Tuesday Challenge # 17 | Prayer (and Michael)

This week's challenge: ....is a little later this week.  Thanks for hanging in there. I lost someone this week that I really cared about and I just couldn't get here until I wrote what I was going to say at his service. Mostly because I wanted it to be a part of this. I can still see things bubbling up that I will wish I had've done differently while he was here. 

I never thought to introduce myself to the people in the audience that knew Michael but not me. For anyone reading along.... I was married to his sister's son. So he was my uncle. We live on a "family compound" (his house directly behind mine). I saw him at least 3 times a week when we had dinner together. He was also a very special person on top of that. How blessed was I to get to call him mine.

Anyway, I am going to let you read my long eulogy about him. I will put the challenge at the end. If you wanted to see any pictures, here they are.


Scripture for the week - I feel like this scripture is the best one that I could use here but I am still mulling over what it says to my heart.

"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden." - Matthew 5:14 



Do you have a testimony about this challenge or a suggestion for another one? I'd love to hear it! Comment here!

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Picture Credit [then modified]: http://www.superbwallpapers.com/nature/sunrise-over-the-mountains-14501/

a break, a post and a challenge (#16)

I learned a pretty good lesson over the weekend about faith, anxiety & boundaries... I was given an opportunity to give a children's church message on Sunday in front of the congregation.

I pushed myself far too much in other areas throughout the week and way before Sunday rolled around, I was too exhausted. I just never could catch up. I rehearsed the message a great number of times and for the most part felt pretty confident that it would be OK. Until I sat on stage and my brain just stopped working... It was a trend for most of the weekend though. Sunday shouldn't have surprised me.

While I do have notes about what I think happened and what I could do differently next time, I also have a good number of things that are positives. Most of all I can't help but find the irony in the subject of the message and what happened while I was up there. The theme of the message was about not being held captive by fear. By reaching out and challenging yourself, you will not only build faith but you will also allow a little bit more of the Holy Spirit in. Then as I stood on stage, (challenging myself) I almost felt consumed by fear. I just could not seem to hand it over to God in that moment. Maybe we all needed a real example of what that looks like. haha. I will be honest, I think I did need that experience.

Thankfully, I believe that God works in mysterious ways and no matter what expectations were or weren't met, I believe that he can use that experience for me and maybe -hopefully- some others in a really powerful way.

BUT having said that-

I am getting ready to challenge myself to lead some bible study classes again. This time without relying on other material to get me through the classes AND to focus on a book of the bible instead of a topical study like I am used to. I want as much of my wits about me as possible dedicated to his word and giving him glory this time. I don't want to give energy to things that could be good when I could invest it all in something that I know is good. If that makes sense.

I'm praying about it but I think that I might not blog for a while. I am not even sure about the "Tuesday Challenge".  I may continue on with that one post and I may post notes for the Bible Study classes. As for anything more than that; I think it could distract me from another task that I want to be more committed to.

Feel free to check back and if you're interested in studying Esther, let me know. I may have several locations that you can join from.

This week's challenge: Consider areas in your life, hobbies, jobs, roles, etc. Is there something that you could fast from in your life (even good and Godly things) in order to give more to God somewhere else?

Scripture for the week - John 3:30 - "He must become greater; I must become less."

Do you have a testimony about this challenge or a suggestion for another one? I'd love to hear it! Comment here!

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Picture Credit [then modified]: http://www.superbwallpapers.com/nature/sunrise-over-the-mountains-14501/

Beautifully Designed | Children's Church

I am going to begin the lesson with talking about how nervous I was the first day that I did a children's church lesson. You may have a similar experience that you'd rather use or start with.

Tools needed: Handkerchief with a bold design and an object, like a rock, to place inside it.

Intro: [Share the experience.] The first day that I did Children's Church I was so afraid of getting up and speaking, with a microphone, in front of everyone. What if I forgot the words or said them wrong? In fact before service started that day; while we were singing, Ethan leaned over and asked me what was shaking so hard... it was my knees.

