Missional Minded Mommy Pt. 6

This past week Pastor Matt preached a sermon called The Sent Life, it was helpful and thought provoking. At least it was for me. My thinking and therefore my actions have been challenged and stretched much lately. Maybe everyone else is way ahead in the being a gospel-centered, mission-oriented person than I am, and I am the only one that can't stop thinking and evaluating... I don't know. But just as I thought I'd kill my little Missional Minded Mommy series, more thoughts were provoked. I suppose I don't need to share them with you, but I told you at the beginning that this could be a bumpy ride.....well I meant it! :)

Pastor Matt mentioned that if we are going to embrace the sent life we have to let go of our rights. This was brought out more clearly in Small Group on Monday night as we discussed the sermon. I know that I am hindered at times when I am just tired or sick. Sometimes I just want to be left alone.... I mean a person can only do so much right? But that is just self love talking, it is about my right to have a little break every once in while.

Sunday was the sermon and that very afternoon my little heart revealing challenge came. So often I don't think of myself as feeling like my time belongs to me or my home belongs to me, but this particular afternoon I saw how deceitful my heart is. When my baby sister, her boyfriend and friend came in I was happy to show them hospitality in offering them food and use of the computer to register for my sister's friend's upcoming baby shower. But, when the headache hit and the fatigue came I really just wanted everyone to leave, or at least leave me alone. That is not what happened though. The young lady with my little sister is pregnant and has nobody but my sister, who has never had a baby and knows nothing. Needless to say I ended up sitting with this girl spending hours in front of the computer answering her questions and showing her things that she will need, because she didn't have a clue. God gave me the grace to just do it, but mostly because I remembered that we have to let go of our rights and that even meant my right to take a nap and be left alone while not feeling well. It took some prayer and faith because to be honest I really didn't want to sit in front of that computer and talk about anything that day. I kept thinking, "this is such a bad time for me." But as a person who wants to embrace the sent life and understands that God has made us missionaries for His name's sake to this world, it really doesn't matter if it was a good time for me. And you know what? The Lord blessed that little tiny effort to help this girl and it looks like I might be seeing her a little more. Plus, you know I had to follow my husbands example because my sister's boyfriend really wanted to help Rick work on the roof and he let him even though he knew it would ultimately slow him down. And even though this guy "helped" Rick all he could talk about was what a good time he had and how cool it was that Rick bought him a case of vitamin water. A 4$ investment and one happy young kid who does not know the Lord. I am beginning to see that the missional lifestyle isn't always convenient, but it isn't that complicated either. I mean how hard is it to have a guy help you out with repairs or talk to a girl about having her first baby? Yet, it isn't always at your convenience!

It got me thinking about Amy Carmichael, a missionary back in the late 1800's to India. This women colored her skin with coffee and adopted Indian garb; rather than make any women who converted dress like an English woman, which most of the missionaries did at the time. She went around the villages with a band of Christian Indian women to preach the gospel. But at some point during her ministry that she loved and thought to be vitally important, a young 7 year old temple prostitute escaped the temple and came to Amy for help. Amy Carmichael quickly began to care for her as her child and keep her safe from the temple. Then many other girls escaped and came to Amy and her group of Christian women. Soon Amy had several girls from infancy to teenagers living with her that that had been rescued from the temples or had escaped. Consequently Amy was unable to travel to the villages to preach the gospel as she instead had babies to feed and burp and diapers to change, meals to prepare, and floors to scrub and beds to make and teach the older girls chores and other life lessons. She became known as a "tied woman". Something she never intended to be. She had not dreamed of going to India and being tied to babies and domestic duties and she in fact struggled with it at first. She struggled with whether or not she should be done with mothering these girls or going back to the exciting life of traveling speaking the gospel from village to village. Ultimately, she chose the life of a "tied woman" because she remembered Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve. She began to see how Jesus did the work of the lowest slave and invited His people do the same and in so doing she was "preaching the gospel". She spent the rest of her life scrubbing floors, cleaning mouths, changing diapers, and teaching about Jesus to the many children she "adopted" (until the last 20 years of her life when she was bedridden, but still praying for and teaching the girls). It wasn't convenient and she didn't choose to invoke her "rights" as a single woman to do what was more exciting or consider more important! What an example of a person who truly embraced the Sent Life.

What a lesson I can take from her when I consider loving those around me for the sake of the name of Jesus..

Trust

Job 1 "There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil.

Seven sons and three daughters were born to him.

His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east.

His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.

When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering ^I)">(burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, "Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." Thus Job did continually.

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.

The LORD said to Satan, "From where do you come?" Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it."

The LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil."

Then Satan answered the LORD, "Does Job fear God for nothing?

"Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.

"But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face."

Then the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him." So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD.

Now on the day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house,

a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them,

and the Sabeans attacked and took them. They also slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you."

While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you."

