I very rarely post on this page anymore, but that doesn't mean I'm not writing. I just often find that the topics I have to write about are more suited to our KidMin blog. You can check that out at kidworkz.blogspot.com
However, today my heart is heavy with a topic that is very dear to me. Those of you who know me, know that I am passionate about foster care and adoption. I credit a lot of this to many of my youth leaders growing up. They were passionate about these things and that passion just overflowed from them. Mike & Annie have adopted a child domestically. He is a great kid who is thriving in their home. Shawn & Colleen adopted one of their sons internationally. Tony is an amazing soccer player, great brother, and happy to be loved. Mike & Sarah have four children of their own, but that has not changed their passion for adoption. If they could fit a few more bunk beds in their home, I'm sure they would be thrilled to add to their family.
From a young age, this passion for adoption was stirred in my heart. This love and passion has only grown over the years. However, more recently I have found myself believing that the church is falling short in this area. This Friday, thousands will gather in Washington, DC on the anniversary date of Roe v Wade calling for laws regarding abortion in the United States to be overturned. Yet, in the United States alone there are over 100,000 children already waiting for homes. If laws regarding abortion are repealed this number will only increase. James 1:27 says, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress."
Jesus himself saw that the government was often not the answer to many of this world's greatest problems. We have the ability to change the system. Imagine living in a country where there were no orphans. Imagine a place where rather than thousands of children waiting for homes, there were thousands of homes and families waiting for children. What love that would show. What an example of Christ this would be.
"If only 7% of the 2 billion Christians in the world would care for a single orphan in distress, there would effectively be no more orphans." I read this statistic for the first time this past Sunday. I can't seem to get it off my mind. 7% seems like such a small number. It seems so easily achievable. Yet, I know as some of you are reading this, you're going, "That's not me." I'd like to challenge you to ask yourself, "Why not?" Or maybe you're saying, I care about adoption, but I can't bring a child into my home right now. There may be many reasons for that to be true. So I would ask you to consider supporting those who can. Educate yourself (and others) on adoption. Promote its value to those in your family, church, community, circle of friends. Offer support to those who are pursuing adoption. They will need a community around them to help support emotionally, physically, and most of all prayerfully. Consider supporting adoption financially, whether by supporting a family who is adopting or an organization promoting and facilitating adoption. Stand beside those families who have brought a child into their home. They need you too.
Or maybe God is stirring your heart. Maybe He is calling you to be part of the 7%. Let me celebrate with you. I know He is calling me to that. I don't know what that looks like. I don't know how it will play out in my life. However, I am excited. I am so thankful that He is choosing to use me as an instrument of His love in the life of a child.
"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not." -The Lorax
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Saturday, August 18, 2012
I run because...
Those plans didn't quite pan out the way we imagined. Instead of spending a few days in New York, those same friends were helping me pack and prepare to take a leap of faith and move to Gallipolis, OH, where I would soon begin working at Gallipolis Christian Church as the Children's Minister.
Through all of this hustle and bustle, I made a resolution of my own. I decided that before 2012 ended, I would complete a 5k. I didn't want to walk it. I wanted a decent time, and something that would require some effort. At that time, I'm not sure I had any idea what that would mean over the next 8 months. For any of you who don't know, my parents were told when I was born that I would never walk. I've had three knee surgeries as well as physical therapy and chiropractic care for most of my life.
Toward the end of February, the craziness of moving started to calm down and at a time when most of us have given up on our resolutions, I was reminded of mine. I decided if I was really going to do this, I knew I didn't have the motivation to do it alone. So I asked a friend to run with me. This began the process of preparation.
So today I ran 3.1 miles in 33:25. I am thrilled with that. But I am even more thrilled that God placed a goal in my heart and used that goal to change my lifestyle.
I run because...I like dessert.
I run because...its cheaper than therapy.
I run because...I like accomplishing a goal.
I run because...I've chosen to be healthy.
I run because...it gives me energy.
I run because...it improves my mood.
