We don't call it 'Real Life' for nothin'...

So, we had home group last night.

Our host home couple was sick, (bummer...mostly because I selfishly miss them to bits and pieces) so my husband and I volunteered to lead and host group.  

Now, hear me out, I never want a messy house to get in the way of someone coming to our house...but our living room and kitchen were disastrous this week, so I knew it was going to take a little work to clear some laundry piles and wash a few dishes before people showed up.  Not to mention the fact that our kiddos, much like Linus featured above, are quite attached to a few homemade blankets, most of which were strewn about our living room.

So, with two hours before group, the kids and I set out to pick up the house.  My husband brought home some steaks and veggies to grill and we started a warm fire in the fire place - all in an attempt to create a warm, welcoming, environment.  

Within an hour, laundry had been put away, the fire was crackling, blankets reassembled, my daughter was helping me wash and dry dishes, my son had managed to trade a light saber for the vacuum hose (with attachments) and my husband was busy at the grill working on dinner.  The evening seemed to be heading in the right direction...until it came to a screeching halt.

In the next twenty minutes, children began complaining about their tasks, the BBQ was having issues so my husband brought his grilling project inside, the fire went out in the fireplace...and then smoke alarm went off.

My son dropped his vacuum duty and turned into Fire Marshall Phil, opening doors wide and inviting in the 30 degree night air. My daughter was crying, terrified of the smoke alarm, and cowering underneath a wet dish towel while making a run for the garage, as my husband tried to salvage dinner.

Somewhere in the middle of it, I muttered grumpily, "Happy Home Group Night..."

Believe it or not we hastily recovered both of the children, finished our tasks AND we ate dinner before the first home group member trickled in the door.  

By then the fire had taken light and the coffee was percolating (although someone had to bring creamer, go figure) and my husband started off group by talking through Deuteronomy 4:5-9 concentrating heavily on the last verse, " Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them."

Then, keeping that verse in mind, he jumped into a discussion, asking the group about our favorite Christmas memories.  Folks shared everything from their experiences as a child, to experiencing Christmas with a child for the very first time.  The memories were all about the spirit of Christmas, the family, the big meals, the gifts...and the same theme kept appearing.  We began to think about how Christmas time was a big deal - very busy, lots of travel, family, tasks and gifts.

Then we read through Luke 2, the Christmas story.  I've attached Linus' version above (via YouTube), but the reminder of what Christmas is all about was clear - a savior was born in a manger.  Prophecy had been fulfilled through this humble baby, delivered in a manger.  Angels came to shepherds tending their flocks in the field claiming that this good news will be a joy for all the people.  The shepherds came to see the baby, and told everyone about this child, and all who heard were amazed at what the shepherds told them.  

And then there was Mary, who sat and watched it all, and "treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."

So, as a home group we discussed the simplicity of Christmas...the amazing and magnificent gift God gave us through a savior and when compared to the crazy, busy, extravagant Christmases we have settled for... God's gift only appears more incomparable and unsurpassed.

We concluded group considering the dangers of making Christmas what it isn't...of representing something it doesn't.  God didn't just give us good news with Jesus, he gave us the best possible news ever...and diluting that gift (and flashing back to the opening moments in Deuteronomy) and teaching our children to dilute the true message of Christmas is missing the entire point of this season.

So...you might be wondering about my earlier description of my chaotic night of hosting home group.  In the midst of processing this whole story on Christmas and what we're teaching our children through the holiday season, another thought struck me:  what did I teach my children in the middle of our home group preparation?

I firmly believe my days are filled with "teachable moments" for my children.  They tend to learn far more from how I act, than what I say.  I began to think about the stress I might've put them under in the midst of preparing for our closest friends and church family to come to our home.  

I was wrapped up in making our home presentable and welcome to others, and neglecting the whole point of home group- creating a simple, welcoming, relational environment where we grow together as disciples of Jesus...and I'm not sure I modeled that to my kidlets.

So...in conclusion it looks like Jesus had a pretty good lesson for me this week.  Now I get to ponder and model the concept of not only believing, but walking out the fact that Jesus has given us the best possible gift ever - Him.  

It's not just about the simplicity and message of the Christmas season, it's about the simplicity and message of every season.  

I pray our children will have a heart and desire for Jesus that surpasses my own, that they have relationships so real, humble and joyful, the world around them can't help but want to be a part of it too.  

I get the adventure of being a simple light for Jesus.  I'm praying the good news I have inside of me looks like the best possible news to all around me...but especially my children.

So that's it for this week's bloggin' noggin thoughts, they're pretty raw...it's a good thing we don't call this place 'Real Life' for nothin' folks...catch you next week! =)

H =D
  

Have you ever had the thought?...