While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and took them and slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you."

While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house,

and behold, a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people and they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you."

Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped.

He said,
"Naked I came from my mother's womb,
And naked I shall return there
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the LORD."

Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God"

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

How would you have reacted?

Witty Wednesday

This is just plain good advise for any gentlemen out there that might come to this blog! :)
This guy made me laugh out loud!

These are the things you don't say to your wife........enjoy!

Savvy Shopper

Let me start by saying I am not an expert, just a Mom trying to wisely use what the Lord has blessed her family with. Today I would like to share some of my “shopping secrets”. As a mom of 3 girls shopping for clothes can be fun and expensive so I always check the clearance racks first and look for sales. By planning ahead I shop for next summer/winter clothes at end of season when many stores have really big discounts and I can get brand new clothes for about the same price, sometimes less than what one might pay for used clothes at a rummage sale, which by the way is another way to save. Here are some of my favorite stores to shop for great deals: Old Navy, Gap, Kohls, Children’s Place and Gymboree.

My next “shopping secret” is coupons. I use coupons for anything and everything. Wednesday is double coupon day at Pick N Save where if you spend $25 dollars you can double 5 coupons up to $1 each which could be up to $10 savings. You can use more than 5 coupons but only 5 will be doubled. By taking time to look through sales flyers and my coupons I have gotten many food items free or almost free. Eating out can be expensive but it doesn’t have to be. I use coupons when ever possible and many restaurants have specific nights where kids eat free. I also use coupons when shopping for clothes which when I combine with sales/clearance I’m getting an even better deal.

Would you like to get free stuff? My third “shopping secret” is rebates. Stores like Walgreens, CVS and Menards, just to name a few, offer many items free after rebate. Here are just some of the things I have gotten free: toothpaste, toothbrushes, make-up, shampoo, conditioner, styling products, cleaning supplies, tools, soda, and the list goes on. I also use coupons with the rebates and then I am actually getting paid for the item. An example, Walgreens has shampoo on sale for $$3.99 and they offer a rebate of $3.99 making it free but I also have a $1 coupon, so basically I am getting paid $1 for the shampoo.

My final “shopping secret” is credit cards. Many credit cards offer cash back, miles for airline tickets, points to trade for gift cards to restaurants and retail stores. An example we used our credit card on every day purchases and earned four free season passes to Six Flags. This “shopping secret” may not be for everyone as you must show self control and not spend more than you have and pay balances off each month.

I have other little things I could share but it could possibly fill a book, so I just end by saying if you would like to know more about any of my “shopping secrets” feel free to ask. I would be happy to share and would love to hear your “shopping secrets”.

Leila

Let's Get Frugal ......

A few weeks ago I asked if anyone had any resolutions they would like to share, and a dear friend shared that she was resolving to put more "heart" into meal prep for her family and to find cheap ways to do it. What we here at the True Women blog are wondering is if any of you are interested in sharing with us and the other readers your ideas on putting more "heart" in your dinner times and what you are doing to cut costs in a time where it has become more essential for people in general to watch what they spend. By "heart", we mean, what motivates your prep times and meal planning. Maybe you can share any little touches to the dinner table to add a bit of specialness, or little dinner time traditions such as using it as a time to ask questions and demonstrating what true fellowship looks like to the kids, or perhaps that is when you do family worship, or when you give gifts to your spouse, or whatever little ritual you do that makes dinner a little more than ho-hum. Sharing recipes that are economical and tasty are definitely welcome as are of course any other money saving tips. Please just put them in the comments section of the blog. We also have the privilege of having a very dear friend of ours who we know to be very gifted in frugality to give us some help on this subject. Please be on the look out for her post this week. We are looking forward to your participation.

Change

Today my husband and I were running some errands and I started pondering how different we will be when (Lord willing) we are older. I don’t mean just in 5 or 10 years, though I am sure we will have changed much, but in 30 or 35 years if the Lord tarries and we are still alive to enjoy each other. How will we look at each other? How will our outlooks on life have changed? How will we have changed physically? What challenges will we have faced or be facing at that time? How will we have grown spiritually? What things which are so important to us now, will have faded into nothingness and what things will fill our hearts? How will we spend our time? (…will we still play video games?... ) And yes, I even wonder about how our “bedroom life” will have changed.

Ryan and I have been together since we were both 17 years old. We have been together 15 years now, and we have been through a lot. As such, we have changed a lot. We have mellowed out about some things and become more passionate about other things. Sometimes it seems like most everything about us has changed in some manner or another over the last 15 years. Now we are entering into some years that will be full of change. We are preparing to move away from our hometown, all of our family and friends and loved ones, even life as we have known it! Our boys are growing up and will shortly be entering the years where they will be men and pursuing their lives separate from mine and Ryan’s. That brings a ton of questions and thoughts of change to my mind.

