It happened to be New Years...

For a while now Chris and I have been planning to take a day or so to do some serious thinking. We have been trying to discern the direction that our lives should be going in the near future. We want to make sure that we are giving a good amount of consideration to this decision (or decisions I should say) because we are obviously not interested in blindly making a choice AND because we don't want to decide based only on our own desires/feelings. We want to be listening for and hearing God's heart more than anything.

It is so easy to just try to be comfortable wherever we are, and even though that is sometimes a temptation for us, we know that we would not be fulfilled by living that life.

We both have personal convictions regarding our need to be expressing the love of Jesus to people in need - to those who lack necessities to meet basic needs for living, those who are overlooked, and those who need to experience a relationship that recognizes their own value and worth. We want to do this wherever we are.

We know that it is Christ's love that we desire to display - whether we do it well or not - and we have realized that we will not be satisfied or fulfilled in this life unless we are following this desire .

Having said that, it obviously wouldn't make much sense for us to make a decision without seeking the will of the one who has shown us what this love even is in the first place.

A friend of Chris's sent us an evaluation with some very detailed questions that he has asked himself when he has been in the midst of life changing decisions. It is extremely well thought out and very helpful. (I don't know if he got the general idea from somewhere else or if he thought it out himself, but I honestly think the process could be published because it really is a great tool, but that is beside the point).

It just so happened that the next time both of us had a little break from work without anything else planned was New Years Eve and Day. Ironic, since most people choose that day to make decisions regarding their personal lives. We didn't plan it that way on purpose, but it's kind of cool that it worked out that way.

So we headed to Charleston for an overnight mini retreat.

I share this with you to ask for prayer. We are really thankful to have had the opportunity to start the process off well but we still have A LOT of continual thinking and discerning and praying to do, and we would really appreciate it if you could remember us.

Part of the difficulty we are having is that we feel the need and pull to follow these callings - but it's not there is a list of options lined up for us and all we have to do is choose.

Even if we decided that we need to be somewhere else - we don't have any idea where that somewhere else could be. That makes it hard to feel like we can really make any decisions. We know that trusting God to provide the opportunities is vital, it's just hard to feel like you are really deciding anything when nothing is final. BUT, we do hope that we are preparing ourselves for whenever the right opportunity does present itself and it may be that is all we can do at this point. We also need patience (I am NOT a patient person) because we really feel ready to make some changes.

We would appreciate your prayers because as routine as it may sound for christians to be seeking Gods will - it is much easier said than done when you are talking about making yourselves willing to be placed into literally ANY situation that would serve God most.

Chris and I are both practical people - we like to be prepared for things and to have a clear plan. We know that we need to release these needs in some ways because it very well could be that where God wants us is a situation that would not allow us to save money for our future children or own a house or be financially secure in any way. Some of you may have already allowed yourselves to be used in that type of situation, so it might not seem like such a stretch to you. Others of you, like us, might struggle with this decision.

Chris and I have both spent lots of time in some challenging financial situations growing up, so the thought of continuing that trend is scary to us to say the least. It is a trust issue, but as Chris has mentioned in his blog before - it's hard to decide where the line is between your duty to provide for your family and your call to spend your life in ministry. Now - we don't honestly think there is a line there.

We know that God will provide for us - or at least it's easy to SAY that you know that and HOPE that you know that - because you are SUPPOSED to know that, but that doesn't free you up to make reckless decisions, right?

I will be honest and say that what we really don't know is where the line is between using your head to make good decisions to be a good steward without being a burden to others, and forgetting that and seeking only to do ministry because it is your purpose/desire.

(By the way - anyone who finds themselves in the middle of discerning life changes (or anything for that matter) should try Lectio Divina if you don't already. It really helps to focus your thoughts and soak your mind in scripture in a personal way.)

Anyway, there is a little glimpse into our thoughts these days.

As I said - we need prayer, help us out please! ;)

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Years!

God is Good....

So, I won't say it was the FIRST time it has ever happened, but I got distracted in the service yesterday at church. My mind wandered and somehow, from something the pastor said, I ended up thinking about the statement that...

God is good.

It's a true statement. In the past couple of years I have realized it on a new level. We make the statement and hear the statement often, and it's great that we seek to make it known, but I think it's one of those things that is easy to hear/say without really processing it's depth. 

