Purpose Over Position

We started a new series in church today in preparation for Easter Sunday in a few weeks. Today's message was called Purpose Over Position and it was super encouraging. Pastor Caleb shared from the book of Mark when James and John ask Jesus to save them a seat at His right and left hand in Heaven. Jesus then talks about what they must do in order to be great, they must make themselves servants and slaves to all. "But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:43-45). We are called to serve, not to be served.

The problem in Mark and the problem even today in the church is that we get caught up in what position we hold. We want to be the ones getting all of the attention and all of the glory, but we are unwilling to put in the work required of being a servant to others. Caleb encouraged us to focus more on what God can do through us rather than the position we hold. He also shared three ways in which God can work through us. 

God works through us according to our gifts. We have all been given specific gifts that we must use to serve those around us, not just at church on Sundays but in our everyday lives. Our gifts are muscles that must be exercised. We have to "stop waiting for God to elevate [us] and start serving where God has placed you right now." I took this step a little over a year ago when I started serving with in the nursery. God has given me a huge love for kids and the ability to care for and nurture them and I knew I had to put that to use. So I started serving. Not to get anything out of it or to be recognized for my contribution, but to use the gifts God has given me. Secondly, God works through us according to our willingness. We have to have a willing heart. Jesus didn't pick the most talented, spiritual, or gifted people to be his disciples. He was and still is looking for people who are willing. And finally, God works through us according to our purpose. We have all been given a purpose to serve and to love both in and out of the church.

Another thing Caleb said that resonated with me today is that "God elevates that which we cultivate." Like I said, I started serving at church a little over a year ago. It took me awhile to dive in but I feel God pulling on my heart to get involved and to use the gifts he has given me. So I started serving in in the nursery. After serving consistently for several months, I was asked to serve at the West Sac campus once a month with the Preschool program. Later I was asked to co-lead a sisterhood group and eventually lead it by myself for a little while. I found myself getting asked to do more and more things and while it did give me more position, all I wanted and still want to do it serve in whatever way God is asking me to serve. This last week, I got a call from Pastor Chrissy asking if I would be willing to let them put my name up for a position on the Board for Project Church. I was shocked and thought, well why me? Who am I? I'm single, young (well... almost 30... I don't feel that young physically but maybe like mentally???), a woman, and have only been going to church here for just over 2 years. But what she shared with me was so encouraging and uplifting. She said that many people had suggested my name when they were thinking and praying about potential new board members. They spoke of my faithfulness and my consistency in serving. They spoke of the maturity and wisdom I have shared with others and the advice and counsel that I have given to others in the church which is why they wanted me on the board. At the Partners meeting that weekend, they introduced the possible new board members and asked that those present vote on the new board members. Myself, along with the three others who were nominated were all voted in as new board members. And while it's exciting and new, it consider it a huge honor to continue to serve my church in this new area. God really does elevate that which we cultivate. 

Be encouraged. Live out your purpose. Ask God to use you and work through you. He is going to do amazing things. The best is yet to come!

NOTE: Here is the sermon if you would like to hear more.

Frozen Chosens

What do you think of when you hear the term Catholic? What is your experience with the Catholic church? Working at a Catholic school, I have learned a lot about what the Catholics believe and how they pray and worship. While I know there are things that I do not agree with, there are many things that I love about the Catholic church. Their traditions, their prayers, their services (sometimes), all are very thought out and beautiful. I have met some devout Catholics who go to Mass every Sunday and I have met a few that are more relaxed in their practice. Overall though I have found that they have a huge heart for others and a desire to serve and bring God's kingdom here on earth.

Now, if you have every been to any sort of Catholic service, you will know that it can be a little stuffy at times. I don't mean that in a bad way, but there is a precise order and routine to it all. And routine sounds bad but I don't really know what else to call it. There isn't much movement when singing and there is absolutely no clapping after songs or anything like that.

This last Monday, the kids had the day off of school so that we could have our staff spiritual retreat day. We had a guest speaker for the day who I seriously thought was maybe a Southern Baptist in another life because she was unlike any Catholic I have ever met. She proclaimed the gospel (which is definitely NEVER done by women during Mass, but it wasn't Mass so they said it was alright), she dressed up and acted out bible stories. She made us stand up and sing and dance and clap our hands which made a lot of people, including myself, extremely uncomfortable. She could tell that people were uncomfortable and made a comment about how the Catholic church tends to get a little stiff at times, calling themselves the "Frozen Chosens." But she encouraged everyone to get out of their comfort zone for the day and really allow themselves to be open to what God was doing.

