Friday, March 25, 2011

I LOVE MY FAMILY.

 Our Family's favorite place to be... together at DisneyWorld






8 solid days.... still all smiles.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

fears and wrestling and growth in God

Sometimes when God tells us to do things, we feel too small for the task. I've had that kind of week. The kind where you look at the task ahead and Satan whispers the lies and a wrestling match with God ensues. It comes down to this... Do I believe God is who he says he is? and that he'll do what he says he's going to do?
Ever ask that question? i mean i know the church answer is yes, but sometimes we really have to wrestle it out first. at least i do. and he ALWAYS reminds me, that, yes. yes he is. and yes he will.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Memory Monday....to be a woman of the Word.

One thing that I have been challenged by over the last year or so at my church is how much scripture our pastors have memorized! Even in casual conversation they use passage and reference! They are men of the Word! My first impression months ago after meeting our Senior Pastor was "wow, I WANT THAT!" So after letting it go for several months, I again was faced with it this weekend and decided I can't live with the conviction any longer, so I'm taking action.
Over the course of a Royal Servants summer each student has a list of things that get memorized and several years ago, I came up with "Memory Mondays" to quiz our students throughout the summer so they weren't cramming the last week before the major test.
Memorization is hard. It takes work, and it takes diligence! Many of our students liked memorizing scripture but because it was difficult and not passing meant missing out on free time, Memory Monday was not exactly looked forward to! Some students came back to me after the summers and said "LB, I HATED memory Mondays, but I'm glad you made us do it because I still know most of those verses we learned!"
Becoming a woman of the Word isn't just going to happen because i want it to. no amount of my "want" will make it so. it requires my action. A quote by Rick Warren was re-tweeted by someone i follow the other day "Real maturity is never the result of a single experience, no matter how powerful or moving. Growth is gradual."

So now i set out, for gradual growth, the desire is that in the end i am more like Christ and have the knowledge of the Word.
Memory Mondays start today. If you'd like to join me in memorizing scripture, check out the Memory Monday Facebook group!

Saturday, March 12, 2011

thousands of voices...

This weekend at Dare2Share 2,300 students are gathered to worship and receive the challenge to take their faith off the shelf and give it away. Amazing speaking, worship, art and drama. 
Great way to spend the weekend.
HUGE blast from the past with Shane & Shane leading worship.

Friday, March 11, 2011

Do you Dare?

So this weekend the Un-Tour is coming to Minneapolis and I'm excited about being a part of it! Dare2Share is a ministry that mobilizes and equips students to share their faith in Jesus with their friends, family and entire generation.
I'm excited about the passion they bring and am looking forward to volunteering at the event.
If you're looking for resources on how to share your faith in Christ, or if you're wondering what "faith in Christ" even means, Check out their website!

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Around the world.

I have the privilege of being knowing a lot of people who, right now, are around the world sharing the love of Christ with people.

If you're one of my friends, serving the Lord across the globe. Thanks. I love you.


Monday, March 7, 2011

Spring Newsletter!

Well Ladies and Gents it is here again, my latest newsletter. You can always find it in the link to your right, otherwise you can click the link below.

This Newsletter includes looking forward to Royal Servants 2011, a contest, support update and a really great Disney World fact... amongst other things.

Thanks for taking a minute to read it!
LB's Latest Newsletter: Spring 2011


Wednesday, March 2, 2011

GOING PUBLIC!

no no, not the newsboys album released in january of 1995.....
Sunday I left church knowing that we had all just spent time together with God. I know that's kind of the point of church, but this week was different. It was amazing and powerful, more so than normal AND BELIEVE ME THAT'S SAYIN SOMETHING!!!
Pastor Troy has been speaking through the book of Matthew (which is awesome) and this week he was finishing up chapter 3. (Quick... anyone know what the end of chapter 3 is?)
If you guessed the baptism of Christ, you're right. two gold stars.
He talked about how John tried to decline and how Jesus persisted and how the Trinity was present and how his baptism wasn't one of repentance, but an inauguration of his earthly ministry.
He then went on to talk about how baptism is the first thing once we've repented and found salvation to do! "repent and be baptized"
Having been baptized myself years ago, my personal application drew more to the idea of what it meant, a public declaration of faith. it really does fly in the face of the "American Christian Culture" of people's faith being a "personal" thing not a public one. Christ calls for our faith to be public!!
Pastor Troy then did something that shocked both myself and probably most people sitting there, he said, come, be baptized... right now... like.... right now. and people did.
Over the course of three services 277 people came forward and made that public declaration of faith!! 1 in 12 people there Sunday morning were baptized!!! at one point there was a traffic jam in the baptismal because they were doing three at a time!
At first when he said it i was like, woah wait you have to um, they need to think about it, because um.. its a big choice and um wait... uhh. then the passage in Acts 8:26-40 of the Ethiopian and Philip came to mind, Philip explained Jesus to the man and he was immediately baptized because he believed, who am i to say that people shouldn't be moved to be baptized in obedience and public declaration!? sometimes, as a "conservative" Christian, i put God in a box and forget that the Holy Spirit has power and can move when and how he wants!
Praise God that he showed up Sunday and powerfully impacted all of us!
Have you been baptized?