Gratitude

Last Friday we hosted the Orange Tour stop here in Jacksonville for the last date on their schedule for 2011. I cannot explain what an honor this was. We Church at Argyle peeps are ORANGE!! If you don't know what that means check out this site http://whatisorange.org/

or for a quick overview, watch this video http://vimeo.com/28517659

I was first introduced to Orange at the Orange Conference in 2007, Pastor Ken and our staff sent me to with Rich and Mindy, when I was hired as Children's Ministry Director.

Since then I have taken leaders to the conference, taken leaders to an Orange Tour stop in Orlando and taken lots of leaders and kids to Camp KidJam, which are all Orange strategy ministries. What's amazing is that each time I learn something new, am encouraged and grow closer to Christ, become more equipped as a leader and come away excited all over again about the ministry God has called me to serve in! I could go on and on but I'll get to the point of this post.

This time, since we were hosting, I didn't get to sit in on every session. I did however, get to hear some of Reggie Joiner's main sessions and during one particular part I heard Sue Miller speak about a time in her ministry where she realized she had to make a decision. The decision was whether or not dedicating her "one and only life" to Children's ministry was not only worth it but what He was truly calling her to do. I am certain I was not the only one in the room who could relate to that. I could talk a lot about how much I love my job, which I do, and the struggles of serving the Lord in children's ministry but that is not what I woke up writing about at 1:00am Saturday morning. What was on my heart after hearing Sue speak and really from getting to know the whole team that gives their one and only life to help church leaders become equipped with God's word, love and the orange strategy to combine the influence of churches and families to fuel faith in the next generation, was a legacy. I woke up a bit overwhelmed with gratitude.

So, the following statement of gratitude is to Reggie and Debbie Joiner, Sue Miller, Lois Pallansch, Brad, Colette, Ryan, Kristi, Lauren, Warren, Ted, Matt, Josh, Kristie, Jeremy, Matt, Bre, Abby, Hannah (all the Orange Specialists and crew that make any Orange event happen) and their families, churches and everyone they love.

Orange has chosen to live out a legacy of leaders who spend their one and only life, speaking God's love, truth, wisdom and encouragement into new generations.

Can their be any more important mission?

Thank you for the time you spend away from your families, creating this remarkable community of people that shows us how to become and continue to grow, welcoming, intentional/strategic, humble bodies of Christ all over the world. I am struck by the choice of legacies we all have and how you've chosen this amazing legacy to live and share. I pray that the people who love you are blessed for supporting and putting up with your schedule. I pray that they and you understand the blessing you are to every person who shows up and is willing to share in this passion and vision for Christ.

This is the impact you have on people like me. Thank you for choosing this legacy.

Rumors of God: Experience the Kind of Faith You've Only Heard About by Darren Whitehead and Jon Tyson

Rumors of God: Experience the Kind of Faith You've Only Heard About by Darren Whitehead and Jon Tyson is a book about all those things we read in the Bible or hear from Pastors and think, well that's for someone else. I am just trying to live my life. That is only for those really strong Christians. The reality is what, we dismiss as rumors because acting upon God's call or stepping out of our comfort zones to follow Christ, are not rumors, they are truths that Darren Whitehead and Jon Tyson share and make real and reachable in this book.

Each chapter breaks down a "rumor", like Abundant Life or Grace and shares stories about real people and real ways we can each live and claim a life of abundance and grace. Whether you have been brought up in a Christian home or have just found your way to a relationship with Christ recently, you can relate to and be inspired by this book. Its not all about being a foreign missionary or starting a church. Its about finding God right where you are and using what you do and have to reach out to those around you. Loving the way God loves. Giving in real and life changing ways. Forgiving and what it really means.

This chapter on forgiveness was titled "Giving up your rights: Rumors of Freedom". As God would have it happen, I was reading this during a time when my life group was talking about betrayal, love and forgiveness and I shared quotes from this chapter because it spoke so clearly and directly to our questions and struggles. It all lines up with God's word and is so powerful and relevant to where the church is and needs to be today. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to live out biblical faith and realize that you don't have to be a pastor or "church person" to really make a difference with God.

The review copy of this book was provided by booksneeze.com for my personal opinion.

Regret-Free Parenting: Raise Good Kids and Know You're Doing It Right By: Catherine Hickem

Regret-Free Parenting: Raise Good Kids and Know You're Doing It Right, By: Catherine Hickem. I would recommend it for all parents but especially Christian Moms. Catherine Hickem's perspective and willingness to share her mistakes while lifting up God's promises and truths about intentional parenting and loving our children in a way that is easy to relate to and believe you can implement is powerful and motivating.

While I already understood that the learning part of being a Mom never ends, this book inspired me that even with a 15 and 12 year old there are things I could change or add to the way I parent that still could have a positive impact on my sons. Catherine Hickem has such a wise and real perspective on being a mom, how different each child is and how important it is to remember that you have to be intentional about being the "Keeper of the Vision" for them. She walks you through the different ages and stages and has a great section on finding peace during their teenage years. She does touch just lightly on the role of Dad's but if a Dad would take the time to read this book I think it would give him a much better view of why it takes both Mom and Dad's parenting and perspective and how important and valid both are in the life of their children. The review copy of this book was provided by booksneeze.com for my personal opinion.

