do you plan on starting?

*************************************************************************************

Urgent message! I simply must encourage you to live, live, live, and make Christ the center of your life to bring Honor and glorify God in every action you make-not just in church once a week. We have a balance to keep, priorities to set, and life to manage so the opposition doesn't keep us from FINISHING the race! We have communities to change, lives to change, and we must always THINK about who we have the opportunity to serve while doing this!!! Oh, and you don't want to burn out, so there will be many bottles to encourage and teach you in that as well. Please take what you now know through this message and pass it along! Now take your gifts and get busy! End Message!


*************************************************************************************

No wonder when I get the urge to blog, I simply just do it. It's bigger than myself, and if just one person grabs one of these online bottles and reads one of the messages within it, quite possibly one life may be changed. One gift may be used. One burned-out individual may be revived and kept serving in ministry. And maybe many more will find a bottle with plain ol' encouragement rolled up in it.

I have quite a few blog posts floating around on the internet now. My prayer is that they be found, the messages read, and that they get passed on to another individual with urgency.

Together, we can send out an SOS and spread a sense of urgency to use everything we have to build God's Kingdom.



Song, Message In A Bottle, The Police

Failure By The Book

Ok, hold on tight, because here goes:

I am in the middle of studying Nehemiah. Again. Well, I should say it is my first study of the book. I have read it, but this is my first in-depth study. And how I got here is simple. I have been praying intensely and urgently for help. I am stuck. I built what I felt I was called to build, and now my direction is................I am lost. So, I stopped and asked God for directions. Yeah, I know. I probably should've done that knowing this journey was going to continue. But, better late than never. Or I hoped God would see it that way. Gulp...

So I've been earnestly seeking God's will, his direction, and my next steps in a few areas. I believe they are intertwined, and I can see the dots, however they are not connecting. I can't seem to make the connection! It's just a bit frustrating, because I want so much to just run-go-do, and I will without asking any questions, but I am standing here with something that has me chomping at the bit, and I am stuck! I know it's hard to understand. Try living it! I seriously feel I will just erupt in a flames if I don't get to go soon. My passion for the Kingdom is just incredible. Only I want to make sure I am running God's race and not mine. If it's mine, I am likely going to trip on my shoelaces, ram my head through hurdles, and find I've been running the track backwards. (That's me on any normal day, lol. I really need God's guidance!)

So as I read Nehemiah, I was just hit by this:

Nehemiah 2

Artaxerxes Sends Nehemiah to Jerusalem

¹ In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before; ² so the king asked me, "Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart."
I was very much afraid, ³ but I said to the king, "May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?"

As I studied this, I realized that I do have so much fear on the road that I am traveling. And my fear is not about not going. I am going. I know that. It's not a matter of inaction. Here am I, Lord send me!!! Whoohoooooo!

No, my fear is based soley upon this: what if I succeed? Then what?

Well, duh! Do I honestly think that God would not equip me with the tools and things necessary for success and beyond when it is His success through me? Hmmm...I had to think and start digging deep. Someone paid me the highest compliment ever yesterday. I was told that although I type about 90 words per minute, my mind must think at 250 words per second. (Thanks, Jon!) I believe it is because I sense so much urgency in relaying information and teaching that my mind is able to work that fast! That actually turned something I felt was a negative into a positive!

So now I'm sure my mind is thinking about 500 words per second. Nehemiah set me on fire!

The old quote I've heard many times is this: The only time we can fail is if we never try. But tonight I wonder, is it really? Is it possible to fail by succeeding? And which paralyzes us? Are we more paralyzed by the fear of success than the fear of failure? Which actually keeps us from acting? The fear of failure or the fear of success?

Succeeding doesn't necessarily mean we're home-free! Success doesn't mean that we're free and clear and the job is done. I believe in my case it is the EXACT opposite!

Success in life management, teaching to changing lives, raising money to build shelters in communities and provide people's most basic needs in the name of Jesus, and rebuilding what has been broken in our homes and towns through proper management of resources and priorities, means that the work has actually just begun!

HELP ME! LOL!!! I'm a leader who just might harbor a little too much passion!

