God's Grace

Grace...undeserved favor...for so many people that word is just tough...one group is unwilling to allow God to give them grace...they feel that they don't deserve it...the believe that they shouldn't receive grace and that they must do something to earn it.

Then another group of people have a hard time giving grace...they sure want it for themselves, but they do not give it to other people. They hold on to bitterness and anger...frustration...pain...they just won't let it go...all the while hurting themselves more than they are anyone else.

I am proud to have been involved in a church that HEAPS ON GRACE! A lot of people say "we should show grace" but when someone comes in...someone struggling...they receive judgment instead of grace. I have learned a lot over the past 5 years that I have been on staff at Grace...none bigger than releasing God's undeserved favor on people...And the truth is...we all are going to need some grace from someone someday!

The Journey

We said that last week would be our only funeral service...that we were not going to stay "down" even though is it tough and emotional right now. Everyone is at a different place in their journey...everyone is processing things differently. The neat thing is watching the people of God come together and encourage each other.

We gave everyone the calendar for the month today...told them of the process we are going through as we close...AND I told them how much it speaks to their character that they came back this week...it says a lot about the people there today...that they want to finish well.

I preached on "Attitude" this morning...and we looked at the life of Joseph...Joseph was given a dream by God...a very clear dream that his brothers and parents would bow to him and his leadership. Joseph HAD to have been VERY EXCITED about his dream...I imagine that he had picture of what that might be like and how cool it would be to get to that point. I compared that to our dream of planting a sustainable church is South Bend...one that would passionately pursue the heart of God...one that would love people to Jesus...one that would be IN the community...and that has been an exciting vision that God has given us.

HERE IS THE TRICKY PART...look what happened to Joseph...think of his journey...his brothers want to KILL HIM...and they instead choose to sell him off! (Which was a blessing when you think about it...Joseph was probably devastated when his brothers sold him...but his life was actually saved in that moment!) Then he worked his way into running a leader of Egypt's home...only to have that taken from him by the owners lying wife...THEN he goes to jail...works his way up to being in charge of things...helps out a guy in jail...only to have that guy FORGET ABOUT HIM...Think of what Joseph must have been feeling...how far away did his dream have to feel at that point.

HERE IS THE THING...Even in the darkness...even in the hopelessness that one day his dream would happen...EVEN THEN...Joseph did the right thing over and over...he trusted God...he lived his life with integrity. Who would have blamed Joseph for having an affair with the leaders wife? Really? Didn't he "deserve" some "happiness?" BUT...Joseph knew better...he knew that he needed to do right by GOD...not by his own personal feelings ...

Then there was breakthrough...The guy finally remembered Joseph and the LEADER OF THE COUNTRY put Joseph in charge...in charge of everything...THEN...his brothers show up...I wonder what that moment was like for Joseph...when he saw his family again...when they finally bowed to him...finally he had his dream come true...only the journey was REALLY tough...LOTS of detours...but all of those detours led him to the place where he saved his family.

For us...the message is that God NEVER has a PLan B...he ALWAYS has us where he needs us...sadly at times this means that we experience things that don't seem to make sense...times where like Joseph we have our dreams shattered...here is the question though...someday when we are able to see more clearly...someday when we see Jesus face to face and we are able to understand more of the big picture...will we see that the pain led us to a different path...a better path for more people...that our pain was actually our and someone else's gain...to encourage more people...to see more people come to him...I'm staking my life on that truth...

Facebook at its best

I have been following a friend on Facebook whose wife has been having serious complications with her pregnancy...he has been able through FB and Twitter to update everyone on what is happening...this is truly FB at its best...the number of people that can pray and pray specifically is MULTIPLIED because of FB.

The same has been true since I posted about our church closing...I have received some GREAT encouragement from people that I am only connected to because of FB. God has used them to really uplift my life--simple words of encouragement--showing that they care. Thanking God today for FB...

Thanking God for Kids!

Some people have wondered why we would want 4 kids...WELL...with everything that is happening in our lives there is nothing more priceless than a simple smile from Sadie Lynn...Every morning Sadie gives me her priceless smile and it just makes my day...that little baby girl is just adorable...Just lights up our world...

