3 Steps To Becoming Debt Free
Recently, our family became completely debt-free – no mortgage, no car payments, and no credit card bills. We’ve entered into a new arena of truly enjoying our income. Since we don’t have the weight of debt, we can share our resources in significant ways with others. There are plenty of resources out there that can assist you with the money side of this journey: budgeting, interest rates, refinancing, investing, etc. If this is a journey you are ready to take yourself and debt is controlling your joy and peace, then looking into those resources is worthwhile. We were able to find some great resources through The Village Christian Church. 1. Build a Community While the first Christians began to build their church in Acts, the Bible says: “all the believers were together and had everything in common.” -Acts 2:44 NIV This was not referring to having hobbies in common, but the pooling of resources. First, be open about your goals to becoming debt-free. And be honest with your community about what you need to move forward with your goals. You’d be amazed at how God’s people show up. Investing your time in a lifegroup is one way you can build such a community. I’ve participated in and heard of lifegroups helping with bills, childcare, meals, car rides, job opportunities, Christian counsel, and the list goes on. When you are a part of a community of believers, you do not have to do this alone. Utilize the help offered, especially if it could help you put more money down on your debt. Initially, we tried doing this all on our own because we felt guilty about accepting help from others. Don’t let yourself fall into that trap. The second you aren’t paying money to interest, you can certainly have the time and resources to significantly impact someone else’s life. So, you can help someone who was once in the same position as yourself. 2. Be Prepared for Emergencies Unfortunately, trials will come your way, especially when trying to get your finances under control. Scripture says: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sister, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” -James 1:2-3 So the year of our biggest financial trials is the year we started attending The Village Christian Church. We were feeling pretty broken from all the trials we had just been through. While we built on our faith, however, our spirits were brought back to life. And we found new perseverance to keep going on. Now we are prepared for emergencies, both financially and emotionally. Trusting in God allowed us to see the hope on the other side of things. It helped us lean into our chaos, and come out better for it in the end. 3. Find Contentment Lastly, I’d like to talk about some lifestyle changes our family made to achieve our goal. These mindset changes were crucial in having the perseverance needed to tackle such large sums of money. Contentment is the best tool to becoming debt-free. As believers in Christ, we are living for the eternal, not for the ways of this world. The world wants you worrying about what you wear, how flashy your house and car are, and the trends you are participating in. Do you have the latest electronics, are your kids in the “best” programs/schools? All of these things that the world deems important cost money. Plus, they can bring you farther from your goal of becoming debt-free, especially if you are using credit to achieve them. Yet Scripture tells us, “godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” -1 Timothy 6:6-8 Find contentment and enjoyment in your relationship with God – not in the things of this world. This takes practice and self-discipline. But this results in the ability to say no to frivolous spending, and focus on what matters. Print out a few months’ worth of your spending. I guarantee you can free up a couple of hundred dollars worth of spending right off the bat. You will find the things that don’t contribute to your contentment in life, things you can live without. In Philippians, Paul says: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation…I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” -Philippians 4:12-13 NIV Always… Lean on the Lord throughout this process, and ask that he give you the strength to find contentment in this situation – the situation of becoming debt-free.
Share Your Story And Plant A Seed
Did you know there are people all around you that don’t know the truth about God, Jesus or the Bible? God put you right where you are so you can share your story with them and plant a seed for Him to water. Your story, who you were before God intervened and the way He changed you and made you new is unique and powerful. I would bet that sometime in your life, someone shared their story with you. Sharing your personal, real story with someone who doesn’t know God is one of the best ways to introduce them. “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” – 1 Peter 3:15 So, here is my story. The Lie For most of my life, I was told to be self-sufficient, I had to make it on my own, and that I was the only one who could change my circumstances. I always struggled, in a constant state of anxiety, stress and worry. I just couldn’t do everything on my own. So, I depended on my family and friends for help emotionally, physically and financially. The more I found myself dependent on others, the more I felt insufficient and worthless. I was miserable because I believed the lie that I should only rely on what I could do for myself. For those of you who don’t know me, I have had a very colorful past. I thought I was dealt a bad hand, that I wasn’t good enough and I beat myself up a lot. The Truth Eventually I learned God never wants that for his children. Thankfully, He put a beautifully insistent woman of grace literally right next to me! My neighbor encouraged and helped me seek my rightful relationship with God. Now I can honestly say the day I gave my worries and fears over to Him was the day my life started growing in joy. Understanding God sent His son to bear the weight of all our sins and faults and how Jesus brings us to the perfection God created us for has opened my heart fully. Suddenly, everything started falling into place in my life without stress, fear, or a sense of failure. Now I see the more I pray, the more I submit to His will and have faith in His longing to bring relief and happiness to myself and my loved ones. I am truly joyful, grateful, and wholly blessed! The Freedom Now, I have come to see the truth. I wasn’t made to be dependent on myself or any other person. I was created as a child of God, loved perfectly even with my imperfections. God created me with purpose. All I had to do ALL those years was believe that one thing. “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.” – Galatians 3:26 Ask God today who you can share your story with and watch Him change their life.
Be A Warrior For God
Have you ever thought about being a warrior for God? Do you ever read your Bible and think about all the battles God fought and how He used people to do so? God’s strength and power won these battles. Today I want to share an example of that with you. Over the years, my husband Tim and I have had the privilege of serving at Roseland Community’s Good News Day Care, directed by Ms. Pearl Willis. She is literally fighting a battle for God in her community. Good News Day Care provides free Christ-centered care for children so moms can get an education, work, and provide for their families. This is in the Roseland community of Chicago, Il. on the south side of the city. Gangs, drugs, prostitution, murders, unemployment, and hopelessness are prevalent. Good News Day Care provides a nurturing environment giving encouragement and hope back to the community. Recently, we were able to take some volunteers from The Village Christian Church family for a 2-day serving opportunity at Good News Day Care. During the summer, Ms. Pearl offers a 6-week long day camp, serving approximately 55 children. They arrive in the morning and are fed breakfast, lunch, and a snack. Daily activities include worship, learning about God, and experiencing fun activities in their community. Impress Them On Your Children While I was serving there, I was reminded of something from the Bible that Moses stressed to the Israelites. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” Deuteronomy 6:5-7 NIV The Bible says we are to be devoted to the ways of the Lord. Our life purpose is to share those ways. We are to pass on his vast mercy, love, and grace to those around us, particularly our children. This includes not only our biological children, but all children. Good News Day Care has written these commands everywhere. There are bookshelves full of Bibles and Christian books for the children to read. The children are taught to pray over all of their meals and snacks. The adults in their lives are learning the ways of the Lord. They are becoming mature in their faith, and attempting to guide this next generation to love God and to love others. On our second day at the day care, the Bible lesson was taken from Joshua 6 about the fall of Jericho. The Lord says to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and it’s fighting men.” Joshua 6:2 NIV Be A Warrior For God While we read these words to the children, they were lifted off the page and brought to life for me. God has delivered this land in Roseland to Ms. Pearl’s hands and she is a warrior for God. As our volunteers are serving, they are being warriors for God. Little by little, she has taken properties on that block and turned them into land used for good. These victories for the Lord are by His words, His power, and His glory. They are evident in the beauty of her buildings and the lives that are changing from hearing God’s word there. So, I urge you to become a warrior for God. When Jericho fell, there were many Israelites involved in the battle. Some walked, some blew a horn and some carried the ark, but all were used to tear down the walls of Jericho and turn it into a city that was used for the Lord. Your service in God’s kingdom does not have to be equivalent to Ms. Pearl’s or Joshua’s, but you can certainly stand alongside them in the missions they have started. The world needs followers of Christ who are willing to help their church, local organizations, or national organizations spread the Good News of Jesus Christ and to be unwavering in doing so.
