A Post from Katy: "Jesus had a brother?"

The following entry is from our dear Children's Ministries intern, Katy Buckner, as she reflects back on her summer spent with the kids at CCP.





They say you learn a lot from kids.

Well, I am a true witness to that.

Ironically, when I was supposed to be a “leader”, I often felt like the kids were leading me. Their innocence, their obedience, and their discipline taught me more about being a follower of Jesus than any lesson or sermon ever could.

I was not raised going to church every Sunday with my family. We went occasionally, on holidays for the most part, to my grandfather’s Baptist church. Back then, church for me was an old people thing, and I always felt intimidated by the “regular” kids who came every Sunday. The kids who knew all of the answers and stories of the Bible. I figured they were always better than me because I did not grow up in church and did not attend regularly.

This summer, Elizabeth and I led a bible study with fourth and fifth graders. We met every week and went over the chapter we were supposed to read for that week. The book had daily devotionals for 28 days, that we talked and discussed together each week.  My younger self would have referred to these kids as the “regulars”. The ones who were forced to go to church by their parents, the ones who grew up in the church, the ones who knew all of the answers and bible stories. My initial thought helping lead this bible study was, “These kids probably know more about Jesus and the Bible than I do, so I’m not going to have anything to offer”.

I know, it is a silly thought to have, but it was real.

I had experienced the love of God before and Jesus was in my heart, but did I know the Bible enough? Oh no, I certainly did not. Did you know Jesus had a brother? Because I did not prior to this summer. Anyway, my fear was that I would not be able to teach well.

I learned that actions speak louder than words. You can know all of the factual answers, but a real relationship with God is more important than that. I am a relational person, so it was easy for me to understand having a relationship with Christ.  A lot of kids who have grown up in Church know all of the answers, but they struggle with the relationship part. There’s a disconnect in the head knowledge and the heart application.  One thing I learned for myself was that I could teach kids the love of God just by the way I carried myself and loved others.

The beginning of this summer started out a little rough for me. I had always followed the same path all throughout high school: going to church every week, staying away from the “party” scene and hanging out with all the" good" people. 

Things began to shift by the end of my Senior year. I made a lot of people angry and frustrated, I argued with my family more than ever, and I hid things from people I loved. I would still attend church amidst all of the tension and guilt I felt, but would ask myself who am I? I was coming home late at night then getting up the next morning to help lead kids to Jesus? How could God be using me to help out at this church when I have nothing to give Him? 

I mean, I was definitely not leading by example. 

I had a major change of heart this summer, and that is when I really started to “get it”. Whatever I had, even if it was nothing at all, God would use it; I just had to be humble and willing to give it all to Him.

God will work with whatever you give Him.

Being uncomfortable was an important key for me this summer.

Interning for Children's Ministries was not comfortable for me. I was intimidated by the job, but it has been the most rewarding experience ever and has helped me grow the most in my faith and belief in who God created me to be.

Being around kids, for most of my summer, taught me to lead by example, to give everything to God, and to live uncomfortably. Now, as I am about to head off to college, I realize I won’t have all of the answers and sometimes I may feel intimidated by others who do know all of the answers. But, the one thing I can do is to give what I have to God and He will use that in the most unbelievable ways.

I encourage you to step out and do something uncomfortable in your faith, give God whatever you have to offer, even if it is the smallest thing, and to lead by love.

Perfect

Last week I had a conversation with our 5th graders about the pressures of being "perfect". We talked about where we feel pressure from, what standard we are trying to reach, and why we get so disappointed in ourselves when we aren't the best of the best.

I listened and closely related to the hearts of those kids. It's impossible to live a sinless life. In many ways through scripture, "perfect" is used to describe Christ and how he operates. His ways are perfect. He is perfect in faithfulness.  His authority is perfect. His word is perfect.  

 In Matthew, Jesus even commands us to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect. 

No pressure, right?

Then, I had this thought, "I wonder if it's idolatry when we tell people their homes, children, bodies, jobs, or lives are perfect?" If the only reason we know perfection is because of God and who He is, how He loves, is it wrong that we as humans use that to describe things on earth? I'm going to venture to say God doesn't love it when we comment on pictures on Instagram saying "So perfect!" It has been convicting me so strongly that I only know the meaning and the very definition of that word "without sin" because of Christ. So I should probably take it out of my daily usage describing people or situations. As awesome as we can interpret others' lives to be, those people are not Jesus, so let's stop describing people as if they were equal with Christ.

BUT, here's the beautiful tension and redemption with my struggle with this word. Not only is the word "perfect" used through scripture to describe sinlessness but, it's used to describe a process Christ is doing in the hearts of those who love him. "Perfect" is also used to describe someone who is of complete maturity and faith; an ongoing process for a lifetime of believers. Praise God this word won't hang over me forever. Praise God He's working this out in my heart and life. Praise God I'm being made perfect through my sin, doubt, and unfaithfulness. Let's remind our children of this, that their standard to live up to is not of this world. Their idea of perfection should have nothing to do with what this world offers- it's about being perfected in the sight of Jesus. 

The scripture of Matthew 5 is brought back into focus, and I am so empowered. This command of Jesus isn't only a reminder of why to live a sinless life, but it's also a reminder to live a life that is open. Jesus is commanding us to open ourselves so God can do the work in us. The work that leads to maturity, full faith and wisdom. Allow Christ to work in you, so that you, in His holy and perfect sight, will be made perfect when you see Him face to face. 

" I am called to live in such a perfect relationship with God that my life produces a yearning for God in the lives of others, not admiration for myself. Thoughts about myself hinder my usefulness to God. God’s purpose is not to perfect me to make me a trophy in His showcase; He is getting me to the place where He can use me. Let Him do what He wants." Oswald Chambers

Resurrection Response

One of my greatest joys and equally greatest area of nervousness is teaching bible study for our third grade Whiz Kids once a week. When I teach the children of our church, I have insight as to how a child grows up, their knowledge of scripture, their home life, and church history. I love knowing these parts of children's lives. So it's hard not knowing if any of these precious students our church members tudor have even heard who Christ is.

Each year we've begun Whiz Kids with a blank slate assuming that none of these kids have been introduced to the Gospel especially the "churchy" words that we use in bible study at the church.  Some years, we've had more churched kids than others. The past few weeks, we've been studying the death and resurrection of Jesus. We've had such tender conversations about how awful and tragic the death of Jesus was including fresh tears from these kids. There's nothing like seeing the Gospel unfold and click in the hearts of 9-year-olds. We talked about the celebration all of Jesus' friends, family, and followers must have experienced when they saw him resurrected in all of His glory. They worshiped at His feet! We talked about what it means for US that Jesus came back from the dead- and what a gift salvation is for us!

So yesterday before we dismissed our students for spring break, we talked about since we now believe Jesus is actually IS who He said He was, now what?

Is this story supposed to remind us of God's love for us? You bet.
Is it something to celebrate and Praise God for? Absolutely.
Does this real event in history make us proclaim personal salvation? Yes!

But, any of the above statements WITHOUT obeying the Great Commission isn't listening to Jesus' authority. The last documented words we have of Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels are of Jesus telling His disciples to go to all the nations and make disciples. That was His response to the Resurrection.