It's not just a response for when something positive happens in someone's life, though I feel like that is how we most often hear it used.  

So anyway, I was thinking in church that we COULD say GOOD IS GOD instead....

Haha, I know, you are thinking "WHY would we need to do that?". 

Well....we don't need to do that. I was just processing the fact that we CAN interchange those words to reinforce the meaning of the phrase.

See, it's not just that God does things that are good, therefore we can state that he IS good, it's that God DEFINES good. We know what good is because it is the essence of God. It's not Him deciding to be good, it's Him being Him! 

Isn't that so perfect?

Our God IS good! 

Don't know if it makes sense to anyone else, but it was a good thing for me to spend some time thinking about...even if it was during the service. ;)

Advent Conspiracy

You need to watch this video!

I Am Second - Jason Castro

So Chris showed me this website and it's pretty cool. It's called I Am Second and there is some info about questions that people struggle with regarding who God is and how he relates to the world. I haven't really read much of that part yet. BUT, there are also some videos of different people, some well known - some not, who are believers. They answer some questions about their personal stories, etc. We watched Jason Castro's video

I will go ahead and Admit that I watched and enjoyed American Idol last season. Jason was one of my favorites. He tells his story HERE and I found it very cool and encouraging. I think he states the important aspects of relationship with God and our purpose here without getting into the silly controversial things that sometimes seem to make celebrity believers look like weirdos. :) I thought it was cool to hear. 

Cool Ways to Help :)

Just thought I would share these websites in case anyone is looking for great ways to give. :)

 

#1. Kiva

Kiva is so cool!! Basically, you lend money (INTEREST FREE) to people in 3rd world countries who are trying to start/run their own businesses and/or establish their homes. Kiva has pictures and individual stories for each person or group that is looking to receive the loan. Chris and I saw a newscast based on this website and they talked with some of the people who are seeking the loans. They all said that while they do want help - they want to be able to pay helpers back for the aide they receive. They said that it's so much better than getting a hand out because they can work for it and feel like they have earned what they receive and not like they are a burden to others.

You don't even have to give a lot - there are multiple lenders helping each person/group so even $20 goes a long way - especially considering that some of the loans are only for a few hundred dollars total.

I just think this is the coolest. Not only do you get to give to others but you get to help encourage a business or personal dream! :) Great idea!

Since it is a loan, you do get your investment back eventually, so if you want - you can keep turning right around and putting it back into the Kiva program.

#2. Compassion International

Most people have heard of Compassion International, but just in case you haven't... ;)

Through CI you can "sponser" individual children with a monthly fee. It's $32 a month and SO worth it. You get to write letters back and forth with your child and its so sweet! Chris and I sponser Gorle from India. He is 7 and he writes us letters and draws us the cutest pictures. Compassion provides you with information about the child and their family and you can also give monetary gifts to the family a couple of times a year around holidays or birthdays, etc. (They ask that you not do it too often because other sponsored children don't always receive them.)

Here's a tip - if you decide to sponser a child - there is a list of children who have been waiting for 6 months or more for a sponsor...START THERE!!! You couldn't possibly look at one of them and NOT sponsor one!

 #3. Heifer International

This is another really cool opportunity. My grandma does this in the names of each of her grandchildren every christmas. H.I. has lots of different outlets but the basic idea is that you purchase animals, etc. that will help families in need to survive continually. You can give from a big list ranging from chicks to sheep to bees to water buffalos and even trees and plants.

The coolest part: The families who receive a gift agree to donate offspring/seeds from their livestock/plants to other families who need help! So your gift keeps on giving and giving!! :)

Some of these animals are more expensive but you can also choose to pay a "share" of the cost of each gift.

#4. Universal Giving

Universal Giving is a really cool site. They exist to simplify giving. :) They provide information on lots and lots of charities and help connect you with whatever type of giving you are interested in AND - they don't even take a cut from your gift, it ALL goes to the charity of your choice! Pretty cool!

These opportunities are all so great and unique. They make me excited. :) Hopefully some of them were new to you guys and maybe something you would be interested in being involved in.

I Want to Be Like Her

Mrs. Joann McKinney is one of the sweetest ladies I have ever known.

