Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's day - we so often take our mom's for granted so I'm glad we have a day set aside to thank and appreciate the love and effort that goes into parenting. I'm one of the fortunate ones, who has a truly remarkable mother. Her love and sacrifice are endless. Thanks mom!

And, to all the mom's out there - let your kids help you! It's our joy and privilege to bless you, not just on the second Sunday of May, but whenever we get the chance!

Mother's Day weekend

I just wanted to share an interesting gift option for Mother's Day, or anytime. You can donate $10 (provides 5 birth kits), or for about $3 in materials assemble your own birth kit to be sent to Papua New Guinea via a YWAM medical ship. 1 in 7 mothers in Papua New Guinea die in childbirth and when you read the contents of the kit it's startling to realize that a sheet of plastic, bar of soap, pair of gloves, razor blade and string, and a few gauze squares can mean the difference between life and death. For the cost of a latte with a friend you can provide 5 women with a chance at life. Wow. Here's the link themommyhoodmemos.blogspot.com or use the Bloggers for Birth kits button on the side bar. Happy Mom's day!

Easter People: Stretched

Easter stretches the limits of our understanding. The resurrection defied natural law and it doesn't make sense to us. It takes our concept of God beyond anything we can relate to in terms of how we approach love, forgiveness and judgement. And even as it stretches our comprehension, so it must stretch our response.

We respond by loving more deeply, forgiving more freely, and seeking to bring harmony into our relationships.
We respond by reaching out to a hurting world, by sharing hope and seeking justice.

Easter forces us to redefine our limits. How far as Easter stretched you?

Easter People: Hopeful

The stone was rolled away. A discouraged band of followers traveled from grief to joy and hope was born. One concise definition of hope is "to expect with confidence". 


What does it take to shake us from our weariness into a place of hope that lasts? 


Hope that we clothe ourselves in daily, hope that walks in and with us through the sand. Hope that knows with surety - not what the outcome will be - but that all things being in the hands of God it will be an outcome designed within His purposes. Hope based on a foundation of truth and goodness unlike anything we can find in each other. 
Praying the habit of hope for you.

David said it all: I saw God before me for all time. Nothing can shake me; he's right by my side. I'm glad from the inside out, ecstatic; I've pitched my tent in the land of hope. Acts 2:28

To eat bread without hope is still slowly to starve to death.  ~Pearl S. Buck
Once you choose hope, anything's possible.  ~Christopher Reeve




A Holy Experience - Walk with Him Wednesdays

Easter People: Walking in Love

Walking in God's Love

Knowing the Beloved, being His beloved child, fully aware of His magnificant love for all that He created.

"Everlasting, Never ending, All-consuming, You are love"
(lyrics from "You Are Love", Laura Story)

Walking in Love with God

Embracing Him as the lover of our soul, filled with joy and passion by our relationship.

To fall in love with God is the greatest of romances, to seek Him the greatest adventure, to find Him the greatest human achievement. (St. Augustine)


Walking and Loving like God

Being loved by God, and in love with God, inspires us to reflect that love to others through our words, actions and attitudes.

Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other. (Jesus Christ, John 13:34-35 - The Message)

Easter People: Missional

Missional is the perspective to see people as God does and to engage in the activity of reaching them. The church on mission is the church as God intended. (Missional Manifesto)

http://www.missionalmanifesto.net/

I really love this definition of what it means to be "Missional". It's simple and understandable and presents a deep challenge.

"To see people as God does" - without the hindrance of my previous experiences, judgmental nature, self-centered heart. To really love. To really see. To be able to encounter each person as God's beloved child; to look into their eyes and heart and to risk caring boldly.

"To engage in the activity of reaching..." - this means setting forth with purpose, taking action beyond my bubble of home and friends and church.

Our church tag line is "A safe place to grow in faith" and while we need that haven for restoration and building our own deep reserves, we must not forget to move outward into a world that is real and hurting. As disciples we are called to make those same "safe places" wherever we go. Our goal should be to become "Safe People" to others.

Lastly it's easy to wait for the Missional program or ministry ...and to miss the opportunity to embrace a Missional mindset, where our walking and talking is our ministry. Where we freely share the great gift of our relationship with God. "The Church on mission" is you and me folks. Today and every day. Living out the gospel.

Easter People - Christ is Risen From the Dead!

A week after Easter. The baskets and plastic eggs are stored, the last of the ham is (hopefully) gone. Jelly beans are 75% off at the grocery store. Is it all over?


How do we live as Easter people? 


Was this journey of 40 days that culminated in a week of shadows giving way to piercing light just a side trip? Or was it, could it be, the path we walk daily as a forgiven and loved people?

O church, come stand in the light
The glory of God has defeated the night
O church, come stand in the light
Our God is not dead, He's alive, He's alive

Let no one caught in sin remain
Inside the lie of inward shame
We fix our eyes upon the cross
And run to Him who showed great love

And bled for us
Freely You've bled for us

Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave

Beneath the weight of all our sin
You bowed to none but Heaven's will
No scheme of Hell, no scoffer's crown
No burden great can hold You down

In strength You reign
Forever let Your church proclaim

Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave

O death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
O church, come stand in the light
The glory of God has defeated the night

Sing it, o death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
O church, come stand in the light
Our God is not dead, He's alive, He's alive

Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave