Priorities; Control -- What?

Have you ever felt like your life is out of control? For someone like me, who is a bit of a control freak, it can be pretty hard to deal with. During this season, the intensity of our lives only increases, and there are so many demands on our time and energy. I will confess that I struggle with keeping my priorities in order, especially during this time of the year. What are my priorities? Good question! If I listed them according to what I've been told they should be, they would follow this order: God, Family, Church, Others. Or is it God, Family, Church [Others], myself? I forget. Honestly the order in which they so often fall in my life is Church, Family, Church, God, Others ... who am I? So how do I get things in order? ... I wish I had a definitive answer. The only thing I know to do is to wake up each morning acknowledging my Creator with gratitude for another day in which to try to figure out how to keep things in perspective and some semblance of order, and to claim 1 Cor 14:33a, "God is not a God of confusion but a God of peace." Can anyone relate to my perdicament?

1st Wednesday

This week at our 1st Wednesday worship service, Pastor Troy challenged us to not only trust him with the vision God has given Flamingo Road, but also to be a "Aaron" and "Hur", supporting him as he lifts God's vision up before us, or to be a "Joshua" out in the battlefield, leading the troops. Being the Children's Pastor, I thought about how that relates to our ministry serving kids and families.

• God's vision that Pastor Troy is holding before us is relevant and pertinent to FRC Kids Ministry: Partnering with parents to help our kids reach their God-potential at 50 campuses! This will take a lot of people and a lot or resources!


• As Children's Pastor it is my job to help him keep God's vision lifted high so that we will not be distracted for what we are called to do, ensuring that the battle is fought strategically, effectively and with relevance.


• Our children's ministry staff and key volunteers are our "Joshua's" leading the troops on the battle fields.


• Our lagoon teams, small group teams, tech teams, teaching teams and weekday volunteer teams are our troops waging battle for the lives and souls of kids and families

We have the strategy and battlefield in place. One of the greatest things we are missing are the warriors...the soldiers who have a passion to go to battle for God and for families. As kids are reached, families are impacted and lives are changed. What does it take to be a warrior in the children's ministry? What is required to reach kids for Christ?

• A heart for God and a willingness to go to battle for Him by building relationships with kids and helping them move into a relationship with Him.


• A willingness to sacrifice a little bit of time during the week preparing for battle by reading the Bible and reviewing the weekly lesson plan.


• Committing about 1 1/2 hours on the weekend to serve in one of our worship services.


• A commitment to be consistant -- the battle for our kids is not a occasional or convenient fight -- it happens every day! So we pray everyday and show up every weekend on the battlefield called FRC Kids Worship!


• A desire to love on kids ... no matter what!

What is NOT required to be a warrior for kids?

• A degree in Bible knowledge -- you'll learn right along with the kids!
  
• Hours of prep getting teaching supplies and resources -- we provide everything you need!
  
• Having kids yourself -- parents are very needed and very much welcome, but so are those who do not have kids yet!


• A PhD in childhood development -- we have trained leaders who will help you learn how to work with kids!

We need "Joshua's" and we need warriors ... anyone out there willing to accept the call?

Graditude

We celebrated Josh's 15th birthday this last month -- literally all month long! Josh injured his left knee just before his birthday and was on crutches for about 3 weeks, which meant he could not have the action-packed birthday party for which he had hoped. So we pretty much celebrated his birthday all month long, having TWO gatherings in his honor! The picture you see here is of him and his brother enjoying his FIRST cake! Happy 15th, Josh! Can't believe my baby's growing up into such an awesome young man! I love you, buddy!

I always learn so much about myself and my relationship with my heavenly Father through the relationship with my kids! One of the things I have really been pondering this last month is the virtue of graditude. This is not a virtue that occupies my thoughts that often, not because I don't appreciate things, but because I am a task-oriented person and have a tendancy to simply move from one task to the other, not taking time to celebrate or reflect. What brought it to my attention was what I felt appeared as a lack of appreciate from my 15th year old in regards to the effort Randy and I put into making sure he had a good birthday despite the fact that he couldn't go skateboarding or paintballing with his friends. I was really feeling taken for granted, until God helped me realize I act the same way towards Him -- A LOT! He has given me so much that I simply take for granted. So, as a means of repentance and reflection, here are some things I want to stop taking for granted and want to celebrate with graditude to The One who provides so generously:

1. A body that functions really well -- THANK YOU GOD FOR MY HEALTH! Forgive me for not taking better care of it!



2. A husband who has been and continues to be committed to me and his family even through tough times and many disappointments -- I love you Randy! Forgive me for taking you for granted!



3. Two very healthy boys who, despite driving my crazy on many days, bring me such great joy and hope! Josh -- you amaze me! Nick -- you are such a pleasure! I love you both more than you can know!



