While we were at camp, we stayed in some amazing condos on the beach. I love the ocean, and went swimming in it every day during free time. Our condo complex also had a large pool complex. The only time I got in the pool was to dip my foot in to rinse any lingering sand off.
Sometimes God uses the things around me to illustrate spiritual truths. The week of camp I began thinking about the pool vs. the ocean. While I love the vastness of the ocean, and really sense God's presence there, I can understand while many choose the pool. The pool is clean and chlorinated with no seaweed or fish poop. The pool is safer with no dangerous tides and plenty of places to avoid the sun's rays. The pool is entertaining; it has a lazy river, a slide, and fun music. The pool is easy; you can buy snacks and drinks right where you are. To sum it up, the pool is a controlled environment. And God began to cause me to ponder where I was choosing pools over oceans in my life.
The last session of camp, Louie told us we can choose to star in "The Story of Me," which will last only a brief time before fading from memory in the light of the glory of God, or we can have a bit part in "The Story of God," a story which will stand forever.
The final song we sang was "Our God," and, as I sang, God shaped the lyrics, my thoughts about pools and oceans, and Louie's talk into a cohesive thought: To stay where I was would be choosing the safety, comfort, and control of the pool over the vastness, majesty, and joy of the ocean. And, for me, the ocean was joining my husband in this journey of planting a church. I'm NOT saying that everyone who goes to the church we had been a part of were settling for less than God's story; for many, that IS their ocean! But it isn't mine. I knew this wouldn't always be easy or safe, but I also knew God is leading us here, so I have to go.
As we left the auditorium for the last time, I leaned over to Paul and said, "I'm sure."
**I have nothing against pools or those who love them and choose them over the ocean. God just used my own love of the ocean to illustrate a point that I needed to know!
Monday, September 20, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
An Encouraging Word
The week of youth camp progressed. The worship and teaching were fabulous, of course. And we were trying to help the students really interact with Jesus.
Thursday was our last day. During the morning session Louie Giglio called all the adult leaders on stage and we got to sing a song with Chris Tomlin. This was so much fun! And now I can say I've sung on stage with Chris Tomlin! Afterward, Paul and I had the opportunity to speak with Louie. We were part of the Choice Bible study he led at Baylor, and we have followed and supported his ministry ever since. He has been one of the biggest spiritual influences on both of our lives.
Louie planted Passion City Church in Atlanta about a year ago, and Paul had already written Louie telling about our potential church plant. He encouraged us to step out in faith because often God doesn't provide the wind in our sails until we're actually in the water. He also told us not to be discouraged if things don't work out like we hope and pray they do. Church planting is a series of major ups and downs, but God wants to be present in all of them. And after all, even if our new church doesn't make it, no one's going to die!
We left feeling excited and encouraged. I still didn't have an absolute certainty that we should plant a church, but I was almost sure that this was where God was leading. And that was enough for me. But it wasn't enough for God...
Thursday was our last day. During the morning session Louie Giglio called all the adult leaders on stage and we got to sing a song with Chris Tomlin. This was so much fun! And now I can say I've sung on stage with Chris Tomlin! Afterward, Paul and I had the opportunity to speak with Louie. We were part of the Choice Bible study he led at Baylor, and we have followed and supported his ministry ever since. He has been one of the biggest spiritual influences on both of our lives.
Louie planted Passion City Church in Atlanta about a year ago, and Paul had already written Louie telling about our potential church plant. He encouraged us to step out in faith because often God doesn't provide the wind in our sails until we're actually in the water. He also told us not to be discouraged if things don't work out like we hope and pray they do. Church planting is a series of major ups and downs, but God wants to be present in all of them. And after all, even if our new church doesn't make it, no one's going to die!
We left feeling excited and encouraged. I still didn't have an absolute certainty that we should plant a church, but I was almost sure that this was where God was leading. And that was enough for me. But it wasn't enough for God...
Friday, September 17, 2010
And If Our God Is For Us
I know my last post was in May. Which is 4 months ago! The last four months were full of summer fun, and now we're back to school. We went to Disney World at the end of May with some great friends. We had a fantastic time!!! We survived another year of VBS. We swam and had fun at home. Some of us went to youth camp. The rest went to Winshape C3 camp. We visited friends and family in Texas. Where we had Chuys! And got in a wreck. We started a new year of homeschooling. We went to Family Camp. Oh yeah, we planted a church!
Back in May I still hadn't had any personal direction from God about church planting. And I went through all of June and half of July wondering if God was going to speak to me directly or if I was just supposed to trust Paul in this momentous decision.
Paul, Faith, and I went to Student Life Camp at Daytona Beach with the youth group from the church we belonged to. I had looked forward to going for months. Chris Tomlin led worship. Matt Redmon gave a concert. And Louie Giglio was our speaker. Who wouldn't want to go?! I asked God to clarify this whole church plant thing during the week of camp - even if His clarification was to trust my husband.
The first song we sang on the first night was Chris Tomlin's "Our God." Even though we had sung this song several times at church, I didn't recognize it. It was as if I were hearing this song for the first time. And as the words washed over me, God spoke. "And if our God is for us, then who can ever stop us. And if our God is with us, then what can stand against." I felt God telling me that all my concerns - What about my girls? Will anyone come with us? Will we have any money? - would be taken care of if God were truly in this. Not that I thought everything would be easy. Just that God would work all these details out for His glory. I still wasn't 100% positive that God was leading us into planting a church, but I felt at peace that God would take care of all the details and questions that sometimes held me back. At this point I thought God was probably leading us to plant a church. And I was okay with that.
But the week wasn't over yet...
Back in May I still hadn't had any personal direction from God about church planting. And I went through all of June and half of July wondering if God was going to speak to me directly or if I was just supposed to trust Paul in this momentous decision.
Paul, Faith, and I went to Student Life Camp at Daytona Beach with the youth group from the church we belonged to. I had looked forward to going for months. Chris Tomlin led worship. Matt Redmon gave a concert. And Louie Giglio was our speaker. Who wouldn't want to go?! I asked God to clarify this whole church plant thing during the week of camp - even if His clarification was to trust my husband.
The first song we sang on the first night was Chris Tomlin's "Our God." Even though we had sung this song several times at church, I didn't recognize it. It was as if I were hearing this song for the first time. And as the words washed over me, God spoke. "And if our God is for us, then who can ever stop us. And if our God is with us, then what can stand against." I felt God telling me that all my concerns - What about my girls? Will anyone come with us? Will we have any money? - would be taken care of if God were truly in this. Not that I thought everything would be easy. Just that God would work all these details out for His glory. I still wasn't 100% positive that God was leading us into planting a church, but I felt at peace that God would take care of all the details and questions that sometimes held me back. At this point I thought God was probably leading us to plant a church. And I was okay with that.
But the week wasn't over yet...
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Comfort-Able
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
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 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!
