Spiritual Sunday

Our last week of the "Go" series. I have really enjoyed this series. I have tried to get in touch with what direction God is moving my life in. I have tried to do some of my own "Go" projects. I have tried to give back to God, by giving back to others in my life. While I am at it, I need to thank a friend, who made me her "Go" project. She gave me her leftover - EXPENSIVE - childcare hours at the gym that I am a member of and that she used to attend. Thank you, Erin!

So today, our pastor talked about Jesus' last "commission," to go and make disciples of others and what it meant to do that. He said, it doesn't mean that you have to go out and push people, but merely "walk with them," talk with them, and my interpretation, basically be a friend. Be a friend that they can lean on, that can pray for them, that can pray with them, that can celebrate with them. Really, how much does that take? For me, not much. I view myself as that kind of a friend, for the most part, anyway. Now, I am not trying to say that I am a perfect Christian by ANY means. But I think that I am off to a good start with being a disciple and making disciples of others. I think that this means to treat all people that you come into contact with in a kind and respectful manner.

How am I making disciples of my fellow men? In the simplest of terms, I am raising my children to be kind-hearted, compassionate, empathetic, respectful people. Meanness and rudeness are not tolerated in this household. And, it is totally paying off. I just have to say how incredibly proud I was of my children during our trip to Disneyland. While we waited in line, they were polite and kind and respectful. They weren't throwing fits; they said excuse me and thank you; they weren't crowding people or invading their space; they weren't trying to cut; they weren't behaving like brats. They talked quietly, patiently waited their turn, didn't complain about waiting, didn't climb on the fences or areas that were not meant to be climbed/sat/walked on, didn't accidentally bump people over and over (if they did, they immediately apologized). This is how I am making disciples. And sometimes God's work isn't hard. This particular job has been frustrating at times. But, really, I don't have to yell at them or do anything more than just ask them to mind their behavior. And they know that means treating people with kindness and respect. I think that is a good start.

Spiritual Sunday

Our pastor returned from his conferences in the South this week. It was very nice to have him back. In honor of Father's Day and to continue the Go Series, he talked about Joseph. He talked about how God told Joseph to go to Egypt for two years, and Joseph did, unquestioningly. He discussed how God tells us to do things also. How do we do what God tells us? First we have to be connected to God. We have to talk to God. But more importantly, we have to listen. Second, we have to trust God enough to listen to Him and do what He tells us. When we do this, His will is done and our lives on the path that He determines they should be on.

I talk often with God. My problem is that I don't listen well enough. I need to learn to open my heart to what God is telling me to do. I do what I think is right, but how do I know if this is what God is telling me to do? I just keep my faith.

Spiritual Saturday?

Yes, this week we attended the Saturday service immediately following our church BBQ. We also had a guest pastor this week, as our pastor is out of town speaking at a huge conference in Georgia, quite an honor. He was away last week also and his brother did an amazing job filling his shoes.

Our guest pastor was okay. I liked his message, but the delivery was too much for me. When our pastor gives a message, he discusses one verse, typically, and really delves into it. This pastor, and some other guest pastors that we have had and pastors at other churches that I have visited, usually choose a topic, then quote several verses that support each other and the topic. I like the former better. It gives me less to digest and therefore a deeper understanding of the subject verse.

At any rate, the message this week was about bearing God's fruit and how we, as Christians are branches off of the vine that is Jesus. He said that God picks up the branches out of the mud and dirt and cleans us, so that we can bear fruit for Him. How do we bear fruit? First we have to remain connected to Jesus. Then we "win souls;" we connect with other people, all people, not just Christians. Then we give and we praise the Lord.

One disagreement that I had with this message was the "giving." While the pastor discussed how we give our money to the church and to others to help them, I truly believe that we can give more than just money for God. I believe that we can give hugs, love, time, understanding, a meal, a shower, a bed, and many, many other things. When I think about living my life as Jesus did, I think about helping people, but not solely monetarily, I see myself helping and "giving" in many other ways. I do give money to my church, because I want to. Because my church does a lot in our local community and our global community. But, I can't always give a lot of money, but I can and do, give of myself, my time and the gifts that God had blessed me with.

As I was sitting listening to this sermon and contemplating it, I realized that God has called me to help other moms at this point in my life. I came to realize this because a friend of mine moved out of the area and away from our local moms group, leaving a position open. Another friend asked if I was interested in applying for the vacant position. The night that the management team of the group meets is usually Josh's night to close at the bank. But because one of the ladies at the bank got a promotion and a transfer, he switched to a different night, leaving me available for the meeting night. Really these things are just small, trivial particulars, but without them falling into the right places, I would not be taking on this responsibility. Thinking about the events and the insignificant details that have occurred in the last week or so, that one would typically chalk up to coincidence, has just left me in awe of the ways in which God works and how He directs our lives in the way He wants it.

God bless you. And I hope that He directs your life, as He has mine.