And though there is the potential for anxiety or fear, I am instead choosing to look with eyes of faith. Not faith in me or in my husband, but rather faith in God who has been the One to bring about all that is good and wonderful in our lives. You see, as I look over the last 15 years, I see God bringing Jesus into our lives and giving us hope and an inheritance and real purpose for living. I am so blessed to be able to see Jesus at work in my boys lives, having saved them and now growing them in godliness little by little. I see that in everything God has always been 100% faithful and that He has carried us through all of the change; indeed, He has brought about the change for our good. All this change causes me to reflect on the fact that it is all still just a taste of how all of creation and God’s children will be changed when Jesus returns, anyways. So as I look to the future, I am sure that God will bring change, but it will be good.

Missional Minded Mommy Pt. 5

So far in this little series I have been calling Missional Minded Mommy, we've talked about the fact that being missional is a mind-set, it is a gospel-driven life. It is a life that is all about Jesus in everything we say and do. I am a SAHM. I have 4 kids and one on the way, Lord willing in a few short weeks. My grandparents live with me, my husband works, shepherds, and is a student..... how does this work out in my life personally and how does the gospel of Jesus beckon me to live in Kenosha under my current life situation? So I see where that God Himself has placed me where I am for His glory? To manifest His salvation to those around me, including my family?

I have had to look at how God says a woman is to honor the word from Titus 2. I have had to look at my life and see hospitality as an outlet to minister and reflect the family of God to the community. It is an area, I think, that needs improvement in my life, but this is a start. I have given you a glimpse of how I see that Rick and I can gospel our children and begin to instill in them a missional mind-set, because I believe we have to cultivate that in the home. Now I want to give a glimpse of how I see the church and family melding together and what that has looked like for us, what I hope to see, and maybe some questions to help me personally evaluate what we are as a family and a Church that makes us able to call people to come to Jesus and by virtue of that call people to be a part of us as His body because it seems to me that the two can't be separated.

Let me start by saying that we have found much help in teaching the gospel, to our children through our church. We don't just study and do our own thing and keep our kids to ourselves. My kids know best what has been taught at Sunday School, from the pulpit, and on Thursday night kids group. Why? Because of repetition. They hear it at Church and it is discussed at home during meals, bible time, when we are helping memorize verses and the catechism questions they have for Thursdays. In fact my 2 year old can say that the work that Jesus does for His people is the work of a prophet, priest and king because he has heard it a ton of times. The catechism has been extremely helpful in teaching doctrine to my kids because they are young and do not really conceptualize yet, so memorizing leads to a great amount of discussions about who God is and his plan for His people in this world and gives us opportunity to point them to Jesus. For me, Church family and family are inseparable. This is good stuff, but I believe my kids benefit even more from just interaction and care from those we call our family in the Lord. I have seen the great benefits of Jesus' love, His gospel being manifested to my kids through someone like Debbie Miller who comes over to pray but spends time talking to, playing with, and giving my kids noogies. She has given what they are learning hands and feet, it looks real to them. It is something they can see. I believe that someday it will hit them that the promises from the Bible that they learned in Sunday School are not only true but lovely and life giving because they have seen what a life looks like when a person has those promises. I believe that when it finally dawns on them what it means when it says in the catechism that man's chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever, their delight will overflow because they will remember a woman whose delight in them manifested delight in God in real life.

Than I wonder, is this the picture we are giving our community here in Kenosha? Do they look at Temple Baptist Church and see moral people who may even "do their part" in the community? Do they see well-versed teachers and preachers? Or do they see Jesus? Do they see people who are loving and caring for each others needs? Do they see people who sacrifice time and money and possessions for one another? Do they see the Church the way God wants it to be seen-as the hands, feet, arms and mouth-piece of Jesus? Or are we the same as Kenosha itself - living separate lives looking out for own interests? If we get involved in the community what are we offering them? Are we offering them Jesus through His body, or just another club that they can join sometime down the road when they have one night a week they can give to it?

In Acts it says that the people devoted themselves to the Apostles teaching, daily praying together and eating together. And guess what???? Souls were being added to the church! There were people with needs but you wouldn't know it because they took care of each other. They were a family. They were a physical manifestation of the body of Jesus - the sin bearer and lover of our souls! They took care of each other, they were known by their love and tender devotion to one another.

Folks just like you and I are turned off by families that are harsh, angry, bitter, and cold toward each other, just like we despise those who forsake taking care of the physical needs of their children, or stay away from households that are in disunity. The community will not respond to the Church - the manifestation of Jesus here on earth if it is that way. If we don't take care of those we call our family in Jesus than what the heck can we do to help those outside in the Kenosha area?

So, I ask myself again, what does my little family reflect about the greater family - the Church?

