I just got home from moving the lady that I referred to in my last post. It was quite an experience. Unlike anyone I have ever helped before.
As we arrived it was quickly apparent no work had been done to prepare for us. Maybe 20 or more boxes in a variety of shapes and sizes with years of old bills were strewn everywhere - bills spilling out into the next pile beneath them, receipts, torn out newspaper articles, scribbled illegible writings on scraps of paper, calendars full of writing and more medication bottles both full and empty than I have ever seen in my life. These were the remnants of mental illness...
I was very nervous about helping but knew I had to be there so none of the guys were ever left alone with her. She is known for angry outbursts and being impossible to reason with. I decided to treat her just like I would any other girlfriend, it worked! She accepted my comfort whenever she began to get aggravated, I worked hard to make her feel comfortable.
None of us had any idea the amount of things that could be stuffed into a small apartment. But, several hours later we were loaded and ready to move on to the new apartment. She was very distressed as we tried to get her to leave, I coaxed her to my car and we followed the guys.
Later as the guys unloaded, I talked her into letting me take her to Burger King, her favorite fast food restaurant. And for that brief 14 minute drive it was if we were just like girlfriends. She recalled the 19 years she had been married with amazing detail, talking of vacations, holidays and all her memories. She mentioned how she began to experience struggles following her husbands death.
The conversation then turned toward God. How interesting that those whose minds are clouded by imbalance of some kind, can see God the clearest.
She went on to say that nature speaks of God to her. I told her that I too feel God's presence the most when I am outside! She went on to describe her thoughts on the Lord and she obviously knew Him well. She thoroughly enjoyed the brief drive through the beautiful countryside, something I totally take for granted.
Don't you usually assume only those with 'clear' minds could possibly understand God and His promises...not so! I think there is a special place in the heart of our God for those who society labels disabled either mentally or physically.
It was my pleasure entirely to treat another sister in the Lord, just like a girlfriend.
Monday, May 4, 2009
my day off
Off to a great start with a phone call from Cambodia! How good to hear our kids' voices instead of just reading their words! What gets the day off to a better start than that?
In a short time I will help some friends from Crossroads move a dear, very desperate woman, so I am waiting for that call to come in.
So many people need our care... I found out today, that two acquaintances of ours have just been diagnosed with cancer as well as my favorite waitress/friend struggling with skin cancer... a lot of people to care for. Being available to others is something I am intentionally trying to become good at! I have not been available in the past, too busy with all my stuff. I do not know why care comes so freely from others and so stingy at times from me.
Please join me as I force myself to take a look at my day and see what portion I can give to meet someones needs. What time can you give?
In a short time I will help some friends from Crossroads move a dear, very desperate woman, so I am waiting for that call to come in.
So many people need our care... I found out today, that two acquaintances of ours have just been diagnosed with cancer as well as my favorite waitress/friend struggling with skin cancer... a lot of people to care for. Being available to others is something I am intentionally trying to become good at! I have not been available in the past, too busy with all my stuff. I do not know why care comes so freely from others and so stingy at times from me.
Please join me as I force myself to take a look at my day and see what portion I can give to meet someones needs. What time can you give?
wise leaders
Have you ever been around some one that is just wise? It will never stop surprising me when I just can't figure out the best solution to a problem and it rolls off a wise leaders tongue as if they have been thinking about the problem for hours. Amazing!
Pastor Tim is like this. (He won't like it that I'm writing about him...too bad!)
No kidding, we can be trying to figure out just the right order of music, struggling with a problem, or a last minute change to something in the program to make it flow, and minutes sometimes seconds later...out it comes, the perfect solution.
There are many things I could write about my 12 years of service with Tim, but, among others the quick leadership decisions he can just instantly make is obviously a gift straight from God to our ministry. And to me myself.
Pastor Tim is the public face of Crossroads, but it is behind the scenes that we get to see even more of his God gifts at work. He has been anointed and gifted to lead and it is fun to watch and a blessing to work with.
Pastor Tim is like this. (He won't like it that I'm writing about him...too bad!)
No kidding, we can be trying to figure out just the right order of music, struggling with a problem, or a last minute change to something in the program to make it flow, and minutes sometimes seconds later...out it comes, the perfect solution.
There are many things I could write about my 12 years of service with Tim, but, among others the quick leadership decisions he can just instantly make is obviously a gift straight from God to our ministry. And to me myself.