His documented words after the Resurrection weren't "See, I told you I loved you!" or "Keep this act of love only in your heart forever."  Even though there is a deeply personal response and life change to the resurrection of Christ, the established believers weren't His focus. It was the exact opposite. Jesus' response was get up, go, and tell everyone who doesn't know, and God will be with us.

So, I challenged our Whiz Kids with this question: What does that look like for you, in the third grade in Dalton? Does it mean God is calling you across the world? Not necessarily. It means where you are, talk about Jesus. One child suggested in a very detailed way that she could have bible study with her class on Fridays at lunch. YES! One child said he would make sure his younger brother and sister knew the teachings of Jesus because they've never heard them before. YES!

Friends, what can be our response? Are we making sure that this is our response to Easter morning? Are we talking, teaching, and sharing with our coworkers, family, and parents of children on sports teams? If third graders in Dalton can be creative and enthusiastic about their response to the Resurrection and the direct order from Christ Himself... surely, we can too.

Sacred Spaces

When I was a freshman in highschool, our school had just begun major construction. We were moved to a vacant high school building that was significantly smaller than our school...and pretty gross. But, we loved to hate on that building. It was thrilling to guess what gross thing was going to happen next. Subsequently, because of the small space, there was no room for underclassman in the lunch room. There was a small courtyard with maybe 5 concrete tables in which underclassmen could gather and eat (in all temperatures and weather conditions). OR, even better, we could eat on the floor of the first-floor hallways. (Side story, one afternoon sewage water overflowed from the bathrooms on that same first floor and flooded the hallways. I'm not making one part of that up. We lived to complain on days like that!  It was pretty comical. )

I don't know who originally had the idea of asking a teacher if we could meet in their classroom. But, I had a large group of friends that decided we didn't want to be outside in the rain and cold anymore.

We asked a Spanish teacher that a lot of us had in common, Ms. Addis, if we could eat lunch in her classroom. I think we even disguised our need telling her we wanted a place to have a bible study?.. Who could turn down a group of high schoolers wanting to have bible studies during lunch. Thankfully, not her.

(I think we had a real bible study maybe 5 times... during the 2 years we ate in her classroom. )

Regardless, she let us eat in her room. Every. single. day.

She gave up her period of quiet, alone time to welcome us in her room. Often times, she stayed in the room grading papers or replying to emails and we could hear her chuckle at the weird conversations that were had. She would often participate in our pointless banter and become invested in our interests and chat with us.

When it came time for her to get married, it was such a joy for us to plan to get her tickets to a concert with her new husband. We had built a relationship with her that called for us to equally be invested in her joy, and to celebrate the good things happening in her life.

This past weekend at If:Gathering, I was asked to recall people in my life who had sacrificed their comfort to help build community and disciples of Jesus. Unintentionally, Ms. Addis (Now, Mrs. McRee), built a community. We not only wanted to be around each other and decompress at lunch, but we wanted to be with her. She didn't openly share her faith, because it wasn't allowed, but very clearly we knew of her faith and trust in Christ. She modeled it in her care for us, her sacrifice of comfort, and choosing to encourage this rambunctous and loud group of friends. She cared for us- and she did that because of her love for Christ.

A long time has passed since I was in high school. But, I'm positive that if you polled my faithful lunch group from Greenville High and asked what adult helped build community in their lives, they would also answer Mrs. McRee. Our thankfulness wasn't about how great of a teacher she was. EVEN THOUGH, she is a phenominal Spanish teacher, and I have lots of friends that used their Spanish handouts from her class in college. Our thankfulness stems from her quiet witness she shared with us- which led us to become pastors, ministry leaders, educators, counselors and people who now share their lives with others.

 I've learned that community building is a gift AND a calling. It takes somoene willing to sacrifice themselves, willing to minister to people right under their own two feet, even in their place of work. It takes people willing to keep a group of people connected. Sometimes that connectedness can look like a life stage, a sports team, a common interest, a common belief, or even a not so pleasant space in run-down Parker High school.

Thank you, Mrs. McRee, from the lunch group you loved and was equally annoyed by in 2005. You taught us how to gather anywhere and make it sacred. You taught us that community and discipleship can happen everywhere. Still so very thankful for your investment in our lives!

Context Context Context

I've discovered that I do my best in the context of relationships. Surprise! I think I get that from my Mom. Cleaning baseboards...sure! As long as she had someone to hang with, count her in.  The flip side of doing my best everything in the context of relationships, means that I also unfortunately get the most frustrated and discouraged in the context of relationships. I am at my best (and worst) with other people. Sorry!

I can point out to you which of our kids at ChristChurch are most encouraged through relationship in a matter of minutes. I think you would be surprised how many we have. Some kids want a task they can brainstorm and construct successfully. Some, do their best thinking and studying by themselves. Some, do their best in the context of being competitive and a drive to win.  But, we have so many who do their best by just being known.

 The faithful leaders in my life kept me in the church.  I wanted to spend time with them and be in communication about life's small details. But, the leaders that led from a place of blueprints, and a set discipleship model discouraged me.  NOT because they weren't awesome leaders/teachers/mentors, but because they didn't know me. They were trying to use the same methods of discipleship for every single person.  But, PRAISE GOD he created us uniquely different, with different styles of learning, loving, growing, and teaching.

I've shared about my high school small group leader many times. Dana's compassion, availability,  and nurture in my life is a part of my story and call to ministry.  Her knowledge and awareness of our group's spiritual needs was one of the biggest ways I've ever experienced God working through another person. We had so many different needs emotionally and spiritually, because we were unstable, hormonal high school girls. BLESS YOU, DANA. And honestly, we weren't that great of a group. We did a book study, once or twice, and not only did we not read the chapters but, we made fun of the book. We weren't consistent in showing up. We had arguments within the group that she would have to navigate around. Dana made us the most beautiful notebooks to keep all of our notes in for the Bible scholars that we were. But, we wouldn't even bring them. (Seriously, the most beautiful personalized notebooks with scrapbooking paper and handmade pages!!)  But yet, she still wanted to know us all.

Here's the thing, I don't remember a ton of the content that was taught. I don't remember the arguments. I don't remember what we even prayed for our years together. If I got out my notebook, I would! ( I do still have it, Dana.) I remember that Dana was faithful, loved us well, and she wanted to know us SO THAT she could point us to Jesus in the ways she best knew how. She did that through praying with us, sharing her own personal story, and turning us to scripture over and over.  She didn't use a book called "How to Disciple other Humans"  by some famous scholar as a blueprint.  She didn't use a set rubric or bullet points to guide us into deeper theology.

She related to us through relationship. Just how Jesus does.

I came to understand my need for community, transparency, the Gospel, and mentors in my life through her and that sweet small group.  I've experienced the pin pointed attention and relationship with someone invested and interested in my salvation and knowledge of Christ-- and it made me stick around. Over 10 years later, if I had to poll my high school small group of ministry leaders, medical professionals, counselors, and business leaders, I could guarantee they would tell you the same things. They would tell you they also felt pin pointed spiritual nurturing from Dana. I'm still so thankful for that group, and how they have helped shape my own model for ministry to people.