And, I ask myself what does my Church family reflect about the gospel? Are we known for our love for one another? That is how the Bible says our Christ-loving will be known. Or do we put that on the back burner and just go out without being and growing in a true reflection of the savior we are calling them to?

I am still evaluating and considering how gospel-centered and informed my life is.

This is what I have been able to see so far though..........

I can't separate being missional from my family or my Church, because through each together they speak the gospel loud and clear!

What is Kenosha hearing?

Witty Wednesdays

A Nun Grading Papers:

Can you imagine the nun sitting at her desk grading these papers, all the while trying to keep a straight face and maintain her composure!

PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE WORDING AND SPELLING. IF YOU KNOW THE BIBLE EVEN A LITTLE, YOU'LL FIND THIS HILARIOUS!

IT COMES FROM A CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEST. KIDS WERE ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS.

THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ABOUT THE BIBLE WERE WRITTEN BY CHILDREN. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN RETOUCHED OR CORRECTED. INCORRECT SPELLING HAS BEEN LEFT IN.

1. IN THE FIRST BOOK OF THE BIBLE, GUINESSIS. GOD GOT TIRED OF CREATING THE WORLD SO HE TOOK THE SABBATH OFF.
2. ADAM AND EVE WERE CREATED FROM AN APPLE TREE. NOAH'S WIFE WAS JOAN OF ARK. NOAH BUILT AND ARK AND THE ANIMALS CAME ON IN PEARS.
3. LOTS WIFE WAS A PILLAR OF SALT DURING THE DAY, BUT A BALL OF FIRE DURING THE NIGHT.
4. THE JEWS WERE A PROUD PEOPLE AND THROUGHOUT HISTORY THEY HAD TROUBLE WITH UNSYMPATHETIC GENITALS.
5. SAMPSON WAS A STRONGMAN WHO LET HIMSELF BE LED ASTRAY BY A JEZEBEL LIKE DELILAH.
6. SAMSON SLAYED THE PHILISTINES WITH THE AXE OF THE APOSTLES.
7 MOSES LED THE JEWS TO THE RED SEA WHERE THEY MADE UNLEAVENED BREAD WHICH IS BREAD WITHOUT ANY INGREDIENTS.
8, THE EGYPTIANS WERE ALL DROWNED IN THE DESSERT. AFTERWARDS, MOSES WENT UP TO MOUNT CYANIDE TO GET THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.
9. THE FIRST COMMANDMENTS WAS WHEN EVE TOLD ADAM TO EAT THE APPLE.
10. THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT IS THOU SHALT NOT ADMIT ADULTERY.
11. MOSES DIED BEFORE HE EVER REACHED CANADA THEN JOSHUA LED THE HEBREWS IN THE BATTLE OF GERITOL.
12. THE GREATEST MIRICLE IN THE BIBLE IS WHEN JOSHUA TOLD HIS SON TO STAND STILL AND HE OBEYED HIM.
13. DAVID WAS A HEBREW KING WHO WAS SKILLED AT PLAYING THE LIAR. HE FOUGHT THE FINKELSTEINS, A RACE OF PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN BIBLICAL TIMES.
14. SOLOMON, ONE OF DAVIDS SONS, HAD 300 WIVES AND 700 PORCUPINES.
15. WHEN MARY HEARD SHE WAS THE MOTHER OF JESUS, SHE SANG THE MAGNA CARTA.
16. WHEN THE THREE WISE GUYS FROM THE EAST SIDE ARRIVED THEY FOUND JESUS IN THE MANAGER.
17. JESUS WAS BORN BECAUSE MARY HAD AN IMMACULATE CONTRAPTION.
18. ST. JOHN THE BLACKSMITH DUMPED WATER ON HIS HEAD.
19. JESUS ENUNCIATED THE GOLDEN RULE, WHICH SAYS TO DO UNTO OTHERS BEFORE THEY DO ONE TO YOU. HE ALSO EXPLAINED A MAN DOTH NOT LIVE BY SWEAT ALONE.
20. IT WAS A MIRICLE WHEN JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD AND MANAGED TO GET THE TOMBSTONE OFF THE ENTRANCE.
21. THE PEOPLE WHO FOLLOWED THE LORD WERE CALLED THE 12 DECIBELS.
22. THE EPISTELS WERE THE WIVES OF THE APOSTLES.
23. ONE OF THE OPPOSS UMS WAS ST. MATTHEW WHO WAS ALSO A TAXIMAN.
24. ST. PAUL CAVORTED TO CHRISTIANITY, HE PREACHED HOLY ACRIMONY WHICH IS ANOTHER NAME FOR MARRAIGE.
25. CHRISTIANS HAVE ONLY ONE SPOUSE. THIS IS CALLED MONOTONY.

Missional Minded Mommy Pt. 4

This is from the blog, Life Together: (which we have recently added in our favorite links section!)

