Living on the Edge September 23, 2008

So, I would not really call myself a daring person. I mean, I just learned to pump my own gas last year, I was rather terrified of the gas pump. I also send my husband to return things for me in stores, I’m afraid a store clerk might yell at me because I decided I didn’t like the jeans after all. My VERY worst fear is to be pulled up in front of a crowd and be made to dance – Yikes. I also panic and break into a cold sweat in the grocery store when I have to bag my own groceries and there is a long line behind me and I did not get enough bags (that’s when the bread gets all squished up…..)

I am not daring by nature. However, when it comes to the things of God – bring on the daring. Bring on the adventure. I just want more. Why is that different then my normal life? It’s because God’s behind it all. My human fears and insecurities are minimized when I walk in faith, empowered by a God who is so much bigger than I. I love the verse in 2 Samuel 22:33, “It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.” God’s strength, that is what gets behind me and gives me that push that I need, when I can’t do it on my own, or I get paralyzed with self doubt. I just remember, my strength – it comes from God. And then to top it off, he even makes my way perfect. What a great God!  

Last week we were at a conference in Chicago. It was a significant time, great learning – and there were a few thoughts that really inspired me. One was “love the edge more than the centre”.  I never want to be comfortable in ministry. I never want to be all set up, running a smooth machine of slick programming and perfectionism. Do I desire excellence – of course. Do I put my heart into all that I do – of course. But at the same time –  I want to be on the edge of what God is doing, ready to jump into the next step that he has. I don’t ever want to think – WOW, we have arrived! No way! Our ministries need to be ever evolving and growing – even changing at times as we change and grow.  I desire for our children to know that they can have a real relationship with a true living God – and that the Jesus of the Bible is as relevant in their lives today as he was to the disciples that he walked with on earth. My desire is then to see them empowered and equipped, so that they too will be edge dwellers, not content to sit back in passivity, but to move ahead with passion. That may mean that we will have to do things a little differently. Maybe Sunday won’t always look like it does now. But that’s ok. Jesus doesn’t change. But maybe our perspective does.

Another statement that I heard last week was “Love the going more than the coming” That one hit me pretty hard as well. I can sit in my office (which I am rather fond of….I mean it’s pink and cute) and build a whole little empire around me  right from that very room. But I don’t want that either. I want to be out there. Where the people are. Where the ministry is. Where the community meets. Where we can meet the community. Where we can draw people to Jesus. I want to be going – that’s what Jesus told us to do. To go into the world. Preach the gospel. Make disicples. I want to do that. I want my life to be about that. That moves me, that stirs me. That is what I was created for. That is what we were all created for.  I want our children’s ministry to be part of that. I want our children to do that. I want our families to do that. I want MY family to be about that.

I guess it’s all about changing our focus and perspective. Looking outward rather than inward. Thinking outside the box of what seems normal, and maybe trying things that are new. Things that are a little daring, a little on the edge. Jesus did that.  It might not look like we thought. But that it ok. Jesus, he is still the same.

I have referred to myself alot in this blog – what I want, what I desire, what I dream. But it’s not just about me, these are just the things on my heart.  I pray that in this season we will all hear from God and that he will birth many dreams and visions in all of us. That we will love the going more than the coming and that we will see our community transformed for Jesus, and that we can impact our world for Christ. Maybe we will have to move a little to the edge. Don’t be scared - he’s with us! There is a worship song by Chris Tomlin that has really been the prayer of my heart this last little while, I thought I would post it. In all the dreaming the thing that is really inspiring is that there is NO ONE like our God!

 

You’re the God of this city
You’re the King of these people
You’re the Lord of this nation
You Are

For there is no one like our God
There is no one like our God

Greater things have yet to come
Great things are still to be done
In this city
Greater things are yet to come
And greater things are still to be done here

You’re the Lord of Creation
The Creator of all things
You’re the King above all Kings
You Are

You’re the strength in our weakness
You’re the love to the broken
You’re the joy in the sadness
You Are

Greater things have yet to come
Great things are still to be done
In this city
Where glory shines from hearts alive
With praise for you and love for you
In this city

sc

A very deep thought, brought on by a tomato September 10, 2008

So, I was trying to get into the habit of writing my blog first thing on Monday mornings. That worked in the summer. But here it is, Wednesday and my blogging has just begun! Oh well, what can you do….

