Pastor's Thoughts on growth.

This is a direct copy from my Pastor's blog. It is too good to not share. If you'd like to read more on my Pastor's blog, click here! I am amazed by how much his postings are relevant to whatever I'm going through when I'm going through it. You wont be disappointed if you choose to follow it.

I’m sure you know Jesus’ parable about the seed representing how we grow spiritually. Some is picked away, some has shallow roots, and some is choked out by weeds. I’m concerned for the church of God in these days because I see people believing in Jesus but not staying close enough to Him to grow. So how do I put down good roots?

1. Be cultivated. God’s truth will never take root and produce fruit if I don’t let it in and let it do its work of breaking, convicting, and instructing.

2. Embrace the compost. You know what compost is, right? Animal waste, rotten garbage, and microorganisms. They all enrich the soil. The suffering in my life–whether self-inflicted by bad judgment or brought about through no fault of my own–is the compost accelerated spiritual growth.

3. Surrender. There’s deep, hidden work underground before a seed sprouts and grows. And if I don’t surrender the time to wait for God to do the deep, hidden work underground, I won’t surrender anything else.

4. Nourish. Plants need sun, water, and carbon dioxide. Believers need the Word, prayer, fellowship, service, and worship. Photosynthesis is the miracle of plants turning energy from sunlight into life. There’s a similar miracle through exposure to the nourishing elements of growth for believers.

5. Participate. Plants work together with other life forms for mutual benefit. God desires that I bring my uniqueness to the family of believers and participate. We have let too many mundane things take us from our commitment to God’s family, and our lack of participation is often at the bottom of stagnation and lack of growth.

I believe God wants me to bear fruit; I can’t do that unless I’m growing. Are you growing? Am I?

The Lord's day

Today in Sunday School there was some good conversation about "keeping the Sabbath" and the Lord's day... did you know that Sunday isn't actually the Sabbath? The Sabbath, in Jewish culture, is Friday at sundown to Saturday at sundown, making Saturday the Sabbath. Back in the time of Jesus (and I'm betting some small number still today) those who truly kept the Sabbath holy did no work of any kind from Friday pm to Saturday pm. And we were told today that THEN, after they'd rested Saturday then they went back to work on Sunday as the first day of the work week, then after their work was done, Sunday evening met for a time of worship and remembering of Christ's death on the cross and Resurrection from the grave. We are busy. We are a busy people with many places to go and much to do. We don't think there is time to "keep the Sabbath." But here's what the Bible says in Exodus 20: ⁸ “ Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. ⁹ Six days you shall labor and do all your work, ¹⁰ but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. ¹¹ For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

Can we even imagine that? On Saturday, to do no work. No laundry. No yard work. No house cleaning. No food preparing. ... In today's day and age, we can't even try to process this. It is a good thing that we live under God's grace. (Something else greatly talked about in the message from today's sermon) Without God's grace and mercy we'd all fall short.... And while we can't possibly do all that Ex 20: 8-11 says to do about the Sabbath. What we can do is make sure that we are honoring God. That if we have laundry to fold or the yard to be mowed, we're doing it with a clean heart and with a cheerful spirit. That we aren't grumbling or complaining. That we are living our daily tasks with God on our mind and not the world. As we go to the ball games and the concerts and the festivals and the backyard, that what we ARE doing, whatever it is, is pleasing to the Lord.

Personally I don't even like the idea of laundry or chores on Sunday. I don't think I really knew before today that the Sabbath wasn't Sunday but Saturday but even still and now knowing that... There is something about working or doing chores or even having a ball game on Sunday that has never sat right with me. I do it if it needs be done, but something about it has always made me feel funny. Sunday is the day we choose to go to church and worship as a family and take time to publicly honor God in his Sanctuary. Sunday needs to be a day to spend as a family--loving each other, praying together, helping one another... it should be a day of grumbling, arguing or being apart from each other. It should be a day we devote to God and all that we do, do it for His glory. ... I think if we can manage to attempt to do this on Sundays, then perhaps we can hold on to the attitude of Christ's a bit longer and stronger and our days throughout the rest of the week may not be so cumbersome. Not that there wont be trials. The Bible says we will face trials. I just think that if we can come together and start a fresh on the first day of the week, Sunday, as a family, strong with the body of Christ, then how mighty will our attitude be, ready to face the week ahead?!

...

Something else to say, we again sang the song during worship time Blessed be the Name of the Lord.... and there is something about that song that makes me just tear up. It says "You give and take away. You give and take away. My heart will choose to say, Lord blessed be your name."