I run because...I believe my body is a temple.
I run because...of all the people who told me I couldn't.
I run because...of the people who have believed in me along the way.
I run because...I have an awesome God.
I run because...I can.
I run.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Not mine
Today, God is teaching me a hard lesson. While I'm sure I've heard it hundreds of times, I believe it may be setting in for the first time. Today, God is teaching me that my ministry is not mine. On the contrary, my ministry is His. You see God has given me time, talents, a location. He has supplied me with what I need to do what I do. He has also given me the ability to make my own choices, to screw up, to fall down.
Now at first, this sounds terrible. Why would a great, all-powerful, loving God allow me to screw up a ministry that is not mine to begin with, but His. That is the moment where I stand in awe and amazement. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." You see it is in my weakness rather than my strength where God is so often seen. When I mess up, He shows up. And when I feel like its all falling apart, I am finally ready to let go and allow Him to take over.
Don't get me wrong, I love what I do and I strive to do it with excellence. However, I am human. I will mess up. I will fall down. And there is something amazing and something freeing in the knowledge that when I do, God will still be there. His name will still be glorified. His message will still be shared. And most of all, He will still love me.
So today, I am reminded that yes I do make mistakes. However, as I work to fix those mistakes, God is reminding me that He is still King and He is still good.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
The Power of Your Words
Recently I’ve been thinking a lot about words. Words have a lot of power. In a split second, words have the power to change a person’s mood, day, or even their life either positively or negatively. Proverbs 18:21 says, The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Stanford University recently did a study about the words spoken into the lives of children. On average, in households where parents are professionals and highly educated, 80% of the words spoken by parents to children are positive. Only 20% are negative. Children’s ears are filled with statements about how smart, fast, beautiful, or clever they are.
In the average middle class family, where parents have some form of college education, a child will hear about 50/50 of positive to negative statements. However, in the average lower class family, where there is little education beyond high school, a child will hear negative statements nearly 80% of the time. Only 20% of the things people say around them will be positive. These children’s ears are filled with negativity: you are dumb. You are slow. You are ugly. You are unwanted. You are not enough.
I found this absolutely heartbreaking. This very concept flies in the face of the concept of the tremendous value that God sees in every single one of us. Children who are constantly bombarded with lies that they have no value often begin to believe them. I am reminded of a scene from The Help where Abileen Clark repeats to the child whom she has been hired to care for, “You is kind. You is smart. You is important.” While her grammar is lacking, Abilene realized the value of speaking truth into this child’s life. My challenge to you today is to break the statistic. Speak truth and positivity into the life of your children and the children who you come in contact with.
Stanford University recently did a study about the words spoken into the lives of children. On average, in households where parents are professionals and highly educated, 80% of the words spoken by parents to children are positive. Only 20% are negative. Children’s ears are filled with statements about how smart, fast, beautiful, or clever they are.
In the average middle class family, where parents have some form of college education, a child will hear about 50/50 of positive to negative statements. However, in the average lower class family, where there is little education beyond high school, a child will hear negative statements nearly 80% of the time. Only 20% of the things people say around them will be positive. These children’s ears are filled with negativity: you are dumb. You are slow. You are ugly. You are unwanted. You are not enough.
I found this absolutely heartbreaking. This very concept flies in the face of the concept of the tremendous value that God sees in every single one of us. Children who are constantly bombarded with lies that they have no value often begin to believe them. I am reminded of a scene from The Help where Abileen Clark repeats to the child whom she has been hired to care for, “You is kind. You is smart. You is important.” While her grammar is lacking, Abilene realized the value of speaking truth into this child’s life. My challenge to you today is to break the statistic. Speak truth and positivity into the life of your children and the children who you come in contact with.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Home Team
Recently, I read an article about knowing who your "Home Team" is. The premise of this article was that you can't do everything for everyone, nor should you. However, you need to be able to decide who makes that cut off. Now even as you're reading this, some of you already have a person or two in your head. I know when I read the article, I did.
