It's more than a musical

This post has been a long time coming, and I am glad that it has taken me so long to write, as I now get to include more insights from this past year as one of the Kids Music and Arts Co-Directors at our church.  Really I have been working with out church's children's music programs since my son was in kindergarten, and he is now in the 5th grade, so 6 years now.  It's hard to believe that it has been that long.  For my first two years I helped as a volunteer, then the 3rd year, the program had grown so much that our pastor hired my friend and me to take it on as a part-time position with the church.

We both grew up with musical backgrounds and educational backgrounds working with children, so it was a great fit.  Our first couple years were merely survival.  In the fall, it was making sure the kids stayed focused during the hour we had them each week, so the Christmas musical would be at least enjoyable for the parents that attended.  In the spring, we tried to teach the kids more about music basics, different instruments, and a few art projects.  We developed relationships with returning kids, and our program continued to grow.

After year 4, we seemed to hit a stride, but I started to feel a push to make it more than just music and arts.  Yes the kids were singing about Jesus and God, but were they just singing or really learning?  My co-director and I were in the same mindset because when we started planning out the new year, we brainstormed way to teach the kids beyond words and choreography.  We wanted them to know the backgrounds of the songs, and that some of the words actually came from bible verses.  We took a little time out of each hour to take prayer requests and then pray as a group.  In the Spring we provided an opening session at the beginning of programming, leading them in a worship song and providing a message.  We changed our curriculum to alternate 6 week sessions with our Children's programming, so we could have the whole 2 hours on Sunday night for the season of Lent.  We worked on prepared to perform with the adult choir's Easter Cantata on Palm Sunday through chimes, singing, and/or art.  We talked about what Lent really means, the symbols of Lent, stations of the cross, told the story of Jesus's love for us.  How He loves us enough that he would die for us.

Where we used to see a large drop off in attendance once the Christmas Musical was done, as most kids just wanted to be in the big performance, we had kids coming back to continue the experience of learning about God though art and music.  It was such a great experience for everyone because we were learning more during our preparation to teach the kids.

This past year during our Christmas musical, it really hit me that this is more than a musical.  We had a friend tell us that their family was dealing with a rough medical issue, and she should listen to one of the songs, "God has a Plan," in her car even when her kids weren't with her because it brought her comfort.  It's more than a musical.  We had a precious little boy that my friend and I have known for years that is diagnosed with a condition called Tuberous Sclerosis (to learn more about this condition, you can click on the link).  Due to the tumors on his brain, he has delays in his development, sensory processing issues, and seizures.  We weren't sure how much participation he could have in the musical as his attention strays easily and he is quite the busy body, but we were determined to have him up there.  He learned the songs with some hard work and repetition from practice at church and lots of practice at home, and he was able to participate in all the singing parts, which he did so joyfully!  It brought tears to our eyes.  It's more than a musical.  We had kids talk with their families at home about the concepts that we spoke about in practice.  It was really amazing to see how God worked in their little hearts (and in ours) to bring His word to life through song, acting, dance, and chimes.  It's so much more than a Christmas Musical.

This past Sunday following Easter, we celebrated Children's Sabbath.  This is a joint event between Children's Programming and Kids Music and Arts at our church.  Our Children's director assigned kids to do everything from greeting to serving communion.  We prepared the kids to sing three songs (two songs for worship and one special music piece for our exiting 5th graders - and one lone 4th grader :)  )  It was so amazing.  The kids didn't just get up and act cute to perform, they actually lead worship!  Some kids even chose to write their own prayers to say, instead of having the Children's Director provide them with one.  The kids understood the importance of the roles they were assigned and fulfilled them with grace.  People were commenting on how blessed they felt by the kids, and there were many a joyful tear from all throughout the congregation.  We felt the same way leading them!  It is hard to not to be awestruck when you see your son close his eyes and feel the words he is singing his solo during Amazing Grace, My Chains are Gone. God can do so mighty things through the little people at our church.

So when you drop your kids off for children's music or are attending a performance, please remember that it is so much more than a musical.

To view our Children's Sabbath services or other services, you can click on the Live Stream links below:

First Frisco UMC Children's Sabbath 9:30 service
First Frisco UMC Children's Sabbath 11:00 service
First Frisco UMC Palm Sunday Easter Cantata
First Frisco UMC KMA Christmas Musical

Get out of the Boat

You know those hard lessons you have to teach in parenting?  Those really hard ones that make you squirm?  I'm not talking about sending your kids off to their first day of school, when they ask you that dreaded question, "Mom where do babies come from?" or even when you have to stick to that punishment even though you feel terrible about it.  Nope that's nothing compared to this lesson.

