Beth Moore Simulcast

So, this weekend we hosted the Living Proof Live simulcast at our church. I am still processing all that I learned from Beth and will (hopefully) blog about that soon.
Here's what I learned while heading up this thing...Trust God to do His part. I had so many worries while planning this thing. Will anyone come? Will we be able to provide an experience that people will enjoy and enable us to do things like this in the future? Can we feel like we are part of what is happening at the live event? Will worship be the same? Will the women feel comfortable in their worship? Will they give to our mission? WILL YOU REALLY BE THERE GOD? Just tons of questions.
Did it go exactly as I planned or imagined...? Nope. But God was faithful...as usual. He was there and hearts were changed. I can say that with certainty because mine was. Isn't that why we did it?
It is beautiful to know that God is sailing the ship...even if we try to grab the wheel.

Friendships

You know, I serve a God of restoration. I am glad that I do. I am glad that friendships can be restored. My mom used to tell my brother and I (usually when we were arguing) that friends would come and go, but we would always be family. The church is a family. We go through things that, sometimes, aren't pretty. But we will always be family. We are all the children of God. A God of restoration.
Speaking of restored friendships...
I am in the nursery on Wednesday nights with a fun toddler...usually, it is just us. We often struggle with whose job it is to pick up the blocks that he has dumped all over. This happened a few weeks ago...

Jeremy: "Miss Kelly, I'm dirty."

Me: "Okay, let's change you."

Jeremy: "I've got to put it in the toilet."

Me: "Um, no"

Jeremy: "That's what I do at my house."

Me: "Well, this is God's house."

Jeremy: "He needs to come clean up the blocks then."

Nice...

Worship...AI Style?

I hope this works...




I hope this works...
So, I don't watch American Idol which is why this is seriously late...but in my exploration of MyChurch, I saw that youtube video of some AI finalists singing Shout to the Lord. It really is beautiful. And because I don't watch AI, I can't pretend to know anything about all the people singing, but I imagine they are not all believers. Some probably have mentioned faith in the packages you watch before they sing...like I said I don't watch it. But it is probably a safe bet to say that most of them learned the song to perform it.
That made me consider the difference between performing a song and worshipping. If you have seen it (on the show or here on my blog - hopefully), the setting was amazing...a full choir in a huge auditorium. The capacity for a moment of beautiful offering to our Lord is huge. But I wonder what He heard. The Word says that He inhabits the praises of His people but what if the people praising aren't His?
I hope that all of you have experienced worship inhabited by God. It is by far my favorite experience in this life. But I have also witnessed "worship" not motivated by a heart filled with love for the Lord. "Worship" that is not about the worthiness of God but about the voice of the person singing. It just seems hollow. If I am honest, sometimes, when it comes to worship, I am just singing...and in the process missing out on an opportunity to tell my Father that He is worthy because He always is.
I guess I am not putting the AI performance in one category or the other. It just made me think about worship. Jesus says that worship should happen in Spirit and in truth. But sometimes I think God just hears a pretty song.

God's love does not depend on you keeping the rules...?

So, I am quote-ish-ing (which means it was something close to that but maybe not word for word) a sermon from two weeks ago that I did not hear but my husband did. (I actually heard the sermon later and John did not say it that time.) Anyway, the idea of rules is an ongoing discussion between Troy and I. We disagree (usually peacefully) about whether or not God has rules.
If you know us at all, you may have figured out where each of us falls in the debate...you may have even heard (or taken part in) one of our discussions on the subject. I think that God has a way of life that we can choose or not. If we choose His way, we should remain in that way. Troy thinks that God has a list of Dos and Don'ts. I think that when you understand grace and freedom in Christ seeing that the Word points out the way to experience abundant life and following out of love for Him is easy. Troy thinks that God has standards that we must/should try to keep.
John's statement interests me because it doesn't really confirm either side. While it does mention rules, it implies that it is not necessary to keep them. The more I turn it over in my mind the more it makes me want to agree with Troy. (don't get too excited, T) Here's the thing...God will love you if you keep the rules or not. His Word says that He died for us when we were still sinners. But His acceptance certainly comes after we follow some guidelines...steps...boundaries...rules He has decided upon. We must do something to be accepted. Repent, believe, confess, baptize...whether you believe you must do some or all of those, you have to agree you must do something. Beyond choosing Him once, you must continue to daily pick up your cross and follow to remain in Him. So, does following Him mean following the rules...?

