Most churches see an increase in attendance this time of the year thanks to New Year's resolutions and people pledging to attend church more in the next year. It's funny to me, then, that my church attendance this month has been less than stellar. Let's see, there was teaching the preschoolers on the first week, sitting in the lobby with Miss G the second week, attending my nephew's dedication and consequently spending more time in the lobby with Miss G last week, and staying home this week thanks to a promised ice storm and the desire to avoid slipping on any ice while carrying my daughter into church by myself since Dave had other church obligations.
I guess I was physically inside a church 3 out of the 4 weeks this month, but I wasn't able to sit and receive what God might have for me through worship or a sermon. I can feel it, too. It reminds me of a time in my life a few years ago when Dave and I were serving every single time the church doors were open and unable to attend any services. That was one of the darkest periods of my life. I don't want to return to that.
I hope that next month will bring more opportunities to be filled rather than to pour out. (Not that pouring out is bad; I just need to be refilled.) In the meantime, I'll be listening to those sermons I missed this month and asking God to fill me with His strength this week.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Sunday Reflections (January 13)
Our church is in the middle of a series about why we do what we do in our weekend services. Today the focus was on worship--my absolute favorite part of a church service. (Really, if I'm late and miss even one song, I feel like my experience at church is incomplete.)
Now, you can argue that worship isn't just about a church service and that it isn't really just about the segment of the service when we sing a few songs. It's true that worship encompasses our entire lives and that it can be expressed in church through not only singing but giving, praying, studying the Bible, and serving various ministries. But my favorite expression of worship is what is usually titled "worship."
All of that to say, I was really looking forward to hearing this sermon. But I had a little girl who absolutely loves to make noise in church and requires me to hang out with her in the atrium when she's not in nursery. I didn't hear most of the sermon while I kept Miss G occupied, but the subject got me thinking about worship and what my favorite worship songs are. This is a little different from what I normally post, but below are a few songs that get me excited about worshiping God.
What are some of your favorite worship songs?
Now, you can argue that worship isn't just about a church service and that it isn't really just about the segment of the service when we sing a few songs. It's true that worship encompasses our entire lives and that it can be expressed in church through not only singing but giving, praying, studying the Bible, and serving various ministries. But my favorite expression of worship is what is usually titled "worship."
All of that to say, I was really looking forward to hearing this sermon. But I had a little girl who absolutely loves to make noise in church and requires me to hang out with her in the atrium when she's not in nursery. I didn't hear most of the sermon while I kept Miss G occupied, but the subject got me thinking about worship and what my favorite worship songs are. This is a little different from what I normally post, but below are a few songs that get me excited about worshiping God.
What are some of your favorite worship songs?
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Sunday Reflections (January 6)
My Sunday morning was spent teaching two- and three-year-olds, so today's reflection is a quote from the book I'm currently reading, Saving CeeCee Honeycutt. It's a young girl's first attempt at praying:
Hello. My name is Cecelia Rose Honeycutt, and I live at 831 Tulipwood Avenue. The preacher on the radio said if we opened our hears and asked, we'd be saved. He said it was that simple. So I'm asking, will you please save Momma? Something's wrong with her mind and it's getting worse every day. And while you're at it, will you save me too? There's nothing wrong with my mind, but I sure could use some help down here. I'll do anything you say. Thank you. Amen.
Often in the entertainment world, whether it be movies or books, a first prayer is depicted as comedic. But what struck me in CeeCee's prayer was her innocence. Yes, it's funny that she introduces herself to God and that she tells Him where she lives. But it's clear that there's no pretentiousness in her prayer.
My hope is that my prayers, although not including an introduction or my address, would contain such honesty and openness with God. He doesn't need me to wear a mask. After all, He knows exactly what I'm feeling before I even open my mouth. May my prayers be as honest as CeeCee Honeycutt's.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Reading List 2013--Part One
With the arrival of Miss G last May, my brain became mush, and the most it could handle was watching House Hunters or My First Place. I tried to read, but my free time was spent napping or rushing around, trying to finish up household chores while I could.