I had to teach this lesson to my kiddos about 4 years ago.  I knew it was coming sooner or later.  My son was 7 years old and my daughter was 4.  We had been invited to go out to the lake on our friends boat for the day.  It sounded like a great idea...until I realized that I would have to get in said lake.  

I would much rather do many other things than set my toe in lake water.  People who know me well, know that I fear lake water with it's murky depths.  I know to many people this is ridiculous.  I even know in my sound part of my brain that this is nothing to dread.  However in that little anxiety ridden part of my brain the alarms and sirens are going off.  DANGER!  DANGER!  Have you ever seen that Hostess Ding Dong commercial where the shark thinks the lady in the inner tube with the unfortunate bathing suit is a tasty snack treat?  Well I am convinced that the snakes (and anything else that might bite) look at my reflective white thighs and think that they would also make a tasty treat.  I scream when the strap of my life jacket brushes my leg thinking it is some swimming creature with teeth trying to sneak up and take a bite!  Plus who really enjoys feeling squishy slimy lake floor on the bottom of their feet.  Blech.  I really am a big baby, and I own this.  I am ok with this.  

However with my children out on the water that day, I looked at them, and I didn't want to teach them that fear.  I wanted them to be able to enjoy the lake, swimming and tubing without fear.  So I made up my mind, while I would have been completely happy hanging out and relaxing on the boat (although I am not a lake person, I am totally a boat person), I would get in the water.  Not only would I get in the water, I would do so without screaming as though an anaconda were right next to me (even thought I fully believe it could have been).  It took a little bit of time spent on the edge of the boat internally psyching myself up. 

Finally I took the plunge (literally) and got in.  I floated around with my kids cheering them on, so I could keep my mind off the inevitable swarm of carnivores circling me.  After awhile I felt more comfortable and even, wait for it, enjoyed myself a little bit!  I shocked myself!  Not that I have jumped into many lakes since then, but I was proud that I didn't pass that fear down to my kiddos without allowing them to experience it first.

This is when we first got in.  The smile is one of sheer terror, but she couldn't tell. :)

I was thinking about that the other day, and it made me realize how many times I do this when expressing my faith around my kiddos.  Now it's not that I don't express my faith at all.  I am on staff with our children's program at church, I help lead VBS, and I do children's sermons at Sunday services, so they hear me teaching on a regular basis, but I feel so unequipped at times to talk to them just at home about our faith and Jesus.  I let my fear get the best of me, and I avoid the topic when I know it is being put in front of me.  I don't want to steer them wrong.  I don't want to sound silly.  So many excuses.

I have to get out of the boat (my easy safe zone) and jump into the water.  I may be faking confidence at first, I may be terrified about how my words are received, but again I don't want my kids to grow up with a fear of not being equipped to talk to someone about their faith.  I want them to grow up with the confidence to talk about and express their faith freely.  

I have to admit, I did this about as slowly as I got into the lake water.  I started with devotionals that we would read, and I would also ask them what they thought about the children's sermon or the Sunday School lesson that day.  I was often surprised at how wise the little ones of mine were despite my failings to intentionally talk about these things.  I realized how much they truly caught from our daily life and activities of living out our faith, while not always speaking about it.  Finally I started taking advantage of those situations that I know God was putting out there are learning experiences.  Taking their questions a little further than the easy cookie cutter answer and asking them their thoughts.  Pushing them a little further as I pushed myself alongside them.  

I am still such a work in progress.  I don't always preach what I practice (yep I wrote that right) and if you ask me to pray out loud, something other than a memorized prayer or creed, I might just pretend to pass out just to get out of it. That's ok though, I am still working through it.  I am getting out of the boat slowly but surely.  What is getting out of the boat for you?  Praying with your kids?  Taking them to church for the first time?  Thinking about the possibility of Jesus's incredible love for you?  Whatever it is go for it!  Not only will your children learn and grow, you will too!  God's will never takes you where His grace can't follow. 

For the Love of Thyroid Surgery

Be prepared, this one is a little long.  I was going through my Timehop app today, and this showed up:

It brought me back to the beginning of a crazy journey that started over 3 years ago.

I have always had trouble with my thyroid as long as I can remember.  I had blood tests done throughout the years, but the results were always normal.  After some in-depth testing, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's, an autoimmune disease where basically my body attacks my thyroid.  It's just rude really.

