So Much Joy!

I find myself reflecting on the past 3 years and asking myself, "What do I really feel?"  Some may say a few things like sadness, heartbreak, brokenness, instability....shame.  But that is not at all what I feel.  I am reminded of the verse from Psalm 30:5 

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

Taking a break from full time ministry and allowing God's redemptive work to weave its way through our family has brought so much joy, at times my heart may burst from the fullness it feels.  At first the pain seemed too much to carry; but as I have found when I truly allow myself to be completely emptied I am left only to be filled with something so much more. It was either to allow bitterness to fill me up or grace!  I choose grace!  I choose it a million times over...again...and again.


Grace heals, Grace forgives.  Grace loves. Grace sustains. Grace brings wholeness. Grace restores.
Grace is JOY!

As we begin this new season, this new journey there is so much excitement that is almost hard to contain at times.  Each day I am reminded that I get to do ministry.  It is a privilege. It is an honor.  I will never be tempted to take it for granted ever again. 

 There is so much joy in serving Jesus.  Joy in knowing that I am saved by grace.  I have been given this free gift of salvation from a God who truly loves me and my family.  His love is so deep and so wide.  And He has saw fit to use me and our story to be a hand that reaches out to those who are hurting.  So they too can feel that love of God who knows them by name!

Everyday... I get to be a children's pastor!  That is exciting!  It is a joy!  

We are so thankful, in this season of pondering the good things of God, for all the people God has placed into our lives.  Sometimes it seems they have come unexpectedly...but my God is very intentional.  Everyone who has entered into our story has been with such great purpose.  I am thankful for each and every one.  My heart has such deep love for the Church!  It has truly been a shinning light.  In a world that may say different,  the church has been the most beautiful to me more than every before.

 Our new church home is wonderful.  I am amazed once again how God has been involved with each and every step to Saginaw.  I remember the first day I drove into the church parking lot my first day. Tears of gratitude streaming down my face.  Lauren Daigle song streaming through my car to the depths of my heart.....

I am guilty

Ashamed of what I've done, what I've become

These hands are dirty

I dare not lift them up to the Holy one

You plead my cause

You right my wrongs

You break my chains

You overcome

You gave Your life

To give me mine

You say that I am free

How can it be

How can it be

I've been hiding

Afraid I've let you down, inside I doubt

That You could love me

But in Your eyes there's only grace now

Though I fall, You can make me new

From this death I will rise with You

Oh the grace reaching out for me

How can it be

How can it be

You plead my cause

You right my wrongs

You break my chains

You overcome

You gave Your life

To give me mine

You say that I am free

How can it be

How can it be

I am truly blessed.  My family is blessed. Our hearts are full this Thanksgiving Season!

GET JOY!

Hope in Grace

Hope in Grace

By Christina Johnson

Lost, blind, confused, trapped,

I am bound.

My chains weigh me down.

Helpless, weak, afraid, twisted,

I long to escape

From this prison I shape.

All the wrong I have done.

All my scars for the world to see,

My shame so far gone,

Sins too many for me to ever be free.

But then a tiny light

Begins to peel back the darkness.

Hope begins to fight

Love strengthens my weakness.

Deep within a Presence I face.

He came humbled, despised, and rejected.

God as man, died in my place

Such love unexpected.

How could I refuse such Hope in Grace?

As sin stained as I stand,

Grace undeservingly embrace.

Freely given as He planned.

Forever my chains broken free

Forever my soul made new

Forever my sin in the sea

Forever "Hope in Grace" for me and you.


GET JOY!

Hebrews 2:9-11

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁹ What we do see is Jesus, who was given a position “a little lower than the angels”; and because he suffered death for us, he is now “crowned with glory and honor.” Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone. ¹⁰ God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation.

¹¹ So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.

Grandpa's Home!

It has been a long 6 weeks since my dad had a stroke on Mother's day.  He has been in the hospital since then...UCK!  He finally came home this past Friday.  We are all so glad he is out of there ...and let's just say...so is he!  One of his first things to do was to walk outside, sit in the sunshine, and watch his grandkids eat popsicles, color on the sidewalk, and swim in the kid pool.  I think that was much better than watching tv in an ugly hospital room anyday!

Now that I think about it, maybe watching kids eat popsicles when your a diabetic might have been cruel.   Ah...I am sure dad was okay with it...he didn't complain.  LOL

My dad has a very, very, very long road of recovery ahead of him.  Everything is a struggle and a challenge.  He pretty much lost half of his body.  Therapy has already made huge improvements in his mobility and speech, thank the Lord. 

Sometimes (well a lot of the time)  so many things we are faced with seem way to big and out of our control...and maybe that is just the plain truth of it.  But, God is bigger and He has everything in His control.  We are not promised an easy life; but we are promised all the good things that God gives His children to live and flourish in that life.  We will trust in those promises and rest in Christ!