I've really missed reading, though, so this year I've decided to be more purposeful about it. My goal is to read two books each month for a total of twenty-four books read this year. I'm hopeful I can balance fiction and nonfiction, but my to-read list is leaning heavily on the nonfiction side. (If you have any fiction books that you'd like to recommend, please leave your suggestions in the comments.)
On the blog, I'm going to track the books I plan to read and follow up with reviews of what I've read. Because I know my interests may change and because I really don't know which must-read books I'll come across this year, I've decided to post quarterly rather than list all my to-reads in one post.
Here are the books I plan to read in the first three months of the year:
Financial Peace Revisited by Dave Ramsey (January nonfiction selection)
Dave and I attended Financial Peace University at our church a couple of years ago, and at least one of us enjoyed it. (Ha!) We have some new financial goals that we'd like to meet, so I'm hoping Financial Peace Revisited will give me a boost in the motivation department.
Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman (January fiction selection)
I can't remember where I'd first heard about this book, but I picked it up on my last visit to the library. Since I have it, I might as well select it for my January fiction read.
7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker (February nonfiction selection)
My employer annually offers book groups for employees to join. I've been a participant nearly every year, and this year, I'm planning to lead a discussion of 7. I'm excited about reading this book, which I'm expecting will challenge me and others in the group.
The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien (February fiction selection)
Can you believe I have never read The Hobbit? With the recent release of the movie based on this book, I've decided it's a good time to dig into this classic.
Unglued by Lysa TerKeurst (March nonfiction selection)
Unglued was all over the blogosphere when it came out last summer, and it's been sitting on my bookshelf for a few months. It's about time I actually read it!
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (March fiction selection)
I have picked up this book, started it, and then put it down without finishing. In March, I hope to actually finish this classic.
I've really missed reading, though, so this year I've decided to be more purposeful about it. My goal is to read two books each month for a total of twenty-four books read this year. I'm hopeful I can balance fiction and nonfiction, but my to-read list is leaning heavily on the nonfiction side. (If you have any fiction books that you'd like to recommend, please leave your suggestions in the comments.)
On the blog, I'm going to track the books I plan to read and follow up with reviews of what I've read. Because I know my interests may change and because I really don't know which must-read books I'll come across this year, I've decided to post quarterly rather than list all my to-reads in one post.
Here are the books I plan to read in the first three months of the year:
Financial Peace Revisited by Dave Ramsey (January nonfiction selection)
Dave and I attended Financial Peace University at our church a couple of years ago, and at least one of us enjoyed it. (Ha!) We have some new financial goals that we'd like to meet, so I'm hoping Financial Peace Revisited will give me a boost in the motivation department.
Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman (January fiction selection)
I can't remember where I'd first heard about this book, but I picked it up on my last visit to the library. Since I have it, I might as well select it for my January fiction read.
7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker (February nonfiction selection)
My employer annually offers book groups for employees to join. I've been a participant nearly every year, and this year, I'm planning to lead a discussion of 7. I'm excited about reading this book, which I'm expecting will challenge me and others in the group.
The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien (February fiction selection)
Can you believe I have never read The Hobbit? With the recent release of the movie based on this book, I've decided it's a good time to dig into this classic.
Unglued by Lysa TerKeurst (March nonfiction selection)
Unglued was all over the blogosphere when it came out last summer, and it's been sitting on my bookshelf for a few months. It's about time I actually read it!
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (March fiction selection)
I have picked up this book, started it, and then put it down without finishing. In March, I hope to actually finish this classic.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
2012--A Year's Review
Last night, when Dave and I were reflecting on the past year, we agreed that the theme of 2012 would be change. In 2012, we moved, lost a parent, had a child, started new jobs, welcomed a nephew, and left our church. Phew! People would ask us how we were making it, and our answer was, simply, God. He is the One who gave us strength through it all. Now, as we begin 2013, we hope this new year is a bit more settled. But we know from experience that God is faithful, even in the most tumultuous of times, and He is more than capable of giving us strength when we're at our weakest.
