Get Involved & Give Back

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Giving back to my community has been such a natural part of who I am, and extension really. Not only has it shaped my character, it has given me tools for life, and helped me to put others before myself. Life lessons that I am thankful for.

Source: None via Andrea on Pinterest

Community service has a way of changing you if you let it. Opening your eyes to others. A way of making your community around you a better place. Maybe you’ve never been involved in community service before, but you’d like to. Here’s a few simple tips to help you get started.

Think of your interests; what do you love to do? What are you interested in? Start dreaming making a list of how you can use your interests and talents to give back to your community.

Start small, start somewhere. I think starting small helps you to not feel overwhelmed in any task you’re doing. If you’d like to give back to your community through a soup kitchen let’s say, don’t sign up for 30 volunteer hours right away. Sign up for a few hours at first and see how you like it, you can always add more as your interest grows.

Think outside the box! Community service and giving back doesn’t always have to be soup kitchens, church work or picking up trash, although those are wonderful options. I encourage you to think of your interests and talents and think outside the box on how you can use those to give back. If you love photography think about using your talents to take pictures for a local community center. Do you love crafts and making things? Use your talents to volunteer your time to teach crafting to others at a nursing home or to children in a community center. I have a friend who creates crafts, sells them and donates the money she makes to missions work.

Service to others can also mean giving of your time and resources. Maybe you don’t have a lot of time, but maybe you’ve been blessed financially. Find a charity or organization to give to in a financial way.

Once you start finding ways to give back, thinking outside the box I know you’ll be encouraged and inspired to keep going in the area of community service.

Looking for some ways to give back? Here are some of my faves:

Join Ashley in her Change4Change Project, you can read more about it here. If you live locally in Arizona, check out her fundraiser that she's doing to raise money for students to go to college! How awesome is that?!!

Help my friend Danielle raise money for their adoption! She's got some awesome prize bundles that you can win for a small donation! Such a great way to give back to a sweet family.

My friend Destiny said;

"When you spend yourself on others, you won't be dissapointed."

I couldn't agree more. This week I challenge you to think of ways that you can start to give back to your community. And next week, start dreaming of ways that you can actually make this happen.

I'd love to hear more ways you give back. Let me know in the comments below!


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Noble Character

These thoughts have been swirling in my head for a really long time. I've tried to write this post more than once, each time hitting the backspace button over and over again. Trying to find just the right words to express what's in my heart. Hoping it would be received in the most positive, encouraging way.

The Internet world is no different than real life in the sense that once you put something out there, you'd better be ready for it to be read, looked at, analyzed, judged perhaps maybe? Good or bad. Right or wrong. There's been a lot of negativity swirling around blog land, a lot that I don't love. Judgemental behavior. Character assassinations. To much information shared.

It's turned me off to a lot of things on Twitter, blogs, Facebook, etc. Don't get me wrong, I love me some Internet. We're slightly bonded at the hip. When I was in junior high and the Internet was just becoming "big" you had to take a class at the school library during class time on "how to use the Internet properly." Once you passed the class you were then issued your "Internet drivers licence." You think, I'm joking...I am not!

If you didn't pass you weren't allowed to use the Internet during your library times at school. They took that stuff seriously round those parts in rural Iowa. Sometimes, I think we all need a little lesson in how we should and shouldn't use the Internet in our daily lives. You see, I view the Internet as merely a tool. A tool I want to use in the most positive way.

I want to blog with integrity. With purpose and intention.

I've seen a lot of blog posts titled "getting real" and "how real am I on my blog?" While I appreciate peoples honesty and realness as much as the next I also want to encourage realness along with modesty. I try my best to be as real as I can be on my blog, but there are things that I am never going to talk about or share here on my blog.

I started this blog as a way to record our lives, and share them with our family living so far away. I want to remember the good times in our life, write them down, cherish them and have them as memories. I love looking back on our blog and seeing what we were up to, how Ava has grown, our challenges and triumphs. This is a positive space for our family, for my readers. I always want this space to be a space of encouragement, faith and love.

For these reasons you're never going to hear about a nasty fight Orion and I had, although they do happen. It is my desire to always honor and uphold our relationship. To praise him in public, and always take care of our relationship in private.

Her husband has full confidence in her, and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good not harm all the days of her life. Proverbs 31:11

You're never going to hear me rant and rave about family issues, friend fights or issues, I'm probably never going to publicly bash someone here either. It's not Biblical or right. It's not what my character is.

My strong faith is what drives me, sustains me and gives me strength. I've been through a lot in my short life and I want to use this space as a place to encourage others, keep a memory for our family, and have some fun a long the way. In all ways honoring the Lord. Honoring the Lord through this blog, through what I write, and put out there for all to see.

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30

I'm not perfect by any means. Nor will I claim to be, I am human my flesh takes over sometimes. I'm still working on so many things in life. I believe there is freedom in transparency, and power in your testimony. They have the ability to help others, and bring comfort and encouragement to others in a time of need.

I also believe there's purpose and health in having boundaries in our lives. So even though there's a lot put out there on the Internet daily, I choose to have boundaries in my life for my Husband, daughter, family and friends. To keep some things personal and scared because I care about those around me. I choose to work out my issues in the privacy of my home, face to face with those it includes. Using this space for the positive. For the good.

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy think on these things.

Philippians 4:8

I encourage you today to think about this verse, and how you can bring lovely, admirable, noble things to the thoughts, images and stories you tell online, in public and in private.

Thinking about others before yourself, considering the less fortunate, thinking about the words that come from your mouth. Are they bringing life to those you speak them to? Or type them to?

I challenge myself today, and you to live a life worthy of noble character. To strive for better always, in a world that tells us otherwise.

Those things are lasting. Those are things that leave an impression on people. Those are things of love.

Marriage Matters

Last week I talked about simplifying my marriage here, this week I've really been thinking a lot about what I can do? What is my part in my marriage? And how can I help my husband, and be the wife he needs? Orion is currently doing a 21 day media fast from all t.v., social networking, and web/Internet. I feel blessed and encouraged to have a Godly husband that desires to hear the voice of God and what he'd want for our family and marriage.

During this time of fasting and prayer I really want to encourage him, and help him along in this process as much as I can. This week, I've been praying and reading my Bible asking God for wisdom in these areas to help me be a better wife and for our marriage.

I came across a list on a blog I read often by Pastor Steven Furtick, I loved it so much and it was very encouraging and so on point for me and where I'm at I thought I'd pass it along to you. I believe these are great ways to help your husband, and be the help mate he needs, to encourage, uplift and pray for him.

This is a list from a Husband to their Wife:

1. I need you to take care of you.

-your health, happiness, your intimacy with God

2. I need you to believe in me.

 

3. I need you to encourage me.

-I'm with you no matter what

-I know you best and love you most

-Who cares what they think

4. I need you to help keep me focused on what really matters.

5. I need you to make our home "base," a place where I feel safe

6. I need you to pray for me.

-You know what to pray better than anyone

7. I need you to remind me of God's past faithfulness.

This list was so eye opening for me. It seems so obvious sometimes and other times I can feel completely stuck as to how I should be encouraging my husband and his needs. This word gives me a lot of perspective and a way to continue to pray and act!

What are some of the ways you keep encouraging your husband? What are some ways you keep your marriage fresh, and alive?

I'd love to hear your thoughts. Go!



JustOne Conference

I've been following a blog/site for a while now called Leading & Loving It. It's a site dedicated for women in ministry and pastor's wives. It's written by pastor's wives and women in ministry for women and pastor's wives. 

This site has been a real encouragement to me over these last few months as a ministers wife and also woman in ministry. 

They are hosting an online virtual conference called JustOne. 

It's a 6 week long conference. Each week they cover different topics. And you can watch it right from your couch for free. 

