Ok this is the last post for the day:
On another note, can I just tell you how much I love my church family, I know I keep saying that, but I am just overflowing with this feeling, so I have to say. . They are amazing. I had the opportunity to spend quality time with several people this weekend, to both be blessed and to be a blessing to someone else. It was awesome. That is not to say that everything is always perfect just like with any family there are ups and downs, but what I love about the people I have encountered so far is that the focus is "righting" whatever wrong there is. So someone gets angry or offended, but we come together and show each other the love and forgiveness that Christ showed us..its marvelous..
A couple of the girls and I are reading this intresting book by eckart Tolle - called a New Earth: Awaking to your life's purpose. Now I am by no means promoting the book but it has some good and some not so good points. Oprah has really skyrocketted this guys success by endorsing his book, 150%. She even has space on her site for him and some study group information. Anyway, I used to be a person who wouldn't read this book because it seemed too "New Age-ey" But I am so much more open and I have tons less righteous indignation. Anyway, my boy Eckart is not goign to win the "Christian of the Month" award - I am not sure he even is, but his book does cause me pause to look at "the flesh" - he calls it the ego and to really understand my motivations for doing things. Also how much of life we build on thoughts, how much power we give the wrong ones. Now Eckart would say don't give power to any thought, but don't agree with that. If my thought lines up with God's Word, then it already has power, I just need to release my faith and line myself up with that and pay no heed to the negative ones.. oh it sounds so easy...lol..
Back on topic..we get together weekly to discuss this and I am really enjoying that - looking at it from a Christian perspective and collectively discussing then dismissing the stuff we don't agree with. Anyway, we are on Chapter 5 now.
God is so faithful, this year on Easter I was pretty sad and lonely..feeling sorry for myself, because i felt I had no family here. Sat night I was at the house of a member of my church family and I talked about this desire I had to have somewhere to go after church and a sense of family - not just to go home and stare at buddy and the tv. I made my request known to God and He as always really came through.I realize that I pretty much always have some type of fellowship when I leave church and its wonderful.
Anyway, I am going to walk buddy, handle some laundry and try to go to bed early to beat this little summer cold I have.
-S
Showing posts with label Living Word Family Church. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Living Word Family Church. Show all posts
Monday, July 21, 2008
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
The Helen Wright Center - Laundry Day!
I like to reread my blogs and I realized before I left for Brazil that I mentioned I would post an entry about the ladies at the Helen Wright Center. About a month or so ago, while my church family was doing the second phase of updaes to the Helen Wright Center we spent some time with the ladies.
The Helen Wright Center (HWC) is downtown Raleigh, it is a trasitional home for woman who are homeless to help them get on their feet and into a home. They have a great program there. LWFC - my church has been doing some updates to the HWC. Last year we were unscrooged and we updated the bathrooms..well not me exactly..i did volunteer one day, but I digress.. we fixed a leak and some ceiling tiles so they could open up an extra bed that wasn't able to be occupied because of the leak. During a renovation day, we took some of the ladies out on a spa day. That was fun, although I only participated for the brunch, I heard they had a BALL!
So a little background..
The Helen Wright Center (HWC) is downtown Raleigh, it is a trasitional home for woman who are homeless to help them get on their feet and into a home. They have a great program there. LWFC - my church has been doing some updates to the HWC. Last year we were unscrooged and we updated the bathrooms..well not me exactly..i did volunteer one day, but I digress.. we fixed a leak and some ceiling tiles so they could open up an extra bed that wasn't able to be occupied because of the leak. During a renovation day, we took some of the ladies out on a spa day. That was fun, although I only participated for the brunch, I heard they had a BALL!
If you are interested here is some info on this..
http://www.growingourcommunity.blogspot.com/
So we are in phase 2 now and we had another day with the ladies.. that reminds me I need to find my memory card from my phone because I took pic..ugh..i hope I didn't leave it in brazil.. I swapped out phones because my phone was grey and they came out with a new snazzy red model..I hope I took out the memory card..ok back to the story..ANYWAY.. we took the ladies on this day to the laundry mat in Wake Forest and paid for them to do their laundry. While we were there, I had a chance to sit and chat it up with some of the ladies. Some of them are really trying to make a difference in their life and using this opportunity to the fullest. My heart was warmed by their testimonies. I really bonded with a couple of the ladies.
