Amazed

The last couple of days I've really looked forward to checking my email/facebook. I have been touched and moved by the support and encouragement I have received in response to my latest blog. Some of you I know well and others not as well, but have taken to heart each and every comment. Thank you for sharing your reflections on my experience but also for sharing bits of your own wilderness experience. I think these kinds of experiences are probably a lot more common than most people know or realize. Perhaps the really sad part is how unaware most are of others' journeys through the wilderness. I think it is vital that we are more in-tune with other's journeys. Of course this requires not only a willingness to know what's happening to your friends, but it also requires people being willing to share and be vulnerable in their own wilderness experience. How many of us are willing to do that?

Wilderness

It's been a long time since I have been moved by a sermon. That's not to say the messages I've been hearing have been bad or irrelevant - they just haven't spoken to me. Until Sunday.


Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
   my hope comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
   he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
   he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
 Trust in him at all times, you people;
   pour out your hearts to him,
   for God is our refuge... 
...One thing God has spoken,
   two things I have heard:
“Power belongs to you, God,
 and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”;
and, “You reward everyone
according to what they have done.” 
Psalm 62: 5-8, 11-12

My soul, find rest in God. Finding rest (and peace) seems to be an illusive dream these days for me. The past months, maybe even year, have felt like a real wilderness to me. A place that is dry and rather hopeless. While I have tried to remain positive and place my full trust in God, it isn't very easy for me or natural. I felt forced to resign from a position I loved. I have left the congregation which was my home. In most ways I have put my calling on hold. And our financial situation has been stretched to the max. And I am left with a lot of guilt and a longing for something more.

Find rest in God, my soul. My soul that is wounded. My faith that is lacking. And my trust that has disappeared. Find rest and put your hope in God.

Pics of the kids

Here we go

As a means for an outlet and somewhere to process what is going on in my mind, I've decided to give blogging another try. As I write this, I've discovered that for tonight I have nothing much of importance going on in my mind. Perhaps I will try again tomorrow.

Ella at Two

Out of the lips of babes

When I put Ella to bed this evening I read her a couple of books like I usually do. Curious George books are her favorite these days - along with her "pray" book. As a parent (and pastor) I want her to learn Bible stories and learn who Jesus is and decide to follow Him. While I've read some Bible stories with her she doesn't always sit still the best for those - however, she loves her "pray" book.

We do pray before meals together as a family - we all hold hands around the table and say, "Come Lord Jesus, be our guest..." If we happen to forget, she makes sure to remind us. I say a prayer with her before she goes to bed. I also hold her hands as we pray - just like we do before a meal. She always ends the prayer with her own "amen." It's really quite precious.

Lately, as she looks at her prayer book, she folds her hands (like we're all taught as little kids), brings them up to her face, says her own prayer (in her own gibberish) and ends it with an amen. She did that a number of times this evening. It's so incredibly precious. What I don't understand is where she learned to fold her hands like that. Neither set of grandparents taught her that and Jeremy and I haven't. So where has she picked it up? Is it innate? She goes to church but when prayers happen there how many people really fold their hands and bring them up to their face?

Wherever it has come from, I hope that her desire to pray continues, that she commits her life to Jesus, and that nothing steals her innocence.

DVBS

Daily Vacation Bible School is a tradition that goes back as far as I can remember. I have memories of sack lunches, Bible stories, teachers, recreation and music. As a kid I went through 8th grade as a student, in high school I helped out with rec and now that I am a pastor at the church I've taught for the past7 years. Each year has it's joys and it's struggles. As the time approaches for the hyped up week of Bible School I look forward to it with anticipation. And it never disappoints.

This year, the week began for me with a fever, an achy body, sore throat and stuffy nose. However after a little rest, I snapped out of it and continued the week with enthusiasm. By the end, I was ready for it to be done. I was away from Ella more than usual and things around the house were being neglected.

Tonight was the open house and program. While listening to the singing and watching the faces of all the kids I was reminded why I love Bible School. There is little as good as listening to their voices singing the truths of scripture. I fought a lump in my throat, while smiling as I watched the actions, throughout the entire program.

Bible School is a place that is safe and fun for these kids. Here they are accepted and loved unconditionally. Here they run after the "cool" high school kids who chase them in return. It's here that they express their love of God. This is where relationships are formed and strengthened.

I love Bible School and look forward to packing a lunch for Ella when she is old enough to go.