Friends, I pray this for our children. This is my biggest prayer for the children of ChristChurch.This concept is what has kept me in the Church when I have been broken and disappointed. I pray that we continue to not only know our children's names, but know what makes them tick. I pray the Lord continues to create these bonds outside of families,  even outside of church staff,  that makes children want to stick around and know more about Christ. Shoot, I pray that we create these bonds with one another as adults, that make us want to stick around and be more invested, too.   I see it happening! Our church is a place of safety, counsel and personal discipleship already. So few things bring me as much joy in ministry as seeing children of our church running to adults who are not apart of their family to sit in their laps,  ask questions, tell secrets, give hugs, or show their new wiggly tooth. That means they are feeling known, secure, and loved. This season, be thinking about ways you can invest more deeply to help personally encourage our children's faith in Christ. What does it look like of you to know a child more fully and to point him/her to the Gospel in a relational way? Christmas break is right around the corner! Go hang with our babies and listen. They need you!

Resources For Your Family This Fall

I cannot believe the summer is already over! I'm sure you, parents, have mixed emotions about sending your kids back to school. You may have relief, joy,  or a heavy heart as your child is one grade level older. I am praying for you all this week- as you soak up your last summer moments and also as you keep a sane head trying to get everyone out the door Monday morning.

I'm often asked what I've read to better help and equip parents. This summer, I've done A LOT of reading. I've read some great books- and some not so great books. So, I've put together a list of recommendations for you to read as parents. Books that will encourage, inform, and teach you about where your child is developmentally, psychologically,  and spiritually. But also, books that will better inform and encourage your own faith as a follower of Christ... and as parents.

I've also put together a list of books for your kids . These are resources that can be helpful to your child as you are trying to find ways to bring more of Christ into your conversations and routines. They can also be resources for them as they try to personalize their own faith.  Some books may just encourage conversations at home about what unconditional love and the salvation of Christ mean.

(Links to order books are included in the title! Wanted to make it easy for you if you're interested!)

Parent Recommendations:

-- Emotionally Healthy Spirituality (Peter Scazzero)
         Basically the whole idea of the book is that it's impossible to be spiritual mature and wise if you are emotionally immature and uninformed. The book addresses avoided conflict in the name of Christianity, ignored anger sadness and fear, and living without boundaries. It's a super thought provoking book, using scriptural references as to how Christ lived in an emotionally healthy way and even how the early church got itself into trouble when it didn't act in an emotionally stable way. Scazzero also wrote a book called "Emotionally Healthy Church" that is equally as great. I think this book can be so helpful to you as you help your child navigate the role of emotional health in their own faith, in your family unit, in how they interact with God. It's important for us all to know that emotions are designed by God but we have to be healthy in the way we show and react to those around us.

--It's Just a Phase So Don't Miss It (Reggie Joiner and Kristen Ivey)
          If anyone interacts with a child regularly, I highly recommend this awesome book! It's filled with super cool charts, graphics, statistics about a child's spiritual development, technological engagement, sexual maturity, and physical health. The book goes through each phase of development in a child's life and outlines significant relationships, present realities everyone needs to understand, and distinctive opportunities presented to a child in that age group. It takes the parent, teacher, reader into the brain and life of a child. It goes through each phase and breaks down how children relate to God, the church and their community. SO awesome.

--Plugged in Parenting (Bob Waliszewski)
      Written by the Director of the PluggedIn group, many of you are familiar with this website that rates and reviews current movies, books, games and music from a Christian perspective. Waliszewski writes about how to handle media conflicts that arise in your home about screen time and appropriate viewing. He also describes how some content can also led way for teachable moments if addressed in healthy ways with parents and in hand with scripture. He also outlines a "blueprint for family entertainment" that can help your family keep the peace at home.

-- The Sabbath (Abraham Heschel)
      This book is written by maybe the most well known 20th century Jewish scholar. If you've struggled with seeing the purpose in a Sabbath, this book is for you. It's pretty academic, but clearly gives support from the historical jewish perspective on ritual living and keeping holy days for not only God, but for yourself. To me, when practicing or trying to apply a biblical concept, I like to know the historical story and fight behind it. He suggests our whole week should "be a pilgrimage to the Sabbath Day." AND also he says "that all six days must be spiritually consistent with how we treat our Sabbath day." If that isn't convicting, I don't know what is.

Also pictured:
"I Wonder" -Elizabeth Caldwell 
"Show Them Jesus: Teaching the Gospel to Kids- Jack Klumpenhower
"Family Worship" - Donald Whitney

Recommendations for your Kids!

--Everything A Child Should Know About God: Kenneth Taylor
      This has become one of my very favorite resources this spring. Many of you already know it's one of my favorites! It's published in England, and spells "Mom" as "mum" and that's just an extra perk. It is totally a book that can be read by your child 1st grade and older. It's divided into 10 Parts with many smaller (1-2 page) lessons/devotions on the topic.  The ten Parts are:  All About the Bible, What God Has Done, Who God Is, The Problem of Sin, Jesus Comes to Help Us, Jesus Wants to Save You, The Holy Spirit Helps Us, Why We Go to Church Living as Jesus' Friends and When Jesus comes back. This is an excellent resource for bedtime, or a book to practice your child's reading. It's awesome.

--Where In The World, Know God, Stand Up- Devotionals for Kids Published by Think Orange!
    These are all awesome 8-9 week daily devotionals for kids. They are designed for your older elementary school student (3rd-6th grade) to be able to read and study themselves. If you can help your child establish a routine/ habit of doing a personal devotion for themselves, books like this will be helpful guidebooks to teach them how to have personal time with God.

---The Biggest Story: How the Snake Crusher Brings Us Back To The Garden -Kevin DeYoung
      If any of you follow The Gospel Coalition, DeYoung should be a familiar name. He has authored many adult resources and blogs regularly for Gospel Coalition. The illustrations in this book are unbelievable! It's written as one complete narrative from the Garden of Eden to when Christ comes back to restore the Earth. This would be an excellent multi-night bedtime story. It's such a beautifully written and illustrated book. I cannot recommend this enough for a child to understand the complete narrative of scripture and how Christ is central in it all.


Also Pictured:

"I AM: 40 Reasons to Trust God" by Diane Shortz




If you have any questions, or would like to have a conversation about any of these books, I would love to do that!

A Blank Page

There's something thrilling and equally as terrifying about a blank page. Being the inner 85 year old woman that I self- admittedly am, I love writing a note or journaling something with my own hands.  I love crisp stationery, an unopened notebook, a new (extra) fine tipped pen, or even a brand new word document (or blog). Fresh.

I think about the people throughout scripture who God has called upon to leave everything they once new as "life" and "living" and called them to a new level of trust; to that same terrifying yet equally as thrilling newness. Sometimes this required a lifestyle change, sometimes it involved a lowering of pride, sometimes it involved sitting and listening. I think of Noah, when God did away with all that was familiar and Noah walked in obedience to the Lord's calling of all things new. A new world! Abraham did the same even at a much later age. Abraham didn't realize his newness and calling upon His life in the Lord, until his late age and the desire and birth of his son. God promised His faithfulness to Abraham, in exchange for Abraham's obedience and trust. Leadership was expanded! Generations looked to Abraham's steadfast leadership. Even Joseph's life was significantly altered as he found himself at the bottom of a well. Everything He once was, was still a part of His life and story, but God used His abandonment by his brothers, to put Joseph in a place of trust and awareness. Look how God used HIS "newness"!

