Are we there yet? How much longer? Really!? I can't wait that long! I'm bored! I don't wanna wait any more! (insert whiny voice here) Any of this sound familiar? If you've ever taken a road trip with kids you know these are standard questions considering most kids don't understand how long it really takes to get to your destination.
Lately, I find myself questioning if I am really supposed to continue with ministry. Did I misinterpret God's calling on my life?
Tonight, after one of my self questioning sessions I opened my bible up to a devotional for Isaiah 35:1-10 entitled just that "Are We There Yet?" As I read the scripture and the devotional it hit me that this is what I have been doing to God. WOW! He must be shaking his head at me going, "You silly child have you no patience or faith in me?"
I have become that child again. Asking God, "Are we there yet?" or "How much longer do we have till we get there?" or "Why is it taking so long!?" Not trusting that God knows what he is doing with my life. I need to begin fully trusting God again. He does know what he is doing with my life. He would not send me down the wrong path for my life. God has me on a spiritual journey and I need to sit back and let him have control of the wheel and navigate my life again.
There are a few things in this devotional that jumped out at me. Many times scripture calls our lives spiritual journeys.
1. In Hebrews 12:12-13 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. Now when I read this I began to think of how weak I have felt spiritually lately. I have not been in the word as I should be, I have slacked on my bible study, my prayer journal has not been used even though I have still been praying (when I use my journal I am much more intentional about talking with God not to God and listening to Him.) I feel this scripture is calling me to strengthen what I have allowed to go weak in me.
2. Jeremiah 31:21 "Set up road signs; put up guideposts. Take note of the highway, the road that you take." Some stretches of our spiritual roads are straight and smooth while some have potholes of habitual sin, a time of distance from God, or other difficulties that make our road tough to travel
3. Isaiah 40:3 A voice of one calling: "in the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. To me this is saying to stay the path and continue to make the way for God to work.
In wondering if I was on the right path I ran across this:
"Spiritually speaking, we are on a path that is leading somewhere but how do we know if we are on the highway of holiness in our journey?" Romans is filled with signposts referred to as the "Roman Road," and the direction they point ends with this promise: Romans 10:9 "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." When it comes to our final destination, none of us is "there yet," but we have God's Word to lead us in the right direction.
"I don't know where the long and winding road is leading you, but I do know this: if you remember passing Calvary, you're on the right road" --Patsy Clairmont
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Mirror Mirror On The Wall............
Earlier in the week I posted a question on Twitter/Facebook...........
What do you see when you look in the mirror? Is it what God sees or what the world sees?
I wish I could always see the me God sees in me, the woman he has created me to be, but usually I see what the world and Satan wants me to see.............
When I look into the mirror I see a scared little girl hiding underneath a blanket, her grandmother made for her, from the monsters in the closet. A little girl afraid of rejection from those around her, worried about disappointing people in her life, scared to be a failure. I see someone who can't do a darn thing right. The young woman who can't seem do good enough in school to please the teachers on her assignments, The shy girl in class who doesn't dress the right way because I don't have the right clothes or because I'm not good at sports. When I see the reflection looking back at me I see a woman who looks terrible without make-up and who just doesn't measure up to every other mother out there. I am the girl in the corner who feels so horrible about herself that she never gets to really show her full potential.
Now, if I look at myself through God's eyes I can see a TOTALLY different person. I see a woman who is a wonderfully and beautifully made daughter of God. You see this girl doesn't hide beneath that blanket, she uses it as her cape to fight off the bad guys like Super-Woman! She isn't afraid of rejection or disappointment or failure because in God she is able to pick herself up and realize that He loves her no matter what. In God I am perfect just how he made me...........I am confident in myself and my abilities. I may stumble but God is there to pick me up and dust me off so I can keep trying. Through the eyes of God I know I am loved, I know I am a good mother, wife, and friend. In God in know that there is a reason I am on Earth. I AM WORTHY! I DESERVE ALL THE GOD HAS FOR ME!