Finally about 4 years ago, I had noticed that the lump in my throat seemed worse, and my voice was fatiguing and almost painful at the end of choir practice.  I was involved in the city chorale and our church choir at the time, so at first I thought I was doing too much, so I backed down.  Even still, my voice would get hoarse just from reading my daughter a short story book, so I decided to see the doctor again.  They sent me to get an ultrasound, which I truly believe could be considered a form of torture.  I already feel like I have a lump in my throat, so now I get to have someone press something up against my neck (not so gently I might add) until I felt like I couldn't breathe.  It was probably only about 15 minutes, but it felt like hours!

I was referred to an ENT to discuss what to do next.  I had assumed that I would be seeing an endocrinologist, so I was pretty surprised to see that ENTs treat thyroids as well.  In hindsight, the thryoid is located in the throat (T of ENT), so there you have it.When I got to his office, he let me know that they found a multi-nodular goiter on the right side of my thyroid (I mean seriously?) and a nodule that was borderline worrisome in size, but the real concern was that it had blood flow to it, which can be an indicator of cancer.  My doctor felt strongly that it wasn't, but they would do a biopsy when they removed the nodule along with the left side of my thyroid.  He said they would do the biopsy when I was still in surgery, and if it came back as cancerous they would go ahead and take the right side of my thyroid as well.

Fast forward to the day of surgery, I am unusually calm considering the fact that I am heading back to me 2nd surgery ever.  My family and pastor was there to pray with me beforehand, and then I went back.  I was asleep the whole time, so it went well for me!  I just remember being in recovery and asking if they just took half of the thyroid, and the answer was yes. :)  Apparently my poor husband didn't have the same relaxing experience.  My surgery that was supposed to take 45 minutes ended up taking over and hour and a half, due to the thryoid being so inflamed and bled quite a bit, plus the nodule was attached the vocal nerve.  Poor guy was outside sweating it thinking that they had to take the whole thyroid because the nodule was cancerous.  Thankfully that wasn't the case.  So we went home later that day, and recovery went well starting off.

I had adjusted to scarves being my new fall fashion to cover up my incision site, but the thing I couldn't get used to was my voice was not right and my swallowing was a bit off (I would choke very easily).  I talked in a higher octave, and it was very breathy and raspy.  I would get winded just saying a few sentences and forget trying to talk to people in a crowd because I couldn't be heard.  It was very isolating, and I started to avoid group situations due to it.  I also worried about being out and about with my kids or even by myself because I couldn't yell or scream if there was a dangerous situation.  These were all my initial concerns, so I went to the doctor again.  After 9 months of dealing with it, a couple of doctor appointments and two speech therapy evaluations, I found out that my left vocal chord had been completely paralyzed in the surgery, probably due to the removal of the nodule that was adhered to the nerve.

I'd had the surgery just a few weeks before our 10th wedding anniversary.
Luckily I have an amazing friend who loaned me a gorgeous scarf to wear out to a nice dinner that night. :)

I was devastated.  While I knew that it was silly because otherwise I was healthy, but one thing occurred to me...I would probably never sing again.  Even with my voice slightly improving, it wasn't the same, and I would burst into coughing fits from strain. As I went to the speech therapist, she told me that likely I would always be paralyzed on the left side, which I still am, but she and the ENT were quite impressed that I had the vocal quality that I did have.  They were shocked in fact.  I told them that I was a singer (not professional by any means, but I have sang since I was little), and if possible, I would like to be able to do that still.  The speech therapist said I will never have the same range I did before, she thought with as well as I was doing now, that singing could definitely be in the future.  That was all I needed.  I worked towards singing again.

I made the mistake of getting back to singing at church a little too soon.  The will was there, but the ability not quite.  I sang a solo at the Christmas Eve surgery about a year and half after the surgery, and it was horrible.  I panicked on stage, had a slight anxiety attack, yet sang through it all (poor people in the congregation).  While it may not have been as bad as I thought, it was enough to scare me away from the thought of singing in front of others again...until about a year after that.  My vocal quality and confidence had continued to grow, and I had this crazy nudge to sing at church again.  Auditions for our praise band opened up, and I signed up.  I almost felt like God was saying, "I gave you this gift to sing, even through circumstances that should have taken it away.  You better use it!"  I auditioned, and...I have been singing with our praise band ever since.  I was so nervous but so glad I did it.  I went through some very low times thinking that I had lost this ability, so I definitely don't take it for granted now.  It's not perfect, and my voice wobbles from time to time, but I am proud of what I do have because now more than ever I realize that it is a gift.  When the doctors and therapists are shocked, I consider that a God thing. ;)