I feel so often in ministry at CCP and personally, that God calls me to new. He calls me to fresh eyes. He calls me to alter my lifestyle. He calls me to abandon old habits and bondage. He calls me to eagerly expect how He is going to work this very day. But, because I haven't had numerous shaking life-altering moments with God, I get stuck in the mundane. I experience Him with a stale and humdrum heart. I don't eagerly await His working. 

When in conversations with friends, and I'm getting new information that is exciting or that I know nothing about, I can't help but lean in. I can't help to want to be quiet and listen attentively. My mouth moves so quickly asking questions, people can barely understand what I'm saying! I want gather all the information I can because it's new!

Friends, this is our current season. Something new is so, so close.  I, like many of you, are clinging to the Lord's every move and every provision. We're leaning in. When we are experiencing the unveiling of newness, and doing away with bondage and being called out of waiting, we will experience Him in  a new way. I trust whole heartedly the changes about to be experienced in the life of CCP, because I know the Lord does everything in His power to know and love me. God has proven Himself so faithful to us, so tender-hearted, and so near. Here comes a new wave of new! Let's lean in, listen attentively, and not only watch how He works, but take part!

Fluffy White Comforter

There are few material things I love more than fresh, clean, crisp linens. I wash my sheets more than most other humans I know.

I had family in town this past weekend and every bed in my home was taken. I love that. I made sure the softest and cleanest sheets were on each bed to assure their comfort, because it's something that's important to me.

After my family left on Sunday afternoon, I spent a good portion of the day washing sheets,  blankets and towels. When I began making the beds back, my dog followed me around and laid in the floor in each room. What a good pup. As I finished making the fluffiest, whitest and biggest bed in the house, he happily leapt on top of the comforter and rolled around. Every part of his body was touched by the crisp white comforter.  Let me remind you, Sunday afternoon was very wet.

I said horrid words.

Actually, I screamed horrid words.

I was so looking forward to collapsing in my bed with a good movie on that rainy Sunday afternoon. But, instead, I was having to figure out how to get mud out of my comforter. Livid. I was livid.

I ended up leaving the house in my anger and going ahead to the church for youth. I decided to ignore the problem. That's always a good decision. (Note the sarcasm.)

And today, I had to pick up my comforter from the dry cleaners. It was a big mess, y'all.

When I made my bed tonight for the third time in four days, my pup was afraid to even walk into the room.... because of my temper the last time he and that crisp white comforter were in the same room.

Oh.


I was then reminded of something so simple about the grace and forgiveness of Christ that PRAISE THE LORD, are nothing like my rage. First,  HE forgives.  I could end this short blog post here. He forgives! He doesn't hold it over us!

Hallelujah and Amen!

But, another mind blowing characteristic of God, He doesn't keep a record of our wrongdoings. Amen! He doesn't give us shame and scorn when we are filthy. When we've jumped right back into our sin, after being cleansed and made white again, he doesn't scream at us with horrid words.  When we roll in the wet mud and dirt, and our "white as snow" becomes no longer recognizable, He doesn't leave us.

He doesn't ignore us.

He doesn't tend to it later.

He picks us up, welcomes us back onto the cleanest, fluffiest white space and tells us we are under His care. We are chosen by Him. We are welcomed by Him. He will forgive us so much, that He even will dwell IN us. There's no amount of shame that can make us unlovable. There's nothing worth hiding. There's nothing worth staying scared in the corner about.

That, my friends, is something to be thankful for. As I type this from my cloud-like bed, I'm thankful He calls me His own and has already washed me as white as this darn comforter. No amount of mud can stain or tarnish His cleanse upon my life. Upon our lives.

Equally As Able

When I was growing up, we sat on the same pew every single Sunday in "big church". We filed on the pew where all the extended Nickles sat. It usually meant that people were sitting in laps and squished against the wooden pew end. My sister and I would fight about who got to sit next to dad, because he would (and still does) extend his arm on the back of the pew. So that meant, it was just the perfect amount of space, for an elementary school girl,  to snuggle up and lean against his side. We would also fight about who got to sign everyone in on the Friendship pad. This was probably the same year that dad kept a running list (with dates) of whose turn it was to sit up front in his car...pre airbag.  Let's just say we argued. We were not always well behaved. Sunday mornings confined in a pew with my sister, were usually recipes for uncontrolled laughter with loud whispers OR snatching pencils out of each other's hands with rage. The beauty of having siblings...

Here we are, disguised as two sisters, who always get along...and match.

I digress. When we sat in this pew, there was another family that sat in front of us, also religiously. They had two children older than us, who were quiet and way cooler. They sat with their parents and elderly grandmother, who at the time, was about 90. Every week, we looked forward to getting to worship early because we knew that meant being offered a peppermint or candy. Bless that Mrs. Brock. She heard the loud giggles, she heard the quick snaps of my parents' angry fingers, she sat on the end of the pew and watched us as we were confirmands, she beamed with pride as we sang upfront with the children's choir and she greeted us with warm hugs as worship was over every morning. Some Sundays, she even offered to have one of us sit with her. And sometimes... we had to take her up on it. She saw (and heard) my parents teach us how to worship. They taught us what it was like to be a part of the community of faith, not simply exist there and keep quiet.  Some mornings it was hard. Those Sundays usually included the rows of people who sat behind us, coming up and giving my parents a good pat on the back with a laugh. Some mornings, it was a delight to sing harmony next to my mom, reading the hymnal and taking tally of our pastor's stories.

I've been questioned a lot this summer about why we didn't have "children's church" during worship over the summer months. I want you, as a church body, to know the reasoning and theology- it's not because our volunteers are tired by the end of the school year (even though that is true). It's because we're trying to give you, parents, an opportunity to teach your child how to worship. It's so easy to send them off to age appropriate time for stories, games and crafts. I am your child's biggest advocate for age appropriate content and learning. I promise! It gives me great joy to creatively teach the gospel in a way that your child developmentally can grasp.

But, just as I harp on the congregation about their baptismal vows, you've vowed the same exact thing. I've tearfully watched you. (You know I love nothing more than a baptism.) You, parent, have vowed to teach them to worship. When other is there time to practice worship except during worship? So that means, even when it's hard. Even when you don't think they understand. You've vowed to help them be integrated into the life of our worshipping community. It's not about waiting until they can pray, believe or worship a certain way. You've vowed to help mold their hearts to WANT to worship. Not just let them blindly sit in your pew as everyone else is engaged in the parts of the service. Obviously, because of their age, and attention span, we know not all of our youngest children can sit through worship. THAT is why children's church exists; to help spiritually supplement those who developmentally cannot make it the entire service. It doesn't exist for childcare. It doesn't exist to teach your children the fundamentals of how to worship within our church family (reminder, that's your biblical role as a parent). It exists for the hard Sundays. It exists so that families can slowly integrate their child into the worshipping community. It isn't meant to be a substitute for worshipping with the body of Christ. Children can worship the exact same way adults can. It just takes guidance, explanation of words, and patience on the part of adults.  I promise. If any adults disagree, just send them my way. Come at me! 