Home is the ultimate small group for growth and mission in this world. Think about it. Home life provides a context of discipleship unlike any other where parents serve as primary pastors to their children. Mark Driscoll writes,

Because parents love their children the deepest, know them the best, and are with them the most, they are best suited to be a child’s primary pastor who gospels them, teaches them, loves them, prays for and with them, and reads Scripture to them.

I would only add that the home ought to be a place where parents model a missional life to their children. But let’s be careful not to go too far with this idea of home as a small group. Though it’s true that parents are the primary teachers and shepherds for their children, it doesn’t mean that the Church is secondary and unneeded. On the contrary, our temporary, earthly family is part of a bigger, eternal church family that reinforces and supplements the biblical instruction we ought to be giving in the home. Our home small group is not the church. It is part of the church, indeed, part of the body that grows and adds members through it’s common mission.

Wow, I thought, this blog states exactly how I have been thinking. And, they say it so well and precisely. Again, I ask myself, does my home and my family reflect the greater family of God? How is it that I am gospeling my children and then modeling a missional lifestyle to them?

Well, I can tell you my kids have gospeled me a couple of times! Just read my xanga post on how when I had to seek forgiveness from them for my sinful anger they told me they would because I am just as BIG a sinner as them and needed Jesus all the time too.

One thing we as mothers do all the time throughout the day is discipline... I mean, there is no way around it; we have young children and we must discipline them while there is still hope and desire their good over their desire to have their own way, like we all who have gone astray do! Our heavenly Father disciplines us because he loves us and we love our kids, even when they put boogers on their brother's hamburger bun! :(

So if we discipline them, how does it gospel our children or model a missional mind-set? Maybe it does if we are able to discipline without anger or out of embarrassment. Better that we are filled with serious grace and a ready heart to forgive and receive the child back into complete fellowship and normal family activity. If we discipline, it is just like the Church's motives for disciplining it's members - for the restoration affect - to bring them back to a right relationship with members of the family and more importantly with God! When We discipline we try to always talk about trusting Jesus and what he did to bring those of us who were far from God because of our sin, near to God even though we were still His enemies. We try to speak with words they might comprehend depending their ages, of how God is ready to receive those who come to Him... and then we receive them with great big hugs and kisses and a short time of prayer!

When there has been consistent discipline in the home, I have been surprised by how they have ( the 2 older ones) reacted to the few public Church disciplines. It is not shocking to them that there are consequences to sin they don't even understand yet, but they are willing to pray for them and it has given opportunities to talk about the forgiving grace of God and what the church's responsibility to each other is, just like in the family! I hope this leads to more of a heart for those outside the family of God to experience this kind of love and reconciliation.

Any thoughts from your own experience on this? Has God used discipline in your life to bring you to Him and give you more of a heart for the ministry of reconciliation to our community?

Next week I'd like to give a glimpse of how our Church has partnered with us to foster a love for God and community to our kids.

Please stay tuned...........

Answered Prayers

I have very few Christian friends my age. This isn't a big deal as God has blessed me much in the Christian friends He has given me. However, in the past several years I've really wanted to find a way to connect with believers my age. It didn't seem to be happening at my church and so I started going to Intervarsity Christian Fellowship at Parkside. Although I made a couple of friends at IV, the overall experience was extremely disappointing. I did not find the fellowship or teaching I had desired. As a result, I gave it up. I turned the matter over to prayer. I asked forgiveness for trying to solve the "problem" myself and admitted that I knew that God had my best in mind and that if He thought I needed Christian friends my age then He would provide them.
Shortly thereafter, we started a college age Bible study at my church Thursday nights. It was a small group but the teaching was good and I enjoyed myself. As proof of my little faith, I had very little expectations for it. However, in the last couple months God has been graciously growing the class. We now have a really good size group of people from several different churches in the area! Thursday evenings have become my favorite time of the week and I look forward to Bible study with great anticipation.
Last week it hit me....God answered my prayer! And not only did He answer it (because of course we know that He always answers prayer) but He answered it in the way I was hoping for!
I was overcome with excitement over the work I can see God doing in the group and sadness over my slow reaction to thank Him for it. The whole experience started me thinking, how often do I do this? How often do I ask God for something (be it as small as getting to work on time or as large as finding the money to pay for the next semester of school) and then, once His answer has been revealed, accept it as normalcy and not a blessing from my Lord? The answer shamed me. So often I am quick to run to God with all of my perceived (and actual!) needs and then forget to run to Him again when they are provided for.
What is my point? Simply this: WE SHOULD THANK GOD FOR ANSWERED PRAYERS! Yes, God desires us to come to Him with our needs but this should not be the extent of our prayer life. It should not be the majority of our prayer life. Lets be quick to run to God with praise and thanksgiving....as well as petition.

Meditations from a Recent Sermon:

A few weeks ago our pastor preached on Chapters 4 and 5 from Revelation. It was a fantastic message. I am sure that there is so much more to be gleaned from his sermon and from those particular scriptures but here are some things that came to my mind.