Spiritual Sunday

One of our final "Go" messages, "Go Fish," was brought to us this week by our pastor's brother, who did a phenomenal job! I loved his message. It was from Matthew 4: 18 - 22 about the fishermen, brothers, Peter and Andrew who walked away from their nets when Jesus told them to follow him. It was about what identifies us and how easy it is to change our identity by following Jesus. So it got me to thinking about how my re-devotion to Jesus over the last year has changed me. How has it? I think that it has made me a better person. I've always had a big heart and wanted to reach out and help people, but its different now. I think I search out opportunities now. I reach out to people more. I talk to people more deeply. I connect more now. I try to show appreciation more and reciprocate things that people do for me. I cherish these changes. It makes me proud to look in the mirror and proud that I am setting a good model for my children. What will you "Go" do this week?

Spiritual Sunday

This week’s sermon continued with the “Go” message from John 9: 1 – 12. Jesus and his disciples happen by a blind man and the disciples inquire who sinned that the man would be blind, the man or his parents. Jesus answered that his circumstances were not because of sin, but so that his life could be used as an example of God’s work. Jesus then spit on the ground and rubbed the mud on the man’s blind eyes. Then He said to the blind man, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam.” The man did and he could see. He went to his neighbors and told them of his meeting with Jesus. What is God telling us to do? Where is he sending us in our lives? Our challenge was to open our Bibles and read what the Lord tells us to do, as simple as it is, and implement it in our lives and observe what changes it makes in our lives. So, I did. I opened my Bible to Acts 18: 9, as the Lord appears to Paul in a night vision. He says, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent, for I am with you and no on will attack you to hurt you, for I have many people in this city.” Does this apply to my life? Yes! How? Oh my goodness! I am always afraid! And this affirms that my trust in the Lord should assuage my fears for He will protect me.

Spiritual Sunday

In continuation of our "Go" series, our pastor preached on the story of Ruth and Naomi. How Ruth, after the death of her husband and the departure of her sister-in-law, refused to leave Naomi, committing herself to Naomi through and through. The moral? How God is the glue in our relationships.

Why is God the glue in our relationships? I contemplated this for some time. The first thing that I always seem to apply the messages to is my relationship with my mom. Since our estrangement, I have recommitted my life and accepted Jesus Christ as my personal savior. However, has she? I do not know. So, my first reaction to this message was that our relationship is broken because I have a strong relationship with God, while hers is weak.

But, I don't think that is what is meant by this message. I think that what is meant by "God is the glue," is that God brings people together. I think about my life currently and I consider the people that are in my life. I think about all of the people that God has put in my life in the last 18 months and I can see a purpose for each of them. (This doesn't mean that the people in my life prior to these last 18 months weren't put there by God for a purpose, it just means that I haven't contemplated that yet.) Take, for example, Taylor's teacher. I prayed and begged God that we would not end up in the school district that we are in. I knew what was best for my kid and this definitely was not it. Then it came to pass, that we were stuck here. So I prayed and begged that we get into a different school. But alas, we didn't, we ended up exactly where we are. Why? Because God put this amazing veteran teacher in my son's life to help him through his first year of school, to help him to bloom and blossom as no one else could have. And He put her in my life, to remind me that I only get one chance to do right by my kid and to help me be an advocate for him.

I could regale you with similar stories through pages and pages on this blog analyzing the relationships in my life and identifying why God has put each of them there, but I don't think that I need to. I think that you can see how "God is the glue."

Who has God "glued" you to?

Spiritual Sunday

I find myself crying in church often. It is so emotional for me to listen to how Jesus has saved my soul. It is reassuring to hear how I am not expected to be perfect and even the most devout followers have doubts sometimes. This week's sermon was precisely on this topic. Our pastor read a passage from Matthew about John the Baptist's imprisonment. During his imprisonment, one of history's most devout Christians, John couldn't believe that it was really Jesus, the Savior coming to Galilee. Jesus told the disciples to report to John the good news that Jesus had come. This was the good news that John had been waiting, the good that Jesus was doing in his life.

We were then given these thought provoking questions: What is the most recent good thing that's happened in your life? What would you report Jesus has done in your life?

I tend to look for big things that Jesus has done in my life, but not everything has to be a big thing. Most recently, I was driving home from the Bay area with the kids, by myself. It was late and the kids were asleep in the back seat. My gas gauge needle was getting lower, but according to the estimated distance left, I could make it home. The truth is, I was very nervous about stopping to get gas in an unknown town, late at night, with two sleeping kids. So, I kept on trucking, I watched the gauge go down and I was getting quite nervous about making it home. So, I started praying, asking our Lord to watch over us, to get us home. I turned on my favorite Christian rock songs and prayed and prayed. I made it to the gas station in my hometown, safe and sound! This wasn't really a big thing that happened, it was very small thing, but it was God answering my prayers. I would say that this is just one of the things that Jesus has done in my life. I am thankful.

What would you report that Jesus has done in your life?