I watched tonight, and it was amazing. Really great topics, and so encouraging. I think it's an awesome idea, since we all can't get away or afford right now to go to some leadership conferences this is a perfect idea. 

I really think that if you're a women at all in ministry, leading a Bible study, small group, Mom's group, etc. you will love this and get something from it. 

Today's topic was about developing relationships/friendships with women and why they are so needed and important. Next week's topic is on marriage. I can't wait to watch again next week, with these great ladies. I'm really learning a lot and it's really meeting me where I'm at in life right now. 

To find out more about this conference, to click in and watch next week go here: www.leadingandlovingit.com

I hope it's an encouragement to you as well!!! 

Less Is More.

Couple weeks ago I was reading this blog and Pete asked for you to fill in the blank to this question: "The older I get........" 

My response to that question was, 

"The older I get the more I realize that less is more, all I need is Jesus and my family. The rest of just excess. "

Shortly after that I was watching the Today Show and heard about this story:

Go ahead, watch it... I'll wait. 

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Basically, Physiologists and Counselors are finding that when you live on a less is more life style where your "stuff" isn't the important things that you tend to live happier and fuller lives. Concentrating more on the experiences in life, rather than the things. 

It really got me thinking even more about the life I lead. The couple that was interviewed paired down their lives to 100 possessions total, got rid of their car and moved into a 400 sq. foot apartment. Saving time and money making their lifestyle better. 

When I lost my job almost two years ago, Orion and I saw how quickly what you once thought was the 'life' could be so quickly taken away from you. We were just living, we didn't expect the lay off and we certainly weren't prepared for it. We soon faced loosing the home we worked so hard for, and for a while there we thought we'd lost everything. 

It was during those moments that we downsized, cut out every thing financially that was not needed, cut bills, sold things, and started to look more on the inside and took a look at what mattered most to us. We very swiftly had to learn to live on ONE income. 

We now live on the theory of ONE for just about everything. 

Since then we've paired down many times gotten rid of the excess in our lives on a lot of different levels. I feel like I learned a lot through that experience, I'm still learning a lot even almost two years later. 

God is teaching me. He's teaching me that the grass isn't always greener. That money doesn't buy happiness, not even close. 

I've learned that faith and family are the only things that matter. They sustain me and keep me going. There's nothing in this life worth sacrificing family for, in the end they will be there. Always. 

And the biggest lesson I feel like I've learned through all of this is a closer, deeper relationship with Christ first. I feel challenged to look at the things in my life and ask;

"Are they bringing me closer to Christ or taking me farther away?" 

I feel challenged to not take this life for granted, to live to the fullest, and anticipate the good that God is going to bring into our lives through our faithfulness to Him. 

Blog Roll Monday: Tory Farina.com

Over the last few years Orion and I have had the amazing privilege of being involved with some great people in ministry. Back in 2005 Orion and I began meeting with some local Pastors about becoming apart of a local church plant. For 3 years Orion and I were apart of the core team that began High Point Church in Inver Grove Heights, MN. 

We were able to be under the leadership & teaching of Tory & Elizabeth Farina. During those years they were shaping times for Orion and I both. We learned so much about the church, ministry and being Pastors. 

Tory & Elizabeth did our pre marital counseling, and have been mentors and friends to us in so many ways. 

toryfarina.com

As a Pastor or leader in the church I think it's a great idea to keep current and fresh in your relationship with Christ. When you're the person ministering out weekly, daily or whenever you have to make sure you're being challenged and ministered to as well. 

Tory writes a blog. It challenges me. Makes me think. And helps me stay connected to a really great church that is breaking ground in the areas of church planting. 

If you're looking for a challenging word, an uplifting read, check out Tory's blog and get connected. 

Emotions & The Holy Spirit

So then those who are living the life of the flesh [catering to the appetites and impulses of their carnal nature] cannot please or satisfy God, or be acceptable to Him. But you are not living the life of the flesh, you are living the life of the Spirit, if the Holy Spirit of God really dwells within you he directs and controls you. 