I'm also a leader who's scared out of my witts! But I am equally as excited! If this succeeds, the work has just begun. The blueprints, materials, and building of the facility was just the beginning. It's what occurs once the completion of the walls is done that counts. So now I contemplate what failure really is. As I study Nehemiah, I learn that God is reaching me not only to teach me about failure, but about trust. And He is teaching me by the book. His holy and unfaulted book. The Bible.

I am now going to try and resume a normal (slower) thought pattern. I just needed to get this out of my system and share it ;-)

Just A Picture

This is my six month old cat, Chunks. BIG KITTY! He is usually laying across my wrists as I type and work on the life management magazine and my blog. He makes a nice coworker, lol. The only draw back? His nasty wet mouse. He shares what he loves with me, but I guess that's a good thing. Have an awesome, Monday. Blessings to all!

PS. Don't overlook your blessings ;-) Even that nasty, wet, toy mouse is a blessing. Why? If I didn't have that to deal with, I wouldn't have my cat. Be grateful for what the Lord blesses you with!

To Friend or Not To Friend

Every once in awhile I receive a friend request on Facebook from a person that I do not know well or at all (a friend of a friend of a friend). And I sometimes also know that they are not a Christ follower. I am particular about who I follow on the social networking scene such as Facebook and Twitter. I pick and choose who I associate with carefully. However, I am not so sure that I should be so careful of those who follow me.

Why?

Even through social media there is the possibility that my status updates and profile posts could help a non-believer learn about Christ. It just might be that someone following my posts and updates would be able to sense how the Lord is working in my life. It is a very real possibility that my updates could serve as a starting point for an individual. So if my posts could possibly plant seeds to an unbeliever or a person who has fallen away from Christ, why not friend them? After all, I can control what I see in return by filtering what gets through to me on my home feeds. Since I have this technology available to protect what I see, shouldn't I friend someone who is requesting my online friendship when I am giving glory and trying to honor God with how I live so it can be shared with someone else?

If just one of my updates or tweets would get someone to start thinking about God, wonder about the life of Jesus, or wonder what it is like to live as a believer by seeing what goes on in my own life (up close and personal-not superficially), then it is worth it to me to friend them. I hope that as I use social media I am using it to bring glory to God. I hope I use it to evangelize. I hope to use it for missions work when I can't be out reaching the entire world. I hope to use it to show others that God is real, that God does love us, and that salvation through Christ is available. I hope to use it to teach and reach!

One person at a time, one friend request at a time, I have the opportunity to talk about faith with people I couldn't reach otherwise. And they don't even realize I am talking to them about Christianity through updating my status' and sending tweets about how I am living through my own life. How cool is that?!

Christians can now fly under the "I'm going to tell you about Jesus" radar that makes most non-believers run. Instead, I can tell them by what I DO and SAY in my own life.

Now, I'm going to tweet this!

The Exciting Race!

Recently I was at the Kansas Nebraska Southern Baptist Convention. I really enjoyed being there, and since it was my first time attending, I found myself learning quite a bit. Learning is a favorite past-time for me depending upon the subject, and this was stuff I was just soaking in. I wanted to leave with as much absorbed as possible. Soon though, it was time for prayer and the pastor's who would be our speakers.

The message I have seen, heard, and found over and over again is this:

Hebrews 12

God's Discipline Proves His Love
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.* Because of the joy* awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne.

Dude...I am a runner. I cannot possibly contain this passion and sense of urgency to teach what I teach. Why? Because it is Christ-centered. Life is so CRAZY, hectic, and everything in our society has become urgent and competes with what God has called each and every one of us to do.

Sometimes we think we will run our race tomorrow. Some of us are still stand at the starting line, afraid to actually run. Some of us are waiting for someone else to go first, so if it's a false start or someone doesn't like the track we are on, we can point a finger and blame them. There are so many reasons why running the race with urgency and endurance is put off. But the #1 reason for it is with this "too busy to breath" mentality, and the promotion by our society of business in lieu of effectiveness. Because of these we consistently fail to keep our eyes fixed upon Christ.

Life Management is about being Christ-centered, understanding our priorities and their importance to each and every individual person, and running the race based on that.