Theologically, our church believes that a child is just as important as the adults they belong with! Both are equally created in the image of God; both equally important in the kingdom. Meaning their worship is equally important to God. Praise God for that! So, I am advocating for children to be present. I'm advocating for children to be seen. I'm advocating for parents to teach their children in the pew. I'm advocating that other adults be the village parents need in order to teach worship habits. It really does go beyond your wisdom and knowledge- bring in the people who sit around you at church into the responsibility of raising your child to worship. Ask other families who have done it well for tips. It's hard- but it's creating a habit and a lifestyle that they will practice their entire lives. What other activity will follow them the entirety of their lives? Do you want the ONE activity they do forever to be taught by anyone other than you? 

The end of September, I'll be teaching a worship education class for children (and their parents) ages 5-2nd grade. Let us help you! Let me get your family paired up with members who would LOVE to sit with you and your learning worshipper in the pew. Let us resource and encourage you, as parents and members of our congregation to help our children learn how to worship.

Thursday Ritual

I met my best friend fall semester of my freshman year of college. She was a beautiful, tall and bubbly girl from North Georgia that lived on my hall. We shared one freshman class together about the life of C.S. Lewis. I knew from the start she was my kind of people. She was immensely more organized than I was (am). Her room was the cutest one on the hall. She was SUCH a better dancer at the fraternity houses.  She was more outgoing and was so gifted in vocalizing her faith. I, on the other hand, turned in wrinkled papers, had a faux leather futon in my room, wore t-shirts with cardigans to the fraternity houses, and was so unbelievably close minded. I am laughing out loud writing this. BLESS.

Fast forward through freshman year,  as we went home with each other on breaks, pledged the same sorority, and worked at a summer camp together. Sophomore year rolled around, and we were roommates. With our majors and extra curricular activities pulling us in opposite directions, we often only saw each other as we were getting in bed in the wee-hours of the morning. So, we started our Thursday ritual. Thursdays at 11am, there were no classes scheduled. Every week, professors had department meetings in this block. Meaning: everyone flooded the ONE dining hall for an early lunch. At PC, it was hard to go anywhere or do anything without other people. Which was AWESOME, but when you need some down, non-togetherness time, it was a bit difficult.

Sarah Beth and I would grab to-go boxes on Thursdays at 11 o'clock religiously, and would eat lunch together in the floor of our room. This often meant each of us would have to turn down other lunch plans to eat together. I almost always got a turkey and cheese sandwich, and Sarah Beth always ventured into some healthy veggies with a few picked apart cookies. We wrapped Christmas lights where the ceiling met the wall in our room, and it was so comfy- and the most cozy room on the hall.  That hour usually involved Grey's Anatomy muted on the TV as we purposefully chatted about what was going on. Our door would stay closed, which was rare for our hall at the time. We would set aside this time once a week. Our time together was (and still is) good for the soul. It encouraged me.  It was something I could count on. I think because we learned that year that our friendship was important, something worth investing in, she's still the person I call for guidance, insight, prayer and encouragement. I know she wants the best for me. What a gem, that Sarah Beth.

As I've learned to better manage my time, I've now realized that no one can live on naps alone, and that the real world is far more demanding of my time than my rigorous 3 hours a day of classes ; so, I've tried to develop little rituals in my week. I purposefully say "yes" to the events and people who help enrich my life and encourage me. That sometimes means learning to say "no", which I have increasingly become worse at doing, the more I get involved in other groups and places. I develop these rituals and "yes" opportunities for my sanity, and I purposefully create times in which I can be challenged by those who love me. I want the people I'm spending time with to deepen my relationship with Christ, and help build disciples. I've had to take steps back from situations asking myself is this person going to encourage me to love others well? Will this conversation pour into me, so I can go and serve others more efficiently? We need to make sure it's people not projects that occupy the sacred places of our lives.

I'm still terrible at saying "no". I over-book, over-commit, over schedule, sleep less, and leave little- to no time for the things that nourish me. I'm still a people pleaser. But, here's a gentle reminder to you (and me), as our school year is fully back in swing; remember, it's ok to say "no".  Create priority and rituals  with your family once a week. Make time for the people who bring joy and transparency to your life, instead of  half-heartedly giving to many different groups of people. Get plugged into a people that will encourage and strengthen you, instead of discourage and wear you down. We were not created to be able to do it all! Praise God for that.

A Story About Pam

This weekend, my Meyers Briggs twin (ENFP) Pam Cole, came to Dalton. When she comes, it's always filled with lots of cake, gift giving and a prophetic voice of hope.  Now, usually, Pam goes to sleep for the evening when I'm eating a late lunch, as the Lord wakes her up in the wee moments of the morning to pray. But, we stayed up until about the time she wakes up this weekend, mostly because of this great story I'm about to share with you...

So, my dear Pam spent the day with me Thursday. Visiting with people dearest to me in Dalton, and with those who are always most eager to see her. She spoke a prophetic message over our women that has encouraged me since it has touched my ears. She is a friend that comes into my life speaking hope and love from the Lord to me when I am most in need. She is discerning in that area of my life and hers, and I am so grateful that I know her because the Lord uses her to speak into my heart.

After we spent the day together Thursday catching up, shopping, sharing, the women's dinner, and laughing- it was time to go home to my house. My mom came to Dalton for the evening to hear Pam's message and spend the evening with us Thursday. We told Pam we would meet her at my house (about 5 blocks from the church) since she stayed a bit later chatting with a few women. She has been to my house and has stayed with me multiple times, mind you.

I got home, grabbed a snack, and sat on the couch with my mom waiting for Pam to arrive, hoping to share a glass of wine or two. As long moments passed by, I texted a woman I knew she was in the parking lot with saying "Tell Pam to let you go home! We know you have to work in the morning. We love you!"

I figured Pam was talking with others so, I didn't think anything of it.

About 45 minutes passed by, and I received an e-mail from a stranger. Luckily, we are in the midst of Marketplace madness, so I've been checking my email way more often than I typically do. The subject line read:

"You don't know me but Pam is lost! We are at Panera with her and we have people out looking for where you live!"


We jumped in the car, and drove the .4 miles to find Pam. She had lost her phone from the adventures of the day and so, she befriended a large family who had sent out search parties to find my townhouse, with the only description being "It has a fern out front." Don't worry friends, the police and other members of this family stopped looking for the townhouse with a fern out front,  once we arrived to a closed Panera to pick her up out front. We all had a good laugh at went home. Only Pam Cole could befriend a large amount of strangers, to make them hop in cars in and look for my home... and get the police involved.

All of this being said and shared, there are the people that bring joy and newness into your own life, Pam is certainly one of these for me. I can only assume she is like that for so many others in her realm of influence. Who are the people in your life that bring you hope and a word from the Lord? Who encourages you to know more of Christ by spending time with them? The Lord desires for us to have relationships like this, people to sustain us through the wilderness. To be visible and tangible reminders of the Lord's faithfulness and promises. I have a few people that do this. Pam Cole is one- I'm thankful for her intercession on my behalf- and on behalf of CCP. Reach out to the people who need  you to do this for them. Pray for someone, and let them know! Write a note to remind them of God's love. For people that are relationally driven like my sister Pam, this will bring them a great sense of fulfillment  and joy to be able to walk alongside of someone else. I've experienced and seen it! Go on, be a Pam.

Finally, back on the couch. 