I have always struggled with my self-image, there are many things that contribute to the way I view myself. I think that is why I try so hard to show my daughters and the teens I work with that you are beautiful and gorgeous just how God made you. It would be a very boring life if we all looked like airbrushed super models! No variety in life is soooooo blah!
I am very lucky to have wonderful man in my life who lifts me up and encourages me. My husband tells me several times a day how beautiful I am, how pretty I am, even when I am pretty sure I look like the proverbial road kill. He would prefer that I not wear make-up. He likes that I am comfortable in jeans and a hoodie or t-shirt. I am pretty low maintenance as far as "girls" go. Even with all that I will probably always struggle with myself. It's just how I am, my early family life and society has shaped that. I work hard to change the way I view myself and I am doing better.
Proverbs 31:30-31 (NIV)
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
What brought all this to me was a great book I am reading called Fresh-Brewed Life by Nicole Johnson, I was reading Chapter 4 - Embrace Your Beauty. In this chapter were a few things that I had to highlight to remind myself that I am just fine the way I am....... 1.)"There is nothing spiritual about hating your own body" 2.)"I thank God for the (insert your name) He created me to be." 3.)"Whenever you seek to wrap your arms around the beauty God has made (including yourself), you are opening like a flower to the sun, saying an enthusiastic YES to God, and it will warm and color your life. 4.) "If you could see His eyes looking at you, you would notice that his whole face radiates love. He is the designer of your form, and he is the first one who said, "She's beautiful." his tone was kind, and his words were true. You can believe him."
One of my favorite songs is by Barlowgirl - Mirror.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
My First Women Of Faith 2011 - Indianapolis
I recently attended my first Women of Faith conference w/ a great group of women! Now I almost didn't go but because I have a couple of wonderful Monkey girlfriends (I will explain monkeys later), a great Godly husband, and a God who loves my broken self, I went and had an amazing God-filled, healing experience. Now to explain the "monkey" comment.........One of the first speakers we listened to was Dr. Henry Cloud (he is a Christian, Psychologist, & an author) and he was telling us how we need to be sure we have people in our lives to support/encourage us. The example he gave was of an experiment involving monkeys many years ago. They put a single monkey in a room, in a cage and began to flash bright lights repeatedly along with loud music and noises. They were literally scaring these monkeys to death. They were measuring the monkey stress levels and how the brain reacted to these stressful situations. Now the amazing thing was when they put their monkey buddy in the cage with them (all the while the stressors still going on) the original monkey began to calm down and was less scared/stressed. So all weekend we were calling one another monkeys. We all need our monkeys in our corner and we need multiple monkeys for different situations.
Now through out the weekend I was texting little tid bits of information to my husband. Things I thought might be encouraging to him. As we began our trip home I just couldn't wait to tell my husband all about my phenomenal weekend, I was so filled with joy and on fire! I had fallen in love all over again with God, something I thought was a long way off after the year my family has endured. God has a way of bringing you back around to him when you least expect it. I felt like I was back on a very blessed road and for the first time I really felt like God was calling me into another part of ministry besides youth ministry with my husband. Although I don't know yet just what that ministry is, I do know that God has a plan for me.
So, we get back into town and Cheri gives me a ride home but nobody was there. My husband was still up at the shop helping his buddy with his jeep (they were doing an engine swap while I was at W.O.F.) and as we pulled up I saw my children covered in brake dust and whatever else was in the shop and my husband kneeling on the floor in front of a jeep in the air. Uh Oh this can't be a good sign! It wasn't and I began to feel as though my "joy" from Women of Faith might just slip away but when my husband saw me his mood began to change. Whew! Thank you Dear God! My husband cleaned up and I took my unrecognizable boys & my tired husband home. As a side note I had to chuckle at the fact the my blond hair boy looked as though he had gotten caught in a dust bowl and his little brother was equally as covered but when they saw me they ran to me and gave me one of the biggest hugs I had gotten from them in a long time. I just happened to be wearing a white shirt that now had dirty had prints all over it, I could even see the imprint of their little faces. Man, I was glad to be home!
