Why Sunday Can Be The Most Exhausting Day Of The Week

This has been an exhausting day.

The Good

I was able to counsel a young lady on her recent traumatic breakup with her b/f. I was particularly moved when she shared that since coming to know her now former b/f, she has been pushing God away. Now, she wants to move on and recommit herself to God. So we prayed together that God would honor her desire. We also prayed for the young man, that God will speak into his life and help him stay on the paths of righteousness.

Several of the church family shared that they felt blessed by the children's dance performance. Our pastor actually said he felt the hand of God, which was like, wow. Only God can do that, touch people and give them a sense of His presence. All praise to Him!

We had a special guest all the way from Caroline Springs UCA, who sang two songs in the most stirring baritone: You'll Never Walk Alone and Walk In Faith With God. What was particularly memorable was how he requested after the first song that we not applaud him when he finished the second, but that we silently give God the glory, because he was only using the gift that God had given him. That is Christ-like humility, and I know I was not the only one who was impressed.

Over Family Lunch, I had the opportunity to sound out some of our SS parents on the idea of getting the kids to do some planting of flowers for a church member's garden during the school hols. The parents are receptive and I have sent out an email to confirm the date and time. It will be a wonderful blessing for givers and recipient to experience both sides of "It is more blessed to give than to receive". And of course, it is another opportunity for me to get to know the kids in a different setting.

News of Beth's salvation story has apparently gone around. I was surprised when various people came up to tell me they had heard the good news during Church Council, Elders or some other church-related meeting over the last few days, and they all expressed their delight and joy. It is one of the blessings of belonging to people with whom we share a common faith and common values, that when one rejoices, all rejoice.

Another cause of rejoicing: a couple we have not seen in months are back! The lady had had a fall and needed to be hospitalized, and endured some other health complications as well. Today she was in a wheelchair, while her husband followed protectively with his walker. It is not easy for them to make it to church in their current circumstances, and their commitment and courage certainly put my own petty problems in perspective.

The Bad

I was so focused on getting the kids through their dance performance that I forgot to brief them on what should happen after. So after they streamed out into the foyer and Renee and I said 'Well done', it was near impossible to get them to go back in and sit down for the rest of Family Service. What happened in the end was some of the older ones went back in and sat with their families, while the younger ones (my own two included!) stayed in the foyer to play with Lego.

My pastor's wife tells me he worked very hard on the Family Service program to make sure it had something for every child and adult. That made me feel terrible. Next term I will do better, and include in our SS sessions guidelines on how the kids are expected to conduct themselves in church, particularly on Communion Sundays and Family Services. It is time to bring back the discipline.

The Greatest Prize

I am reeling a little as I re-read my last post from 13 days ago.

When I prayed that our SS children would come to a saving knowledge of Jesus, how could I know that He would answer so soon?

And yet, why should I be surprised?

It was Jesus himself who said to his disciples, "And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."

And what could be closer to God's heart than the eternal future of His children?

For He is "patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).

May Beth's salvation story be the first of many to come in HXUCA, and may God raise up a new generation of believers who will bring the Good News out into the community to the lost, the seeking, the oppressed, the lonely and the enslaved.

Presenting the Gospel to Primary School-aged Children

After some confusion about whether Sunday School is on this Queen's Birthday weekend, the answer is Yes.

The lesson is based on Acts 16:9-16 and the theme is dreams and visions.

I've NO IDEA what I'm going to say or how to present the story; I am waiting on God for inspiration.

However, the exciting bit is: there's going to be an opportunity to present God's offer of salvation to the children!

It's uncanny how our pastor has the same idea as one I've been nourishing in my heart since I started reading Tim LaHaye & Jerry Jenkins' The Rapture this week. Obviously this is a subject that is very close to God's heart, but isn't the timing telling?

In the book, a devout Christian woman and her God-loving son are raptured while her I've-no-time-for-religion pilot husband and brainy-but-bored-with-church teenage daughter are Left Behind.

Beth tells me she is interested in the Left Behind movies, and I plan to get the DVDs from our church bookstore this week so we can watch them together.

