I like fresh starts...everyday is a fresh start...the sun comes up and there is new hope. I thank God for each morning...for the sunrise and another day. These verses have gripped my heart...
"...Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior..." (Isaiah 43: 1b-3a)
POWERFUL...encouraging...having a hard time holding on? Are you wanting to quit...to give up?! REMEMBER THIS: "FEAR NOT, for I (the Lord) have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine." !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He has summoned us BY NAME AND WE ARE HIS! Rest in that today...I am.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Struggling with these verses
I have not been able to clearly write what I'm feeling this week...(you'll notice that I haven't posted much)...here are some verses that I am really wrestling with...
"...I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Phil 4: 12b-13)
I've said those words many times...and meant them...I believe them...but true belief is when your actions match up to what you say you believe...
"...I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Phil 4: 12b-13)
I've said those words many times...and meant them...I believe them...but true belief is when your actions match up to what you say you believe...
Monday, April 19, 2010
I get to run!
A battle has been happening at the Boucher house. For a little more than a week, Kels and I have been "discussing" my exercise plan. ("Discussing" sounds sooooo good doesn't it!) Being a good doctor like myself, I gave myself the "all clear" last week to run. It had been 6 weeks since my heart attack and it takes the heart 6 weeks to heal. SO IT WAS TIME! Kels kept telling me though..."you may be adding to much stress to your heart, you need to confirm this with the doctor!"
I have been feeling good with my "running" or actually slow jogging...BUT I figured there was wisdom in calling to confirm. (You like that don't you..."I figured"...That is a guys' way of admitting that his wife was right...) Talked to the nurse today and she said that my exercise plan sounded good!! YES! She also said she would double check that and call if she was wrong. I've decided to turn off my cell phone for rest of the day and delete all voicemail!! (Kidding!!!! No really...I'm kidding!!)
No calls yet...SO...I'm cleared to RUN! Or at least slightly jog...
I have been feeling good with my "running" or actually slow jogging...BUT I figured there was wisdom in calling to confirm. (You like that don't you..."I figured"...That is a guys' way of admitting that his wife was right...) Talked to the nurse today and she said that my exercise plan sounded good!! YES! She also said she would double check that and call if she was wrong. I've decided to turn off my cell phone for rest of the day and delete all voicemail!! (Kidding!!!! No really...I'm kidding!!)
No calls yet...SO...I'm cleared to RUN! Or at least slightly jog...
5K here I COME!
Monday Reflections
What a BLAST! Sunday was fun, exciting, HIGH ENERGY, passionate...we ended our parenting series with having children and their parents in the service together. IT WAS GREAT! We had balloons...painting...corn hole...basketball...Chloe brought in her rabbits...it was very cool. We did fun kids songs...time for quiet...a chance to SING SOME MORE (GREAT JOB MIKE AND NATE!) and then a challenge from the Word.
My favorite part of the service is when we read scripture...instead of having everyone read together we had families read together. It was fun to look around and see parents and their kids reading God's Word to each other! LOVED IT!
I talked about being thankful...we looked at Luke 17: 11-...Jesus heals 10 men with leprosy (or as I called them "leopards!" Oops!!) and only 1...ONLY 1 came back to thank him. Jesus gave these men new life, but they didn't say thank you. Our challenge is to be the most THANKFUL church in this region. That we would be known for how grateful we are. So we put that into practice and had families tell each other what they were thankful for.
It was a very awesome sight...to look over the auditorium and see people telling each other why they are thankful!
I did get confronted though...I used an illustration of filling a cup with water...that if we are not thankful people we have just a little water in our cup. BUT if we are thankful our cup will overflow...SOOOOOOO I let water overflow out of the cup and spill all over the floor!! (It really grabbed me on how far the water splashed...if we are THAT thankful...it will just POUR OUT onto other people!!) SOOOOOO...Don our cleaning guy grabbed the mop and started mopping up! IT WAS GREAT! His grandson though came up to me and said "Why did you make grandpa clean that up...YOU should have done that! It was your mess!" He was protecting his gpa! (for the record, I didn't ask him to clean it! That is just how much of a servant Don is!!)
GREAT morning!
My favorite part of the service is when we read scripture...instead of having everyone read together we had families read together. It was fun to look around and see parents and their kids reading God's Word to each other! LOVED IT!
