Sunday Morning Review… Ultimate Fighter (2 Tim. 2:1-13) August 29, 2010

Josh did an awesome job last night of preaching with conviction and authority, always my prayer for him. Just a short review of the night for those who missed it or want to freshen up. Click here to listen.

Why is it that some people are always asking, What is next for me God? What should I do?; while others seem to have a direct connection to what God is doing in and around them? The reason that many of us lack certainty is that we do not know what the prize is.

In 2 Timothy, Paul is writing to Timothy while in prison on death row, and lays out what the prize is for a follower of Jesus.

First, you need to get people around you to help you keep focus and not quit. Next, Paul gives 3 pictures of living life with focus: the Soldier, who has already said yes, and is just waiting for orders. The athlete, who centers his life around his sport, just like we are suppose to center our lives around Jesus. And the Farmer, who does not consider any task too small or thankless when it relates to the harvest. The prize and win for us as Christians is that we can influence people to take the next step in their spiritual journey, and that people with begin a relationship with Jesus.

Take a listen to hear what Josh had to say.

My Journey into Motherhood (and, no, this is not a birth story) August 26, 2010

I have been sick for the last 10 days, so lacking the energy to do anything really productive, I have been reading. So while my kids were destroying the living room, or watching a family movie while we all were recovering I was sitting nearby reading. I read two books, A Mother’s Heart and a Sane Women’s Guide to Raising a Large Family. Both of these books got me thinking quite a bit about my journey as a mom, and how far God has brought me.

While growing up, I dreamed of climbing the corporate ladder and taking over the world (and no that is not a exaggeration)! I really believed that I was destined for something great, or at least I would prove myself and find worth through work. (All of which is a lie, but I did not know what love was, so it made sense at the time.) Then in college I had an incredible semester with a mentor who had a love for her family that I had never seen. She helped God break into my heart and allowed room for a change in my goals. I felt strongly convicted that I needed to not only be open, but have a heart turned toward having kids and raising a family. Of course, with the stipulation that I could still work if I wanted to . When Josh was approaching the end of his Master’s Degree we started talking about starting a family… We hesitated, but then I was reminded of the call God had already put in my life; we were pregnant immediately! (A friend once joked that I only needed to stand downwind from Josh to get pregnant.) And so our journey into parenthood began. Thankfully kids come as little babies, they are easy to tote anywhere, and other then a lack of sleep and a job change, life went on pretty much as normal. I pursued my interests and was excited that our little bundle seemed to fit pretty seamlessly into our routine, and interests.

Here is where things really started to change…

We moved to Arizona, and had Gavin 6 months later, then got pregnant with Ashton, when Gavin was 9 months old. During this time we had some major changes and hardships in our personal lives, plus we started Revolution Church! I did not take the time to think about how we were raising our kids, but instead the little energy I did have was focused on getting through the day. After Ashton was born, I kept myself busy, not because I thought that the activities were that important, but because I was terrified to be at home with 3 kids all day everyday. I remember people being amazed that I had returned to the bible study that I was a part of when Ashton was a day and a half old… It was not because I was uber-spiritual, but because I wanted a  break and the bible study had childcare!

I am not saying that my attending a bible study was wrong, but it was not the best thing because I was abdicating my role as mom. Yes, I was tired, but more then that I was an aimless mom. I was parenting to get through the day, or the morning or the minute, whatever the case may be. Now my kids are a little older, and sleep better, but I wish I would have had someone pull me aside and say, what are you doing as a mom, what are your kids becoming? I may have looked at them bleary eyed and then burst into tears, but maybe I would have realized that I was allowing my energy level and friends, who were intending good, to distract me from the crucial task at hand.

My thoughts about parenting have really started to change over the last few months…

Josh just finished up a parenting series at church, which always challenges us, but this time, we were in a place in our life where God has really used what Josh preached and we learned to take up our parenting a notch or 15.

I think the important thing to note, first, is that none of my journey is ever possible without Josh. As he has grown and changed as a man, husband and father, it has allowed me to change in unison and have the environment to allow God to work in my life.

