Where I am Weak, You Come In

I love reading other people’s blogs…  sometimes.
I don’t get a chance to read some of the ones I used to read daily.  But today I had a few free moments (because I delegated a task to a volunteer.)  So I took some time to head over to Seth Barnes’ blog to catch up.  I love reading his blogs.  He is so honest, but gentle.  Sometimes.

Here is the link.

You should read it too, otherwise, this won’t make any sense to you.

One of the things I love most about Celebrate Recovery is that I can be real there.  I don’t have to put on my facade that everything is perfect in my life.  They have been right where I am, and see right through it.  So why can’t I be that way at LWFC?  Sometimes I feel like people are the fakest when they’re inside these 4 walls.  This is where we are supposed to be able to come and heal, share and just love on one another.

I know that nobody’s life is perfect, and we are all weathering some sort of a storm, big or small, that is part of being a Christian.  So why do we come to church and fake it?  We all know we’re full of …  (c word)  We all know that there is some area that we need prayer in.  So why do we get dressed in our ‘Sunday Best’ as Seth said, and put on a show of just how perfect our lives are?

If we’re struggling to keep up appearances each week we drag ourselves through the doors into the sanctuary, why not let our brothers and sisters, who have been exactly where you are, help you shake it off?

That’s what this community of believers is for, right?

We’re supposed to hold one another’s arms up when the winds start coming in harder.

So why have I found it harder and harder to just let go?  I really want to be me around here, but right now, if I let it all out, people would probably think I am nuts.  All of the little things that I could have gotten through individually, with the help of my brothers and sisters, has all compiled up and is now brewing and blasting me away.    If I don’t let it go, it will keep growing.

Then what?

When I sit here and share my weaknesses, we become family.

When I sit here with a victory, we should still be family so that when the storm comes, you’re still there.

This is where you come in.

Where I am weak, you should fill in the gaps.

Where you are weak is where I should fill in the gaps.

We are family.  That’s what we do.

So…  if we’re being honest with each other, then let me say that right now, I have a lot of gaps and need a lot of filling.

I want the simplicity of heart described in Acts 2:41-47.  I don’t want to have to dig through the garbage to get to the place of peace.  And I don’t want you to either.

Please let me know when you have a need.  I want to help you.  That’s what we are all about.

It’s not that I’m a Jerk… Really…

So,

Have you ever started typing something with great vigor only to discover that you’ve had your hand one over from the home key?  Well, I had a great idea about what I was going to write about, but when I stopped spacing off, I noticed that nothing I had written made any sense. 

I keep doing this lately.  I have these really fancy stickers on my keyboard that Google sent to me, but it covers the little dots that my fingers are trying to find on my J and F.

I am reminded of a time when my H key would not work.  You would be shocked at how many time you need to use the letter h.  Especially when preparing a “How-To” speech for your final semester of college exam.  I ended up changing the paper from a “How To Peel an Orange,” to “Ow To Write A Paper Witout Te Letter .”  It went really well.  I wish I had a copy of it right now, actually.

anywho…

  (You missed me!)

My mission trip to Costa Rica is coming up really soon.  I’m super excited about this year’s trip.  The group of people going on the prayer trip is blowing up from 3 to EIGHT.  It should be a great time.  I have sent out all of my support packets, I hope.  I don’t know what I am going to do next year.  I keep increasing what goes into my letters.

So I went to the Dr. again.  (Hooray!)  I have written proof from a professional that I not only have a heart, but I am “normal.”  It’s shocking, I know.  But what can you do?!  He’s a doctor.  He has a degree.  I am normal. 

Also, everyone else keeps sharing pictures of their ultrasound, so here is mine.  Not only is it cool looking, but it is proof that I have a heart.  So for those of you who weren’t sure, … two words.  (cram it)

So what has been a hoppin with you?

It seems like a super long time since I’ve blogged.  Well, it has been a super long time since I blogged.  And I can say now, that the reason that I quit was really dumb.  And pretty much a LOL.  So…

litchrilly.

end.

The Onion

So the other night I was thinking about something.  How I don’t like onions.  They smell bad, they taste weird but mostly, they’re slimy.  It’s really gross.  And when you cut them, you cry.  Well…  I do.

So I was thinking about all of that and I came up with this:

Our walk with Christ is like an onion.

We have to peel off all of the layers to really get down into the heart of it. 

The outside layer is kind of flaky and comes off easy, but then you have the little thin skins that you sometimes can’t even see.  You’re trying to get the next big layer off, but there is this really thin little skin that you can’t seem to get a hold of to peel away.

But then you get to the big layers that are a bit tougher to peel back.  You have to find the weak spot and dig in there to pull it back.

