If you were at church this morning, then you may remember Jim preaching on the parable of the soil. Before church started I had already been thinking of all that happened this year, Chad lost his job in April, Katie ran away right before school started, we moved even though Chad and I had both said "this is it, we will be here forever."
Not a great year on the surface.
And I "disconnected", first from God, and little by little from church and the people there. I'm comfortable with the word "disconnected" but this morning sitting in church I realized that the words that would be more truthful were "shallow roots".
That just stings, thinking my roots are shallow!
"Disconnect" seems like the decision is a choice, I could choose to stay connected but I choose to disconnect. Disconnecting may not be the best decision but it still puts the power in my hands.
"Shallow roots" on the other hand reveals that at heart, it's not my choice, it's the culmination of my choices leading up to the storm. My roots are shallow because I'm not taking enough time to let God grow me up, through His word.
Thankfully, at least I have some roots! Many of you have kept me from withering away by throwing some water my way. I wilted but didn't die. We can help each but at the end of the day, only God can truly provide the water we need.
This year may have caused more than just me to realize that our roots aren't as deep as we need them to be. Let's decide together to make 2010 the year our roots become so deep that no matter what 2010 holds we will prosper!
Not a great year on the surface.
And I "disconnected", first from God, and little by little from church and the people there. I'm comfortable with the word "disconnected" but this morning sitting in church I realized that the words that would be more truthful were "shallow roots".
That just stings, thinking my roots are shallow!
"Disconnect" seems like the decision is a choice, I could choose to stay connected but I choose to disconnect. Disconnecting may not be the best decision but it still puts the power in my hands.
"Shallow roots" on the other hand reveals that at heart, it's not my choice, it's the culmination of my choices leading up to the storm. My roots are shallow because I'm not taking enough time to let God grow me up, through His word.
Thankfully, at least I have some roots! Many of you have kept me from withering away by throwing some water my way. I wilted but didn't die. We can help each but at the end of the day, only God can truly provide the water we need.
This year may have caused more than just me to realize that our roots aren't as deep as we need them to be. Let's decide together to make 2010 the year our roots become so deep that no matter what 2010 holds we will prosper!
Yesterday I woke up thinking about the people who might be struggling this year. Meghan works at Hands and Feet, so I decided I would go through my cabinets and send some extra food with her. I filled up two bags of groceries. I even went back and took out my favorite pancake mix (Chocolate Chip) with the Aunt Jemima. I felt so happy...I was doing my part to help.
When I got to Hands and Feet there were a couple of people already standing outside the door waiting to get in. I went in and Carrie was talking to the volunteer about how the process works. I'm carrying in my two bags with a smile, I make a few jokes with Ed and then I picked up on Carrie's conversation, she was saying they "will more than likely run out of food."
I look at the shelves and there is food on the shelves, how could they run out? Did they forget it was Thanksgiving?? All of a sudden I realize that my two bags of food was given out of plenty, all I did was give what I had too much of. I realized at that moment I was a hypocrite.
I didn't really get it, there are people in our neighborhoods, who are hungry. I looked at the food they are giving out, and its not high end goodies! You would have to be desperate to stand in line, and then receive a bag of food that many of us wouldn't buy for ourselves.
As I stood outside talking to Carrie and Ed, I saw their faces as they went in, and I realized I was being given a chance to make a difference in someone's life today. If I am willing to get out of my little world, and see people in their need.
I called Chad after I left and we went over and bought some canned foods, macroni and cheese, cookies. Just kinda what ever caught our eye. We took it back to Hands and Feet and the line had grown, and the shelves were looking bare. So back to the grocery store we went, and when I took it back to Hands and Feet, I finally felt like for the day I had actually gave to the point where I was out my own little cabinets and felt like God smiled.
But you know what, Friday more people will be there and more food will be needed. I know many of you are doing a great job of helping, I know our church has stepped up and is helping in huge ways.
However, I'm talking to the people who might be in the same place as I am, I care but I don't CARE. You know what the cure is, to look at people in the face and realize, we are the hands and feet of Christ, but if we keep our hands in our pockets, we miss the joy of knowing we were involved in what God is doing! And someone may go hungry who we could have helped.
Come by on Friday between 10 and 12 or Saturday between 10 and 12, and look. Then see what God wants you to do.
When I got to Hands and Feet there were a couple of people already standing outside the door waiting to get in. I went in and Carrie was talking to the volunteer about how the process works. I'm carrying in my two bags with a smile, I make a few jokes with Ed and then I picked up on Carrie's conversation, she was saying they "will more than likely run out of food."