In order to remember all that went down in 2012, I thought I'd do a quick month-by-month recap of the year.
January--House Drama
We started out the year with an offer on what appeared to be a nice starter home. Then we discovered it may or may not be in a flood plain. After our praying that God would kindly slam the door shut if this wasn't the house for us, our inspector discovered huge cracks in the foundation that were causing the house to shift like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. There was our answer! The next week, we found another home that was perfect for us! Our offer was accepted, and we made plans to close on the house in March.
February--It's a Girl!
February 3 was a very special day for us because we found out we were having a girl! I had been convinced it was a boy, so I was very shocked. We decided, in order to ensure that people would give us the gender neutral items we'd registered for, we wouldn't announce the gender to anyone other than our family until I had my baby showers. It was one of the toughest secrets to keep!
March--We Bought a House?!
After signing our lives away, we walked out of a nondescript office building with the keys to our first home. In that month, our garage door opener broke; the water heater's pilot light wouldn't light, requiring an expensive call to the heating guy; and our pipes in the kitchen sprung a leak or two. I wondered if home ownership was all it was cracked up to be as we settled in and paid for these unexpected home repairs. (I'm happy to report that having this home is, indeed, worth it.)
April--Flying Solo
After a valiant fight against cancer, Dave's dad took a turn for the worse in April, so Dave headed to Scotland to be with his family for two weeks. It was difficult being apart during this time of uncertainty, but Skype calls helped, and we had amazing people from our church looking out for my eight-months-pregnant self while Dave was away. Three days after Dave returned to the States, his dad passed away. We miss him a lot, but we're grateful he doesn't have to deal with the pain anymore.
May--Surprise!
Miss G wasn't due until June 12, but she decided to surprise all of us by arriving on May 19. I spent a lot of that day in shock, not really believing that my daughter was indeed on her way. In the weeks that followed, I couldn't imagine having to wait any longer to meet Miss G.
June--Parenthood
The month of June was a blur. We were getting used to being parents of this tiny human being, adjusting to sleepless nights, and loving every minute of it.
July--First Trip
Dave and I decided to celebrate our anniversary with a trip to Michigan--Miss G's first big trip out of state. She was a champ, and we had a lot of fun going to the beach, drinking Biggby coffee, and eating our anniversary dinner at Logan's Roadhouse.
August--Ch-ch-ch-changes
Yes, most of the year was filled with change, but August was by far the craziest. In August, I embarked on a new journey in my career as a work-at-home mom; Dave began new jobs as a resource teacher and a kidmin assistant at our church's main campus; and we welcomed our nephew to the family. With Dave's new job at church, we had to leave our local campus and attend the main campus again. August marked the last month of regularly attending our local campus.
September--New/Old Church
As I mentioned in the August review, we moved back to the main campus of our church in September. This was a difficult change, and Dave and I prayed a lot about his decision to take the kidmin job when we learned it would involve this move. This was the month we learned that following God's direction in your life isn't always easy, but it's worth the sacrifice.
October--Happy Birthday
Nothing much happened in October. We celebrated my birthday at the beginning of the month, and we continued to attend a marriage class at church, which we both really enjoyed. All-in-all, although it was a "normal" month, it was nice to experience normal again.
November--Baby Dedication
For many years, I would participate as a member of the congregation for many dedications, imagining what it would be like to dedicate my own child someday. In November, Dave and I stood before the congregation to dedicate Miss G to the One who gave her to us. I know I haven't been a mom for very long, but that moment will be one of my most treasured memories.
December--First Christmas
Everyone told us this year was going to be so much fun now that we had a child. I think we'll have more fun once Miss G is old enough to realize a little bit more about what Christmas is all about, but this year was a wonderful celebration of the best gifts our family received this year--Miss G and her cousin.
The year 2012 was without a doubt a crazy one, but it was good. Our heavenly Father was with us every step of the way, and even during the times of uncertainty, knowing He was walking beside us, and sometimes carrying us, was the reason why I would consider 2012 an amazing year.
