Blogging Out Loud -- Part 2

So, plan B was to have all of the kids in the gym when we resume children's church on January 7th. Here's how we got our answer:

On Dec. 17th, I went to church a little early and was standing in the hallway when I felt like I was supposed to go into intercessory prayer. I went in and asked Kathy to pray for God to give us our solution. I expected someone to tell me this grandioso plan -- didn't happen. But, I did find out that the school is going to have to use those rooms for more ISS -- made my heart break.

I went to the pre-service meeting and as I'm standing there, I heard so clearly that God's plan is for us all to be together in the gym. I have been ok with this plan from the beginning, but Krissy has not. She was willing to do ANYTHING (even meet under the tree in front of the school) to keep this from happening. We've both been in situations where you have 3 year olds all the way through 5th grades and it's nothing but CHAOS!! So, I told God that if that was His plan, He was going to have to tell Krissy that. This is one thing we HAVE to be in agreement about!!

So, we go to worship (AWESOME by the way) and after church I asked my team to meet me in the gym. My team gathered and I broke the news to them. I asked them not to get upset with the school (it would be very easy to do) and that we were just going to flow with this and learn from it.

After our "meeting", Krissy came over and said, "Rachel, during worship, I just felt like I heard God say that this IS His plan -- for us to all be together. If we want our kids to be moving in spiritual gifts, what better way than for us all to learn together."

YAY, GOD!!!

I believe with all of my heart that God wants to do something in our children's ministry that has never been done before. And, let me tell you, there aren't ANY children's pastors that would jump at an opportunity to teach 3 year olds through 5th graders together in the same room!! There's too many attention spans, comprehension levels, wiggle worms, such a huge space (with stairs, I might add)!! But, I believe this is God's plan. But, I feel like I'm stepping out of the boat onto the stormy waters!!

I like plans. I like detailed plans. I like to be in charge and on top of things. I've had this whole month of December off and I'm running here and running there and doing this and doing that. Ordering new toys, ordering new set parts, Re-Ordering new set parts, talking on the phone, having Christmas here, having Christmas there, tracking new set parts, shipping off the projector, on hold for 40 minutes with Overstock.com, calling Overstock back, blah, blah, blah.

I was talking to Krissy yesterday and she said, "How's the curriculum thing coming?" (I'm having to write the 3 year old lessons on their level) I wanted to scream -- I HAVEN'T HAD TIME!!! The truth is that I have had the time -- I've been wasting time. The sad thing is that I'm not a procrastinator or a poor time manager, but I sure have been lately!!

All day today, I've had the Casting Crowns song "The Voice of Truth" going through my head.

Voice Of Truth

Lyrics by Mark Hall and Steven Curtis Chapman
Music by Mark Hall and Steven Curtis Chapman
Song based on 2 Cor. 12:7-10 and 1 Cor. 1:20-2:4

© 2003 Club Zoo Music / SWEC Music (Admin. by Club Zoo Music) / BMI / Sparrow Song / Peach Hill Songs (admin by EMI Christian Music Publishing) / BMI. All rights reserved. Used by permission


Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes
To climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves

To step out of my comfort zone
Into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out His hand

But the waves are calling out my name
And they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again. "Boy, you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"

Chorus:
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
The voice of truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant
With just a sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand

But the giant's calling out my name
And he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again. "Boy you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"

But the stone was just the right size
To put the giant on the ground
And the waves they don't seem so high
From on top of them lookin' down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
Singing over me

I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

This whole thing is out of my comfort zone. I feel like I am facing a giant. And it's scary. My flesh wants to run. But I won't. I'm sure Peter wanted to run, but instead he chose to step out on those waves. I'm sure David wanted to run, but instead he chose to pick up that stone. I'm just having to stop and listen to the sound of Jesus singing over me -- even when I have to listen very carefully.

Again, I believe this is God's plan. I'm used to running to a book or other children's pastors to see how to do things instead of running to God for my answers. There is no book for this situation (maybe I can write one when we figure this out) and the children's pastors who are having to teach 3 years through 5th graders pretty much say find a way around having them all together (not possible at the moment). God's in control -- not me, which is uncomfortable sometimes.