THen we went for pizza.. I have gone back there since because between it and a place in RTP it is the closest to reminding me of pizza from NY..yum.. They enjoyed the pizza. Then we went to see Meet the Browns. We had sooo much fun at the movies, cutting up. In the lobby of the movie there was a cardboard cutout from the movie Made of Honor with Patrick Dempsy, any it was him and he had his arm wrapped around a woman, but thhe face was cut out, so you could stick you face in there and they said on a sign somewhere to take a picture. I didn't have my camera, but I had my handy dandy phone with pretty good camera in it - I love my job! So I decided to do a little testing on the camera. Some of the ladies acted all "No I don't want to take a picture" initially, but by the end, EVERYONE was trying to make sure they got their photos..please pray with me that I can find that memory card. I have like 3 in my desk, plus I think one in my phone. Hope the pics are on one of them.
Anyway..Sunday several of the ladies came to church..I was soo excited to see them and that they had a desire to hear God's word!! I pray that they get plugged in somewhere at a bible-based church - it doesn't necessarily have to be LWFC.. of course we would love to have them. Anwyay, I didn't get to go back with them to the HWC after the movies because I had some errands and then I had to serve at Sat night service. WHen they got back to the HWC they were presented with some nice toiletry type gifts, towels, lotion body wash, etc.. I was sorry I missed that.
The ladies were so appreciative but God really gets all the Glory in this..it felt SO good to be a part of that. I am looking forward to a time when my full time job is community focused. One day..in God's timing.
Off topic..I was also going to talk about this conversation my girls and I were having about men and relationships in another blog but not 100% sure about that. Ehh..I am going to do that one next.. stay tuned.. oh and I met this guy i like..but I am not sure how much of that is blog fodder. I will have to give that a think, in case some how or another he stumbles on this..
So we are in phase 2 now and we had another day with the ladies.. that reminds me I need to find my memory card from my phone because I took pic..ugh..i hope I didn't leave it in brazil.. I swapped out phones because my phone was grey and they came out with a new snazzy red model..I hope I took out the memory card..ok back to the story..ANYWAY.. we took the ladies on this day to the laundry mat in Wake Forest and paid for them to do their laundry. While we were there, I had a chance to sit and chat it up with some of the ladies. Some of them are really trying to make a difference in their life and using this opportunity to the fullest. My heart was warmed by their testimonies. I really bonded with a couple of the ladies.
THen we went for pizza.. I have gone back there since because between it and a place in RTP it is the closest to reminding me of pizza from NY..yum.. They enjoyed the pizza. Then we went to see Meet the Browns. We had sooo much fun at the movies, cutting up. In the lobby of the movie there was a cardboard cutout from the movie Made of Honor with Patrick Dempsy, any it was him and he had his arm wrapped around a woman, but thhe face was cut out, so you could stick you face in there and they said on a sign somewhere to take a picture. I didn't have my camera, but I had my handy dandy phone with pretty good camera in it - I love my job! So I decided to do a little testing on the camera. Some of the ladies acted all "No I don't want to take a picture" initially, but by the end, EVERYONE was trying to make sure they got their photos..please pray with me that I can find that memory card. I have like 3 in my desk, plus I think one in my phone. Hope the pics are on one of them.
Anyway..Sunday several of the ladies came to church..I was soo excited to see them and that they had a desire to hear God's word!! I pray that they get plugged in somewhere at a bible-based church - it doesn't necessarily have to be LWFC.. of course we would love to have them. Anwyay, I didn't get to go back with them to the HWC after the movies because I had some errands and then I had to serve at Sat night service. WHen they got back to the HWC they were presented with some nice toiletry type gifts, towels, lotion body wash, etc.. I was sorry I missed that.
The ladies were so appreciative but God really gets all the Glory in this..it felt SO good to be a part of that. I am looking forward to a time when my full time job is community focused. One day..in God's timing.