What Is The Body Of Christ?
Have you heard the phrase “the body of Christ” and wondered what it meant? The Church consists of its members who are the living body of Christ. In many ways, God’s work is accomplished through this body of Christ. We are the hands and feet of Jesus. God designed each person in the church to use their God-given gifts to advance God’s kingdom. You Have A Purpose I believe that most people become Christians to secure eternal salvation with our Lord. That’s a great start! However, God is so gracious, kind, merciful and he loves us so much that He has given us a very important purpose. He has given us the job to bring others to Christ and to give them hope. “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – John 8:12 We were created by God in His own image to bring other people to Him so that they may also be saved. God wants His whole creation to be with Him in relationship here and eternally. I desire for Christians to understand that God gives us love, mercy and grace with forgiveness of all our sins, past, present, and future. And we are called to love and forgive others in the same way. Love The Lord, Your Neighbor And Your Enemy We are called to break the cycle of sin, so love goes much further with this next scripture from Matthew 5:43-45. “You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” I would also like to add that Jesus showed us how to love our enemies through His example which you can read about in the Gospels (The books Matthew, Mark, Luke & John in the Bible). Loving your enemy is a very tall order and takes a lot of work not to conform to the patterns of this world. It’s easy to get distracted and lose sight of God when we get angry, sad, depressed, or fall back into our sinful nature. This is why it’s so important to be plugged into the Church in community, scripture, worship, lifegroups, and serving. Another example Jesus gave us is “The Lord’s Prayer”. I hope you will read it out loud and pay close attention to the meaning of this prayer. “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” – Matthew 6:9-13 There Is Freedom In Forgiveness We are called to forgiveness; it’s not an option for Christians! Forgiveness frees our minds to focus on our Lord and the work He has for us without distraction. Forgive, move on and experience the joy of pursuing, serving, and being in close relationship with our Lord. The goal is to experience a heart filled with the love of God and to share it with the world.
A Life Changing Invite
In The Beginning… “I hate going to church.” That is what I told myself for the majority of my life. I grew up on the south side of Chicago in an Italian/Irish neighborhood. Firemen, policeman, mechanics and all sorts of blue collar workers. I grew up in a traditional Catholic community and I went to Catholic grade school, Queen of the Universe. Before my parents got divorced I was set to go to Marist Catholic High School. I did the CCD classes, the first communion classes and went to church every Sunday. For the life of me, I can’t remember one thing I learned about Jesus during that time. The only thing I remember about those days is the kneeling. I didn’t like the kneeling. Now this isn’t a blog about how bad the Catholic Church is, this is just my recollections on my childhood and these memories are probably fuzzy. When I got to college, I stopped going to church. I “didn’t have time” and I had “better things to do”. Also, I remembered how I didn’t like the kneeling. I stopped going to church from age 18 to age 40. Twenty two years of not having a relationship with Jesus. When I was going thru the darkest times in my life, I didn’t have Jesus. Let me correct that, looking back at that time Jesus was with me, I just ignored him. Then Came The Invite… Then one day, Jesus showed up in the form of an invite to The Village Christian Church. At first, I didn’t want to go (see above reasons/excuses) but my ex-wife insisted we try the church. She had already visited after an invite from a neighbor and she begged me to go with her. To say I was hesitant is an understatement. I agreed to go and she gave me a few “warnings”. She said it is loud like a rock concert and it is in a gym in a junior high school. None of these comments did anything to sell me on going. But I went. And my life was changed. I walked into that school and was immediately greeted by numerous people. Everyone was welcoming. I was shocked because at my old church, everyone just walked in and out without really talking. I went into the gym and was immediately hit with worship music. For me, that was all I needed. I immediately connected. I remember looking around and seeing people in shorts, wearing baseball hats. Again, not something you see in my old church. I remember Nate’s message to this day. It was about Jesus knocking at your door and how he is trying to form a relationship with you. I felt like Nate, the Lead Pastor, was speaking to me directly. From that moment on I was hooked. I learned more about Jesus on that Sunday than my entire childhood. Life-Changing Experience The music, the message and the people. All of these things I never experienced before. I got baptized, joined lifegroups and volunteered as much as I could. I don’t know what my life would be like if I didn’t get that invite or if my wife didn’t get her invite. Today I say “I love going to church”. I look forward to going on Sunday. Playing in the worship band is life giving to me. I even organize vacations and social events around Sundays. I don’t want to miss a single Sunday. So, I urge each and every one of you, please go out and invite people. You may end up changing someone’s life. You have choices when it comes to how to experience church – The Village LIVE, the Online Campus or in-person at the Minooka Campus or the Seneca Campus opening February 21, 2021. Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep. – Luke 15 3-7
Love Is The Greatest Gift
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. – 1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV The green room at church is the place where our church worship team hangs out before service. In the green room, we have this chalkboard that lays out the service plan. I haven’t been in there for months, but this past Thursday, I happened to walk in and see this message: It was our plan for March 15th. This was the first Sunday we stopped having in-person services. The moment hit me hard. We have been through a lot in the past 3 plus months. COVID, lockdown, slumping economy, and protests. Oh, and I almost forgot the “murder hornets”. But with all the challenges we have faced, we have never lost our faith. In fact, I would argue, that most of us have become closer to God than we have ever been. I know for myself, this slowdown has given me a moment to stop, breath, and pray. Is it difficult that we can’t go to a restaurant or a movie theater? Yes. Does it bother me that I am in “lockdown”? Of course, it does. But I am also appreciating the fact that I am not going through this alone. I have friends I can talk to. My Lifegroup has been so encouraging and supportive. There are so many great things happening. I see people, who have never known Jesus, starting to hear his word and our online numbers skyrocketing. We are even opening up a new campus in Seneca and building out our House Campuses. I know that Jesus is reaching out to more and more people every day because I can see it happening. What I am trying to express, is that throughout all of these worldly challenges of the past few weeks, I still have my faith, I still have hope and I still have love. I would encourage everyone who is reading this to spread the word of Jesus. Show your love for him. Bring people into a relationship with Jesus. If there was ever a time for Christians to be loving to our fellow man, this is the time. Love is the greatest gift.