So, as I sat and listened to our speakers, I became excited. How can one not be over the top, excited, and wanting to live their purpose with such a passion when it IS urgent to run this race? How can one not want to jump out of their seat and keep enduring to win the race, when they are focused on Christ who is at the finish line? Who is the chic that looks like she has ADHD every time she hears, speaks, works, writes, creates, and yes-even listens to others who are just as passionate?

You guessed it. I'm the woman in the pew who looks at her friends and lifts herself up off the pew as if she's going to start running any second. I'm the woman who shakes her foot non-stop as she thinks of 9 billion blog topics, workbooks, and ways to help people change their lives as I listen. I talk under my breath, my eyes fill up with tears when I feel so much urgency and passion that I could literally explode. I'm this crazy person who knows deep down that she can't stop running even though there are millions of miles left ahead. And I don't even care to ask how many miles are left or where they are located. Will it be dangerous? Will it be scary? Will there be rest along the way? It just doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is that I listen, go, and do what I have been called to do.

Not later.

But now.

So I thought for the comfort and safety of those around me, that a seat belt to hold me in my chair in church, in a conference, in a meeting, or when I'm working, just might be appropriate. You know, so not IF, but WHEN I jump up out of my chair, to run off and get yet another day of work done for the Lord, I don't trip over the people around me or scare them. But then again, why would I want to do that especially when I can show those around me that running this difficult and challenging race is the most awesome thing I could do in my life.

Forget the seat belts. Jump out of those seats. Put on the full armor of God and you an run the race, endure the race, and finish the race. And if you're looking for safety and security, I may not be the best person for people to sit next to. You'll have to endure my excitability!

This IS the EXCITING RACE!!!

Is Social Media A Leader's Popularity Contest?

I absolutely love being on Facebook and Twitter. It's fun, it's a creative outlet for me, and it's just one more place that I can spread some of my (over-abundance of) energy out. My mind seems to work overtime, my thoughts travel around my brain like it's NASCAR, and most of them do collide before they ever hit my blog or other social media outlet.

But, as a leader in life management, I began to wonder about how social media plays into leadership. I know for myself that receiving input is on most days a good thing. I like to see that people understand what it is I am writing about, tweeting, or commenting on. It produces a sense of validation, correctness, and likability.

But what happens when leaders become focused on responses to social media?

• Does no response equal a disliked thought process?
• Does the fact that no one has "liked" your status updates on Facebook equal dislike?

Leaders who do not settle for the status quo or brown-nose models for acceptability for what has been the norm may not receive squat in the form of social media feedback. But lack of feedback doesn't necessarily mean anything. Consider Twitter's Follow Fridays where users are given props in a #FF (Follow Friday). He who has the most is the biggest leader. The most popular. The most successful. Seriously? Is that really what it means? Social media has become a popularity contest? Yep. All of the sudden in some aspects (but not all), social media has become a popularity contest.

I think it should make any leader ask himself/herself some tough questions:

• Does a small following mean that we are not needed?
• Does it mean that individuals are failing as a leader if response rates are slow or low?
• Will leaders start basing every move they make on social networking likability?
• As leaders are we going to base everything we lead, do , or say on the number of re-tweets we receive?
• As leaders are we consulting our social media outlets more than we are consulting God and His will, word, and direction?

I know I have seen myself slide into this. And it's so easy. At times I find the best way to control the leader in me who seeks to follow what social media finds popular, I must unplug from time to time. Social media is not a replacement for seeking God. Nor is it an accurate measurement of how well we are doing by the number of followers, likes, or dislikes we have.

If we as leaders do not stay focused upon God and our missions, we will become focused on our own popularity. And when leaders become focused on themselves, they can't lead others effectively no matter what social media says.

Growth In My Own Words

I was thinking today about a conversation with peers I'd had earlier this week about accountability, growth, and leadership. And of course, at various times since then, different thought patterns have started.

As I thought about these three things separately, I found that they are anything but, and they should be intertwined and used together:

Effective leadership instills, teaches, and promotes accountability.
Accountability promotes, teaches, and instills effective leadership qualities.

Growth happens when people are accountable. Growth happens when individuals are leading. But there was something else missing from growth.