Quick showers and off to bed they went and I was able to begin telling my husband of the wonderful realizations I had come to see. See this last year has been very difficult on our family and I was just ready to start healing from all this hurt and pain. Women of Faith allowed me that and i was able to learn how to prune certain things out of my life and move on. I learned that in order for you to have the tomorrow God has for you that it is necessary for you to leave where you were at yesterday. "You can't go to God's Promise Land and still take Sodom and Gomorrah with you." That was probably one of the biggest issues I had been having. I wanted to hold on to yesterday, what we had at our previous church where my husband was an associate minister/youth pastor but it was fruitless for me to hold onto that any longer. While I still struggle with my feeling/emotions regarding all that has happened I don't long to be there because I know that God has a different path for us. I'm pretty sure at this point I was just talking in my sleep so off to bed we went.
Sunday started out well. We were fixing a breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast for the jr/sr high Sunday school class. Jaret & I were doing what we love to do serving Christ and youth at the same time. I was still feeling as though I was on a mountain top from my weekend. We made it through the service and afterward I was meeting a mom and daughter from our old youth group to catch up. Well, I think my husband had forgotten and was trying to make lunch plans but it was already 12:15 and I was meeting them at 1 so lunch plans were out the door. The start of Satan trying to kill my joy, we recouped from that and went home to fix lunch for Jaret and the boys, then I was off to my coffee date. Jaret was supposed to be back at the shop to help with the jeep again, I thought at three, so I had plenty of time. OH NO! Apparently he was supposed to be there between 2 and 2:30 and I wasn't back to take him up there. Now normally he could've just taken the motorcycle but he had our boys too. So they got on their bikes and road there. Now somewhere in there Jaret tried to call me but I didn't see/hear/feel my phone go off as it was in my purse so that was another thing to add to the list for Satan to steal my joy. I met my husband and children on their way to the shop and pulled in where, unfortunately, an argument ensued because I wasn't being mindful of what was going on. Now I won't go into the details of it all but Satan was really working hard to kill me here and he had almost won but eventually I walked away from it and cried my way home.
Now in true me fashion I retreated to my front porch haven, calmed down, and began to read "Fresh-Brewed Life" by Nicole Johnson that I had gotten at WOF and I didn't text my husband at all till he decided he was calm enough to text me. He apologized, I said it was ok....work on the jeep.....I'm a big girl.....I'll be just fine. (yes those were my exact words to him) I read a couple chapters and then it was really time to fix supper for the kids and. Knowing that Jaret would be late getting home I began watching an old season of Hell's Kitchen, then he calls, and it was a normal call but somehow it turned into rehashing what had happened that afternoon. We hang up, he gets home, and it all starts again! Thank you Satan, THERE GOES MY JOY!!
By this time I'm getting upset again and I was SO hoping we could have a good night once he got home. I had planned on catching up on some episodes we had missed and snuggling on the love seat together......that was down the drain. Come to find out that one of the boys had messed with the oil gun on Saturday night and had gotten oil all over the floor. The boys were in bed but not asleep so my husband went in to find out who the culprit was, finally one of them confesses but after a couple of I don't knows and a but I didn't make a mess. Jaret came out and asked me what I wanted to do.......To which I said, "I don't know I wasn't there remember. What do you want me to do about it?" This, by the way, WAS THE WRONG ANSWER!! Cue argument. Another battle has started and by now all my joy was gone and the fire I felt from the weekend was gone, squelched, eradicated in one, ok, two fell swoops.
Mean and hurtful things were said, more tears were shed, and I once again hated myself -- I never should have left for the weekend -- I blamed myself -- Blamed myself for the past 9 months, for my husband losing his ministry position, for my family's unhappiness, for my wavering faith, for my husband being someplace he doesn't feel called. IF I HADN'T LEFT FOR THE WEEKEND WE WOULDN'T BE FIGHTING LIKE THIS! Isn't it amazing what Satan puts into your head to keep you and your faith in the basement?!? It finally calmed down and apologies were made - again. We watched some t.v. and went to bed.
