Fall Fun

 

 

 

 

My favorite time of year is Christmastime. But Fall comes in a close second. There’s nothing like wandering around the pumpkin patch. Sipping on cider. The smell of goats and donkeys in your nostrils. Nate gets very excited for all things pumpkin. He and his friend Jason used to do a pumpkin dance when pumpkin rolls, pumpkin crisps and pumpkin pie were around.

We used to have a tradition when we lived in Illinois that we would go to Tanner’s orchard with my Mom. That place was great. It was a few bucks and lots of fun for the kids. Make shift train rides, giant wooden play places, free cider, apple picking, lots of goats, pumpkins, etc. We have been to a few here but they aren’t quite as good as Tanner’s. The best one was Weston Red Barn…there wasn’t much to it but we were with the Restore Family which made it a great time of smores, chats around a bonfie, hot dogs and hayrides.

I think the change of seasons brings about hope for the future. No matter what is going on in your life, when things start changing, its a reminder that something new is on the horizion.

 

The Best church Ever

I think I serve at the best church ever. We, the “C”hurch, are all in this together no doubt about that but….I’m just saying Restore Community Church is the best church ever. Not only did we start just 2 years ago, helped many people find their way back to God, are changing the spiritual landscape of Kansas City….but, we built a church, school and homes for 120 orphans in Haiti, the 3rd poorest country in the world. Oh and we as a church are supporting those orphans making sure that they have everything they need. A whole community in Haiti is being changed as a result of the generosity of a baby church. Children with nothing, now have something. Education, food, beds, clothes, and hope.

Who knows, Restore may never have a building of their own here in KC but we can say we’ve already built one…in Haiti.

This is what it is all about…hope….to the ends of the earth.

Diet Coke

I love me some diet coke. In fact, I love coffee but I have to have a diet coke first thing in the morning…and then coffee. I know, I’m a picture of health and wellness.

I’ve been enjoying the mini cans of diet coke because I never quite end up drinking the whole can. So on Monday I was at SuperTarget and bought some groceries along with my mini cans of diet coke.

Fast forward to today (Thursday) I open the fridge looking for a frosty cold mini diet coke only to find I need to replenish the fridge. Go to my pantry….the shock and horror of it….missing. I panic, did I really go through 2 cases of mini’s?? Then it dawns on me, that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. My precious mini’s were under the cart. I left them there. Only to be enjoyed by some other addict or put back on the shelf. Money, down the drain. I don’t know what is worse, the waste of money or that I have to go back out and get some more mini’s.

Arms High

“I’ll stand arms high and heart abandoned, in awe of the One who gave it ALL. I’ll stand my soul to You surrendered. All I am is YOURS”

I find myself realizing more and more everyday how flawed and imperfect I am. Its not anything new, its just becoming more and more apparent to me. My conversations with God have gone from “Well, why in the world did you make me this way?” to “Well, how in the world am I going to change, what steps should I take to prune the bad so the good fruit can come out?”

But today I was listening to a song that says the words above. And really, I don’t know what to say, or what to do but I can just offer this heart to Him, completely. So that is what I will do. If you see me, you’ll see that I am surrendered. I’ll stand with arms high and completely surrendered to Him. And in the process of my surrendering, maybe just maybe I’ll become more like Him.

Have you surrendered it all? Do you ever find yourself  literally with your arms stretched out to Him offering your whole self, flaws and all?

Routine

Its been a week since my life took a big change from working what seemed like every waking moment to just a measly 25 hours a week. I feel a bit lost with all of this home time I seem to have now.

I need to get into a routine. And it may seem weird, but I feel lost as to what my routine should look like. Because I do work, and its not always the same times but the same 4 days. I need to fit in time with God, grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, bills, time with Abbey while Ethan is at school and time with Ethan when he gets home. I’d also like to maybe…just maybe for the first time in about 3 years….exercise.

I need a plan cause thats how I roll. But I am staring at a blank page not sure where to begin with this routine. Is there anyone who has a routine that I can get a jumping off point from??

