I am so excited--Easter is almost here.
But why do I need to wait until Sunday, April 4 to celebrate what my Savior did for me? Is there a reason that we can only celebrate the resurrection of Christ in the spring?
Absolutely not!!! With Christ inside our hearts, we should remember his sacrifice daily, but sometimes (often times) we get in the routine of life and the miracle of Christ is forgotten. We know what He did for us and are thankful for it, but we don't live it out.
If we thought about what our lives would be like if Christ had not died for our sins; if we truly considered what our world would be like if He never came back to life, our perspective would be very different.
I think we would have the feeling, the excitement, and the celebration of Easter in our hearts everyday. So take the time to remember the sacrifice He made for YOU!
Friday, March 26, 2010
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Vacation
It's time for me take a little time off to rest, relax, and rejuvenate! I am looking forward to vacation because it means I will get to spend time with my family. I feel like I haven't seen my girls in forever. I know that I was only away from them overnight but it still feels like more.
You know how the week is at work before you go on vacation. You spend extra time trying to make sure everything can operate while you're away. You worry about every minute detail that you often take for granted that you do. You try to think of everyone in the church who needs to know that you are gone so that children's ministry can run smooth.
While you are in the midst of all that you start to wonder if vacation is really worth it. Is it really worth all the extra pressure and busyness to take a week off?? ABSOLUTELY!
It seems like a lot of work to take time off but it's necessary. I mean, look at God. He worked six days straight to create the world we live in. Then he rested! We are to follow God's example in everything--he took time off!
Maybe you don't have the option of taking a week off right now, but you do have the option of taking an evening off or a weekend off. It is not necessarily the quantity of time you take off, but rather the quality of time.
As I begin my vacation tomorrow, I am thrilled to say that there is only 2 things on my agenda--REST and FAMILY!!
You know how the week is at work before you go on vacation. You spend extra time trying to make sure everything can operate while you're away. You worry about every minute detail that you often take for granted that you do. You try to think of everyone in the church who needs to know that you are gone so that children's ministry can run smooth.
While you are in the midst of all that you start to wonder if vacation is really worth it. Is it really worth all the extra pressure and busyness to take a week off?? ABSOLUTELY!
It seems like a lot of work to take time off but it's necessary. I mean, look at God. He worked six days straight to create the world we live in. Then he rested! We are to follow God's example in everything--he took time off!
Maybe you don't have the option of taking a week off right now, but you do have the option of taking an evening off or a weekend off. It is not necessarily the quantity of time you take off, but rather the quality of time.
As I begin my vacation tomorrow, I am thrilled to say that there is only 2 things on my agenda--REST and FAMILY!!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
BGMC
BGMC: Boys and Girls Missionary Challenge! Teaching kids to PRAY, GIVE, GO! What an exciting privilege to share about Missions with children. This month is a special month for BGMC--it is March Missions Madness! A time for adults, youth, and children to work together to raise money for BGMC.
Each month, we discover a region, country, or ministry, but usually it's hard to help them relate to the people in that area. This month, we won't have a problem with that because we are talking about the Africa Oasis Project. Every child can imagine thirst and they know the importance of water. I am looking forward to Sunday as we do experiments with water and thirst.
You don't want to miss this exciting service!!
Each month, we discover a region, country, or ministry, but usually it's hard to help them relate to the people in that area. This month, we won't have a problem with that because we are talking about the Africa Oasis Project. Every child can imagine thirst and they know the importance of water. I am looking forward to Sunday as we do experiments with water and thirst.
You don't want to miss this exciting service!!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Survive or Thrive?
The last week hasn't been the easiest one in my life but I have survived. It is my goal not only to survive but to THRIVE!! At first, there doesn't seem to be much difference between these two words. At the root, they both mean to live; to continue to exist. But when you look a little deeper at these words, they are very different. Survive means to simply go on living--kind of like "trudging." Thrive is to live life full of excitement and energy. To look forward to what's coming, even when you don't know what that might be, and know that you will succeed, you will be victorious. That is the kind of life I want to live!
However, most often in the last week, I simply felt like I was merely surviving. Even when I got up this morning, my prayer was not "Thank You, God, for this wonderful day!" Rather, it was "God, help me make it through another day." That prayer does not represent a life that is thriving, but surviving.
Then something happened that changed my perspective. As I was doing my Bible reading this morning in the sanctuary, I read some verses in Psalms that I have read or heard a thousand times (or more). In Psalm 46:1, it says, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." That verse was amazingly comforting!! Then I continued to read. In verses 10-11 of the same chapter it says, "Be still and know that I am God. . . . The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress."
The one thing I need in order to thrive instead of survive is God. Sometimes when life beats us down and circumstances destroy our perspective, we forget that God is there--always. It is His power, His love in our lives that transforms us from SURVIVORS to THRIVERS!!
However, most often in the last week, I simply felt like I was merely surviving. Even when I got up this morning, my prayer was not "Thank You, God, for this wonderful day!" Rather, it was "God, help me make it through another day." That prayer does not represent a life that is thriving, but surviving.
Then something happened that changed my perspective. As I was doing my Bible reading this morning in the sanctuary, I read some verses in Psalms that I have read or heard a thousand times (or more). In Psalm 46:1, it says, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." That verse was amazingly comforting!! Then I continued to read. In verses 10-11 of the same chapter it says, "Be still and know that I am God. . . . The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress."
The one thing I need in order to thrive instead of survive is God. Sometimes when life beats us down and circumstances destroy our perspective, we forget that God is there--always. It is His power, His love in our lives that transforms us from SURVIVORS to THRIVERS!!
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