This was all confirmed again when I was reading, For the Love, this past year.  In her chapter, Run Your Race, Jen writes, "I don't like it when people minimize their gifts.  There is a difference between humility and insecurity, and self-effacement does no one any favors.  We teach our watching children to doubt and excuse and diminish themselves.  Do we want our kids to reflect on their mothers and have absolutely no idea what we loved?  What we were good at?"  My answer to this is a resounding "NO!"  I was so falling into the insecurity section both before and after my surgery.  Now I say use what you Father gave you!  Break all the rules, believe in miracles, and believe in yourself. :)

Win at Being You

When I first bought the Anomaly cd by Christian Rap/Hip Hop artist Lecrae, I was excited to hear the music, but I was also excited to support a former classmate in his ministry.  Little did I know that that the album would speak to me in that way that it did.  I popped the cd in, and on the first listen I was hooked!  There is a song called Outsiders that immediately grabbed me.  In the space I was in (and still am in), I was struggling with what I am supposed to do in this time and place I am in.  God has put some books and experiences in my path that caused me to rethink what my priorities should be in my walk and my serving.

There is a lyric in the song that says, "I failed at being you, but I'm winning at being me."

There is so much truth in that statement.  How many times do we strive to meet someone else's goals?   Someone else's expectations?  How exhausting is that?  I know I am guilty of this.  Trying to meet the perfection standards set for us by the Facebook pictures of everyone's perfect life, the Pinterest pins of crafts, cakes, meals, school lunches, clothing, etc.  In the midst of trying to be good at everything for fear of not being able to perform/create/parent as well as the next person, we lose who we are and what our purpose is.  We can't do it all and do it well, and to be honest we are miserable doing it (although our smiling FB picture of us doing such things).  Essentially we are failing like the lyric says.  

I can't succeed at being someone else because God made me to be me.  He didn't create a cookie cutter human race with everyone have the same gifts and abilities.  He created each and every one of us to have a specific purpose.  How awesome is that?!?  Out of all the billions of people on this earth, God has a specific purpose for YOU that is not meant for anyone else. 

Trying to live in someone else's shoes may not mean that you are doing something wrong or even not God centered.  For example, there are many ministries and opportunities at my church.  I have served in some capacities because I felt like I should, and not because I felt like I had the gifts or resources to do so.  I was trying to be the person that was meant for that job when it wasn't who I was.  Let's just say it wasn't the most rewarding experiences, and at times I felt that I cheated both the ministry by not being the person they needed and the person who should have been serving by taking their place.  I have also served in capacities that I knew were my gifts and my calling.  Both opportunities are good ones, but not all were really meant for me.

What about when being me, puts me on the outside?  Good news, you are in good company.  Jesus was rejected, gossiped about by the Jewish elders of the time, put on trial and brutally killed for being Him...an outsider.  There are also so many other "outsiders" out there than you realize until you take the step in faith.  They are waiting to embrace you, encourage you, and love you for you.  Does this mean it will be easy.  Um, no.  Going against the grain of society is never easy.  Friends and family may tease you, think you are strange or even leave you altogether.  Guess what though, the Heavenly Father will never do that.  As I get older, I realize more and more that my life is so much easier when I am working to please God rather than please others.  He has also provided as I do these things to be sure that I am encouraged to continue.  Yes distractions come along and I follow them like a dog after a squirrel at times, I am human!  But once I realize it, I turn again back to the arms ready to receive me for me. 

Why waste your time here on this earth trying to be someone your not?  Live out your purpose and win at being you!

Run Your Race #FortheLove

A few weeks ago I was checking out the scripture for the upcoming sermon, so I could prep for my children's sermon (when I mean prep, I mean read the scripture, think about it for a week, and still go up to the front of the church with a general idea and hope for lots of grace).  I read the title, Running to Win, and saw that it was based off of 1 Corinthians 9:19-27.

19 Although I’m free from all people, I make myself a slave to all people, to recruit more of them. 20 I act like a Jew to the Jews, so I can recruit Jews. I act like I’m under the Law to those under the Law, so I can recruit those who are under the Law (though I myself am not under the Law). 21 I act like I’m outside the Law to those who are outside the Law, so I can recruit those outside the Law (though I’m not outside the law of God but rather under the law of Christ).22 I act weak to the weak, so I can recruit the weak. I have become all things to all people, so I could save some by all possible means. 23 All the things I do are for the sake of the gospel, so I can be a partner with it.