I thought about my kids. How have they grown? Well, for one they are out of diapers and into designer jeans. Yeah, except that the diapers were easier to shop for. Another bonus is that they are past baby food stage and into the teenage "eat everything in sight after school" phase.

This was still not what I was trying to pull from my thoughts on growth. So, I decided to grab a snack, although I wanted something low-fat. I didn't want to have to exercise any more than necessary!

As soon as I thought about exercise, I realized that this was exactly what I was looking for.

In order to grow, we must exercise. We can't get bigger biceps without exercising. We can't gain more muscle unless we exercise. We can't increase our strength, gain power, and hold on to what we have unless we challenge the muscle we have already and grow it.

Growth to get bigger, gain more, and to add in quantity requires exercise. Exercise requires action. Actions require a plan. And plans are made to reach a goal. Everyone wants to exercise, because it sounds like a good thing to do. It looks good. I'm supposed to do it. But honestly, who is going to STICK with an exercise program if they don't know what their goal is? And why would anyone have a goal if it didn't mean something personal to them?

We see this every holiday season. People purchase gym memberships and millions of dollars worth of exercise equipment that they plan on using. Without a specific goal, they are essentially volunteering their body's to participate on this vision in their minds. Without ownership, without a specific and measurable goal in sight, and without ever taking the time to determine the importance of this activity in their life, why would they continue on this vision? They don't. And I believe that is the same reason we lose volunteers.

People start and stop. Start and stop. Start and stop. The growth they were hoping for doesn't happen and discouragement sets in. Pretty soon, they don't even show up.

The solution is for growth to occur steadily, continually, and with a clearly defined path specific to each persons goals and life area mission statements. That creates personal accountability and meaning-even in volunteering. It creates a growth chart of sorts. Out of growth great leaders are born and raised. These up and coming leaders and maturing individuals will require good coaching and leadership to keep them on their growth course. And we all like to see how much we've grown in our life areas.

Growth attached to exercise, exercise attached to involvement, and involvement attached to personal accountability is when growth becomes sustainable. And only when growth is sustainable does it become measurable.

This is just one of my thought processes which may turn out to make sense only to myself until I dive a little deeper into it. No harm in that, but comments are always appreciated.

Godly Nightlights

I must admit when I got home tonight, I needed to figure out where I was on the spiritual radar. I needed an air-traffic controller to tell me where I was in relation to God. I don't mean that I was far away from him. It felt like he was so close, yet I couldn't find my next direction no matter how hard I tried. If he were telling me to head north, I couldn't tell if I was headed south. If he wanted move up, I was heading down. If he was pointing to the left, I was heading right. I was near him, but I just couldn't hear him concerning my direction and the path I need to take right now.

For whatever reason, I felt drawn to take a walk. I grabbed my mp3 player and did the normal search for my ear buds only to find that my son had "accidentally" forgotten to tell me they were now broken (kitty cat got 'em). I still felt so compelled to go that I grabbed the next best thing. I grabbed my headphones and microphone for my laptop. Yes...I went for a walk wearing a regular miked up headset. It was kind of funny, but it did work.

By the time I got out the door, it was very dark. As I started walking, I found myself drawn to the wondrous and majestic Kansas sky. The stars were so bright and there was nothing to drown out the view as my feet pounded the sidewalk. Soon though, I found myself leary of the dark. There were big trees along the side walks which meant spider webs. In order to alleviate those fears and not break my neck, I decided the street would be spider and crack free. In addition to spiders, I was worried about the cracks. Our side walks in town are so horrible, and at night you can't see the unevenness and the cracks no matter how hard you try. I figured the streets would be more level, and I could avoid having to explain to people that I broke an ankle by walking down the sidewalk in the dark.

The longer I walked the more focused I became on the Christian music lyrics and how they seemed to speak to me about God. Who he is, who I am, and how much I love Him! His love excites me! Just knowing who He is is indescribable. Spending time with Him is peaceful, joyful, and it filled me with a sense of awe! It's really more than what I am capable of describing really. I felt the longer I walked the more lost in Him I became. The world seemed to disappear in some aspects. The homes along the streets didn't capture my attention. The trees didn't matter. The cars passing by could have easily run over me, and I would've not really cared!