We had a great first Sunday back to our regular programs. I did learn a few things. I must never leave helium balloons unpopped after a morning service, children love to hide behind curtains in the gym, I must invest in good running shoes for Sundays, and you just never know what a morning of Children’s Ministry will bring! I love it! Thanks to everyone who showed up, and served with excellence!

Sometimes in my abstract thought patterns, I made weird connections. I love comparing Children’s Ministry to growing. There are so many cool similarities. I have this planter’s pot in my office that I got once shopping in the States (my fav pastime). It has little children holding hands and the words around the top say Grow, Bloom, Thrive, Flourish, Blossom and Bud. I love all those words in relation to children’s ministry. We are planting seeds and tending to children in their growth in Jesus. We want to see all those things happen spiritually in their lives! It is one of our goals – Growing!

Now back to my wierd connection. I am married to a very Italian Guy. I am very non-Italian! I’ve tried. Really I have.  But the truth of the matter is that I can’t really cook, I don’t make my own sauce and I could not learn another language if my life depended on it. (My in-laws are amazing people though. Despite all of that – they still love me) The one thing I CAN do, however, is grow veggies. I have one mean garden in my backyard. I make up for all my other shortcomings by asking my mother in law to come and help me plant my veggie garden each summer. That in itself, redeems me from my un-italianess. Puts me back in the good books.

So, I realized something really cool the other day. Not only does my mother-in-law grow tomatoes, but at the end of each season – she dries some of her tomatoes and uses those seeds for next years crop. (That seems like SO much work to me, but whatever!) I was joking with my kids last week, that the tomatoes we were eating, were relatives of Nonna’s tomatoes from last year. That the tomato legacy lives on and on and on…….year after year.

Later as I was thinking of my dorky tomato conversation, I started pondering and came to the conclusion that - Wow, that is a pretty cool reproducing cycle. And then I related it to my perspective and though process of the vision of  children’s ministry and the reproducing that we want to see happen. We want to see children grow and learn and come into their giftings - but it doesn’t end there. We want to see that reproduced, again and again. What we orginally plant and tend, we want to see grow into a continual crop coming from their lives as they reproduce what has been planted in their hearts and spirits. And it just goes on and on from there.

Children that are growing in Jesus and reproducing what they are learning and using their gifts, and sharing with others, and learning to serve – that has unlimted potential in impacting future generations for Jesus. We don’t want short term results, and we are not just looking at a one time season of ministry. We are looking to the future, to becoming and developing multiplying disicples of Jesus. And I really believe that can be started with purpose in our children!  

So, that was my deep thought for this week. I realize that I sorta compared children to tomatoes, but I hope you got my point!

Let’s believe and pray for a year that brings much fruitfullness and reproduction in our Children’s Ministry and specifically in the individual lives of our kids!

Have a blessed week!

Shelly 

WOW, it is September! September 2, 2008

After I dropped my children off at school this morning, (and was a little startled to see that my son is taller than his teacher…yikes!) and got rid of the annual lump in my throat that comes that first day of school. (It’s hard to walk away from my kids after a long fun summer together!)  I realized that WOW, it’s September! I was startled for a moment. I mean, it just seems like yesterday I was out in a boat zipping through the waves…oh wait, that WAS yesterday. Boating one day, back to real life routine the next! That’s life!

But guess what?

I love September! Beside the fact that I love the smell of paper and school supplies – it’s KICK OFF time! Oh yeah! Get ready as things get into full swing as as we launch into fall. This coming Sunday we are back to our full Sunday morning programs and we are EXPECTING an amazing and exciting year as we lead our children further in their relationship with Jesus! It’s going to be great, and I know that we will see much fruit in young lives! We have great teams in place, so I know good things are going to happen!

Stay tuned this Sunday for your Fall Compass Point Kidz newsletter, it will have all the info that you need for fall!

See you Sunday morning! I’ll be the one with a big happy smile! September is here!

Shelly