4. A "soul sister" and BFF who has shared more times of joy and tears than I can recall ... as well as some really good times of laughter -- Lisa, I appreciate you so much!



5. A sister who, inspite of living about 1000+ miles away, stays in touch and accepts me just the way I am! Love you Ruth!



6. In-laws who have taken me in and accepted me as their own -- I love you Mom, Bill and Sonya!



7. A church family and staff, who has given me not only a place to invest my life, but has provided me the opportunity to pursue God's calling on my life -- I appreicate your faith in me!



8. All of our incredible volunteers in our Kids ministry who work so hard right alongside me and who are willing to do whatever it takes -- YOU ALL AMAZE ME WITH YOUR SACRAFICIAL SERVICE! God's blessing to you all! Remember you are making a KINGDOM DIFFERENCE in the lives of His kids each week ... stay the course!



9. An incredible Children's Ministry Staff -- I'm so glad God has joined us together to run after His kids! I appreciate you all!



10. Families who need God, who want God, and who are looking to the church to fill an incredible void in their lives that can only be filled by God! Help us keep pushing on for YOU, God, and for THEM!

Father, thank you so much! I appreciate and love You! -- Your GRATEFUL child, Charlotte.

A LESSON OF TRUST FROM MY 11 YEAR OLD

NOTE: THIS WILL BE MY FIRST OFFICAL "POSTING" ... We'll see where this goes!

Well, it’s Day 5 of my two week vacation. I forgot to take my computer with me on our trip to Indialantic Island … I think it was God’s way of unplugging me for a while! We had a great time of fun on the beach, at the pool, shopping, go carts and The Kennedy Space Center. It feels good to rest and play with my kids for a while.

Wednesday was our beach day. We all oiled up and headed out for some fun in the sun and water. The waves where pretty intense that day, which was much to my 14 year olds delight. Josh is like a fish in the water and his strength allowed him to really enjoy body surfing. It was fun to watch [from the shore!] as he and his father enjoyed facing off with those big waves. I was standing on the shore with Nick, my 11 year old, who stood watching enviously as his brother and father romped around in the water. It was obvious he really wanted to be out there. Here’s a summary of our conversation:

“Why don’t you go on out, Nick?” “I don’t want to be slammed by those waves. They’re so big. And I’m not strong enough to swim against them.” “Your father will help you get past them and then you can float on the boogie board and enjoy the other waves with your brother.” “No, I don’t want to.” “You know you can trust your father … he won’t let anything happen to you.” “It’s not my father that I don’t trust … it’s those waves.” “I see … do you think you could trust your father more than you don’t trust those waves?”

It took him some time to really think this through, especially after seeing his father slammed by a huge wave. Randy and Josh came on out of the water to rest, but Nick still stood on the shore looking out anxiously at the waves. Finally I walked out to stand with him. He said, “Man, I really want to go out there, but I’m still afraid.” Then his father came over and said, “Nick, now’s the time to go. The water has calmed down a bit, and you’ll be fine. I’ll hold on to you, and you can hold on to the boogie board. Let’s go.”

So finally, he decided to trust his father over his fear of those waves. They went out and had a blast, even though the waves picked up again as they where out there. Nick has a new level of trust in his father and less fear of those waves.

I realized how the lesson my son learned that day on the beach is so true to our daily living. There are so many huge waves in our lives … career decisions, family decisions, health issues, financial challenges, relationship issues. For me, this last wave has been the hardest one to face. I have a fear of rejection and of not being liked, which has a tendency to make me a people pleaser. It’s a fear that I faced as a child. It was not easy for me to make friends because I was always so self-conscience, and had a huge inferiority complex. To be candid, I still struggle to a lesser degree with those same issues today. The difference is that at this point in my life I have trusted my Heavenly Father in many situations which has allowed me to face off with those waves of fear and self-doubt. The waves I face today are as real, and sometimes just as big, but because I have put my trust in my Father, and He has seen be through so many tough spots before, those waves do not cause the same level of fear and doubt in me that they use to. Don’t get me wrong, there is still a twinge of dread when I face tough relational situations … just as there will always be a twinge of anxiousness when my Nick faces another day of waves. The difference is his faith in the trustworthiness of his father has grown. Nick had to get off the shore for that faith growth to happen … how about you? Are you tired of standing on the shore wishing you had the courage and faith to take the plunge? Come on … get out there. Your trust in your Father can be greater than your fear of those unknown waves!

The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and is armed with strength. The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved. Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity. The seas have lifted up, O Lord, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves. Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea-- the Lord on high is mighty. Your statutes stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days, O Lord. Psalms 93:1-5

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6