Off topic..I was also going to talk about this conversation my girls and I were having about men and relationships in another blog but not 100% sure about that. Ehh..I am going to do that one next.. stay tuned.. oh and I met this guy i like..but I am not sure how much of that is blog fodder. I will have to give that a think, in case some how or another he stumbles on this..
Here is a picture of me with the ladies..
(sigh) Ya know, I came into my rec room to check my email and then I was supposed to start reading this book. Then i got caught up on this computer... I am getting offline.. now..
Friday, February 29, 2008
The Church We See
I have to say listening to those messages (The Church We See series0 was life changing for me. God through that message spoke to me about area's of my life that need improvement, things I had put on the shelf that I need to take off. I will also say I am a BIG audio book person. I love a good book on CD. I have gotten a couple of self help and some spiritual material on CD, but I never finished it. But this message, I found myself feeling like i do when i have a good book on CD; when i get about halfway through, I begin dreading reaching the last CD Becuase i dont want it to end. I actually had an attitude today, when the last message was finished, so I started listening to the 8th CD over again. I can't wait until Sat night, so i can get to the bookstore and get something else..oh i just had an epiphany..brb..
BACK..nevermind on that, i went to the church website to see..oh wait.. OK I am back for real now, i originally went to the website to see what "free" messages they had available. they only have the last 3 or so. i already have 2 of the 3 on CD, plus that is not enough anyway. Then i went to the bookstore section and LOW and BEHOLD...I found a BUNCH of messgaes..yeah..
i can download them and get them on my mp3 player (sigh) I am pleased as punch..OK back to original topic "Last Day"...
BACK..nevermind on that, i went to the church website to see..oh wait.. OK I am back for real now, i originally went to the website to see what "free" messages they had available. they only have the last 3 or so. i already have 2 of the 3 on CD, plus that is not enough anyway. Then i went to the bookstore section and LOW and BEHOLD...I found a BUNCH of messgaes..yeah..
i can download them and get them on my mp3 player (sigh) I am pleased as punch..OK back to original topic "Last Day"...
Monday, January 14, 2008
One..Communion..Ready-Aim-Fire
So This weekend my pastors started a new Message called One where they discussing the vision of the church and unity in the Body of Christ.
On a side note, I did taught JKC at our Saturday night and I got a CD of the message. I listed to the message Sat night while i was driving to and from a friends house. But I still felt funny on Sunday morning not going to church. I felt almost like I was doing something wrong. I am over that now.. I did go to the 6pm Prayer and Praise service on Sunday night, so I felt better. But I am sure I will get over it. Because from now on Saturday night is my preferable service.
OK back on topic...Sat. night Pastor Steve used the analogy of "Ready... Aim... Fire" of a gun to how we do things in life. "Ready" we gather our resources/ideas , "Aim" determine our vision/mission and "Fire" execute or deliver on what you set out to do.
He talked about how people often don't go through all 3 steps, the will get stuck in one or two steps. I thought about this as I was driving along and I have say in the past, I was more of a Ready-Aim-Fire, but I will usually only do that once and then quit. i won't continue to look at my goals and execute on them, nope I have moved onto the next thing.
So I think about my goals, I sat and I thought about 2007 and how I wanted 2008 to be different and that I was going to do something about it. ("ready"), then I wrote down what I was looking to accomplish - my missions , located in earlier entry, see "goals..goals..goals" ("aim"), and now I am doing the work of executing on them ("fire"). But one of my goals is live a life that is pleasing to God. That in of it self says that there will be more things that I will need to focus on as time goes on... A consistent "Ready... Aim... Fire" for the year. He mentioned other thigns, but it was a good Word.
Pastor Connie taught last night @ 6pm on Communion. She talked about some really powerful things. For me what I found that was really interesting is when she talked about how Christ's blood washes away all of our sins. The sins we have committed against others as well as those that have been committed against us. That in that we are made new and those sins are forgiven and forgotten. She likened them to dreams they are in our head - no need to act on them. I am learning to let go. Of the things I have done to others and to the things that have been done to me. It is very freeing..