In fact, I think I'd feel much more like myself, if I were sitting over there on the stairs with you. May I?

Lesson: How many of you have done something new and instead of hearing all of the rules or steps you needed to follow, you just couldn't stop focusing on what you were doing? How you were doing it? What others might think about what you were doing?  Maybe you were playing in a big game or a recital for the first time; going to a new school or making a new friend?

For adults, it might be starting a new job, giving a lesson at church or even going to church and having to talk to all of those people. :)

In fact sometimes we can get so nervous, that our knees knock, our hands can get sweaty and some people feel like they're going to get sick. We're kind of like this, balled up or like a ball of nerves, huh? [Show them the handkerchief balled up.]

This is actually a beautiful handkerchief that I bought at a flea market. [Tell them where you got yours and show it to them still balled up.] Don't you think that it's pretty? Don't you love the design?

You really can't tell, can you? It's kind of the same with us too. When we're too afraid to be ourselves, others can't see all of our "pretty parts" either. But you know what else?

[Ask the kids to try putting the object/rock into the center of the handkerchief while it's still balled up.]

It's hard to get to the center like that, huh? We've been talking about the Holy Spirit lately and sometimes when we're too afraid to let go or change, he can't get to do the work that he needs to do in us.

Do you know another name for the Holy Spirit? [The Encourager or Counselor]

When we let him work in our lives, we become encouraged to reach out and try new things. [Slowly begin relax the handkerchief.] Those new things are also how we build faith. -By reaching out a little more, [Begin pulling the corners of the handkerchief out.] ....and a little more [Pull another corner.]....and a little more. [All corners out.] We become who or what God intended us to be.

[Hold the whole thing up, open.]

Matthew 16:25 says "For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it."

If I stay balled up, or try to remain in control; or if I let the things that I am afraid of keep me from doing new things or being who I am. Then I've lost the life that Jesus wants to give me.  If I am willing to say "who cares" to what people will think, say or do; and if I am willing to do something because God wants me to, then he is able to give me the life that HE intended.

We sure look a lot prettier like this though, huh?  [Open the Handkerchief.]


Let us pray: Dear Father, thank you for having a beautiful design for each of us. Wake our spirits Lord and give us the courage to reach out where you lead. Help us be bold and to do what is right, even when we're not sure if we hear you.

My Love Is Building A Building....

The Wendy's in Gloucester was remodeled during almost the whole first quarter of this year. It's hard for me to believe it's already old enough to be remodeled. I was part of the first staff when it was originally built almost 20 years ago. The drive-thru was my first "tax paying job" and I loved it.

The construction is finished now but the new work clearly began with demolition. My kids and others even speculated about what might be going there in its place. It was still going to be Wendy's but "new and improved". Cleaner. Prettier. More efficient. We also had more than our regular amounts of snow and rain this year and many days we would drive by to see a halt on progress. It wasn't just a mess but a wet one in the making -remaking.

**

In February, I went on my first women's retreat. We were in Nags Head in a huge house near the beach. Of course houses near the beach have many more windows that allow you to catch the view. Because of this, I couldn't help but notice that we were surrounded by construction. 

Through the kitchen I could see a new house being built. A giant pool waiting in the yard to be planted in the ground. Plumbing materials decorating the yard in preparation for the future pool. New windows still baring stickers of purchase, etc.

Then in the main room where we spent most of our retreat time, the windows overlooked a huge house that had several tarps on it; clearly also in the process of being remodeled. Dumpsters lined our street between the two houses. Old going out, new coming in. -Lumber and materials here, trucks and crews scattered around. I could hear the faint tap, tap, tapping from the busy hammers of the crew.

During a break, I stared out of the windows and watched the construction taking place. A line from a familiar poem "my love is building a building" had been on my mind many times over the last few months. In many ways it came as a reminder to me to just trust that God was doing something, even though I didn't know exactly what it was. Here it floated to the surface again and this time lingered long enough for my curiosity to take the bait.

