Today I sat in my office and heard a lot of sounds. In the morning I heard the rush of the frigid wind outside and the popping of my portable heater. I heard the sounds of our preschool's Christmas pageant floating up from the Sanctuary. In the office I heard phones ringing and copiers whirring and bulletins being typed up. In the Fellowship Hall I listened to aging members of our congregation chatting during their annual Christmas lunch. Now back to my office again I hear the ticking of the clock...Tick, Tick, Tick...
I am listening for Jesus in the midst of this Christmas season. Sometimes I don't think I hear him at all, since everything else seems to be so LOUD. But maybe Jesus is actually in some of these other noises. He can be heard in the angelic voices of children. He can be heard in the sounds of fellowship among believers. He can be heard in the wind.
Maybe it's not so much that it's hard to find Jesus this time of year but that we aren't accustomed to his voice...
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
What I'm thankful for...
Sometimes we go through the whole tradition of Thanksgiving--going to visit family, eating lots of turkey, shopping on Black Friday, and completely forget the whole idea of giving thanks. I thought it would be fun to do a list of things I'm thankful for...
- A loving husband
- Food in my refrigerator
- Gorgeous Fall leaves
- A great staff to work with at church
- Hugs
- Green arrows when I'm driving
- My modern dance class
- My family
- Cheese pizza
- Serving a magnificent God
- Books
- Encouraging words
- The comfort of the Lord
- Perspective
- Ballet
- Peanut butter cup ice cream
- Warm Fall days
- Youth Group games
- Warm, running water for showers
- Heat
- Creativity
- Learning from those who are passionate about their faith
- My amazing friends from college
- Keeping in touch with people on Facebook
- An awesome youth group
- Club 456ers and their random dancing
- My comfy couch
- A good movie
- Cards
- Music
- Finding a close parking spot at the grocery store
- Laughter
- Road Trips
- Sesame Chicken dinners from Ding How
- Smiles
- Sunny days
- Rainy days
- Life!
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
A Prayer for the Homeless
As a response to our Pastor's sermon on the homeless young man to came to our church, a young girl in the congregation wrote the following on a prayer request card...
"Please bless the homeless to find homes to live in and to survive. Please give them plenty to eat and a place to sleep. Please, please help the homeless."
Priceless...
"Please bless the homeless to find homes to live in and to survive. Please give them plenty to eat and a place to sleep. Please, please help the homeless."
Priceless...
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
"Well...the church helps people, right?"
Last week, our church experienced a whirlwind week as we sought to help a twenty year old who had walked in off the street. He had only the clothes on his back. No ID, no bags. He hadn't eaten in two days and he'd been living in the woods behind the church. Being a middle-class, suburban church off the beaten path, we don't have this situation come up too often. We talked with him for awhile and slowly began to learn his story. We found out that his father and stepmother had moved to Oregon and left him here with no place to live. It was a long and complicated family history, full of pain and difficult times. In the end, however, this troubled twenty year old found himself a modern-day Prodigal Son. He talked to his father who was willing to accept him back into his life. We bought him a bus ticket to Oregon--three long days of travel. We got him some things to help him along on his journey. We gave him some food and clothing.
As I was talking to him a few hours before he left, he told me that he had never before in his life experienced the kindness he had felt in the last few days. That really struck me. We had just done what we could, following God's lead. But our efforts were filled with more love than he had ever experienced. His words made me grateful for having grown up in a loving, caring family. Grateful to work in such a loving and grace-filled church. Thankful for the food I have to eat and the shelter over my bed each night.
As our Pastor was talking with him, he answered the question of why he'd come into our church in the first place. He answered "Well...the church helps people, right?" As our Pastor shared this in his Sunday sermon, we were all left a bit speechless. We were struck by the fact that in a small way we were able to see God at work through us. We were struck by the fact that a life of such sadness had come into our midst and found comfort between our walls.
We were also struck by his words. The church helps people. I think we all took a step back and thought about whether or not we are in fact helping people every day in the church. Have we gotten ourselves so worked up over the paint colors or the new chairs that we've forgotten what the church is truly about?
The church helps people....
right?
As I was talking to him a few hours before he left, he told me that he had never before in his life experienced the kindness he had felt in the last few days. That really struck me. We had just done what we could, following God's lead. But our efforts were filled with more love than he had ever experienced. His words made me grateful for having grown up in a loving, caring family. Grateful to work in such a loving and grace-filled church. Thankful for the food I have to eat and the shelter over my bed each night.
As our Pastor was talking with him, he answered the question of why he'd come into our church in the first place. He answered "Well...the church helps people, right?" As our Pastor shared this in his Sunday sermon, we were all left a bit speechless. We were struck by the fact that in a small way we were able to see God at work through us. We were struck by the fact that a life of such sadness had come into our midst and found comfort between our walls.
