Change Happens....still

I originally wrote this blog entry when I began working at St. Andrew.  I was focusing on the many changes that were happening in the life of my family by serving at a new church.     I didn’t take a moment to stop and think that change happens.   It happens all the time.  

The end of another school year is upon us.  This year we are making not only a change in grades but a change in schools. I have one child that is entering into a new world...MIDDLE SCHOOL...(play dramatic music here).

When I worked for the Region Ten Education Center teaching second career teachers, we would show this video.  It is out of date today, but the concept is the same.  Change is always happening.

Change happens with our kids:   We watch them slowly grow up and become more independent.  This change can hurt sometimes, but it is good.

Change happens with our spouse:   We grow and change in our marriage, sometimes it is for the better and sometimes it is not.  I know I am not the same person that I was as a 23 year old.   But we are changing together....so that is good.  

Change happens with our friends:   We don’t all have the same friends throughout our life.  You might have one or two life long friends but other than that people come in and out of our life.  I am so thankful for that.  I have some wonderful people that have come into my life these past few years.  On the flip side I have had others leave this world...and that, well, stinks.

Change happens with our bodies:  Ok, so it can get wider, or more fit, we grow taller, etc.

Change happens with our faith life.  We grow and develop our faith throughout our lives.  Faith is not a stagnate thing but something that is constantly changing as we do.

My point here is that change is always happening.   ALWAYS.   I guess that most of the change in our life is so simple or moves so slowly that we are not afraid of it.   It is the change that is sudden, that is scary.   Not always bad, it just puts a jolt into our daily rhythm.

Perspective:  Pay attention to change, don’t be afraid of it.   When you need to:  embrace it.   When you need to:  stop it.   But, notice it.   Change Happens!

Looking for Amazing Things

I just completed an AMAZING week at St. Andrew.  We had so much fun at our VBS!  We had about 500 people in the building (children, youth, and volunteers).

It was a week that was full of many things.  As the children's pastor, it is easy to view things in "how can we do this better next year" attitude.   Every day we looked on what happened each day and how we can make it better next year.  The problem with this perspective is that you don't focus on the amazing things that are happening.  You focus on what needs to be changed.

When I changed my perspective I saw:

- Children experiencing faith in a new and exciting way
- Volunteers putting their whole heart into make this week wonderful
- New families to the area getting connected to a church home
- All different generations working together (our volunteers ranges from teenagers to grandmothers)
- Over a thousand toiletry items donated to the Plus One Mission for our church.
- Our children's teams working together like clockwork
- (Personal note) A husband that came home from work early to cook dinner so I could just sit.

The week of VBS is an amazing week. What will you see this week when you change your perspective and look for Amazing things happening all around you?!?

Walking life with Faith

WARNING....THIS ONE IS DEEPER THAN USUAL..... PROCEED WITH CAUTION!

So, faith is a very important thing to me.  It is the connector between me and my relationship with God.

I do have to say, that sometimes listening to the things that God puts on my heart is not always easy.   Some days I just have to hit the ignore button.   But, we all know, that does me no good. I then have this pit in my stomach knowing that I need to listen.  I need to respond.

A good friend told me that God does not usually talk in codes.   So, just listen.

That sounds so very easy.   But we all know that sometimes it is so hard.

The past few months my devotion time (I am reading Jesus Calling) has been very important to me.  I believe this devotion book was written just for me.  I can not tell you a day where it did not speak to a joy, a worry, a fear, an anxiety, that I was/am dealing with.  

I think that is the point of this book.  The author wrote to the things that most people deal with and gives it a focus that helps me in my faith journey.  This time has become as important as my 1st cup of coffee!

So, I ask you what helps you keep connected to God?   What makes your faith strong?  

I know that in times of need faith has brought me through when I could not stand on my own two feet.  But, here is the kicker- on my good days am I as faithful?  or do I take the credit for the good and only rely on faith in times of need?!?!?  This is a flaw that I am working on: To remember my faith journey EVERY day.

Happy Thursday!