We have since recovered from our Sunday afternoon/evening blow up. I have in fact regained my fire and joy from the weekend but Satan is still trying to put that fire out in me. There is always something running through my mind as I am my own worst enemy, my own worst critic. In the time that I have come home from Women of Faith I have started journal that I write in a few times a day or whenever I feel the need. Thank you Dolo (another of my monkeys) for surprising me with it over the weekend and I am reading, "Fresh-Brewed Life" by Nicole Johnson. These things alone have helped me greatly in staying focused on God and my task at hand which is traveling the path God has for me.
This is one of my favorite verses, especially in times like this because I know only God can take this away form me and help me to keep my fire lit.................
“Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup of suffering from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” Mark 14:36
Sunday, August 14, 2011
What scares you? Honestly.
So today the question was asked in Sunday School, "What scares you?"
Hmmmmmmmmm, What scares me? Immediately my mind starts racing, trying to figure this out. I'm thinking back to when I was young and everything that scared me...........the dark, everyone other than my family (I was VERY shy as a child), my great Uncle Troy (by the way cow bites hurt!), coyotes/wild dogs (we lived in the country)......As you get older some of your fears go away or change. Such as, I am no longer scared of the dark, fearful of strangers (all though I am still shy), I realized my Uncle Troy was just ornery and I miss him, and well I got used to the coyotes. Now my fears are different.
As the question went around the room I listened to the varying responses and reasoning. All different and yet legitimate fears. When I came to me my immediate response was loss, I am scared of loss. I fear losing those who mean the most to me. In '93, just before I graduated high school, I lost my Grandma Henderson who I admired most in my life. In '99 I lost my first son, Peyton, to SIDS just three days after my 24th birthday. Then I lost one of my best friends, Wendy, to breast cancer in 2006. Now there were family members in between those years but there were the most important ones in my life. Of course this goes beyond just dying. It encompasses the loss of friendships and relationships I have developed over the years.
So, as a result of this simple three word question I have been thinking all day of what TRULY scares me. The biggest fear I have at the moment is not being able to work in ministry again. There was a time I couldn't see myself in any type of ministry. That was until about four years ago when I felt God calling me to work with teens along side my husband. It was pretty much over from there. After a couple of years working along side my husband I watched as our youth ministry flourished in God and Jaret became an ordained pastor. Then I felt a tug on my heart to begin doing girls ministry but in my true-to-form-shy-nature I pushed it to the side knowing that this would be something I would have to start with out the protective wings of my husband.
I remember like yesterday when I knew for sure I would start in girls ministry! It was at SYMC 2010 while sitting in the middle of a workshop on mentoring, listening to a woman from Group publishing talking about doing a girls bible study. I had closed my eyes and began rubbing my temples from the information overload when I heard in my head, "Jody this is where I want you to start. Right here and now." That was the beginning of girls ministry for me. God had started planning a wonderful journey myself and several other women of varying ages. It was soon after starting this girls bible study, Designed To Shine, that I felt called to quit my job that I had worked the last twelve years. So in December 2010 I quit my job with the school district with the intention of working in ministry along side my husband at our church and building the girls ministry. Then in January 2011 something happened that would rock our entire plan, we lost our position in that church. Talk about fear and being scared! Now we were both without jobs and without a ministry.
Now here I sit watching my husband go off to a job he really doesn't like and longing to do what God has called him to do. Don't get me wrong I am extremely grateful and thankful for the job he has right now but I also know where his heart is. As for myself, well, I feel guilty that I am not working outside the home even though I feel this is where God wants me. I truly miss doing ministry full time and I do fear that we may never do ministry again. However, I also have come to the realization that I must give my fears over to God if I am to overcome them. There is a reason God has put us on this path we are walking. So I continue to pray daily that God lead us on our journey and that we will know when He speaks to us. That God move us to where He wants us next.