I talked about being thankful...we looked at Luke 17: 11-...Jesus heals 10 men with leprosy (or as I called them "leopards!" Oops!!) and only 1...ONLY 1 came back to thank him. Jesus gave these men new life, but they didn't say thank you. Our challenge is to be the most THANKFUL church in this region. That we would be known for how grateful we are. So we put that into practice and had families tell each other what they were thankful for.
It was a very awesome sight...to look over the auditorium and see people telling each other why they are thankful!
I did get confronted though...I used an illustration of filling a cup with water...that if we are not thankful people we have just a little water in our cup. BUT if we are thankful our cup will overflow...SOOOOOOO I let water overflow out of the cup and spill all over the floor!! (It really grabbed me on how far the water splashed...if we are THAT thankful...it will just POUR OUT onto other people!!) SOOOOOO...Don our cleaning guy grabbed the mop and started mopping up! IT WAS GREAT! His grandson though came up to me and said "Why did you make grandpa clean that up...YOU should have done that! It was your mess!" He was protecting his gpa! (for the record, I didn't ask him to clean it! That is just how much of a servant Don is!!)
GREAT morning!
Friday, April 16, 2010
Been down this road before...
I heard today that there is a possibility that my teaching job won't exist next year. They are rearranging the Intermediate Center schedules (5th-8th grade) and it may cut me out. We'll see...This is always the interesting part to me...parents and teachers fight and fight to save programs and to not consolidate schools...but the result is eliminating teachers and staff. I have said for a long time...we complain that our taxes are too high, so they get cut...THEN we complain that our schools have to make cuts...seems to be a never-ending cycle!
As for me...been here before...If my job is cut it will be the 3rd time in 6 years of teaching in South Bend that I have been laid off. (The trouble is...when you stop teaching in the school corporation, they start your senority years IN South Bend over...so I am listed as 0 years in SB...9 other years.) Funny thing is...THIS is where I sense God wants me. SO...if he wants us in South Bend he will provide a job again. My first year I got hired 7 days before school and placed the day before school started. Then I got laid off after 12 1/2 music teacing positions were cut...That year I started to apply to other schools, but stopped the process after realizing that God wanted me here...so he would come through. He did...he just waiting until the summer was over!! THEN...I got laid off again after that year. ONLY...I ended up at one of the best schools in South Bend after that!
So does it get tiring...yes. Am I confident that God will come through...yes. Do I believe that he has a plan in this...absolutely. Would I like to know what it is today...SURE!
As for me...been here before...If my job is cut it will be the 3rd time in 6 years of teaching in South Bend that I have been laid off. (The trouble is...when you stop teaching in the school corporation, they start your senority years IN South Bend over...so I am listed as 0 years in SB...9 other years.) Funny thing is...THIS is where I sense God wants me. SO...if he wants us in South Bend he will provide a job again. My first year I got hired 7 days before school and placed the day before school started. Then I got laid off after 12 1/2 music teacing positions were cut...That year I started to apply to other schools, but stopped the process after realizing that God wanted me here...so he would come through. He did...he just waiting until the summer was over!! THEN...I got laid off again after that year. ONLY...I ended up at one of the best schools in South Bend after that!
So does it get tiring...yes. Am I confident that God will come through...yes. Do I believe that he has a plan in this...absolutely. Would I like to know what it is today...SURE!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
A day I will NEVER forget
Luke came home with Kelsey before lunch...he walked in the door and Kels said..."Tell dad...tell him what you want to do." He was acting pretty shy about whatever it was...I had no idea that in just a couple of minutes his life would be changed FOREVER!
He finally said: "I want Jesus to be my Savior. Jesus died for me so I don't have to go to hell. I want to go to heaven." Then he prayed...all on his own...for Jesus to be his Savior...he prayed about wanting to go to heaven and not having to go to hell...It was INCREDIBLE...Right there on our kitchen floor...my son went from darkness to light...he walked into ETERNAL SALVATION. The angels in heaven got to throw a party for MY SON!!! MY SON! YES! YES! YES!
He called both sets of grandparents...He kept telling them..."I prayed about Jesus dieing on the cross for us so we don't have to go to hell. So we get to go to heaven."