On a side note, I did taught JKC at our Saturday night and I got a CD of the message. I listed to the message Sat night while i was driving to and from a friends house. But I still felt funny on Sunday morning not going to church. I felt almost like I was doing something wrong. I am over that now.. I did go to the 6pm Prayer and Praise service on Sunday night, so I felt better. But I am sure I will get over it. Because from now on Saturday night is my preferable service.
OK back on topic...Sat. night Pastor Steve used the analogy of "Ready... Aim... Fire" of a gun to how we do things in life. "Ready" we gather our resources/ideas , "Aim" determine our vision/mission and "Fire" execute or deliver on what you set out to do.
He talked about how people often don't go through all 3 steps, the will get stuck in one or two steps. I thought about this as I was driving along and I have say in the past, I was more of a Ready-Aim-Fire, but I will usually only do that once and then quit. i won't continue to look at my goals and execute on them, nope I have moved onto the next thing.
So I think about my goals, I sat and I thought about 2007 and how I wanted 2008 to be different and that I was going to do something about it. ("ready"), then I wrote down what I was looking to accomplish - my missions , located in earlier entry, see "goals..goals..goals" ("aim"), and now I am doing the work of executing on them ("fire"). But one of my goals is live a life that is pleasing to God. That in of it self says that there will be more things that I will need to focus on as time goes on... A consistent "Ready... Aim... Fire" for the year. He mentioned other thigns, but it was a good Word.
Pastor Connie taught last night @ 6pm on Communion. She talked about some really powerful things. For me what I found that was really interesting is when she talked about how Christ's blood washes away all of our sins. The sins we have committed against others as well as those that have been committed against us. That in that we are made new and those sins are forgiven and forgotten. She likened them to dreams they are in our head - no need to act on them. I am learning to let go. Of the things I have done to others and to the things that have been done to me. It is very freeing..
Sunday, January 13, 2008
i love kidz!
last month I attended a brunch @ my church .. (Living Word Family Church) and I sat a table with a great bunch of ladies. One asked me if I was involved in any ministries. At the time I didn't know anyone and I was thinking about joining Special Projects Ministry. Anyway I was asked if I wanted to help out with Jr. KidzChurch, because a volunteer was stepping down. So somehow "sure!" came tumbling out of my mouth... But then I was thinking, Lord, i don't even really like kids like that. But I heard Him telling me to try it, so that's what I decided to do. Oh as an fyi.. Jr. Kidz consists of 4 and 5 year olds.
Well who would have ever known (but God I suppose) how much I would enjoy being a Jr. Kidz Church teacher. I have been so blessed by the children as well as the volunteers in the ministry and parents. The kids, while a handful are delightful and refreshing. The ministry members have been unbelievably kind to me. This week I went to a core group (bible study) which was really awesome I was so blessed and I felt like a part of a big family. Today I found out that my core group members are the parents of some of the kids. Oh and I joined Special projects - they are fantastic and some members of that ministry are parents of the kids as well.
I just have to say.. you never know how your kindness will affect someone. Just a smile or a hug or handshake, or an invitation can be just what someone needs. So many people have done that for me..they have been extensions of God's love for me and i am overjoyed to be on the receiving end of that and I am excited and looking forward to being that extension for someone else. I really love my church..I am blessed to be a part of such a powerful and loving ministry.
Well who would have ever known (but God I suppose) how much I would enjoy being a Jr. Kidz Church teacher. I have been so blessed by the children as well as the volunteers in the ministry and parents. The kids, while a handful are delightful and refreshing. The ministry members have been unbelievably kind to me. This week I went to a core group (bible study) which was really awesome I was so blessed and I felt like a part of a big family. Today I found out that my core group members are the parents of some of the kids. Oh and I joined Special projects - they are fantastic and some members of that ministry are parents of the kids as well.
I just have to say.. you never know how your kindness will affect someone. Just a smile or a hug or handshake, or an invitation can be just what someone needs. So many people have done that for me..they have been extensions of God's love for me and i am overjoyed to be on the receiving end of that and I am excited and looking forward to being that extension for someone else. I really love my church..I am blessed to be a part of such a powerful and loving ministry.
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