The whole process involves tears, and smells pretty bad, but when you get to the center, you get to the best part.  The part that can be sown to reproduce more, stronger onions.

You have to bury the bulb pretty deep in the ground so it can get a good, strong root.  And it has to have its thick covering of leaves over it to protect it from the elements, the weeds and wind.

There are other obstacles, too, though; Onion Flies.  They’re attracted to the scent of an onion and nibble away at the outer layers that allow bacteria and fungus to grow.  And if one of the onions have this fungus, it effects all of the healthy ones around it.

This is much like our lives with Christ.  When we first get saved, we are eager to get to the core.  The old habits and old ways fall right off like the flaky layers of the onion.  But when we really get into the Word and see where we need more change, the layers change.  The big thick ones that don’t seem to want to budge are the hardest.  There are little things, too.  Things that we think are little and don’t really matter.  The thin skins that make it hard to get to the next layer.

For me, those thin layers were my relationships with “old lifestyle friends.”  They friends that I thought I could still hang around and be ok.  They were causing me to not get to that next layer.  And it was tough to peel that layer away.

There are many tears.  Because when you have to give up something or someone you love when you are peeling away your old life, it gets harder and harder as you go.
The layers stick together more, and you can’t tell that what you think is one big layer, is 3 small ones.  But when you get them all off, you see exactly what it was that was holding you back from getting to the center.

When you finally get to the point where you can see the center, you’re still not done.  But you can look back at the ‘carnage of the onion’ and see all of the things that you once thought were so important just laying there.

And when you get to the center, you find the bulb.  The best part.  The reproducable part.  It’s stronger than the seedling and can withstand more attacks from the enemy.  But it has to be deep in the ground.  It has to be Word heavy.  It has to have the covering of the Blood on it.  And when the enemy attacks it, it will be able to defeat it and produce more and more fruit.

I’m still peeling my onion.  And just when I think I’ve gotten to the center I find another layer.  Sometimes it’s a big fat thick one, and other times it’s a little thin one that stands in the way of my core.

I’ll get there.

VOTE!

Voting.  Voters.  Votes.  To Vote.

I may not be able to tell you who to vote for, but I can tell you who NOT to vote for.  I’m not 100% sure that I really want either candidate to be the next President, but there are some really tough issues that I feel strongly about that I know that one of the candidates agree with me.

ABORTION.

It worries me a bit to think about all of the children that have been killed because some people couldn’t deal with giving themselves up for a new life.  I do know that some people made the decision to get an abortion and now regret it.  Now.  But that baby was still killed.

These are our future leaders, future mentors to our next generation.  Our future presidents.

If you want to be ‘Pro-Choice,’ that’s great.  But let’s give that child a choice.

Enough of that.

This weekend I did some things.  Wanna seeeeeee?

Friday was my 6 year anniversary for being without drugs.  We celebrated (after Family Fest) by going to the Ale House.  I got home near 2am.  Even though we were drinking decaf coffee, I still didn’t wake up well.  I haven’t stayed up that late in “some time.”  And I had a busy schedule the next day.

Saturday, Esperanza and I went to the mall.  She played.  I sat.

I told the woman to launch her.  So she did.

And then there’s Miss Scarlet Rayne.  She’s super cute.  Especially when she scrunches up her nose and says “mima!”

kbye

p.s.  sister sent me a picture of her giant belly…

It’s ok… now.

Whew!  So I feel like I have sinned by not posting anything ‘real’ in such a long time.  So here I go.

Today I had to scrape my windows for the first time of the season.  BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

I think I’ll be alright.  The lady next to me just backed out without touching her windows.  It frightened me a little bit.

I found the perfect hoodie for me.  Maybe not in white, but the graphic is quite perfect for me.

And.  I think I may be going to Iowa for Thanksgiving.  If I can get that figured out.  I keep going back and forth whether I really want to go or not.  I don’t really want to set myself up for disappointment, but I kinda feel like I will be if I go.  Or I could go with the attitude that “no weapon formed against me shall prosper and every tongue that rises up against me in judgment will be found to be in the wrong.”  Yeah.  I think I’ll take that confession instead.

Anywho…

Today at staff devotions we were taught about Moral Excellence.  I needed it.
“Don’t let your gifting take you further than your character can keep you.”  – Someone

Just because we work in the ministry as our day-to-day job, we shouldn’t expect it to cut us some slack.  We should always work as a person of integrity, whether we work in the ministry daily, or not.  People want to see you fall.  Maybe not intentionally, but it seems like the people ‘caught’ doing something immoral in a church are the ones that let their gifting take them further than their character could keep them.

Anything not under the Blood will be tested.   1 Corinthians 3:13 – “his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work.”