Fasting Is A Way To Grow
Fasting may be a new concept to many, but it is a powerful tool that God gave us to grow in relationship with Him. When we put off a physical need, and we focus our energy on God, we learn to trust Him. It is when we acknowledge that He is the one true source of life that He moves us deeper into a place of dependence. Of course, God designed us to eat food, and he provides the food we need to live. Therefore, fasting is a great way to re-set and re-focus. It’s a way for God to remind us that He will take care of us and sustain us when we rely on Him. I fasted in January with the Elder team and am doing so again right now! When I fast I experience grace to draw closer to God and spend more time in prayer. Of course, it’s a struggle, but that’s the beauty of it. We need God’s grace to sustain us, otherwise we are weak on our own apart from Him. Jesus fasted for 40 days in the desert to begin His ministry. After 40 days with no food, Jesus was undoubtedly hungry. He experienced the same physical needs as we do. When Jesus was weak, Satan tempted Him to turn the rocks into bread to eat. When we are weak, God can show His strength in us. Read Jesus’ response to Satan: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” – Matthew 4:4 How fitting that Jesus’ answer was directly from the word of God in Deuteronomy 8:3. In this verse, the Israelites were wandering the desert with no food to eat. God provided manna from heaven each day, but only enough for that day. The Israelites had no choice but to trust God for their daily provision and sustenance. When Jesus responded to Satan with this verse, he declared that God is the ultimate source of life. Even if he ate the food that tempted him at that moment, it would not sustain him in the long run. God is our sustainer. The story of Daniel is another great example of God-honoring fasting. He was serving a wicked king, who had taken him captive. “Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank.” – Daniel 1:8 Daniel put his dependence on God above his physical need and desire for delicious and filling food. He chose to fast from all food and drink except for water and vegetables. In the next few verses it says, “God gave Daniel favor”, and “Daniel became stronger and healthier than the other men who took all of the king’s food and wine.” Daniel put God before his natural desires, and God blessed him for it. I believe God wants to bless each one of us in the same way. When we choose to humble ourselves before God, rely on Him, and deny certain desires of the flesh, God responds with a breakthrough, answered prayers, and favor! I hope you are encouraged to trust God in this way, and ask Him for help in giving up something ordinary for a time, in order to gain something extraordinary for a lifetime- a closer walk with God!
The Haves And The Have-Nots
We have all heard the phrase, “The Haves and the Have-Nots.” While many associate this time of year with gifts, time with family, and time away from work, it is also an unfortunate opportunity to polarize the “Haves” and the “Have-Nots.” Society and the media we consume, allows us to place ourselves into one of these categories. It affects how we value and see ourselves. Every commercial with a big bow on a brand new car can place us in a category. A category of a consumer who can go out today and buy that car in cash, finance it, or struggle to buy gas. There are families happy and thankful to gather on the holidays; meanwhile, there are families battling hardships, feuding, divorce, and loss. Many are able to take time away from their jobs, while some are just grinding away to find employment. These examples aren’t just generalizations. Our community represents all of these situations and everything in between and beyond. There is danger in believing the lies of this world – that you can be categorically placed based on your belongings or status. The dangers are on both sides. When we have the life the world tells us to have, we allow ourselves to build an ego and think that what we have is by our own doing. We set our value on what we have and pursue it beyond all else. How Can The Bible Help How can the book of Philippians help us navigate the abundance of advertisements and financial demands of the commercial Christmas season? Paul tells the church in Philippi about people with pursuits outside of Christ by writing, “Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things” Philippians 3:19 (NIV) We are also then setting our worth on things that can be taken away from us. We can lose our money, family, and jobs by matters out of our control or by our own human and sinful behavior. At that point, we are left defeated, lost, and devalued. The Danger The danger of the other side is clear and real to many of us. We think that because we don’t have the life we see in the media or in our community that we are without blessings and value. There are endless reasons to note why these are dangerous lies to believe. Paul offers encouragement for us who feel like a “Have-Not,” but long to be a “Have.” He writes, “But whatever were gains to me I now consider a loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.” Philippians 3:7-8 (NIV) No matter what unattainable earthly thing we chase after, knowing Christ is far greater. A true relationship with Him requires submission of these desires. Paul reminds us that our societal system is broken and should not be used to determine our value, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Philippians 4:12 (NIV) What Is The Secret? The secret is that Paul was in tune with the system of the “Haves and Have-Nots”. There is no need to condemn the “Haves” for having or bring to light those of us who are lacking. The point is to share Paul’s secret. In Christ, we all “HAVE”. An opportunity: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Phil 1:21; “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead” Phil 3:13. God within us: “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” Phil 2:13. Value: “so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky.” Phil 2:15 A home: “But our citizenship is in heaven.” Phil 3:20 Peace. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:6-7 Strength: “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Phil 4:13 What we HAVE cannot be taken away. Learn more about Philippians…
What’s The Big Deal?
Pulse Student Ministries held a kickoff event for the 2019-2020 school year and the turnout was incredible – 119 students ranging from 5th graders through seniors in high school. The plan was simple: play games (bags, 9 square, spikeball, etc) and cookout burgers and hot dogs. The night was a success. The students had fun, the leaders had fun, and there seemed to be no problems. As leaders, we left the night excited and energized about the atmosphere, but why did we feel this good? What’s the big deal? What’s the big deal that we got a large turnout of students for some free food and games? That doesn’t seem like that big of a deal, right? WRONG. The atmosphere and community of Sunday night sets the tone for the year. When our students get together and have fun, it sets the heart of the group. Ready to praise, ready to grow, ready to love, ready to serve, and ready to yield. Life Change, Life Growth, Life Purpose When we talk about Life Change, Life Growth, and Life Purpose, it is God who does the work when we allow him to live in and through us. There is no age limit on this. He doesn’t check your ID or ask you to submit your high school diploma. He is actively pursuing our students without hesitation and that is a big deal. In 1 Timothy 4: 12, Paul tells Timothy, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.” At this point, Timothy was not young as our students are young, but the message rings loud. Our students don’t need to be in worship or engaged in a lesson to live this charge out. As I watched and listened at the Kickoff; it was clear this example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity was set. It wasn’t set in a worship room or with open Bibles (don’t worry, we’ll open them plenty this year), but rather, the example was set over burgers and yard games. That is a big deal. Paul later writes in 2 Timothy 2: 20-21, “In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.” Allow God To Work We want the students to allow God to work in them and surrender themselves to be “instruments for special purposes”. With that comes the need to cleanse, to step away from what’s common. All we did was provide food and games. The students chose to step away from their “common” to have a little fun and most importantly, cleanse and prepare their hearts to grow. We will be moving into a series over the next four weeks titled, “What’s the BIG deal?” where we will dive into what the big deal is for our students navigating some of this world’s biggest confusions and temptations. For now, a cookout and some games provided much more than a few laughs and a full stomach. And yes, it was a big deal.