My focus was not on what was going on around me. At this point in time, I was truly focused on what God was doing within me. God was lighting my internal fire-that all consuming passion for Him. It was like walking right in line with my Creator, the God of the Universe! It was phenominal and wonderous, and just inspiring!

Soon, the song, Shine by After The Chase started playing on my mp3 player and carried my walk one step further.

Here's a glimpse at the lyrics:

When I feel like giving up
When I feel like letting go
When I know my heart is
Is blacker than the night
I know You don’t give up
And I know You don’t let go
And I know Your heart is
Is brighter than the sun

Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
You are the sun to me
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
You shine Your light on me

My eyes they led me to a place
Where I felt so far from grace
And I wore a weight of
Of guilt and darkness there
I know You don’t give up
And I know You don’t let go
And I know Your heart is
Is brighter than the sun

Come and shine Your light on me
I need Your light to be
Brighter than the dark that
Sets me apart from You

I’m sorry Lord for how it’s been
All about me
All about me
How I let the days slip on

Entertaining me but You’re waking me

As I walked, I replayed this song several times. I thought about how at any moment on the dark streets, there could have been someone ready to jump out from behind the cars parked along the sides. It was dark and with thoughts like this, it was scary to be a woman walking in the dark alone. However, I got a little relief from that dark when I walked past a street light. In that little bit of light, it didn't seem as scary! I noticed each light. I started thinking about the light and hoped that I'd come across another one soon.

It became about the light. Come and shine your light on me. I can see the light now. And as you read this, you might want to replace the word light with the word HOPE. Because of the light, I can see the hope now. I have been completely blessed to see light (hope). And now by living my life as God has called me to, by living my life to be more Christ-focused, I can shine in the dark so others may begin to see the light, which is Christ. Hope is in Christ.

If we Christians are shining, because of the light we have been given, and we are in fact casting light in the dark, we must go INTO the dark where the light can be seen.

If we merely take the light that we have been given and keep it on in the safe areas-areas of light...

inside the safety of our church walls,
inside the safety of our own homes,
only in the parts of town considered by most as safe

We are not creating more light or helping people find their way out of the darkness. Light can create more light. Hope can create more hope. Your light can light the way for another. And their light can light the way for another. And another. And another. And all that light leads to hope. And hope is Christ. And Christ leads us to our Creator.

Light in the darkness leads us to light because we can see it.

Light in the light is hard to see. And those who need hope, those who need the light are looking for someone willing to take the light into the scary parts of this dark world. If we don't go, who will? Darkness will keep darkness to avoid exposing what it really is.

Dark conceals pain.
Dark conceals suffering.
Dark conceals wrong.
Dark conceals sin.
Dark conceals hope.

As Christians, if we live our lives outwardly and take the light (hope) we have been given out and into the dark and remote places of our communities, the scary places we'd rather not go, and the places we stay away from, we could begin to change the dark into the light. But if we keep our light in the light, the dark will never become light, because they can't witness what the light really is. Light creates hope. Light reveals flaws. Light exposes sin and begins to transform lives. The light exposes the truth.

As Christians, churches, and communities, we should be lighting the world by using our light to find those without and share the light with them.

It's time for our light to shine where those in the dark can see it. If we are truly plugged in to the Creator, we should certainly let him use us as His nightlights as he reaches His people in all dark corners of the world and every dim place in between.

Comparing Sin To The Midway

It's that time of year. The beginning of the school year, the Kansas State Fair hits town, and schedule shifts, changes, and work life becomes total chaos. It means I blog a little less for a spell, but things will calm soon. I am so counting on that!

I took my kids to the fair twice this year. The first time was on the dollar night where every ride is just a buck. It's a single mother's best option and the ride tickets go a LONG way! As we walked around the midway, I found myself noticing how everything looked so enticing.

The flashing lights.
The hip, but inappropriate music lyrics.
The undressed and partially dressed people.
The inappropriate dress.
The sexy allure of the young generation to "be part of the crowd".
The harsh language.
The food that clogs our arteries and how we eat as much of it as we can.
The fast and slick people who design the games to leave us more than broke.
The temptation to stick around even though it is really time to leave.