Just because it’s legal doesn’t mean it’s good for your character.  1 Corinthians 10:23 – “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible”—but not everything is constructive.”

There is more…  but I don’t want to preach.

Allow your mind to rule your heart.

Working hard(ly)

So…  A couple days ago Linda said I was on crack!

It just happened to be the day I drank maple syrup.  It was good.  I felt icky afterwards.

So today…

Yeah.

I’ve been working on ESL stuff.  “Voter’s Guide”

And…  I took this picture of me working hard(ly)

And so you don’t get too bored.

Check out Benjamin Madison’s Photography.  He’s quite good.

It’s that time again.

Well…  I’m not sure which ‘time’ that is, but I sure am wearing a festive sweater vest today!  Sweater Vest Day is January 13, so get ready!

Here’s a little poll for you…

Wasn’t that FUN!?!!!!1??!!!!!

Today I am hopped up on maple syrup.  I heated up too much for my French toast so rather than waste it, I drank it.  It was really thick and…  thick.

On my way down Capital Blvd. there was a van packed full of Latino gentlemen.  They were watching me sing to the radio.  They would laugh and wave and go past me.  Slow down.  Smile and wave some more.  Speed up.  Smile and wave.  etc.  You get the point.  So I turned off to go to work and I looked at the van and all their faces were up at the glass waving at me.  It sure brightened up my day!

Um.  I don’t have much else to talk about.

Today is the Starbucks Outing.  I love the Starbucks Outing. You would too.

Anywho…

end

How to Know You’re Aligned With a Vision

We’ve been talking a lot lately about the vision at Living Word Family Church.  What is it, how do we know that we’re on board with it, etc.

Well, the vision is Acts 2:41-47

“41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”

There it is.  It seems like a lot, but it is so basic, and most every other church’s vision statement has something to do with this chunk of verses.

So how do you know that you’re aligned with the vision?
Well, in staff devotions last week we talked about just that!

1.  It is a part of us.
When you live it, breathe it, can’t take your mind off of it.

2.  We take ownership of it.
You refer to it as ‘mine’ our ‘ours’ when referring to the vision of LWFC.

3. We keep the end result in mind.
You don’t see the hard parts of the vision, but you see souls saved for the kingdom.  Each ‘task’ you complete = souls.

4. We are all in harmony, unity and flow together.
We do not let strife come between us.  We are all under the same salt covenant that says that we will never do or say anything on purpose to hurt one another, we will allow God to use us to heal one another and we will always think pure thoughts about one another.

5. We are all like-minded.
Philippians 2:2 says we fulfill God’s joy when we are all like-minded and of one accord.  We all think and speak the same thing, and there are no divisions among us; we are perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.  (1 Corinthians 1:10)

6. We pray over it.
We are in continuous prayer about the vision.  We pray the vision over the church and believe that we will bring the vision to pass here at LWFC.  We also lift one another up in prayer.

7. We see it coming to pass/working.
We not only believe that Acts 2:41-47 will come to pass, we already see it coming to pass in the spiritual realm.

8. We adapt to circumstances
We know that things will try to come against us, and are able to adapt to anything because our prayers are heard because we pray corporately as one body, in small groups and individually.

9. Others see it in us.
People recognize the vision of LWFC in us.  They see the joy, love and compassion that is in us.  We have the ‘DNA’ of LWFC and it flows in our veins.

10. We have passion about doing it.
We not only have all of the above, but we are joyous when we have the opportunity to perform the vision.  We take pleasure in the prosperity of LWFC by doing what God has called us to do.

11. We believe it.
We not only agree with the vision, but we believe it with our whole beings.  We take the vision literally, and use it like a magic decoder ring, if it can’t be seen through Acts 2:41-47, we don’t do it.

12. We adopt it as our personal mission and vision statement.
We not only believe Acts 2:41-47 to be our church’s vision statement, but we make it our own.  We sign the title deed and take possession of it.  Our homes and business are run with Acts 2:41-47 as our main focus.

13. We maintain cultural relevance with it.
The methods may change, but the message remains the same.  Acts 2:41-47 is God’s word and is unchanging, but how we relate it to others will change.  We keep the core the same, and lives are changed.

14. We are tied financially.
We give financially toward the vision and like Psalms 1 says, everything we put our hands to prospers.  Our homes are blessed, our families are blessed, our communities are blessed and our church is blessed.
Where your treasure is, your heart will follow.  (Matthew 6:21)

As I was typing all of this I kept seeing portions of ‘The Church We See‘ from the series Pastor Steve did.  I guess it’s getting ingrained on our brains because it all keeps going back to that.