While I found that title hilarious, I couldn't help but feel a little convicted. How many times in my life, and even during that day retreat, have I felt uncomfortable in expressing my love and worship for God? Why was it ok for me to worship in my church on Sunday with reckless abandon but I could side step and clap during our spiritual retreat on Monday? How many times in my day to day life have I chosen the path of the Frozen Chosen instead of complete surrender in worship of the King of Kings?

This Is Us

There's a new show on television (well... it was new this year... it actually already had it's season finale... so I will try to not spoil it for you) called This Is Us. Have you seen it? It's amazing! Probably one of my favorite shows on television right now. It follows the story of this family and the ups and the downs of their lives together. I love stories like that. Ones that really capture what it means to be human. The everyday challenges that we face. The ones that just feel real, you know? It also helps that they have an amazing music selection but that's beside the point.

Now I don't want to ruin too much of the story for you in case you haven't seen it yet and want to (seriously! The first episode alone is worth watching... so creative and a storyline I have NEVER seen before) but there was a moment a couple of episodes ago that really got me thinking. Now again, if you haven't seen it, SPOILER ALERT! Stop reading right now and go watch the show... when you finish the season then you can come back and read the rest of this post.

Ok... So in the show, one of the main characters is adopted and in the first episode he finds his biological father. He then spends time building a relationship with this man and he comes to find out that his father is very sick. He has terminal cancer. He takes his father in and introduces him to his daughters and they build a relationship together as he attempts to fight his cancer. Eventually it gets to be too much and he stops the treatment. And without going into too many details in case you still haven't seen it and are still reading this, his biological father dies.

The episode that stood out to me the most though was the one after he died. He had asked his granddaughters to plan his memorial service to make sure it wasn't too sad. Throughout the entire episode, Randall (the character who lost his dad) was trying to figure out how to honor his father. The one thing he was really struggling with, which I found so profound and intriguing was remembering how he lived his life before meeting his biological father and choosing how he would live his life after knowing his biological father. You see, he didn't have much time with him (less than a year really), but he knew the impact that that time spent together had on him. He knew that he couldn't live his life the same having known the man that he knew, even for just a brief time.

Have you had anyone like that in your life? Someone who blows in and out of your life like a flash but has such a profound impact, that you find yourself knowing that you cannot live the same way having known that person? There are a few people that come to my mind. My grandma Linda for sure. She was in my life for 27 years so she didn't come and go in a flash. But the extra time that I got to spend with her when she was sick I wouldn't trade for anything. To see her faith insight of her fear. To see her light up at the sound of her favorite hymns even when she couldn't hold a conversation. To see her spirit and her joy at a familiar face, even when she couldn't find the name. That has changed me forever. Because of that I will never be the same. I cannot live my life the same.

Who is that person for you? And how have they changed you?

Glowing

It's been a couple of weeks now since our big women's event at our church and I think that I have recovered enough to write about it. In case you missed other posts, the event is called Fashioned and the theme this year was being Fashioned in Strength and was a very busy two night event. Being a sisterhood group leader, I was super involved both evenings and was in the skit which made for a crazy busy weekend. Friday night started around 5:00pm (I got my times mixed up and accidentally got there early) in downtown Sac. The space was beautiful and intimate and very welcoming for our small group of women coming to the first night. Women were greeted and welcomed by sisterhood group leaders before we all entered into a time of worship. The worship was powerful and passionate and you really felt the presence of the Lord in that room. After worship, our guest speaker, Deborah Giles of Jesus Culture, was introduced and she proceeded to do something that I honestly have never really witnessed in person before. I mean I have always believed that it happens; we have proof of it happening in the bible and I have heard stories of it happening now a days, but growing up in a somewhat conservative church, it wasn't something I ever got to experience. You see, our speaker hears from God. She is a modern day prophet. During worship she heard a word from God for specific women in the room. After worship she went around the room sharing that personal, specific word with those specific women. She went right up to them and spoke truth over them and shared with them the personal message of what God wanted them to hear. It was moving and inspiring and made me so excited to be a witness to that. She then spoke about strength and our theme. She spoke about growing up in ministry and some of the obstacles she had to face. Her word was encouraging and uplifting and filled the women in the room, including myself with strength and excitement for night two.