All of it is never your fault. Some of it is always your fault.

I stole this from Stephen Furtick’s Blog http://www.stevenfurtick.com/

Its so timely for me and great wisdom when it comes to leading people.

I need to prescribe a little leadership pill that’s pretty hard to swallow…but oh so good for you…and everyone you lead.

When you come into conflict with someone you lead, mark this:
All of it is never your fault.
Some of it is always your fault.

If you assume all of the responsibility for the conflict, you’ll end up owning issues that are not yours to own.  Soon you’ll be overcompensating for someone else’s dysfunction.  You’ll aggravate the injury because you’re treating the wrong symptoms.

If you assume too little of the responsibility, you’re passing up a jackpot of learning experience and opportunity for improvement.  Plus, you’re the kind of aloof and delusional jerk that no one wants to work for because you’re never ever wrong.

If the issue is theirs, forgive, coach, and appropriately reposition.  If the issue is yours, own it, and convert it into wisdom.  Either way, you get better with every failure.  And that’s a success.

Back to Blogging

So its been another long stint without blogging.

But I’m ready to put my thoughts down again. I’ve been running a buisness for the past year and it has taken all of my efforts. It was very rewarding and challenging. I was successful and am proud of what was accomplished.

But when we said “yes” to starting a church in Liberty, Missouri, Nate and I knew we couldn’t keep up the lifestyle that we were doing. So after much prayer and consideration I decided to leave my job in order to allow Nate to focus on the task of starting a church. Finacially it doesn’t make sense, but when does following the call ever make sense?

I will still work at starbucks. Just not as many hours. We need insurance and we also need to support our habit. I’m now praying diligently about whats next. I want so badly to used by Him. I find myself singing “These hands are yours teach them to serve as you please.” Teach is the word that stands out most to me. I have not arrived and have so much to learn. I’m desperate to learn all that He has for me.

So stay tuned to the adventure. Its and exciting and scary ride but it will be worth it all in the end!

ok, haven’t blogged in so long. too long. My job as a store manager has taken a lot out of me. I am blessed to have a job and it is also so much work.

We are starting on this adventure of planting a second location of Restore. It is a scary one for me. We have to trust in finances which has always…always been tough for me. But I find myself once again praying for God to provide.

He always has. So I shouldn’t even think it won’t happen again. Its just the details…when and how. I need to just trust in the who!

Stay tuned for more blogs from me and updates!

Truth

Mark Batterson wrote this on his blog the other day and hit me square in the eyes.

 

He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.” John 14:17

I think most of us wish the Holy Spirit led us into all comfort. We might even settle for partial truth. But all truth? Most of us would rather surround ourselves with people who will simply validate what we falsely believe about ourselves. That isn’t the Holy Spirit. Like a good counselor,He’ll take you places you don’t want to go so you can get where He wants you to go. He’ll reveal things you don’t want to know so you can become who He wants you to be. 

I think many of us get frustrated at times because it seems like God is silent. Here’s a thought: if you cannot hear the voice of God maybe it’s because you aren’t willing to hear everything He has to say? 

You can’t tune out His convicting voice and still hear His guiding voice orwise voice or comforting voice. You cannot listen to half of what the Holy Spirit has to say. It’s a package deal. If you tune out His convicting voice you won’t hear anything He has to say.

You never want to ask God to make you more like Him. You never want to say things like “take all of me.” Because He will bring things into your life that will cause you to be more like it. Its really annoying but the end result is worth it. I know this is called pruning, to allow the fruit to grow. Its painful. But it will be sweet in the end.

Jonathon Said

“Perhaps God will act on our behalf”

Was the “perhaps” something added in translation or was it really up in the air. 

I have a new swear word to add to my list. First was “economy.” Second is now “perhaps.” 

What faith it takes to act on a “perhaps.” I wish God would take a cue from Nike and “Just do it.”

Ah, if only His ways were my ways….probably a good thing His ways are higher than mine.