So I do college ministry and have for many years. I have gone through seasons of frustration but overall I absolutely love that God put me where He did. I mean, I REALLY love it. It seems like all my gifts and desires are used and fulfilled by doing ministry. I love teaching God's Word and helping girls love and walk with Jesus more and see themselves as sent ones to the world. And then there's parenting. I'm just gonna be real here with what I believe the hardest thing to bring into the open because of the good intention-ed but hurtful comments. So, I am asking now, as I bare my soul to please don't tell me how much I am going to miss this season and to enjoy it. And if you have that perfect kid who never disobeys please stop reading because I don't think it would be healthy for you or I if you kept reading. You're doing a great job, keep up the good work. Ok, with that out of the way... I'm just not a kid person. I went to school to be an elementary school teacher until I sat in on some classes and came home crying everyday because I hated it so much. I think kids are cute and love watching them sing in church performances and love to hear the cute things they say. And my kids, I am thankful God gave them to me and I love them so much. I would do anything for them. I can not wait to see what God has in store for them. And I love their little personalities. But if I had the choice to hang out with college students or watch a classroom full of 3 year olds, I would choose the college students. Online it seems like everyone who has kids just loves being a mom, so I have never thought about talking about this, since I thought no one could relate. Then a sweet friend of mine got in touch with me to ask how I did it all. She thought I was this model wife, mother and missionary, and was overcome by her inability, and frusterated by not enjoying being a mother. I shared with her that I struggle being a mom. I don't wake up every morning excited I get to be a mom. Because the reality is I spend my days having whining scratch my soul (the feeling of nails on a chalk board, except on my soul) 90% of the day and discipline 75% of the day. Not exactly the dream job. I had a misconception that everyone enjoys their kids so much and thought I was a freak. A few weeks ago I had to ask my accountability partners to pray for me to actually like being a mom and to enjoy the season God has me in. Since then I have had moments of joy but I was honestly questioning if kids really were what the Lord had wanted for me "What if I was suppose to be single and never have kids. Maybe that's why I could never get pregnant in the first place. Maybe I talked God into giving us kids." I knew that wasn't true, but the thought crossed my mind. It's embarrassing to admit, but that is where I was at. But the Lord, In His grace helped me see that if He honestly didn't want me to have kids, He would have told me and aligned my desires to His at that time. I was walking with Him and He is totally capable of showing me that if that had been the case. So, here I am, realizing God really does want me in this soul scratching place.I exist for His pleasure and sometimes that might be at the expense of mine. But for now I need to make sure I am getting an outlet. Getting on campus to disciple girls was my outlet two afternoons a week and Saturday afternoons from 1-4 Austin stays with the kids so I can have time to be alone. I get my energy from being alone and I've learned I do not function well without it. If I am around people all the time, I can't sustain a ministry to people, my kids, husband or college students. It seems that so often something comes up on Saturday afternoons and I have to remind Austin how much I need those few hours and how valuable that time for both of us. (This alone time is not my time with the Lord. Have that in the morning before kids get up. I would seriously go crazy without that.) So, if you can relate, know that you are not alone and that God is pleased with this season. A season of opening our eyes to how desperate we are for Him. A season of realizing life is not about us, but about Him. A season of refinement. And He will be with us every moment (Because isn't it really moment by moment we need Him. lol. I never really understood a moment until being a mom of young boys. Now, thinking in terms of days in terms of patience seems crazy) each step of the way. And this picture, a example of what I'm talking about. Don't they look like such non-wild kids who sat there for 3 hours painting. Well, the reality is they sat there for approximately 60 seconds and then the paint was all over Eden's hair and Uriah was running off to the next activity. lol Thanks for reading Just Thinkin, why not head on over to my home page. 