Holiness in every day life

I'm not the first person to pen those words....not even close.
But it has taken me more than just a little while to embrace them. Like many people who respond to a calling into ministry in the church, I became completely and wholly engaged in it, and in the process I forgot that God is present in the every day of life.

Is it possible that while spending so many years trying to be holy in my work, I missed the way God weaves holiness into so many other things?
The mom who welcomes, plays with and feeds all the neighbor kids.
The woman who listens to the heartache of a stranger.
The man who cares for his ailing wife.
Work.
Rest.
Solitude.
A well prepared meal.
Needles and thread.
Standing in line.
Staples and new fabric.
Carrying heavy things.
Old things.
Rocking a crying baby.
Laughing with a friend.
Provision in the face of uncertainty.
A rambunctious two year old.
Quiet evenings with people you love.
A great glass of wine.
Noticing God's image in the faces of every other person you see.
Saying no to good things.
Saying yes to something new.
Desperate prayers.

The list goes on and on...and so little of it needs to be led or organized, recruited or staffed, an offering bag passed or announcements to be announced. I still believe that God can use the Body gathered, I'm just beginning to appreciate the effectiveness of each of us being willing to embrace the holiness of all that God calls us to in the every day.

Thursday

Grateful for the kindness and generosity of the anonymous.
Refreshed by unexpected respite.
Delighting in the beauty of old things made new again.
Thankful for creative endeavors.

Thursday.

I wrote this on a Thursday more than a year ago...

still true

It's time to write again...I think

You can't experience God's sustaining grace while resisting His will.

So, I opened up my blog tonight and found this sentence ^ ^

I have no idea why I wrote that in 2014 but tonight it seems heavy with meaning and challenge. You see a few weeks ago I stepped away from my role in the church. It was unavoidable really...it was time. 

My heart longs to be used to shine light in darkness, to see God use me to help, to restore, to reclaim, to see beauty grow from ashes. I don't know what the grand plan is but tonight I'm going to do my best to stop resisting so that I can experience God's sustaining grace. 

Sometimes we get to see it happen!

I work in a church.  I love my job.  I love the people I serve.  I love the team I get to do it with! 

All that said, (and I probably shouldn't say this) sometimes it becomes a bit routine. You know, Sunday comes every six days; there are supplies to order, phone calls to answer, e-mails to be sent and things to be done.
 
One other thing I've noticed...when I actually pay attention...I get to see God at work!  Tonight I paid attention and got to see some pretty terrific stuff.  Stuff that makes all those supply orders, phone calls and e-mails seem a bit less routine.  After all, Sunday only comes around every six days! 

This Sunday, we get to witness several families whose lives have been changed because someone, at Suncrest, chose to be used by God.  I am greatly blessed to get to play even the smallest part!
 

it really will keep turning...even if I quit pushing?!?

For my fellow type A's out there...
The world really will keep turning...even if you quit pushing.
I know, I know, it's pretty hard to believe.  Read it again.  Own that statement.  Think about the wisdom behind it.  Quit pushing.  

My mom is a wise, non-type A.  She has spoken this phrase to her type A daughter (me) on more than one occasion and always want to argue with her a bit.  I mean, for heaven's sake, what fun is there in just enjoying the ride? Shouldn't we be doing something?  Pushing something? OK, maybe even pushing someone? The world turns so much better when I'm pushing!  

Really...I think I'm accomplishing so much and then I read Psalm 33

"The Lord looks down from heaven

and sees every person.

From his throne he watches

all who live on earth.

He made their hearts

and understands everything they do.

No king is saved by his great army.

No warrior escapes by his great strength.

Horses can’t bring victory;

they can’t save by their strength.

But the Lord looks after those who fear him,

those who put their hope in his love.

He saves them from death

and spares their lives in times of hunger.

So our hope is in the Lord.

He is our help, our shield to protect us.

We rejoice in him,

because we trust his holy name.

Lord, show your love to us

as we put our hope in you."

I think I'll stop pushing for now...He seems to have it all well in hand.

Rainy Monday

It's quiet in the car...
I have convinced 3 members of my family to visit the Indiana Visitors Center.
We'll see...
They may leave me there :)

Awaken us (me)

Today is a good day...no trouble brewing in my life. Just a sense of contentment and peace.  I think.
I think I'm content.

My husband and kids are reasonably happy.  He is better to me than I deserve.  Treats me with respect when I probably don't deserve it and responds with kindness when I treat him with less respect than he deserves. I have been blessed with more time with my children than generally expected.  I have every reason to be proud of who they are becoming.  I love them more than life! 

We have food in our refrigerator (well I should probably go grocery shopping).  Our house is plenty big enough; it's warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

I love my job.  The people I work with are among the best at what they do.  There really isn't much of anything that I would change right now.

And yet...
there is a discontent.  I hope this discontent grows out of a holy place.  That place where God is at work tilling up the soil.  Encouraging a sense of urgency, a sense that things are not as they should be...that there are people who do not know Him and His great love for them.  We spend more time than we should trying to make ourselves comfortable; surrounding ourselves with people who look, think and sound like us.  God, help us (ME) to remember that this is not our home...you have a better place, but it isn't just for me and the people I love. 

It is for the people that You love! Help me to love like you love.  Help me to see the world that way you see.  Help me to hear the cries of children who are not mine.  Help me to be the person that you want me to be.

We are questions that beg for the answers
We are poems awaiting the rhyme
We are riddles that long for solution
With your breath we come alive

We are silenced when searching for reasons
We are weary and broken inside
We are desperate for your affection
We are darkness you are light

Awaken us, Awaken us
Stir in our hearts your truth
Awaken us, Awaken us
That we might live for you
We are ashes, we are dust
Awaken us

Lord, You whispered the dawn of creation
And your love has been on display
You have promised that you would be with us
We need you, here to day

Awaken us, Awaken us
Stir in our hearts your truth
Awaken us, Awaken us
That we might live for you
We are ashes, we are dust
Awaken us

You will lead us out of the desert
You will hold us when we are weak
Lord, we will rise up, we will rise up
To follow our Great King.

Awaken us, Awaken us
Stir in our hearts your truth
Awaken us, Awaken us
That we might live for you Oh

Awaken us, Awaken us
Stir in our hearts your truth
Awaken us, Awaken us
That we might live for you
We are ashes, we are dust

Awaken us ~ Building 429