God has sovereignly planned out all of history both in the broad sense and in a very personal sense for all people and all of creation. The ultimate goal of His plan is that He will show forth His radiant beauty (His glory) for all of creation to wonder at and respond to in worship. God planned from before the creation of the world to draw people to Himself through Christ and to bless them to enjoy His presence forever that we may worship Him in joy. And Jesus is the only One who is worthy to accomplish Gods plans: He is the One who was worthy to open the scroll because He was slain. So now my thoughts went to how these truths should affect my life…

Well, lately my plans haven’t been coming to fruition according to my timing. And my response to this isn’t usually a mindset which glories in my God’s perfect timing and His wonderful (though unseen) plans, but rather usually my response shows a heart of pride and self-focus. My response shows that I have my eyes focused on me rather than God’s glory - my desire to be king (or queen) over “my own life” rather than eyes focused on God in Heaven where Christ is my King. In my pride, I am saying that I am worthy to plan my own life and direct it how I like, but as I listened to the sermon I was reminded that Christ is the One who is worthy to open the scroll, to accomplish God’s plans and that God’s plans are good and supreme. How convenient that I desire God’s plans for my life when they include Jesus dying on the cross for my sins, but I desire my own plans when God’s plans don’t match my desires.

Ultimately, the thing that Revelation reminded me of is that God is amazingly wondrous and in complete control… if I see Him as He is, then I will be filled with joy; I will trust Him; and it will show to those around me. If my view of Him is obscured (usually by me) then I will fall into sin and I will hide the radiant beauty of Jesus within me so that those around me cannot see Jesus through me.

Missional minded Mommy Pt. 3

A good friend of mine responded to questions from a previous post. What she shared inspired another post. This is what she said:

It is hard to switch gears and break old habits...My home is very family/church focus. We really have not gotten past that. Busyness is our biggest hindrance. When we finally have time to think, all we want to do is retrieve and relax. But I have figured out this much--I can start by becoming more hospitable. Opening my home to new characters so that we may get to know each other and perhaps even relax WITH US may just be the answer to my dilemma. Does that answer your question?

This was my response:

Esme, Thank you. It seems to me hospitality is a great start. I have an upcoming post trying to show that our little families reflect the greater family of God- the Church! I don't think retreating from the church or our families is the answer, but I think you are onto something with opening up your home. People won't see a loving community unless they are there to see it and enjoy it with you. Keep us posted on how that is working out.


I have to say, I can totally relate to Esme - my family is similar. We have many relatives - a good amount live with us and some of the others might as well! LOL Our family is also very involved in our Church family. Rick is a shepherd at the Church and that means many evenings are taken and emotions and time are put into our greater family- the Church.

Having an open door, being hospitable, if it is for the sake of letting others see and hear the good news of reconciliation to God through Jesus is very missionally minded indeed. We have an opportunity to show them what the family that God is bringing together looks like. Of course they won't see it unless they are with you and you with them interacting. So, I reiterate, Esme is onto something........

So, how can I (a mommy of little ones with a lot of family) evangelize or engage those outside of my family?

Simple....... open up our home - our lives to others. So my niece's mom sees us doing family worship or correcting the kids at the dinner table with grace and praying with grateful hearts for our food as she shares a meal with us. So her new live-in boyfriend sees the kids seeking forgiveness from each other or me from Rick and it is given because after all we have been forgiven much. My brother's friend relaxes and watches a movie with us and he might have to see Rick get a phone call and have to leave in the middle of the movie because something urgent has come up and duty calls. Or he might see a daddy laughing and playing with the kiddos. Could this possibly be a way to form relationships?

We desire to open up our home to do foster care. We are still in the process of filling out paperwork and doing repairs around the house and such, but we want to do this to get to know other foster parents in the community. Rick and I know we have a lot of family relationships and we have been convicted that these ones have fallen in our laps and though we need to be faithful with them as well, they are easy as we already have an established relationship and believe me they are around a ton. We are convinced we need to be more purposeful in getting to know those around us who live in our community. We figure with me being home with the little ones and helping my mom care for my grandparents, foster care may very well be the best way we are going to be able to get know some people outside of the family. And, it still centers around the home and involves the kids, my mom and the grandparents! It is a way that we can become more outward facing as a household; rather than he does his thing, I do mine, mom does hers and gram and grandpa lay in bed and just be sick.

In the mean time, while we are in the process of pursuing fostering, we have an open door policy. Many can attest to the fact that there are people in and out all the time. A lot of times it is family but this has led to other contacts, like friends of my brother whom we would never otherwise have contact with. This has led to having a real relationship with my brother's ex- girlfriend and recently her new boyfriend. She wants to be part of the family. She wants to participate in our life and have her daughter here and have us know her new boyfriend and we are really trying to take advantage of that for the sake of showing them Jesus.