In order to remember all that went down in 2012, I thought I'd do a quick month-by-month recap of the year.
January--House Drama
We started out the year with an offer on what appeared to be a nice starter home. Then we discovered it may or may not be in a flood plain. After our praying that God would kindly slam the door shut if this wasn't the house for us, our inspector discovered huge cracks in the foundation that were causing the house to shift like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. There was our answer! The next week, we found another home that was perfect for us! Our offer was accepted, and we made plans to close on the house in March.
February--It's a Girl!
February 3 was a very special day for us because we found out we were having a girl! I had been convinced it was a boy, so I was very shocked. We decided, in order to ensure that people would give us the gender neutral items we'd registered for, we wouldn't announce the gender to anyone other than our family until I had my baby showers. It was one of the toughest secrets to keep!
March--We Bought a House?!
After signing our lives away, we walked out of a nondescript office building with the keys to our first home. In that month, our garage door opener broke; the water heater's pilot light wouldn't light, requiring an expensive call to the heating guy; and our pipes in the kitchen sprung a leak or two. I wondered if home ownership was all it was cracked up to be as we settled in and paid for these unexpected home repairs. (I'm happy to report that having this home is, indeed, worth it.)
April--Flying Solo
After a valiant fight against cancer, Dave's dad took a turn for the worse in April, so Dave headed to Scotland to be with his family for two weeks. It was difficult being apart during this time of uncertainty, but Skype calls helped, and we had amazing people from our church looking out for my eight-months-pregnant self while Dave was away. Three days after Dave returned to the States, his dad passed away. We miss him a lot, but we're grateful he doesn't have to deal with the pain anymore.
May--Surprise!
Miss G wasn't due until June 12, but she decided to surprise all of us by arriving on May 19. I spent a lot of that day in shock, not really believing that my daughter was indeed on her way. In the weeks that followed, I couldn't imagine having to wait any longer to meet Miss G.
June--Parenthood
The month of June was a blur. We were getting used to being parents of this tiny human being, adjusting to sleepless nights, and loving every minute of it.
July--First Trip
Dave and I decided to celebrate our anniversary with a trip to Michigan--Miss G's first big trip out of state. She was a champ, and we had a lot of fun going to the beach, drinking Biggby coffee, and eating our anniversary dinner at Logan's Roadhouse.
August--Ch-ch-ch-changes
Yes, most of the year was filled with change, but August was by far the craziest. In August, I embarked on a new journey in my career as a work-at-home mom; Dave began new jobs as a resource teacher and a kidmin assistant at our church's main campus; and we welcomed our nephew to the family. With Dave's new job at church, we had to leave our local campus and attend the main campus again. August marked the last month of regularly attending our local campus.
September--New/Old Church
As I mentioned in the August review, we moved back to the main campus of our church in September. This was a difficult change, and Dave and I prayed a lot about his decision to take the kidmin job when we learned it would involve this move. This was the month we learned that following God's direction in your life isn't always easy, but it's worth the sacrifice.
October--Happy Birthday
Nothing much happened in October. We celebrated my birthday at the beginning of the month, and we continued to attend a marriage class at church, which we both really enjoyed. All-in-all, although it was a "normal" month, it was nice to experience normal again.
November--Baby Dedication
For many years, I would participate as a member of the congregation for many dedications, imagining what it would be like to dedicate my own child someday. In November, Dave and I stood before the congregation to dedicate Miss G to the One who gave her to us. I know I haven't been a mom for very long, but that moment will be one of my most treasured memories.
December--First Christmas
Everyone told us this year was going to be so much fun now that we had a child. I think we'll have more fun once Miss G is old enough to realize a little bit more about what Christmas is all about, but this year was a wonderful celebration of the best gifts our family received this year--Miss G and her cousin.
The year 2012 was without a doubt a crazy one, but it was good. Our heavenly Father was with us every step of the way, and even during the times of uncertainty, knowing He was walking beside us, and sometimes carrying us, was the reason why I would consider 2012 an amazing year.
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