God Calling...

May 2008 

Five years ago, God brought us to Zachary Louisiana. He allowed us to serve a wonderful church, live in a beautiful house, have true friends, and have unimaginable opportunities to grow in our personal faith and ministry.

Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths. Prov. 3:5-6

This past Sunday my husband read his letter of resignation as Children's Pastor in a heart wrenching day of emotions. I never imagined how hard it would be to say goodbye. As I looked in the eyes of the church family my mind was flooded with so many memories. Even looking for a picture for this post I sorted through pictures of birthday's, church renovation projects, play dates, and programs. Seeing so many people that have helped make the ministry here what it is warms my heart. It also makes me remember that the ministry here will go on because it's not about us, it's about what God has done and will continue to do in the hearts and lives of the people here. The foundation has been laid, and now through the faithful effort of God's people it will continue to grow.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Psalm 51:10-12

The Lord is asking us to step out on faith and join what He is already at work doing in the church family of Mountain View Baptist Church in Hickory, NC. These are exciting times in Hickory NC. They already have so many wonderful, committed volunteers that have kept children's ministry alive in their church. But they need a Children's Pastor to come along side them, lead the team with vision and direction, encourage them and equip them for ministry. They are ready and eager to take Children's ministry to the next level. It will be an honor to serve with them.

As we prepare for this next step, we are praying that the Lord would lead a buyer to our house quickly so we can get it sold and buy a new house to settle into in NC. We are praying for the Lord's direction concerning school for our boys in another month. We are praying for wisdom and the Lord's guidance in establishing a new ministry. We pray for our families, some closer, some further away, to see God's hand at work in our lives. And we pray for the family of FBCZ as they search for a new Children's Pastor.

Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:4-5

Thank you, friends in Zachary, for your love and support. Your prayers mean the world to us. We love the church family here and will remember our time here with thankfulness.

Walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3

Eucharisteo
"I am thankful"

Simple Joys of Summer

Wow, already a month into summer! So far this summer has been nothing like I planned. You see, on May 31st I coughed and caused a herniated disk in my back just two days before VBS! Crisis in my world, let me tell you. A couple of weeks of terrible pain, muscle relaxers, very limited range of motion, MRI, and then the relief of physical therapy which I am still attending at least once a week to regain strength. I'm doing much better now, but I was panicked that my summer would be ruined by this. I couldn't reach my own feet much less get in the floor to play with my boys. What about my personal trainer aspirations and job shadowing I had planned for the summer? What about the fun day-trips I had planned? What about my preschoolers in Sunday School?

Then one day as I'm laying on a table in awkward stretches complaining privately to God about all this...the still small voice of the Lord said...."Lydia, this is your training!" What? I didn't understand. 

Today, as I sat on my back porch swing listening to the happy sounds of my kids playing in a 2 ft. deep kiddie pool having the time of their lives with one of their best friends, it hit me. I can't be in the pool with them right now, but I am present in the moment with them right now. There have been a lot of moments this summer where I've had to depend on the kids or my husband or friends for help. But there has also been more time for cuddling in a chair reading books or watching a movie together. More of me watching them play and observing their own creativity  unscripted, unplanned by me. 

My eucharisto moment was interrupted by the shouts of my oldest son saying "Where's my tooth!" to which I'm thinking, "did I really just hear what I thought I heard?" I go over to see and he's too busy looking for the lost tooth in the pool to realize his gum is bleeding. I get him out of the pool, his friend proudly finds the lost tooth, everybody's happy. Happy, Happy, Happy in Louisiana today.