This means people from church whom we deeply love, to one degree or another become a part of this open door life too. My brother's ex-girlfriend was not only familiar with us when she willingly came to our Monday night small group's fellowship, but when she saw relatives of Jon and Esme she felt connected. She only knows Jon and Esme because of our connection to them as a brother and sister in Christ and good friends, and because she has been here when they have been here. And she has also seen them a few times when coming to visit the church. She knows Jackie's son and so then felt an instant connection to Jackie! What do you know, it's a small community after all! This young lady I speak of is familiar with Nichole because she goes to Parkside with her and Nichole is frequently over here.... do you see how family life, church family life and outfacing, missional minded living come together? I am starting to see it and want to get way better and more natural at it for the sake of the Father being glorified with more worshipers as we see more sinners such as myself fall at Jesus' feet right here in Kenowhere-I mean Kenosha! :)

So, Esme thank you for your efforts in hospitality. Thank you for pointing out how we can invite people right into our lives simply by opening up our living-rooms, even if they might have to see a few dirty diapers being changed and discipline being administered and a tired mommy and daddy trying to love each other, their kids, and their neighbors!

Does anyone out there reading this have a testimony they would like to share about how the Lord used an open home to bring them to Jesus, or how God used your open home to bring others to Jesus?

If you go here you will find some great tips on hospitality.

Patience and Grace

Maybe it’s just because I am a woman that I feel this way, but sometimes I feel like I need someone to be patient and gracious with me. Perhaps it is my own sinful selfishness, but whereas sometimes I am understanding when others treat me impatiently or without common courtesy' other times I just feel like I am in need of some patience. I don’t mean that I feel like I need to be patient with them, rather I feel an emotional need for someone to show me patience, kindness, love, etc. Sort of like a moment when you are tired and at your wit’s end, and someone snaps at you… You think to yourself, “I don’t need this. I needed a kind word, a hug or a good back rub or some such comforting thing, but this was not what I needed.”

Here’s the BIG HUGE REVELATION that came to me: Jesus has patience for me. Jesus has grace in abundance for me. He is overflowing with love for me and comfort as well. That person who is “not meeting my needs” was never really meant to. Only in Jesus are my needs met. He made me a creature with needs so that He will glorify the Father by meeting those needs and as I delight in Him His beauty and wonderfulness will show to everyone around me. So when I am feeling “needy” it is an opportunity to seek Jesus. Jesus is patient, gracious, kind, merciful and He loves me even in my sin and deficiencies. When someone else is impatient and discourteous; even cruel, I can and should go to Jesus in prayer, and through reading the bible and thinking on Him. He will give me what I need to go back and show love, mercy, humility and grace to those difficult people, because I have found a fountain flowing from Him that rejuvenates my soul and meets all my needs, if I will but drink of its waters.

Psalm 81: 10 “I , the Lord, am your God, Who brought you up from the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.”

Psalm 81:16 “But I would feed you with the finest of the wheat, And with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

New Links

Happy Thursday Ladies! My personal favorite day of the week....(read my blog on 3/16 to find out why!)

This is just a little update to let you all know that we have added two more links to our list of blogs we like to follow. Jasmine picked these out but I know that I am personally interested in the Biblical Counseling one and probably the other one too.

Biblical Counseling for Women is exactly what it sounds like. Taken from the blog itself, "Here you will find a collection of thoughts, stories, and real life circumstances that relate to women living the Christian life in a sin cursed world. "

Life Together is a blog Jasmine found that is extremely missional minded. In light of the recent direction we as a church are trying to head, we thought it appropriate. I'm excited to get some ideas from the blog - especially as a person who is extremely involved in her church body and not so involved in much outside of it! Taken from the blog, "Our heart is to see God’s people discipled in community (Life Together) for the sake of mission in this world (so that others may live). "

Enjoy!

Missional Minded Mommy Pt. 2

Last week I asked for input from people as to how they engage the community with the mind-set of a missionary and promised to ask my questions, answer a few, and give you a glimpse into our family as we consider being missionaries to Kenosha, the town where we live, work, shop and eat. I told you I would start with my home since that is where I am at with 4 kids, one on the way, a husband and two ill grandparents. So, here we go.............

The first thing that popped into my mind when I started hearing about being a missional Church and what that means was, how the heck am I supposed to go to the coffee shop everyday engaging people for the gospel with limited funds, a bunch of kids and an already full schedule? Was I being told to shove off all my home responsibilities? No more cleaning, cooking, teaching, no more staying home with little munchkins so I can discipline them, hold them, clean them and teach them the gospel because after all they don't really matter; it's the world around us that really matters. And then there is the little matter of having a husband, but what could he possibly need? Should I neglect spending time serving him to go out with friends for the sake of the gospel? Don't tell me nobody else was thinking that because I heard enough questions within the first week from others that confirmed people were. I also saw a young zealous believer with young children and husband acting on that thought and a wiser, older woman coming alongside her and reminding her that it wasn't up to her to save all of Kenosha (while encouraging and respecting her zeal), but that her husband and her children were her primary mission field. Remember I said primary not only or exclusive mission field. I want people to remember this because this is the beginning of a series of posts that will start with the home but not necessarily stay there and shouldn't just stay there.