We were also struck by his words. The church helps people. I think we all took a step back and thought about whether or not we are in fact helping people every day in the church. Have we gotten ourselves so worked up over the paint colors or the new chairs that we've forgotten what the church is truly about?
The church helps people....
right?
Monday, June 28, 2010
Road Trip Food
Last week, I went with my husband to visit my family in NY. Driving for over five hours, we inevitably got hungry and needed a snack. As we stopped for gas, I perused the aisles of the gas station for a good combination. There were stale donuts, ten different types of coffee, cookies, chips, and hot dogs that looked like they had been roasting since morning.
A trait that my husband loves about me (ha,ha) is my lack of decision-making ability. I wandered the aisles for five or ten minutes looking for just the right snack. I ended up with a Yoo-hoo (which I am pretty sure I have only ever had on road trips) and Tastycake cupcakes.
Really low in fat, I am sure! I think there is some kind of unwritten rule about roadtrips and calories. You are allowed to eat anything you want in the car and the calories go to some kind of road trip vortex.
You might wonder how I know about this vortex...well I have been in youth ministry for over nine years and I have seen it all, from Mt. Dew and Doritos to Krispy Cremes and Orange Crush. Teenagers need lots of fuel and their leaders need lots of coffee!
What's your favorite road trip food?
A trait that my husband loves about me (ha,ha) is my lack of decision-making ability. I wandered the aisles for five or ten minutes looking for just the right snack. I ended up with a Yoo-hoo (which I am pretty sure I have only ever had on road trips) and Tastycake cupcakes.
Really low in fat, I am sure! I think there is some kind of unwritten rule about roadtrips and calories. You are allowed to eat anything you want in the car and the calories go to some kind of road trip vortex.
You might wonder how I know about this vortex...well I have been in youth ministry for over nine years and I have seen it all, from Mt. Dew and Doritos to Krispy Cremes and Orange Crush. Teenagers need lots of fuel and their leaders need lots of coffee!
What's your favorite road trip food?
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Holy Week
For those of us in the church Holy Week can be a bit stressful. Four services in one week combined with the regular amount of email, phone calls and other tasks can be a bit overwhelming. The staff is stressed with bulletins and decorating the sanctuary, the pastors are stressed planning the services, and I am stressed practicing a dance for Good Friday. It doesn't sound like a very "Holy" week to me...
But in the quiet moments during the services, God came to life for me. While two women sang "Via Dolorosa" it brought me back to my colorguard days when we were cheering for the Sr. Guard while they performed the song. And though I already have an emotional connection to the song, it also hit me, really hit me, that Christ knows what it means to suffer. He felt pain just like we do. The line "crown of thorns upon his head" led me to imagine what that must really feel like. Large jagged thorns, digging deep into the skin. And then I thought about my own thorns. Jesus really does know my pain.
And then there were the quiet moments early in the morning, practicing my modern ballet piece to "Thief" by Third Day. These have always been my favorite times with God. Moving to music in an empty, beautiful sanctuary. His Sanctuary.
And then on Easter morning as I was setting out Easter eggs outside the church and I heard the choir and the brass begin to play the first strains of "Jesus Christ has Risen Today" and I felt chills. The good kind. I spent a worshipful morning glorifying the King who has risen from the dead.
It seems that maybe Holy can refer to God's presence in the stress, the pain, the music, the movement. God is Holy in all times and places.
May every week be Holy Week in our hearts...
But in the quiet moments during the services, God came to life for me. While two women sang "Via Dolorosa" it brought me back to my colorguard days when we were cheering for the Sr. Guard while they performed the song. And though I already have an emotional connection to the song, it also hit me, really hit me, that Christ knows what it means to suffer. He felt pain just like we do. The line "crown of thorns upon his head" led me to imagine what that must really feel like. Large jagged thorns, digging deep into the skin. And then I thought about my own thorns. Jesus really does know my pain.
And then there were the quiet moments early in the morning, practicing my modern ballet piece to "Thief" by Third Day. These have always been my favorite times with God. Moving to music in an empty, beautiful sanctuary. His Sanctuary.
And then on Easter morning as I was setting out Easter eggs outside the church and I heard the choir and the brass begin to play the first strains of "Jesus Christ has Risen Today" and I felt chills. The good kind. I spent a worshipful morning glorifying the King who has risen from the dead.
It seems that maybe Holy can refer to God's presence in the stress, the pain, the music, the movement. God is Holy in all times and places.
May every week be Holy Week in our hearts...
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Fear
A few weeks ago, we set off with the youth on our annual ski trip. This year we headed back to Camelback Mountain for a weekend of snowtubing, skiing and snowboarding. As a Youth Director, I have been on about eight ski trips now, but when it comes to skiing, I still consider myself a beginner. I like to stick with the bunny slopes.