Pastor Tim is the public face of Crossroads, but it is behind the scenes that we get to see even more of his God gifts at work. He has been anointed and gifted to lead and it is fun to watch and a blessing to work with.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
weekend report
Our setlist:
Welcome/announcements - Bill with Darlene Rudrick our Go Missions coordinator discussed caring for orphans and widows through Asia's Hope. Our congregation had the opportunity to adopt orphans today. Very cool!
Opening Special - Spoken For - we ran pictures of the Orphans in Cambodia during the beginning of this special - very moving!
New Praise song - Mighty King of Love
Praise: Your Grace Is Enough
Worship: All The Earth Will Sing Your Praises Baloche
Worship: Here In Your Presence/Wonderful, Beautiful, Glorious
Message: Be Sure! Luke 10:25 - 29
Great weekend!
To see what other ministries did this weekend click here!
To watch our service on Monday click here!
Welcome/announcements - Bill with Darlene Rudrick our Go Missions coordinator discussed caring for orphans and widows through Asia's Hope. Our congregation had the opportunity to adopt orphans today. Very cool!
Opening Special - Spoken For - we ran pictures of the Orphans in Cambodia during the beginning of this special - very moving!
New Praise song - Mighty King of Love
Praise: Your Grace Is Enough
Worship: All The Earth Will Sing Your Praises Baloche
Worship: Here In Your Presence/Wonderful, Beautiful, Glorious
Message: Be Sure! Luke 10:25 - 29
Great weekend!
To see what other ministries did this weekend click here!
To watch our service on Monday click here!
Saturday, May 2, 2009
empty yet full
As my husband and I left the church yesterday, we stopped by a ladies house that had asked for help from the church. He warned me it would not be pretty.
As I entered the house I was struck by a paradox: she had so little but there was so much...
There were piles of bills, papers, receipts, trash, half eaten items, but, really very little of anything substantial such as furniture or large items of any kind.
The place was full yet very empty.
Then as I listened to her and looked at her face I knew she was a very broken person. I imagined her in earlier years, learning, working, dreaming of what was to come. But, somewhere along the way something broke. Chemical imbalance, mental illness, I really don't know her story. I really don't know how she survives.
God is doing a work in me, between the missions opportunities that our ministry gets to begin to participate in, to the community opportunities right around Crossroads, I am becoming burdened for "the least of these". In fact I have to wonder if I am not among the "least of these" in God's eyes as I sit comfortably surrounded by so much, but at times really have so little.
So little in the way of sympathy for others, care about the less fortunate, time given to serve those TRULY in need...God is doing a work in me...I long to be truly full of His grace and love for others, there are people at Crossroads teaching me by their dedicated example of caring that I want to learn from...my husband, our missions team, my children...all our stuff means little if we don't bless others constantly with what we've been given.
There is a movement among churches today to - give it all away, money, food, care, no matter what website I go too there is a buzz about inner city, missions work, food pantries, on and on. I don't want to be caught up in an "American Feel Good Movement". After all, most of what we as Americans do to help others, ultimately is to make ourselves feel good. I don't want to be part of this movement, don't want Crossroads to be part of this movement, but instead dedicated to identified need, a specific opportunity given by Christ and everyday living with an eye for the less fortunate. Our missions team is excellent at identifying specific needs and creating focus for our congregation. A movement within each believer's heart, only then can an affective outward/ministry movement begin.
All of our stuff is on loan from the Lord and He cares deeply about what we do with our abundance. He chooses and calls whom He will to himself, and then I wonder perhaps if He watches closely to see what we do with all we've been given. A sobering thought...I do not want to stand before a disappointed God.
I want to help fix what is broken if He gives me that opportunity. I need however, to have my own house in order, financially and spiritually or the opportunity may come and go...
As I entered the house I was struck by a paradox: she had so little but there was so much...
There were piles of bills, papers, receipts, trash, half eaten items, but, really very little of anything substantial such as furniture or large items of any kind.
The place was full yet very empty.
Then as I listened to her and looked at her face I knew she was a very broken person. I imagined her in earlier years, learning, working, dreaming of what was to come. But, somewhere along the way something broke. Chemical imbalance, mental illness, I really don't know her story. I really don't know how she survives.
God is doing a work in me, between the missions opportunities that our ministry gets to begin to participate in, to the community opportunities right around Crossroads, I am becoming burdened for "the least of these". In fact I have to wonder if I am not among the "least of these" in God's eyes as I sit comfortably surrounded by so much, but at times really have so little.