Romans 8:28

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

The past weeks have been some of the hardest days of my family's life.  Daily I am reminded of God's beautiful grace and mercy.  I have never known it like I have until now.  God is always chasing after us, don't let anyone tell you different.  He loves us and cares for us so very deeply.  God's heart is so vast, we will never truly understand the depths of His great love for each and everyone of us.  In my post I wrote three days after his stroke, I shared a verse that God had shown me before our lives took a very different direction.  In fact, I had been waiting to blog about that verse many days before my dad's stroke..I just didn't know what to write with it.  I know now that the verse wasn't for my blog...it was for my life. 

Psalm 116

¹ I love the Lord because he hears my voice
and my prayer for mercy.
² Because he bends down to listen,
I will pray as long as I have breath!

Lord,  Thank you for allowing us to have our dad!  You bend down to us and hear our cry.  You have shown us all what true grace,  forgiveness, mercy, redemption, healing, and love looks like.  Please, continue to allow those same beautiful virtues flow out of us into the world we live in for as long as we live.  May we never take for granted every precious day that You alone give us... for each and every day is a gift.  Help us to not waste that gift.  You are the only one who can give us true JOY!

Today and as long as He gives me breath...

I will...

GET JOY!

Broken Pieces

Did you know that I use to work at paint your own pottery store? I did!  I loved that job. I enjoyed helping kids pick out their pottery piece.  I was thrilled to help them get started and create their ideas.  For the artist in me it was the perfect place to work.  When there were dead times, especially in the winter, my boss would let me paint pieces to sell them in the store.  I would sit near the shop window and paint away as the snow would fall to the ground.  Frankly, I believe there will be a paint your own pottery shop in heaven....trust me there will be one.

In fact, I have written about working there before...go here  and you can see some of my pieces there too.

Working in that shop, I became very familiar with pottery, firing and the finished product.  I learned in high school how to create pottery.  With all this knowledge about this certain art form, I realize what an amazing metaphor a piece of pottery can be in regards to life.  I am not surprised that God uses pottery to help us understand deep ideas about Him.  

Last night, I had the privilege to hear a great pastor.  He brought in some clay pots for his illustration.  He reminded me that it is not my abilities, my talents, or the things I think are good about me that God uses.    God uses my imperfections, my weaknesses to display His glory.  Then the pastor took the pots and smashed them on the ground.  God takes the broken pieces of my life and uses them to show His grace.  Even though we may see ourselves as worthless.

Philippians 3

⁷ I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. ⁸ Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.

We are all like that shattered pot. We all come to Christ as broken pieces.  But God can take even the smallest fragment of our life and do something powerful with it.  He can take that piece and make it useful once again. 

My piece of broken pottery I took home as a reminder of His Grace!

When I begin to realize that my own pride leads me down a path far away from Him and choose to humble myself then and only then can God use me.  Not to use me to bring greatness to my name; but to bring greatness to His name.  What do I really have to offer God?  He does not truly need me.  He has all that He needs.  Yet.......Yet He chooses you and He chooses me to spread His love to all His people.

Wow, Jesus use the broken pieces of my life for your Glory and to build your Kingdom!

GET JOY!

My Boring Testimony

One of our friends that is a pastor in New York at Brooklyn Tabernacle posted this the other day...

"My goal in parenting is to raise my kids to have a boring testimony..... In other words, to stay out of trouble and love Jesus all their lives. Exciting, I know. But actually, it really should be exciting. I know that in the church we usually privilege and promote Christian horror stories where God brings someone back from the edge of doom. They’re compelling. Heart-tugging. But they’re also heartbreaking. Trust me, the stories that bring an audience to tears brought far more tears to the parents who had to watch their kids live them. You don’t want that pain, for you or your kids. And while God can certainly turn our mistakes into miracles, I think He’d still prefer to turn our obedience into an opportunity. An opportunity to show that He’s not only worth coming back to, but also worth never leaving in the first place.

 It’s just that I’d prefer that my kids change the world without having to have the world first change them. A person’s testimony doesn’t have to be spectacularly sinful to be significant. I hope and pray my kids will have a boring testimony. I hope and pray the same thing for yours too. We don’t have full control over whether it will happen. They will ultimately make their own choices. But with all of our power as parents, let’s work and live to see our goal realized. Our kids will thank us. We’ll thank ourselves. And ultimately we’ll all thank God."-Reposted from Pastor Tim Dilena

 Can I tell you how much I love this?!  Because I have always considered my testimony to be boring!  As I was growing up, I always thought that a more interesting testimony would draw people to Christ.  I thought mine would never make a difference; but, in countless ways it has. 

