Proud

I am so proud of the people who are part of our church plant!  I'm excited for the recent growth we are experiencing, too, but nothing warms my heart like the stories I have been hearing lately. 

We just finished-up a sermon series called The Amazing Race. It was all about being missional and gave strong incentive to go out and try it. Very successful!  There are a lot of stories to share from that experience, and I will someday get to many of them, but today is about the heart of one of our own- totally outside any call from the church- simply the tug of Christ on her heart. 

This Family member is raising her grandchild. We have an ever-increasing number of these kinds of families in our community.  I'm sure they are in yours too!  Lisa (name changed) works full-time and supports both her daughter and granddaughter, helps her invalid brother, and cares for her own mother. Time and money are in short supply, but there is overflowing love in her heart. 

Last Sunday Lisa brought her grandchild and some neighborhood girls to church. When they went home, she had the opportunity to meet one of the moms and visit with her. This young mom mentioned that she has been wanting to send her daughter to church and was glad she had liked worshipping with us. She was open to sending her regularly. 

Lisa went on to invite the young mom to come to church herself, but the young mom declined, stating that she had two young boys at home with autism.

Lisa let the mom know that they would be welcome, that we have people trained to work with children with special needs, but did not push. 

Then she came to me. 

She wasn't about to let this go. She came to me for ammunition and backup. She asked me (children's pastor) to visit the home with her. She wants to make this young mom feel safe to bring the kids to church- to show her God's love in action!

Lack of info makes it difficult to know what direction this will take. Lisa believes these boys to be toddlers or young preschoolers, and my connections in the school district tell me they are not receiving care there yet, but there is a team of trained people waiting to welcome this family into the fold 

The other part of Lisa's heart is that she wants to come beside this young mom and help her with housework. The little girl she had taken to church told her, as all children are wont to do, that their house stinks. Lisa is certain that it is because of the strain of her family life and that all she needs is some support. She is ready to mobilize a team to clean and care for this lady..

I am so proud of my friend- how open she is to hear God's calling and how eager she is to follow. I pray constantly that more and more of us who gather as Christians would allow God to speak to us like that- and that we would have the strength, love, and compassion to carry it out to completion!

I can't wait to watch and see how God works in this scenario. I have been able to see God begin to work in lives over the past decade and the stories are always amazing. This one promises to be just as exciting!

What a Wonderful World This Would Be!

It's late on Sunday night/ Monday morning.  I'm working on a project for Bethany's teacher for this week - it's a tough week in most classrooms.  Only a few days left - kids are all excited and worked-up for Christmas - parents are stressed, which puts the kids even more on edge....  so I am cutting and cutting and cutting to help out and do my share.

The other day on Facebook I had a friend make a comment about how busy my schedule is - how there is always something I am working on or responsible for...  That used to be very true, but things are a little slower these days - I'm not working in the schools 40 hours a week on top of everything else like I used to do!  :)  But we still stay pretty busy around here - it's what we do - it's how God made us.

While I am working in the house, whether it is on the computer or cutting paper sacks, I like to have videos playing.  Mostly they are background noise - I pick videos I have seen before and use them more like a book on tape or an old-time radio show and listen more than watch.  I am currently into a series called 'Lie to Me'.  (Thanks, Corey....I love it!)  Tonight, while I was watching, the main character said, "You have to realize that your talent doesn't belong to you anymore!!!"  Wow.  I felt as if I had just been blown over - I really believe the Holy Spirit just 'WHOOSHED' right into me to make a point:

MY TALENTS DO NOT BELONG TO ME

I was created by God and given talents to use.  But these talents, these gifts, are not mine - they are God's gifts and talents.  He is just letting me use them..... FOR HIM!

I'm crafty.  I love to make and create.  How often do I use this talent to help someone find their way  back to God.

I tend to be insightful.  I can often 'tell' what a person is thinking or feeling even if their words are the opposite.  How often do I use this gift to help someone find their way back to God?

I have a lot of training for working with children with disabilities.  I have a lot of training for working with parents.  How often do I use this training to help someone find their way back to God?

