A Smile for Today

This is a conversation that I overheard today between my girls. . .

Emma (6 years old): "I'm a country girl because I was born in Kentucky."

Claire (4 years old): "Yeah, and I was born in. . . (a very thoughtful moment). . . COSTCO!?

For those of you wondering, she was actually born in Ft. Worth, Texas. Some things are just too cute to correct right away.

On my soapbox. . .

It's not like me to be so troubled by something that it stirs a passion in me that wants to scream out. But today, that very thing happened.

As I was driving today and listening to the local Christian radio station I was deeply bothered by a commercial advertising an upcoming fund raiser that they were planning to sponsor. They want to raise money to build a church in China that would seat 450 people so that the Gospel might continue to be spread. Now don't get me wrong. I'm all for humanitarian work and helping to build Christian community and spread the Gospel. BUT. . . by the power of the Holy Spirit the Gospel is already being spread like wildfire throughout the East - especially in China. I can't imagine that China needs Christian Americans to help them with anything. If anything, we need them to teach us a thing or two about following Christ. In house churches throughout the East pastors are offering to give their life for Christ. Lives are daily being transformed by the hundreds in the purest sense of the word. What do we Americans think - that they need a church building so that they can program out the Christian life as we have? God help us Americans who think that building a church building is what they need. It is brutal of me to say this, but I suggest that China's greater need is for we American's to stay far away. Lord, instead, how about you send some Chinese missionaries to us?

Whoa, was that Amy? I don't talk like that. I don't even think like that. Those thought just surprised me as much as they surprised you (if anybody ever reads them). O well. This blog thing just might be a lot of fun.

TRANSFORMATION

That's my word for the year! I suppose that should be my word for life. For quite a few years now I have had friends who have learned and preached and lived this transformed life. It's not a new idea. It's what the Christian life is supposed to be about - sinful people seeking God, yearning to know him more and be more like him - people wanting God more than anything, ANYTHING else. And as transformation happens there is a natural overflow in our lives that causes us to live this thing called the Kingdom of God. There is a diving into the river that naturally happens as we draw nearer to God. And as we live in the flow of that river we experience life in the way God desires- we experience life and love and God in their purest form. We begin to see our own life in a different way. We want to love people and serve people and make a difference in the world around us as well as the world across the sea from us. Day to day life seems much less overwhelming and much more exciting. Whether or not we are able to "keep up with the Joneses" does not matter. The sweetness of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit is enough - it's ALL.

But I am learning that Transformation does not come in the snap of a finger. Instead I believe it starts out in glimpses - in snapshots - as life happens. As I draw nearer to God he begins to change my thoughts, my heart, my desires. And as life around me happens, though I continue to screw up a lot, I begin to handle a situation in a different manner. I hold my tongue more often. I walk away from temptation more frequently. I praise my children more. I love my husband in a purer way. I catch myself thinking of others like I never have before. I daydream about what God has gifted me to do that can change the world instead of where we might take our next family vacation. And eventually I have to believe that those snapshots will occur more frequently.

I started out this year asking God what this whole TRANSFORMATION thing meant for me. As much as I thought I understood beforehand, I have been amazed as God has taken my heart and my thought processes to a different level on this. God has graciously placed many resources at my fingertips to help me in the journey - Northwood Church and Bob Roberts (he will never know how much his own personal journey of Transformation has impacted mine as I have listened and learned and read from him.) - Bonhoeffer, Larry Crabb, Matt. 5, 6, 7, John Piper, even Steven Curtis Chapman's music. I love it that God speaks in lots of different venues.

So for now, it feels as if the journey is only beginning. God has moved my life and my family's life in such amazing ways already as we have chosen to take steps of faith and follow Him. To say that the journey is only beginning now seems almost crazy. To many, our life has already been one big adventure. But is hasn't. It's been wonderful, but I believe that we have only scratched the surface of the greater plan and bigger story. Who knows what lies ahead. Can't wait!

On your marks, get set, go!

The journey has begun. It is a journey of life and faith and transformation. Life started 30 years ago. Faith came when I was 9 years old. Transformation began when I was in college and will continue until the end. What an exciting journey it has been! And the adventure has only begun. Join me as I tell the ongoing story of my family, church planter wife experiences and all that God is teaching while life happens.