So little in the way of sympathy for others, care about the less fortunate, time given to serve those TRULY in need...God is doing a work in me...I long to be truly full of His grace and love for others, there are people at Crossroads teaching me by their dedicated example of caring that I want to learn from...my husband, our missions team, my children...all our stuff means little if we don't bless others constantly with what we've been given.
There is a movement among churches today to - give it all away, money, food, care, no matter what website I go too there is a buzz about inner city, missions work, food pantries, on and on. I don't want to be caught up in an "American Feel Good Movement". After all, most of what we as Americans do to help others, ultimately is to make ourselves feel good. I don't want to be part of this movement, don't want Crossroads to be part of this movement, but instead dedicated to identified need, a specific opportunity given by Christ and everyday living with an eye for the less fortunate. Our missions team is excellent at identifying specific needs and creating focus for our congregation. A movement within each believer's heart, only then can an affective outward/ministry movement begin.
All of our stuff is on loan from the Lord and He cares deeply about what we do with our abundance. He chooses and calls whom He will to himself, and then I wonder perhaps if He watches closely to see what we do with all we've been given. A sobering thought...I do not want to stand before a disappointed God.
I want to help fix what is broken if He gives me that opportunity. I need however, to have my own house in order, financially and spiritually or the opportunity may come and go...
Friday, May 1, 2009
leading regardless
Occasionally everyone that is in the role of leadership feels like they shouldn't be there...I find myself feeling that way the past couple of weeks. I don't say this to evoke sympathy or any compliments, so please don't think that. I'm confident in my calling still I feel lately that I should be leading more confidently by now...
When I question my ability and strength I look to the Lord and also to other Godly leaders. Today I came across this excerpt from Nancy Beach one of my favorites. Nancy is a teaching pastor, writer and former leader of the Arts Teams at the WillowCreek Church. If even she feels this way it encourages me greatly!
Nancy said in her blog today concerning speaking at a very large conference recently,
"I spoke about the issue of women leading in the church. As I walked up on stage to speak to the 3200 attenders, I took a deep breath and simply had to trust that God had given me a message to deliver and my job was simply to deliver it. I knew I could not control the response, nor should my own sense of worth be defined by whether the talk was well received..." Of course her talk was well received because she is amazing! But, even amazing, well known leaders struggle not to base their worth on what they do. Our worth of course is found only in God and our obedience to his calling.
The sam
e day I found this from Nancy, I also found an article from Andy Stanley who had very encouraging words to leaders. Andy said, "as a young leader I was tormented by the assumption that I should know what to do in every given situation...the more responsibility you assume as a leader, the more uncertainty you will have to manage. The cost of success as a leader is greater uncertainty, not less!"
At first glance, these words may not sound very hopeful or encouraging, but knowing how both of these leaders have similar struggles, encourages me. So, I will continue to lead as God allows and try to keep my focus on Him instead of my shortcomings. I pray you are each encouraged as well as you lead wherever God calls you!
When I question my ability and strength I look to the Lord and also to other Godly leaders. Today I came across this excerpt from Nancy Beach one of my favorites. Nancy is a teaching pastor, writer and former leader of the Arts Teams at the WillowCreek Church. If even she feels this way it encourages me greatly!
Nancy said in her blog today concerning speaking at a very large conference recently,
"I spoke about the issue of women leading in the church. As I walked up on stage to speak to the 3200 attenders, I took a deep breath and simply had to trust that God had given me a message to deliver and my job was simply to deliver it. I knew I could not control the response, nor should my own sense of worth be defined by whether the talk was well received..." Of course her talk was well received because she is amazing! But, even amazing, well known leaders struggle not to base their worth on what they do. Our worth of course is found only in God and our obedience to his calling.The sam
e day I found this from Nancy, I also found an article from Andy Stanley who had very encouraging words to leaders. Andy said, "as a young leader I was tormented by the assumption that I should know what to do in every given situation...the more responsibility you assume as a leader, the more uncertainty you will have to manage. The cost of success as a leader is greater uncertainty, not less!"At first glance, these words may not sound very hopeful or encouraging, but knowing how both of these leaders have similar struggles, encourages me. So, I will continue to lead as God allows and try to keep my focus on Him instead of my shortcomings. I pray you are each encouraged as well as you lead wherever God calls you!
blogging from Asia
You can follow my son and daughter's journey through Cambodia and Thailand by going to Jocelyn's blog - CLICK HERE and Eric's blog - CLICK HERE!
Please pray for them to stay safe and well and to experience God big time! Thanks!
Please pray for them to stay safe and well and to experience God big time! Thanks!
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