Monday Reflections...Tech fast!

What a fun Christmas! I sure enjoyed family...our services...and more family! Our service yesterday was AMAZING...deep...powerful...challenging end to our We Are message series...VERY POWERFUL to see families coming up and writing their names on a scroll that read I will "FIGHT FOR MY FAMILY" Awesome!

I'm off this week...been a long time since I had some time off and looking forward to hanging with the family...I'm also am going to have a tech fast this week...no laptop...no email...no cell phone...I get attached to that stuff and it is all very helpful, BUT this week is a refueling and family week...there is plenty to do when I get re-plugged in next week and we charge forward with the building and the New Year.

So...I'm off for now...Happy New Year and see you next week!!

Merry Christmas!

Today has been fun! Hanging out with the family...my parents and Aunt Judy are here. VERY FUN DAY! The kids LOVED their gifts and were really grateful this year...that sure makes it fun. I really enjoy having everything at our house now...I remember having my grandparents come over and now my kids get to do that...pretty cool! Building memories...

My dad got "The Karate Kid" movies for Christmas...we're about to watch the first one...I was 11 years old when that came out...NOW I HAVE A 9 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER!!!! Looking forward to educating Chloe and Jaden on "Wax on-wax off!" GO DANIELSON GO! Let's see if you can still win after 25 years!

Flash-forward

Grandma and Grandpa took the kids tonight...all night...so Kels and I went out to dinner and then went to see "Blind Side." (GREAT movie...a must see!!) It was so good to hang out with Kels...I LOVE her so much AND I LOVE spending time with her...13 years of marriage and I still just LOVE being "out" with her!! When we got home I went up stairs to change and walked by the kids rooms...their empty rooms...suddenly I flashed-forward to a day when we are empty nesters...when those rooms will be empty until they come home to visit...my heart sank a little...I don't want to wish away my kid's childhood AND I want to seize the moments that I have with them...enjoy them. I love those 3...and I long to enjoy every moment...to grab the teachable moments...and to make A LOT of memories, so that someday...when we send them off...that I won't have regrets...that I will know that we POURED our lives into them...gave them our best! Enjoying tonight...looking forward to seeing them tomorrow!

Empowering Families

At Grace we LOVE to empower families...to come along side of families and support them and share Jesus with them. Our last outreach is a favorite of mine...we have given out 300 toys to kids in the community...BUT instead of giving them to the children, we gave them to their parents and provided the wrapping paper for the parents too. WHY? Because then MOM AND DAD are the HEROES and not us! We don't get to see the kid's smiles, but it is so worth it to make mom and dad the hero...I don't care if they EVER tell their kids that the gifts were from us! Making mom and dad the hero...I like that!

Breath of Fresh Air

Took a prayer walk this morning...had breakfast with a good friend and then took a long prayerwalk by the river...taking in the sights...at one point there was even a bird curping...it was so good to come to God and just talk...to stop and listen. I even found a new spot at the East Race! Another spot...just for me!

As I watched the current flow...I prayed...thanked God for picking me to be his kid...that he gave me an amazing family...a home...food...a church family that I passionately love...for putting me in a community that I care deeply about...it was good to stand in silence and just listen...to have my heart just long for more...it was good...ended the time throwing snowballs into the river...even "skipped" one like skipping rocks...fun...Good way to start the week...good to be in nature...GREAT to be with my Savior

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO GRACE!

The State of Indiana just gave us a Christmas present...we have our approval to move forward with our building project! We have been waiting...waiting and NOW WE GO! "Thanks God!"

Monday Reflections

I'm not sure how to put it all in words...yesterday was not my best Sunday...it was CRAZY...my prep was on...I had CRIED OUT TO GOD for direction...pleaded with him to work...put in the time needed to prep the message, BUT my delivery was weak...just felt disjointed...WEIRD...it wasn't even as good a when I went through it on Friday and Saturday...I was near tears after the service...I always want to bring my best, but it just wasn't there...

BUT...something happened in that service anyway...a man came up to me after the service with giddy excitement as he shared that his step-daughter gave her life to Jesus during the message...another woman came up to me asking for prayer for freedom from bitterness and anger...Then, I get to the office today and have AN AMAZING conversation with 2 new visitors to our church who were encouraging their families to come to our church because the service was GREAT and the atmosphere of the people touched them! CRAZY STUFF...that's not how I felt, but then again my feelings aren't what matters!! This church isn't mine...it belongs to God...so he will use whatever our best offering is on that day...especially when we have given our best in that moment...

Here is the deal of what I am learned again today...when we pray...when we seek the heart of God...when we beg him to move...that grabs God's attention and he moves inspite of how we "perform." Thanks God for moving inspite of me...Thanks for answering my prayers...good to know that HE runs HIS church.

Christmas 2009

Looking forward to the morning...praying hard...preparing like crazy...trusting that God will respond...begging God to move!

Having our Chirstmas Eve service at our Goshen Campus...always a fun night!

Looking forward to Christmas Day and weekend...mom, dad and Aunt Judy will be here for Christmas...then my bro and family will be coming over the weekend...Kelsey's parents and my family will be having a big dinner on Saturday...it will be fun to have everyone over here!

ALSO looking forward to the week after Christmas...1 week of vacation...should be a refreshing time!

DID I MENTION THAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE MORNING?!?! COME ON GOD!!

Legacy...

THAT is the message this Sunday...Christmas Sunday...LEGACY...ummmmmm...I'm getting more stirred up every minute that passes...In 48 hours I will be in the middle of the message...still pleading with God in my head that MANY will give their lives to Jesus as the service closes...lives changed for ETERNITY...what a responsibility...what a priviledge...what a joy...the opportunity to share Jesus...PRAYING HARD for THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS to come to Jesus around the world this weekend...Ummmmmm...it's going to be good...Jesus wins...the enemy loses...I'm in!!

Mindset

I have been praying a lot this week that God would raise my leadership #...Pastor Jim asks us in our personal evaluations for our leadership #...scale of 1-10...where are we? How are we using the talents and abilities God has given us?

I long to get the most out of my life...but to get there means there are serious times of refinement. This season of life is one of those for me...And everyday...sometimes every hour...I have a choice...will I make the most of it? Will I accept the challenges in front of me? Will I learn from my experiences or run from them?

Whether I am in my brightest or darkest hour...I LONG to be known as a person who persevers and learns...grows...EVEN GETS STRONGER through trial...anyone can be STRONG in the bright times...God make me a sponge in the dark times...soaking up what you are teaching me...