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I'm so glad you are here! I hope during your visit you get a glimpse of God's heart for we become what we are gazing at. My desire is to be a blessing to you so I've made theses Resources and tools available to you and write a Weekday Devotional (my home page) to provide insights from God's Word. Have you ever processed failure as a gift? It is. A beautiful gift because it opens the door for widsom. For until we fail, often times we don't see where we need to get wisdom. But from my limited perspective it seems like the Christian culture so often doesn't embrace failure but instead points the finger at God for something not happening. And this is what I'm learning, God so highly values wisdom that He allows really excellent things to fail for lack of it. Here's what I mean. Say you're organizing a bible study or missions trip. You put together the logistics of when, where and what, but don't use wisdom in recruiting so nobody ends up going. God will allow you to experience failure of not seeing anyone come for the purpose of driving you to get wisdom. Just to be clear, this is not always true, there are occasions when God does the miraculous, but by and large wants us to function by wisdom, not passivity. Here's another example. I have gone on and lead several missions trips, and raised support for all of them. And Austin and I, since we are missionaries are supported by an incredible team of monthly supporters. In only one of the many of my missions trips, God did the miraculous and provided $2,000 in 5 minutes through a means I am totally unaware of and had zero effort in. And though a cool story, it is not the norm, nor how God wants us to live. You may have heard of the Heavenly Man or other people who went to live as missionaries in other countries but would never make their financial needs known. God always came through for them in providing what they needed but this is again not the norm of how God wants us to function. Time and time again we have seen God raise support for the people who put effort into raising it, the people who got wisdom on how to raise it in the most effect way. This is walking by faith. It is putting your actions where your heart is. Proverbs 2-5 practically shouts at us how important getting wisdom is. But getting wisdom takes a whole ton of effort, it takes intense pursuit. Getting wisdom is putting effort into learning the "practical how to's". Knowledge is knowing information, wisdom is knowing how to use the information you have. But there is no wisdom apart from the Lord, so we need to walk with Him, partnering with Him, letting Him lead us as we seek and learn. This looks like prayer, Lord, how would I ______? Lord, what is the next step? as you are moving forward, actively seeking answers. But why? Because it glorifies God. God is wise and when we are successful through the use of wisdom we show the world what He like. And because His wisdom is a delight and there is so much joy in discovering, and that discovery leads to "Wow God!" moments, the fear of the Lord, being in awe of Him. It's like that moment you learn something new, say biology, and your mind is blown about how amazingly intricate God is, that is the fear of the Lord which comes from wisdom, what He passionately delights in. How does this relate to blogging and statistics? There are a couple funny pulls in blogging. The pull to not care about statistics because we do it for the Lord and the pull to find approval, affirmation and acceptance in them. Could I propose we tie these together. Wisdom looks at stats and tries to learn how to grow a blog readership without using as a means to finding self-worth. Do the good action of growing in wisdom but with the right attitude of finding our acceptance and approval in Christ alone. Try, yes, try my dear friend. By the strength and empowerment of the Holy Spirit give your best effort and know that failure is a gift from God to show where we need wisdom. When you fail, recognize it as an area that needs more wisdom and pursue the answers, pursue wisdom. Pursue it as though you were searching for gold. "If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success." Eccl. 10:10 Basically saying, if you see there is something you're not greatly skilled at and it hinders what God has called you to do, stop and sharpen up. Get wisdom. Is there an area God has blessed you to fail in? Seize the gift and get wisdom. If you liked this post, go ahead and subscribe since these side tabs can be easy to miss. You can expect a post about once a week. I'm so glad you are here! I hope during your visit you get a glimpse of God's heart for we become what we are gazing at. I pray that God refreshes you and gives you readiness to persevere in what He has for you today. My desire is to be a blessing to you in helping you know God more and make Him known so I've made theses Resources and tools available to you and write a Weekday Devotional (my home page) to provide insights from God's Word. College students have grown up in a world where they cannot remember life without the internet. Growing up in a social media saturated culture has created unique values in their hearts surfacing a need for slight differences leadership.