24 Don’t you know that all the runners in the stadium run, but only one gets the prize? So run to win. 25 Everyone who competes practices self-discipline in everything. The runners do this to get a crown of leaves that shrivel up and die, but we do it to receive a crown that never dies. 26 So now this is how I run—not without a clear goal in sight. I fight like a boxer in the ring, not like someone who is shadowboxing. 27 Rather, I’m landing punches on my own body and subduing it like a slave. I do this to be sure that I myself won’t be disqualified after preaching to others.

When I read this verse it immediately took me to a chapter that I had recently read in Jen Hatmaker's upcoming book, For The Love (available Aug. 18th).  In the chapter Run Your Race, Jen discusses how we are each running our own race, and how we should not only feel encouraged for ourselves, but also cheer along other running beside us.  I decided that God had put that chapter in my life to preach to the kids at our church.

On Sunday I went up to the front of the church again with just the general idea.  Let's be real here,  You can right a script for a children's sermon, but inevitably one of the children is going to start chasing rabbits and throw you off your script, so I prefer to chase rabbits with them instead. :)

I asked them how many of them liked to run, and just about all of them raised their hands.  I told them that when I was a kid, I loved to run too, but now that I am an adult, my body is not quite the same, so I do not enjoy running as much.  I told them when I am asked to sign up for a race, I usually say no since I do not enjoy running.  Then I went on to say if I don't like running does that mean that I can never do races?  I asked them what other kind of races there are.  I got many answers (car, three-legged, bike, motorcycle, pie-eating - we will save that story for...NEVER!).

I told them that just because I don't like to run, doesn't mean that I can't compete in a race ever again.  It just means that I need to find MY race and join in.  I told them that this is kind of like how we serve God and our race to the finish line of life.  Some people are good at singing in the choir or the band, while others enjoy evangelizing.  Some of the them may like to go on mission trips, but some of them may prefer to serve at our church.  I told them that each one of those things is important in bringing people in and closer to Christ.

I asked them what they would do if a friend was in a running race and beating them.  I asked if they would reach their foot out to trip their friend, so they couldn't be ahead?  Many of them shook their head with a horrified look on their face while others giggled.  I said that they were right, we shouldn't do that.  Tripping their friend is going to make them run any faster, and it's only going to create bad feelings.  In that same way, when we see our friends doing well for God, we shouldn't be jealous.  We should be proud of them and cheer them on.  Their race is not our race.

 Plus the race to God is not about who finishes first.  It's about doing the best with the gifts and opportunities God has given you.  At the end, we don't want a 1st place medal.  We just want a seat in Heaven and to hear the words, "Well done." from our Heavenly Father.

My hope for each of you is that you find your gifts, realize your opportunities, and run your race.

Throwback Thursday about Good Friday

I was looking back through my facebook and found this "note" from Holy Week of 2009.  I know that Holy Week has come and gone, but we are still celebrating the season of Easter. :)

This post was inspired by my son at our Good Friday service.  The simple, innocent, yet brilliant view of a 4 year old child.

April 10, 2009 - It was funny tonight at the Good Friday service, in the choir, we are singing The Weeping Tree cantata, and as we go through the story of Jesus's crucifixion the pastor's are laying the cloth on the cross, putting the cross of thorns at the top of the cross, and the nails. The final piece the pastors put on are rose petals to symbolize the blood of Christ as he died. Before the final song, the congregation was invited to lay stones at the foot of the cross to symbolize laying down our burden and sin. The pastors also invited to to take us rose petal for remembrance if we would like. I happened to get down from the choir loft at the same time as my son and husband were at the cross. We all laid down our stones, and my son picked up a rose petal. Before we split ways back to our seats, my son grabbed my sleeve and said "Mommy, this is love" is a sing-songy voice as he held up the love petal. In his mind I am sure that he saw a flower petal and you give flowers to those you love. It really struck a chord with me though when he said that b/c it hit me that yes, it is love. It was God's love for us shown through his son's blood on that day. I am not normally this in depth with the things I write, and I usually prefer to stay away from stating my opinions on religion or "witnessing" ( I am a former Lutheran, I can't help it! :) ), but I kept thinking about it all the way home, so I thought I would just put it out there, how my son in his simple observation really brought one of the points of Good Friday home for me. Happy Easter!!!

Go Get Your Sister

We had an ice week about a month ago where we were stuck at home, schools were closed, and it was really too icy to even venture outside to play.  So there we were all at home...together.  It started off pretty well, and I have to say that I love that my children are getting more independent in keeping entertained.  One thing that I did start to notice though was something that moms have dealt with since the beginning of time.

Me: "Go get your sister and tell her it's time to get ready to eat."

Son: (From the couch yelling upstairs) "Wash your hands, and get ready to eat!"