So God, here I am stepping out on what seems like stormy waters of uncertainty, but I'm going to lean on you for this direction and every step I take. I know you'll calm me when I'm freaking out. I know you're going to speak to these kids on their levels. I pray that they will have their ears open to hear. Father, teach me how to teach them. Be so real to them!! Show up in a big way -- a way where people can say -- Now THAT was GOd.

Blogging Out Loud

Our preschool classes (3 years through Kindergarten) have been meeting in some "permanent" classrooms on the school grounds. The school had 2 classrooms they weren't using and allowed us to put our stuff in there and leave it from week to week. It has been AWESOME for them to have a place all of their own. It's been great for Krissy & Nicole not having to set up after all the sound equipment is out, etc. Plus, we were running about 18 to 20 kids in that age group when they were meeting in the nursery area. The area we had was just too small to hold all of them. Now, they have some room to run around and play.

However, I got a call on Wednesday that the school is going to start using those rooms again in January and we have to get all of our stuff out by next Friday. My first reaction was "What the heck?!?! We just got those rooms in September!! Where are we going to meet now?"

As I just sat at Chick-Fil-A (our usual Wednesday lunch spot) with Krissy & Brandi, I just purposed in my heart that I wasn't going to get stressed out about it. God has a plan and He has somewhere for us to meet.

Yesterday I was listening to one of my favorite pastors, Willie George, from Tulsa and he was talking about how sometimes we just need to ask God for a STRATEGY. That's exactly where I'm at. I am just needing a STRATEGY. Those 18 to 20 kids is now close to 30 on a weekly average -- and that's just the 3, 4, and 5 year olds!!

There wasn't room for 20 kids in the old nursery part, there's definately not room for 30!! Plus, Kelly's nursery was exploding, too. She was relieved when we moved out giving her babies some more room and a place for nursing mothers to go. Doesn't seem like we can move back in there.

Yes, we could bring them back into the gym and all of us have children's church in there. That's my Plan B. The only problem with that is it will become "glorified babysitting". Our lessons will be so far over the 3 year old's head, I'm afraid they will walk away with nothing. Then, you've got those 4th & 5th graders who will be so bored because I'm having to teach on a 3 or 4 year old level -- remember PrayGround?

So, this entry is just to "blog out loud". In my head, it doesn't make sense. We have children's church back on 3 weeks from this Sunday. I feel like I don't have time to deal with this "issue". Guess I'll just have to let God deal with it.

I have so many things going on that my "break" hasn't been much of a break. It's ok, though. I'm not complaining. I'm just glad I could get some things caught up and some new things started. I'm sure this is right where God wants me -- having to find out what HIS plan is in all of this -- or Plan A.

So, God, I'm needing a place for these kids to meet and have classes. Or I need a strategy on how to teach fifty to sixty 3 year olds through 5th grade kids in a way that EVERYONE walks away with something new in their heart -- where everyone walks away with the light turned on.

The Gift of Giving . . . .

This weekend has been one crazy weekend!! And, it's not even over yet!! Friday night was the ESC Team Christmas Party and boy, was it fun!! Not to mention, all my leaders pitched in and got me a gift certificate to "The Hair Fairy -- Gaylene"!!! It really was the PERFECT present!! (Thanks Brandi for the hint!) I got all of them neat little presents that I was so excited to give them!! Little did I know how perfect each one of them was!!!

Today (Saturday), our ESC Team hit the town to buy Christmas presents for a few families in our church and of course, kids in our children's ministry!! Cyndi & Krissy were my shopping buddies for the day. We had lunch at TaMolly's and ALL 3 of us ate for $11 thanks to some awesome coupons I found!! We (all of us shoppers) all saw each other at Wal-Mart and we were all having such a great time shopping for these kids!! We were the ones clogging up the aisles going over all the cool things we had bought for the person we were shopping for!!

The plan was to meet back at my house at 4 pm to start wrapping gifts. About 3:50, I started getting calls saying, "I'm going to be late!" That was great, though, because so were we!! We were still at the mall headed back to Layne Bryant for the final sales!!

When we were finished, we just went on and on about how excited we were to be blessing these families. The back of my car was loaded with sacks!!

We got to my house and Dusty & Kari were already there and were in the process of wrapping their gifts. We brought in sacks and sacks of presents and started sorting!! Soon, Eric, Nicole, & Tanna showed up with their loot and we all were wrapping together talking about how much fun we had!!

