I was reminded this morning of the importance of involvement and serving in the Body of Christ.
Growing up in the same church from the time I was 9 until I turned 27, I became involved in serving when I was 12. While there were brief moments when I was not involved due to my work schedule, for the most part I served at the church for 15 years. In the process of serving, I was fulfilled.
Serving was not only emotionally satisfying, it was also where I built relationships. Every Wednesday evening, Sherry and I would chat between activities with the children. Before I knew it, we were fairly close. A few times a month, I would play bass with the girls for worship. Before I knew it, we would be looking for each other on Sunday mornings.
A few months ago, through a series of events and circumstances, I have been looking for a church to call home. And this morning, it hit me: the reason why I don't feel "at home" in the churches I've visited is quite simply because I am not involved. I haven't invested myself in a home group and I haven't served inside the church either.
Serving and using my strengths will provide me with the opportunity to connect with other members of the church and begin to fulfill my purpose in the Body of Christ. After all, isn't that what we were called for?
December 22, 2010
December 21, 2010
Crying like Crazy
I'm not sure why, but my emotions have been absolutely crazy for the past week! I've been crying at the drop of a hat. Its been insane. And rather annoying since I'm not typically an emotional person!
On another note, I've found a renewed glimmer of hope for my health. I have an MRI scheduled for Thursday morning and there's a surgeon I will meet with after the MRI images have been read by the radiologist. I just hope this doesn't end up leading to more tears!
On another note, I've found a renewed glimmer of hope for my health. I have an MRI scheduled for Thursday morning and there's a surgeon I will meet with after the MRI images have been read by the radiologist. I just hope this doesn't end up leading to more tears!
December 19, 2010
Friends, Rejoicing, and Babies
After a great time with one of my best friends the other night, I drove us back to my house where she had left her car. As we said goodbye, she thanked me for being excited about her pregnancy and the upcoming birth of her first child...
How could I be anything but excited?
She recognizes that I am older than her... and it should be my turn first (or something like that). I will admit - it would be easy to think this way. I should have been married first; I should be the one preparing a baby room. But I'm not and she is. She is expecting a baby while my left hand remains naked. She's right. It would be easy to be upset, disappointed, and hurt. It would be easy to feel left out.
But, again I ask... How could I be anything but excited?
Would it be fair of me to try and take her joy away from her simply because I do not have a joy of my own? Would it be right of me to try and make her feel guilty simply because she has something that I don't? Instead, I think of the great advice from God on this subject...
Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15
This is the way our friendship works. That night, she wept with me as I grieved over my singleness (and finding yet another guy who will not be "the one"). We wiped our tears and hugged. She grieved with me and comforted me. That night, I rejoiced with her as she placed my hand on her stomach to feel the baby kicking. We laughed at her story of her trip up the elevator at work and how a co-worker noticed her entire stomach move with the kick of her baby inside.
I may not have a child inside my barren womb. But I will have the joy of visiting her in the hospital in a few short months. I will be able hold and cuddle with that bundle of joy. I'll have the pleasure of visiting her at home and taking care of the little one while she takes a much needed nap or shower. I'll even change diapers for her.
I am blessed beyond measure. I may not have a ring on my finger and I may not have children of my own. But I have two best friends - one who has already given me three little loves and another who will be giving me a bundle of joy in a few short months. I am blessed because these wonderful friends love me enough to share their joy with me.
Yes, I am blessed and I will rejoice with my friends as they rejoice.
How could I be anything but excited?
She recognizes that I am older than her... and it should be my turn first (or something like that). I will admit - it would be easy to think this way. I should have been married first; I should be the one preparing a baby room. But I'm not and she is. She is expecting a baby while my left hand remains naked. She's right. It would be easy to be upset, disappointed, and hurt. It would be easy to feel left out.
But, again I ask... How could I be anything but excited?
Would it be fair of me to try and take her joy away from her simply because I do not have a joy of my own? Would it be right of me to try and make her feel guilty simply because she has something that I don't? Instead, I think of the great advice from God on this subject...
Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15
This is the way our friendship works. That night, she wept with me as I grieved over my singleness (and finding yet another guy who will not be "the one"). We wiped our tears and hugged. She grieved with me and comforted me. That night, I rejoiced with her as she placed my hand on her stomach to feel the baby kicking. We laughed at her story of her trip up the elevator at work and how a co-worker noticed her entire stomach move with the kick of her baby inside.
I may not have a child inside my barren womb. But I will have the joy of visiting her in the hospital in a few short months. I will be able hold and cuddle with that bundle of joy. I'll have the pleasure of visiting her at home and taking care of the little one while she takes a much needed nap or shower. I'll even change diapers for her.
