Live Sent

I am a part of the Ooze Viral Bloggers group and I recently received a copy of Live Sent - you are a letter by Jason C. Dukes to read and blog about.



I just finished reading it and I have to admit that this book was more challenging than I expected. I have spent all of my life in and around the church and I have to admit for most of that time I would have agreed with the statement, The church is not a place or an event. She is a who. The church is people. but didn't live or lead like I believed it. The church has most often been the place I worked or the place we attended on Sunday. The big challenge of this book is to live like we are the church, whether we are gathered together or living and working in the world around us.
Sunday mornings can no longer be viewed at just "fueling stations", they must be thought of as Post Offices, gathering and sorting mail in order to send out letters. This statement from chapter 2 sums it up for me.

This author could have benefited from a better editor, but Live Sent is still worth reading.

Things I Carry with Me

I packed up my office today...books, pictures and stuff. You see, we have pretty clearly heard God telling us that it is time to move on, that my time leading Children's Ministry here is done. We are excited about where God might take us but leaving is never easy. This morning I was kind of feeling sorry for myself and just a little apprehensive about this new beginning in my life.

I don't think of myself as sentimental...but as I was going through those items that I carry with me, I realize that I might be a bit more sentimental than I thought. Here are just a few of the things that have moved from Michigan to California, back to Michigan, and then to North Dakota...
1. a small polished rock that was given to me by Rod Pierce - everytime I see it I am reminded to pray for him.
2. a snow globe type craft that my friend Lori Overbeek designed - it reminds me that God's voice is most often heard in those still, quiet moments, when I am really listening
3. a large framed photo from the Urban Family Ministry kids - I am reminded everytime I see it that God is faithful, and of the ministry that touched my family
4. a picture of a pack of hound dogs with a fox in the middle - the caption reads "when you are in trouble, look straight ahead and keep your mouth shut" makes me laugh
5. a scrap of paper that says "Debby's Mind" - reminds me that "losing my mind" can bring great laughter to a bunch of teens for several weeks/months. will pray for those kids all my life
6. picture of my family at Potter Park Zoo in Lansing, MI - they are all pretending to be monkeys and laughing very hard! loved that day
7. Fridaze party agendas and game lists, because they remind me of Laurie Mahdasian and the fun we had planning those crazy events.

I have been blessed to have amazing friends, who know me well and still love me. I have a husband who lets me be me and loves me, even if I'm not the perfect wife. I have kids who actually like to hang out at home and enjoy one another's company. I have parents, brothers and sisters who are always there for me and for each other.

Wow! God has been so very good to me. Bring on the New Beginning!