Hearts Transformed

I am in the middle of teaching a three part series in high school where we are talking about the things that hinder our spiritual lives. One of the things I have been wrestling with in my own life recently is how difficult it is for me to really fall into relationship with my Creator. I love lists and I love ticking off the items one by one. The accomplishment of completeling the things I have set out to do really gets me pumped. I love to "get things done." Here is the thing...God is not something to "get done" or "get to later." I am confessing that I have often relegated God to another check on my list. But the really cool thing is that in this process of encouraging others in the journey; I am learning (albeit slow) to be quiet and still before the Lord and to listen for Him. If He is singing and dancing over me then I want to hear the that song! I am going to do my best to blog through my thoughts as I take the next 30 days to work through "

This week is one of those weeks. My mind is mush after an incredibly eventful summer and fall at Community Church of Hendersonville . It was just the kind of day when I needed a word from God. I went to listen to the latest post from Mars Hill and got the greatest gift...Dr. Don Davis. Dr. Davis is the director and founder of World Impact’s Urban Ministry Institute and he was a guest teacher last Sunday at Mars Hill.      The message was simple enough... Salt and Light (Matthew 5:13-16). But it was the idea that we often want to talk about all we are doing for God. The quote that cut to my heart was this. " If we open up our hearts and open up our hands; THEN we have the right finally to open up our mouths." "Give us clean hands and give us pure hearts" yes but in order that we may have full hearts and dirty hands for the kingdom of God and then we will not    only speak the good news but we will be living it out.

This was my birthday week and just like the new year it is a time for reflection and goal setting. I was blessed by the many birthday wishes that came from long lost friends and new acquaintances alike. Social networking tools can be such an encouragement. Many times I am so "busy" that I can't keep the day straight let alone whose birthday or special day it may be. So thank you Facebook for the reminders and the easy access to friends, family and colleagues. In no way am I ungrateful for the comments and messages...they were amazing. I felt very loved and remembered that day. Here is my question...can you imagine how I would have felt had those been cards in the mail or phone calls? I think we under appreciate the power of these little acts of kindness. My goal for this the 28th year of my life is to be an intentional encourager . And I challenge you to send a card in the mail or make a phone call. Say the things that we too often keep to ourselves. Make time to be inte

This one is a little long but well worth the reading! This from a collected work of the former Mike Yaconelli, a pioneer and mentor to many in youth ministry. This is a summary from a November 2000 article. Due to illness a reluctant youth volunteer, Daryl,  attended the nursing home church service the local youth group conducted once a month. He felt awkward and out of place and chose to stand in the back against the wall. Just as the service was ending someone grabbed his hand. Daryl looked down to see a very old man in a wheelchair holding tightly to his hand. His name was Mr. Leak and he was still and expressionless. As everyone began to leave Daryl did not want to leave Mr. Leak but knew it was time to go. He leaned over and whispered, "I'm...uh..sorry, I have to leave. I will be back. I promise." Mr. Leak responded by squeezing Daryl's hand and then let go. Daryl's eyes filled with tears and inexplicably said, "I love you." Daryl came back mo

Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai... Esther 5:9 Haman had just left a banquet at the King's table. Did you catch that? Often times I tell the students everything in our lives can be changed with perspective and attitude. And here is another really great example. Haman lost his perspective. He focused on his hate for Mordecai. How often do we meet with our King, leaving happy and in high spirits only to be miffed soon after by the object of our fear? Today, I encourage you to keep your perspecitive and focus on the King and your seat at his table. Fear is a tool of discouragement and distraction. Let's keep our heads up fellow traveler. Don't lose sight of the big picture.

My heart has been being transformed since the beginning of my life. However, I have experienced some pretty radical transformation in the past year. I will begin with a story from Eden, appropriate I think. Tucked away in the heart of Jamaica is a place that transcends any other place I have ever been in my life. I have experienced many places where God seemed thick, but none that stayed with me like this one. Here God showed up in the silence of a school for deaf students. Here I stood in awe and heard God louder than I had in a long time. In Eden, God taught me more about what it means to love and serve. The staff of the Jamaica School for the Deaf are some of the most amazing selfless people I have met in a long time. What an incredible experience it was. This is the face and body that God used to really start the transformation of what had become a pretty callused heart. Although Alex doesn't have the words or voice to tell me about the love of God, his message was clear.