Psalm 34:4 (NIV)
4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:13(NIV)
13 For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.Isaiah 43:1 (NIV)
Thursday, March 10, 2011
High's and Low's but God always prevails
There is so much that has happened over the past several months since my last blog post. Sometimes I just haven't felt like posting anything and other times I have so much to say that I just can't get it out of my head or God tells me that it just isn't the right time to lay it all out there. Well this is one of those times where He is telling me to not lay it all there but to just tell where I am at for the moment.
Jaret and I recently went to the SYMC (Simply Youth Ministry Conference) in Chicago along with about 3,000 other youth pastors/workers. It was a phenomenal experience!! Just to be in one spot with so many Christians who are not only passionate about God but about our youth as well was amazing. There were great speakers like Louie Giglio, Doug Fields, and Greg Steir. Wonderful entertainment like Tim Timmons, Gungor, Shand & Shane, and the OC Supertones. Certainly can't forget Eric Samuel Timm who paints such amazing, touching, thought provoking art work.
I went to SYMC this year with very fresh and open wounds on my heart. Very much in transition in our lives at the moment, wondering where God was steering us and what path we should be traveling. We met some very wonderful people who have (whether they know it or not) helped us begin to heal. I hope to be able to stay in contact with them. What God did for us at the conference was, well lets just say I don't know when the last time I really felt God move the way I did that weekend! He reaffirmed to me that Jaret and I are meant for ministry. Our wonderful experience wasn't without satan's attacks on us but the plus side here is we were amidst 3,000 other Christians who were readily available to pray for us & with us when we felt so vulnerable.
As with any Christian gathering where God is SO prevalent once you leave Satan starts his decent on many and the self-doubt begins to surface once again. I know for me it was coming back to our town and facing everything we have going on in our lives at the moment. I know, I know everyone has trials in their lives they are facing. One thing I know is that in all of this God has never left my side and through much of it all he has been carrying me on his shoulders so I can keep my head above water.
When I begin to feel really overwhelmed I begin to pray and then my mind floods floods with all the teens we have helped, through God, come to know Christ. The crazy lock-in's with 50-60 kids doing a city wide scavenger hunt and bigger/better game, playing lock-out at night and having to warn the neighbors so we wouldn't have the police called on us again, the Homeless Night where we walked from the church across town to do a service project and back again just before it started storming. Everyone had made cardboard houses to sleep in that night, our own little shanty town that was demolished by the storm which led to an impromptu lock-in with a slip-n-slide in the fellowship hall! The late nights after youth group talking to teens about life and their futures till sometimes midnight. The 2 a.m. texts when their worlds are falling apart. The impromptu cook outs after church when my house was no where near presentable to have people over. All the football games spent standing down by the field so we could watch our dancers, cheerleaders, band members perform. Then loading up in the church van and heading over to Buffalo Wild Wings w/ close to 30 teens and their friends for 50 cent wings after wards. The first retreat to Turkey Run, packing up all the food, equipment, and 27 teens, then finally getting there and unloading, getting cabin assignments, cooking & clean up assignments, starting our evening meal only to finish just before the first storm hit. Playing frisbee in the pouring rain with everyone. Watching everyone pull together to help one team out to get things done, supporting each other, praying w/ each other and knowing God. Although our canoeing trip was canceled due to all the rain everyone had a great time. The parents calling us to "help" with their teen and opening up our home to kids whose parents needed a break from all the stress of raising a teen. These are the moments that have made all of it worth it and that has helped us to know that God has really put us in the correct life profession. It isn't a job or a career its a way of life that God has called us to and even in the in between times we will Shepherd and live for Him!