Last week I was struck, emotionally blown over, by the fact that not only is it my (read Josh and my) responsibility to raise kids who are productive and well mannered, but a huge portion of my kids salvation rests in how I parent my kids. They see, or don’t see, God fleshed out in my life. They see a picture of the gospel in my marriage, how Josh and I relate. And I am pulled to my knees, praying that I have not missed an opportunity to be Christ to my kids. This week I have made a much more contentious effort to pray for my kids salvation, that they would grow up not just knowing about God, but that their lives would be transformed and turned upside-down by the God of the universe. I pray for a multi-generational heritage of faith for my kids and their kids.

With this, I have also seen a change in my attitude as a mom. No longer am I concerned with doing my thing and squeezing in time with my kids in the cracks, but instead I am taking a proactive, sacrificial attitude toward my kids. (Not to the detriment of my own spiritual and emotional health, or the health of my marriage relationship) Realizing that sometimes when they are upset or throwing a fit, they just are crying out for time with mom or dad. We are trying to be intentional and parent with the end in mind! I parent now, not with the goal of behavior modification, but of heart transformation. I am less concerned with my kids parroting the correct answers and acting a certain way, but of allowing discipline to show them that they have a sin problem and are in need of a Savior.

And at the end of the day, I am floored that God has enough trust in me, or at least His power in me, to be a part of changing lives and guiding little hearts to Him. I hope along the way they learn to mind their p’s and q’s, but more then that I hope that my kids are able to leave my house with a faith that cannot be quenched.

I pray that Ava will have her sensitive heart broken for the people in the world who do not know God. That she will use her kind spirit to care for and love people to Christ. I pray that Gavin with his upfront personality, will be able to charismatically, and supernaturally be able to draw people to God, as he is able to draw a crowd so easily, even at 3. I pray that Ashton, with his cute smile and fun personality will go out and share God’s love with boldness and conviction. And now we pray for baby number 4… that his/her unique story of adoption, would fuel his/her heart to see people adopted into God’s family. To find themselves and their identity in a new family, the family of God.

Sunday Morning Review: Unstoppable Faith (Joshua 10:1-14) July 11, 2010

After four weeks off Josh has returned to the pulpit! I know that he, and our family have really appreciated the time off and our time away in Colorado. Josh did a great job talking about unstoppable faith.

Josh started out with a brief summary of Joshua, You can’t, but God can. Joshua, the main character of the book of Joshua, is a lead who follow Moses. Moses is a pretty big deal in the Bible, he is the man who hears God in the burning bush, and leads the Israelites out of slavery. Joshua has BIG shoes to fill. We also know that Joshua is fearful and not bold because of God’s repeated commands to not be afraid. But in God’s economy He often chooses people who we would choose last.

There are basically 2 kinds of people. Impossible people believe that there are things that are too big for God to do. Their view of God is small, and this ends up not only stopping them in their tracks, but not seeing God do amazing things through and around them. It is easier to be this type of person.

The other kind of people are the Sun Stands Still people (see Joshua 10). These are the people who have reached a level of desperation and are terrified to think that God will not do something through them.

If you ever thought your faith was big enough listen here.

Sunday “Morning” Review: Nehemiah 11:1-36 April 25, 2010

Last night Josh preached through Nehemiah 11, another list of names! He started by asking the question that we usually ask ourselves, What do I do now? What is the next step for me in my relationship with Jesus? In the Bible Paul equates our spiritual life to the progression of our lifestages. As an infant you cannot feed yourself, but must be fed… each stage is unique, but the hard part comes when it is time to let go of what is comfortable and give up those things to get to the next stage. In life stages it is almost forced upon you, but in your spiritual life you have to be ok with it. Too often we are paralyzed in taking the next step because it hurts, or is uncomfortable so we do not believe that it is from God. We too often stay in our “safe place” and wonder where God is. In Nehemiah 11 Josh shows us how the leaders left their comfort and took the huge risk to move into the city… The individuals listed were people from surrounding villages who moved into the city as well. Instead of waiting for God to call them to the easy normal thing, they followed God on his mission, not their own, and by doing that the church reached outside the walls of the city and created a church with a regional mindset…

Listen to the sermon here for more… and be sure to check out Josh’s blog for the next big step that we are taking as a church.

