Here are some pictures from today!
Monday, October 8, 2012
Parent Play Date!
Ella's class earns special tickets as a form of reinforcement for positive behavior. When her class reached their last goal, they chose to have a "Parent Play Date" as their reward! So this morning Randy and I took Noah up to school and we all played with Ella on the playground during recess, ate lunch with her class, and then helped her get all ready for rest time with a story. It was so fun! Ella has been looking forward to this for days and all of the kids had huge smiles as they drug their parents around the playground to show us all of their favorite things! It was fun to see what a part of her day looks like going to lunch and eating with her friends like such a big girl! Noah was also super excited about the idea of "going to the big school" for awhile and eating lunch at the "real lunch room" lol. He loved it!
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Burn your plow..
This morning while on my walk I listened to a really great Podcast by Steven Furtick. I have been considering buying his new book, "Greater" and I knew he was preaching a series on it at his church so I thought this would be a good preview to see if it caught my interest. Holy cow. I can't wait to listen to the rest and will definitely be getting the book!
The one I listened to today was called "Burn the Plows" and although it referenced a lot, the bulk of it was taken out of 1 Kings. Everything he said hit straight at my heart and was such a good reminder for me. He gets the title "Burn the Plows" because when God called Elisha to come and follow Him, Elisha not only slaughtered his oxen, but he used the wood from his plow to build a fire to cook the meat and fed it to all of the people around them. So not only did he immediately follow God, but he basically burned the things from his past life. He doesn't have anything to go back to now! He literally followed God's calling and ruined all chances of being able to bail and go back to his previous livelihood.
In the rest of the message, Furtick challenges us that if we truly want the "Greater" life that God has for us, we have to burn our plows (whatever that may be that's holding us back or causing us to play it safe) and just follow Jesus. One of my favorite things he said about this was "The greater life that God is calling you to doesn't start with you building up a dream house. Or drawing up blue prints for the life you want. It begins with you burning the plows of the life that you've lived and offering yourself to God as a blank plot of ground saying, "I will follow You wherever You lead. The world behind me, the cross before me'" He points out that we get comfortable as christians and forget that this is truly what salvation is. Not being perfect or doing all the right things, but making a decision to "burn" our old life, kiss goodbye the things we love, and truly follow Christ wherever He would have us go.
Obviously, being that Randy is in full time ministry, I know first hand what it's like to feel "called" somewhere by God and to obey and follow that call. I've only been married for 6 1/2 years and when we moved from both Florida and North Carolina, it was completely because we felt like it was what God was telling us to do. I've also seen the blessing that comes from being obedient. But, the thing that really stepped on my toes this morning was the attitude behind it all. It can be such a roller coaster ride of emotions. There's the exciting part where you know what God wants and so you make plans to do it and you get to witness everything fall into place and God provides everything just right and it's awesome. I love that part. Still, there's a hard part of burning your plow, too. I'm totally in love with my new church and this sweet small town we live in now (so if you're one of my WI friends don't panic!). I'm so excited to be used and serve here. But if I'm being completely honest and transparent for a moment, there are most certainly moments when I have these little "poor me" moments with God. Like when my mom and step dad have to pull out of the driveway watching both of their grandchildren scream and cry because they don't want them to leave. Or a friend back home gets married and we're just too far away to attend. Or someone we care about looses a loved one and we can't give them a hug.
In his message, I was reminded that God calls us to deeply surrender ourself to Him. We can't keep our hand tightly gripped on what's behind us. Now that doesn't mean that I write off my family and friends and become some kind of Godly hermit! No, I will still have my pity parties. It's just that I am reminded that a life serving and following Christ is truly "Greater" than a life of playing it safe. This is something I know and acknowledge nearly every day. Don't want you to think I'm a negative nelly! Randy and I are awed sometimes daily at the way God has used us to bless so many others. It's very humbling. But, just like anything in life, sometimes you just need one of those mornings where you so greatly understand the huge, greatness of God and how awesome it is to be used in ways and places you never thought you'd end up. I was just reminded how blessed I am and I was also challenged to search my life for more "plows" to burn so that I can take other areas of my life to an even greater place of surrender.
The one I listened to today was called "Burn the Plows" and although it referenced a lot, the bulk of it was taken out of 1 Kings. Everything he said hit straight at my heart and was such a good reminder for me. He gets the title "Burn the Plows" because when God called Elisha to come and follow Him, Elisha not only slaughtered his oxen, but he used the wood from his plow to build a fire to cook the meat and fed it to all of the people around them. So not only did he immediately follow God, but he basically burned the things from his past life. He doesn't have anything to go back to now! He literally followed God's calling and ruined all chances of being able to bail and go back to his previous livelihood.
In the rest of the message, Furtick challenges us that if we truly want the "Greater" life that God has for us, we have to burn our plows (whatever that may be that's holding us back or causing us to play it safe) and just follow Jesus. One of my favorite things he said about this was "The greater life that God is calling you to doesn't start with you building up a dream house. Or drawing up blue prints for the life you want. It begins with you burning the plows of the life that you've lived and offering yourself to God as a blank plot of ground saying, "I will follow You wherever You lead. The world behind me, the cross before me'" He points out that we get comfortable as christians and forget that this is truly what salvation is. Not being perfect or doing all the right things, but making a decision to "burn" our old life, kiss goodbye the things we love, and truly follow Christ wherever He would have us go.
Obviously, being that Randy is in full time ministry, I know first hand what it's like to feel "called" somewhere by God and to obey and follow that call. I've only been married for 6 1/2 years and when we moved from both Florida and North Carolina, it was completely because we felt like it was what God was telling us to do. I've also seen the blessing that comes from being obedient. But, the thing that really stepped on my toes this morning was the attitude behind it all. It can be such a roller coaster ride of emotions. There's the exciting part where you know what God wants and so you make plans to do it and you get to witness everything fall into place and God provides everything just right and it's awesome. I love that part. Still, there's a hard part of burning your plow, too. I'm totally in love with my new church and this sweet small town we live in now (so if you're one of my WI friends don't panic!). I'm so excited to be used and serve here. But if I'm being completely honest and transparent for a moment, there are most certainly moments when I have these little "poor me" moments with God. Like when my mom and step dad have to pull out of the driveway watching both of their grandchildren scream and cry because they don't want them to leave. Or a friend back home gets married and we're just too far away to attend. Or someone we care about looses a loved one and we can't give them a hug.
In his message, I was reminded that God calls us to deeply surrender ourself to Him. We can't keep our hand tightly gripped on what's behind us. Now that doesn't mean that I write off my family and friends and become some kind of Godly hermit! No, I will still have my pity parties. It's just that I am reminded that a life serving and following Christ is truly "Greater" than a life of playing it safe. This is something I know and acknowledge nearly every day. Don't want you to think I'm a negative nelly! Randy and I are awed sometimes daily at the way God has used us to bless so many others. It's very humbling. But, just like anything in life, sometimes you just need one of those mornings where you so greatly understand the huge, greatness of God and how awesome it is to be used in ways and places you never thought you'd end up. I was just reminded how blessed I am and I was also challenged to search my life for more "plows" to burn so that I can take other areas of my life to an even greater place of surrender.
"I have decided to follow Jesus...the world behind me, the cross before me, no turning back, no turning back."
You should really listen to it if you have some time during your day today!
http://www.elevationchurch.org/sermons/greater/part1
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