The Best Birthday Gift
For my daughter’s birthdays, we have always requested that people don’t bring a gift. We have the means to get her what she needs (toys, clothes, etc.), and she has very generous grandparents. Also, the rest of the family typically loads her up at Christmas time. As her birthday rolls around each year, no one listens to our request. People feel it’s rude to come empty handed with no physical gift. So last year, we started requesting that in lieu of a gift, we would like people to donate to a charity. Last year, we had people make their checks out to ReClaim3d and did the same thing for our other daughter’s 1st birthday. This year I showed my older daughter the different booths during Spark Tank, a series about taking action. Different organizations, such as Destiny Rescue, Feed My Starving Children, Chicago’s Good News DayCare, and Channahon-Minooka Rotary Club presented on local, regional, and global issues and gave clear action steps on how to be part of the solution. God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. – 1 Peter 4:10 (NLT) We let her choose what charity she wanted to give to. She chose the Rotary Club’s Backpack Program stating, “I’d love snacks in my backpack…Can I have snacks in my backpack, please?” I promised to put some snacks in her backpack but explained that not all mommies and daddies have enough money to do that. That was why we were giving our money to those kids. My daughter was able to raise $170 from friends and family at her party for the charity. In addition, she also raised $5 from complete strangers she met at a restaurant. She told them it was almost her birthday and they asked what she wanted this year. She told them money for kids who don’t have food, so they gave her $5. We are really proud of her because throughout the whole process, she did say that she wanted just a few toys for herself, but she was completely excited to give her money to the Backpack Program. She even reprimanded her grandma for bringing a present because that was against the rules. It is refreshing to see generosity at a young age and serves as a great example of doing good with what you have. The best birthday gift can be helping others.
You Are Perfect As You Are
What if you lived a life where you weren’t up at night worrying about how you are going to make everything perfect for your kids? Do you worry about money, or stress about the number of things on your to-do list? Do you have a spouse that you feel like doesn’t recognize your worth? Doesn’t get what it feels like to be a stay-at- home mom or a working mom? Are you going through some scary health news or see your family struggling? There is some really good news…you can stop worrying because you are loved so greatly by our Lord. You are perfect. I used to be there. Sometimes I still catch myself worrying about pleasing people or over-worrying about things that are out of my control. Here are a few words to describe what I used to be…depressed, suicidal, anxious, lonely, fearful. I lived through trauma I thought I’d never escape. Here is a short snippet into my high school days: Hiding in my closet with my dog to protect myself from my drunken brother who was out to hurt himself or my family. Crying at night when another brother would be standing on the balcony threatening to jump with his cut arms. I constantly felt like I was never good enough because that’s what I was constantly told. It’s All About A Relationship We all have our own unique stories, but I’ve realized the more of a relationship I continue to have with the Lord, that is farther and farther that is from the truth. We are wrapped in His grace and love. And the more you learn about our Lord, the more it is impossible to describe the love that He has for you, the more for filled your life will become, and the more meaning your life will have. You are perfect. God made you for a very specific purpose, a perfect purpose. YOU were chosen to be a mother by our creator, a wife, a daughter, and I’d say that’s pretty darn special. Embrace the woman that He has designed it to be. Remember not to compare yourself because every story and journey is different. Once you accept your story and who God made you to be, you can extend that love so greatly to others; and that’s the greatest award. “A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.” Proverbs 31:10-12 NIV
Joy Even On The Worst Days
Africa-where the Lord called me to serve. Without even thinking about it or analyzing it, I said yes. There is an unspeakable joy I’ve had in my life, even on my worst days that I’ve never had before that can only be filled by God’s plan and purpose for my life. This was my second trip to eSwatini (formerly Swaziland). It was just as life-changing as the first time, if not more. The first time was taking it all in and seeing the large impact Heart for Africa has on the community, but this time my trip felt most impacted by where the Lord has called me – to the Khutsala artisans. I walked into the room, and here’s what I saw – smiles and excitement on the 100 artisans faces. Then Ncobile, Heart for Africa’s Hospitality Manager, introduced me. This was my first time being on a trip and being a Heart for Africa employee. They definitely made me feel more than welcome. They gave me a special sign, and despite the language barrier, the smiles and warmth on their faces communicated everything. I wish I could have bottled up that moment. My heart breaks for the stories I hear; for the woman that fears for her life another unable to care for her unborn baby a gentleman caring for a household of 13 children with an old gogo (grandma) since the mom passed away Healing happens as burdens are released when these artisans perform work at Khutsala. The Lord continues to work in their lives. He’s providing an opportunity for joy in the midst of tough circumstances. I am blown away by their skills, stories, love, and unshakable faith. We all immediately think about those beautiful 226 children at Project Canaan, but the truth is that it’s so much more. Heart for Africa is changing the country; providing hope and job opportunities, rescuing babies and children, teaching lifelong skills, providing opportunities, feeding children and adults in the community, educating children and adults on Project Canaan and the community and performing some unspeakable miracles all upon the foundation of Jesus Christ as the center of it all. “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’” – Matthew 25:35-36 (NIV)
Praise God And Give Thanks
Since my husband and I became parents, we have been fortunate enough to take a trip every winter. We head to the Wisconsin Dells to splash around the indoor water-parks with our children. It was a trip my husband took often with his parents, and one he wanted to recreate with his own children. After our first trip, our daughter would continuously watch the videos of her zipping down water slides. She fervently anticipate our next trip. After our second trip, she was two and able to verbalize and remember the trip better. For this most recent trip, she pretty much mentioned the water parks once a week the entire year. She would ask when we would return and tell us they were her favorite vacations ever. Through her excitement, my husband and I found ourselves just as excited. We couldn’t wait to throw on our suits, grab a tube, and have three days of water logged fun. When we arrived, our daughter ran from room to room with her sister close on her heels. She claimed her bed, got her suitcase, and told us how great she thought the room was. We unpacked, and I loaded the girls onto the luggage cart. Then they took a fun ride back to the front desk. On our elevator ride down to the lobby, our daughter crossed her hands and started to pray. She said, “Dear God, thank you for my hotel, thank you for water parks, thank you for my sister, thank you for my mom and dad, and thank you for family time.” Whoa! My eyes began to well, and I smiled down on our faithful little girl. In her mind, this vacation with these massive water slides and these luxurious rooms were all thanks to God. And, she needed Him to know immediately that she was thankful for it. She wanted to praise God. Had I done that? Had it even crossed my mind to thank the Lord? To thank Him for the wonderful things in our life that allow us to have wonderful times such as these? The obvious answer is no, I didn’t. For the rest of the week, my husband and I did model our behavior after our child. We thanked God for the little things every night at dinner, and even throughout the day. We took the time that our children were napping to read our Bibles and discuss how blessed our lives are. The Lord was doing so much in them right now. Be Childlike During one of those naps, my husband stumbled upon Luke 18, and thought of our daughter in the elevator. Reading over Luke 18, we were reminded that we are called to BE childlike in our faith. In Luke, there is the story of people bringing their children to be blessed by Jesus. His disciples rebuked these people. They may have been thinking that Jesus had more important things to do with his time than be surrounded by a bunch of children. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”Luke 18: 16-17 (NIV) Be Excited We are called to model our faith and our excitement for the kingdom of God off of children. This lesson came to my husband and I from the mouth of our own little babe. She was ready to shout her praises to God because of the blessings we have in our life. In Psalms, David proclaims, “Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.” Psalm 8:2 (NIV) Praise God Over the years, from other translations of the Bible, the saying “from the mouth of babes” has evolved from this Psalm into a common saying among our culture. It’s used to describe an instance where a child has said something with much more wisdom and insight than us adults can sometimes grasp. God provided us with these little vessels of wisdom, stating multiple times throughout Scripture the importance of allowing them to speak, shout praise, and voice their thoughts on our world. In Matthew, Jesus refers back to this Psalm again to explain the wisdom of a child. Jesus had just finished cleaning the Temple grounds of men who were buying and selling within the walls, telling them that the Temple was intended to be a house of prayer. Children began shouting their praises to Jesus in the Temple, knowing He was the Messiah, and to the dismay of some adults who couldn’t grasp this knowledge, they said to Jesus, “Do you hear what these children are saying? they asked him. ‘Yes,’ replied Jesus, ‘have you never read, ‘From the lips of children and infants, you, Lord, have called forth your praise?’” Matthew 21:16 (NIV) The children were wise enough to know who Jesus was. They were wise enough to praise Him, yet the adults had doubts and reservations when it came to this man. Sometimes, we need to put our adult thoughts to rest and remember how to praise in a childlike way, and with childlike wisdom. In addition, we need to listen to what comes out of the mouths of babes, so that we can more fully comprehend the amazing blessings that God has poured upon us. Remember Who Is Responsible On our drive home, we had more conversation about our daughter’s amazing insight into who was responsible for our vacation. We talked about how different our lives would be if we tried to praise like a child. For example, we would be thanking God all of the time for the things we have. Things that we take for granted or even start to believe are from our own doing. We would be sitting in anticipation of amazing things that are
Finding Joy Within The Battles
As you continuously fight life’s battles, it’s important to take time to stop and take care of yourself. This will allow you to have the right mindset, enough energy, and be able to feel God’s love. Taking this time for yourself will allow you to overcome anything. God made you with a body that you can take care of, move, and see the everyday beauty in the world around you. It’s your individual responsibility to embrace that role. There is no one answer for all, but I strongly encourage you to find something that you enjoy to do. My something is working out. It’s not just about trying to look good; It has been a place of healing, praying, worshiping, learning, joy, allowing myself to feel emotions and disappointments along with victory, refocusing on having the right attitude, learning patience, having fun and the list goes on and on. It’s not about where I place or how well I do in any given event/race as a triathlete/runner. It is about transferring what I learned from races to everyday life and continuing to strive for better. In spite of my imperfections, all glory is given to God and what he makes me capable of. While I love working out and the way it makes me feel, my true calling is to help with the Heart for Africa mission. Because of the lessons I learned through racing, I’ve been able to apply valuable principles to my career. My best ideas have been while working out and I’m able to maintain a positive attitude in hard circumstances. What is God calling you to do so that you can better serve Him? Don’t wait for everything to be perfect, because it never will be. The best thing you can do is just start. Whether it’s moving your body to reduce or even eliminate depression and anxiety, heal from your past (like me), lose weight, or grow a closer relationship with Jesus. You can do this in many ways, such as by listening to worship music or praying during your workout, but you have to just take that initial step to get started. Ease into it. Some days you’ll feel like doing it, and some days you won’t. Just keep going and remember how and why you are supposed to move. “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NIV
When Serving Becomes God’s Voice
Over the past few years, I have had the privilege of serving in Kid Village a few times a month in the toddler room. Our time there consists of playing, cuddling, and distracting adorable 1-2 year olds while their parents are in church. A few weeks ago I was asked to move to the elementary aged kids space to help lead a group. We started out singing and dancing, and then settled into a Bible story. That week, they were learning about Nehemiah, and his task of rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem. While rebuilding, Nehemiah saw that people in the city were hungry. So he went to the officials, and demanded better treatment for his fellow people. The lesson focused on Nehemiah’s initiative – seeing something that needed done, and doing it. Nehemiah, even though busy with rebuilding the wall, saw the hungry people and knew something had to be done about it. What Happened Next I was then grouped with the kindergarten students to talk about initiative in their lives. They shared times when someone showed initiative around them, or when they themselves showed initiative. It felt awesome listening to all of their stories, and how they were starting to figure out how to act out what the word of God was teaching. A few days later, while at work, God spoke to me. It was a busy day at work, and one coworker had called in sick. This left another coworker of mine doing the work of two all by himself. While standing around, many of us began to comment on how dirty the place was getting. I immediately heard the words Nehemiah and initiative in my head. I saw that my coworker was struggling to keep up with the task by himself, and I started to help him. When caught up, he was very thankful to have had the help. This was just a little bit of initiative in my life, but the event stood out to me because it was one of the first times something specific from the Bible popped into my head and caused me to take action. Here I was thinking I was serving the children, and it ends up, I was deepening my connection with Scripture. This is why serving with purpose is so important. You never know when God is ready to connect. Find out more about serving at the Village…
Get Up And Do Life
I knew I needed to get up because there were a ton of things to do. Tasks to accomplish, dishes to clean, floors to sweep, laundry to do, lunch with a friend…but I could not get off the sofa. I can’t explain why, I just could not do it. For hours. Days. Lunch was canceled, laundry was not done, dinner not started. For days. Weeks. The Solutions Seems Simple For many of you reading this, the solution seems simple: just get up and do it. It’s a nebulous thing, depression, it’s a weight that makes getting up impossible. Depression is a wall between you and the rest of the world. It’s a haze that makes what you know needs to get done seem impossible. It’s a voice that whispers to you how awful you are because you KNOW it’s all possible, and still you cannot manage. You cannot explain something like this. How do you lift yourself up when that whisper keeps pushing you down? How can you be honest with your loved ones when you fear that it’s you that’s damaged, no good, a problem, lazy, mean, or any other number of things? Some days and months were better than others. Many who know me would be shocked to know the reality that was my life. The struggle to get up every day. The overwhelming desire to sleep. The need to push everyone away. To isolate. To disappear. It was not then and is not now my fault. Depression can run in families, it can occur without any hereditary cause. It can be brought on by traumatic circumstances or come with the birth of a baby. It can be made better with medication or become worse with the wrong medication. Depression is bewildering, lonely, and is hard for those who love us. It is hard to live with. How Can You Help Someone Get Up? Depression can be overcome. It can be lived with. It can be better. You can help and be part of the solution for someone. You can be a support and a light. We are the hands and feet of God; we are His people and we are filled with His Spirit. God made clear that we are to be a community of believers. He made it clear that none should stand alone, for this world is fraught with hardships. God wants you to get up and help others to do the same. Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. – Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NIV) How can we be that cord of three? Mostly, it’s a willingness to be awkward and real. Truth is powerful and wonderful when used to help others. Listen I will always remember when a friend sat me down and asked me seriously “How are you?” and then followed it up with “I really want to know because I think you are not happy.” She invited me to tell her the truth of how I was. Safely, and in a quiet and private atmosphere. I was free to answer and blubber as much as I needed (which was quite a lot as it turned out). Then she asked if my husband knew how much I was struggling, how she could help me, what did I need. And, feeling safe, I answered her. I told her that I wouldn’t do anything to help myself, that I couldn’t, that I was utterly stuck. That I needed help but had no way to reach for it. That no one really knew how I was struggling at that moment, certainly not my husband, since I was trying desperately to hide it from him. This friend listened to it all. She heard. And she told me she would follow up with me to see if I got help. And she did. That she wanted my permission to call my husband and tell him that I needed help. And she did. Care Do you know someone who struggles with depression? Can you find a time and place to honestly and openly talk to them? To let them know that you are willing to help, to listen, to care? For you will likely have to go to them, they will not come to you. You might have to start the conversation, I know I would never have done so. Ask them how you can tell when they are really struggling, how they want you to react when you see the signs, who they need you to tell if you are really hurting. And let them know you are praying for them. It will mean the world to them, it did for me. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 (NIV) Read more about being stuck in a rut.