My best friend. The one who has been there over the past 10+ years through thick and thin. The one who has seen me cry over the stupidest things and been the shoulder to cry on when the not so stupid things came along. When she gets married, I will wear whatever she decides to put me in, no matter how terrible I look. When her kids are born, I will drive however many miles it takes to be there. She is definitely on my home team. She might even be team captain. I'm sure you have someone like that, too.
But tonight, the people on my mind are the ones that seem to sneak in. They appear when you need them most. For those of you who don't know, I've gone through some big changes in my life recently. At the beginning of January I packed up all my stuff and moved from Knoxville, TN to Gallipolis, OH. This wasn't part of my plan by any means, but I'm learning that most of the time my plan is all wrong. God led me to this place and I love it. I am the new Children's Minister at Gallipolis Christian Church (Children's ministry also was not part of the plan...) and I could not be happier.
Moving five hours away from the people who you've been closest to for the past year, if not more changes things. This made me evaluate my home team. And for a while I wasn't sure who that was any more for a while. Its a lot harder to invest in someone's life from a distance, right?
Tonight, I got a glimpse of what my home team is starting to look like. You see, there are some people who are only on the team for a season or two. This doesn't make them bad people. They're time is just shorter. My team has lost some people, but its gaining some new ones. This change isn't easy, but it is beautiful. Yet, I am being reminded that while it is harder to invest in a life from a distance, there are those people who still do. Thank you. There are a handful of you in my life and I hope you know who you are. You have gotten me through some of the most difficult times in my life, and you are the shoulder to lean on in this time of change in my life.
So this post is for all of you who have been a part of my home team, whether for a lifetime or only a season. Thank you. You have helped shape me into who I am. And I challenge you. Who is your home team? Who is the person you can call at 2 am? Who is the one who knows which ice cream to buy after a break up or who knows just the right words to say when someone has let you down? Invest in those people. You don't have to be everything to everyone, but for just a moment, you may be everything to someone.
My best friend. The one who has been there over the past 10+ years through thick and thin. The one who has seen me cry over the stupidest things and been the shoulder to cry on when the not so stupid things came along. When she gets married, I will wear whatever she decides to put me in, no matter how terrible I look. When her kids are born, I will drive however many miles it takes to be there. She is definitely on my home team. She might even be team captain. I'm sure you have someone like that, too.
But tonight, the people on my mind are the ones that seem to sneak in. They appear when you need them most. For those of you who don't know, I've gone through some big changes in my life recently. At the beginning of January I packed up all my stuff and moved from Knoxville, TN to Gallipolis, OH. This wasn't part of my plan by any means, but I'm learning that most of the time my plan is all wrong. God led me to this place and I love it. I am the new Children's Minister at Gallipolis Christian Church (Children's ministry also was not part of the plan...) and I could not be happier.
Moving five hours away from the people who you've been closest to for the past year, if not more changes things. This made me evaluate my home team. And for a while I wasn't sure who that was any more for a while. Its a lot harder to invest in someone's life from a distance, right?
Tonight, I got a glimpse of what my home team is starting to look like. You see, there are some people who are only on the team for a season or two. This doesn't make them bad people. They're time is just shorter. My team has lost some people, but its gaining some new ones. This change isn't easy, but it is beautiful. Yet, I am being reminded that while it is harder to invest in a life from a distance, there are those people who still do. Thank you. There are a handful of you in my life and I hope you know who you are. You have gotten me through some of the most difficult times in my life, and you are the shoulder to lean on in this time of change in my life.
So this post is for all of you who have been a part of my home team, whether for a lifetime or only a season. Thank you. You have helped shape me into who I am. And I challenge you. Who is your home team? Who is the person you can call at 2 am? Who is the one who knows which ice cream to buy after a break up or who knows just the right words to say when someone has let you down? Invest in those people. You don't have to be everything to everyone, but for just a moment, you may be everything to someone.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Thankful for a Plan
I'm currently sitting in the spare bedroom at my parents' house. I say the spare bedroom because there is no doubt in my mind that I will always have a place in my parents' house and I will always be welcome to come home, however I no longer really have a bedroom of my own here. Therefore, this room is not really mine. It just happens to be the one I'm claiming this week.