My good bloggin' buddy Kent Roberts is back this week guys, give him a read, he's got some great thoughts:

Have you ever had the thought, “I need to feel the Holy Spirit today?”  

Am I the only one?

With me, there have certainly been days where I need something tangible to let me know He is alive and in my life.  To somehow be overwhelmed by His presence.   Today.

Oh sure, I can look back over my life and see where He has been at work; to see that He has had sway and influence over things and events and circumstances.  But too often I don’t think about those times: I usually only think of today: The struggles I am in today that I shouldn’t have to struggle with; the doubts I face today concerning things I shouldn’t doubt; the questions I ask today of things I shouldn’t need to question.   Wondering when this sin, this temptation, this pain, this frustration . . . and this waiting, will end; or at least become tolerable.

Is this what God wants? It seems so counter to everything I read in the Bible, yet seems so real, so necessary.  Today.

Is it true?  Is it the world? 

Is it the enemy?   Is it reality?  

Is it time to move on?  To come back to the real world with all its faults, all its frustrations, and live a life of hope and faith without tangible proof of the One who created us, cares for us, and is the great provider of all our needs.

Oh Holy Spirit of the living God, where is Your hope, and faith, and patience, and peace, and joy, and self-control.  And your love. To live in constant struggle, doubt, questioning, and frustration is not the way a follower of Christ is supposed to live. Not in emptiness, in doubt, in fear.

But in praise.

And it is in praise, in those times where you really, really don’t feel like giving the glory to anyone, let alone God, that praise is exactly what you need; as hard as it is.  As counter as it seems to every fiber of your being—Praise Him. 

God, I give you praise for who you are.   You are the Creator of all things.   I will praise you in this storm.

It is the world that wants you to question.  It is the enemy that wants you to doubt.  It is your flesh that wants you to struggle.  Yet, it is through your flesh, through every fiber of your worldly being, that praise rings the loudest to God’s ears.  And, it is that very praise that He desires to answer.

“You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.” (Rev. 4:11)

 “You are among us, LORD, and we bear your name; do not forsake us!” (Jer. 14:9)

I am a creation of God. He does not leave or forsake me. In that I will rest my faith. 

So . . .

What happens when you ask to hear, need to hear, from the Holy Spirit . . . and he answers?

Well, in my case, and with those thoughts in mind, after doing some concerted Word—and soul—searching, this is where the Holy Spirit lead me:

John 8: ^28-29 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I Am he. I do nothing on my own but say only what the Father taught me.  And the one who sent me is with me—he has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases him.”

Hebrews 11: ⁶ And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

Psalm 37: ^3-7 Trust in the Lord and do good.
Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you your heart’s desires.

 Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust him, and he will help you.
 He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,
and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

 Be still in the presence of the Lord,
and wait patiently for him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper
or fret about their wicked schemes.

Romans 8: ^35-37 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?  (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”)  No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

Philippians 4: ^11-20 . . . for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.  I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.  For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength . . . . .  At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God.  And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.   Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen.

And, over those same few days, this is what I heard:

The one who sent me is with me—he has not deserted me. For I do what pleases him. And, it is impossible to please God without faith. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Trust him, and he will help you. Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? No! For I learn how to be content with whatever I have. I can do everything through Christ,who gives me strength. At the moment I have all I need—and more! And this same God who takes care of me will [continue to] supply all [my] needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to [all of] us in Christ Jesus. Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen.

. . . and Amen! For my part, I simply remember that I have all I need for today, and today is all I need. Does, "he will give you your heart's desires" mean I place my faith in a prosperity-style gospel? By no means. What I believe--what I choose to believe--is that God knows my needs and he will continue to "supply" them in his own good time.

Not my wants, my needs.

Not my time, his time. 

I have all I need for today,

. . . and today is all I need.

Training up a Child...and Thinking Outside the Box

"Direct your children onto the right path,

    and when they are older, they will not leave it."

- Proverbs 22:6

So, the Holy Spirit has been moving this week, challenging me, as He tends to do, and a story (along with an idea) was placed in my lap...  Hang with me as I process this for a second.

I'm only 34, but when I think back on my life there have been a few specific individuals God placed in my path that had tremendous influence in shaping me and "training me up" to be the person I am today.  

Right now, I've got the warm and fuzzy memories for a woman who started out as a "babysitter" for me at two months old and over time developed into a surrogate grandmother.  

Do you have anyone like this in your life?  Can you remember one person?  Do me a favor and think of them as you continue reading...

As I thought on the above passage from Proverbs and the story I'm about to tell you, I got to wondering if, when we are in the moment where God is shaping us...do we recognize it?  See that time, that journey, that relationship, for the gift it really is?  