Reading Between the Lines

Since October, we've (the children and I) been talking a lot about heaven. As the result of tragedy and grief, children want to be comforted with the "what happens next" of death. I've had multiple parents come to me with concern of their children claiming that they're excited to be in heaven. Now, for a family of non-believers that could raise concern. Anytime a child talks about death in the context of their own life it makes parents uncomfortable. But, as I've been soothing and telling our families that this is the sweetest affirmation of what our children know about God and the fulfillment of being with Jesus eternally. This is their declaration and curiosity of wanting a deeper relationship with Christ. Praise God! This is what we pray for! We want our children excited to know Jesus and glorify Him forever. Amen?

As parents and leaders of children, we can choose to interpret scripture from a place of being scared, and wanting to have all of the control/answers in our own lives. But, as I'm seeing, it's so much more beautiful when we choose to listen and live out the promises of Christ as our children do. Do I speak about longing for heaven? Not as much as I should.  Being in heaven means no tragedy, no sin, perfection and dwelling and seeing Jesus forever. If that's what our children long for- and speak of, then I will advocate for their want to be closer to Jesus- and know Him more. There are ways for us to make that happen here on earth! We can help them know more of Christ through how we love, how we teach, how we serve... I think they understand in the simplest form that we were made of eternal dwelling, we were not made for this world. They have full knowledge that in Heaven, in His presence, is where we will know Him fully. So, friends, I long for that day, too. I long to see Him face to face- and be done with sadness, illness, and tragedy. Of course, the conversation of death shouldn't be taken lightly with children but, I don't think it's ever something that we as adults should scare them from, just because we don't have all the answers about it.

Last week, I taught about the Holy Spirit and Pentecost during our CCP Kids Bible Study. With each group, we talked about how it could have been scary to be hiding in the upper room, with violent winds, resting tongues of fire upon each of the followers of Jesus, and people speaking in tongues. But, instead, this is how we interpreted it:

We believe God has complete control of everything.
God wanted to give us more of Himself as a help and guide to be with us forever.
It came in a way only God could show, instead of a way we give gifts.
God did some awesome things- that no one could ever try to do themselves.

At the end of the lesson, I even had groups of kids begging to read the next chapter in Acts. I call that successful. If ever a child wants to know more about scripture, I can't help but say... "Alright, Let's keep reading!"

As leaders, it's our calling to help children read between the lines of scripture and daily life. It's our job to help them apply the truths of the Gospel to their own lives of faith. We can allow the facts of violent winds and lots of foreign languages being spoken at the same time scare them; OR, we can choose to help them see that ONLY God can do these things. We trust God! We know God loves us and wants the best for us, so we shouldn't be afraid.

It's my job as your family and child's advocate in the kingdom, to help you interpret and answer the hard questions. It is my great JOY and privilege to do so along side of your precious families. I pray for you daily as you lead your child through scripture, through his\her faith- and that you feel equipped by the Holy Spirit as your kids spout out the tough questions. Be encouraged by their curiosity and desire to know more of Christ. The questions mean that God is at work, and the Holy Spirit is moving in their lives. They wouldn't be asking any questions about faith if the Holy Spirit wasn't prompting them to do so. What sweet encouragement!

Reconciled to Reconcilers

This week, I've had a middle school girl come and ask for a listening ear regarding middle school girl "drama". Bless her. Little does she know, I still wake up in the middle of the night with nightmares of my mean girl days. I have dreams that I walk into the lunchroom and everyone is whispering because the jeans I'm wearing don't have the cool designer label. #help. So, I may not be the best one to advise her, because I still break out into a sweat thinking about the brutality of 7th grade.

As we stayed up late texting last night, I was reminded of one of my favorite excerpts of Paul's letters to the Church in 2 Corinthians. In Chapter 5, we so often hear the verse "If anyone is in Christ, He is a new creation the old has gone, the new has come!" Which is so beautiful, and one of the most encouraging images portrayed in the New Testament. The fact that my old, dusty and broken life is made brand new through Christ gives me great hope and a high calling. 

BUT, here's what I reminded my sweet middle school friend,  if we keep reading in verse 18, here's what that means for us as we live out our faith:

"All of this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting our sins against us. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. "

We now, are given a task after accepting our newness. We, as reconciled people, are called to continue the work of Christ's reconciliation. The Reconciled become the Reconcilers. After restoring relationship with Christ, we are called to restore a right relationship with people in our lives, and to even lead others to a right relationship with Jesus. Paul says it clearly, this is now a ministry to all of us. It's not an optional way of living, it's not an option that some are called to. It's a way of living in light of the Gospel, being a new creation, fashioned to look more like Christ and make His glory known.

When people are called to their own call to ministry in workplaces, in their homes, or those with a with individual gifts, those are all specialized. Christ doesn't call for us ALL to go out and spread the gospel through singing. (Praise the Lord for that.)  But, this ministry of reconciliation, is universal, a calling and a mission for all of Christ's disciples. It's a ministry that we are united in, a calling that isn't an option.

Where this week are you going to bring about reconciliation to Christ? How are you going to help others be reconciled in their relationships? How are YOU yourself going to mend and fix relationships that are not right in your life? In the words of Paul, Christ is making His appeal for reconciliation and newness through US! How will you make that known?

In Balance

In high school, I remember one night getting home from a high school swim meet very late, needing to study for multiple tests, and bursting into tears when my parents reminded me to turn off my headlights after parking in front of the house. Is that cause for tears? I think not.

To say that my emotional health and state was unbalanced and in flux in high school, is an understatement. I could hardly verbalize what I was feeling.   I wasn't getting enough sleep, I had just had a full day at school, a 4 hour long swim meet, school work to finish,  college applications, plus I occasionally wanted to see my friends. As I've been teaching our kids the past few weeks about all of these characteristics of the church and of God that all are so different from one another, I've been reminded of that night in high school that nothing in my life was in balance, and... the ways my life still most definitely aren't balanced.

But, here's the beauty I've found in all of these qualities of God I've been teaching. He is perfectly all. He is perfectly balanced. He is perfectly equal in everything He says He is. Praise God!  When God is wrathful and calls us to repent, He is equally full of grace and mercy. When God is judging and convicting, He is equally forgiving and merciful. When He calls us to care for the orphans and oppressed, He equally desires for us as individuals to draw closer to Him.  When my life looks like a scale that is tipping, with bitterness running over and my mercy for others running dry; God looks like thousands of different scales all equally weighted the same.  He is perfect in His character. I'm so thankful that God's character is nothing like mine, and He was not fashioned in my image. We would know wrath but not love. We would know grace without salvation.

Where I am weak, He is strong. I was asked last night with a group of women what it looks like to "delight in my weakness". I think it means where we are unbalanced, and our bitterness and judgement takes ahold of our lifestyle, we can rely upon Christ to help us become more like Him. Because in reality, that's what I desire. I pray for my life to reflect the equality that Christ's does. So, as I'm being fashioned and made into His likeness, I pray for my scales that are always far from equilibrium, to be adjusted to reflect more of His. Jesus, give me equal parts love and grace, repentance and forgiveness, conviction and delight. I pray for our children and all of you daily as we all "becoming". We are all "becoming" more like something. Is that something more like the culture of 2015? Or, are you being transformed and becoming more like Christ? Are you allowing Him to show you His equality and allow His perfection to transform your way of being a disciple?