BUT HE WASN'T DONE!!!! He said "Dad...I want to go build." (which means we grab some scrap wood...some nails...and put random pieces together) ONLY THIS TIME he said..."Dad...Let's make a cross!" ARE YOU KIDDING ME! He designed it himself...I didn't lay out one piece...I would start the nails and he would use the "big hammer" and finish.
THIS is a day I will NEVER forget!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
My personal Biggest Loser Moment
Since Chloe and I are sitting here watching the Biggest Loser...I thought I'd give a health update on me...6 weeks since my heart attack! And now 2 days of being back to Full-time...
-I was TIRED after school yesterday!
-BUT...I bounced back in the afternoon and it felt great.
(It was sooooooo good to see my students and staff members!)
-Walked 2 miles yesterday
-Walked 56.31 miles since my heart attack. (not that I'm counting! ;)
-Went for a record 2.89 miles today!!
-Walked 836 1/2 minutes since my heart attack
-WHICH is about 14 HOURS of walking
-Jogged 15 minutes of my 35 minute exercise today
-Got up at 5:40 a.m. yesterday and 5:50 a.m. today
-THERE IS NO POSSIBLE WAY that I could have gotten up that early before my heart attack
-I used to wake up in the morning and feel like something was pushing me down into the bed...I remember praying at night "God PLEASE get me motivated to get up earlier in the morning." Then morning would come and I'd couldn't do it...
NOW I realized that was issues with my heart...
-Started coaching Jaden's team last night...love watching that boy play!
-Today was GREAT...I honestly can't believe how good I feel tonight
-Reminding myself OFTEN of these words:
Not something I do very well...but working hard to do it now!!
AND since it is the BIGGEST LOSER here are my stats for 2010:
Starting Weight in January: 203
Weight at Heart Attack: 186
Weight TODAY: 180!!
23 lbs of weight loss
11.33% of my original body weight
Only 3-5 lbs. more and I'll get to my target!
-I was TIRED after school yesterday!
-BUT...I bounced back in the afternoon and it felt great.
(It was sooooooo good to see my students and staff members!)
-Walked 2 miles yesterday
-Walked 56.31 miles since my heart attack. (not that I'm counting! ;)
-Went for a record 2.89 miles today!!
-Walked 836 1/2 minutes since my heart attack
-WHICH is about 14 HOURS of walking
-Jogged 15 minutes of my 35 minute exercise today
-Got up at 5:40 a.m. yesterday and 5:50 a.m. today
-THERE IS NO POSSIBLE WAY that I could have gotten up that early before my heart attack
-I used to wake up in the morning and feel like something was pushing me down into the bed...I remember praying at night "God PLEASE get me motivated to get up earlier in the morning." Then morning would come and I'd couldn't do it...
NOW I realized that was issues with my heart...
-Started coaching Jaden's team last night...love watching that boy play!
-Today was GREAT...I honestly can't believe how good I feel tonight
-Reminding myself OFTEN of these words:
"PACE YOURSELF BOUCHER!"
Not something I do very well...but working hard to do it now!!
AND since it is the BIGGEST LOSER here are my stats for 2010:
Starting Weight in January: 203
Weight at Heart Attack: 186
Weight TODAY: 180!!
23 lbs of weight loss
11.33% of my original body weight
Only 3-5 lbs. more and I'll get to my target!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Very good.
The service this morning was planned out...Colin and I had talked earlier in the week...went through the direction we sensed God was taking us...several times while we talked we turned in different directions...we didn't settle for the first "yes" we kept working to make it better. So I felt VERY confident and excited about this Sunday. Looked forward to seeing God move...
THEN...the service began and it was AMAZING! Colin led better than he EVER has...God spoke through him...he shared his heart...Pastor Jim and his family came...it was GREAT to see them too...I hadn't seen Jim for over a month with my health stuff. (BTW...when you asked Jim to come up during announcements and say something BE READY! He turned the questions back on me and asked some GOOD ONES!!)
THEN the message started...THERE I SAT...right in the front like I usually do...READY for the message...CONFIDENT of how the message was going to end...Confident of how we were going to close the service.
THEN Jim started speaking...His first point grabbed me..."Help build a relationship rich life instead of an experience rich life." The Spirit was really prodding my heart..."Tim if the people here don't know me, they will NEVER give their children a relationship rich life." I felt deep conviction that we had to change the end of the service...We don't change things too often, but when the Spirit is prompting and we are prayed up and prepared up...you gotta change! So I prayed..."God, I'll my part, please do yours." (more on that prayer in another post someday!)
THEN...at the end of the service I went up and simply asked people to keep their eyes closed and gave people the opportunity to give their life to Jesus...to establish the MOST IMPORTANT relationship they could ever have...at least 4 people prayed! It was AMAZING...it wasn't the plan to give people the opportunity to come to Jesus, BUT it was God's plan!
I've said for a long time...seek God's heart and PLAN like crazy...AND if you sense the Spirit telling you to change the plan...DO IT! I'm so glad that we did...
THEN...the service began and it was AMAZING! Colin led better than he EVER has...God spoke through him...he shared his heart...Pastor Jim and his family came...it was GREAT to see them too...I hadn't seen Jim for over a month with my health stuff. (BTW...when you asked Jim to come up during announcements and say something BE READY! He turned the questions back on me and asked some GOOD ONES!!)
THEN the message started...THERE I SAT...right in the front like I usually do...READY for the message...CONFIDENT of how the message was going to end...Confident of how we were going to close the service.
THEN Jim started speaking...His first point grabbed me..."Help build a relationship rich life instead of an experience rich life." The Spirit was really prodding my heart..."Tim if the people here don't know me, they will NEVER give their children a relationship rich life." I felt deep conviction that we had to change the end of the service...We don't change things too often, but when the Spirit is prompting and we are prayed up and prepared up...you gotta change! So I prayed..."God, I'll my part, please do yours." (more on that prayer in another post someday!)
THEN...at the end of the service I went up and simply asked people to keep their eyes closed and gave people the opportunity to give their life to Jesus...to establish the MOST IMPORTANT relationship they could ever have...at least 4 people prayed! It was AMAZING...it wasn't the plan to give people the opportunity to come to Jesus, BUT it was God's plan!
I've said for a long time...seek God's heart and PLAN like crazy...AND if you sense the Spirit telling you to change the plan...DO IT! I'm so glad that we did...
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Coulda...Shoulda...Woulda
WHOA...reading in 1Samuel 13 today...Samuel the prophet has come to challenge King Saul. (He was king of Israel.) Saul hadn't been seeking what God wanted from him...he was making decisions and plans and not consulting with God. In verse 13-14 Samuel says something that convicted me...he was speaking to Saul...
"You acted foolishly," Samuel said. You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now you're kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people..."
Did you catch the result of Saul not seeking God? Not following what God wanted? HE WOULD LOSE HIS KINGDOM! And more than that...God WOULD HAVE established Saul's kingdom "FOR ALL TIME!"
Do you get it? When we disobey God...when we go our own path...when we ignore HIS truth and direction...we will lose things that are important to us AND we miss out of HIS blessing! WHOA...these verses DRIVE ME TO MY KNEES to better understand what GOD wants with me and HIS church and to pray for the courage to take the faith steps to see it through!
Back to it...
Monday is the big day...I will be going back to teaching...Full time work! Teaching...pastoring and I'm taking a couple of classes to get my teaching certification back. I'm feeling the best that I've felt...I walked over 13 miles this week!! My body is feeling better...getting stronger. I am looking forward to seeing my students...it's been over 5 weeks since I've seen them. And yes, I have A LOT of questions...We'll see how it goes!!
This week has been good...good to be back...connecting with people...continuing our plans for the future. I look forward to seeing what God is going to do through our church in the next months...years...LIVING the church is a marathon not a sprint! We don't "arrive" until we die and meet him face to face. There are ALWAYS people to love...people to share Jesus with...people who are hurting...ways that we can be growing. There is a deep longing in me...a longing for more of what HE wants...
This week has been good...good to be back...connecting with people...continuing our plans for the future. I look forward to seeing what God is going to do through our church in the next months...years...LIVING the church is a marathon not a sprint! We don't "arrive" until we die and meet him face to face. There are ALWAYS people to love...people to share Jesus with...people who are hurting...ways that we can be growing. There is a deep longing in me...a longing for more of what HE wants...
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