I imagined walking through the house. Discovering what might be behind those tarps. While it may be a mess now, I knew that there was a vision that was in the process of coming to life. While I already knew the message, the sentiment and picture really begged me to just take hold of it.

**

Last year, particularly the fall, was a good growing season for me too. I couldn't help but find the ironies in the fact that while I was growing, it felt more like demolition or being caught in a long, terrible storm. Many new lessons awaited me. Many great ideas were rejected or turned out flat and putting in twice the work or effort, seemed to result in even more failures than successes. I just could not produce the things that were on my heart, in my prayers or what I thought was being asked of me, no matter how much sweat, tears or sleepless nights were put into it.

Discouragement was at my door regularly ready to greet me and sometimes the unwanted visitor seemed to push himself in. It was a struggle to get him back out and to keep myself together. I felt much like that Wendy's looked... a wet mess in waiting...

But I was learning something new...

How about you? Change is hard and disruptive now isn't it? Even when it's in a good way. Even when God is working. Even when you have the vision of what you're working toward. Even when you have the "blueprints" or "tools" to get there! Having any of those things in place does not guarantee that change is easier. But just like that remodel, even during a storm, our spiritual challenges should be just as exciting to us because God is doing something!

In fact, in our day to day life it's common to see buildings that are left rundown and discarded -abandoned. If we really want to admit it, those buildings are left behind because they are no longer useable or serving a purpose. Thankfully, if we abide in him, he promises to continue on with the good work that he started in each of us until the day that he returns. 

You might not get 'it' now and you might not see what that good work is yet or even feel like he has a plan for you. If you're in a one of those hard storms now, you might even feel like you've been forgotten. But please hear my heart and trust that most especially in that hard season, there is a Master Carpenter with a plan and he is already working. Just as a doctor works protecting layers and a carpenter works covering sections; He too is busy and sees all. He brings physical healing and spiritual restoration (ahem, transformation). 

AND-

You will only be blind to it for a little while. If you persevere and have faith, one day you [or Him or the plan] will be unveiled [often in phases]. And are you ready for this...

1 Corinthians 6:19 says that we are not just buildings beloved- We are temples. Temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? And you are not your own.

I don't know about you but it has taken and will still take a lot of work for God to make me and my building into [what I envision as] a temple. But he still thinks that you and I are worth that effort anyway because HE had that vision (and perhaps an even bigger one) when he started each of us. 

Just like all rebuilding starts by removing the old; He exposes our vulnerability first; the flares of temper, our weakness, our bad attitudes, our dependence on earthly things, self-sufficiency and lack of faith; the things that we don't want others to see or the things that we might not even be aware of...

Sometimes, when your very best is producing your worst; it may just be to draw out the impurities of your heart so that he can scoop them out to replace them with only thing that makes any temple worth it. His spirit. 

REJOICE that he is exposing those things because that is exactly where he wants to go to work. Your awareness of it will help you see how much you need him. It's only once it is out in the light that something can be done with it. 

You're not too bad, too weird or too broken for God. Romans 8 says that IN all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Don't get caught up in the struggle because it's temporary and always changing. Keep your eyes [mouth and thoughts too] on the Master and the vision instead of the struggle and I promise that even in the middle of the chaos; if you're looking for him you will see glimmers of his goodness at work. 

We don't get to decide what God can or can't do. You've been called to more. Be open to- and encouraged in the new direction. For your love is still building a building. 

P.S. The link to that poem has got to be one of the best interpretations of it that I've read. Click on each line to see the interpretation to the right. If you're a lady that fumbles through words and speaks to think and then later often regrets- Or if you're going through a storm and your mouth has produced things contrary to what is in your heart, maybe give it a look over from your masters eyes.

I'd also encourage you to read 1 Corinthians 6 & 2 Corinthians 3.

Tuesday Challenge #15 | Self Image

This week's challenge: I used to think that it was hard for me to commit to things because as a child, I moved every 3 months or that maybe I was socially awkward because I wasn't with others enough... I think you know what I mean. We have a tendency to justify why we are the way that we are when it comes to tempers and attitudes and habits. Then it accidentally turns into an excuse to stay that way.