Me: (in the kitchen rolling my eyes as I could have yelled on my own) "No GO to your sister and tell her to get ready to eat."

This is nothing new.  I remember doing this as a kid, and I am pretty sure my parents did it to their parents.  In fact, I am pretty sure it has been going on since Bible times.  

The word "Go" is used so many times in the Bible.

*GO, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the Israelites GO out of his country. - Exodus 6:11 (NIV)

*GO!  I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. - Luke 10:3 (NIV)

*But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or turn back.  Where you GO I will GO..." 

- Ruth 1:16 (NIV)

*Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "GO and make preparations for us to eat the Passover." 

- Luke 22:8 (NIV)

*"Therefore GO and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." - Matthew 28:19 (NIV)

The last one hit my core when I was reading the book Interrupted by Jen Hatmaker.  (A great read, but be ready to be changed!)  How easy it is to just think "make disciples" and leave out the "go," just as my children do when I tell them to "Go and tell..."  Go requires action, requires sacrifice, requires commitment.  As frustrated as I got that day, it made me step back and think how frustrated God must be at me!  

"Go and get your sister/brother...

-and invite her/him to church.

-and bring her/him a meal.

-and invite her/him to a bible study.

-and have coffee just to talk.

-and give her/him a hug.

-and tell her/him about Me!

As uncomfortable or inconvenient these may be what about this:

"Go and get your sister/brother...

-and give them them grocery money instead of getting my nails done.

-and hold their hand and look in their eyes as they tell you their story even though you don't know them and you don't know how long it has been since they showered/washed their hands.

-and visit them in the hospital,

-and tell them that you love them and God loves them even when they have messed up and maybe even hurt you in the process.

-and help them out by bringing food to their apartment complex even if it means missing the big game on tv.

How often am I so comfortable to just sit on my computer and invite everyone to come to my church and church events?  I would so rather do that than actually face to face ask them (My introvert is showing!)  Isn't it so much easier to just give to a mission rather than GO and do one?  (Not that giving to missions is bad - both sides are definitely needed).  But just telling and giving aren't enough.  I am so much more likely to follow up on an invitation of someone's of I have been personally invited instead of "group" invited.  I am much more likely to attend an church or event with someone that I see "walk the walk" and not just "talk the talk."

We cannot help people understand the love of Jesus unless we GO show the love of Jesus through our actions.  

"As the body without the spirit is Dead, so faith without deeds is dead." - James 2:26

How many times has God told me to GO and get my sister or brother and do something?  How many times have I just yelled from the couch half-hearted because I was either too lazy to get up or was afraid to get off the comfort of the couch into a zone where I many not be so comfortable?  How many times have a flat out ignored him?  

All I can say is thank goodness for grace and second chances!

I am now making an effort to hear those GO calls and actually get my rear off the comfy couch and do something.  It's not always going to be easy and it definitely won't always be comfortable, but I have a feeling that I will come out ok in the end. :)

Go and get your sister!

I don't want to be awesome #FortheLove

Awesome.  It's become a thing in our culture.  If you google just the word awesome, tons of images and memes pop up, some funny and some quite "interesting" to put it nicely.

Being "awesome" is a running joke in my house as my husband likes to claim it's pretty much woven into his DNA.  My son even has a shirt that just says #awesome, and we searched for one for my husband b/c my son only felt it was appropriate. (We didn't find one though.  His awesomeness will just have to radiate from his inner being instead of from words on his shirt).

Just recently though I received the motivation to stop being "awesome."

As I have posted previously, I was chosen to be on the launch time for Jen Hatmaker's new book, For the Love, which will be released in August.  I have already devoured the book that was sent to me.  I have laughed, been humbled and inspired, and even learned some new recipes!  For those of you who cry, you will probably cry too.  I am just not a crier.

In her first chapter in the book Jen talks about the pressure we put on ourselves to be everything to everyone and be great at everything.   I don't know about you, but this goes straight to my core.  I know that I feel pressure from every which way of my life to volunteer, make things, attend, support, etc.  I feel the need to do all things things asked from others (and from myself), but why?  If I am going to be honest here, sometimes it's because I want others to think that I can do it all, that I am talented, that I have it all together.  In reality, piling up these expectations does the opposite.  I am unfocused, my house turns into a bigger disaster area than it already is (which I am pretty sure is just a physical representation of how my brain looks), and I don't do anything well.  My husband and I have talked many times about when one of use is overstretched about how we feel that we are getting nowhere.  We are doing a bunch of "things" but we feel like we are failing at all of them.