First of all, what Pastor Matt is saying is becoming a little clearer, especially after this week's sermon. He is trying to get us to see the heart or the mind-set we need to have; not necessarily the specific actions, though actions follow mind-sets. The mind-set we are to have is being all about the gospel. From start to finish it is about Jesus. He is the author and the finisher of our faith. He is the starting point, the middle point and the forever! So, I need to look at how that works out in my home life.

Why?

Because Titus 2 gives specific ways that we as women display the gospel:

³Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good,

⁴so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,

⁵to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.

It doesn't say anything about coffee shops, awesome Jesus t-shirts, partying, or having 25 unbelieving friends. It doesn't say anything against it; that is not the point, honoring the word of God is. So, how am I as a young woman with a husband and children suppose to honor the word of God? I will only want to honor the word the way it says to in scripture if I truly believe Jesus did pay for my sin and that joy leads me to desire Him and obey Him because it is a pleasurable thing to do.

My affection and devotion to willingly obey my husband because of the worthiness of God rather than the man, and my affection and care for my children and an orderly grace-filled home is gospel-telling. It is putting the good news on display. It says something about the family of God that we are inviting our unbelieving friends to be a part of. If you neglect your husband, children and home you are not doing it for Jesus because Jesus can be clearly seen in a Jesus centered family. He designed the Church as a family and our little families reflect that greater family. I have seen first hand in my own life how when people see you disciplining your children humbly and not complaining, but rather honoring your husband does for the friend who thinks it's weird and attractive and worth looking into why. This friend begins to want to participate in this loving family. And as they participate in your family, they begin to desire to be a part of the greater family you have been placed in. I hope next week to get more practical.

I am ending today with these stories from Francis Chan. He and his fellow elders decided to do something that we may consider radical for the sake of the gospel after they tracked down a gang member that had been converted and then deserted the church. They found out it was because he thought the Church would be like a family and frankly his gang was more like a family than the Church. Read carefully and consider. Rick told me about this and we are now considering how radical we are going to be.

His Love Will Never Fail

I do not ask to see the way
My feet will have to tread;
But only that my soul may feed
Upon the living Bread.
’Tis better far that I should walk
By faith close to His side;
I may not know the way I go,
But oh, I know my Guide.

His love can never fail,
His love can never fail,
My soul is satisfied to know
His love can never fail.

And if my feet would go astray,
They cannot, for I know
That Jesus guides my falt’ring steps,
As joyfully I go.
And tho’ I may not see His face,
My faith is strong and clear,
That in each hour of sore distress
My Savior will be near.

His love can never fail,
His love can never fail,
My soul is satisfied to know
His love can never fail.

I will not fear, tho’ darkness come
Abroad o’er all the land,
If I may only feel the touch
Of His own loving hand.
And tho’ I tremble when I think
How weak I am, and frail,
My soul is satisfied to know
His love can never fail.

His love can never fail,
His love can never fail,
My soul is satisfied to know
His love can never fail.

I am approaching my final months as a student. In year 2010 I will officially have graduated from Parkside. And although this thought fills me with excitement and joy, it also brings fear. For I "do not know the way I go" after school.

For as long as I can remember I have been in school. I have many fond memories learning to read and add with my mom. I can tell stories of my two years in an actual school before being homeschooled through my high school graduation. I can wax long and eloquently on my homeschooling experience. I have great anecdotes from my time in college. And although I have faced many changes throught my carreer as a student, one thing has remainded the same - I was always a student! My main occupation was going to school! And that is about to change.

I will be entering into a totally unknown stage of my life. Lord willing, I will find a job and will be able to continue to support myself. Otherwise, I guess I will always have Tenutas! :) Anyone who has ever been in my position can associate with the fear and trembling that goes along with the college graduation.

The point of all this? "I do not know the way I go, But oh, I know my Guide!" I love this phrase! I cannot tell you how my heart sours when I hear these words for they are so true!

We have all been in, or are in, or will be in a time of serious change. My parents are facing their first child's marriage. My sister Bekah is facing marriage (which is bigger than graduation!) I can think of many instances where I have seen all of you go through various changes, some good, some hard.

What a joy it is to know that even in our unstable world that is constantly changing, we serve an unchanging God! And His love truly shall never fail. Let us find our satisfaction in this truth as we face the challenges and changes the Lord has for us this week.