Merry Christmas

^{Here we go. December. Christmas. Not gonna lecture you on what this season is about. I know that you know that I know that you know that Jesus is the reason, no matter what the commercials say and how many snow men and santa claus' and presents and trees we gather and display, Jesus is the reason for the season.}

^{I got my angel tree ornament, did you? I sent my son in with some cans for the food drive did you? Is that what Jesus died for, so that I could compete with or guilt someone into donating as much as me or feel guilty because they donated more than me? No, its not about that any more than it is about how many or how expensive the presents are that we buy for the people in our lives.}

^{You don't need me to tell you what the season is about. So I won't.}

^{Instead I will encourage you as I encourage myself to pray and speak and love, to worship and believe and give from our hearts. Only God knows what we can do this month, this year, this day that brings Him glory, that shines His light, that heals a heart or blesses a person, that changes a life in helping someone find Jesus by the way we live.}

^{Whenever we are getting stuck in the trap of how much you have or don't have,}

^{how much we want vs. how much we need,}

^{how many more Christmases or how few,}

^{be reminded that we have Jesus, so we have EVERYTHING and it is selfish not to share Him!}

^{Ask Him what that looks like in your life and then listen and DO whatever it is He shows you to do.}

^{Let's be a positive example of what it means to be a Christian, a Believer, a Follower of Christ!}

^{Thank you for serving Him. Believe He is who He says He is, trust Him and expect miracles this Christmas!}

^{Love and Praise in Christ,}

^Amy

^{Phillipians 1:27-30} Meanwhile, live in such a way that you are a credit to the Message of Christ. Let nothing in your conduct hang on whether I come or not. Your conduct must be the same whether I show up to see things for myself or hear of it from a distance. Stand united, singular in vision, contending for people's trust in the Message, the good news, not flinching or dodging in the slightest before the opposition. Your courage and unity will show them what they're up against: defeat for them, victory for you—and both because of God. There's far more to this life than trusting in Christ. There's also suffering for him. And the suffering is as much a gift as the trusting. You're involved in the same kind of struggle you saw me go through, on which you are now getting an updated report in this letter.

Breath of Heaven - Amy Grant

Book Review - "Heaven is for Real" by Todd Burpo

Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo is an easy to read and sweet story told from the father's perspective about his son's story of going to heaven during emergency surgery when he was just a preschooler. As a parent myself, it tears at my heart imagining this family having to walk through such a scary time where their son almost, and by medical standards, should have died. Their faithful and honest account of what they went through and then the amazing story of what their son shared that he saw and experienced is truly comforting as a believer in Christ.

I have to admit, especially as a Believer, I didn't realize I had become so skeptical but as I read I found myself questioning, could this really have happened, did he really say that? The bottom line is that there is no way to know for certain. I know in my heart and soul that Christ is real and there is evidence around me every day of a loving and powerful God. I can't promise that Colton saw Jesus, but I will say that I am convinced he did. The basic experience as described is very similar to many that are spoken of in stories all over the world as an out of body experience when someone's heart stops but is revived during a surgery, trauma or accident. What is remarkable about Colton's story is the details, the parts of his parents life before he was born that he now knows, the details about their whereabouts during his surgery and the fact that he is so young but is so consistent and specific about what he shares. I would recommend this book to anyone who wonders about heaven, whether you've ever read the Bible or not. I hope it blesses you as much as it has blessed me to read it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson book publishers through Booksneeze.com.

Book review - "Resurrection in May" by Lisa Samson

Resurrection in May by Lisa Samson is now one of my top 5 favorite Christian fiction books. I have read many Christian fiction authors but have never read anything by Lisa Samson before. Since reading this I have sought out her books. In Resurrection in May she does such a beautiful job of bringing the characters to life and getting the reader attached, certainly this reader at least. May, Claudius, Eli and Sister Ruth are all characters I'd like to meet if they were real. The story of May's journey from being a pleasant but shallow college student with little ambition, to taking a mission trip to Africa that taught her love, selflessness and purpose but came with great pain and loss, is full of rich characters, descriptive and diverse landscapes and caries you along wanting to protect and push May forward depending on the page.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and didn't want to put it down yet didn't want the story to end. My favorite setting was that of Claudius' farm in Kentucky and my favorite character was Claudius himself. The author made him appealing in all the right ways, kind, honest, loyal, patient and unselfish. We all need at least one Claudius in our lives. His strong faith and genuine trust in God was just what May needed to find her way back from fear to love, life and hope. The story takes a few unexpected turns but each of them believable and revealing in their wisdom and inspiration. I would highly recommend this book and have already loaned it out to a friend who loved it as much as I did.

I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com

A moment

Just having a moment.

I miss my Pastor.

I miss him all the time but today things lined up just right for me to have one of those sad/sweet moments where you just give in to the cry. I clicked on the staff pictures on our website and was relieved to still see his picture there, even though I know that will change in God's timing and will. At the same time, "somewhere over the rainbow" was playing on my computer and that was it.

Time gets to stop for a minute and I get to miss him without glossing over it, without thinking of the future, without being angry or broken.

I miss his voice, his calm presence, his funny laugh, the click of his shoes walking down the hall to my office to ask a question or follow up on an upcoming project, a need in our church, to help him plan for the story he'll tell in our preschool chapel......

This man who was my Pastor, my boss, my friend and mentor and counselor.

He's family and because of God's mercy and comfort most of the time I can be hopeful and even excited about what God's plan is bringing to our church and lives beyond the loss of Ken Dyal.

But today, in this moment, I miss my Pastor.

Thank you Jesus that I was allowed to know him.
Thank you Lord for giving me this moment.