What are some of the things that you believe about yourself good, bad, quirky...? Take a moment to write some of them down. Then list the reasons why you think that you are that way. What if you really are just the way that you are? You were born that way. Made that way. Every little fiber of your personality carefully put together. Each thread selected, hand-picked and chosen to be used; included when making you.  

Maybe 'it' wasn't a result of something your parents did, or a result of what happened one time or back then or....  It doesn't have to be "bad" experiences either. Maybe you didn't get that good because of your own strength. What things are you holding onto as crutches to excuse your ability to change or dream or ask...? 

Psalms 139:14 says: "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." 

Fearfully. I love that. The verse just before that says that God carefully knits us together. I don't know what you imagine when you think of God-knitting-you. I mean, what kind of tools would you need to knit DNA? Never mind the fact that he's God and doesn't need tools- but still, what a thought! 

-And fearfully, I don't want to over-humanize God by implying that he would be afraid of what he's making but he certainly isn't filling us with fear. I can't help but think that it's a reference to how powerful we could be and what we would be capable of when he is finished. We are something to ponder! YOU are a work of the Lord and YOU are wonderfully made! Not too good, not too bad, not too quirky.

Take a few minutes (or 15) to write out another list. Include things on your heart that you feel like you should do. Go ahead and dream a little while no one is looking. What would you do, if you weren't you and if time and resources didn't hold you back? Pray over these lists and find time this week to read the whole passage and keep adding to the list. Ask God what he would like you to know or consider about you! How might those lists be connected. Ask him to help you live in a power worth being afraid of- His power! Then praise him for every little detail on those lists!

Scripture for the week - Psalms 139:14 says: I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Do you have a testimony about this challenge or a suggestion for another one? I'd love to hear it! Comment here!

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Picture Credit [then modified]: http://www.superbwallpapers.com/nature/sunrise-over-the-mountains-14501/

Tuesday Challenge # 14 | Scripture

This week's challenge: This week take a moment to SOAK in the word!  That's right, SOAK!  This is a method used by Women Living Well Ministries.

How to Use the SOAK Method to Study Scripture:

S – Write out the scripture that speaks to you from the passage.

(I actually find that writing out the whole scripture helps me absorb more of the passage.)

O – Write down one or two observations from the passage.

A – Write down one or two applications from the passage.

K – Kneel and Pray over what you learned from today’s passage.

Formerly known as the soap method. (K for Kneel replaced the P for Prayer.)

Scripture for the week: Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. -Psalm 86:11

Do you have a testimony about this challenge or a suggestion for another one? I'd love to hear it! Comment here!

What's this about? | Other challenges

Picture Credit [then modified]: http://www.superbwallpapers.com/nature/sunrise-over-the-mountains-14501/

Why Do I Even Have To Ask...

I will never forget working some years ago for a construction company that was building a golf course in a nearby town. One of the Sales Reps and I didn't get along. Everything he said and did drove me crazy. I am certain that I must've frustrated him too. I don't know how it started but the minute that I saw him, I would cringe. Throughout the day, I was full of snarky comments and sighs whenever he came my direction. (It's not a better side of me, I know.)

One day I finally let him have it and I told him all of the reasons why I didn't like working with him. I don't remember now what was said or even why I had an issue in the first place. I do know that while it felt good to "get things off my chest", it felt cruel to have such an ugly opinion of someone and even worse to share it.

That evening I went home and prayed. I asked for forgiveness for my attitude and for God to not just change my heart but to make me see my co-worker the way that God saw him. It was nothing short of a life changing prayer for me.

I didn't end up staying at that job for more than a year. But I did apologize to the salesman and we became friends before I left the company. That prayer has become a staple in my mental "prayer book".

It seems silly sometimes to ask for forgiveness. Especially when we think we're right or justified. We might ask God to make people or situations change for our comfort but in that prayer; I was asking God to change me in order to fit the circumstance. And looking back, it felt like he did it, instantly.