The night at the fair turned into something that reminded me so much of sin. At first it may seem enticing. It may have an allure. And we think we can stay on top of it. Control it. Until we realize that the initial temptation and self control we thought we had has prevented us too from stepping away from it when we knew we should have.

It's like that evil roller coaster that looked so cool at first. But once we got in and sat down, we couldn't get out. We were strapped in to something out of control, spinning, going upside down, and what started as fun turned into sheer terror. I think we've all been in those kinds of situations when we think that we can just get off the ride whenever we want to.

Sin is like being on a death ride that doesn't stop until every passenger has his life sucked out of him or her, and Satan is in the control tower.

The entire first night as I looked around, I just kept asking God, "How? Why? Does this break your heart after all you have done for us?" I just imagined God looking down from heaven onto this filthy, stinky, sin filled earth, and wondered what it is like for him to see this. I can't even fathom the grace He extends to us, the redemption in His perfect son that He has given us, and the love He has for each of us. I know if it were me, I'd snap my fingers and all of mankind would be dust. I'm sure that's because I have an attitude instead of grace. I'm aware of my short-comings and faults, lol!

Thinking about that really had an impact on my heart. And I am still thinking about how that makes me want to change the way I see those tempting neon signs that flash when sin is trying to captivate me. I hope that this will be a constant reminder of how slick and sneaky sin can be.

I don't care how sin is disguised to look fun or glamorous or hip. It's one ride I don't want to wait in line to ride, and I certainly don't want to explain to God that I actually purchased a ticket for it.

Focus On The Truth

Last night I had one of the longest phone conversations of my life. I was being grilled about Christianity, the Bible, and Jesus like I never imagined. Those simple questions I could answer just by referencing scripture and knowing what I'd learned during Bible study and my own study. But where it got too deep was when I was asked about unbiblical things, science, words and things I didn't understand and had never heard of, individual theory, and other religions and their bibles and other gods.

Before I knew it, the truth started being distorted as I referenced it directly from the Bible. I was being challenged on everything! There's no hell? Really? Hmmm...that's not what my Bible says! You can do anything you want? God doesn't judge? The Bible is incomplete? There's more we need to know and figure out from our own scientific theories? The Bible is full of errors? Two hour and 30 minutes worth of this, and me sitting in fear. Wow. I was not only ripping my hair out, but for many, many, many reasons, this was a very difficult situation.

Colossians 2:8 (New International Version)

⁸See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

So, after all the events that occurred, I was left feeling less than prime this morning. I knew I had a choice to make. I could believe what fear and this situation of control were feeding me, or I could find my focus and put my focus on Jesus again. I opted for the latter, although I wasn't sure exactly how I'd get there. Jesus is always the answer no matter how difficult the problem is! I blogged the blog entry, What If Christians... (the entry below this one), emailed an individual, and knew something changed. As I wrote that blog entry-it all changed. And suddenly, it was turning into a very positive thing! A TCE moment! (This changes EVERYTHING!)

I decided to get some lunch, so I grabbed my keys to head to my favorite "I'm poor, but hungry" restaurant (Taco Bell) to get out of the house for a few minutes. And on the Christian radio station was this song, The Voice Of Truth (with lyrics) Casting Crowns (follow the link to listen). I counted my quarters and cried at the drive-thru. (That was a beautiful moment ;-) I had chosen by making a conscious decision to put my focus back on who I am in Christ and not focus on the lies, deceit, and fear. And even though I didn't know the steps I was going to have to take to get back there, God reached me right where I was. The whole unpleasant experience became something that honored Him. I heard the voice of truth. I was reminded of truth. And I had stood firm, with my feet firmly planted and not wavering on my faith as I was battled on two very sensitive areas of my life. One being domestic violence and the second, trying to discredit my faith and drown me.

I didn't drown. I focused on truth. And the truth took me right back to where I was before I got side-swiped. It took me back full circle, where I started out strong and in the truth. There is nothing wrong with me, and there is Jesus. The opposition tried to get me from two sensitive angles at the same time through his lies and fear! I was not prepared for a multiple angle ambush! And, I learned I need not fear. I just chose to focus on Jesus even though I didn't know HOW I would be able to get back. And, I was rescued, and not a moment too late.

