Re-Group!!!

Wow! It's been awhile since I blogged...I really haven't disappeared, just life has been BUSY!!

Quick update on life:

Joel - doing AMAZING at leading our Children's Ministry here at FBC Borger. We had an awesome Children's Team Retreat last weekend where we found purpose, direction and were able to start really moving ahead and getting some things up and going!!! We are REALLY excited about church, the ministry, and all God is doing in this area! He will start another semester of classes in the next week or so - looking at transferring from Liberty to Wayland's Virtual Campus but not sure if that's going to pan out or not. It would be SO amazing for him to graduate from Wayland where he first started but at this point we are just ready for him to be DONE and have that past us.

Ronnie - well, I am not "officially" working full-time but have taken a longer term sub job as an aide with a pre-kindergarten teacher (the youth pastor's wife). Her regular aide is out on maternity leave. It is EXHAUSTING but so much fun! Let me tell you, I have a new appreciation for those who work with children 5 days a week! Ha ha! I am also overseeing the lesson plans for Hannah's homeschooling although Joel and I both grade and help her with assignments. I am really LOVING it!!! Seriously, I kind of wish I could take the courses with her but oh well! LOL

Hannah - she is really taking to the homeschool thing! She talks to us more about her assignments and classes than ever before. Since I am working, she takes her school stuff and sits in the lobby outside Joel's office and does her school work. The staff has all been very supportive of us in this endeavor so the church is her "school" for now! Ha ha! She has also built up quite the little babysitting business and is enjoying her own $!

Malachi - doing great. Pretty much in the Jr. high boy thing - friends, band, messy room (which we make him clean), etc.

Kestra - has had the BEST semester ever with good grades, making lots of friends and totally soaking in the Jr High life! Ha ha!

Tyler - ever the fire ball and on the move! He is doing okay in school although would much rather be building, exploring, cooking, anything else really! He has had some bullying issues but for the time being that seems to have been resolved.

In the midst of all this, God has really been speaking to me about re-grouping. I have felt that since the end of Christmas break I have been in "maintenance" mode. I have simply been going through the motion, no real point, no excitement, just go mode. However - this past week has been a WAKE UP CALL!

It started with the retreat! For the first time in a LONG time, I was EXCITED about not just a single area of ministry but about what God was doing in the life of an entire church and how He was going to be bringing about renewal and LIFE!!! I believe that the Children's Ministry may be the catalyst for that, or it may just be one of many little sparks that ignites the FIRE but I am very confident that SOON First Borger will be on FIRE like it hasn't been in some time...hope to post more on that soon.

It continued with the sharing of our "words" in our Sunday School class! As I began to see how God was speaking to each of us individually it dawned on me that as we grow individually and get excited as individuals - we will then get excited as a class, as a church, as a community, etc!!! I was so giddy when I thought about it - the impact will be ASTOUNDING and definitely contribute to the FIRE in our church...

It ended with 65 hours of SICKNESS! Yes, you heard me...for 65 hours I was basically in my bed with a few exceptions and going to the Dr. I got strep throat for the first time EVER and it had me down flat...UGH! Yet, during that time I began to realize that I had just gotten in the routine of going through the motions but the fire, the passion, the PURPOSE was gone. I had let "life" take me from the purpose of my creation - TO BRING GLORY TO GOD.

This morning, the pieces all fit together and I saw this giant picture of what God was showing me the past 9 days...COME BACK TO ME. Because of my "busy-ness" I had gotten away from my quiet time, my joy, my passion, my purpose. I shared with our family today that if the reason we were created was to bring Glory to God - then EVERYTHING we do must center on that purpose. So when we allow anything to stray us from that purpose - we lose site of God. That's what had happened and as it happened to me - my kids followed my lead and it began to happen to them. Suddenly, I realized why there was disconnect, disharmony, etc - the purpose had been lost: TO BRING GLORY TO GOD.

So, this is my "re-group" time: time to capture that purpose and the joy and passion I have for that purpose. God blew the whistle, called the TIME OUT to my life and said "Ok, get your head back in the game! Remember the purpose to what you were called - to bring glory to me. Now, go back to the game BUT REMEMBER THE PURPOSE!"