- Romans 8:8-9 The Amplified Bible

There are several definitions for the word emotion. According to Webster the root word is Latin emovere, meaning to move away. 

I find this very interesting since that's what are emotions tend to do in a way. They tend to move us away from what the original source of them were. Sometimes [ok, a lot of times] we can get too caught up in our emotions over a situation, to the point where we don't really know how we even started out that way in the first place. Right? 

And I think this is especially true for women, since we tend to be way more emotional that men are. We tend to lead by our emotions rather than logic or truth. 

Our emotions are carnal, they are of the flesh. They are our thoughts and feelings according to what has happened to us, and made up in our sub conscious. 

These things move us away from God, and the Holy Spirit. 

When our minds, and hearts are flooded with emotions that move us away from God I believe that it's hard to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. All of a sudden we're letting these emotions dictate how we respond to people, how we make decisions and live. 

I think ultimately this leads to lies from the enemy coming into our lives and taking over our thought life. They can breed insecurity towards others, insecurity in ourselves and what God wants to do in our lives, what he might want to show us. 

I know this to be true in my own life. To be quite honest I'm going through this right now, that's why I can write so open and honest right now. I know my emotions have gotten the better of me at times in the last few weeks. They have led me away from where I know God wants me to be, and have ultimately made me feel isolated. Where it's just me, my emotions, and the lies of the enemy. 

Everyone has emotions, it's silly to think that you won't at some time or another about something. But, it's more important about what you do with them. You can't ignore them, but you can pray through them and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what is truth and what is just the enemy trying to use whatever he can to move you farther and farther from God's plan and will for your life. 

I believe that if we are led by our emotions in this way, that we'll never walk in God's will and victory if we seek the counsel of our emotions instead of the Holy Spirit. 

Today, I encourage you to take inventory over your emotions and thought life. Begin to pray and seek the Holy Spirit to work through these emotions that may be taking over in your life. 

Emotions bring confusion. God is not a God of confusion. He wants to make his love, and plans for our lives known. 

I pray today, I would walk with the Holy Spirit by my side and not my emotions getting the best of what God has for me. 

The List

A couple months ago while trying to organize Ava's Closet pending her arrival I came across a box of office stuff that hadn't been unpacked for some reason since our move to Arizona last August. I opened the box and the only thing that was worth my time was a stack of about four journals. 

I know I've mentioned on the blog before about my journals. They just might be my most prized material possession. They aren't fancy by any means but what makes them so special to me is that they are yearly chronicles of my life since I was in 5th grade I've been journaling. They are amazing to me to look back on and see where I was, where I've been and dreams that have still yet to come to fruition. 

One that I opened up to that day was a small red leather one, in the back of the last two pages were a set of 10 Year Goals & The List of things that I wanted to accomplish in my lifetime. 

As you can see from the date July 10, 2006 there wasn't a whole lot on my 10 year plan besides, get married, have children and buy a house, etc. Normal goals. This list was written a year before Orion and I got married, before I knew we'd get married. 

At this time in my life I was in a huge transition having moved away from family to start life on my own here in Arizona. I took my first job here out of college, lived by myself and started to figure out who I was without everything that was a comfort to me. 

Most of the time I am inspired but truly scared to try and do new things. But, over time I've realized there's no harm in trying. That it's ok to fail, it's ok if it doesn't work out the way you thought it would. 

But, most of the time it's worth the risk. It's worth being dragged out of your comfort zone. 

When I look at The List of goals I wanted to accomplish in my lifetime, I've done a lot of them. A lot of them have been crossed off and some more have been added since these pages were first written. 

I believe in the power of goals, in the power of putting them out there and believing that they can happen. That you can have everything you've ever dreamed of. It may or may not happen the way you think it's going to happen but it will happen if you believe that it can. 

I believe there's accountability when you write things down, when you say them out loud and share them with your spouse, closest family and friends. 

Since I've crossed off get married, become a mom, buy a house. It's now time to dream again and dream of those things that have still yet to come, things that still are on my heart, and the things that God has called me to do in my life and believe that he's called me to these things for a reason. 