They say hindsight is 20/20, and so many times we don't understand what God is doing at the time He's doing it...but the story I got this week from a friend got me thinking that it is possible to intentionally see God at work.  To sit up and take notice when the potter is shaping the clay.

Well, I can tell you Mark and Ann know God is at work in their life.  When Miss Kathy invited them and their son Dalton to her home group three and a half years ago.  They attended the new home group excited to build relationships and grow as disciples of Jesus.

A little over a year ago Ann and Mark needed help getting Dalton (age 9 at the time) to and from school for a few days while Mark was working long hours and Ann traveled for her job.  

Jim and Miss Kathy had been an integral part of Mark and Ann's home group for quite a while at this point, and they offered to step up and help.  Since that time, Jim and Miss Kathy have developed a special relationship with Dalton.  

Dalton began spending more time with his new friends, so much that most of this past summer he spent with Miss Kathy working in the shop, digging in the yard, and organizing projects- they even taught him how to drive a four-wheeler.  Dalton has his own set of grandparents, and Jim and Miss Kathy have their own set of grandchildren- and both of them encourage those relationships to flourish, in the midst of developing their own special bond as friends.  

Watching the relationship flourish between Miss Kathy and Dalton has been great for Mark and Ann, and they recognize the connection that is being formed is shaping their son's character.  

Dalton is learning valuable lessons in how he can walk side by side with another person, as they process the bible, and simply talk about how life works.  

Both of them place tremendous value on their relationship, describing each other just this past summer, as "my best friend," and it's helping to shape Dalton into quite the sweet young man.

When I take a look at the passage above, "to train up a child on the right path," it's not easy.  I think God places value on relationship, because He knows we can't do it on our own.

Mark and Ann are great parents, they fully understand their role to disciple their son, to nurture and groom him and to shepherd him in the way he should go.  But what I think makes them even greater parents is their willingness to allow other people into their lives to help them.  Miss Kathy and Dalton are in the middle of a great time of growth and development, and Mark and Ann fully recognize God's work.  

It's not easy to train up a child...but if we think outside the box...think of what could be possible when we come together under God's authority, submit to His movement, and follow His guidance - who knows what is possible.

So, I'm wondering what's your experience?  

Can you think of a person who greatly influenced you in your young life?  Trained you up in the way you should go?  Is there someone God's put in your path, that could use some encouragement and direction...some "training up?"

It's good stuff to pray on...and I'm so grateful we have people around us who are modeling successful relational discipleship all around us.  

Until next week,

Love, H =D

Meet 'em where they're at...

Thanks for your great support of Kent last week, it was fun to have a guy's perspective and I'm sure he'll be back soon.  =D

I've been stewing on what to write for this week's blog post (y'all know how much of a crock-pot thinker I am) and as I processed my week, I started thinking back on what an incredible few days it's been.  

My 8 year old son was baptized last Friday night. It was truly one of the most exciting and celebratory events of my life.  That's him in the picture below, he's a cute little biscuit, isn't he?

The journey with our son has been amazing.  

Yes, he's young and has a lot of maturing to do, but when he continued to come to us repeatedly asking to get baptized, saying, "I want to follow Jesus. I want to do what He says, and He says I should get baptized." We decided he was ready to take the plunge, literally.

It's been quite the journey to walk with our son, he's our oldest child, and our "first crack" at this parenting thing, so I figure we're bound to mess up repeatedly.  But apparently we're doing something right, watching our son's heart change in love and maturity, little bits at a time.

Part of what's so tough about raising up kids is trying to continually meet them where they're at.  Trying to relate and understand the musings of a 3rd grade boy isn't easy.  He is competitive and passionate, stubborn and sweet...full of imagination, promise and endless energy.  And we, as his parents, get the reminder to meet him right where he is, every single day.

The challenge becomes recognizing the stage and maturity he's in...and intentionally helping him take the next step in his journey with Jesus, helping him to "grow up in his faith."

And that's where the title for this week's blog post popped into my head, because "Meeting 'em where they're at," is really what we all want, right?  

Someone to notice us, see us, recognize where we are and come alongside us in our struggles, and stubbornness to move forward in understanding and obedience to God.  

The picture above, my son so small, reminds me that he is young in the faith and my job is to keep joining him in the exact spot God has him.  The silly school yard arguments, the selfish pouts, the sweet excitement over serving someone else for the first time...those are the steps he is taking toward knowing Jesus better.

Really, it's a reminder that we are all, at times, just little boys and girls, trying to make our way in the world.  Hoping for someone to come along and help us take the next step of faith.

You guys, as LIFERS, you continue to meet people in their struggles and addictions, in their wounds and fears.  It really is an honor to be a part of this place, you know that?  

That's all I've got for today...I've hit my "Words with Friends" quota and I'm tapped out.

Love ya LIFERS,

H =D