In this past week, we've gone to a funeral and a wedding. We have seen such deep sorrow and also such great joy. We have been a part of a deep pain and a grief that is momentous to bear and we've also celebrated the happiness of a new marriage, a new life.

In all that happens in our lives, the good and the bad... Are we willing to say "Regardless Lord. Regardless of what you take or what you give... I CHOOSE to say, Lord Blessed be your Name. I choose to say that YOU are still God and you are my God and you are the God of the nations, you are the King of Kings, you are the Lord of Lords."

It is a choice.

You can choose to let something other than God rule your life...

or you can choose to say "Lord, BLESSED BE YOUR NAME!"

Kate, a featured reader

Hello there~ I'm pretty proud of something that happened yesterday, go to the coupon goddess' blog and see ME on the front page!!! It's about three postings down now, so you'll have to scroll, but there I was all day yesterday! Being that it was Matthew's birthday I didn't want to take away from his spot light on my blog yesterday, but I was pretty pleased with being a featured reader for the coupon goddess!!!

Go check out my couponing story over there!

Four.

How can it possibly be four years already? Matthew Christopher, I love you so much. You are really growing into a beautiful child and a good boy. I pray that you will continue to grow in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus and that you will someday ask him into your heart. I love how you're starting to play with your brother and how you love to sing songs with me. I love how you like playing games with daddy and love to be read to. You've got such a sweet smile and beautiful eyes and cute freckles starting to pop up on your arms and torso. We still battle your eating but I've come to accept it. You have very limitted food chocies: bacon, bars, yogurt, fruit, cereal, peanut butter...that's about it. You have started doing some chores and like wiping off the table. You are so wonderful. You're a joy to my life.

The day you were born.

a day or two later

first birthday

second birthday

third birthday

fourth!

my two boys, being a train.

Here's a peek at the beautiful percy cake I made for Matthew's Percy Party. It was awesome. I am pleased with how it turned out. Complete with tracks even!

special moments

Tonight while reading to Matthew, Mark climbed up in my lap too. I sat their reading with one boy on each knee. They both sat there really good and quiet and attentive. It is rare moments like this that I will try to savor and help me through the hard times. Moments where I hope I can remember later what the feel of their skin was... the smell of their clean still damp from baths hair... the way Mark smiles and wrinkles his nose just like mine does... the way Matthew hugs me so tight and says "I love ya, Mom"... when did he get to be such a big boy?

Tomorrow we celebrate Matthew's fourth birthday (even though it's not until Wed) with a Percy Party at the train tracks. I can't wait. He's so excited. I've made another huge cake (a Percy cake), complete with rice crispies treats tracks. ((Not even close to coming as cool as the snowman, but it's neat!)) I will do my best to have a good time. Though inside I am really hurting. We had a hard day and some very tragic news today.

All I will say for now is that life is too short. And God does not owe me one thing. He doesn't owe you one thing either....

I'll leave you tonight with a Point of Grace song that's been in my head all day.


Wake up to the sunlight with your windows open
Don't hold in your anger or leave things unspoken
Wear your red dress
Use your good dishes
Make a big mess and make lots of wishes
Have what you want but want what you have
Hmmmmm
And don't spend your life lookin back

[Chorus:]
Turn up the music
Turn it up loud
Take a few chances
And let it all out
Cause you won't regret it
Lookin back from where you have been
Cause it's not who you knew
And it's not what you did
It's how you lived

[Verse 2:]
So go to the ball game
And go to the ballet
Go see your folks more than just on the holidays
Kiss all your children
Dance with your wife
Tell your husband you love him every night
Don't run from the truth cause you can't get away
Oh No...
Just face it and you'll be okay

[Chorus]

[Bridge:]
Ohhhhh
Wherever you are and wherever you been
Now is the time to begin

[Verse 3:]
To give to the needy
And pray for the grieving
Even when you don't think that you can
Cause all that you do is bound to come back to
You
So think of your fellow men
Make peace with God but make peace with yourself
Cause in the end there's nobody else

[Chorus]