Then today is Luke's bday--he turned 5 today...5 years ago we were at a very interesting spot in our lives...a spot where we wondered what God was up too...THEN God came through in a huge way...Luke has given us so much joy and SOOOOOOO many laughs over the past 5 years...he is SOOOOOO funny! Just love that little dude...We got him a new bike and you should have seen him riding that thing over a ramp we built last summer...HE GOT AIR!!

AND JADEN...that kid is just an overcomer...he has been in a cast now for about 3 weeks...but tonight there he was...serving our neighbor and sweeping her sidewalk while hopping on one leg! LOVE THAT HEART...making the most of your circumstances!

Chloe...............words cannot express what she has meant to Kelsey and me over the past weeks. With Jaden hurt she has had a lot more responsibility and she is rising to the occasion. She is turning into such a young lady of God...proud of her...

In the midst of everything else...these 4 amazing people...the 4 that God has given us have provided so much encouragement. I am soooooo grateful for each of my little ones!

The Ending of a HUGE part of our lives...

Last Tuesday the leaders of our church decided that it was time to close our campus. We had set out benchmarks for 2011...goals that if we were close to reaching them we would continue to move forward. Our attendance had grown this year, but in the past month we have found out that several families will be moving away-AND the big one is that we are not a self-sustaining church...honestly we are not close-we have A LOT of young families and we just have not been able to get over the financial hump...

This has been VERY HARD for a lot of people...we have a group that really loves each other...our Savior...and serving our community--they enjoy getting their hands dirty. I have been praying hard that people will stay strong in their faith through this time...that they will find and connect with a church that loves Jesus and JUMPS into the community...

Personally...I haven't EVER cried this much in a week...I care DEEPLY for the people here...for this church...our family has poured their lives into the work here and it has been very rewarding. I have not had a plan B...never wanted to do anything else with my life...I have a sense of peace about the decision...YET...I feel sick about it...years and YEARS of investing my life...Can't really put this into words real well...

Here is what I know...I know that God loves me and this group more than we can even possibly express...I know that our God is faithful-that even though we didn't have a plan B-he already knows what will happen...I know that he wants us to be real-to share our hurt, anger, joys with him...(Our last Sunday will be a CELEBRATION of what he has done here!) And I know...that the influence of Grace Community Church South Bend/Mishawaka will be far reaching. I am deeply sad by this AND I am confident that God will continue HIS WORK through HIS people. Lots of feelings and emotions...Thank YOU LORD that I know you!

Do the right thing because it is the right thing

I have said this phrase MANY times over the past 5 or so years...mostly I say it about our church...we do the right thing-we take care of and love people in our community because it is the right thing to do. We have had people take advantage of the help that we give...but the bottom line is...our job is not to judge who "deserves" help and who doesn't...our job is to love and take care of people. Why? Our Savior did that for us..."even while we were still sinners Christ died for us." Even though we hurt him...reject him...deny him...he STILL loves us and gives us the opportunity to come to him.

SO...it is time to not hold back your love...SHARE IT...sure you will get hurt in the process...sure there will be people who are ungrateful...BUT...the reward you get...the "well done" you will received from your Master...THAT is worth every bit of it...Now get out there and serve someone else!

Been a while!

Been well over a week since a post...a few things have taken place in that time and honestly I haven't known what to say. SHOCKING isn't it...Boucher was a bit speechless!! I'm not a big writer, but I usually don't post something just to write...but for the first time since I starting blogging...I really didn't know what to communicate. Ever had those moments in life? Where you are going along...life is happening...and your just not sure what to say...what do you do in those moments?

For me...I prayed a lot...I OFTEN pray for wisdom and discernment...but over the past couple of weeks, I have been BEGGING GOD even more...I simply long to respond to people...speak to people in a way that honors God and shows people respect...a prayer has been to see people the way GOD sees them and to see the best in them. THAT IS QUITE HARD sometimes...but the alternative...just always speaking your mind and not thinking the best in others...that is a dark road...probably "fun" in the moment...but doesn't do you or anyone else any good.

I have also been reflecting a lot on how good God is...on how he just simply has a plan worked up...that when we pray...we need to focus our prayers on HIM...focusing on the fact that NO MATTER how he answers...he has OUR best interest in mind and he loves us more than we can EVER imagine!

