Faithful Friday: Cookies & Lemonade

Though there is still one night left of VBS, being that it's Friday, this had to be the theme of today's post;  because Bible School has been all I've eaten, slept and breathed for the past few weeks!

And although it has required months of planning, dozens of texts and phone calls, collecting gads of cardboard boxes, late nights of decorating, batch cooking for a week, lots and lots of changing of plans, and juggling a schedule crazier than normal, it has been worth every  chaotic  moment.

It's been a good tired.

For in between the trying moments,

there have been laughs...


- from watching my son attempt to sit in a "dress" (or rather royal smock) as King David, to the pastor's surprised face at the "trashing" of the sanctuary when the walls of Jerusalem came down, to trying to keep balloons under a sheet AND arrange them to look like a body in record time.

there have been spiritual lifts...

 - from the many sweet/sticky/sweaty hugs of little kids, excited to hear another story from the Bible, to watching growth within my team as they stretched themselves, sometimes going outside their comfort zones, to bring those stories alive and transport the children back in time, to soft prayers from little ones, heads bowed.

there have been tears...



 - from physically hammering the nails in the cross and feeling the sacrifice of my saviour, to later holding the weight of that cross as children pushed paper hands onto those nails symbolizing the sin He took.  With each puncture of the paper, I reflected on the many sins Jesus took for each of us and what a gift salvation is.



there has been JOY...
- from hearing of children coming forward and being saved - Hallelujah!  to dancing in celebration at the rebuilding of the wall and learning that He is Risen!  to knowing we've made an eternal difference this week through three little words...VBS.

But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Luke 18:16

Upward and Onward

Last night was Noah's final Upward practice and Saturday will be the last game of the season.  It's always a little sad to see an end to something we love to do as a family.

While my gas tank will appreciate not having to drive to Owensboro two additional days each week, there are so many things about Upward I'm going to miss.

If you didn't catch my post last November, you can read it here from the beginning and what this program means to us.

For the rest of you, I'll carry on.

Every Monday night for the past several months Noah and I have made the trip for practice.  It has given us at least a four hour block of time to be together each week and above all that has been a joyful blessing.  We've had great conversations on our commute, laughs, and inside jokes along the way.  I've also enjoyed watching him grow as a player under the leadership of his coach. 

Last night, I treated Noah to a sushi date prior to his practice, to celebrate the end of a season.  We both shared a first, eating at the sushi bar, and it was such fun watching Noah watch the chef make our meal.

Eavesdropping on their prayer circle each week at practice has also been an encouragement to my soul.  To see Noah growing as a Christian and building on his faith is probably one of the proudest mom moments I can have.  I've watched him willingly and openly share prayer concerns and offer to lead the group in prayer several times this season.  I have no doubt this also falls on the leadership of our church home, as the strong examples he has there for role models.

At the end the coach asked each of them to share two things they learned - one athletically and one spiritually from Upward this year.  Noah's warmed my heart.  He said the one thing he took away from their devotions was to always follow God's path, not the world's, for his life.  How I prayerfully wish he holds on to that throughout his teenage years.

May he always look Upward to God to direct his life.

One. Blessed. Day

Ever had one of those days that was just filled with greatness from start to finish? 
Yesterday was such a day!

I guess my body was in anticipation for it all weekend, as I slept little and busied myself getting the house ready for family.  Nothing makes me happier than cooking and hosting a get-together for those I love. 

The icing on this cupcake of a day was the reason we were gathering.

My niece Tina, who has been with us a little over a year now, was baptized this morning.  We are so proud of her decision and were thrilled to celebrate it with family.  In fact, we took up two rows in church today, having four generations snuggled together in worship.  There just isn't much better of a feeling than having both your church and biological family joined in the same room.

 

Tina can be somewhat shy and is nervous in front of crowds, but her sweet smile was contagious as she cautiously stepped into the waters.  Her posts on Facebook summed up her feelings before and after her dunk.  Before church she wrote, "This girl is getting baptized today and she is excited!!!" and I noticed practically the moment after she posted, "That was AMAZING!!" 