I wanted to share this with everyone.

When you start doubting, focus on the voice of truth. It's the only voice you need.

Don't let the opposition distort the truth. Just choose Jesus as the truth, and He'll rescue you!

Sharpen your swords, armor up, and equip yourself with the truth!

And listen to and enjoy the song. Turn it UP and sing it LOUD!

2 Peter 2:18 For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error.

What If Christians...

My son is the king of the "what-if's" in my house. But today, I am going to ask:

What if?

What if as Christians we kept all of our hurts to ourselves?
What if we never talked about our doubts?
What if we never shared our personal experiences?
What if we never never specified our prayer needs and always left our requests generic?
What if we never admitted we felt defeat?
What if we never admitted we needed support?
What if we never admitted we screwed up?
What if we never admitted we sinned?
What if we never admitted we were sick?
What if we never admitted we had addictions and needed help to over come them?
What if we never admitted that our relationships were suffering?
What if we never admitted we'd been abused in in a violent relationship?
What if we never admitted we'd been wrong?
And more importantly, what if we never answered those who sought us for the above?

What if?

If we never admitted our brokenness, never allowed anyone to see the transparent people we are, would we be a false image of Christians who live perfect lives making each other feel that we had to continue to hide? Would we be able to help or assist others who have been in the same circumstances of situations? Would we know we could share resources and success stories? Would we be able to offer each other HOPE or pray for each other?

Or would we just seem like Christians who are just peachy when in reality our jars were just too broken to carry all the peaches? Are the beans spilling out of your jar, yet those around you don't know why? I'm not suggesting each person walk around and tell the world about their brokenness and we focus on negativity. But, at the same time, we need to realize that what makes us broken can make us complete. We can share and start the restoration process.

It's no secret anymore. I am a survivor of domestic violence. And I stopped hiding it. Does it change who I am? Does it make me weaker or needy? Does it imply that I did anything to deserve it? Does it mean that I am incapable of future relationships or standing my ground? NO, NO, NO! The only thing that allowed that kind of thinking was my own hidden shame. Keeping it a secret, was the only thing making it a secret. So, I'm a survivor and I can kick some *donkey*. I'm sharing my story. Why? Because I am NOT a victim. I am a survivor and now there can be two people (one drawing strength from me-and me giving the strength that I gained). There can be TWO chicks capable of kicking *donkey* in the name of survival. And each time a story is shared, it just means that the number of survivors increases. For each survivor the opposition looses!

If you think that testosterone can win a war...you ain't seen anything till you witness some estrogen in action.

Doesn't stand a chance. Period.

Christians-come together and BE Christians to each other. Stop hiding! When we try and fight alone, we give the opposition fuel, doubt, and everything He needs to defeat us!

Remember:
Straight from the Bible...
Ecclesiastes 4:12
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.


If your story and account of personal success can give one person a glimmer of hope, to overcome the obstacles, defeat, and hurt...wouldn't it be better to show them the scars from a healed battle than to let them only focus on theirs as they lay wide open and gaping? Could part of the healing process be admitting that our brokenness is not defeat and something to hide? Could we start celebrating our victories and focusing on the future full of bright possibilities?

We hide what we are ashamed of. And sometimes those things are not our fault. But we continue to keep them hidden.

Abandonment
Abuse
Addictions
Loss
Depressions
Disabilities
Divorce
Sin

To me, it just seems logical that the restoration cannot begin until it is brought into the light. Why? The surgeon can't see to fix anything while it's stuck in a dark closet. Bring it to where the light and tools are!

The tools:
Acknowledgement (That it needs to be out in the open and get fixed. Even if it's between just two people.)
Prayer
Scripture
Church
Community of believers
Support of Small groups
Loved ones
Anyone else beneficial to your team

We are not a perfect church, filled with perfect people, living perfect lives. Have you ever wondered...what if the opposition wants each of us to sit and suffer in silence in times of our greatest needs? What better way than to make us think we are alone when we certainly do not have to be.

What if we changed this?