This morning, I spent an hour watching a DVD by Creation Ministries: The Origins Of The Modern World - Why It Matters. It's funny that I've had the DVD for eons but never bothered to unwrap it till today. There was so much info to absorb and distill, I could barely jot down half of what the presenter said.

Afterward, I read through the Book of Romans and began to highlight verses I'd never noticed before.

What a cogent, authoritative and persuasive writer Paul is. He would have made the perfect barrister. To think he once persecuted Christians because he believed they were betrayers of the Jewish cause, and then God sent him to preach to the Gentiles! God sure has a sense of humor.

Paul is my favorite NT writer. I just love his writing style. There is so much rhythm and beauty even as he makes his case for Christ.

¹⁶I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

²⁰For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

²¹For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. ²²Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools ²³and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Romans 1:16, 20-21

²⁰Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.

Righteousness Through Faith

²¹But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. ²²This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, ²³for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Romans 3:20-23

¹Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ²through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. ³Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Romans 5:1-5

This chain of events is just a continuation of many conversations Beth and I have had about God, and - I feel - a nudge from God in the direction He wants me to take.

How do we know He exists?
How do you know if you will go to heaven when you die?
What about people who don't know God?
What about babies and pets?
How do you invite Jesus into your heart?

Somewhere in this Sunday's lesson, I need to make time to present the Good News, impress on the children their need for salvation, and invite them to say yes to Jesus. This could be the most important decision of their young lives. I know the angels will be getting ready to shout Hallelujah for every new soul that enters the Kingdom.

I'm so excited!

Bring On The Won Tons

On Hospitality Sunday last month, CA and the girls decided to make won ton soup for the party @ Jane's place.

We were pretty impressed at how hands-on the girls were, and how they kept at it right up till all the minced pork/chestnut/prawn stuffing was used up.

Even the 3 yo, who was doing this for the first time.

Second half of 2010 begins

First day of June. Hello winter.

April was Hospitality Month. We hosted my cousin and his wife, and Calvin's brother, sis-in-law and their child.

I learned not to be too precious with household routines (this-is-how-I-run-my-household), and to give guests the space to be themselves.

I saw my children through other people's eyes. And mostly, I liked what I saw.

April also marked the beginning of a call from God to be more involved in the lives of the primary school children at church.

I have begun teaching Sunday School along with 2 helpers. Each of us has a different focus. Mine is prayer, worship with song, Bible knowledge and encouragement. Renee's is worship through dance and body movement. Jane's is worship through healthy living. No two Sundays are the same and I can honestly say I never know what is going to happen, however prepared I may think I am. I guess it's not just the kids who are doing the learning!

In May, I experimented with social media for business building and networking purposes. I created an FB page to promote my organics business. At this point, I can say it is a truly time-intensive exercise and I don't know how far or how deep I want to go with this. Perhaps I don't yet know enough to leverage it effectively. It certainly hasn't added to my bottom line, but it's heartening to have 47 FB "likes", many of whom are fellow WAHMs.

I created an FB page for my pastor's book, which is also my first book editing project: My Old Man's (A) Mentor. It's at 34 "likes" and I'm thinking of a website next, so that people can buy the book online. Will have to make time to write the copy, or find someone with a successful track record of producing effective sales copy.

I created an FB Group for our Sunday School, accessible only by invitation. This is where I post updates, photos, useful links and videos. Would love to have more SS teachers and church members get on board, esp. parents of SS kids.

And I challenged my introverted self by turning up to a friend's Biggest Morning Tea fundraiser at her home, where she was the only person I knew!

What's my Big Goal for June?

Dare I say this...

It's to find 3 partners for my organics business. I'm learning that network marketing success is about team building as much as it is about getting the products out to the people who want them. So far, my focus has been product sales but I think it's time to think of this as more than a one-man show and to bring in like-minded persons who are seeking similar things in life to me.

I don't even know who these 3 people are or where I am going to find them or how I'm going to achieve this. But I do believe in the Law of Attraction, that you are what you think, and there is power in an intention that is clear, focused and specific and backed by congruent action.

Onwards and upwards...