Sometimes teenagers can be highly annoying! They can be downright obnoxious. If you are the parent of a teen or if you work with teens, you know what I mean! But then, sometimes they can be the biggest blessings of your life.
God used an amazing group of teenagers this weekend to pierce the hearts of adults at Riverside Christian School's annual dinner theater. I'm assuming all the other adults in the room were as touched as I was, but I can only speak for myself. I knew the night was going to be good when the title of the one of the skits the kids were performing was titled, "More Coke". Since I'm a Coke addict, I knew I'd be in for a treat! Who says God can't use ANYTHING to speak to you?!
Lately I've been struggling. I've been struggling with the thought that God's blessings will eventually run out. I've lived a blessed life. There have been some ugly moments, but blessed still yet. Embarking on an adventure of giving it all up for God, I feel that His blessings are going to eventually cease and we are going to be screwed! Please tell me you have felt that way at some point in your life, too! I know I'm not alone here! I've also been struggling with the idea of a lost identity since I'll be giving up my job of being a children's minister when we move. That's been my identity for the past 6 years with my church. Well, let me tell you a little bit about how God met me through the mouths of teenagers in a dinner theater and cleared up any doubt that had been festering in my mind.
My daughter, a budding actress, was cast in a skit that will forever change our lives. She is on stage with Jesus talking to Him about how she has a hard time trusting Him. So, Jesus tells her to turn around and fall into his arms, you know..the Trust Fall? We've all had to do it at some team building event in our lifetime. So, she eventually falls backwards into Jesus' arms realizing how easy it is to trust Him when He's right there and you can see Him! Then Jesus tells her to face Him and now fall backwards. Her trust is then tested because no one is behind her to catch her! Why would I fall back Jesus? You are not there to catch me?! Trusting God when things He asks you to do don't make sense to you. Well, by the end of her act, Michael and I were at our seats with tears streaming down our face. Thank you, God, for speaking to us through our daughter. But also, thank you, God, for speaking to our daughter through that skit. That skit is what made her realize that moving away from her comfortable life in Grand Forks to go where God needs us next was the next trustworthy step. Wow. God works in such COOL ways! They aren't really mysterious...just extremely cool!
Other skits showed me that God's goodness is not going to run out. God is faithful and true and can be trusted over and over again. Another skit spoke volumes to me that whatever I have, God can use. My identity is found in what I give over to Him to use. My identity is not found in what I have BEEN for years, but it's found in what I offer up to Him to use. Tears, tears, blowing the nose, wiping the eyes. Get it together, Becky! Okay, a few breaths and I have it all together, until they start playing that song, "Your love never fails, it never gives up, IT NEVER RUNS OUT ON ME!!" Seriously, God? I just got over the tears and here they come again.
He is relentless in His pursuit of us. That relationship is what He is wanting from us. And He will do anything and everything to set us straight, to get us to trust Him, and to wrap His arms around us. Later that evening, my family was watching The Bible on DVD. Jesus goes up to a disciple and gives him a big bear hug. Alex says, "I'd love to have a Jesus hug." Tears again. I can be a blubbering fool! :) But I was just relishing in the fact that I had spent a whole evening in the midst of one big Jesus hug that those amazing teenagers delivered to me. Thank you, kids, for doing something that you'll never know the impact of. Man, God is so good.
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Corsar Adventure
Being a Corsar is never a boring thing. If life starts to get too mundane and predictable, we can count on God to change that and shake it up for us. That may sound horrible to someone who hates change, but Corsars adapt well to change. Good thing.
We are embarking on a new adventure. We've sensed God moving for about a year now, but we've just had to be patient and wait on His timing. We got used to that in the Air Force...always waiting for new orders and a new change of scenery. Well, now that we are out of the Air Force, making a move on our own seems a bit overwhelming and scary. So, we've been putting it off just knowing God had something else in mind for us. Surely moving is not what He has in mind for us. That will be too hard. Have you seen all the STUFF we have?! Moving that by ourselves? Are you serious, God? Can't you just use us here, where we are comfortable and secure? Where we are rooted and finally getting established?
