Spiritual Gifts in Action: Event Planning

I plan one, big event a year: the MVNU Women's Auxiliary Spring Conference. I believe I was 11 years old when I first planned something significant. It was a summer babysitting service with my best friend. We called it "Snoopy's Place." Cute, huh? We offered our services every Tuesday and Thursday throughout the summer. Our plans included a scheduled play time, sack lunches, snack time, and rest time. We made a significant amount of money! Nearly 30 years later, as a busy mom, I know why our services were so popular!

Throughout junior high and high school, I planned events for school and for church. It just came naturally to me, and I loved it! During my senior year in high school, I planned a formal, Christmas dance. It was an extremely memorable experience, and I learned a bunch! My planning joys continued throughout college with my biggest feat being the Homecoming Coronation during in my junior year.

My first job included event planning, as well. As the Administrative Assistant for the Director of YOUTH IN MISSION, I planned the summer training camp, and the fall recruiting tour. It was a blast!! Beyond that job, my event planning energies turned back to volunteer services through church. These volunteer experiences matured my passions for women's ministries. As a result, when the opportunity arose for me to volunteer as the conference coordinator for the MVNU Women's Auxiliary, I found the perfect marriage of my Spiritual gifts, interests and passions.

I love helping women grow in their personal relationship with Christ! Coordinating an event that is aimed at inspiration and spiritual transformation among women is quite fulfilling for me. Our 2010 event was my fourth consecutive conference. Over four years, we've had Liz Curtis Higgs, a group of 4 ladies with a long name that I can never remember, Shaunti Feldhahn, and Lysa TerKeurst. Each year holds a special place in my heart, but this year was particularly amazing!

Success in planning this event is measured by how God works. I can 't wait to tell you more... tomorrow!

"This is why I remind you to fan into flame the spiritual gifts
God gave you when I laid my hands upon you."

2 Timothy 1:6 (NLT)

Food for Thought

My pastor spoke of David and Goliath last Sunday. Because I have heard this story from childhood, I did not expect new Truths to keep me thinking into Tuesday. But then, I also forgot that the Bible is "living and active" (Hebrews 4:12). I love it when God's Word speaks to me in a new, fresh way!

Two points from the sermon strike me. 1) Goliath is symbolic of evil, and 2) Spiritual weapons are more powerful than worldly weapons, despite the culture's opinions. Then, as I studied the Book of Mark this week, I read the passage where Jesus said to Peter, "Get thee behind me, Satan!" Again, a very common verse of Scripture (Mark 8:33). These three ideas are rolling around in my brain.

Evil challenges Believers every day. Evil looks big, intimidating, and much stronger than Believers. Some call Christ-followers crazy. Pastor Glenn named this idea the "Goliath-effect." I like the word usage! To combat the Goliath-effect, we often look for weaponry created by the very culture that nurtures evil. In this way, we feel like David, who was bogged down by Saul's armor in preparation for battle against Goliath (think the Veggie Tales version of the story). David, however, knew better - based upon his personal relationship with The Living God. He dropped Saul's armor to fight Goliath with Spiritual weapons - faith, a few stones, and a sling - even though the people mocked him.

In Mark, when Christ began speaking to the disciples about His upcoming persecution and death, Peter tried to stop Him because, in Peter's mind, Christ came to stun the world with His strength. But, Spiritual weapons are of a different order, and God's plan for Christ in this world was very different than Peter's plan. In weakness, there is strength; in humility there is power; in death, there is life. Christ knew that Peter's words were absolutely based on worldly wisdom. Christ came to exemplify Spiritual wisdom.

The question asked in "Listening For God Through Mark," is this:

Like Peter, what might I be doing to "prevent Christ from fulfilling His mission on earth" (p. 46)?

Wow! Now that is some food for thought....

So, What Am I Doing?

I've been busy. That is an understatement, but so is everybody, right? When I think about my New Year's Challenges to Myself, I smile.... I have moved in a completely new direction. There is too much pressure to come with "New Year's Resolutions" by January 1st. I needed more time to work through God's leadership for 2010. So, what am I doing?

I adore my morning devotions in the car. Truly, I will forever look back on this season in life, and recall my spiritual growth from the driver's seat of my white Honda Odyssey in the parking lot of MVNU's Campus Center. God has met me there in BIG way for the past 18 months, or so. I have decided to NOT memorize two pieces of scripture a month in 2010 - that was sooo 2009. I plan to periodically review my 2009 verses, and occasionally add to my note card spiral of verses. I have also decided to NOT read through the Bible in a year. It simply goes against every natural grain I have within me.... When it comes to studying God's Word, I do not like strict structures and time lines. Yuck.

So, what am I doing?

1. Reading "So Long Insecurity" by Beth Moore, participating in family blog that focuses on the questions Beth provides each week, and attending Beth's simulcast on April 24 in Seattle.
2. Participating in Nall Avenue Nazarene's Lenten Bible Study using "Listening for God Through Mark,"  listening online to Pastor Ken Lightcap's corresponding sermons, and participating in Nall's Lenten Blog.
3. Following Lent, I will resume Kelly Minter's Bible study entitled "Ruth: Loss, Love, & Legacy." The little bit I completed prior to Lent wet my appetite. I think it is going to be a great study!
4. Finally, I am addressing a serious stronghold in my life: Food Addiction. Lysa TerKeurst inspired me to take this stronghold seriously, and that is all I am going to say, for now. 