So, here is my boring testimony....

I grew up in a Christian home.  I heard the stories of Jesus and His great love for me before I can even remember.  I know this; because, I know my parents.  They love Christ and they shared His love for me the day I was born. One of my earliest memories is of me swinging on my swing trying to go as high as the white puffy clouds in the blue sky above.  While pumping my little legs back and forth, my little voice sang out a made up song, "Jesus, I love you...I love you."

My mom told me that I asked Jesus in my heart at a VBS at the age of four.   I don't really have a memory of this; however, my parents were laying the ground work for me to have as many opportunities as possible to hear the gospel.   Jesus was such a central part of our home. 

I remember in the third grade in kid's church a man telling me that I had to choose to follow Christ.  I remember very clearly God speaking to my heart about His love for me.  He told me He died for me. He told me that He wanted me to live for Him.  I decided to be a follower of Christ that day. 

When I was a little older I stood in front of a congregation and told them how much I loved Jesus.  I then was baptized.  I remember coming out of the water and knowing that I was a new person.  I was His and He was mine.  

In the 8th grade, I did a little doubting.  I did a little searching; but nothing to much to write home about.  Enough to rededicate my life to Him never to waver again.  Jesus was everything to me.  I serve Jesus because I choose to....not because my parents ever made me....not because I am afraid of hell....not because it seems like a good thing to do...only because He loves me.

In Jr. high, I was miraculously healed.  In high school, I was called into full time ministry.  I was also miraculously saved in a car accident.  In college, I married a pastor.  Last year, I received my license as a minister of the Gospel.  That is my life, plain and simple.

Even though my testimony may seem boring....

I do know this that I was a sinner.  I was someone who was in desperate need of a Savior.  Even at a young age I realized this.  I was lost.  I was alone.  I was in need.  I was no better than the worst of sinners.  I was without God. When I realized those things, I gave my life to Him.  We do not deserve His love or forgiveness; but, yet He gives it freely when we come to Him.

Woven through that testimony of mine is GRACE!  God's grace to keep me, to carry me, and to hold me. I have never taken my boring testimony for granted.  I actually have always said, "It is by His grace that I have it".  My godly parents provided the opportunity and my heavenly father allowed me to experience it.  Now that I have children, I hope that they will also have a boring testimony like me.  

Every testimony is important!  Maybe, your testimony is boring or full of what people may think is not boring!  Which ever the case maybe, we are all saved by the same amount of Grace, the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed on a cross for us.  Tell others your testimony.  Tell others about Grace.  Tell others about what Jesus has done in you and for you.  

What is your testimony?

and.....

GET JOY

If you are not a follower of Jesus then scroll down below and click on one of the buttons on the bottom of my blog.  You can choose to be a Christ follower today!

30 Days of Prayer 2011~ Day 4

For the next 30 days I am going to spend "30 Days in Prayer". I want to focus the next month on prayer. I am going to follow the simple pattern Jesus gave us, the Lords Prayer. Join me as I sharpen my prayer life and let this time encourage and strengthen your walk with the Lord.

What God's Word says about Prayer: (Wow, Wow, Wow...I love this verse!!!!)

Hebrews 4:16 (New American Standard Bible)
Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Prayer Guide:
I am using the "Lord's Prayer" as a guide. (Matthew 6:9-13)

1. Praise God for Who He is! (vs. 9)

Today, I am going to focus on: He is Full of Grace!

Ephesians 4:7 (New American Standard Bible)
But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.

2. Pray for His Will to be done! (vs.10)

Today, I am going to focus on: His will in our ministry!


3. Pray for Him to meet our needs! (vs. 11)

Today, I am going to focus on:

• My children would understand grace.
• John and his calling
• Youth and children of our church
• Salvation for family
• Missionaries health

4. Pray for forgiveness and that I would forgive others. (vs. 12)

Ephesians 4:32 (New Living Translation)
Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

5. Pray for Help against Temptation! (vs. 13)

Today, I am going to focus on "Putting on the Armor of God" Gal. 6 again!

Put on your Armor, it is you first line of defense and don't for get your offensive Weapon "The Sword of the Spirit" which is the Word of God!

Belt of Truth

Breastplate of Righteousness

Feet fitted with the Gospel of Peace

Shield of Faith

Helmet of Salvation

Sword of the Spirit

6. Thank God for His Goodness (vs. 13 NKJV)

Today, I am going to focus on: Thanking Him because

"My chains are Gone...I have been set free! My God, My Savior has Ransomed me!

7. Wait on God

Enough of me....I want more of Him!

In the most Gracious name of Jesus, Amen!

Galatians 2 ~ When Conflict Happens!

Don't forget to visit my dear friend and her thoughts on Galatians 2!