I don't want to cheapen the power of prayer but every time that I think about that story, I think of the following scenario. How many times do we go to a grocery store looking for something in particular? We search the isles and end caps and all the little places that we think something might be. When we can't find it, we do one of two things. We either leave without it or we go ask someone where it is.

But what happens when we ask?

When we finally get the nerve to go ask for directions, we're more inclined to follow the instructions (or follow the one leading us back to the thing that we were looking for). While this picture might sound too simple, I've found prayer to be quite similar. All I have to do is ask. I either get an answer or I don't. If I don't, I keep looking and praying. If I do get an answer, I usually try to follow the conviction on my heart.

But asking turns my heart toward the solution.

Our stubbornness is sometimes amazing isn't it? Early on, I too, would say "I won't pray for that because God is busy and he has better things to do" or "He already knows what's on my heart". While it might sound on the surface to be so trusting and faithful, underneath it kind of takes the accountability off of us and pushes it back to God, huh?  "Let him fix it".

But let me share a verse with you- Matthew 7:7 says “Ask, and it will be given to you seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  There is a little action on our end in each solution. 

Anyway, when I was looking for the image to go with this post I found the one below. I just love it. Especially because it's pertains to trees. It's a wonderful reminder to be rooted in prayer but let me also encourage you with it. We might want a Giant shady Oak on top but sometimes God needs to change or grow the roots a little underneath in order to sustain the tree. While I know that I will always be a work in progress, I am thankful to not be the woman that I used to be. It is all because of his hand in my life.

If you are in a situation that you've been resisting prayer over, please take a moment to fix that now. If you have been asking in prayer but aren't seeing the solution that you were hoping for, consider what you've been asking. Does God need to change something in you instead?

I'll be "rooting" and praying with ya! ;)

Esther Bible Study

Details:

• Who: Anyone is welcome
• What: A Study of the Book of Esther
• When: The 2nd & 4th Tuesday of every month, starting 6/9 @ 1:00pm -2:00pm
  
• Where: Operations Conference Room, Chesapeake Bank Support Bldg.
                Address given upon request

(Alternate Class: My Sunday school class will also begin this study this Sunday 5/24 @ 9:00. If you'd like to join us, come on! Susanna Wesley UMC 3900 George Washington Memorial Hwy, Ordinary, VA 23131)

Directions/Homework: Please read Chapter 1 prior to the first class. If anything strikes you, look further into it, bring notes to share. The homework will be the same for the next chapter before the next class. 

Common Themes: Esther is one of only two books included in the bible that is named after a woman. Esther is also noted for showing how God works behind the scenes although the entire book never mentions him. I feel compelled to read the book with my own guidance as a wife and hope to have some notes regarding marriage but I will challenge myself to apply the other two themes as well. 

Notes: Please feel free to bring your lunch to eat as we go through the study. You may also want to bring your Bibles and something to take notes with. 

This is my first attempt at doing a Bible study on a book of the Bible and also without purchasing additional material. If you would like to use a study please feel free to do so. I don't think that we need to have the same material. I will post some free additional resources below.


If you want to go deeper:

Free studies:

• Good News Bible Study - I have not tried this one before but may refer to it a little in this class. (The photo for this post also came from this study!)
• Kathleen Dalton - I have used two of her studies before and got a lot from them. She usually asks questions and then gives the answer(s) to each question.  Sometimes her notes can seem redundant or I have gotten lost in her switching back and forth from question to answer BUT I have learned A LOT both times that I've used them. I will most likely also refer to this one.

Bibles: Bible Gateway and Bible Hub are two great online bibles. You can change/compare translations. Both sites also offer various commentary, time lines, and audio versions in addition to other tools.

You might also prefer the You Version App for your phone which also has all of the above AND allows you to make notes. :)

SOAK in it - That's right, SOAK!  SOAK is a method used by Women Living Well Ministries. Read more about it here. Totally optional!

If you have questions, click here to send me a message.

**If you have to come late and leave early, please still come late and leave early!**