Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Reformed

Halloween, the eve of All Saints Day always seems to overshadow that today is also Reformation Day.

Martin Luther, with his trusty hammer and nails, did more than nail a paper to a door.  

I wonder what he'd say today about the state of the church?

Would he tweet it?

Facebook?

Maybe he'd make a youtube vid that would go viral?

I have a feeling that he'd say we missed the point....

We've weighed ourselves down with the burdens of our masochistic rules and regulations....denominationalized every aspect of faith to try and make ourselves the superior church (notice superior, not righteous).

We kneel, we give, we punch our cards for perfect attendance, we pray (when we pass a cop on the highway).  I'm not even talking about other religions who aim to be good enough, pray certain times of the day....all trying to pave their way...

When is it enough?

Did we forget that we can't earn grace?

News Flash, you'll never be good enough!

It came to me this afternoon:   we struggle and toil to make ourselves good enough to be called His children....when all along, He's been here...waiting..arms wide open...calling us home!

Isaiah 65, The Message 

I kept saying, 'I'm here, I'm right here'
to a nation that ignored me.
I reached out day after day 
to a people who turned their backs on me,
People who make wrong turns,
who insist on doing things their own way.
They get on my nerves,
are rude to my face day after day,
Make up their own kitchen religion,
a potluck religious stew.

I know that this isn't the same context, but if the shoe fits....

It isn't about the numbers or the programs.

It isn't about the brass plaques memorializing every possible thing.

It's about Love!

God's absolute, chain breaking, earth shattering, paradigm shifting Love.

Not for the righteous....but for us all while we were still caught up in our sin.

What does he want in return?  What need does God have that he cannot fill himself?

Nothing.

God wants nothing in return for this gift of grace other than for us to love him in return.   

To love him with a reckless abandon.   

To love him with everything we have...every fiber of our being, with all of our hearts and minds.

It's all about Love, plain and simple....




Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Peace Out

Peace...

Peace that surpasses all understanding....aka...crazy peace...

Peace has not been the word of the day at our house lately. 

The whole housing deal--I am not an anxious person, but so much rides on this decision...

Where are we called?

To whom are we called to?

Is it possible to serve this amazing purpose and not destroy our kids in the process?

Do we shoot for the ubber neighborhoods?  We really don't fit that model...

Reclamation district?  Urban renewal...sure, it would be cool...but do we fit there either?

I have looked at so many houses....some were quite promising...but none gave me peace.

During my prayer time last week I read about Jesus sending out his disciples.  He told them that when they stopped at a house, let your peace come upon it.  (The Amplified version described it as Freedom from Distress)   If your peace returns to you then move on to the next house.

Imagine it like a peace sonar.   Pinging peace as you go---if it returns, you're not free from distress...move on.

Ping

Ping

Ping

Friday night I was up until 4 a.m. researching a neighborhood.   4 a.m.   Peace?  Duh, go to bed Shelly.

It is really nerve wracking searching for a home so far away.   

(suck it up buttercup, people do it all the time...in far worse situations!)

Saturday, our friends emailed about a house they saw listed locally.  Called and talked to the owner.  

Peace.

Our friends drove by and took pictures.

Peace.

The neighborhood is not "trendy", it's good....steady....evidence of kids in neighboring houses.  Sunday our friends went through the house with the landlord.

Peace.

My perfect ideal number of bedrooms, plus more.

Peace.

God is good.  So we sign on to rent a house that we've never stepped foot in.

Peace.

No panic, no searching crime rates/ school ratings/ google maps-ing the area.

Peace.

Peace that goes beyond the logical.

We are going to be ok.   God does have a plan and he will take care of our needs--He knows the desires of our hearts.  We just have to wait and trust. He is a Good Daddy, one who delights in taking care of his children!

Peace.

It is not up to us.  It is not about us.  It is all about HIM!

Peace.

(and now that I am all peaced out, I reeeeeealllllly need to go pack up some more stuff!)

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Just Dropping By

This poor neglected blog...almost as neglected as my kids lol!

It's a rainy, dreary day here in the midwest.  It's COLD today.  My heart needs desert temps...and sunshine!  Lots and Lots of sunshine!

We're working on finding a house.  So far ehhh.  Found one that was amazing, but God has ways of working things out..at the last minute, the owner decided to try and sell it instead of rent.  Oh well, nothing lost and there will be other houses.  God doesn't shut a door without another in mind.  

Just have to trust.

Hi, my name is Shelly and I have trust issues...

I was reading in Mark yesterday.  (I find myself being anxious the closer we get to moving..not that I'm not excited about this..it's just out of my comfort zone, but I'd rather be out of my box and in the will of God than comfy and mediocre.)

So anyway, Mark...the first verse that I jumped out and smacked me between the eyes was Mark 5:36---Do Not Be Afraid, Just Believe.   Just Believe..stop thinking with your "what if's" and your perceived truth, Just Believe that God is who he says that he is and his promises are true.

Later on in Mark, Jesus gets annoyed with his disciples (well, at least in my head he sounds annoyed..)   After seeing him do 2 miracles with loaves of bread, the disciples were still worried that on their boat trip they'd run out.   Seriously, he fed thousands of people with 5 loaves of bread and had baskets and baskets of leftovers....

Jesus asks them--Why are you still worried about bread?  Do you still not understand?  How many baskets were leftover when I fed 5,000? 

 (at this point, I'm picturing the disciples looking a lot like my kids when I get after them..heads down, hands in pockets, kicking at the dirt...)   12 baskets...

And how many were leftover when I fed the 4,000?  Do you still not get it?

 ....this is the same Jesus who just walked out on water..who calmed the wind!  

Yet still, they are worried about taking care of their day to day basic needs.

They were still trying to grab hold and control things.   

Control

Such stumbling block for human nature.  For my nature.  I like to be in control.  I like to know all of my options and every step of the plan...to read and reread the instructions just in case I miss a bolt.   

Control and Trust can never be besties.

Control has to be cut off at the knees in order for Trust to grow.

Lord- I believe that you are the God of the miraculous and the ordinary.  You spin the planets in orbit and take care of the sparrow and the flowers of the field, how much more will you take care of your children.  Your ways are perfect, your vision for my life cannot be comprehended...even when I can't see, I trust in your plan.  And when I am filled with anxiety because things aren't working as I think they should, I will praise you for protecting me from things that I can not see just yet!

Monday, October 8, 2012

Oh My..Not Nine!

This little guy somehow turned 9 today....
 He believes that he can do anything....Olympic swimmer-no problem.....Major Rockstar-why not...Pro Skateboarder-you betchya!
 Fearless...
 Somedays, a 'tude the size of Texas...
But no matter what, we've got ourselves one awesome little guys here!

Happy Birthday Riley--may your year be filled with the new adventures, many successes, and just enough trouble to make it interesting ;)

Love you!!!