the discussion continues

Soap Opera God

(I guess that by writing this I am admitting to watching a soap opera. I do. The best one on TV according to the Daytime Emmys tonight, in fact. Anyway...)
So, has anyone ever noticed that soap characters only talk to or about God when something tragic has happened? Sometimes, I am proud that they mention Him at all. Mostly I think, I hope I am not like that...a sometimes or specific times follower. Isn't the key to a relationship continuity? How can I claim a relationship with someone I don't meet up with? Why would I go to a stranger in my highs or lows?
My favorite verse (it is hard to write that because there is so much good stuff in God's Word) is Psalms 63:3 "Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You." I know that I need God all the time. I hope that I glorify Him all the time. Sometimes, it is just easier to glorify Him. Just like sometimes it is easier to cry out to Him. When things are hard, it is easy to see that His love is better than life but not always easy to glorify or praise Him. On the other hand, sometimes when things are hard, we can't see His love and may even doubt that it is there. When things are good it is easy to praise Him but harder to remember that no matter how "good" life is His love is better. And sometimes when things are good, we forget to praise Him or give Him credit altogether. I love this verse because I easily see the need for consistency in it.
What I hope is true in my life is I always know and trust that He loves me...that I understand that His love is perfect and focused on me in all situations...that He walks with me through the bad and is the source of the good. If you truly understand those absolute truths, you have no choice. The only response is praise. I have no choice but to glorify Him.

Marriage...

You know, I have been considering why it works between Troy and I. We have had plenty of good reasons to quit, but we haven't. So I wondered why? We are approaching our 10th wedding anniversary, and I love him more than ever.
I think the beauty of marriage is in it's design. The Creator of marriage knew what He was doing. He created marriage to be a partnership that mirrors the relationship we find in Christ. The idea of becoming one flesh is to teach us about living with the Spirit. It is about compromise and change. I am not the same person I was 10 years ago...or even 2 or 3. My marriage reflects that. I constantly learn to mold myself to fit better with this man. Hopefully, my relationship with Christ is also constantly molding me into a better fit to be with Him...which is nothing short of perfection.
I think the Creator also knew our need for intimacy. This is what I have been considering most lately. God (that is the Creator!) longs for an intimate relationship with us but to participate in that we must understand it. I find that I desire intimacy most with Troy when he is spreading himself thin...when lots of people need him. In a room full of people, I ache to be with my husband...just to be with him. I don't know if that is jealousy or pride, but I love that after a busy Sunday, he comes home to me. This week is VBS. Troy is busy...lots of people are looking to him. I like knowing that I know him best and he knows me...it is a special connection. No one can penetrate our oneness. That makes me wonder about the ways that I allow things to come between myself and the Spirit. Do I long for intimacy with God the way that I do with my husband? Do I allow Him to know me from the inside out? Do I really want to know Him that way? If you truly consider the intimacy that a relationship with God can be...that He wants your relationship to be...it is astounding.

It constantly amazes me that when you really try to do this the way God intended....it works. Does that sound dumb? That I would be amazed when the Creator of the universe has the best way to live in it. It makes you wonder why so many people don't see it...

Dumbest Thing I've Heard Lately

So, I am watching Tori & Dean: Inn Love...yeah, I don’t know...anyway, they are redoing a Bed and Breakfast. They are actually doing a lot of the work for themselves (well, he is...she is 22 months pregnant). SO, Dean is doing a project in the yard and spots a paparazzi and calls the cops. Tori comes looking for him because they have to go somewhere, and he is all mad about the paps. He sees another one and chases them off of the property. She is obviously more used to it.

Anyway, they do an interview and he says this: "We moved up here to get away from the constant scrutiny"

They have a reality show where cameras follow them all the time...yep, there is no scrutiny there. Here’s your sign...