Hailing the New Year

It's 2011 folks.

A LOT is going to happen this year. I feel like for the last, well, I guess 17 years I have at least sort of know what life is going to be like for me in the coming year. This year is different, God is doing some crazy things in the lives of my family.

This post is really more of a journal than anything but in this year I plan to:

*Graduate from highschool.* Oh. My. Word. In some ways I am so ready and in other ways it seems surreal and terrifying.

*Go somewhere away from my hometown to work over the summer.* (I love my town--love it. But the college I plan to attend is in the same town I've grown up in, so I need to get away in the summers.)

*Start college.* ahhhhhhhhhhh.

*Begin attending a new church.* Okay, this is the biggy. And the real reason I started this post. I have talked a little about the church we are currently attending. My pastor and worhship leader and several others had had this vision of planting a church together for many years. Four years ago, they planted a daughter church out of my old church, and our family was one of several who left the old church to be a part of the new one. It was difficult for me at first, but after a few months I was happier than I'd ever been in my life, had more and better friends than I'd ever had in my life, had a totally new understanding and appreciation for worship, was learning more about the Word than I ever had in my life, and was entirely surrounded by wonderful, wise, missions-minded, people. And its been fantastic. The ways in which my family has grown and the Lord has enirched our lives are truly mind boggling.

Before the church began God called our congregation to be peculiar in that, instead of growing and building a huge building, to plant other churches. We just never anticipated it to be this soon. We probably have about 300 or 400 members, and the Lord has made a way for us to fufill the vision He called us to. He has provided us with a second location as well as the most amazing pastor for the plant. It's time.

My pastor was speaking yesterday about how much harder it is to do missions when we are comfortable and content. And boy, are we content. Everyone of us is mourning what we are losing, because we are so happy. I literally don't think there was a dry eye at church yesterday. But he went on to explain how perfect it was that God had chosen this time for us, just after advent, because the incarnation of Christ truly is the Lord going on mission. Christ left home- a perfect home. He left fellowship and communion- a perfect communion with the Trinity. He was content, but He came. For us. That we might be like Him.

He also explained that missions work is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions will come to an end, when the trumpet sounds mission work will be over. But Worship is eternal. We go on mission to make worshipers. Just as Christ did.

I have never been a part of a body, school, church or otherwise where the entire aim was missional. Literally everything about the philosophy and identity of the church is centered around spreading the gospel. Bringing darkness to light. Advancing the kingdom. Because we aren't stopping with one church plant. Now there are two churches who are intent on planting churches as soon as God provides the opportunity. Its a multiplication concept. Its a world vision concept, because the first two churches will be in suburbia in the Bible belt. But the next will hopefully be in the inner city. And then maybe in a muslim community. And maybe all over our state. And our country. And maybe in Ethiopia.

I know church planting isn't a new concept- The Lord is stirring this same vision in many churches across the globe today- maybe in your own. But it isn't new. The concept of church planting goes back to the early churches in the new testament. I'm just zealous about it because I'm watching the Lord's promises come to life. Its painful. Its hard. And it is the work of the Lord.

"I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

~Matthew 16:18~

I am really going to miss this place.

Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Christmas

The Christmas Eve service was as wonderful as anticipated-- I have never had more respect for our pastor as he managed to deliver a powerful message in the midst of pretty much non-stop child-wailing. I honestly think somebody or other's baby was crying all night. But it was still lovely. Afterwords we came home andddddddddd...

Made Christmas cookies! My wonderful Mother made me that apron- it was my 'open on Christmas Eve' gift.

Sisters.

Festive yumminess.

Daddy makin' breakfast, which was delicious!

Joseph and Michael looking at Mez's new coloring book.

Julia inherited LG's bike for Christmas, she was SO excited.

Five Stockings. (which had already been emptied by the time I took the picture).

I got this awesome candle lantern... and felt fierce in the morning snow with it... mwahaha.

As well as a sewing machine! I have been blessed this year by several women endeavoring to teach me how to sew (let me tell you, not an easy undertaking, precision is not really my thing), in particular the girl who I wrote about a couple posts ago. I am so excited to have my own machine! So far I've made a headband and a book mark...okay, don't jude, I'm learning!

Michael LOVES dinosaurs. And he LOVES coloring. This book made his Christmas.

Awkward angle- but on Christmas day the snow flakes that fell were so amazing. They weren't just normal balls of fluff-- I mean, we don't get much snow, but I've only seen it like this once or twice ever, every little flake was so intricate and deltailed. The perfect little crystals were orderly and unique, and tiiiiny! It was a beautiful reminder of the craftsmanship and love of the our Creator and definitely one of my favorite gifts of the day. It was also the first white Christmas I have ever seen!

Lela Grace age 11.

Cheesy smile.

You can kind of see the detail of the snowflakes more here. Seriously, it was breathtaking. (I am a teensy proud of this picture, I am NOT a photographer, but I like the way it turned out. 'Course, I had a pretty awesome subject to capture:)

Merry Christmas! Have a blessed Epiphany Season as Christmas draws to a close on the sixth.

"For God so loved the COSMOS that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

~John 3:16~

Christmas CD

If you are looking for new Christmas music or a fabulous gift for a friend or family member, LOOK NO FURTHER!

Aaaaaaaaaaaand I sound like a cheesy add.

But for real, Nathan Clark George's new Christmas Cd 'Still' is currently my favorite cd! My parent's got it at a church leadership meeting a few nights ago (Mr. George and his family recently moved here and have begun attending our church) and I have listened to the whole thing probably 30 times. I am not exaggerating. I took it to the home of the family I was babysitting for because I couldn't be parted from it for whole day. :)

(Isn't he just basically edible?! Sorry, I just couldn't resist inserting some cuteness into you day. I get to play with him all day tomorrow too! So excited.)