Jaret and I recently went to the SYMC (Simply Youth Ministry Conference) in Chicago along with about 3,000 other youth pastors/workers. It was a phenomenal experience!! Just to be in one spot with so many Christians who are not only passionate about God but about our youth as well was amazing. There were great speakers like Louie Giglio, Doug Fields, and Greg Steir. Wonderful entertainment like Tim Timmons, Gungor, Shand & Shane, and the OC Supertones. Certainly can't forget Eric Samuel Timm who paints such amazing, touching, thought provoking art work.
I went to SYMC this year with very fresh and open wounds on my heart. Very much in transition in our lives at the moment, wondering where God was steering us and what path we should be traveling. We met some very wonderful people who have (whether they know it or not) helped us begin to heal. I hope to be able to stay in contact with them. What God did for us at the conference was, well lets just say I don't know when the last time I really felt God move the way I did that weekend! He reaffirmed to me that Jaret and I are meant for ministry. Our wonderful experience wasn't without satan's attacks on us but the plus side here is we were amidst 3,000 other Christians who were readily available to pray for us & with us when we felt so vulnerable.
As with any Christian gathering where God is SO prevalent once you leave Satan starts his decent on many and the self-doubt begins to surface once again. I know for me it was coming back to our town and facing everything we have going on in our lives at the moment. I know, I know everyone has trials in their lives they are facing. One thing I know is that in all of this God has never left my side and through much of it all he has been carrying me on his shoulders so I can keep my head above water.
When I begin to feel really overwhelmed I begin to pray and then my mind floods floods with all the teens we have helped, through God, come to know Christ. The crazy lock-in's with 50-60 kids doing a city wide scavenger hunt and bigger/better game, playing lock-out at night and having to warn the neighbors so we wouldn't have the police called on us again, the Homeless Night where we walked from the church across town to do a service project and back again just before it started storming. Everyone had made cardboard houses to sleep in that night, our own little shanty town that was demolished by the storm which led to an impromptu lock-in with a slip-n-slide in the fellowship hall! The late nights after youth group talking to teens about life and their futures till sometimes midnight. The 2 a.m. texts when their worlds are falling apart. The impromptu cook outs after church when my house was no where near presentable to have people over. All the football games spent standing down by the field so we could watch our dancers, cheerleaders, band members perform. Then loading up in the church van and heading over to Buffalo Wild Wings w/ close to 30 teens and their friends for 50 cent wings after wards. The first retreat to Turkey Run, packing up all the food, equipment, and 27 teens, then finally getting there and unloading, getting cabin assignments, cooking & clean up assignments, starting our evening meal only to finish just before the first storm hit. Playing frisbee in the pouring rain with everyone. Watching everyone pull together to help one team out to get things done, supporting each other, praying w/ each other and knowing God. Although our canoeing trip was canceled due to all the rain everyone had a great time. The parents calling us to "help" with their teen and opening up our home to kids whose parents needed a break from all the stress of raising a teen. These are the moments that have made all of it worth it and that has helped us to know that God has really put us in the correct life profession. It isn't a job or a career its a way of life that God has called us to and even in the in between times we will Shepherd and live for Him!
Friday, November 12, 2010
The not so boring......
I never know what to title my blogs or how to say what I want to say or exactly how much to say. See to me my life is boring, hectic, and crazy. I would usually say there isn't much that goes on or is going on in my life but then again that means I am fibbing to myself. My life is anything but boring! When you are married to as Associate/Youth Pastor, have 4 kids, 2 dogs, and 30 - 50 youth ranging from 6th grade up to senior in high school life is anything but boring. It can be entertaining, crazy, lovely, insane, dramatic, and wonderful but never EVER boring!
Jaret has started taking courses through Moody Bible Institute. I am extremely proud of him for taking this next step in his life. I know God has wonderful plans for his future. He recently gave the message at Central Community Church last Saturday evening service. Our service times have switched to three services on Sunday's. A 9 am, 10:30 am, and 6 pm service all on Sunday nights. The change seems to have transitioned smoothly. Since the church now has a service on Sunday nights AfterGlow, youth group, has had to find a new location to have group on Sunday nights. Well that and we have just out grown our space, we now have 30 - 40 teens who regularly attend AfterGlow on Sunday evening. Some of you reading this may be from the Mattoon area and remember the Time theater in town, AfterGlow is now meeting here. Talk about walking down memory lane!