In her book, Jen says, "We need to quit trying to be awesome and instead be wise."

Wise.

When I think of wise, I think of people who are experienced in years, who have been there and done that.  I think of certain long time members in our church, who I look up to.  When I think of them, I think of people who are God-focused.  They have their channels that they are plugged into and passionate about, and they don't have a problem saying no to those things that they know are for other people's gifts.

In another study that I am doing, The Best Yes by Lysa TerKeurst, she says, "we have to know that God is especially fond of filling the empty spaces.  God is a master at providing just the right thing at just the right timing."

Hello!  Wake up call!!!  I am not meant to be everything to everyone.  I am not meant to fill every volunteer spot.  I don't have to do everything at my house.  I don't even have to be everything to my children.  In doing that I am saying, "God I got this, I don't need to trust you to fill those empty spaces."  Yikes.

How about I just be wise, and instead let God be awesome?

Isn't that the way it is supposed to be?  Shouldn't God be the awesome one, and we can just give Him the glory?

Lesson learned.  Take stock of my commitments, be wise about what I am choosing, stop getting in the way of other people trying to use their gifts, and let God be awesome.

#blessed

Last week I had to prepare a sermon on Blessings based off Matthew 5:1-15.  This was a tough one folks.  Despite the verse being filled with "Blessed are the..." the endings just don't make sense in our earthly minds.  How was I supposed to explain to a group of kiddos preschool and up that "Blessed are the poor," and "Blessed are the meek," when logically you are going, "Whaaa?" (Insert Despicable Me minion verse here).

Due to my lack of creativity and inspiration, I chose to go to the trusty Google to help me out.  I read through a variety of children's sermons on the topic, but I still wasn't finding quite what I wanted.  I was getting a little worried that this one was not going to work out, but silly me, God provides.  As we were driving home from our ski vacation on Friday, I was able to pull some up that I could take pieces from and work with with.  Giving credit where credit is due, here are the links:

What is a Blessing? - Sermons 4 Kids

The Beatitudes - Blessed are You!

The Sermon on the Mount - DLTK Bibles stories for children

The general idea I took from these is a blessing is not something that happens to you, it is receiving God's love and letting it work through you.  That way even in the hard times, you are still blessed b/c you always have God's love.  I spoke with the kids about this on Sunday morning, and explained that even when bad things happen (get sick, parent loses job, etc.) that we are still blessed if we allow ourselves to feel God's love and show it to others.

For our later group, I got a little more specific in the message and their mission behind it.  We talked about the #blessed that we often see on social media.  We talked again about the true meaning of a blessings and how it is gotten misconstrued.  As Jessica Bennet a writer for the New York times put it, "calling something “blessed” has become the go-to term for those who want to boast about an accomplishment while pretending to be humble, fish for a compliment, acknowledge a success (without sounding too conceited), or purposely elicit envy."

I am not trying to call anyone out here, but how often do we see the status posts such as:
"I am having an epic hair day! #blessed"
"We get to embarrass USC three times in one season. #blessed"
"I live the life I deserve. #blessed"
"Chipotle for lunch. #blessed"
"Returned to my apartment to find a new shower head...that actually provides water pressure. #GodisGood #blessed"
"I'm laying on a beach in the Dominican Republic with a pina colada in my hand and no worries #TheLife #Blessed"

These are actual statuses that I found on the internet from searching #blessed.  None of these are people that I know, and I did not include the names to protect the innocent.  I am not bashing on people who are thankful for the things in their life, so please know that.  We just need to start recognizing and differentiating being blessed and having good things or gifts that happen in our life.

"I am having an epic hair day. #blessed" - Well that means I go most days without being blessed, not to mention those that suffer from illness or medical treatments that cause their hair to fall out.

"We get to embarrass USC three times in one season. #blessed" - I never knew that one person's blessing meant another's failure.

"I live the life I deserve. #blessed" - Um, I know that people work hard and many get rewarded for this effort, but what about those who work hard with no reward.  What about those in Africa who are born into villages where they do no have the luxury of modern medicine.  Are they living the "blessed" life they deserve?  Don't even get me started on Jesus's life.  Basically homeless, persecuted, and eventually crucified.

"Chipotle for lunch. #blessed" - For those who cannot afford Chipotle or even some ramen noodles, I guess they are out of luck.

"Returned to my apartment to find a new shower head...that actually provides water pressure. "GodisGood #blessed" - It makes me wonder about those who do not even have clean water drink, much less bathrooms to shower in.

 "I'm laying on a beach in the Dominican Republic with a pina colada in my hand and no worries #TheLife #Blessed" - Folks if this is the requirement for being blessed, then I will never be!