Stop saying "I should..." and GO DO IT!

The South Bend Tribune published an article today about the keys to a healthy heart...OBVIOUSLY the article peaked my interest! Another reason it got my attention was I was at the doctor today. (STOP WORRYING MOM...it wasn't because I'm sick or feeling bad!) I realized when I was there that I haven't been to my family doctor in almost a year!! WHICH MEANS that I haven't been sick enough to go! (Very profound huh?!?!) I used to go to the doctor for colds and other junk at LEAST 2-3x's per year...

Here is the thing though...in the past year I have changed my diet. I have DRASTICALLY changed my diet...I still eat "fun" foods, just not NEARLY as often!! I have exercised more consistently in the last 14 months than EVER in my life...AND I have maintained my body weight for a year. (In the past I used to go waaaaaaaay up and then down...up and down...up and down) Isn't it interesting that when you start to eat the right stuff and take care of your body...you end up seeing the doc less!! THIS ISN'T ROCKET SCIENCE!!

SO...my point is this...and I cannot say it STRONG ENOUGH...PLEASE stop saying "I should start to take care of my body..." "I should really start to exercise..." and STOP JOKING about what you eat...cause frankly IT ISN'T FUNNY!! This message isn't just for those that are over-weight...there are some people (as I was) who just BURN UP CALORIES and don't look overweight...BUT YOU KNOW that you aren't taking care of your body and that you aren't healthy!!

When we aren't taking care of ourselves it is robbing God, your family, and yourself of the very best YOU!

I did that for many years and I have had to deal with the regret...I KNEW my family history and limitations...I KNEW that I had close family pass away at a young age due to heart disease...BUT I went around eating and living like I was invincible...like "it wouldn't happen to me..."

I encourage you to take responsibility for your own body...YOUR THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN and don'tnot wait until any longer...get to your doctor...talk to a trainer...do what needs to be done to honor God with your health...TRUST ME...you will be sooooooooo glad you did!!

Aim for a target!

14,975 people live within 1 mile...1 MILE of our church building...86,822 people within 3 miles...and 179,581 within 5miles...THAT IS A LOT OF PEOPLE! And frankly our church was drowning in the fact that we were attempting to touch EVERYONE in that area!

SO...at the beginning of 2011 we made the step to focus our influence on the 1 to 1.5 mile radius of our church...we wanted to make a maximum impact and to do it in the best way possible. NOW...this has come at some sacrifice...BUT...the benefits are amazing...

This is so fresh in my mind because of the opportunity I had to meet with Mrs. Martin today...she is the principal of McKinley Primary Center which is our neighborhood school...Mrs. Martin is PASSIONATE about the kids in her building...she LOVES them! She is giving up part of her summer so they can have a summer school experience. "NO ONE" around here gives up their summer! AND she is allowing us to have our Field Days Camp at the school!! WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US!! I am sooooo excited about the work that she is doing and how that allows us to influence our community!

I love how when we focus our attention...when we narrow our focus...clarify our direction...then God blows open opportunities for us!! VERY COOL!

Overwhelming!

We started a new series of messages at church...We are calling it Amp'd-a study on the book of Ephesians. I LOVE the book of Ephesians...probably my favorite book in the Bible...it has a DEPTH of our understanding of God and it is VERY practical...VERY! Real life stuff...

This week was about ENCOURAGEMENT for those that follow Jesus...THINK ABOUT THIS...God...before ALL CREATION knew who you were and picked you to be on his team! That is INCREDIBLE STUFF! Just INCREDIBLE...God didn't know the idea of me...HE KNEW MY NAME...AND he picked me to follow him. I think that is some REAL encouragement!!

WATCH IT! Some of you are going to jump on this one...your going to make this EXTREMELY complicated...I encourage you to not go there...simply rest in the fact of knowing...that you can KNOW FOR SURE that you will be in heaven one day...you can know because you simply believe in Jesus Christ and what he did in giving his life and rising again..AND you have made him LORD...he is in charge of your life...if you have done that then you are SEALED...you are going to be with Jesus...

NOW GO LIVE IN THAT TRUTH AND HOPE!!