 I plan on posting more this week about the above points....

Simplicity

Sometimes the necessary message is so simple.

Jesus said, "Don't be afraid. Just trust me."
Mark 5:36b (TLB)

Processing.... Part 4

The sense of love and belonging was strong that morning at the graveside, and throughout the day and night. I did not want the feeling to evaporate. Interestingly enough, God had already begun a plan to strengthen our connections.  Back in November, after communicating with several family members via blogging, Facebook, and email, I asked if anyone would be interested in participating in a family book club. Much to my surprise, everyone had some level of interest. As more of us were together for the memorial service, I asked each female family member. Again, much to my surprise, the response was overwhelmingly favorable. With that, we had a plan. A plan that goes far beyond our human expectations, and our abilities to create.

While the above plan is intended for the female family members, God also revealed to me how He working among the whole family. Another cousin, Brian, shared with me how he and his wife, Maggie, are re-connecting with the cousins, aunts, and uncles. They are really enjoying the new found, adult friendships. Chad and Becca shared their desire to carry on the family mission to pray for one another - a mission that my grandpa initiated. They, too, felt energized by Grandpa's memorial service.

The work of God within me that I have been processing for the last month is this: Building adult relationships with my cousins, aunts, and uncles, and ministering to our common need for familial connections is eternally valuable. God made it clear to me - I need to focus on these relationships. Over the years, while living so far from family, I thought that I did not need the connections. My view is changing now, and I am excited! God continues to open doors of connections among us. As I process this new purpose, I feel my heart filling with Godly contentment - a mysterious phenomenon that I have been lacking in recent months.

The significance of this journey continues to play out in the details of my life. There are a few items that I can not share at this point in time. I can testify to a great, renewed sense of urgency in pursuing the knowledge of God, and His plan for my life. His power to impact people is beyond my human ability to plan and understand. I am in awe of God! Saying "Yes!" to God is an exciting ride.

There is no solid ending to this mini-series entitled, "Processing...." It is an ongoing personal journey. My prayer is that by sharing aspects of this walk with God, others will be encouraged to pursue Him with expectancy.

Ecclesiastes 3 (New Living Translation)

A Time for Everything

 ¹ For everything there is a season,
      a time for every activity under heaven.
 ² A time to be born and a time to die.
      A time to plant and a time to harvest.
 ³ A time to kill and a time to heal.
      A time to tear down and a time to build up.
 ⁴ A time to cry and a time to laugh.
      A time to grieve and a time to dance.
 ⁵ A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
      A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
 ⁶ A time to search and a time to quit searching.
      A time to keep and a time to throw away.
 ⁷ A time to tear and a time to mend.
      A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
 ⁸ A time to love and a time to hate.
      A time for war and a time for peace.

 ⁹ What do people really get for all their hard work? ¹⁰ I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. ¹¹¹² So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. ¹³ And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God. Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.

 ¹⁴ And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose is that people should fear him. ¹⁵ What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again.

Processing.... Part 3

When I arrived at the private, family graveside service, my shy side wanted to control me, and I had a quick decision to make. I could either retreat into the quiet, comfortable place inside of me, or I could step out, and engage . In the seconds that I had to process, I knew that shyness would lead to regret, in this situation. As I opened my mind to the idea of engaging, I felt a surge of the Holy Spirit empowering me to outwardly love on all of my family members. I felt a sense of purpose that came directly from God. It was like emerging from a cocoon. These lives that were intricately connected, but separated by miles, and careers, and new families, were together again. It was beautiful!

Throughout the day, I realized how much all of us needed to feel a sense of belonging with our family. We needed each other - I sensed it and so did many others. It was an amazing feeling! To look upon people who seem like strangers, and to feel a deep sense of connection is energizing, and freeing, and Godly. As I am processing, I am seeing that our connection is God-driven and God-honoring. By engaging with one another, we are allowing God to freely move - individually and corporately.

The cemetery was gorgeous and weather was perfect that morning. I tangibly felt God blessing the family. I sensed Grandpa's presence, and his proud approval of this gathering. We were the people he'd invested in for so many years. When his health was failing, we were the people he continuously prayed for every morning. In his final hours, we were the people he most wanted to see in person and speak with over the phone. We were special.

The sense of love and belonging was strong that morning at the graveside, and throughout the day and night. I did not want the feeling to evaporate....

Processing.... Part 2

My cousin, Jill, picked me up from the airport. We met my mom and our grandma in Centralia (my hometown). I spent much of the week with Grandma, Mom, my Uncle Roger and Aunt Monica. I also spent some time with my childhood friend, Christine. I spent the day of Grandpa's memorial service with most of my cousins, aunts, and uncles. And something happened within me.

Looking back at the week as a whole, and at the day of the memorial service in particular, a new purpose sprouted in my soul. As I process, I believe God began this new work in me, and around me, long before I can precisely articulate. God divinely chose the events surrounding my grandpa's passing to reveal it to me more clearly. It is not just about me, though. It is about family, and glorifying God uniquely through family.

I have this unique personality that is sometimes outgoing, and sometimes shy - the side of my personality that shines on any given day is largely related to the circumstances surrounding me. In my shy moments, I miss out on opportunities to experience life more fully. In my outgoing moments, I bulldoze over moments that require a delicate touch. Both sides of my personality have pros and cons; and neither side is perfectly suited to the whole person of me.

When I arrived at the private, family graveside service, my shy side wanted to control me....