 ...Hope she didn't take her phone in the baptism with her. 

Because EHBC is just so cool, they even taped it.  You can see it on the YouTube link below. 

I never grow tired of seeing someone baptized.  Goosebumps!

The family joined us at our house afterwards for a smorgasboard of soup and snacks. We spent the afternoon eating, laughing, napping, listening to Christmas songs, laughing, eating and rejoicing. I can only imagine the excitement in Heaven, as I'm sure Austin was at the center of an eternal celebration up there too.

Ignore the napping.  They had fun too!  lol

Faithful Friday: Joyfully Serving

I'm up to my eyeballs in cardboard boxes, glow sticks, and a schedule so crazy a clown would have trouble juggling.  But I'm filled with JOY.

VBS starts next week at our church, and for the first time in many years, I get to help!  Not just drop off my boy (who is now too old to drop off -sigh) but really, truly help...and teach!  You can do a happy little search on this blog and read more about my love for VBS that started as a young child.  The memories I have of Bible School are of my own childhood, at my Grandpa's church, and of watching my two boys grow in their faith. 

Not only do I get the joy of volunteering this year, but so do Tim, Noah and Tina.  VBS is a family affair this year.  And I couldn't be happier.  Tim, Mr. Fireman, is all safety and traffic.  Noah, Mr. Athletic, is all Recreation.  And Tina, Miss Artsy, is on decorations and assembly.  Me, lover of all things drama, is part of Bible Adventures, where the kids will actually see the stories come to life each day.  So. Much. Fun!

I love how God is using each of us and our unique talents and abilities for His glory!  I'm excited and honored to serve him in this way.  Next week's posts will surely include some stories from VBS and the joy I already know it will bring.

As I was drawing stones onto those large boxes last night, which will soon be transformed into the town of Capernaum, I reflected on how this all began.  On our first meeting with my other "Bible Adventures" ladies, one of them asked if we could start with a scripture.  The one she chose is below.  It immediately spoke to me because it is one of many that contain the word JOY, but it is a beautiful Psalm regardless.

It is a scripture that has remained on my heart as I've prepared for next week and I pray that it stays - in the midst of the chaos of ......the cramming session we will have this weekend to prepare, remembering my lines, rushing home from work to scoop up the family each night and get to church on time, late nights to re-decorate the room for another adventure, and the exhaustion I'm sure that will come.  I hope I don't get caught up in the busyness of it and savor the joy.  I pray I remember that the only "to do" list I should truly focus on for VBS is to help bring as many children to him as possible.  Amen!

A Psalm of Thanksgiving.

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!

Serve the Lord with gladness;

Come before His presence with singing.

Know that the Lord, He is God;

It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;[a]

We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,

And into His courts with praise.

Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

For the Lord is good;

His mercy is everlasting,

And His truth endures to all generations.

Psalm 100

 

***Join us at EHBC VBS next week...July 23-27, 5:45-8:30 pm. If u need a ride call 298-3400. Ages up to 6th grade.  Hope to see you there!

Ultimate Sleepover

This is what happens after a 64 hour, weekend retreat.

full of teens...

loud music...

late nights....

rowdy boys....

and giggly girls.

Sound wild and crazy? 

Think a parent would be able to sleep soundly,

after sending their kids away?

I slept like a baby.

My mind was at ease because I knew they were in good hands.

......Because their weekend was filled with community service,

like free car washes

and hugging puppies at the shelter...

and packed with

Bible Study....

prayer groups...

and worship.

D-Now impacted teens in a positive,

uplifting, soul-saving weekend.

I'm so thankful to our new church home for

partnering and providing such a wonderful event.

And I'm blessed that our kiddos were a part of it.

They haven't stopped talking about the weekend.

Well, unless of course, they were asleep!