After eleven years of ministry to college students, I have seen common values surface. And in order to lead well you have to understand the values of those you lead, which leads to them whole-heartedly committing to something to the point of sacrificial commitment. 1. Communicate your heart. Being “real” and “transparent” are one of the greatest values of young people. This requires sharing your thoughts and feelings and allowing room for others to share theirs. It means being open with your fears, hopes and motives which earns the respect and trust of others in a social media saturated culture. 2. Cast vision often. When you paint a picture of the end result it aligns affections to the mission. At a recent conference of 45,000 students ended up giving over 3.3 million dollars to help end slavery all over the world. College students were moved to give to the point of standing in line for two hours to do so because they saw what could be if the ministries fighting this injustice had the money they needed. When someone wants to do something, the quality of work that results is recognizably different than someone who is doing it because they have to. 3. Have an honest view of your abilities and your limitations. Tim Tebow is an example of someone who has on honest view of himself and his need for others. After every game he points to Jesus Christ, the One who enables him to play football and acknowledges other players who did well. Overconfidence repels, and humility attracts. 4. Show respect. Affection for and a desire to follow you grows when you treat people as though they have God-given value and significance. Young people loose respect for people who talk down to others. But when you show respect and offer dignity to others you might not agree with or who doesn’t deserve it, it wins the heart and confidence of a young person. 5. Go Big. Don’t be afraid to take risks. When you take risks it shows you care about something enough to put your faith in it. Students want to know that you believe in what you are asking them to do. Going big is an opportunity to model how to trust the Lord and leave room for Him to show up and show off. And even if things don’t turn out as you’d hope, even that is worthy of praise in a young person’s mind if you fail well, something just as important to model as how to succeed. 6. Give ownership. Let them contribute and have freedom to fail. Give them opportunities to use their unique gifts and abilities toward the mission. Students are at a point where they are discovering their uniqueness and need opportunity to flesh it out. When given the opportunity they are able to learn and grow. But when there is pressure to fit into a box or cookie cutter, I have found they generally resist. 7. Persevere. Push through adversity, press into conflict and communicate. With over half of this young generation coming from broken homes, their examples of people who stick things out when it gets tough are few. Therefore, they not only have a real need but also a felt need of seeing people model pushing through in the face of adversity. Most students want to run from conflict and haven’t learned how to communicate. So when you take them by the hand and walk through the issue, their thoughts, feelings, wants and actions, they overcome and their respect for you goes through the roof. Use the conflict that could stale mate your relationship as an opportunity. 8. Be generous. Generosity ignites generosity. When you are generous with your resources, praise, patience and support for a young person’s benefit they take notice. Even something as little as bringing them coffee or a little note of encouragement many times is the motivator to be and give more. 9. Honor others. Twice I have seen ministries almost completely fall apart because of dishonor. Because of gossip and talking down about people especially the leadership. But in Scripture we see Jesus honoring people, speaking highly of people. Even people who don't deserve it. Like the sinner who pours oil on His feet and washes them with her tears. A sinner, someone who deserves no honor, Jesus thinks is worthy to praise and speaks highly of in front of a crowd of "important" people. Surely if the King of the universe can speak highly of people, so can we even if we don't agree with everything about them or the way they do things. 10. Admit when you’re wrong. It’s ok to not always know the answer. Admitting when you’re wrong or asking for someone’s opinion communicates humility and respect which are some of the deepest desires of a young person’s heart. Head on over to my home page. Have someone that might benefit from this? Go ahead and share. I'm linking up with Top Ten Tuesday So Austin got me a ticket to meet Pam Tebow before she spoke at an Alternatives Pregnancy Center event. I got to snap a picture with her and have a little small talk before she took the stage where she became my most favorite woman speaker and topped my most inspiring women list.
A mom of 5 kids all of who are walking with and serving the Lord, has a passion for God's Word, lived as a missionary in the Philipians, built and orphanage for the least of these, ministers to sex trafficked victims, homeschooled her kids, goes to closed countries to share the gospel and speaks up for whats right in saving babies lives. All the while using every opportunity to share the gospel. Wow! I have to admit that while she was speaking and I was blown away with a couple who cares so deeply about the same things Austin and I do, I was praying rather often she would mentor me and I would get a chance to ask her about a trillion questions that come to mind. Tonight she talked about living for the Master and letting Him have control of everything, living on mission, and getting into God's Word like you mean it. I am tired and going to go to bed, otherwise I would share more of what she said. I have it recorded, so perhaps I'll do it in the future. Lord, thank you for letting me go to this tonight. Thank you for how you are using the Tebow family to impact eternity. Why?