Isn't that what we are supposed to be doing with the gifts and talents and opportunities God gives us?  We were created by God - we were all once with Him.  Finding our way back to Him is the most precious thing that can happen in our lives.  Are we sharing that goal, that journey, with those around us?  Are we helping others find THEIR way back to God?

I do a little - I like to help out at school because I am drawn to kids - because I have a better chance of finding out ways I can use my gifts and talents to help - because I can cheer and encourage the teachers and staff through small gifts and smiles.

What would it look like if we all used our gifts and talents this way?  What if I kept that goal at the FRONT of my thoughts instead of the back of my mind?  The line of a song is running through my head.... "What a wonderful world this would be...."

Walk That Someone Back to God

Last night during Youth Group I got to do a heartwarming thing - I got to help a young autistic man join the youth group and take the first step to overcoming some of his fears.

It started out in the van.  He didn't want to come in.  The other kids are big!  It was a new situation.  I believe there has also been another experience with a youth group that didn't go very well, so we had that to overcome, too.

I used my new iPhone apps to reward him for entering the building.  He was willing to enter if he could play those games.  We sat in chairs near the door and played for a while.  We stood in the doorway to Youth Group and played a little while.

Now he wanted to do something on one of the apps that meant another level - I used it to get him inside the room, then again, used another level to get him to sit with the group.

Now, this whole time he is not paying ANY attention to what is going on around him.  He is totally and absolutely engrossed in the games, and avoiding the group in his own way.  Is this how I want it to be each week, of course not!  Next week the play is to enter the building with no tears or fighting so that he can play on my phone.  The next week we will make a new challenge to work for.  Each week will bring him closer and closer to interaction, then we will work on social skills within the group.

You may think that this is a lot of work to go through for a kid.  It is.  But it is exactly what each of us should be doing for those around us every day!  This guy I am working with has an identified condition that causes his resistance, but the people you work with and shop with and live near have their resistances too!  Why don't they come into a church?

I visited with a waitress while on her break who said her husband is extremely bright and a strong believer, but won't step foot in a church - why? - judgment.  He is highly tattooed and doesn't want to be judged.  He has been judged.  He has reason for his resistance.  What do we do to reach this man?

Church-goers have been labeled many things by those who are resistant - hypocritical - judgmental - weak - fools - fanatics - the list goes on.  How do we reach these people?  How do we get them to make the first step of getting through the front door without losing them the same week through the back door?

Relationship

Time

Hard Work

Just like the work I did with my young friend last night, we all need to work to reach those in our area of influence!  Build relationships with the unsaved!  Spend time with them doing what they like (to a limit, of course!)  Get to know them.  Find out what they like and dislike.  Get to know their idiosyncrasies and their strengths.  I had spent time with my friend and knew a little bit about him.  I knew what some of his like and dislikes were and where he is strong and some of what will make him more uneasy.  I used these things while I worked with him.

Time - spend time not only with them, but in preparing and planning.  I downloaded apps to help my friend.  I spoke to mom.  I arrived early so I would be there when he arrived.  I thought through a plan of attack and some alternatives to turn to.  You, too, can prepare and plan.  Use your knowledge of the person to plan an event at church that will allow him/her to interact with the local church community without stress.  Take advantage of needs - ask him/her to help with an outreach event or a service project where the skills he/she possesses can be an asset.

Hard Work - one time is not going to do it.  Once inside the door your job is not done.  Continue to walk beside and stretch your friend little by little.  Some people are touched and make large gains immediately upon spending time in the presence of the Holy Spirit, but most are going to sit and soak it all up a little at a time.  First get them in the door.  God will work from there as long as your relationship and time continue.  For my friend, it may take until summer to get him to a point where he is comfortable entering, interacting, and paying attention to the teaching and the other kids.  Your friend may take more time or less time - but you have to be willing to continue the hard work of prayer, relationship, and time to get the job done.

So I challenge you - pray and ask God to help you pick a person - pray - begin to cultivate a relationship - pray - and work through the resistances and walk that person back to God.  You will never be sorry for the time you spend!