(We had fun)

Back to the CD: There are some original compositions, some traditional carols, and some very obscure carols which used to be more a part of the church repertoire. It is seriously lovely, and grounded in the Word. Breathtaking. You can hear some samples on his website. My personal favorite of the cd isn't actually on there, but I'll give you a lyric sample:

Tomorrow shall be my dancing day; I would my true love did so chance

To see the legend of my play, to call my true love to my dance.
Then I was born of a virgin sure, of her I took on fleshly substance

Thus I was knit to man's nature to call my true love to my dance.

Chorus: Sing oh! my love, oh! my love, my love

This have I done for my true love.

In manger laid and wrapped was I so very poor this was my chance

betwixt and ox and sillly poor ass to call my true love to my dance

For thirty peices Judas me sold, his coventous far to advance:

Mark whom I kiss the same do hold! The same as he shall lead the dance

(note, the same like Judas--in sin, not Judas himself, I think thats what it means)

Chorus

Then on the cross hanged I was, where there a spear my side did glance

there issued forth both water and blood, the Judged me died to lead the dance.

Then down to hell I took my way, for my true love's deliverance

and rose again upon the third day, up to my true love and the dance.

Chorus

Then up to heaven I did ascend, where now I dwell in sure substance,

on the right hand of my Father, that man may come unto the feast and dance.

May come unto the feast and dance.

May come unto the feast and dance.

Sing oh! my love, oh! my love, my love, my love

This have I done for my true love.

Yeah, I kind of melted. Anyway, there you go!

Ps. See that tiny dot under the picture of 'Still'? Well, when I was uploading the pictures I accidently uploaded something wrong but I could NOT make it go away. I accidently delete pictures while writing a post, but I couldn't delete this one for the life of me. So I just made it very very tiny.

What I've been doing of late...

A very newsie post with losts of out of order pictures. Oh well, better than nothing:)

We actually got snow before Christmas this year! Usually we don't see much of any until January or February, but on Sunday when we came out of the Lessons and Carols service it was coming down and we got about 3 inches! So fun, two of my friends got snowed in (it was pretty icy) and the next day we made this work of art (after I got home from where I had been snowed in). At the time it was a good idea. In retrospect I feel like we are probably scaring neighborhood children.... I blame Calvin and Hobbes.

Julia being a little beauty in the snow. Sorry I can't figure out how to turn the picture!

About a month ago we produced Thorton Wilder's Our Town at school, I played Emily and it was SOOOO much fun.

A couple weeks ago my friend who works with the B*ntu people invited me over to eat lunch with one of the B*ntu families. It was incredible and I really loved getting to know this sweet family better. I met the girl in pink, F*, at two summers ago and I really really love her, so is so amazing. I've met 3 of her brothers, and it was so fun to meet her gorgeous little sister A* (in the red) and her mother and sister in law and precious little nephew! Ministry to the muslim community was never something I went looking for or saw myself being apart of. Just another example of how much bigger God's plans are than ours! My experiences with them have enriched my life so much and I can't wait to continue seeing the way God works on their behalf.

On Sunday night I went over to babysit a precious baby girl who I love so much and got snowed in! It was so fun! We made cookies and just had a generally festive time with the snow falling all around. I am so blessed by this family. Raechel has become my mentor and friend, she is so amazing and has (along with a couple other adorable mommies I know, including my own) sparked a love of motherhood in homemaking in me. If you all aren't already in relationship with women older than you in your church--- DO IT, because it is the biggest blessing ever.

Weeeeell, that is all I got for now. My friend Lizzie got home safely at 11:00 the other night and I got to be at the airport to see the team come in! So fun! She brought me back a scarf from Istanbul that I am basically in love with....

Merry Christmas to all, treasure your blessings this season!

Lizzie and I at B*ntu camp two years ago.

Sooo, I had good intentions of writing this post last week. Obviously, that didn't happen. :)

My dear friend Lizzie is about to head home from a mission trip to Iraq. Iraq.

Does that boggle any one else's mind? She has been in the heart of this Islamic country ministering to the Muslim community with an organization called Servant Group International at a classical Christian School there. I am amazed at her courage and compassion, this can't be an easy place to minister. She is such an inspiration and encouragment to me, as well as being that girl who gets your serious moods and your crazy moods. Good to have around.

Lizzie with some of the girls at B*ntu camp last summer. She is so good with them and I'm sure working with them helped prepare her for this trip.

So, if you think of it, please pray for Lizzie and the team as they fly home and that their work would forever change them and the people they met. Thanks! Have a blessed week!

I am loosing the art of simplicity. I am loosing the ability to hear.

I have been raised and trained to think critically from a Biblical worldview. Its been amazing and I loved every second of it until I sort of hit a wall. I started making connections I didn't want to make, I started answering my own questions before I stopped to ponder and pray. I started listening to my own brain rattle on inside my head instead of letting the Spirit of the Lord fill me.

I don't know where I fell off. I'm loosing my passion for missions, all I want to do these days is move out to a little farm somewhere and do nothing but read and sleep and eat and look out the window.

I'm feeling crazy and confused and bitter and broken and trapped.

Oh Lord, enable me to live and breathe the passage: "Be still and know that I am God."

Goodbye Eight Family!

The "Eight Family" moved out Saturday night. We have had such an amazing time with them and love them so much. We've all grown in the Lord by being together and we have a new and more beautiful understanding of community. We even have a nickname (a combination of our two last names) and are thinking about sending out a joint Christmas card, just for fun.