Sunday Morning Review: Nehemiah 8:13-18 April 4, 2010

Josh did an awesome job tonight, presenting the story of Nehemiah, all while bringing the point home for Easter! Josh started out with a story about, um… detail oriented people. A friend of ours was going on a skiing trip to the Rockies, and he makes a printed schedule, with all of the restroom and meal stops along the way. The problem is, when he goes to pick up/caravan with the rest of the troop at 4 am, yup you guessed it, they are not even awake. He was definitely NOT in control. The way we normally see it, is when things are going well we seem to be pleased with ourselves and feel like we are in control. When things are not going well, we tend to ask Where is God?

Josh goes on to recap Nehemiah… He is a business man, who is grabbed by the heart of God, and goes on to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem in 52 days. Then moves people into the city to start the church. Things are going well… they then take 7 days to camp out and celebrate the feast of booths or tabernacles. This holds huge importance because, at this point, Nehemiah could be feeling like he is in control. The cool thing about this feast is that it does 2 things

-Reminds us that God is over all things and provides all things

-Reminds us that God is always with us.

When the people built their booths, they made them with thatched roofs so that they could see the sun and be hit by the rain, in this they would be reminded that God is in control in the good and bad times. I hope that this whet your appetite and you want to hear more from Josh about what to do when your life feels out of control. Click here for more.

Sunday Morning Review: Neh. 7:5-73 March 21, 2010

This chapter is basically a list of names and numbers, so I was excited to see what Josh was going to talk about. Josh started by reading the passage “fast and with confidence”! The people listed in Nehemiah 7 were the ones who not only rebuilt the city but moved into the city to start the church with Nehemiah.
These people did not have to do it, they left jobs, homes and the security of resources to build something that was bigger then themselves. The city of Jerusalem is still around- there are times when God calls up people to do great things. We are at a time like that. He is calling us.

There is also a portion of the passage which refers to the people who are not listed because they cannot prove their heritage, one commentator says that we should think of those people as the unknowns. As we started Revolution, those are the people we prayed for, people who were not yet a part of what we were doing, but who’s lives would be impacted by it.

To hear more listen here.

Sunday Morning Review; Neh 5:14-19 February 28, 2010

Nehemiah 5:14-19; Humility and Hospitality

It is interesting to be in the front row to watch Josh‘s sermons come together. Some weeks the creative process seems to come together effortlessly, and some weeks, like this past one, seem to rumble around and take on many forms before it is complete.

And so here it is, in the final form, if you would like to listen: Humility and Hospitality.

Josh started this weeks sermon asking everyone to write down their top 3 – 5 goals for life. He mentioned that there are typically 2 problems with our “bucket lists”, we want them done NOW or we start them, but never seem to find the time or energy to finish them. Typically great things in life do not happen instantly. (Think of your best glass of Kool-aid vs. if you are of age the best glass of wine you have ever tasted, or, and this is a no brainer, instant coffee vs. a french press cup)

But I digress: Nehemiah has lived his whole life in Persia, Jerusalem’s walls have been torn down for 141 years, but when Nehemiah hears from his friends about the plight of the walls he is broken. Josh then takes us  on Nehemiah’s journey into becoming what Jesus would have him become so that the doing flows out of that. This sermon is definitely worth a listen, especially if you are wanting to discern God’s will for your life. And who does not want to know what they should be doing with their lives!

Exiting gracefully. February 24, 2010

Let me start out with a confession: I have not been a great friend. In the past I have used friendships for selfish gain, usually so that I did not have to eat lunch alone at school, and especially so that I could escape the pain that I was feeling in my own bones. High school is such an awkward time, especially when like most teenagers, you are not sure of yourself and the world is only reinforcing your bad thought patterns. As I got older my goals in relationships got a little more noble, but were still selfish; someone to have fun with, laugh with, a relationship that I could learn from, and grow from.

I know that many of the relationships that I have had, added so much to me in that specific season of life, but I wonder, “How do the people feel on the other side of that relationship?” Have they left our time together feeling encouraged or drained, feeling heard or used… Learning to love myself has been a LONG process, and learning to REALLY love other people has taken even longer. I know how to love my kids, and my husband, but how do you exit a relationship gracefully?

You move and so you keep in touch for a while, but then the communication becomes less frequent.

You are friends with someone because it is convenient, you are in the same stage of life, or you participate in the same activities, but then things change.