I look at the shelves and there is food on the shelves, how could they run out? Did they forget it was Thanksgiving?? All of a sudden I realize that my two bags of food was given out of plenty, all I did was give what I had too much of. I realized at that moment I was a hypocrite.
I didn't really get it, there are people in our neighborhoods, who are hungry. I looked at the food they are giving out, and its not high end goodies! You would have to be desperate to stand in line, and then receive a bag of food that many of us wouldn't buy for ourselves.
As I stood outside talking to Carrie and Ed, I saw their faces as they went in, and I realized I was being given a chance to make a difference in someone's life today. If I am willing to get out of my little world, and see people in their need.
I called Chad after I left and we went over and bought some canned foods, macroni and cheese, cookies. Just kinda what ever caught our eye. We took it back to Hands and Feet and the line had grown, and the shelves were looking bare. So back to the grocery store we went, and when I took it back to Hands and Feet, I finally felt like for the day I had actually gave to the point where I was out my own little cabinets and felt like God smiled.
But you know what, Friday more people will be there and more food will be needed. I know many of you are doing a great job of helping, I know our church has stepped up and is helping in huge ways.
However, I'm talking to the people who might be in the same place as I am, I care but I don't CARE. You know what the cure is, to look at people in the face and realize, we are the hands and feet of Christ, but if we keep our hands in our pockets, we miss the joy of knowing we were involved in what God is doing! And someone may go hungry who we could have helped.
Come by on Friday between 10 and 12 or Saturday between 10 and 12, and look. Then see what God wants you to do.
I had high hopes for some snow this week! I would love to see about 3 inches of snow. Nothing (to me) is any prettier than the ground covered with snow. It always makes me think of that song about us being washed as white as snow.
At the same time, as I was hoping for snow, in the back of my head I was thinking about how it seems like if we have a weather event it is a weather EVENT! While 3 inches would be great, I could just see it turning into 30 inches and no power!
Yesterday just made me ready for spring! It was beautiful!
I hope you all are having a good weekend, with hopes of snow or without!
Jenny
At the same time, as I was hoping for snow, in the back of my head I was thinking about how it seems like if we have a weather event it is a weather EVENT! While 3 inches would be great, I could just see it turning into 30 inches and no power!
Yesterday just made me ready for spring! It was beautiful!
I hope you all are having a good weekend, with hopes of snow or without!
Jenny
Last night was wonderful! It was so fun and inspiring to be with such a diverse group. They talked a little about how what we were doing was like a little slice of heaven. Which it was, but at the same time I happened to see Roy and Michelle out of the corner of my eye, and it stuck me that all the people they are reaching will be there too. Then in front of me, I could see Scott and Holly, and thought of all of those people too. I can imagine it just a little bit better now but the reality is going to be awesome!
A couple of things that just stuck out to me personally were:
When one of the preachers said while we may be in a recession God never recedes! In my mind, I turned that phrase round and round, just running through different Scriptures, and he is right! God always goes forward with His plan even when the "human" plan at the time seems to be going in a different direction. Application wise I took that as which am I doing? Receding or proceeding?
The other was when one of them said we have seen denominationalism (is that the right word??) fall. I can home and told Chad, I can remember when it was so important what kind of church you went to. That defined you to a large extent. It also gave hypocrisy a huge leap, as we acted like we were on board but lived another way. Now, the church at large is more in tune with what really matters, Jesus, and showing more grace on the preferences. Amazing that we are the generation to experience it!
So how about you? What struck you heart?
A couple of things that just stuck out to me personally were:
When one of the preachers said while we may be in a recession God never recedes! In my mind, I turned that phrase round and round, just running through different Scriptures, and he is right! God always goes forward with His plan even when the "human" plan at the time seems to be going in a different direction. Application wise I took that as which am I doing? Receding or proceeding?
The other was when one of them said we have seen denominationalism (is that the right word??) fall. I can home and told Chad, I can remember when it was so important what kind of church you went to. That defined you to a large extent. It also gave hypocrisy a huge leap, as we acted like we were on board but lived another way. Now, the church at large is more in tune with what really matters, Jesus, and showing more grace on the preferences. Amazing that we are the generation to experience it!
So how about you? What struck you heart?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
About Me
- Jenny
- I'm a mom to 3 girls, who I'm crazy about! I'm married to my High School sweetie and now my daughter is the age I was when I first met him! Unbelieveable! I'm trying harder and harder to make Jesus the complete center of my life, and you all help me in more ways than you know!
Subscribe To Blog
Posts
All Comments