Moments of Choice Can Change Your Course
1066AD: William the Conqueror defeats the Saxon king and the future of Britain is forever changed. 1914AD: The heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire takes a wrong turn and WW1 becomes inevitable. 33AD: A Jewish teacher is crucified and raised from the dead so all people can be saved. There are moments in time that alter the course of history. Some are big, like the Battle of Hastings in 1066 and some are small, like a driver not knowing the town he’s driving in and turning the wrong way. Like these events, our lives are made of big and small moments, and the choices we make in those moments can lead to life-changing events. I think it’s normal to wonder what it would have been like if we’d chosen another path. I’ve had a wilder, more colorful life than my current self appreciates, and I’ve been able to chat with a couple who’ve lived a more restricted life who wonders if they’ve missed out on anything. If only we could choose our consequences in advance. If only we could know the penalty for the bad choices we are about to make. Then we could pick and choose just which things we’re willing to do and which things we aren’t willing to pay the price for. I wish I had chosen like that couple. Imagine all the pain I could have avoided! A Gift For You But, I did make some bad choices. It’s given me heartache that has been years in the healing, and that healing has only been possible with the Grace of God. Because in 33AD a Jewish man was willing to make all the right choices. Because Jesus was willing to obey His Father unto death on a cross, all my bad choices are gone. Wiped out of existence the second I turned to the Father and poured out my heart, crying for forgiveness. That doesn’t mean that the consequences of those choices don’t still exist in the real world. It isn’t like my actions didn’t affect others, I still had to manage the aftereffects. But my sin was gone. My pain was gone. I cannot be hurt by it anymore, and that is a gift I wish for all of you. If you turn to God and ask, sincerely ask, for forgiveness, it will be given to you! It is promised in the Bible: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” -1 John 1:9 (KJV) Don’t Believe The Lies Some might read this and say, but what I have done is so bad, it cannot be forgiven. It should not be forgiven. I say to you: that is a lie. Don’t believe it. Every day, choose to believe that God is good enough, that God loves you enough, that He knew you enough to make a way for you. The Bible is filled with heroes, and all of these heroes have something in common – they are sinners. Murderers, adulterers, liars who are redeemed by God and put to His work. It is only after we clear our hearts of the overwhelming burden of guilt that we can hear God calling us to His work. Put your fear of forgiveness aside. You don’t deserve it, I didn’t deserve it, but God wants us to be redeemed. He has plans for you, work for you to do, life for you to live to it’s fullest. “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.“ -Jeremiah 29:11 (NLV) Leave your pain, guilt, and sin behind. Leave the lie that you are not worth it behind. Instead, turn to the Lord and live in hope!
Get Off Your Donkey To Help
How many times have you seen people in situations that just break your heart? How many times have you said to yourself, “If only there was something I could do to help”? Do you ever get the urge to help out and volunteer somewhere, but you just don’t know where or how to go about it? Get Off Your Donkey is all about serving and based on the story of the Good Samaritan who got off of his donkey to help the traveler. The Story of the Good Samaritan On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and, love your neighbor as yourself.” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers? The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” – Luke 10:25-37 NIV You get busy and it’s easy to get wrapped up in your day to day life, but God built you for more. He gave you gifts and provides opportunities for you to use those gifts to help others. Here at The Village we encourage everyone to serve – both inside the church and outside in the community and beyond. “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ ” -Matthew 25:40 NIV If you’re looking for a place to serve, check this out… If you’re interested in purchasing a Get Off Your Donkey t-shirt, contact karol@thevillagechristianchurch.com.
