staying relevant

I've been thinking lately about the church being relevant in the world. I have been starting to realize that maybe the more important issue is individuals being relevant to those around them. Maybe that really is more important of the two issues. When someone walks into a church they know why they are there. People don't normally wander into a church because they wonder what all this "christian stuff" is all about. It might happen, but I believe it is rare.

On the other hand individuals that we work with, people we become friends with, neighbors or even family see us. They get to know us. Instead of an institution they see an individual. A church as a whole is a place for corporate worship, fellowship, community, ministry, instruction, etc. An individual is a chance for others to see on an individual basis who and what Jesus is.

So how do we stay relevant to those around us? Do we talk about loving Jesus every second we can? Do we witness every chance we get? I strongly believe the answer is a resounding NO!

If we look at Jesus' example time and time again He met people where they were. He went into a house that shocked others, He met someone in their most desperate hour, He shocked and dismayed the local leaders with His ministry. He considered the individual much more important than the sanctity of the religion of the time.

I think we have to realize what are the societal rules and religious rules of our day. I think we also have to realize what our own personal limits are. Is it wrong to go into a bar and have a drink with a coworker? I really don't believe so. While it is wrong to go get drunk with the coworker I see no harm in going to relate to someone you work with. What if said co-worker has never met a follower of Christ willing to come to them? What if the only way that that co-worker will open up to you is if you come down to their level and show your human side?

The question that needs to be asked is what is going to help you with this friend, co-worker, family member, etc? What can I do to become relevant to them? One MUST use discernment and examine their own heart as to what the boundaries are and what will help you reach out. Fortunately I believe we don't often need to push our personal limits to become relevant.

I think that showing your human side is the crux of staying relevant to those around you. While it is exceptionally important to show your divine side I think it needs to be that. Showing. Not talking. Because as we all know actions are more important than words. Being an everyday witness. However you decide to show your human side is up to you. I believe that those that know you love Jesus will ask you on their own about Him when they are ready.

My husband and I have often experienced this more often than not in our ministry. If we come down to someone on their level they will spontaneously ask about Jesus. We invite them over for dinner, we set up play dates with their kids, we give someone a ride to work when their car breaks down, we listen to family troubles and just listen. Eventually people realize that we have something that they want, that we have qualities the they appreciate. Suddenly a door is flung open wide because of the work of the Holy Spirit prompting their hearts and they start to ask questions.

So when everyone is asking 'how do we make the church more relevant?' I feel the question that should be asked is 'how do we make ourselves more relevant?"

So how do you make yourself relevant?

broken

Jeremiah 18:4 - But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.

I am in the process of being broken. The Lord has seen my heart and knows that I need Him in a different way than I have been receiving Him. So I am being broken. Being broken sucks. I am tired and on the verge of tears at any second. One bad thing seems to pile on top of another until I succumb and am a mess of tears and snot. Yesterday was one of those days. Sunday was one of those days. And I know that I am not done. I know that I could learn this lesson more quickly if I just submitted to the Lord right now and lay prostrate before him in complete submission. But I am afraid of what I am going to hear. I am afraid of being completely broken to the point of helplessness. I hate the feeling that I am no longer in control of my life. Because when I do I know that God will push me out of where I am comfortable, out into the place that is scary. He has already started and I am not happy about it. Because of a moment of obedience I am now involved in something that scares the living daylights out of me. What else does He have planned? What else is required for this process to be completed?

2 Corinthians 4:7-9 - But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

When He called me into the ministry I willingly accepted that my life would never be my own - my own to choose what I wanted to do with it. That He would use me however He saw fit for His glory. But even though I submitted to His will over 14 years ago and accepted that my life was completely His, it doesn't make it any easier today. And because I have been through a breaking process many times before, and know what is at the end of it, I am scared and resistant to it. How broken am I going to be this time? How much am I going to have to give up? I know that I am going to have to rely on His strength to do things beyond me because He is going to ask me to.

"I can't do anything without you, you give me strength to do anything. I can't be everything I try to, you save me from the everything I couldn't be." - Plumb

I've been feeling like a failure lately. In my mothering, in my relationships, in my ministry, in pretty much everything I touch. And I am failed by those closest to me. When I turn to those around me I find that the comfort I normally find in them is gone and sometimes completely backfires and leaves me feeling much worse. Emotionally I am drained.

He is calling. He is more telling me I need to turn to him. My world will continue to crumble until I submit.

Psalm 34:18 - The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

I know that He is doing this because He loves me. I know that He wants to use me. I know He is there all around me even if I can't feel Him or even hear Him. Faith is scary. Faith is Him is not easy. Life is harder when you submit to His will. I'm so tired of fighting, but not yet ready to stop.

grape juice!

Specifically drinking Welch's Grape juice makes me feel weird. Why you ask? Because after taking, performing, and preparing communion in a Pentecostal church with the stuff it feels so wrong to drink it and serve it to my kids as a "healthy juice." To me it's been a symbol of the blood of Christ for 31 years, for goodness sakes! It's just weird to drink it. To bad it tastes so good otherwise I would stop.

That is all.

domestic goddess

sometimes I hate the fact that I have become so domestic. Wasn't it me in college that was "the feminist?" I was the only woman in the pastoral program. I was so very proud of that too. I fought for the right to take those classes along with the boys, I fought for the idea that women could be ministers too. I was labeled as a feminist. I was looked at as radical. No one really stopped to hear my views, or really listen to what I had to say, if they had they would have realized that I am not all that radical and that I don't believe that women should be senior pastors except in special situations. That gets into Theology and interpretation of the scripture and I am really really tired of explaining that to people, so I'm not going to bother here.

The whole point is that I fought for a really long time to be respected as a woman minister. There was a point that I didn't even want children. And now look at me. I'm a SAHM with a very part time church job. I cook and clean and wipe kids butts every day. I'm gardening, baking, and sewing. When did I turn into this person? The better question how can the same person who was such a feminist now be enjoying the role she is playing now? It's crazy to me that I take so much pleasure in domesticity.

This week was a pinnacle in my domestic goddess status. I sewed a dress (that I altered from the original pattern) for my beautiful little princess this week. Oh. My. Goodness. I had so much fun doing so. And when I put it on her I think I squealed in delight. I baked the best banana bread I have ever tasted - it was of my own creation. I used fresh herbs from my garden to roast a whole chicken, I used the pan juices to make some of the best sauce ever. And why didn't anyone ever tell me gardening was so fun? Getting my hands in the dirt and taking care of flowers is so rewarding. Not that I have a huge garden -I live in an apartment, but I take joy in sitting on my patio with all the beauty that I have nurtured around me.

I started all this domestic stuff in the attempt to be the perfect mommy. I think that that is one thing that birth parents and adoptive parent often share (not all the time, I am generalizing), the feeling that one must be perfect. But along the way I have found that I really do enjoy being domestic. I still HATE cleaning and especially washing dishes. But I love creating. My creativity can go crazy in the kitchen, garden and on fabric. And there is something amazing about saying - "I made this!"

the dress on my beautiful princess

banana bread and coffee on my patio


fresh herbs for my cooking!