Mrs. McKinney goes to our church. I have known her for most of my life. Aside from being one of my best friends grandmother, she was my sunday school teacher in middle school. She has taught and loved more people than I could even number. Isn't that perfect?! Everytime she sees Chris or me at church she smiles so big and gives us sweet hugs. She also invites us over for dinner every now and then.

This is one of my favorite things for 2 reasons.

#1 She can cook!! (and always has dessert)

#2 Basically the whole time we are there we hear countless stories of children and teens that Mrs. Mckinney has taught over the years. Chris and I know many of those students, but even if we don't, we get to hear about them. But the thing is, Mrs Mckinney isn't just telling a story about a person. The reason we love hearing her stories is because of what they tell us about HER. Man, she LOVES every last person she tells us about and it is so clear in each story. I am convinced that she prays for each one by name...in fact I know she does.

We have had so many encouraging conversations with Mrs. Mckinney. She is SO supportive of Chris's ministry at our church. Chris - knowing she would be the perfect person for the job - recently asked her to commit to praying for the families and children we would come into contact with through the Upward Basketball & Cheerleading program. He also asked her to try to find 10 others to pray as well. ....she found over 30. :) AND asked how much her sunday school class could give to help pay for children who couldn't afford to play. (Fortunately we have never had or been willing to turn anyone away).

One time, mrs. Mckinney told me and Chris that she just didn't understand why some people get so "set in their ways" when they get older. She said that she didn't see any reason to get so upset about what songs we sing in church or how we sing them - the important thing was that we were worshipping Jesus and reaching out to others! She said that if you spend all of your time pushing your feet down into the ground and get bitter just to stay where you are on things that don't matter in eternity - you will get left behind...and she wasn't planning on doing that. Wow! (She meant left behind in your ability to be a light to others and remain an active part of your church - not Left Behind as in the book series). :)

Mrs. Mckinney is everyone's encourager. I have learned so much from her and I hope that when I grow up ;) I can be as loving and prayerful and encouraging as she is. Everyone should know a Mrs. Mckinney...

Who He Is

I think that its hard for us to comprehend holiness most of the time (or maybe its just me and I should feel dumb right now). But there are a few things that have recently been on my mind on the topic.

In Isaiah 6 - the prophet Isaiah sees God on his throne and angels are around Him singing "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty"

...God IS holy.

I have tried to think to myself what that really means. The first image that comes to my head (probably because of the Isaiah 6 reference) is the image of everyone in heaven singing praises around the throne forever. Thats something that people in churches talk about often.

(I'm going to throw out there that when I was younger....ok maybe even now, I didn't really like that discussion. It might sound sac-religious to you, but to me it just sounded boring...and I didn't really think that heaven would/should be boring.)

So I started to think through this a little...

 I asked myself what I am passionate about. When I think about the things that "get to me", things that make my heart go crazy, I think of seeing people turn their lives around for the good and hearing children sing to Jesus and having a deep honest conversation with someone and making a positive difference in someones life and laughing and watching children light up when they are shown love and seeing teenagers choose a better path for their futures and being able to let people know that they are SIGNIFICANT and WORTHY of love and SO much more. Those aren't just words I am writing-  whether or not I am doing those things well, they are what I WANT and HOPE for - they are what "get to me". They are the deep desires inside me.

And do you know who has shown me those things? My Savior! He wants all of those things and ya know what....He actually CREATED all of those desires. WOW!

So lets go back to the throne again....can you even imagine being in the same room as the one who literally created us all? I think about how much I want all of those things I listed above and then I think of how much God must want those things...SOO much more than I ever could....and He wants them perfectly, without any selfishness. He is the one who is able to actually make them happen. He is the reason I can have the desire for good in my heart because he IS good - he defines good! 

God is in that passion that I feel inside of me, and when I think about standing before his throne with that perspective....how could I do anything but love and praise him continually?? Everything that I want in this world, He stands for, He IS!

Unless you can really try to wrap your mind around what it would be like to be in the presence of the creator and beginner of our passion for good, this might seem like a bunch of crazy ranting. ;)

I'm not saying that all we will do in heaven is stand around and sing praise songs, I'm just saying that no matter what we do....we will be with Perfect Love....and I can't think of anything better when I try to take that into the little perspective I might have.