Communion Is All About The Heart
The Last Supper Go out, order in, buy a few pizzas, cook a big meal? It only took 3 rounds of Rock, Paper, Scissors to make the decision, but a fancy meal at home it was. An Easter dinner in our home complete with ham, sweet potato casserole, spoon-bread, and all the fixings, was just what I craved. What is it that makes these meals so special? I don’t think it’s the food. I think it’s the heart. How often do we set out to make what we know is supposed to be a special meal? The mundane every-night dinner is more of a chore than a gift, and that’s what this Easter meal was for me, a gift to my family. When you really think on it, that’s what the Last Supper was, a gift from Jesus to His family. A special moment that came from the heart. It was more about the heart of Jesus than it was about what they consumed. Even today, the heart of that meal means more than the bread and juice. The community that was shared at that table and today in our church home. The closeness of the bond that they shared, and that we now share. The Communion Moment There are times when I crave more from this moment in church; I think that’s my Roman Catholic upbringing. There are times when I want the formal phrases, the transformation of the host and the wine, the familiarity of the ritual. But those words aren’t what Jesus gave us. Those rituals weren’t the purpose of that meal. The only thing Jesus asked was that we would share the bread and wine in remembrance of Him. Luke 22:19 says, “And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” There is no ritual, no fancy wording, just a simple statement of love and a request. I think back on how shocking it was to be in a church where there was no ceremony, ritual, or buildup to communion. No hoops to jump through. No sacrament you have to take to be able to accept communion. It was odd, and then it became normal. Why should there be anything that delays us from fulfilling Jesus’ request? When you come to communion with the right heart and a desire to remember all that Jesus has done for us, what more weight could or should be placed on this moment? Then I had children…and all of a sudden I felt a need for rules. Guidelines. A set of directions for how to bring them to this moment of sharing in the community of Christ. My Southern Baptist husband was no help. At all. His upbringing makes him say crazy things like they’ll come to it in their own time. Or it has to be their choice. Wait, what?! And all over again, like Baptism (that’s a whole ‘nother story), I am rethinking what communion means, what our part in it is. I realized that I really counted on having a planned set of steps for the kids to climb. Instead, I have to follow the path of faith alone. I can prepare myself and I can prepare our children to understand what communion is. Why it is. What it means. It has all been given to us, it’s all in the Bible: While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat, this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26: 26-28 When Are You Ready? So then, how can we know when we, or our children, are ready to take part in communion? It’s about the heart. It always has been. When we understand the gift of Jesus’ death on the cross and His resurrection. When we can absolutely do what Jesus has asked, to remember Him, we are ready. Whether we are young, old, or in between, all we need is a heart prepared to remember and give thanks for the gift that Jesus is to us.
Calling All Men
Men, this isn’t going to be a normal Blog post. I am not here to write about something I have read recently, or how a message from our Pastors has affected me. I am here to drop the gauntlet. I am here to swipe my proverbial glove in your face and to challenge my fellow brothers in the church family to a duel. As we enter 2018, I simply want to know “Where are the Village men at?” We have the Family Blitz event, Yoga, Village Adventurers, Kid Village, Life Groups, events for crafting, and cooking. The only event that we have listed for men is basketball. While this isn’t bad, certainly we can and must do better! So, what’s the issue? Why am I so fired up about this? Well Proverbs 27:17 is a starting point: As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Let’s take that a little further and look at Deuteronomy 22:10: Do not plow with an ox and a donkey yoked together. While this last verse is geared towards farm work, we can also apply this to our walk as Christian men. In my life, I am the ox, and my wife is the donkey, although she may disagree with that (in fact in most cases with Lisa, I am usually the donkey). The point is that as a man, I need other men in my life to help me carry the burdens of being a man. The donkey has no idea what it means to be the ox and vice versa. Iron does sharpen iron, but it is more effective if the iron is the right iron. The takeaway from this: Get to sharpening! I need you, and the other men in this church need you. We need your accountability. Your honesty, integrity, and leadership are needed. We need your life stories because another man in our church may be hurting and your story could be the tool that the Spirit uses to change his life. Action Step Get your donkey to Men’s Group! Saturdays 7 AM. Church Office. And to be clear, this is for every man in our church. Let me share with you my story. For 11 years I have attended the Village. I have played drums for about 10 of those years. I have been in Lifegroups with other couples. For 10.5 years I have made excuses for why I couldn’t attend Men’s Group. It was too early. I needed my sleep. I have kids that have activities. Brothers this was all donkey excrement! In 6 months of attending this group my life has been changed for the better. I am less afraid of sharing my faults. I have a group of brothers who care about me, forgive me, and love me. I am held accountable, and my ability to fight sin has been strengthened through my attendance. Stop making excuses. This group is for everyone. Do you play guitar in the worship band? Does that instrument sharpen you like a brother can? Do you lead a Lifegroup? Are you spending the time needed to be a better man? Get there boys; trust me when I say you will be a better man for it. But I am not done here. Again, I ask where are we men? We are called to lead. As Christian men, this means that we lead in our marriages and family, just as we lead in our church. What are we doing as the men of this church that clearly states that we are here? What are we leading?
Listen and Obey
I’ve learned so much about Heart for Africa, that without even going there, I fell in love with the mission. God placed it on my heart to get involved. Then I made the choice to listen and obey even though I had no idea why. That has been one of the BEST decisions of my life. I had the opportunity to travel to Heart for Africa open up to me in August, and I gladly said yes. I had no idea what to expect. Little did I know, God knew there would be MUCH more for me to learn and experience. The most profound experience on my trip was having the opportunity to rescue a baby in a hopeless situation. The mother gave birth on a Friday and died Monday of malaria. There was no formula or means to feed him. Without Heart for Africa taking him in, he would have died. We found out about Wilson from a social worker giving Heart for Africa a call; that’s how they find out what babies need a home. Through this time, the presence of God was evident. The power of prayer helped the family slowly hand over the baby, which was difficult since it was the last thing they had to remember their sister/daughter. Watching God answer our prayers in a critical time allowed my faith to go even deeper. There were so many little signs throughout that 6-hour journey that He was present. For example, the baby’s name in Swazi is Lindani, meaning “we’ve been waiting for you,” and we waited 45 minutes in the hospital parking lot and 30 minutes at the homestead. Then on the way back, we crossed a river that was the same name as the town where Janine Maxwell (the co-founder of Heart for Africa) and her childhood friend, Lori (pictured). Please pray and ask what can you do to get involved. Maybe it’s holding babies, gathering donations, selling ornaments, taking the trip, or giving a monetary donation. I can tell you one thing from my experience: listen and obey. It doesn’t have to all make sense, for there is a purpose for you and He needs you to play your part. Find your joy in obedience. “Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.” Psalm 103:20 (NIV)
We All Have Something To Offer
I can’t do it. I don’t have time. I am not good enough. I have nothing to offer. Those are all the thoughts we have when someone asks us to serve. Trust me, I have had those thoughts numerous times. I still do. I am not perfect. But this is what Jesus asks of us. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. What I have discovered in my time at The Village Christian Church is that we all have something to offer. Even if you don’t think you have anything to offer, you do. YOU DO! God has given us all gifts. Some gifts are big, some are small, but they are ALL gifts from God. That makes them amazing! Every single person I have met at church has a gift. Even if you don’t think you do, I know you do. Jesus knows you do. All you need to do is take that first step. Stand up and say “I want to serve”. I want to share with you a secret that you might not know…shhh, don’t tell anyone…., but you don’t have to serve at the church. You can serve anywhere you like. Here are a few ideas: Help us with a food truck, go on a trip to Ms. Pearls, pack some food at Feed My Starving Children or just go out and talk to someone. Love on them and share with them the word of the Lord. Serving is not about BIG gestures. It is all about spreading the word of Jesus. Bringing people into a relationship with Jesus. Here is my promise to you. If you want to serve, but don’t know where or don’t think you have anything to offer, come see me and we will find something together. You are my brother, you are my sister, and we will serve the Lord TOGETHER.
God’s Presence In Swaziland
Nervous – Prior to leaving for our trip to serve at Project Canaan in Swaziland, I was very anxious. Normally I am a very at ease traveler, but this was much more than that. I was a full blown crazy woman. What was I worried about? I nervous about leaving my kids for 11 days and not having cell phone service to connect with them for a majority of that time. In addition, I was nervous about everything that the country we were going to entailed. Swaziland is a land where 50-60% of the population suffers from HIV and TB, the highest AIDS rate in the world. The unemployment rate is 82%. The average life expectancy is in the 40’s. Most children drop out of school and begin working full-time before first grade. A “very good” job will pay the equivalent of $100 US a month. And this is a land where vipers, spitting cobras, and black and green mambas are prevalent (and I HATE snakes). Peace – And yet. . . Once we arrived in Johannesburg, I was filled with this amazing sense of excitement and peace. We were traveling with great friends and working with an amazing ministry. I went into this experience with my heart and mind open and willing for God to work in me and outside in the world. What did that mean? Well, first and foremost it meant I had to leave my own expectations about what I wanted this trip to be checked at the door. When I think of a mission trip, I envisioned being out in the “world”, helping the poor and needy. While we did go out into the Swaziland community on our trip to distribute Feed my Starving Children manna packs, eggs from Project Canaan’s dairy farm, clothes and donated toys and trinkets, a majority of our time was spent on Project Canaan. What did that look like? It was a lot of rocking babies and playing with little ones, painting fences, sorting through donated shoes, clothing and other items, making Christmas cookies, and decorating for the holidays amongst other things. To be completely honest with you, even though I knew I was going to an orphanage, these were not exactly the kind of “life changing experiences” I envisioned necessarily doing on a mission trip. The Why – My own selfish desires lasted for probably about two minutes before I honestly felt the Holy Spirit speaking to me. I was on the playground playing with children close to the same age as my own youngest child. One of the kids looked up at me with huge eyes and a smiling face. I looked into those eyes and so clearly heard “This is why you are here”. Let me be clear, these children are LOVED and so well taken care of. Janine and Ian Maxwell love each and every one of these children as if they are their own. But each child is 1 of the currently 143 living there. These kids will never experience the one on one love and experiences that my own children will have. God brought me to Africa to love on these kids like they were my own children. Because – they are his children. If I had been set on what I wanted my African “experience” to consist of, I would have missed so much. I would have missed: the joy on the female employees’ faces when they were each able to pick out a new bra from the donated items we brought with. what it was like to provide the children of the women at the Kibbutz with toys that my own children picked out for them. the snuggles as five kids battled to sit on mine and my husband’s laps during the Christmas movie night. Swaziland is a beautiful country, but there are many sad and horrific things going on there. And yet, where we were on Project Canaan – it is a place of hope and goodness for 143 children, 280 workers and the surrounding community. If I had not freely opened myself to God working in me that week, I would have missed God’s presence. I would have missed His voice that I so clearly saw and heard. God was there. God IS there.
Be A Voice, Not An Echo
Coming Home Coming home doesn’t seem like it should be hard. But when you see up close the beauty of God’s creation, His grace and mercy, His provision and His people doing “the work” really, really well, it feels sacred and my heart aches to return. Anyone who asks me about our experiences in Swaziland usually gets this: “So good…our best trip yet!” What I’ve Seen This is my generic answer for now because I am honestly not sure yet what I need to share. Occasionally, someone will get my over-detailed response and wish they had an appointment to get them out of the conversation because the work Heart for Africa is doing in Swaziland is exceptional and such a joy to share. I have seen it grow from a dream 5 years ago to a city on a hill. I’ve seen children rescued from the worst imaginable circumstances who are now fully loved and nourished physically, emotionally, and spiritually. They have been and will continue to be restored in the name of Jesus. In turn, they will restore others. I’ve seen a thriving Artisan business that makes absolutely beautiful pieces. This Artisan business gives hundreds of employees the opportunity and the ability to care for themselves and the other 13 or so individuals living in their homestead. Their work is exceptional and also allows more children to be seen and brought home to Project Canaan. I’ve seen food distributed to communities and churches serving meals regularly, mostly to the elderly, and orphaned and vulnerable children. I’ve seen eggs – did you know how incredibly good eggs are for you?? – and milk and soon I pray to see water coming down the mountain, an answered prayer and a fulfilled promise of God’s provision. I could go on, but I know this is the point when my sweet audience begins to regret asking that innocent question, “How was your trip?” Sorry friends…I’m working on it, but I have never been great at giving a brief response. Thanks to my husband, Luke, I am now more aware of my rambling and tend to put the brakes on quicker, but I’m always happy to share if you want more information! Focus On This So rather than telling you about my personal experience, I want to focus on my voice – and yours. I teach music, and have been intentional with my junior high students this year about the power of their attitude and their “voice.” While searching for inspirational quotes about this topic, I stumbled upon this one: “Be a voice, not an echo.” I cannot get it out of my head. And I think God intended this one for me. To remind me what He wants my voice to sound like, and stop trying to determine what I want. My voice has changed a LOT in my lifetime, and I am so glad He uses our brokenness and mistakes along the way to give us a new perspective. Growing up, I always had a plan and a picture in mind of what life would be. Don’t we all? But one lesson I have learned, and will continue to learn, is it’s not up to me. If I had complete control, I would mess it up (have messed it up), and I would miss out on an opportunity that God has for me. He can always find someone else. Zoom out for a second and be willing to say, “I don’t know and I am ok with that”. We are not called by our SAVIOR to have all the answers, all the plans. We are called to love, to listen, to seek wisdom and truth, and step forward in faith. Most people at The Village know me as one of two people: the girl who sings, or Nate’s sister. Both titles I am proud of and grateful for, but can I tell you that until a year ago I didn’t think my “voice” had much to offer? I loved singing, and that is why I wanted to be involved. It was selfish and self-serving. It made me uncomfortable to receive encouragement, especially from people I didn’t know because I wasn’t really doing anything…I was copying and hoping it communicated the way I had interpreted it. Please don’t misunderstand. This was not always my feeling, and I have always loved the experience and emotion worship brings. But I was an echo. Whether is was self-conscious or intentional, I wasn’t using the voice God had given ME. I was stifling it. Yet he used my insecurity to draw me close, build my confidence and let me see this year especially that I have something to offer. This is what I long for and this is what I saw in Swaziland. So many amazing voices saying yes to God’s calling on their life. Some voices carrying really far while others gently living their truths, each one coming together to make a beautiful and powerful song. We Need Your Voice We NEED all the voices. All the gifts. All the faith to say yes and recognize what God has given us. We NEED to stop echoing what we think we should be so we can be the voice He created us to be. If we all “sang” the same melody, no one would listen to Pandora. I pray we can each be more sensitive to the voice God has in store for us and fully experience the blessings and provision that come when we say yes. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him…May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Ephesians 3:16-19