And worst of all there is a misunderstanding and then a breaking of that deep connection, you may or may not see each other, but the essence of that relationship is gone.

Does that mean that the relationship was not important? No… but how do you keep those cherished relationships and times in your heart if they are not active in your life? and more importantly how do you let the people in those relationships know that you care for them deeply, even if you do not do a good job of keeping in touch?

I have no answers just a deep feeling that I am missing a part of my Christian walk because I do not understand it in the context of community. I have been reading through 2 Corinthians very slowly and the other day I stumbled across a passage about prayer. It made me wonder if someone in my life did not receive a blessing from God because I did not pray for them, or we did not pray for them… How can a man be healed because of his friend’s faith?

I want to live in a community of believers who sees themselves as true brothers and sisters in Christ. Who pray for each other, encourage each other and keep each other accountable. I know that it will be a little messy, aren’t all families, but in doing that I think that I will be able to hold onto some of the relationships in my past. Giving grace to those who are where I was.

Thank you, for the MANY people who intentionally or not poured into my life to help me take on the character of Christ. So many of you were constants in my searching. Thank you for walking the early stages of my marriage with me, helping me to find freedom, wholeness, and most importantly myself in Christ.

Do you have someone you need to thank, or reach out to?

Sunday Morning Review; Nehemiah 4:15-23 February 14, 2010

Josh did a great job talking about building and defending last night, I thought at any moment he would break out in Y.M.C.A. because he was wearing a carpenter’s belt! He began by recapping last weeks message saying that if you do something great you will experience opposition. When we think about defending we normally have thoughts about defending ourselves or others physically, but what about defending ourselves emotionally or spiritually?

We are usually good at the trowel work; the work that we do to better and build ourselves. We are not as good at the sword work; the work that we need to do to defend ourselves. Our job is to defend what we have been given. Have you ever felt discouraged, depressed, or lacking faith? Then you know that Satan is real. By listening to Josh’s sermon here, you will hear some practical ways to defend yourself and those around you.

I am loving my family today… February 1, 2010

I already know what you are thinking, shouldn’t she love her family all of the time? The answer is yes, and yes I do, but there are moments of contentedness and extra-fondness (is that a word) that sneak in and warm your heart. For instance;

• Gavin has decided that he would rather wear underwear then pull-ups or diapers this week, and is in the process of mastering the toilet! The crowd goes wild.
• Gavin also, has been coming out of his cranky two’s and has been entering a sweeter stage. He loves to snuggle under his letter blanket, and his personality is starting to show like crazy. Just the other night he told me he saw God in the wall, I have no idea what he was talking about, but he is funny.
• Ava wonders the funniest things aloud. Like can we ever go to a restaurant church, I am not sure what that would look like, dinner theater? But we told her she would have to start it.
• Ava wants to be a Mail lady, Fire fighter, and a pilot. I asked her where she would sleep and she informed me that she would stay with the other mail people. But she would deliver mail to Josh, myself, Gavin and Ashton.
• The kids and myself have been taking walks around the neighborhood in the wagon, and Ava and Gavin like to pull Ashton instead of being pulled. On these same walks we are always on the lookout for trash in the neighborhood to pick up and throw away. Gavin and Ava “work as a team” to walk down into the wash to pick up bags stuck to bushes and such.
• Gavin no longer says panpakes, for pancakes. He very clearly enunciated pancake this evening… he is growing up.
• Ava got a booster seat and cannot believe that she gets to use a seatbelt like an adult!
• Ava is also excited about starting Kindergarten in July. She keeps telling people that she is almost 5, but really she is only almost 4 1/2!
• Ashton is walking around like a mad man. He can turn on a dime and become quite the walker.
• Ashton’s nickname has changed from shoe (because he used to sleep in the pack n’ play in our closet) to bobblehead! If you have ever seen Ashton’s new dance then you would understand.
• The kids have been recently practicing the Lord’s Prayer after we pray, and then we sing a Benediction. I love their sweet hearts and their spontaneous songs to God.

And most of all I have a husband who works hard for the church, and loves people, but ultimately wants to serve and bless his family and be a light to those who come in contact with us! Our family is far from perfect, but we love each other and are trying to enjoy the small things.