1. Leaders are readers. 2. My personal development is not up to others, it is up to me. 3. I want to gain from the wisdom of others by taking the initiative to learn from them not being passive and hoping it falls into my brain. 4. The law of entropy says things go from order to disorder, so to fight that, I want to keep vision before me to keep me focused on the things God has called me to. 5. To keep me from growing mentally stagnate. Therefore, I commit to read the following 18 books in 2012 by the strength the Holy Spirit provides. My plan: 1. Read for at least 20 minutes before bed every night. 2. Have a family reading night. (?) 3. Read for at least an hour on Saturday afternoons. 4. Read in the car on road trips. Red= Done Every Day: Pray through Operation World with family at breakfast. January Finish: One Million Arrows The Tipping Point Immanuel's Veins February The Pleasures of God by John Piper Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo March Communicating for a Change by Andy Stanley and Lane Jones April Bonhoffer May The Church is Bigger than you Think by Patrick Johnston June Sacred Parenting by Gary Thomas From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya by Ruth Tucker July Erasing Hell by Francis Chan Run with the Vision by Bob Sjogren and Bill & Amy Sterns College Ministry in a post Christian Culture by Stephen Lutz Sticky Jesus Viral Platform Michael Hyatt Net Casters; Using the internet to make fishers of men Von Buseck August Finish: Live Sent by Jason Dukes September Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton October Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell November Orphanology by Tony Merida and Rick Morton December The Mission-Minded Child by Ann Dunagan If I get done for a month and still have time to read another, read: Leading Change by John Kotter People of the Book by Kathi Macias Deliver Me From Evil by Kathi Macias How Christianity Changed the World The Henrietta Mears Story I'm so glad you are here! I hope during your visit you get a glimpse of God's heart for we become what we are gazing at. I pray that God refreshes you and gives you readiness to persevere in what He has for you today. My desire is to be a blessing to you in helping you know God more and make Him known so I've made theses Resources and tools available to you and write a Weekday Devotional to provide insights from God's Word. I had a meeting at Starbucks across from campus to plan the Uniquely Made Conference. Then Angi and I walked across the street to meet with some students and left our cars in the lot. I came back to an empty parking spot. So freezing with gonna die any minute phone called Austin and told him my car was missing and the Starbucks people were confident it was towed.
Turns out you can't leave the property. I would have known that if I had read the sign right in front of my face when I walked into Starbucks. I called the towing company, angry and cold and demanded that the person who towed my car come down here and give me and explanation. I tried in all my ability to point the finger and shift the blame. Surely I hadn't been at fault. That's when I got a good dose of reality. He knew my every move. "You walked in at 12:17pm and then crossed the street at 2:47pm and your friend who you left with wearing the blue stripped shirt came back at .... I checked for you in Starbucks 3 times before I towed your car." FREAKY!!! Then holding back my tears, wondering how I was going to get the car since all the car seats were in the van, I borrowed someone phone (since mine had died) and I called Austin. I ended up getting on the bus (an entire story in an of itself) and got home just fine. Austin was super gracious and it all worked out with a nice price tag of $150. Ugh. But it was a nice dose of reality for me. Signs were all around. Written down, right there in black and white, right in front of my face and I just didn't read them until it was too late. For some reason I thought they didn't apply to me. Or perhaps I thought I was too busy or distracted. Why didn't I read the signs? I would have saved myself a lot of frustration, time and money. But then, isn't that a glimpse of eternity. Signs all around. Nature and everything created proclaiming the character of God. Even written in black and white (Bible) of what it takes to be forgiven and go to heaven. And if someone fails to heed the warnings, to read the signs/Scripture there will be consequences. And all the justifying or blame-shifting in world wont change the reality of what is deserved. Have you read the sign God is putting right in front of you? The sign saying, all are guilty and in need of forgiveness. The sign saying that there is a consequence for being guilty and it's hell for all eternity. But because of His love for us, He made a way for us to be forgiven if we just receive it, surrendering our life to Him. If you've read the sign, are you helping others to notice the most important sign in the universe? I'm so glad you are here! I hope during your visit you get a glimpse of God's heart for we become what we are gazing at. I pray that God refreshes you and gives you readiness to persevere in what