Cause it's not who you knew and it's not what
You did
It's how you lived

music needed

Sometimes you just need a little Phil Cross ... This morning on the way to VBS I just felt like I needed to listen to Phil Cross. I have been really struggling emotionally this week. One night Jamie said I was being distant and I didn't realize I had been. Each day after VBS I've cried. Mark moved up to the walkers room from the baby room and I think I just was not prepared for how this would effect me emotionally. I knew he was moving up and I knew he was switching rooms and I was thinking I was okay with it... but I just have struggled. He's not in the baby room anymore. I don't have a baby anymore. I have a toddler. ..... Tuesday was especially hard and cried to Nic and to my mom. I've been emailing with another friend seeking advice and support. Today, I'm currently on the sofa of friend Nancy's and have cried to her today. I know that God does not owe me one thing, but man the closer it gets to September, the harder it is.... When we lost our first baby, I was pregnant again and though I was grieving, I had another happy time ahead of us. I had a date to look forward to past the angel bean's due date. Mark was thriving and growing inside me and was our Manna baby and I was able to heal my brokenness in the joy of his upcoming arrival. With this loss, it's just been so hard. It gets harder day by day sometimes instead of easier and easier...

God, I need you. Jesus hold me. Help me overcome this. I need your strength to be able to handle day by day the struggles that are keeping me down. Father, remind me that you do not owe me one thing. Remind me to stop complaining. To stop wallowing. To enjoy the sweet boys I do have. To love and cherish what I do have. Thank you for your love. Thank you for your son that you gave for me. Thank you for the gift of motherhood you've given me.... the gift of fatherhood you've given Jamie. Amen.

Here it is!!!

Daddy and his boys...
I savored this moment over the next three weeks...
the boys the day we packed up the car and drove 10 hours to Grammy's house!

Kris at her first of two showers!

Kate, Kris and Mom

Tada! (the next day) The graduate... and she's now a DOCTOR!

sisters

Three generations: Mom, Kris and Grams

Our newest family photo

Goodbyes from Jonathan to Matthew (see you in a week!)

Goodbyes from Matthew to Allie (see you in a week!)

Kate and Jamie helped Kris and Brian set up for their yard sale

One more hug... Last time Jamie might see Kris for a year...

Aunt Kris and Matthew saw some Elephants
(high on Matthew's list) at the STL ZOO

Grammy and Markie

Mark enjoyed the fish!

We're in the monkey house, Brian thinks he is one...

Matthew got tired

Brian and Kris at the Train Museum (National Transportation Museum)

Mommy and Matthew

We took this picture for Daddy.

Grammy and Mark in the Balls room at the Magic House

Nic, Kris, Kate at Kris' second shower!

Momma and Markie

Matthew and Aunt Kris and Chewy

Aunt Kris and Markie

Mother of the groom and Mother of the bride

Mark having fun at the fountains (City Park, StL)
Allie, CAN SHE BE ANY CUTER?!
all four our kids after playing hard in the water!
Jonathan and Matthew at the Zoo!
snack break
Allie, Jonathan and Matthew in front of the ARCH
Kate and her boys 630 ft up in the air, at the top of the arch!

Me and my boys

Matthew and Mrs. Pat driving the boat, Grammy and Markie riding

Aunt Kris, Matthew, Grammy, Mommy, Mark

Mommy and Matthew tubing

Aunt Kris and Mark on the playground

Kate, Matthew, Brian, Kris, Mark, Mom... one last stop

Brian and Kris eating ice cream

Mom and Kris, saying goodbye

friend Megan and Kate for girls night

Aunt Betty with all the kiddos (we're in KC now)

in our fort!

sweet friends

best friends

Uncle John, doing what Uncle John does...

Kate, Mom2, Nic

All four beautiful kids, it was time to go...

Matthew and Markie

Jonathan and Allie

Matthew and Mark in front of the "red phone booth", a special spot, at William Jewell campus. I took them to see my college. Matthew thought it was neat to see where Mommy went to school.

Grammy and Mark on the slide (back in STL)

see-saw

Matthew and Mark fishing at the magic house

Grandpa and Mark playing

Grammy and Mark reading

Mark enjoying dessert

Grammy, Matthew, Grandpa and Mark for story time

Matthew and Great Grams.

Grammy, Mark and Matthew in the pool

Mark and his ball

Matthew splashin

Grandpa, Grammy, Matthew and Mark all dressed for church

Grammy flying Mark

Grammy getting one more hug

Grandpa and his boys

We really had a great trip. We have about 1800 photos (THANK YOU BRIAN for the new memory card) and plenty of memories for me to sort through. I hope you liked the ones I pulled for this posting, it was a hard decision and took a few days, but it was fun going back through the trip. I don't have it quite in exact order and I obviously didn't post something from every day, but I'm probably the only one who wants to see all 1800 shots...

I miss and love everyone in Missouri (and Arizona). I'll post pictures from our stop in Fort Knox soon... We stopped there on the way back to Atlanta.