Practice what I'm talking about

We had a church meeting last night and it came up that we need to be inviting more people who cross our path to church. I've been feeling like I need to be bold in asking people where they are at. Tonight we went to pick up the swing set and the woman who had the garage sale and I got talking. She was so nice and we had a lot in common. She's trying to get her kids out of a school system and into another. I asked her where they went to church. She said they wanted to find a Presbyterian church but her kids would like a more contemporary service. I told her about Fresh Start and about how we incorporate kids into the service but they also have their own time which is something she wanted for her kids. I told her the time we start and that we'd love to come and check it out. She said they really wanted to find a Presbyterian church. I told her about a church on the east side of Kalamazoo. I'm always amazed at how open people are about where they are with Church. I think it's really in our mind that people don't want to connect with God. Why are we so stuck in thinking people don't want what we have. It's the best thing ever, having a relationship with God. I encourage you to just step out there. People are more open than you might think. I'm not sure that this woman will ever come to our church but the point should be that she reconnects with God.

A girls night out

Tonight Paul wasn't feeling good so Alexandra and I decided to go to a special worship night at Fresh start. She was so eager to go that I decided to run some errands before we went to church. We went to Meijer and got some food, then Walgreens for some medicine for Paul and Candy for us! Then we stopped at Beaners for a strawberry creme freeze AKA a Smoothie. It was so much FUN! Alexandra and I talked and she was so excited to just be with me and stop at all the stores. The candy and smoothie helped of course. She's at an age where she can buckle herself and walk by herself and I don't have to be worried about her running into traffic. It was a really nice night. We worshiped together, we danced and when she got tired (although she wouldn't admit it) we came home. I hope she remembers this night as much as I know I will.

What kind of Friend/Christian are you?

Ever since I went to the women's weekend a few weeks ago I've been struck by what kind of friends I have. I've also heard a lot of stories lately from people who have been hurt or rejected by the church or people in the church. This just breaks my heart. I've been through some hurt as well from people in the church so in some sense I can understand but I have also had a lot of people who have been there with me as I walked through that pain and have accepted me for who I am and where I'm at. Not everyone is like that. I want to be the kind of Christian that walks through the hard stuff with people. I don't want anyone to feel the way I did and there shouldn't be anything that separates from each other. I can't imagine walking through my pain without friends like Jan and Jack Bishop, my friend Jennifer, Albert and Wendy Dumois and my husband. All those I mentioned have sat with me as I cried and tried to work through what happened. I want to be that for someone else. I also don't want to abandon people when they go through tough times. I think about people that I don't go to church with anymore. We don't see them as much but If they really needed me I'd be there for them as much as I could. I think about the people I mentioned above. Circumstances might draw us apart, but if they needed me I'd be there for them.
Putting this out there for the world to see, now allows you to hold me accountable. If you see or hear of me not holding to what I've said you have my permission to call me on it, in Love of course!

Life Influencers

I had the opportunity to have breakfast this morning to honor a friend of ours from Church. She's moving with her family to Wisconsin and she'll be greatly missed. Not only did I enjoy just being around her but she influenced me greatly, probably more than she knows. Everyone needs someone in their life who they can relate to and who can speak things to them that are of great encouragement. This woman told me that on the days when it's really hard being a mom of 3 under 4 that this is the worst. It only gets better from here. The kids get older, do more for themselves, etc. That made me feel like I was doing pretty good. So on the days when it's really bad I remind myself that this is the worst, and it doesn't seem so bad. One other thing I really appreciate about this woman is that we have similar philosophies about child raising and that she's out there. She puts her emotions and feelings out there and throws caution to the wind when sharing with others. I love that! I want to surround myself with more people like her, so that's why I'll miss her so much!