There are some people who look up at the black diamonds and think, "Man, that would be fun." I look up and think "There's a broken leg waiting to happen." I believe there are two types of people in the world. Those who stare adventure in the face and get a thrill from highly dangerous sports and activities. And then there are those like me who don't find careening down a mountain at fast speeds exciting. I find it something closer to terrifying.
Sure, over the years I have gotten the basic technique down. I can go down the advanced beginner slopes without falling and I know how to get up when I do. But I still feel this gigantic sense of fear whenever we head to the slopes for the first day of skiing. Fear almost seems to take on a human persona as it grips me. I feel its fingers slowly come down around my heart as my lungs tighten up and my hands start to sweat.
Talking to other people lately, I find that I am not alone on the bunny slope. So many of us harbor a great amount of anxiety and fear deep inside our hearts. Maybe we worry how we are going to get everything done each day, how we'll do our best when we are filled with insecurities. Other times we worry for other people and their safety, particularly our families. Fear tends to hold us in its grasp and if we let it, it can hold us virtually immobile.
When I am faced with fears, I often look to the familiar verse, 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." At first glance, I love this verse, because it's telling me I can let go. That I can cast all of this anxiety and fear onto the one who cares for me. It is beautiful in its simplicity. Simply give God all of your worries, because if you haven't figured it out by now, he really does care about you. I love this verse and at the same time it troubles me, because I wonder how to do it exactly. It sounds easy to cast all your anxiety onto God, but when I actually try to do it I find that grasp of fear holding on tight. It takes me awhile to gently loosen each finger, to lessen its hold and to eventually give the anxiety over to the only one who will carry it for me.
I seem to lose my fear of skiing when I have someone to ski with. Whether it is my husband or a friend or a member of our youth group, it helps to know that someone else is there, skiing beside me. That way when I inevitably fall down, that person will take notice, stop and help me back up. It's similar with God. He's right there skiing next to us, bringing us a sense of security in knowing that if we fall, he'll help us back up.
Let's remember our invisible ski partner next time we feel the grip of fear starting to tighten.
There are some people who look up at the black diamonds and think, "Man, that would be fun." I look up and think "There's a broken leg waiting to happen." I believe there are two types of people in the world. Those who stare adventure in the face and get a thrill from highly dangerous sports and activities. And then there are those like me who don't find careening down a mountain at fast speeds exciting. I find it something closer to terrifying.
Sure, over the years I have gotten the basic technique down. I can go down the advanced beginner slopes without falling and I know how to get up when I do. But I still feel this gigantic sense of fear whenever we head to the slopes for the first day of skiing. Fear almost seems to take on a human persona as it grips me. I feel its fingers slowly come down around my heart as my lungs tighten up and my hands start to sweat.
Talking to other people lately, I find that I am not alone on the bunny slope. So many of us harbor a great amount of anxiety and fear deep inside our hearts. Maybe we worry how we are going to get everything done each day, how we'll do our best when we are filled with insecurities. Other times we worry for other people and their safety, particularly our families. Fear tends to hold us in its grasp and if we let it, it can hold us virtually immobile.
When I am faced with fears, I often look to the familiar verse, 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." At first glance, I love this verse, because it's telling me I can let go. That I can cast all of this anxiety and fear onto the one who cares for me. It is beautiful in its simplicity. Simply give God all of your worries, because if you haven't figured it out by now, he really does care about you. I love this verse and at the same time it troubles me, because I wonder how to do it exactly. It sounds easy to cast all your anxiety onto God, but when I actually try to do it I find that grasp of fear holding on tight. It takes me awhile to gently loosen each finger, to lessen its hold and to eventually give the anxiety over to the only one who will carry it for me.
I seem to lose my fear of skiing when I have someone to ski with. Whether it is my husband or a friend or a member of our youth group, it helps to know that someone else is there, skiing beside me. That way when I inevitably fall down, that person will take notice, stop and help me back up. It's similar with God. He's right there skiing next to us, bringing us a sense of security in knowing that if we fall, he'll help us back up.
Let's remember our invisible ski partner next time we feel the grip of fear starting to tighten.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Sunday after Christmas
Yesterday I was in the middle of praise band rehearsal before our first worship service. As I was singing, I glanced around the sanctuary. I noticed that all the beautiful red poinsettas had been removed. The Christmas trees were gone and replaced with simple flowers. The Advent wreath was still there, but with only the middle candle burning. As I glanced around, I noticed the smoothness of the wood and the stripped-down look our sanctuary took on. I realized that after the hype of Christmas, this is what is left. Just us and God in His sanctuary. Nothing fancy. Just a team leading His followers in worship...
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