Ahhh I am so tempted every time to type Galations....it is wired in my head. Grrr

Galatians 2

Tyndale New Testament Commentary outlines Galatians very nicely. I like outlines. They really help my fully understand ideas and thought processes. Here is the outline found in this commentary:

1.The Argument from Experience (chapter 1 - 2:21)
2.The Argument from Theology (chapter 3 - 5)
3. The Argument from Results (5:2-6:18)

Remember that he is making the argument for justification by faith!
Justification is the act of God whereby humankind is made or is accounted just, or free from guilt or penalty of sin

chapter overview...
2:1-10 Paul's relationship with the church leaders in Jerusalem
2:11-16 Paul confronting Peter
2:17-21 Death and New Life

What God Wants To Show Me Today!
I have to admit this chapter kind of frustrated me today. For some reason, I kind of had this picture of the early church just being so wonderful and didn't have much conflict like churches do today. Needless to say, this chapter rocked my little world. Conflict existed back then, even between to heavy weights of early church Peter and Paul, you don't get much more amazing then them. I mean there is nothing like reading Paul getting all up in Peter's face, seriously verse 11! Watch out Peter!

The main issue was that Peter began to treat the Gentiles diffrent when the Jewish Christians came into the picture.

Hahahaha this picture made my laugh. I do not think that Peter and Paul's relationship was this hostile. Thank goodness they were able to work things out in a more civil way. Man can you imagine what would have happened if they didn't work it out? I am glad God has everything under control. God was not surprised by these guys he knew that they were the men for the job; even though human eyes may say, "What in the World?????"

As a church leader I need to remember two things!

1. From Peter I learn.....
That being a leader doesn't give me the right to be all "holier than thou". I need to remember to whom I belong. I am a servant of the most high. I am saved by grace through faith. I am no better than anyone else and I must preach the same gospel to everyone. The gospel does not change from person to person.

2. From Paul I learn.....
I need to stand up for what is right. I need to watch out so that I am not swayed from the truth by those in authority. I need to preach the "One True Gospel".

Paul ends this chapter with these powerful verses....

20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

Wow, I never want what Christ did be for nothing!!!! I am sure that is what Peter knew in his heart as well. The Gentiles where not under the law...they were given grace just like the Jews. I love this verse...

Romans 8:3 (New Living Translation)
3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.

Christ longs for us to be in His family(John 3:16); but our sin keeps us separated from Him (Romans 3:23). Jesus died so that we could be given grace(II Cor. 5:21), He paid our debt (Romans 5:8). When we have faith in Jesus (Romans 10:9-10), His grace pays our debt. He died because He loves us. There is nothing we could do to earn that love! We are just humans. What could we really ever do that would be good enough or big enough to earn the love of God (Eph 2;8)? The answer is we can't. So, God steps in and provides a way for us through His Son. He does this because He loves us we are His creation, His handiwork, His masterpiece.

Thank you Jesus! I am forever grateful that you did not die for nothing! I am made right with you through faith! Your grace covers me!

31 Virtues for our Kids ~ Growth in Grace

Growth in Grace

For the month of January we will be praying for 31 Virtues for our Kids maybe even for ourselves too!


2 Peter 3:18 (King James Version)

18But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Grace Defined by dictionary.com

Favor
Good will
Mercy
The freely given, unmerited favor and love of God
The influence or spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or strengthen them
A virtue or excellence of divine origin: the Christian graces
Also called state of grace. the condition of being in God's favor or one of the elect.




I really like all of these definitions. The last ones really go a bit further in regards to our walk with Jesus. Sometimes growing in grace can be really hard and tedious, much like my rose bushes in my garden. For some reason I have a really hard time growing these beauties. They seem to really need that extra green thumb and tender loving care that I do not possess. I was given a rose bush by my family for mother's day two years ago. I put in the ground and did nothing to it. Sadly, it died a quick death. I went and purchased another rose bush and I pruned it, water it, sprayed it with bug spray, found a nice sunny place and even put a ton a leaves around it to protect it during the winter. I was able to get a few blooms out of it before the summer was over and we shall see what happens next year.

My prayer is that my children grow in grace. I pray that they will be merciful, show favor and good will to others. But more importantly I pray that they would understand the grace that was given to them through salvation. That they will also come to know Christ great love and allow it to regenerate and strengthen them. What a great thing to pray into their little lives.


*"I pray that my children may grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ"
That I may also find myself in a "State of Grace" and there I will...


*by Bob Hostetler, it is excerpted from Pray! magazine issue #4, 31 Biblical Virtues to Pray for Your Kids

The rock is in my garden...I put there as encouragement to my flowers...I don't think they listen to it very well though. A shout out to my sis....she took the rose picture~ I love it! I just love the gerber daisy pic. of my daughter...it makes me smile.