Some of you might be wondering what AfterGlow stands for........Well let me see if I can elaborate.....After hearing of Christ / coming to know Christ we Go Light Our World. So AfterGlow is the name of our youth ministry and our defining bible verse is 1 Timothy 4:12 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity. AfterGlow has blossomed into a wonderful group of young Christians who not only support each other in their faith & in life but who are determined to spread the word of God to others their own age. Many times it is through these young men and women I find the strength and courage to talk to others about Christ and the wonderful blessings He has bestowed on my family and I. This exceptional group of teens has been a wonderful example for our own four children also. I could not be happier or more proud of the kids than if they were my own flesh and blood. Trust me I pray, love, & worry for them just as if they were my own.
As for me, well my count down for leaving my current position with the school district is down to just the days now. I have less than a months work of work days left and I have to say that it feels great! I know that God is taking me down a much better path and has wonderful plans in store for me. I am looking forward to working at the church with my husband and helping in his ministry, to being home with the kids, and focusing on what God wants for me. December will be bittersweet......saying good~bye to a career I've worked for the last 12 yrs and hello to the wonderful surprises that lay ahead!
I Love This Life!
Jaret has started taking courses through Moody Bible Institute. I am extremely proud of him for taking this next step in his life. I know God has wonderful plans for his future. He recently gave the message at Central Community Church last Saturday evening service. Our service times have switched to three services on Sunday's. A 9 am, 10:30 am, and 6 pm service all on Sunday nights. The change seems to have transitioned smoothly. Since the church now has a service on Sunday nights AfterGlow, youth group, has had to find a new location to have group on Sunday nights. Well that and we have just out grown our space, we now have 30 - 40 teens who regularly attend AfterGlow on Sunday evening. Some of you reading this may be from the Mattoon area and remember the Time theater in town, AfterGlow is now meeting here. Talk about walking down memory lane!
Some of you might be wondering what AfterGlow stands for........Well let me see if I can elaborate.....After hearing of Christ / coming to know Christ we Go Light Our World. So AfterGlow is the name of our youth ministry and our defining bible verse is 1 Timothy 4:12 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity. AfterGlow has blossomed into a wonderful group of young Christians who not only support each other in their faith & in life but who are determined to spread the word of God to others their own age. Many times it is through these young men and women I find the strength and courage to talk to others about Christ and the wonderful blessings He has bestowed on my family and I. This exceptional group of teens has been a wonderful example for our own four children also. I could not be happier or more proud of the kids than if they were my own flesh and blood. Trust me I pray, love, & worry for them just as if they were my own.
As for me, well my count down for leaving my current position with the school district is down to just the days now. I have less than a months work of work days left and I have to say that it feels great! I know that God is taking me down a much better path and has wonderful plans in store for me. I am looking forward to working at the church with my husband and helping in his ministry, to being home with the kids, and focusing on what God wants for me. December will be bittersweet......saying good~bye to a career I've worked for the last 12 yrs and hello to the wonderful surprises that lay ahead!
I Love This Life!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
So I realized today as I sat at my desk at work that it has been a while since I last posted anything on this blog. About a month and a half to be exact. There are so many "things" floating around in my head that it is hard to get everything in order. While I love this life, this life is also extremely hectic and crazy, and I thank God daily for the blessings he has given us.
Jaret has settled into his position as Associate Pastor/Youth Pastor and usually keeps pretty busy. AfterGlow (youth group) has grown amazingly in the past months. We are averaging 30 - 40 teens on Sunday nights, Praise God! Please don't think it is about the numbers because it is not. Each one of these special teens has a wonderful heart for God, some stronger in their walk than others but each of them supporting one another in their walks no matter how new or how experienced. There has been so much going on with the group and I am so proud of the group as a whole. They support a young girl from Columbia (through Compassion International) by the name of Yorsireth and they are working hard to keep up her support. We are getting ready to send her and her family a gift for Christmas.