Night two was on Saturday which was a super long day. It started with breakfast with a sisterhood group, followed by lifting with Jessica for the day. I then ran home for a bit to be with Toby and eat some lunch. But then it was out the door again at 12:30 and off to the Crest for set up and prep. Most of the afternoon was spent moving boxes, decorating balloons, and helping to transform the Crest into a welcoming, fun, and beautiful environment for the women coming later that evening. Like I said earlier, I was in the skit so I was lucky enough to have someone do my makeup for me. She did my eyebrows for me (which is awesome because I have no idea how to do them... I sort of make it up each day I do them...) and some blush and stuff. After make-up, I rushed upstairs for a quick run through of the sketch and to warm up a little for my part in the skit. The skit was a Hans and Franz parody in which we had some "volunteers" come and show up the strong men on the stage. My part was to do a deadlift. The boys did their lift first, then asked for a "volunteer." I went up and told them to put on more weight, then did a quick set of three with the bar and three plates (it was only a 10, and 25, and a 35... nothing crazy). The audience went nuts! And even though it wasn't that much weight, it felt really good to display an example of physical strength in front of a room of supportive, strong, and loving women of God.

But before all of this happened, I joined the rest of the sisterhood group leaders in welcoming women to the event with signs and lots of yelling. An old coworker came to the event with her daughter and they were shocked to see me so involved in the event. From welcoming people, to being in the skit, to  even being on the prayer team after the event, she was surprised and impressed at the person I had become. Many people commented on my makeup and that I looked really good, but one sisterhood group leader told me that I was just glowing. I myself was again surprised and was almost unable to recognize myself that evening. Not because I had make up on or because of what I was wearing (which was leggings because I had to lift... so nothing cute) or because I was able to lift some weights, but because God truly has been transforming me and molding me into a new person. It's amazing how God can take a quiet, comfortable introvert and transform her into a tool for His purpose and His glory.

Once again, our speaker Deborah brought the word. Women were moved and encouraged and I believe that many of them found freedom in Jesus that night. I had the opportunity to pray with many women, and although I felt inferior and unable to offer them anything, I was encouraged that in my weakness, He is made strong.

It's now been several weeks since the event but I am still so encouraged by all that happened that weekend. I was reminded of my strength in Christ and in the community I am surrounded by. Remember that you are strong in whatever God has given you purpose to do. Everything you have been given, everything you are, and everything you ever could and will be can be used to reveal His glory. That is where our strength comes from. Be encouraged. Remember that you are strong. You are loved. And you are Beautiful!


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I Get Knocked Down... But I Get Up Again...

Being a teacher is hard. Sometimes I forget how hard my job is, but am quickly reminded when I have weeks like this one (it's funny, now that I think of it because the last time I had a rough week like this was right before our last big Sisterhood event... oh how the enemy likes to attack when God is about to do something big...). It's easy to get into your routine and go through the motions as a teacher. You sort of get into a groove and lessons are going well, you are getting through your curriculum, you are having positive interactions with your students, and you really feel like you are making a difference... Then you get the email... Any other teachers out there know the email I am talking about... The one from a parent or admin questioning your practice or policy or teaching or knowledge or... the list goes on...

Not a big deal right? It's just an email... But sometimes this email can seriously throw you for a loop... You become defensive and hurt that people would question your motives or your ability to do your job. You become angry and bitter and just want it all to go away, but have a hard time pushing it out of your mind. I got one of those emails this week. And without going into details about what it was about, it really threw me for a loop a little. It made me feel small and like I wasn't good enough. It made me feel like a bad teacher and a bad person and made me question if what I am doing is really making a difference or is worth it in the long run.

After reviewing the email with a few people, I was reminded that I am a good teacher and I am doing what needs to be done to help my students be successful. But it's crazy how a few written words can really just cut you down and make you feel small.

If you are a teacher, I feel you. I know what those emails are like and I know how they make us feel. You are a good teacher and you know what you are doing. Stand strong in that.

If you are a parent, be kind to your child's teacher. Most of them really love your kids and want the best for them just like you. Work with them and don't cut them down.