He has for you today. My desire is to be a blessing to you in helping you know God more and make Him known so I've made theses Resources and tools available to you and write a Weekday Devotional to provide insights from God's Word. Showing off. God, showing off. Incredible! There is nothing more awesome to see. Getting to see, like a ground shaker! Like in 1 Samuel 14, when Jonathan stepped out to take on an entire army, just him and his armor-bearer trusting that "the Lord is able to save by many or by few." And God comes through! Jonathan and his apprentice took on 20 men and win and then God brings an earthquake and the huge Philistine army freak out and start attacking each other. Ground Shaker! Oh I LOVE... I mean seriously, gets my adrenaline running LOVE to see God show off. There honestly is nothing greater! It is the very most satisfying thing in the entire world to see people step out and trust God and then get to see Him come through majorly. It's like how Max Lucado puts it (in one of my favorite books, It's Not About Me), "Show me your radiance...Flex your biceps. Let me see the S on your chest. Your preeminence. Your heart-stopping, ground-shaking extraspectacularness...Show me your glory, God... Would you stun me with your strength? Numb me with your wisdom? Steal my breath with a brush of yours?" Like last weekends Broncos game. It was a wow. But what God did with it was more than a wow. (I wonder what more than a wow is called?) 316 passing yards in 10 passes making 31.6 yards per pass with a 31.6 neilson rating (what percent of people were watching the game). And as a result having John 3:16 be the most searched term on google. What!? Wow! Ground Shaker! And honestly, I can't believe I am writing so much about football. I have never even enjoyed football until Tim Tebow. But there is just something about seeing someone who loves Jesus and is passionate about making Him known with how they are uniquley made. There is just something about someone who has so much but still says it's nothing in comparison to Christ. There is just something about someone that doesn't think what they do, or what the world says is great is the main thing in life but lives as though it is all about Jesus and not about him. Lucado asks, "Why did Moses want to see God's greatness? Ask yourself a similar question. Why do you stare at sunsets and ponder the summer night sky? Why do you search for a rainbow int he mist or gaze at the Grand Canyon? Why do you allow the Pacific surf to mesmerize and Niagara to hypnotize? How do we explain our fascination with such sights? Beauty? Yes. But doesn't the beauty point to a beautiful someone? Doesn't the immensity of the ocean suggest an immense Creator? Doesn't the rhythm of migrating cranes and beluga whales hint of a brilliant mind?And isn't that what we desire?" John Piper says it so good, "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." Amazing to think that loving to see God show off is the very thing that He loves us to love. It's like this... It puts me in awe to think that the thing that I LOVE so much... seeing Him show off, is the very thing that God LOVES me to love. How perfect!
Oh to yearn for HIM! I do! I do! I yearn, to see Him flex His biceps and show off! He did last weekend by working things out to have Tons of people search out on google John 3:16, the gospel encapsulated. What's He gonna do tomorow? I cry out like a little kid, "Do it again Lord, do it again!" I can't wait to see what He does this time! How's He gonna get the hearts of people to see Him, to seek Him? "The time for me to set you free is near. I will soon save you. My powerful arm will make everything right among the nations. The islands will put their hope in me. They will wait for my powerful arm to act. " Isaiah 51:5 I'm so glad you are here! I hope during your visit you get a glimpse of God's heart for we become what we are gazing at. I pray that God refreshes you and gives you readiness to persevere in what He has for you today. My desire is to be a blessing to you in helping you know God more and make Him known so I've made theses Resources and tools available to you and write a Weekday Devotional to provide insights from God's Word. I was reading Jen's blog post titled, "How Much is Your Faith Worth?" and was amazed at how the Lord knows how to encourage us just when we need it. I am putting on a women's conference the end of March with my mom and Angi (who is on staff with us). I have organized and put together what seems like a billion retreats for college students (anywhere from 2-4 per school year for 11 years). But I have never put on a conference for women. Let's just say it's terrifying. I wonder, "Will anyone come?" Jen talks about the exact same fear! She is also putting on a women's retreat and fearing putting finances on the line and no one coming. How crazy is that!? God moved me through the internet to Jen's blog, someone facing and fearing the same thing. He's so great! Through the whole process of organizing I have internally battled wondering if my motives are pure, not wanting it to flop for fear of humiliating Angi and my mom and the seminar speakers. But then the Lord reminds