Nope.
It's about a testimony of obedience. We offered up our lives to do whatever God wants with us and to go wherever He wants us. That means what? Well, that's the lesson we are learning. What exactly does that mean? So far, we've learned it means letting go and letting God lead. And if He leads to another state, then we follow. Period. No "but", "why", or doubt. I am human, though, so there will still be all those things, but I am learning to combat those doubts and fears.
So, all this to say...Corsars are moving. At least we are moving in the direction toward God. We are still waiting for Him to reveal to us exactly where we are moving and when. Michael has decided he'll be attending seminary full-time...not online. God is pursuing a deep relationship with Michael and wants ALL of his time, not just what he has left over at the end of a long work day. He has currently applied at Southeastern Baptist Seminary in Wake Forest, NC, and Southern Seminary in Louisille, KY. So, we are awaiting orders from God to which one we will be going to.
Stepping off a ledge into God's arms with faith that He will sell our house here, He will provide a house at our new location, He will provide all the finances for a move, He will ease the pain of uprooting and moving, etc. There are lots of "etcs" there, but I'm trying not to overwhelm myself with them! God has just told us to move forward. He'll divulge the rest of the plan only as we start walking in faith.
So, won't you come along this adventure with us? You can pray for us and hug us frequently when you see us. You can send us encouragments and verses that God lays on your hearts to share with us.
I started this blog about 3 years ago when our life went through a major upheaval. A major life change. I'm seeing a pattern now. :) But a pattern of faith and trust is a good pattern to see. Following Christ is exciting. I'll keep you all posted about what is going on with us. Thank you for your support and prayers.
We are embarking on a new adventure. We've sensed God moving for about a year now, but we've just had to be patient and wait on His timing. We got used to that in the Air Force...always waiting for new orders and a new change of scenery. Well, now that we are out of the Air Force, making a move on our own seems a bit overwhelming and scary. So, we've been putting it off just knowing God had something else in mind for us. Surely moving is not what He has in mind for us. That will be too hard. Have you seen all the STUFF we have?! Moving that by ourselves? Are you serious, God? Can't you just use us here, where we are comfortable and secure? Where we are rooted and finally getting established?
Nope.
It's about a testimony of obedience. We offered up our lives to do whatever God wants with us and to go wherever He wants us. That means what? Well, that's the lesson we are learning. What exactly does that mean? So far, we've learned it means letting go and letting God lead. And if He leads to another state, then we follow. Period. No "but", "why", or doubt. I am human, though, so there will still be all those things, but I am learning to combat those doubts and fears.
So, all this to say...Corsars are moving. At least we are moving in the direction toward God. We are still waiting for Him to reveal to us exactly where we are moving and when. Michael has decided he'll be attending seminary full-time...not online. God is pursuing a deep relationship with Michael and wants ALL of his time, not just what he has left over at the end of a long work day. He has currently applied at Southeastern Baptist Seminary in Wake Forest, NC, and Southern Seminary in Louisille, KY. So, we are awaiting orders from God to which one we will be going to.
Stepping off a ledge into God's arms with faith that He will sell our house here, He will provide a house at our new location, He will provide all the finances for a move, He will ease the pain of uprooting and moving, etc. There are lots of "etcs" there, but I'm trying not to overwhelm myself with them! God has just told us to move forward. He'll divulge the rest of the plan only as we start walking in faith.
So, won't you come along this adventure with us? You can pray for us and hug us frequently when you see us. You can send us encouragments and verses that God lays on your hearts to share with us.
I started this blog about 3 years ago when our life went through a major upheaval. A major life change. I'm seeing a pattern now. :) But a pattern of faith and trust is a good pattern to see. Following Christ is exciting. I'll keep you all posted about what is going on with us. Thank you for your support and prayers.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)