As I sit here, I can not help but think about tomorrow being Thanksgiving Day. This brings to mind the question that so many are asking, "What are you thankful for?" There is no shortage in things I am thankful, including the opportunity to be in Pennsylvania and spending this time with family. However this year, one thing seems to stand out above the rest. I am thankful that God has a plan that is bigger and better than my own.
Now, this is a concept I've known for years. I have said, written, and even taught about how God has a plan even when it may seem like everything is falling apart. Yet, this has become more real and evident to me recently than ever before. You see, I am also a planner. As a junior in high school I could have given you a ten year plan for my life. I was going to finish high school continuing with a handful of extra curriculars, active church involvement, and a part time job. I would enroll at Johnson Bible College for a Bachelor's degree in youth ministry. After graduation I would work in a medium sized church with teens. Somewhere along the way I would also get married and start a family.
If you're reading this, I must assume you've kept up on my life. You probably know that some of this played out just as I had planned. I did go to JBC, graduating with a degree in Youth Ministry in May 2011. That is about the place my plans fell apart. For four years of college, I said I would never do children's ministry. All the girls did children's ministry and it felt almost like a cop-out. I also never experienced children's ministry for myself because I didn't grow up in the church so I steered clear.
Don't ever try to tell God what you won't do. I began working with the children's ministry at Abundant Life CC in Sevierville my freshman year at JBC. I was still convinced this was just where I was serving during college. That all changed in the spring of 2011 when I joined the staff at ALCC as the Children's Director.
Each and every Sunday now, I realize that my plan was flawed. I did not have a clear vision of my skills and experiences as God had given them to me. I could not see the full path that He had laid before me. Children's ministry was never meant to be the stepping stone where I served until I "grew up" or finished school. On the contrary, children's ministry was right where God was and is calling me.
Even more so, God has made it evident that His plan is big and better than my own by providing a ministry for me to serve at full time in Ohio where I will begin in January. He opened this door when I was not looking or expecting it.
And before many of you ask, no I'm not getting married or starting a family any time too soon. However, I do trust that God will provide that, too. Yet I am sure He will do so in His timing not mine (probably when I least expect it).
So this year on Thanksgiving amongst all of the thankfulness for friends, food, and family, I must say that I am thankful for a great, big God who has great, big plans for me that are better than I could have asked or imagined.
*Dream Big Dreams. Pray Big Prayers.*
As I sit here, I can not help but think about tomorrow being Thanksgiving Day. This brings to mind the question that so many are asking, "What are you thankful for?" There is no shortage in things I am thankful, including the opportunity to be in Pennsylvania and spending this time with family. However this year, one thing seems to stand out above the rest. I am thankful that God has a plan that is bigger and better than my own.
Now, this is a concept I've known for years. I have said, written, and even taught about how God has a plan even when it may seem like everything is falling apart. Yet, this has become more real and evident to me recently than ever before. You see, I am also a planner. As a junior in high school I could have given you a ten year plan for my life. I was going to finish high school continuing with a handful of extra curriculars, active church involvement, and a part time job. I would enroll at Johnson Bible College for a Bachelor's degree in youth ministry. After graduation I would work in a medium sized church with teens. Somewhere along the way I would also get married and start a family.
If you're reading this, I must assume you've kept up on my life. You probably know that some of this played out just as I had planned. I did go to JBC, graduating with a degree in Youth Ministry in May 2011. That is about the place my plans fell apart. For four years of college, I said I would never do children's ministry. All the girls did children's ministry and it felt almost like a cop-out. I also never experienced children's ministry for myself because I didn't grow up in the church so I steered clear.
Don't ever try to tell God what you won't do. I began working with the children's ministry at Abundant Life CC in Sevierville my freshman year at JBC. I was still convinced this was just where I was serving during college. That all changed in the spring of 2011 when I joined the staff at ALCC as the Children's Director.