I know I am being a little sarcastic here, but I hop you get my point.  Again I truly believe that these are all things to be thankful for, but calling them blessings may be inappropriate, as it leaves others out of the possibility of being "blessed" when truly every person can be.

I encouraged the kids in our program to help change the #blessed connotation.  I challenged them to show God's love somehow this week to someone else and have them put it out there on social media (if they had an account or ask their parents to put it on theirs) with the #blessed.

Maybe we can all do this, and other can realize that they do not have the rich, successful, beautiful by the world's standards, etc. to be #blessed.  God's blessings are for everyone.

Spiritual Gifts + Candy = Best Children's Sermon ever!!

Yesterday was my week for children's sermon and the topic was Committed, Serve and Go.  (We are currently in the middle of our stewardship campaign.)  The verses the pastor was speaking about listed the spiritual gifts.  Now sometimes when I hear the verse and/or the title of a sermon, ideas and inspiration just hit.  This week, not so much, so I turned to my trusty friend Google.  After searching through ideas and others sermons for about 45 minutes, I drew some inspiration from this sermon about Spiritual Gifts and cake.  Now I knew I wasn't going to be able to make the cakes (Ain't nobody got time for that!), so I took the easy way out and went to get some candy which tied in with Halloween coming up.

The night before I put each type of candy in a ziplock bag with a spiritual gift labeled on it. (Starburst - Administration, Whoppers - Faith, Dum Dums - Tongues, Smarties - Evangelism, Hershey Kisses - Compassion).  Then put them in one big bag to carry them up to the front with me.  This may or may not have been a Frozen bag that I had to borrow from my daughter.

The next morning I greeted the kiddos and asked them what holiday was coming up, and the response was a very excited "Halloween!"  Then I asked what do they get on Halloween, and I got an even more excited "CANDY!"  I then told them that I had brought some candy with me today b/c I told them that candy was like spiritual gifts.  Now we have two services at our church, and at the second service I asked the kids if they knew how candy and spiritual gifts could be alike, and a very wise elementary schooler sitting beside be answered, "Because they are both meant to be given away,"  From the mouths of babes!!  I told her thanks for doing the sermon, and we could all go home now!  Don't ever discount those little ones. :)

I went on the tell them that just like the candy I had in my bags, there are many different spiritual gifts (20 recognized by the United Methodist Church), but while each gift is unique , they are all gifts from God, just as all the candy with the different shapes, flavors and sizes are still collectively candy.

I pulled out my Administration bag first with the Starburst in it, and I told the kids that like the night before I had snuck a couple pieces of Starburst while I was working on my sermon.  I let them know that I like Starbust, but I was very disappointed when I opened my packed of candy only to find two LEMON.  Ugh (because we all know that cherry and orange are the best).  I explained to the kids that while I like some flavors of Starbursts, I do not enjoy all the flavors, just like I enjoy some parts of administration, but not all the parts.  I passed that bag on to one of the kiddos to hold and told them that is not one of my gifts.  I did a similar speech with Faith, Tongues, and Evangelism).

Then I got to my Compassion bag of Hershey Kisses.  I told the kids that I felt like compassion was one of my gifts because when I heard of a someone who was in need of something that my mind won't stop thinking about it until I do something to help.  I went on to tell the kids that chocolate was my favorite candy, so I would just keep it to myself after all.  The kids were emphatic that I share it of course!  I asked them what could happen if I kept all the chocolate and ate it myself, and one kiddo replied that I would get a belly ache.  I told him yes I would!!  I then added that if we keep our spiritual gifts to ourselves that we may not get a belly ache but it definitely doesn't feel good.  If I hear of a friend who is hurting or in need of something, and I do nothing, it definitely bothers me!  I am not fulfilling God's wish for my when he gave me this gift.  We talked about how gifts like candy are meant to be shared.  I asked the kids to remember this each time they saw a piece of candy this month.  Then after prayer and much suspense each child got to take a piece of candy of their choice back with them.

Researching this sermon definitely got me thinking.  We took a Disciple class a couple years ago, and at the end it had a spiritual gifts section where we were supposed to analyze and discuss each others gifts.  Well, our class is a bit of a rabbit chasing class, so we never really got to do that in its true form.  I discovered a spiritual gifts assessment online when I was looking up material last week, and I intend to take it today, so see what it says, so I can maybe look at new ways of serving and fulfilling God's plan.  If you are interested in taking the assessment yourself, click on the link below.

UMC Spiritual Gifts Assessment