There have been times where I've thought this is "it" this is all I'm going to do in life. There have been times where I've thought I can't try something new I'm too old to take on something new, or it will never work if I do, etc, etc. 

One thing that I've learned is that there will always be a million excuses you can give yourself, and that it's all about priorities. 

Yes, things change. Yes, you change sometimes. And goals, dreams and aspirations change along with you. 

It's about deciding what you want out of life, in these moments, at this place in your life and going for what is most important. 

Go for your dreams. Be inspired. 

And always remember you can add too, and accomplish all that's on The List!

Book Review: Plan B

I'm pretty sure it was a God moment that I heard Pete Wilson, on the radio one day while I was waiting for Orion to get off work. He was talking about his new book that was coming out later that week called Plan B. As he sat and gave a brief description of the book I thought to myself, how much I really needed to hear that and how much I really wanted to read this book.

The book is called Plan B "What Do You Do When God Doesn't Show Up the Way You Thought He Would?"

Wow! Did that hit you like it did me the first time I read it?

What is Plan B? Plan B, is when something doesn't turn out the way you thought it would, and you have to revert to Plan B.

He talks about in the book how we've all had something in our lives that hasn't turned out quite how we imagined or thought it would.

Now, isn't that so true? If you think about your life, there's probably at least one thing that's happened to you that hasn't quite turned out like you thought it should. And, it's in those moments where you wonder where is God? What is he doing in all of this chaos?

I'll admit, my Plan B came in the form of getting laid off from my job last October and then losing our home as result of that lay off. All of a sudden I was 26 had no job and was about to loose the home my Husband and I worked so hard to have. All of a sudden things were happening to me that I didn't understand, that I never planned for and life was happening not the way I planned or imagined that it would. And, I was left with a lot of questions and wondering what life held for me now?

I never was angry at God, but I was furious at my boss who laid me off. Furious, that we did everything right when it came to real estate and now we were losing our home. Furious at some of my relationships because they weren't there for me when I needed them the most. I felt like a failure, felt like I had nothing left. And I had a lot of questions for God.

Over time and lots of months of counseling I was able to forgive those that were involved. But, never really was honest with myself and the process that Andrea needed to go through in order to find healing and peace.

Enter Plan B.

When I heard Pete Wilson's interview on the radio, it was a God moment for me. I knew I needed to read this book. I picked it up the day it was released and pretty much devoured every page. Making markings in the margins, underlining like crazy,praying and journaling every step of the way.

I felt like every page of that book was written just for me to read it. Page after page, I sat thinking this is for me.

This book forced me to ask and answer some tough questions. See, even though I forgave the right people that hurt me though out my job loss and stuff with our home, I never really looked at myself and asked myself, "What does Andrea need to do?"

"What was my responsibility in all of this?" See it's super easy to blame others that hurt us, for what's wrong in our lives. But, we don't always ask ourselves "How does God want to use us?" "What does he want to teach us about ourselves, as we go through this mess?"

Those were the questions that I so desperately needed to ask myself, and answer.... honestly this time.

Reading this book opened up a door really for God to speak into my life. For him to teach me somethings about myself, about what he wants me to learn and take away from the whole situation.

People say all the time,

"Why do bad things happen to good people?"

And, the truth is I don't know. But, I do know that we have a choice as believers, a choice to react in one way or another. What we can control is our response to the things that happen to us. We can choose to learn from it.

Reading Plan B, helped me see all of this. It helped me open myself up a little bit more and allow God in to work on the areas that I didn't know I needed healing from until I really started reading this book. I thought it was all about the people who hurt me, but really it is all about ME and what God wants to teach me and remind me of in all this. 

So while still to this day I can't answers all the why questions when it comes to my own Plan B, I do know now that God allowed this to happen to teach me things and bring me to a better place in HIM.

One thing that God has taught me in all this, that's pretty amazing is that going through what I've gone through he's made me more sensitive and aware of people who are facing job loss, and foreclosure, short sales and everything else that this economy has crumbled. I never thought I'd be 26 and face being laid off, I never thought I'd find myself in a situation where I lost my home. But, God did. He knew.

And, now he's taking all that tragedy and giving me a new voice, and a new perspective to help others who are now going through that. Just today, I got an email from a friend who is facing foreclosure on her home. I was able to give her some words of encouragement as she goes through this storm in her life and asks probably a lot of the same questions I did.

And, if that's what how God can use me and work through me all that I've been through was worth it.

If you're currently facing a Plan B, or your Plan B has already happened and maybe your "stuck" like I was then I highly suggest you pick this book up and let it be healing for you. Take it as the opportunity that God needs to get your attention.

If a book could change your life, I would dare to say that this book changed mine.

PlanB Promo from Cross Point Church on Vimeo.

If you would like more info on Plan B visit the site here, where you can download the first chapter for FREE and read for yourself. For more info on Pete Wilson, click here. If you'd like to buy a copy of Plan B, click here.

Leadership & Possibilities

I've been thinking a lot about leadership and the possibilities that can come out of that. I've been thinking about:

• What kind of leader am I?
• What kind of leader do I want to be?
• Who am I leading, and where are we going?

As my Husband and I are leaders in a church, I often wonder what's our responsibility beyond what we know? I know our day to day stuff, I know what we're supposed to do and what we're not. What's expected and what isn't. But, sometimes I wonder am I leading the way people want to be led? Are we making the impact God wants us to make?

I just finished up a great book (a review is coming soon) and I've been reading the author's blog a lot lately for my own personal growth, knowledge and wisdom. This morning, I read something on his blog that really struck me and the ideas of leadership I've been dealing with and questioning. Here's what Pete Wilson has to say:

"I proceeded to tell him in the simplest of terms that a leader has a different calling than the player. A player just has to show up and give his best. A leader has to show up and not only give his best but make sure he sets the rest of the team up to give their best.

I said, “Son if you show up at that game tomorrow scared the rest of your team is going to be scared. If you show up thinking you’re going to get beat, the rest of your team is going to think they’re going to get beat.”

I’m often reminded that while part of my job is defining reality… seeing possibility is equally, if not more important as a leader.

Is there a chance they’ll get killed tomorrow? Absolutely

Is there a chance they’ll pull off the upset of the year? Absolutely. And that chance goes up if a leader steps up to the plate, looks each team member in the eyes and practices the art of possibility.

If you lead a church, an organization, a small business, or a family you need to be reminded the people following you desperately want and need to be led. They need you to define reality, but they also need you to practice the art of possibility.

They need not be reminded of what is likely, apparent, or impending for those things are obvious to the average person. They need to be reminded of what they cannot see on their own. They need to be reminded of what just might happen against all odds.

That’s leadership. That’s the art of possibility. "

That kinda hit me where I'm at! We all need leaders in our lives even if you are a leader. You need to be challenged beyond what you already know. If we challenge ourselves beyond what we already know, if we seek it out there's a ton of possibilities for our lives and where we can go. 

I'm called to be a leader in my home, for my child, for my Husband and in my church and everyday life. But, I don't want to miss a minute of what God might want to teach me through this season. What does he want to teach me in my own leadership style? Who I lead? 

I want to be this kind of leader. 

Community.

I've been thinking a lot about the idea of community. What does it mean to our everyday lives? What's the purpose? And, why should we pursue community in our lives? Those are just a few questions I've been pondering.

I think all of us would admit that being in relationship with people and the desire to share life with someone resides in all of us. It may be a spouse, a sibling, parent, friend or even a pet but we all want to share our lives with others.

We all have little communities all around us.

This is why we have block parties, PTA's, play groups for kids, small groups in our churches, and fill our lives with activities.

Even when God created the Earth he knew, and he had a plan for this idea of community. It goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden, the very "first" community.

