My friends & team - good morning!
What a year - what a semester! Someone asked me recently: How is parenthood going? (I try not to think too deeply anymore and just respond from my gut) - I responded: "It feels like time isn't waiting on me or anyone else."
Jesus said: "Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." (Mark 10:15, NIV)
The Message translation writes: "...'These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you'll never get in.' Then, gathering the children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them." (Mark 10:15, The Message)
It feels like time isn't waiting on me or anyone else - can sound discouraging and disheartening. After all, we do know that we are finite beings whose time here on this planet is limited. However, it also invites me to weigh my options: I can either 1) continually feel pulled along by the different forces of life/circumstance/fear/doubt/etc. or I can 2) be fully present & grateful for what is in front of me here & now.
Jesus highlights the way children receive the kingdom. I believe he does this to give us a glimpse into a type of posture that is possible for each of us - for, we were all once children, right?
I have observed that my daughter, exudes a humble acceptance of whatever is right in front of her. Mommy? Yes. Daddy? Yes. Discomfort? Yes. New people? Yes (In fact, she is unable to NOT make unbroken eye-contact with strangers). Pure joy? Yes. Wake up in the middle of the night? Yes. Absolutely.
Her posture to all of life (so far) has been a resounding - YES!
My posture to much of life is a resounding - NO! (I need to get my things done! I need my time! I need my space! I have my preferences for how life should be! etc. etc. etc.)
This posture of - NO! - has often followed me into ministry. The opposite of humble acceptance is most likely angry resistance.
I took a seminary class a few quarters ago that taught: Evangelism is helping people take the first step. Discipleship is helping people take the next step.
So, whichever step you are helping people take - you have to take into account where they are at with a humble acceptance. Meaning: if I have an angry resistance to where people are at - then I will be greatly hindered in my capacity to love people and show them Christ.
I see in my daughter a humble acceptance of what life is: right in front of her. I believe Jesus was trying to help us cranky, bitter, & opinionated adults to take the next step in our journey of accepting the Kingdom - which, ironically, is a perpetual first step.
Lord, teach us to take the next step - which involves us humbly accepting where you have us. Let us be filled with joy as we enter this holiday season & grateful for you are the God of both first steps and next steps. Amen.
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| Merry Christmas to all of you <3 Thank you for your ministry support! |
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| This picture encompassed 1/2 me reading to Anaya & me thinking: "Wow, this was actually a pretty cook book." I think we need to normalize adults reading children's books before they (adults) go to bed - very calming and relaxing. |
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| Our 2023-24 Richland FOCUS Ministry! Thankful for all of these students! |
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| I've loved getting to lead core w/ Yoni another year! He's been a true blessing to me & my life. Here he is holding Anaya (Yoni & I have a long side-quest story that theorizes that I may have held him as a baby). |
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| We had our first Richland FOCUS family night and it was wonderful! Getting to meet the parents & family of our students was a humbling experience for me. As college pastors, we inherit students into our group that have been loved & invested into for years long before we ever meet them! And, for that we say: thank you! |
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| Thank you to all of the parents & family who came! |
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| I got to help lead worship at our UTD FOCUS alumni night. I loved getting to see the all of the old & new faces - loved it! |
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| Our Wednesday FOCUS core went out to lunch and shared with one another all that God has been teaching us day to day :) Thankful for these guys! |
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| Our Richland FOCUS students organized a Friendsgiving! (It seems like these "friendsgiving" events are becoming more & more common each year! So cool!) |
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| My cousins enjoyed getting to meet & spend time w/ Anaya at her first Thanksgiving! |
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