I am blessed beyond measure. I may not have a ring on my finger and I may not have children of my own. But I have two best friends - one who has already given me three little loves and another who will be giving me a bundle of joy in a few short months. I am blessed because these wonderful friends love me enough to share their joy with me.
Yes, I am blessed and I will rejoice with my friends as they rejoice.
December 18, 2010
migraine
Pounding, piercing pang
Palpitating, pulsating pressure
Pinching, purring pitch
Punctures, punishing pain
Pitching, punching, pummeling
Thrash, throb, thump
Thrust, thunder, throe
Thresh, thrill, throw
Thrum, thankless thud
Thinking threatens, thwack
December 16, 2010
fermentation
I want to hide
Scared to abide
with arms wide
open
Inside I scream
Words unseen
I patch the seam
closed
Masquerade in drapes
(the fruit of grapes)
Vulnerable scrapes
forever
Cry these tears?
Ignore the sneers?
Unveil all fears?
never
Scared to abide
with arms wide
open
Inside I scream
Words unseen
I patch the seam
closed
Masquerade in drapes
(the fruit of grapes)
Vulnerable scrapes
forever
Cry these tears?
Ignore the sneers?
Unveil all fears?
never
December 14, 2010
To be known
Hungering
for companionship
Aching
from solitude
Boldness
portraying confidence
Weeping
to be known
Known
to my deepest depths
Pursued
even when I run
Fulfilled
depths unimaginable
Satisfied
by my Husband, my Maker
for companionship
Aching
from solitude
Boldness
portraying confidence
Weeping
to be known
Known
to my deepest depths
Pursued
even when I run
Fulfilled
depths unimaginable
Satisfied
by my Husband, my Maker
December 12, 2010
Making the Connection
High School was supposed to prepare students for college. And college is supposed to help prepare students for employment. But how are colleges doing this?
Admittedly, colleges are often failing. In college, students learn that they can turn assignments in after the deadline and they still pass the class. They simply get docked 5 points or 10% or whatever the professor has determined. In contrast, if I missed the deadline of sending a file to the bank at my last job... my company could get fined upwards of $5000 and this would likely put my job in jeopardy.
In college, not reading the guidelines on the study guide could greatly effect your grade. But many professors allow you to go back and correct this. However, at my last job, if we didn't follow the guidelines from the Feds, we would be fined $5000 for the first mistake, $10000 for the second mistake, and $15000 for every mistake after! Needless to say, someone would face some serious consequences!
Granted, there are also significant differences. In college, each professor is somewhat like a "boss" (if we're trying to make a parallel). Each professor gives you different tasks to work on (reading, papers, reports, etc.) and each task has its own deadline. If all the deadlines fall on the same day, well, guess what? You better find a way to work it out.
In the corporate world, if there were two big projects coming our way, those projects would be divided among employees so that each person had a manageable work load. Deadlines could be spaced out and would be adjusted as often as possible. An employee typically has only one or two bosses and there is a chain of command in which an employee can appeal to when necessary. This doesn't happen in college.
How well we prepare ourselves for the corporate world is often dependent on the student. Understanding the way that the corporate world connects is helpful in learning the skills necessary while in college. And this disconnect, in my opinion, is the cause for colleges and universities failing to prepare students for Corporate America.
Admittedly, colleges are often failing. In college, students learn that they can turn assignments in after the deadline and they still pass the class. They simply get docked 5 points or 10% or whatever the professor has determined. In contrast, if I missed the deadline of sending a file to the bank at my last job... my company could get fined upwards of $5000 and this would likely put my job in jeopardy.
In college, not reading the guidelines on the study guide could greatly effect your grade. But many professors allow you to go back and correct this. However, at my last job, if we didn't follow the guidelines from the Feds, we would be fined $5000 for the first mistake, $10000 for the second mistake, and $15000 for every mistake after! Needless to say, someone would face some serious consequences!
Granted, there are also significant differences. In college, each professor is somewhat like a "boss" (if we're trying to make a parallel). Each professor gives you different tasks to work on (reading, papers, reports, etc.) and each task has its own deadline. If all the deadlines fall on the same day, well, guess what? You better find a way to work it out.
In the corporate world, if there were two big projects coming our way, those projects would be divided among employees so that each person had a manageable work load. Deadlines could be spaced out and would be adjusted as often as possible. An employee typically has only one or two bosses and there is a chain of command in which an employee can appeal to when necessary. This doesn't happen in college.
How well we prepare ourselves for the corporate world is often dependent on the student. Understanding the way that the corporate world connects is helpful in learning the skills necessary while in college. And this disconnect, in my opinion, is the cause for colleges and universities failing to prepare students for Corporate America.
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