In the end, it was Krissy and I wrapping the final gifts. I swear, God multiplied our wrapping paper!!! I still have a TON of it left over!! We had made quite the mess of my living room, so we decided that we definately needed a picture of all the presents together. I grabbed my camera while Krissy started arranging presents. OH MY GOODNESS!!! I've never seen so many presents in one place at the same time!!! I did get pictures, but I haven't put them on my computer yet, so I'm sorry you don't get to see them yet. The funny thing is that my pictures don't even have all of the presents in them!! A few more will be showing up at church tomorrow and we were able to buy 2 new mattresses, which aren't in the pictures, but they will be presents.

I started to go to bed, but I couldn't lay down just thinking about all those presents in my living room!!!

I want to tell you what God showed me today. He loves me so much more than I love these kids we shopped for today. He wants to bless me above and beyond all I could ever hope, ask, or think. But, the main thing I walked away with today was this. I heard God say, "Rachel, I want you to ask me for those things that you want. . . spiritual things and natural things. Just ask. I will give you the desires of your heart. Just ask."

You know, the lists we got from these families, we had a budget that didn't seem like a lot of money. I knew it was a good start, but I never imagined that we would be able to give these families EVERYTHING they asked for -- EVERYTHING. There are a few things we're still looking for, but I know we'll find them. And, we did it all inside our budget. A few things were given to us from people who found out what we were doing and said, "Hey, I have this. It's BRAND NEW. Do you think you could use it?" New things still in the box and things a kid had put on their list!! Now, isn't that God!!

Today, God stretched our money farther than we expected!! We were at a clothing store and we had our clothes, but when we got to the counter, we found out we could get one more shirt. So, we went and got it and found out we could still get a piece of jewelry!! When the sales clerk printed our receipt, we spent $107 and saved $116!!! WOW!!

One of the moms wanted a gift that looked like it was impossible for us to do. After talking with a few people, we were able to do something with it. (I don't want to share what it was just in case she reads my blog!) :) It was totally the favor of the Lord!! When I went to pay for it, I thanked the lady for working with us and told her what we were doing. She was speechless that we were doing that for a family in our church!! I loved it!!!

Oh how I wish I could be there Christmas morning when those kids wake up and see those presents!! Oh how I wish I could be there to watch moms enjoy watching their kids open all of those presents knowing God took care of their Christmas!! Oh how I wish I could see the faces of the moms when they open their presents.

God, I ask you to show them your love for them this holiday season. I ask you to LAVISH your love on them. Show them how a true Father loves his children. God, I pray that you get ALL of the glory for those presents. I thank you for allowing me to be a part of such an awesome Christmas for a few blessed children. God, we know Christmas time is not all about the presents, but I pray that these families would just know how blessed they are and that you have great and amazing things in store for them. I pray that they would broaden the things they ask you for. And as they receive this season, I pray they would pass it forward.

UPDATE: Here are the pictures of ALL of the presents (minus the mattresses)!! The truth is that these pictures don't even do it justice!! There are presents piled underneath all of that!! It's really amazing!!

Who Takes Out The Trash?!?!

I once heard about a couple who this happened to:

Her dad always took out the trash. His mom always took out the trash. So, when they got married, it was frustrating because nobody would take the trash out. He thought she should do it and she thought he should do it.

I used to laugh at this story until recently, Aaron & I ARE THAT COUPLE!!! I'm not sure if his mom always took out the trash, but one of Aaron's pet peeves is that I let the trash get full (and sometimes overflowing -- depending on which trash can) and I don't take it out. This morning, I was cooking breakfast and he came in and said, "IF THE TRASH IS FULL, EMPTY IT." I stood there over the pancakes thinking, "But, you are supposed to take the trash out. At least my dad always did." My dad always took the trash out and so I assumed that would be Aaron's role. Aaron thinks that anyone can take the trash out and they should.

So, I'm curious. . .who takes the trash out at your house?!?!


P.S. I need some more comments on here, people!!!! :)

Had to get in on this one . . . .

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Just Some New Pics

Here are a few pictures that I posted on MySpace, too. Just figured I would post them here for those of you not on MySpace: