One of the things that concerns me about venturing out to minister to people who are very different from be is that we won't be able to relate to one another. I have lived a very sheltered, good-two-shoes kind of life. And, frankly, sometimes I am shocked by the stuff that goes on in the world. (I try not to let my shock show, but it's definitely there.)
So I wonder how I'll be able to help someone who has a drug addiction when I've never even seen an illegal drug! How can I encourage someone who is living in the midst of the party scene when I've never even been to that kind of party? Will they listen to me? (Just like I might not listen to parenting help from a person who's never had children.)
God knows my concerns. And this week I read in 2 Cor. 1:4 that God comforts me in my troubles so I can share His comfort with others in ANY kind of trouble! ALL kinds of troubles! I looked up the definition for the Greek word for all or any in that verse. Here's what I learned: the Greek word pas means, "any, all, every kind of." So God's comfort to me translates into comfort for people in any and every kind of trouble. I am not limited to sharing God's comfort only with those whose afflictions mirror my own! Praise God! When I am being led by my Father, He can use me to share His comfort with someone totally different from me who has experienced troubles I can't even imagine. Because it's not about my troubles; it's about my God! It's not about my own ability to sympathize or comfort others; it's about allowing His comfort to flow through me. He longs to comfort all of us. And He can use any of us who are willing to do just that.
Who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2Cor. 1:4 NASB
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Waiting on God
My husband has thought that planting a church would be a good idea for some time now. And a couple of months ago he felt God confirm this as a God Idea. He didn't hear an audible voice. He just knew in his spirit that this was God's leading.
One of the people he has told about our church plant told of a vision from God about our planting a church.
Meanwhile, I've got nothing! No vision. No confirmation in my spirit. Nothing. Zilch. Nada.
So now I wonder...do we go forward based on my husband's confidence and assurance that God is leading us here? Do we wait for God to confirm this to me? If so, how long? Am I not hearing from God because I am doing something wrong?
I want to hear from God myself that He is leading us on this journey. But He may want me to have faith in the husband He has given me. The second way involves a lot more trust. Trust in God to lead my husband. Trust in my husband to hear and follow God's leading.
And through this journey I'm learning that trust doesn't come easily to me. I tend to hold back, to protect myself. I want to learn to trust. To wholeheartedly abandon myself to God. Because He is trustworthy. Even when I am afraid.
One of the people he has told about our church plant told of a vision from God about our planting a church.
Meanwhile, I've got nothing! No vision. No confirmation in my spirit. Nothing. Zilch. Nada.
So now I wonder...do we go forward based on my husband's confidence and assurance that God is leading us here? Do we wait for God to confirm this to me? If so, how long? Am I not hearing from God because I am doing something wrong?
I want to hear from God myself that He is leading us on this journey. But He may want me to have faith in the husband He has given me. The second way involves a lot more trust. Trust in God to lead my husband. Trust in my husband to hear and follow God's leading.
And through this journey I'm learning that trust doesn't come easily to me. I tend to hold back, to protect myself. I want to learn to trust. To wholeheartedly abandon myself to God. Because He is trustworthy. Even when I am afraid.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
My Journey
This whole journey into the possibility of planting a church has been a series of stops and starts, of excitement and fear. When my husband first began to talk about planting a church, I really thought he might be able to accomplish his goals at our current church. We were making some changes that seemed like they might make it easier to minister to those he wanted to reach. But I now realize that this may be a longer process than he's willing to endure (and may never happen at all).
I then went through a period of excitement. Everything was so theoretical to me at that time that the reality of all that is involved didn't sink in. We would have fun creating our dream church! We've often had those "if I were in charge" conversations, but this was different - we would be in charge! (Under God's leadership, of course.)
Then the magnitude of what we were considering hit me! And many questions came with it. Those questions sparked worries and fears. How will our girls adjust? Who will keep things organized since neither of us is at all organized? How will he balance church, a business, and home? Will our friends help us? Will they understand?
He had told some of his friends who lived out of town and a couple of close, trusted friends here, but I really wanted him to wait to tell more people until I was more sure. He agreed that this was a good plan. THEN HE TOLD SOMEONE!! This totally freaked me out! All the old fears and several new ones came rushing to the surface. I felt like he was moving too fast. So he assured me that he wouldn't move forward (in regard to telling people or actually starting the church) until we both agreed it was the right time.
Since then we've had numerous late-night discussions about planting a church. And my husband is very certain that God is calling him to do this. So far I have to trust him because God has not given me confirmation that this is what we should do.
So right now we're waiting. And trying to prepare for things I don't think we can imagine yet. The preparing isn't too bad. The waiting is another story... Another story for another post.
I then went through a period of excitement. Everything was so theoretical to me at that time that the reality of all that is involved didn't sink in. We would have fun creating our dream church! We've often had those "if I were in charge" conversations, but this was different - we would be in charge! (Under God's leadership, of course.)
Then the magnitude of what we were considering hit me! And many questions came with it. Those questions sparked worries and fears. How will our girls adjust? Who will keep things organized since neither of us is at all organized? How will he balance church, a business, and home? Will our friends help us? Will they understand?
He had told some of his friends who lived out of town and a couple of close, trusted friends here, but I really wanted him to wait to tell more people until I was more sure. He agreed that this was a good plan. THEN HE TOLD SOMEONE!! This totally freaked me out! All the old fears and several new ones came rushing to the surface. I felt like he was moving too fast. So he assured me that he wouldn't move forward (in regard to telling people or actually starting the church) until we both agreed it was the right time.
Since then we've had numerous late-night discussions about planting a church. And my husband is very certain that God is calling him to do this. So far I have to trust him because God has not given me confirmation that this is what we should do.
So right now we're waiting. And trying to prepare for things I don't think we can imagine yet. The preparing isn't too bad. The waiting is another story... Another story for another post.
Monday, May 3, 2010
My Husband's Journey
Just a few years ago, I had never heard of church planting. Now my husband and I are on a journey toward planting a church. And I need a place to process this crazy, scary, God-sized journey.
So how did we get here? My husband began to feel a disillusionment with the church status quo about a year ago. God began to birth a desire in him to reach all kinds of people with the gospel, not just white, middle-class people who look like us. And he began to see that often our church and many others put up barriers that make it much harder for anyone who's very different to know Jesus. (Not intentional barriers, but barriers nonetheless.) God brought people into his ministry that were "messy, " needy and in need of Jesus. And they responded to Him. Not because of our standard church programs, but despite them.
God also used the book No Perfect People Allowed to help shape his views on how to minister to a new generation of people. I'm now reading it as well, and it's a real eye-opener. At first we thought we might be able to create a culture that welcomes all people, even those who live very different lifestyles than we do, at our current church. But as time went on, he realized that this won't happen soon, if ever. So he began to read about church planting. About starting a whole new church from scratch. The more he thought and prayed and attended conferences and researched, the more he became convinced that this is what God is calling him to do. And he is very excited about it!
As for me...I'll tackle my journey later!
So how did we get here? My husband began to feel a disillusionment with the church status quo about a year ago. God began to birth a desire in him to reach all kinds of people with the gospel, not just white, middle-class people who look like us. And he began to see that often our church and many others put up barriers that make it much harder for anyone who's very different to know Jesus. (Not intentional barriers, but barriers nonetheless.) God brought people into his ministry that were "messy, " needy and in need of Jesus. And they responded to Him. Not because of our standard church programs, but despite them.
God also used the book No Perfect People Allowed to help shape his views on how to minister to a new generation of people. I'm now reading it as well, and it's a real eye-opener. At first we thought we might be able to create a culture that welcomes all people, even those who live very different lifestyles than we do, at our current church. But as time went on, he realized that this won't happen soon, if ever. So he began to read about church planting. About starting a whole new church from scratch. The more he thought and prayed and attended conferences and researched, the more he became convinced that this is what God is calling him to do. And he is very excited about it!
As for me...I'll tackle my journey later!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Hope for the Future
Overheard in my car today:
Hope: "I hope the antichrist comes soon."
Me: "Why?'
Hope: "So Jesus will come back sooner."
I have never met anyone, let alone a child who longs for Jesus' return as much as she does. I know I don't. But I want to!
Of course, she may have been anxious for the return of Jesus on this particular day so she wouldn't have to ride in the car to take her sister to dance class.
Hope: "I hope the antichrist comes soon."
Me: "Why?'
Hope: "So Jesus will come back sooner."
I have never met anyone, let alone a child who longs for Jesus' return as much as she does. I know I don't. But I want to!
Of course, she may have been anxious for the return of Jesus on this particular day so she wouldn't have to ride in the car to take her sister to dance class.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Olympic Fever!
I am obsessed with really like the Olympics. I like rooting for America. I like seeing the stories of the athlete's dedication and perseverance. I really like it when the Americans win! I even like the sappy profiles on NBC. I watch sports during the Olympics that I don't normally watch. Speed skating, skiing, snowboarding, the biathlon, hockey, curling- you televise it, and I'll watch it! (Especially if the US might win a medal!)
The downside of the Olympics is that the television coverage lasts into the wee hours of the night. I have to make myself stop watching around midnight. (OK, it's been 12:30 a few nights.) And I wake up late and I'm tireder and less patient the next day. So the past couple of weeks I've been tireder and a little less patient, and our home is certainly messier.
Now that the Olympics are over for two more years, I'm really going to try to get to bed ON TIME! I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!
One thing that I've really noticed this year is the athlete's reaction to winning silver or bronze. I loved watching Elisabeth Goergl of Austria ascend the podium for her bronze medal. She was so excited she was jumping up and down. For a bronze. Watching her made me happy. And Joannie Rochette's bronze was so touching. Even Apolo was humble and gracious when another's mistake may have cost him the gold or silver.
And then there's Evgeni Plushenko. Who appeared extremely disappointed about his silver during the medal ceremony. And who then declared that he deserved the gold in a subsequent interview. And who had a platinum medal (now removed) from the Vancouver Olympics on his website. A gracious loser he was not.
But then again, all too often, neither am I. I have never been in the running for Olympic gold. I would be thrilled just to compete in the Olympics! (I would even be thrilled just to watch an event live!) But when I get upset because my neighbor has a better car or my friend is building a beautiful new house or another blogger can afford clothes that are out of my price range, I think the rest of the world would view me like the embittered Russian skater. Most people in the world don't have a car at all. Most of them live in a home a fraction of the size of ours (many with no electricity or running water!). I spend more on clothes than many people make in a year.
I want to live a life of contentment and joy. Contentment when I have little or when I have much. Joy in what God has given me, even He has given someone else more. I want these two qualities to point others to God. And when contentment and joy overcome disappointment, people will notice. I noticed Elisabeth Goergl's joy in winning the bronze and rejoiced with her. May my joy even when I see someone come out ahead be even more contagious. Because my joy isn't in winning a medal or competing well in an athletic competition. My joy is in the Lord!
The downside of the Olympics is that the television coverage lasts into the wee hours of the night. I have to make myself stop watching around midnight. (OK, it's been 12:30 a few nights.) And I wake up late and I'm tireder and less patient the next day. So the past couple of weeks I've been tireder and a little less patient, and our home is certainly messier.
Now that the Olympics are over for two more years, I'm really going to try to get to bed ON TIME! I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!
One thing that I've really noticed this year is the athlete's reaction to winning silver or bronze. I loved watching Elisabeth Goergl of Austria ascend the podium for her bronze medal. She was so excited she was jumping up and down. For a bronze. Watching her made me happy. And Joannie Rochette's bronze was so touching. Even Apolo was humble and gracious when another's mistake may have cost him the gold or silver.
And then there's Evgeni Plushenko. Who appeared extremely disappointed about his silver during the medal ceremony. And who then declared that he deserved the gold in a subsequent interview. And who had a platinum medal (now removed) from the Vancouver Olympics on his website. A gracious loser he was not.
But then again, all too often, neither am I. I have never been in the running for Olympic gold. I would be thrilled just to compete in the Olympics! (I would even be thrilled just to watch an event live!) But when I get upset because my neighbor has a better car or my friend is building a beautiful new house or another blogger can afford clothes that are out of my price range, I think the rest of the world would view me like the embittered Russian skater. Most people in the world don't have a car at all. Most of them live in a home a fraction of the size of ours (many with no electricity or running water!). I spend more on clothes than many people make in a year.
I want to live a life of contentment and joy. Contentment when I have little or when I have much. Joy in what God has given me, even He has given someone else more. I want these two qualities to point others to God. And when contentment and joy overcome disappointment, people will notice. I noticed Elisabeth Goergl's joy in winning the bronze and rejoiced with her. May my joy even when I see someone come out ahead be even more contagious. Because my joy isn't in winning a medal or competing well in an athletic competition. My joy is in the Lord!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Lent Me Your Ears
I grew up going to a church where we had to participate in Lent. I didn't like it, but I did it because I had to. My saving grace was that we could add something good to our lives instead of giving something up. I usually chose to do something like make my bed every day. One year my sister gave up candy. I thought she was crazy! When I was in junior high, we joined a church that didn't celebrate the Lenten season. And I was glad.
In the many years since that church change, I've continued going to churches that don't celebrate Lent, including the church we now attend. But this year God had led me to fast from something during the season of Lent. I wasn't seeking it, He just impressed it on me. And I'm actually excited about it!
I've played a couple of harmless games on Facebook. Nothing bad. I don't even spend that much time on them. But I feel like I could use even those few minutes a day doing something good, be it putting a load of clothes in the washer, reading my Bible some more, making a grocery list, or even reading a magazine to learn new recipes or decorating help. Today I hid those applications on FB, so I wouldn't be tempted by some cool change in the game.
I began thinking about this "fast" a couple of weeks ago, and I now think that what I first thought would be a temporary change may be permanent. Either way, I'm excited about following God this Lenten season not out of obligation like I did as a child, but out of love!
Father, use my small fast this season for Your glory. May I use the time I would otherwise spend in FB games to worship You and serve my family.
In the many years since that church change, I've continued going to churches that don't celebrate Lent, including the church we now attend. But this year God had led me to fast from something during the season of Lent. I wasn't seeking it, He just impressed it on me. And I'm actually excited about it!
I've played a couple of harmless games on Facebook. Nothing bad. I don't even spend that much time on them. But I feel like I could use even those few minutes a day doing something good, be it putting a load of clothes in the washer, reading my Bible some more, making a grocery list, or even reading a magazine to learn new recipes or decorating help. Today I hid those applications on FB, so I wouldn't be tempted by some cool change in the game.
I began thinking about this "fast" a couple of weeks ago, and I now think that what I first thought would be a temporary change may be permanent. Either way, I'm excited about following God this Lenten season not out of obligation like I did as a child, but out of love!
Father, use my small fast this season for Your glory. May I use the time I would otherwise spend in FB games to worship You and serve my family.
