IF:Equip day 3

Read John 1: 35-51

If this is true:

• What does this mean about God?

God does not only call the elite or the equipped. God equips the ones that are called. There is no need of status before coming and seeing that the Lord is good.

• What does this mean about you?

God will/is equipping me for the journey, There is a peace in knowing Jesus knew me " a way off." I find joy in knowing that I have been told by the teacher to "come and see."

• What does this mean about the world?

God does not buy into our prejudices or need for reputations. God calls us out of and into places we could never imagine. Its not about being "respectable" its about being available. If we open ourselves up to be fully available to God, how could the world change?

Snow day number 3

We are almost done with our third snow day, this one with actual snow and ice. The kids are doing well and lil' man actually got out in the cold wetness for the first time in his 21 months. Supper cute!!

First Steps in the snow!

Cuddling with Daddy!

Not so sure about this white stuff!

Right now the princesses are done with the snow stuff and are running around singing the soundtrack to Frozen at the top of their lungs. (Not that that's any different from any other day mind you!)

I look at these precious gifts and I am overwhelmed. Overwhelmed with love, with gratitude, with joy, with hope. God has blessed me, and I hope them, with this family.

Lord, grow them strong in their faith. Let them trust you so absolutely that they never really doubt. Give them the assurance of self to know who they are, even when someone tries to tell them otherwise. Let them know they don't have to prove themselves to me or to you. They are loved just as they are. 
Lord, help me to nurture them, discipline them, love them as you do. Let me not try to be the hip mom, but rather a good mom, concerned more with the long term outcome then the minute by minute cool factor. Let me not freak out when they are pre-teens and teens. Let me hold my breath and count to ten before saying anything potentially out of anger rather than love. Give me the wisdom to help and the words to use. But also grant me the knowledge of when to stay silent, to let my presence speak for me.
Lord, they are my life, my breath, my heart help me to care for them as such without disappearing into them. Help me to be healthy myself so that my burdens don't rest on their shoulders. Help me to breath in your spirit and not the negativity I so often steep in myself. Let me be show your love in showing them that I recognize your love of me! Let me be a good example in how I succeed and in how I fail. Let me not be afraid to share those stories of failure so that they may learn that I have never been perfect and don't expect perfection from them.
Lord, basically don't let me mess up the beautiful creations they are!

IF: EQUIP John 1: 1-18

I am trying out the IF:Equip study.  It's a bible reading plan with readings Monday-Friday. Brief reflection and quiet time is something I struggle with, so perhaps this will help me get in the habit.

Read John 1: 1-18

If you believe this is true:

• What does this mean about God?

It tells us that God and Christ and the Holy Spirit have always been interconnected, in relationship, from the beginning. It tells us that God was actively participating in creation, and is actively participating in creation. It tells us that God's love does not end, but is ongoing.

• What does this mean about you?

That God is not done with me yet. That Jesus has come to light up the dark places, where too often I want/like to hide. That I, like John, am not the light, but someone called to bring others to the light.

• What does this mean about the world?

That God is in love with the world God created. That God has not given up on the world, but continues to make the offer of reconciliation, of healing, of wholeness. That as dark as the world gets, it has not and will not overcome God!

Read John 1: 19-34

If you believe this is true:

• What does this mean about God?

That God's truth will be revealed, even when other's stand in the way. That God does have plans to reveal God-self to the world and to me. That God doesn't always work through "established Leadership."

• What does this mean about you?

I need to listen to the right voices. That I cannot rely on the established, comfortable, readily available sources but trust that God is revealed through those and through current sources. I must be resilient when I KNOW God is speaking to or calling me.

• What does this mean about the world?

The world can be hostile and oppressive, but God will still make an appearance. That God's limitless grace is just that, LIMITLESS! Sometimes God's word comes to those we least expect.

Return from hiatus

So, I've not posted in way too many months to count and have greatly missed the opportunity to catalog thoughts, feelings, inspirations and the like. I'm trying to do better as a part of a personal spiritual awareness program. Perhaps it will help me to see where I am and where I have been. I find myself wishing I had not deleted my earlier blog, Can a Texas Bluebonnet Bloom in Tennessee?, without saving the material. I wish I could honestly look back at the things I said, what I did and reflect on how far God has brought me and my family.

However, no use pining over a past mistake!

Today we are on our second snow day, this one without snow, in northern Alabama. The 21 month old is down for a nap, the 9 year old is playing on the Wii and the 5 year old is playing nick jr games. Perhaps I can accomplish some sermon prep today after all!

I'm looking at 1 Corinthians 3, the passage about how Paul planted, Apollos watered, but the growth came from God. The issue of ownership has been a big one in our congregation and I am pondering how to address this within this passage. While it may be obvious to me that the church does not "belong" to any human, how can I point that out, while still encouraging participation? 

back from the breaking point

Life has changed in so many wonderful and blessed ways. I am now a solo pastor of a small church in Alabama. I am now the mom of three! Two girls and one precious little boy. He's 14 months old tomorrow!!!!! He was born two months early and spent the first 2 and 1/2 weeks in the NICU before joining us at home. Now I can't imagine my life without this unexpected blessing.
I also lost a dear friend who was my first son on June 1, 2012. He was an amazing head strong fiery youth who died much too soon in a tragic car accident 1 week after graduating high school. I went through a very long period of depression and grieving that God is slowly pulling me out of.
While there was great chaos and suffering in preparing for the move, the change has been good for me and my family. I am getting back into the routine of sermonizing every week and learning again how to pastor a congregation. Loving the people and feeling loved and praying this isn't just the honeymoon phase!
Organizing and planning and writing rule the days ahead.
Lord, give me creativity and strength for the journey!

way too long

After a ridiculous absence from the web I am back, at least for today.

knitting has become more than a hobby. It is my new obsession. I'd rather knit than just about anything these days. Right now I am working on a couple of ear warmer/headbands for women associated with my church. Then I have to get on the ball with three hats and a scarf for family members. I also need to make something for the girls, although I have no idea what to do for them.
I've made 5 hats so far, for nieces and sister-in-law, and too many baby things to count. Yet my notebook of ideas grows every hour it seems!

I am loving my church knit group, called the knitwits, and enjoying the fellowship I have with them and the things we all create. Lately our big thing has been baby stuff, like nappy cakes and the like, but several of us made ornaments for the church christmon tree this year.

Doing well, enjoying serving, and loving knitting!

A job well done, or at least done

I am wrapping up all of the throws and shawls our knitwits group has made for our cornerstone banquet. There are 14 recipients this year. (The cornerstone group is 75 years and up) I am so thrilled to have been a part of this team effort. Now I am anxious to get going on some lapgans for the local nursing home. I'm trying to find some cute patterns, in crochet or knit. While crochet is faster, I am enjoying the challenge of knitting lately, so I'm not sure what I will come up with.
Of course I also have 1 throw, 3 hats, 8 necklaces, 2 stoles, 1 wrap to make before Christmas, and a blanket to stitch together before Dec 3. Impossible, perhaps, but I'm having fun trying!