Each and every Sunday now, I realize that my plan was flawed. I did not have a clear vision of my skills and experiences as God had given them to me. I could not see the full path that He had laid before me. Children's ministry was never meant to be the stepping stone where I served until I "grew up" or finished school. On the contrary, children's ministry was right where God was and is calling me.
Even more so, God has made it evident that His plan is big and better than my own by providing a ministry for me to serve at full time in Ohio where I will begin in January. He opened this door when I was not looking or expecting it.
And before many of you ask, no I'm not getting married or starting a family any time too soon. However, I do trust that God will provide that, too. Yet I am sure He will do so in His timing not mine (probably when I least expect it).
So this year on Thanksgiving amongst all of the thankfulness for friends, food, and family, I must say that I am thankful for a great, big God who has great, big plans for me that are better than I could have asked or imagined.
*Dream Big Dreams. Pray Big Prayers.*
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Community
We were born to unite with our fellow men, and to join in community with the human race. ~Cicero
I feel like I am in a season of my life where God is teaching me a lot about community. This has not necessarily been a quick or an easy lesson to learn just as building of a community is not quick nor easy. God has blessed me with some amazing communities as I have continued this journey He is leading me on here in Knoxville.
One community has truly been a few different groups of people that have become interconnected in various ways coming together. It is not uncommon to find us out together on any day or night of the week. This could be at one of the many restaurants and business in Knoxville, at the dog park, in one of our living rooms, or (a favorite) one of our front porches.
It is with these people that I am reminded that we were never created to be alone. They are the ones who celebrate with me when things are going right. Sometimes they are the ones who cry with me when things fall apart. When I need to share my ideas or I simply need someone to listen, these are the people whom I know I can count on. These are the ones with whom I can dream big dreams and pray big prayers.
While in some ways I know I have always had people like this in my life, it is different now. We are intentional about spending time with one another. We ask tough and deep questions...ones that we may not know or understand the answers to. These are the people who purposefully get involved in my life and allow me into theirs. Now that I have such community, I don't know what I did without it.
I also feel as though having such community gives me a better understanding of God and the community He desires to have with us. He wants to purposefully be involved in my life and wants me to allow Him to be a part of it.
Just as Cicero said, we were born for community with the human race, to unite with fellow men. I am so thankful that in this season of change in my life, God has not only provided me with an amazing community of people to encourage, support, and challenge me, but He has also invited me to commune with Him.
I feel like I am in a season of my life where God is teaching me a lot about community. This has not necessarily been a quick or an easy lesson to learn just as building of a community is not quick nor easy. God has blessed me with some amazing communities as I have continued this journey He is leading me on here in Knoxville.
One community has truly been a few different groups of people that have become interconnected in various ways coming together. It is not uncommon to find us out together on any day or night of the week. This could be at one of the many restaurants and business in Knoxville, at the dog park, in one of our living rooms, or (a favorite) one of our front porches.
It is with these people that I am reminded that we were never created to be alone. They are the ones who celebrate with me when things are going right. Sometimes they are the ones who cry with me when things fall apart. When I need to share my ideas or I simply need someone to listen, these are the people whom I know I can count on. These are the ones with whom I can dream big dreams and pray big prayers.
While in some ways I know I have always had people like this in my life, it is different now. We are intentional about spending time with one another. We ask tough and deep questions...ones that we may not know or understand the answers to. These are the people who purposefully get involved in my life and allow me into theirs. Now that I have such community, I don't know what I did without it.
I also feel as though having such community gives me a better understanding of God and the community He desires to have with us. He wants to purposefully be involved in my life and wants me to allow Him to be a part of it.
Just as Cicero said, we were born for community with the human race, to unite with fellow men. I am so thankful that in this season of change in my life, God has not only provided me with an amazing community of people to encourage, support, and challenge me, but He has also invited me to commune with Him.
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