Rend

Joel 2:12-13
"Even now, declares the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." Rend your heart, and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love and he relents from sending calamity."

At my old church, people stopped bringing their bibles and started only bringing iPads to worship and to bible studies. I'm not turning my nose at that at all, I often find myself walking into meetings or gatherings with only my phone or iPad in hand, and patting myself on the back that I can walk into events almost empty handed. "You're simplifying", I tell myself . But to me, there's nothing like having my own personal bible with me, in hand, to reference and see my faith written, circled,  dated, starred and question marked in pages of scripture.  I try to make an effort to bring it, in settings I know it will be used. The pages of my bible have been with me through high-school, theology classes in college, bible exams, life transitions,  and with me as I teach your children about how God is at work.

Next to this passage in Joel, I have 3 dates written, all at least four years apart. I taught about this passage to a group of women this week, and was once again reminded about these 3 times in my life in which I clung to these words from Joel as comfort and precise direction.

To give a little bit of context, the prophet Joel, is writing in a time extreme drought and a massive locust plague in Judah. With such horrible circumstances and crisis, Joel calls people to repent. The lack of repentance, in his mind, can be the only reason why God would allow such awful things to happen.  So, Joel extends a call to prayer and repentance to the people of Judah.

We see the word "rend". There are words we see in scripture that I wished I used more often in the context of my everyday life, and I wish "rend" was one of them.  Rend means to tear something apart, or to give something away violently. In Jewish tradition, when Jacob saw Joseph's coat and thought Joseph had died, he rent (past tense of rend, I had to look it up) his garments. He tore them apart as an act of psychological control, and it was also a culturally sanctioned expression of grief.

I love this passage of Joel because it calls out the readers to do away with tradition, ways that we can repent and be closer to God, is giving Him control of your heart...not ripping up your clothes. Giving control of the heart may hurt. It may be painful.  Rend your hearts, give your heart to God as an expression of your grief, not your clothing. Rending your heart to God is an act of trust, obedience, and submission.

Submission isn't pleasant for me. I like to be in control. And so sometimes, I give God glimpses of submission or alternatives to it. I try to bargain with God with what I want to give, and what I want to keep. That's not how it works, as we know. Because this world isn't about me and my comfort. I want my life to look like a person perfectly submitted at the feet of Jesus, willing to do whatever He wants, whenever He wants, looking for opportunities to serve where He is at work. What does that take for me?

Rending.

Lots of it, giving and tearing the parts of my life I try to keep hidden, and giving them to Christ. It takes me giving it away... in complete trust.

I've talked with a loving and patient friend for a few weeks now about this issue. Which, is a first for me, to talk or share about it with anyone. It's one of my deepest most hidden sins.  As my dear friend listens, I try to explain to her why this will forever plague me, my lack of submission and crusade for control. I like to have control in all areas of my life, in my job, in my relationships, in my emotions, with my family.... I have no idea why that is.  Praise God for her kindness, grace, wisdom and continual listening ears because, my emotional stability and clarity of mind, have both been as stable and clear as a glass of Ganges River water would be.   As I continually wrestle with wholly submitting to Christ and allowing the Lord to have the entirety of heart, this piece of scripture makes its way back into my life.  Just as I've been asking and accosting my friend to explain my mental stability and variety of issues, I'm reminded of this passage.  I hear you, God, I hear you.

Rend your heart, Elizabeth. Return to Me, Elizabeth.

That should be my instinct reaction when things go bad. My impulse should be to draw closer to Him, repent so you can see and be a part of His working. But, so often, my instincts are to flee, lash out in anger or confusion by rending my garments and keeping my heart and real issues hidden. But, we're called to draw closer and rend to God what is fully His, our hearts. He desires for us to hide nothing from Him.

So friends, we see God speak to His people through Joel saying to return to Him.  Give Him your heart. Know more of Him through Fasting. Weep because you've wronged Him.  What is going to be your response as God calls you to Return To Him. Return to His Goodness. Return to His Grace. Return to His compassion.  Is your response going to be to rend?

Now in Flesh Appearing

I have a memory that replays in my head every year about this time. It's of my cousins, aunts, uncles, grandmothers, parents, siblings, and myself, sitting crammed in a few pews together waiting for the Christmas Eve service at my home church to begin. My grandmother has sat in the same pew since probably 1945.  I think this specific Christmas Eve, I was in elementary school. After my parents had strategically placed us next to the family members we would get in the least amount of trouble with, the chiming of the hour began, the organ started playing "O Come All Ye Faithful", and the choir began processing in. The song was filled with thunder and power as these leaders in the church were proclaiming and singing about the hope of Jesus. This is the first memory I have of hearing harmony to a piece of music and being able to sing it alongside of my mom.

I adore Christmas music, mostly all the old Christmas hymns. They're the only ones I know all billion stanzas to. But, "O Come all Ye Faithful" is without a doubt my favorite. It's a song of gathering, of invitation and of a glimpse into what Heaven is like. 

When reading the narrative of Jesus' birth, the details of who was there, where it happened, and understanding the timeline, I zoom in on my favorite part: the immediate response people and the Heavens had in response to Jesus' birth. It gives me a good idea and example of how I am to daily be responding to God's presence.  I get to respond daily to this hope and love, because I have a relationship with Christ. How am I responding?  In the responses of the Shepherds, Wise Men, Parents of Jesus and the Heavenly Realm of Angels, we're given the first examples of how to live as followers of Christ. How did people respond when they realized that God IS WHO He says He is, when all of the prophecy was coming into fulfillment? I'll tell you what, they didn't give Jesus their leftover time and effort in the day, which is what I'm often so guilty of doing. 

In Luke 2, we see these actions as people's responses to the news of Jesus' birth: terrified, hurried to see the Christ, amazed,  thankful, in awe, glorifying, praising, humbled, treasured...

Here's the thing that I've been convicted of, I get to experience God like this every single day because of the Holy Spirit and my personal relationship with Christ. Are these the daily expressions and responses I have? Are these my expressions of gratitude and expectation? To be honest with all of you, no. They're not. I get caught up in asking and wanting, without stopping to realize what I've experienced. I get caught up in treating God like a genie instead of the God who desires to know me and use in me in ways I will never understand.  I rarely stop to bask in the presence and hope that I have because of Christ's birth. I only know hope because of His existence. The beauty of who God is, is that He is the exact same as the God who sent His son over 2,000 years ago. He hasn't changed. The God who in His perfect power and sovereignty, sent Christ to rescue and redeem the world, still makes Himself known to me.... TO ME, Elizabeth. 

Because of Christ's birth into the world, everything has changed.
Because of Christ's birth, we're invited to be a part of an intimate and personal relationship with the Creator of the whole Universe.
Because of Christ's birth, I have hope.
Because of Christ's birth, I'm able to be used by God. 

This is reason to celebrate, and gather, and be welcomed into the family of God. The words of the hymn are brought back into perspective; we are to come to Christ joyful and triumphant because everything has changed because of His birth. Behold, the King of Angels that has been born and who we're invited to know and love. YOU AND ME can know Him.  Come, friends, Let us Adore Him, let us respond to His love by praising and honoring Him with how we speak, act and love. Let us fall prostrate at the manger, because Christ came in human flesh to perfectly love us and show us a freedom we've never experienced. 

My favorite verse of the whole song is the last one, because I feel like I'm invited and ushered to sing with the Heavenly Host of Angels, who surrounded Christ that day He was born into the world. This last verse is what Heaven will be like, when we are eternally with God, sitting at His feet praising Him with the Heavenly Host of Angels.  That will be when we are experiencing what God fully made us for, eternity. Our hearts will swell, and we will be looking to Him face to face. I want this posture of expectancy and eagerness to greet Him, to be the outcry and song of my heart all the days I'm breathing here on earth. Let the hope, joy and expectancy of this song flood over you as we welcome and prepare our hearts to celebrate the day that everything changed.

Yea Lord, we greet Thee

Born this happy morning

Jesus to Thee be all glory giv'n

Word of the Father

Now in flesh appearing

O come let us adore Him

O come let us adore Him

O come let us adore Him

Christ, the Lord

Temporal

I've started this post about 200 times.

There are so many parts of my heart and grief that I want to share one day. I think a part of my own personal healing and restorative process is talking, and also putting words into a comprehensive form. I'm sure what I'm feeling and experiencing isn't different from what others of you in our congregation are feeling and experiencing.  But, I just want to publicly affirm, share and proclaim the faithfulness and nearness of Christ. Apart from the sadness and consuming nature of grief, I cling to the faithfulness of Him. I fasten myself tightly to the relationship Christ desires with me and all of us. In the last three weeks, there have been moments that I haven't been able to separate my reality and current task from the Holy Spirit's comforting presence and intersession. There have been moments of the Holy Spirit's presence, that have been so consuming and near, that I have just wanted to bask in it.

In a season that I have been so unprepared, unable and unwilling to give thanks, the Lord has softened my heart and has shown me me in the midst of utter chaos, and sadness we are still called to give thanks. We STILL have reasons in the midst of suffering to place ourselves in a posture of submission and reverence, because He still provides. Despite the instinct I have to run away from God in anger, and poorly attempt fix things on my own, He draws closer. He steps closer to the pain and chaos. I read this today in a devotion app I use, and thought it was so well written. It changed my perspective from the reality of time, to the eternal joy we will have when we are finally removed from suffering and pain, and fully experiencing the glory and holiness of God.

"Our hope is never in vain when it's in Jesus. Our thanksgiving in times of suffering is a testament to how temporary the pain is in light of our great eternal joy and everlasting hope."

I find great comfort knowing that this pain is temporary. This world is temporary. Even time itself is temporary.  We're being prepared for the ultimate fulfillment, living and dwelling with Christ in eternity.

So in publicly giving thanks, I know that I'm thankful for the Church. I'm grateful and humbled that the Lord orchestrated, designed and created people for people. In all of His wisdom, God knew that we would need physical reminders on earth of His mercy and love. We have hope that when we cannot do it ourselves, and we don't want to face the hard stuff alone, people walk beside us. Or sit. Or just cry. The beginning of my healing process has involved lots of people. Professionals to counsel me. Friends to cry with me. Mentors to check on me. Family to care for me. Leaders to open scripture with me. Colleagues to help me with my job. Dear friends to open their homes to me when I don't want to be alone.

I'm thankful that in the midst of crisis, the Lord has given me a few truths to hold onto; a few proclamations that have and will remain unshakable. I've repeated these truths to your children, and I will repeat them to you over and over, as they some days have proven themselves to be large portions of rest and security.

God hasn't changed.
God is in control.
The Lord hears us when we pray and talk to Him.
God desires for us to have a real and saving relationship with Jesus.
ChristChurch will always be a place of gathering and of welcoming.

In this season of giving thanks, being grateful, and open handedly and heartedly thanking the Lord for what He's given to us, my pastor, dear friend and mentor is at the top of the list. I'm thankful for Mickey's example of secure faith and unwavering commitment to Christ he showed on earth. I'm thankful to be a part of a congregation that is learning to heal and be unified through Christ's love. I'm thankful for friends who know and fill needs I have before I realize they exist. I'm thankful for the most precious group of children whose faith inspire and encourage me to trust God's sovereignty. But most importantly, I'm thankful for Christ's persistent, unfathomable and perfect love, that refuels me, never leaves me, and that challenges me to live in a way that is worthy of the Gospel and calling of Christ.

Because He Lives: From A Daughter's Heart

When I was a child, my Daddy would wake us up a lot of mornings carrying around his cassette player, it was way before the days of boom boxes or iPod’s, of course, it was just a little cassette player that held a mighty message as it was constantly playing Mom and Daddy’s style of 70’s genre praise and worship music, The Bill Gaither Trio.   Most of the days, my Daddy’s precious voice was singing along with the trio to the words of Because He Lives, I  can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds my future, our lives are worth the living,  just because He lives.   As a child, Mom and Daddy even took us to a Bill Gaither Trio concert.  It was so fun.  

With the news headlines including ISIS, terrorism threats, Ebola, governmental leadership concerns, my heart and mind have to reflect back to the many mornings my Daddy was  sharing his faith in Jesus with us through this tune.   Daddy has never complained about anything or voiced a lot of concerns although I am sure he has had many.   I sometimes wonder what my daddy’s concerns may have been during the time he was singing, if any.  Perhaps he just loved the song or loves to sing like I do.    Perhaps he had a burden on him of a lost job due to handling home builders bonding and insurance programs when the building industry crashed in the 70’s.  Perhaps he was drawing on his faith in Jesus because he may have mourned the loss of 2 brothers that he didn’t get to know well as he was very young, when his brothers went to WWII and died serving their country.  Perhaps he may or may not have had pain when he had 2 auto accidents.  Both accidents were within the same year, both accidents were caused by the other party drinking and driving and both times Daddy’s car was  totaled.  Whatever it was my Daddy may or may not have been going through, he clung to the hope of Because He Lives, he could face tomorrow.   Faith in Jesus was revealed to me through the lyrics of this song and my Daddy.

What am I showing my children about my faith in Jesus if I show them fear for the future? Through Jesus, I hope I can always rise above any fear and always know the joy of knowing who holds my future.   If my Mom and Daddy could do it through Jesus and the reminder through this song, I sure hope I can.   My hope is as my children grow in their faith through their experiences that they always know the joy of peace through Jesus Christ.   I sure hope I can be a part of a memory and part of that tapestry in their hearts and minds as my Mom and Daddy are in mine.    I know that some days I get scared, some days I worry, but these sweet lyrics remind me to pray to the One who is just waiting to hear from me.

Because He Lives, I can face tomorrow…….

Thanks for letting me share my heart!

Cara 

Because He Lives Lyrics

By Bill Gaither

God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus;

He came to love, heal and forgive;

He lived and died to buy my pardon,

An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!

Chorus

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,

Because He lives, all fear is gone;

Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living,

Just because He lives!

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,

And feel the pride and joy he gives;

But greater still the calm assurance:

This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!

Chorus

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,

Because He lives, all fear is gone;

Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living,

Just because He lives!

And then one day, I'll cross the river,

I'll fight life's final war with pain;

And then, as death gives way to victory,

I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives!

Chorus

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,

Because He lives, all fear is gone;

Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living,

Just because He lives!