And ps.  While I was searching for something totally unrelated, I found a different church’s vision statement. I don’t know who this church is affiliated with, nothing about their pastors, where they’re located, but they’ve got it.  We may think our church is the best ever, but these people think theirs is the best ever, too.  And as long as we are all doing what we’re called to do, we’re all accomplishing the same goal.

Souls.

I think LWFC needs to get our ‘The Church We See’ confessions on a link like that, I like it.  Anyone know if there is one?

What I find the greatest part of this whole thing is in verse 47, “and the Lord adds to the church DAILY, those who are being saved.”  That’s my favorite.  That is why I LOVE serving with the New Believer team.  We not only get to meet these people who are committing their lives to Christ, but we get to befriend them.  We get to watch them grow in Christ.  Just like Jamie said in his post about how he got to watch me grow in Christ, I love watching others grow.  I want to serve next to these people.  I want to see God’s big grin when I get to Heaven and hear Him say “well done, good and faithful servant, in you I am well pleased.”

That’s pretty much the whole point of serving God, right?  To please him?  Well I not only want to please him, I want him to be well pleased in what I have done here.  I may have had a late start on this whole thing, but I’m going to do as Paul said and run the good race.  I know I’m not yet to the finish line, but I’m going to be pushing as if I were.  You know how when you get to the end of a race and you can see the end and you get that sudden burst of energy?  Well, I’m going to run with that sort of energy so that when I get there, it will be an even stronger burst of energy.

===

Unrelated:  Gateway Worship’s newest album is one you should own.

Cheetos

I could eat some right now.  If you were wondering about that.

I sure wish I had something to say.  Well, I do.

My go-go almost blew up and started smoking while I was trapped in traffic on Capital Blvd. yesterday.  I don’t think he likes that road.

As smoke was pouring from under the hood, some guy pulled up next to me and said…

“Your car is smoking!”

I looked at him and was all…  “What!?!”

So I got back to the church and he went all.. RAAARRRRRSPLURRRRRRG  And vomited green slime allover.  Mostly water.  So therefore, he overheated and needs some lovins.
You can sort of see the puddle under him.    So sad.

Do you like that photograph?  I hope you do.  And I am also happy to report that I have a new phone.  This one doesn’t restart in mid text, or hang up on people.  It’s quite nice.  But most importantly, it has a camera.  Oh, how I missed having stupid, random photos to go along with my little love notes to you.
So get ready for that.

And…

I’m having a shin-dig!

If you want the e-vite, holler.  I’ll send it to you.

We’re going to have some good clean family fun in the ghetto!  (Word)  Since I have less than everything I need at my new place, it’s a housewarming party, but it will probably end up being a boring something else kind of party.  So bring your dancin shoes!  There probably won’t be dancing, but you can still wear them.

P.S. I’m registered at Wal-Mart and Target.

VBS…  It’s well underway.  There are things being painted, quite beautifully, if I do say so myself.  This year, though, I am not painting any of it.  I did some of the initial outlines for one of the giant murals, but I didn’t really have the unction to paint this year.

Lemme go take some pictures right quick.

Hold on!

brb

Ok.  here they are.  Thanks for being patient.  …

My feet…  yeah, I took that whilst sending pictures.  I thought you’d be really interested in seeing that.  And the big lift thing and Dave’s cart…  Yeah, that had nothing to do with it, I just thought you’d like to see that Dave was fixing the light.

Um.  So the theme of this year’s VBS is “Pirates”  We’re using Veggie Tales’ ‘The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything’ and mixing it with Pirates of the Carribean.  (arrrrrg)  What a great theme.  I recommended it last year, and here it is!
The big ship looking thing in the giant room is going to be a giant pirate ship.  (Hooray!)  The hallways (which look amazing) were painted by some lady named Sharon, who I recently just met.  She did a great job.  And…  The awesome paintings of other stuff was done with transparencies, which I thought would help a BUNCH, and it has.  It’s so much easier to cheat.

Anywho….

I’m done.

Just So You Know

I love my church family.

In case I haven’t ever told you that.

I was just reading Nichole’s blog and …  yeah.

For those of you who heard me give my testimony in the park in Costa Rica, you know about a huge struggle I had.  It sent me into a whirl-wind of bad choices.  So when I see Nichole doing what I couldn’t do, it makes me love my church even more.  I didn’t have that support.  She talks about how she thought she would be ridiculed or shunned when she got pregnant with Tyy.  She wasn’t.  It’s rediculous how Satan always trys to get us that way.  “People will think bad things about you…”  What a jerk.

She’s one of my heros.  I guess anyone who accomplishes something that I failed at is my hero.

end.

(i’ve run out of words)