me, I am delighting myself in Him and He gives me the desires of my heart. (Ps. 37:4) The desires I have to speak and brag about God and help women live intentionally for His glory is a desire from Him. I guess in my flesh I can't just conjurer that up all by myself. (But how crazy I actually wonder that sometimes.) And then He reminds me that when I commit my way to Him, He determines the steps. (Which the word commit is to roll a log. So as we are moving forward for His glory, He will turn and adjust us as He sees fit, just as a long bounces slightly different directions as it is rolling down a hill). So as we are moving forward in this conference, He is still in control leading and has been leading all along, even gave the desire. And then He reminds me of incredible Jonathan and his armorer-bearer in 1 Sam. 14. They moved forward to display God's glory, used the gifts and abilities God had given them and stepped toward the impossible desperately needing God to come through. And He did! He caused the ground to shake and the warriors to turn on each other in battle which caused Jonathan's army to run out of hiding to the battle and win. Surely if God can cause John 3:16 to be the number one searched phrase on google, God can come through in bringing people to this conference. I guess it just takes keeping my heart fixed on Him and not the impossibilities. So there's my heart, insecurities laid bare. Will you pray for us? Will you pray for God to bring ladies? And if you want to come, I would love it!! Find details at Uniquely Made Conference I'm linked up with Pause on the Path, Finding Heaven, A Holy Experience, Women Living Well, My Daily Walk in His Grace, Reflections of His Grace,
I'm so glad you are here! I hope during your visit you get a glimpse of God's heart for we become what we are gazing at. I pray that God refreshes you and gives you readiness to persevere in what He has for you today. My desire is to be a blessing to you in helping you know God more and make Him known so I've made theses Resources and tools available to you and write a Weekday Devotional to provide insights from God's Word. Believe!?Watching the Broncos win their first play off game seems to make many "believers" as signs are held up saying, "Believe, Believe, Believe" But believe what? Believe in the Broncos? Believe in belief? Believe in Tim Tebow? Believe in God? Why not hear from Tim Tebow's mouth what he believes? What Tim Tebow BelievesOne of my favorite things is seeing people use their gifts and strengths for the glory of God. I just love it! I love when their real focus is on Jesus and they do what they do to make Jesus look like the greatness He is. So that is why I am proud to be a Broncos fan lead by Tim Tebow. A guy who is sold out for Jesus and using His platform to further God's kingdom. When a life is laid down for the Lord, God shows up and shows off. Showing off by revealing His heart and character. Like how we see God as the Grace-Giver to the humble through Tim Tebow. He is humble. (Being honest about who he really is, no more, no less.) He doesn't strut around like he is god, or act as though the world revolves around him. But he uses his platform to praise Jesus in wins and loses always saying, "First and foremost I would like to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." But also through the Tim Tebow Foundation where he is passionate about helping the less fortunate and those without hope. Tebow lives life as though it's not all about him, but about the Lord. Therefore, we get to see God be true to His Word, "But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." James 4:6 So don't just take my word for it on why Tim plays football, watch this. Why Does Tim Tebow Play Football?Here's what Tim Tebow shares with the people he is so passionate about reaching. So what about you? You're not on death row but do you stand guilty before a perfect God for not measuring up to His standard of perfection? His standard isn't you being a "good" person, His standard is perfection, never messing up even once. You or I can't measure up to that. And therefore deserve hell. Deserve. But God stepped in and saved the day. He put on skin and lived the perfect life and died and taking on the wrath of the Father. The very punishment we deserve and then rose Himself from the dead making a way for us to be forgiven.The ball is now in our court. To receive His gift or reject it.Where are you? What's keeping you from receiving His forgiveness? Why not believe? Why not receive the hope that Tim Tebow talks about? Surely if God forgives men on death row He is able to forgive you. Why not surrender y0ur life to Him right now?
God has given Colorado a stewardship with Tim Tebow. An opportunity to capitalize on his platform and use his name to further God's kingdom, which is Tim Tebow's deepest desire. How can you steward well this incredible player in your sphere of influence? Here's an idea of how to share the gospel using Tim Tebow's platform. Will you share this on facebook and twitter and capitalize on this unique time in history where we get to use a football player to brag about Jesus? Linking up with The Beauty in His Grip |