S Club Mama

  My grandma recently was admitted to a rehab/assisted living/nursing home. I was on the phone with her the other day and she was telling me how she would probably be there the rest of her life. She, of course, was upset by this but understands that it's safer for her to be in the nursing home. She told me of a sign in the entrance of the home that says to the workers arriving, "this is not just your workplace, this is their home." I love that sentiment to remind them to help the residents be at home.   Last weekend, one of our pastors gave a sermon about this world not being the home of Christians. Our home is in heaven. It got me to thinking about my own home here on earth. I want it to be a place that we love to be (hence why I painted the walls colors I love instead of maintaining neutral walls), that my family feels safe and secure.   Right now, our world doesn't feel safe or secure. It's changing every day with regulations and the availability of product...

Tonight we watched an Andy Stanley DVD series portion from his Big Church DVD series. It's not about the church being big but more being a big deal. I've been thinking of the afterlife a lot (my great-grandma passed away last weekend), so it meant a lot to me to hear this sentiment. In the church, we talk a lot about stuff. Where we sit. What we sing. How we dress. We also talk a lot about theological stuff. End of times. Gospel discrepancies. Baptism - sprinkle or dip. Communion - single serve or community cup. On and on. We talk a lot. None of it's bad to talk about. But when it overshadows the most important thing, it's bad. Here is that most important thing: Jesus Christ died for our sins (yours and mine). He was buried. He was raised. He appeared.  I pray that with my grandma's passing, everyone at the funeral will hear the gospel message and so decide to have that relationship with Christ, our Savior. So when they pass, they will be home with ...

I was reading Ephesians 2 this morning and got through to chapter 10 when I was hit with conviction. "For we are God's masterpiece.  He has created us anew in Christ Jesus,  so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." This small, still voice inside said, "and those good things are not measured by your weight or pant size." Whoa! That voice (the Holy Spirit for those unfamiliar) stopped me in my tracks. I've been upset lately about pants being tighter (thanks Thanksgiving dinner and my lack of self-control, which is an issue but one I'm working on) and scale numbers being higher. But in reality, does it matter? Sure, God wants us to take care of our bodies and respect the place His Spirit dwells (if you've accepted Christ as your Savior). We are not called to be gluttonous or lazy or to sacrifice our health, but we are also not judged on our size or weight or muscle tone or athletic accomplishments. We are judged by our sins a...

I hope everyone enjoyed a family-filled Easter weekend. More importantly, I hope everyone took the time to really remember what the Lord did for us. Not only did he leave heaven to become a small human baby or teach us valuable lessons as an adult, but he died on the cross, bleeding pure blood to cover the multitude of sins of the earth. Of your sins. Of my sins. And not only did he die such a horrific death on the cross, but he went to hell and defeated death! Rising 3 days later, securing our salvation (if you so choose to believe in these miraculous things that our Savior did for us, and choosing to follow Him and become more like Him all your life). I was reading in TIME magazine last night, and was just sickened by the article about Rob Bell (by Jon Meacham). This issue of the magazine showcases 100 of the World's Most Influential People. Unfortunately, this Mr. Bell is on this list that includes freedom fighters, movie stars, royalty - all the people who do influence the wo...

"We are the clay, and thou are Potter; and we all are the work of thy hand." Isaiah 64:8b Last night I was laying in bed, and I got to thinking about God. I do this a lot of nights, but I had some cool imagery last night. Close your eyes and think about the world. Think of the different people and the different animals. The variety of plants. The technologies of the world, and the primitiveness of places. When you're finished (take your time), open your eyes. Do you realize who made that? Who made the stars, the moons, the planets, the heavens? The earth and all of its wonders? God . Our God . The Great Artist. Think of the imagination of great artists such as Picasso, Da Vinci, Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Warhol....sorry, I don't know many artists. Think of the works of art made. Mona Lisa, statue of David, The Last Supper, Sistine Chapel ceilings, Starry Night, American Gothic...on and on. God made the people who made those. He molded those people by hand. God cre...