As far as family news......... The kids are doing good in school and they are enjoying their school year. Back in July we added a new puppy to our family, Thor who is a French Bulldog. On Sept. 30th we had to put our 2-1/2 yr old English Bulldog, Frankie to sleep. He had been sick for about 5 weeks and it was just to hard to watch him suffer any longer. While we could have taken care of the blockage they found in his lower intestine, we didn't know what to do for his extra thick stomach lining and the vet would have had to do exploratory surgery. At the time of our decision Frankie had not eaten anything in a week and was becoming increasingly week with each passing day. While it was a very hard decision for Jaret and I to make because he was a big part of our family, we know that it was the right one for his sake. I only have about 2 months and 1 week left till I am able to quit working for the school district. I am planning on working with Jaret at Central Community, being home for my family, and helping out at the kids school in their classroom for parties and such. The kids are so excited to have their mommy at home and that really warms my heart. I thank God daily for the opportunities He is giving me! Jaret is starting school through Moody Bible Institute the end of the month.
October brings the fall, I love the fall season! It also brings back so many memories. October is SIDS/Infant Loss/Miscarriage Awareness Month. On October 22 it will have been 11 yrs that my son Peyton went to Heaven because of SIDS. Each year has gotten a little easier thanks to a loving / caring God, supportive family, and a husband who can just hold me and let me be upset when the moment hits. While I miss my Jellybean greatly, I take great comfort in knowing he also helped to save a life in the midst of our sorrow. God knew what he was doing when he sent me Peyton for almost 7 months and when He gave Maddie Grace his heart.
I am going to try harder to post more often.
Jaret has settled into his position as Associate Pastor/Youth Pastor and usually keeps pretty busy. AfterGlow (youth group) has grown amazingly in the past months. We are averaging 30 - 40 teens on Sunday nights, Praise God! Please don't think it is about the numbers because it is not. Each one of these special teens has a wonderful heart for God, some stronger in their walk than others but each of them supporting one another in their walks no matter how new or how experienced. There has been so much going on with the group and I am so proud of the group as a whole. They support a young girl from Columbia (through Compassion International) by the name of Yorsireth and they are working hard to keep up her support. We are getting ready to send her and her family a gift for Christmas.
As far as family news......... The kids are doing good in school and they are enjoying their school year. Back in July we added a new puppy to our family, Thor who is a French Bulldog. On Sept. 30th we had to put our 2-1/2 yr old English Bulldog, Frankie to sleep. He had been sick for about 5 weeks and it was just to hard to watch him suffer any longer. While we could have taken care of the blockage they found in his lower intestine, we didn't know what to do for his extra thick stomach lining and the vet would have had to do exploratory surgery. At the time of our decision Frankie had not eaten anything in a week and was becoming increasingly week with each passing day. While it was a very hard decision for Jaret and I to make because he was a big part of our family, we know that it was the right one for his sake. I only have about 2 months and 1 week left till I am able to quit working for the school district. I am planning on working with Jaret at Central Community, being home for my family, and helping out at the kids school in their classroom for parties and such. The kids are so excited to have their mommy at home and that really warms my heart. I thank God daily for the opportunities He is giving me! Jaret is starting school through Moody Bible Institute the end of the month.
October brings the fall, I love the fall season! It also brings back so many memories. October is SIDS/Infant Loss/Miscarriage Awareness Month. On October 22 it will have been 11 yrs that my son Peyton went to Heaven because of SIDS. Each year has gotten a little easier thanks to a loving / caring God, supportive family, and a husband who can just hold me and let me be upset when the moment hits. While I miss my Jellybean greatly, I take great comfort in knowing he also helped to save a life in the midst of our sorrow. God knew what he was doing when he sent me Peyton for almost 7 months and when He gave Maddie Grace his heart.
I am going to try harder to post more often.
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