Faithful Friday: Train up a Child

Among my sweetest memories as a Mom are the moments I've spent sharing God with my children.  From teaching them their first prayer, to reading Bible stories, to toting them Sunday school, those snapshots remain vivid in my head as well as my heart.  Of course the most precious of all being the times in which they came forward in church and took their first steps as Christians.  Watching my boys get baptized and knowing the decisions they each prayerfully made, will always be my proudest and most joyful moments as a mom.

We raise our children with so many hopes and dreams.  We train them to be good people, giving them building blocks for what they may face in life.  We teach them right from wrong, discipline when behavior deems necessary, and say constant prayers for God's hands to guide them. 

In the end, we can only "teach" so much.  As they mature, more and more those decisions and daily life choices are all on them.  We continue to hope that our foundation helps them along the way, as well as the examples we show in our own lives.  With teenagers I find it is gentle prodding, soft suggestions, and even finding the fun in faith that keep our kids on the right path. 

As soon as Noah handed me his Kindle (to beat a level in angry birds), I used the opportunity to find and download some books and apps I thought he'd enjoy.  Of course, the first book I got for him was the Bible.  It pleased me to see him use it at church a couple of Sundays ago.  However, when we were discussing scriptures later and he asked my favorite, I realized the version he had was much older.

I'd downloaded an "Old English" version which didn't really put the Bible in words he would easily understand.  On the search for a better option, I shared with him the app I use on my own phone.  With his Kindle, it allows him to pick from several translations and has some very useful additions.  He was excited to see that it would read to him with a click of his pen, that he could highlight favorite scriptures and even take notes.  I was thrilled to see him interacting with the best book he'll ever read.

This app also included a daily devotion, written especially for teens.  It even allows for sharing on social networks like Facebook.  Yet another proud moment happened the night he read his first devotion and eagerly clicked to share it with his friends.  He then set an alarm so that each night his Kindle would remind him to read.  And so far, he has every night.  I know because a happy little message on Facebook appears as he shares it again with his friends.

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

 - Proverbs 22:6

Don't Wait

I was blessed to have a wonderful grandfather in my life, who was not only a role model for me, but a continued source of inspiration and example of faith.  Grandpa Henry was a preacher, and I believe it was because of those many sermons I listened to as a child that I became a Christian at a young age. 

Grandpa never pressured me but I know that it was through him that I found God.  I still remember the day I decided to come forward and the overwhelming joy on his face, as he held out his arms welcoming me in front of the pulpit.  It's very much the same picture I imagine of Jesus, each time a new believer asks him into their heart.

Salvation has been heavy on my heart today, as I've been in prayer for a dear friend who is losing her grandfather.  As heartbreaking as it is to lose a grandparent, she is faced with the devastation of knowing he is not saved.  There are family members and friends in this same shape and I know what a sadness I feel every time I picture Heaven without them there.

What I find tragic though is to think of a life lived without Christ.  I absolutely cannot imagine my life without Him in it.  My faith has carried me through my entire life and has been the only thing to hold me together some days, especially the past few years.  I'm ever-grateful for my Grandpa's hand in leading me to a Christian life as a child - and I can't wait to hug and thank him in Heaven someday.

I know that helping my boys accept Jesus in their hearts were the two proudest and most joyful moments as a mother.  Watching my boys be baptized, and knowing that they fully understood and wanted a life with God, were the two best days of my life.  And this knowledge of where Austin is now brings a continued source of comfort to my grieving heart.

I could never pass up this opportunity to share with you the steps to salvation, should anyone reading this not know.  It's never too late to open your heart, even if you didn't have that opportunity as a child.  Even if you've turned away from it in the past.  Even if you feel that you don't deserve that type of unconditional love and forgiveness.  The wonderful part is that you can find salvation at any moment....but the important part is not to wait until the end.  Don't live another day without God.  There is no comparison to a life without versus a life with Him.

You don't have to say a special prayer.  You don't even need a Bible, if you don't have one.  Just follow these steps.  Admit you've sinned.  Promise to turn away from sin and change.  Believe that Jesus died for you.  And ask Jesus into your heart, to lead and guide you in your life.

Romans 10:13    "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”