New Year...New ME!

Tonight, on Apple TV, I watched as Anthony Evans lead worship live. Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale counted down with him leading into the New Year. I was refreshed singing familiar worship songs, but his message resonated most with my heart. 

In between sets, he gave his testimony -sharing how he, being the son of well-known pastor - Tony Evans, would condemn himself and be gilt ridden over the sins he struggled with. His dad's congregation put pressures on him which lead him to write an awesome song about his freedom in Christ. Where there is no condemnation.

The song was beautiful. It was refreshing. It was holy. It is my anthem I plan to download and play loudly. Those times when satan wants to make me feel worthless for a foolish decision I have made. Or for those many "Mommy Moments" I wish I could erase. For freedom from those habits I haven't kicked and need release from.

Tonight I am reminded of Truth. That my Heavenly Father doesn't condemn me but loves me unconditionally through the ugly I am struggling with. Through whatever you have struggled with in 2013. It's a NEW YEAR! Full of HOPE! Repent and start over! His mercies are new. Let your burden of last year be lifted! Let Go!

Be reminded that HE has thrown your sin far into the depths of the ocean & thinks of them no more.

It's a NEW YEAR! HE has compassion, runs toward me, and celebrates as I repent and start anew!

 Luke 15:18-24 
  ¹⁸ I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ ²⁰ So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
²¹ “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
²² “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³ Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. ²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

Pray that HE would reveal truth in your life today & throughout 2014 too!

It's a new year. Ask for forgiveness and let go of the past. Run into His arms with excitement as it's a new year & a new you!  

Parenting vs. Ministering

The Ladies Bible study started at our church yesterday!  I didn’t sleep well the night before because I was excited to see what God was going to do.  Our pastor’s wife delivered the introduction to our new topic.  The room was filled with ladies three different times. With so many ladies you can be sure childcare was also filled. 

 image found here: google search

Our youngest, Hope (she is our seventh grader) came in to Bible study as school finished.  She was quick to ask the director of the study how childcare went.  She told Hope that there was a high amount of children and a low amount of volunteers.  Hope, without hesitation considered how she could get out of her classes the following week to help the need in childcare.

Her desire to leave school is not because she dislikes school, its because she loves the children and sees her help as valuable.

I love Hope’s perspective and am embarrassed and humbled by my own. She saw a need and offered to minister, to be a servant. She simply tried to find a way to help.

Occasionally, I slow down long enough to hear God’s still voice.  It comes in the form of hearing the same scripture, the same prompt of the Spirit, the same burden over and over throughout a small span of time.  This week I have recognized the repetitive term, “minister.”

I have specifically considered that term as it pertains to my family. It has been easy for me with some sort of “spiritualese” to say, “My family is my ministry.”  However, to look at my husband and think, “how can I minister to him?” or to talk to our children and consider “how can I minister to our children?” revolutionizes my responses to them.

Here is an example of the change of thought.  My oldest daughter called last night to chat about her anxieties over a new job and their only car that can’t seem to get out of the mechanic shop.  There was a shift from, “I need to parent her” to “how can I minister to her.”

Drew (our son in college three states away) later called to “check in.”  Again, the conversation changed when I altered my mind from mentally parenting him to considering how I could minister to him.

Surely, it must be semantics. In the literal picture of Jesus walking through the unpaved, stone scattered paths of Israel.   I see the God-man, look down at His disciples feet.  Maybe He thought as a parent, “boy those are some stinkin’ feet they better get down to the Sea for a scrub.”  I love the picture that Jesus, filled to compassion, grabbed a towel and dropped to His knees to minister to His disciples.

Why did He do it? Although only a guess, but surely He practically saw they needed their feet cleansed.  But He also washed their feet as an example for us, for me.  He lovingly ministered to those He was closest to.

I am realizing I am so close to my family we just “do life to life together.”  You know, the practical everyday household chores.  When in fact, I need to consider how I can minister to each of them.

Will you join me in an all out day of ministry?  A day where we consider looking at our husbands and children through Christ’s eyes and consider how we can minister to each?

John 13: 4 & 5

4So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.