In Genesis 2:18 he says, 

"It's not good for man to be alone, I will make him a helper suitable for him." (NIV)

We can even see through this scripture how God even at the beginning realized this need for community, so he created Eve for Adam. So they could live life together, and lean on each other.

People ask me all the time (once they find out) why I choose to fore go my cheer leading scholarship, at one of the top journalism schools in the country to go to a private Christian University after high school? My answer is simple; community.

When I visited North Central University (NCU) for the first time I knew it was the place I wanted to be. I wanted and desired that close knit community that NCU had built and is known for today. I went to public school my entire life, and the idea of surrounding myself with other Christians and being in such a place of encouragement was what I desired and wanted for my college education.

While at NCU you can't escape community, it's everywhere. But it's those moments of community and living life connected with other people where I grew the most, where I was challenged in my faith, where I met my best friends and ultimately my husband.

We see this model even in the New Testament, when Jesus choose to surround himself with the twelve disciples. Now, Jesus probably didn't need the twelve. One betrayed him, they were tax collectors, they argued. You might be thinking, who needs that?

But, Jesus knew the bigger purpose behind all that. I believe he choose the twelve in part for this reason if community. They challenged each other. He challenged them, they learned from each other.

Orion and I have said many times before in our ministry that we want to help people come to authentic relationships with Christ and with others. This is our ultimate goal.

This is how we grow, and become closer to God and each other.

I believe when you create lasting and authentic relationships you leave a lasting impact on the kingdom.  When we live life connected we're bonded to Christ and to each other.

I feel challenged to build the best "community" I possibly can around me. I feel challenged to help others connect with God and connect with people.

Some questions we can ask ourselves:

1. What are we doing to build community?
2. How are we/you building authentic relationships with those around you (in your neighborhood, your school, your church, etc?)
3. What more can we do to accomplish this goal of community?

I encourage you to look for those amazing opportunities in your life, pray for them even to build community. To challenge yourself to grow in your relationship with Christ.

How's my grass?

My friend Julie always says, " If the grass is greener on the other side, maybe you should water your grass!"

Which leaves me to the question: How's my grass?

Have I (we) been thinking that others have it better than I do? Am I wanting things in life, wanting more from life because it's what I want, or because others have it? Do I have things because I need them? Or because I want them?

Hey... don't get me wrong here it's ok to have wants, dreams, and desires for your life, marriage, and friendships. But, what I am talking about here is the excess! The excess things in life, more stuff that we really don't need in life, but have because we want to.

My most recent example of this, that has brought me to question "the grass" in my life is; my Blackberry. I got a Blackberry Pearl about a month ago, my beloved Pink Pearl has brought me to question. I've had a love/hate relationship with it ever since. I love it because it has a cool phone book, and I have my phone and calendar all in one. I hate it because it's slow at times, you have to re-set it once a month, and it's a little more expensive than I really think phone service should be, and it doesn't have some features that I thought a Blackberry should or would when I got it. So because it doesn't exactly have what I wanted it to do, it makes me question do I really need it?

I've wanted it for a long time, thinking that it would make my life easier, and less complicated. But in reality, all it's done is make it more. It's more money, I admit I'm constantly on it, and really who needs to be on their phone that much?

It makes me think maybe simple is better!? Maybe planners are really my thing, and not the Blackberry. It makes me think, maybe I don't want people to have access to me all the time via email & the phone. It makes me think, maybe my grass was already green to begin with. I just didn't see it.

Now I know you maybe telling yourself this is silly to compare life to that of my pink Pearl... but I think I'm learning some valuable lessons here about myself. Less is more sometimes. And sometimes having the fanciest things, or the latest gadget doesn't make us really happy.

That kind of happiness can only be found in Jesus. That kind of completeness and wholeness can only be found in peace through him. And... I'm pretty sure Jesus doesn't rely on his Blackberry.

He wants us to be happy in who he's created us to be. Content in the way he's made us. Not striving for something that man or China can give us. But something only he can give us.

It's time to get simple folks! It's time to water your grass!