Contemplations of a Mommy "Monk"

One of my bestest friends from college days has begun a blog. But I'm pretty sure it won't be much like mine. My friend Ann is a world traveler for Jesus. She hops a flight from Maui (yeah, that's where she lives) to India without much thought, as long as the purpose is telling others about Jesus. She's got a heart for people that's about as big as I've ever seen. So, when I heard that she was bound and determined to go visit the areas in Burma (Myanmar) and China that were recently devastated by natural disasters, I was excited. Go visit her blog to see pictures and hear more about her trip to the other side of the world.

I just had a big "Aha!" moment yesterday (you will laugh at that if you've already done PowerLab). Sometimes (just sometimes, really, it's not all the time), I get this idea that I'm supposed to do everything and to do it all excellently. I'm pretty smart so I don't know why I can't understand that doing everything is IMPOSSIBLE. Someday I'll get through my little head. I visited with a children's ministry coordinator for a church 7 times as large as mine. Bigger is better, right? Why is that? Why do we automatically think that a big church has it all together while smaller churches aren't doing things very efficiently? Is there any truth to that? I have visions to improve our nursery, update our toddler Sunday school room and curriculum, decorate the children's wing in bright and wild colors, create sets, redo our entire organization, write a ministry vision, create a brochure, take photographs of children and put them everywhere.... a...

“When we are set free from the bondage of pleasing others,when we are free from currying others approval-then no one will be able to make us miserable or dissatisfied. And then, if we know we have pleased God, contentment will be our consolation. ~Kay Arthur Right now, the only thing on my mind is VBS and Children's Ministries, so forgive me for constantly chattering on about it. Vacation Bible School isn't quite what it used to be. These days, it's a performance, a show of epic proportions that must "wow" and excite children and parents alike. People have expectations of children's ministries in the 21st century that weren't even imagined in D.L. Moody's day. So, it's become quite apparent to me that I must keep my focus straight. As I worry over set design and redecorating the Children's wing, I'm often thinking of how everyone else will view my work. Yes, I am doing this as a ministry to parents and kids, but ultimately all my work is fo...

Oh boy, do I have an exciting opportunity to tell you about! About two years ago I attended a conference in Rochester called "Hearts at Home." I had no idea what to expect, but a group of friends traveled together to exeperience this weekend away from home. While we there, I heard Lysa TerKeurst speak as a keynote speaker and in the breakout sessions. While Lysa was speaking, I heard the Lord speaking to my heart, "Heather, you could be doing this." I love to teach the Word of God, having training and experience, but the leap to a speaking career sounded scary. I went up to the front after the conference and asked Lysa how she got started doing what she does, i.e. speaking and writing. She invited me to attend her conference in the summer for speakers and writers called "She Speaks". At the time, I blew it off thinking I didn't want to spend the money for that and besides, I wasn't sure what my husband might think about this dream of mine....

The line was taught, my face was serious while my hands furiously reeled in the line. I looked up to see a great clump of seaweed and an empty hook. Those blasted fish stole my bait again! My hands were freezing as I attempted to place the wet slimy minnow on the end of the hook for one more try. I cast rather indelicately, not expecting anything other than a piece of grass to get caught on my hook. After three grueling hours in 30 degree May weather enduring the blasting winds, I was finished. I had envisioned an eventful and enjoyable day with my husband. He was being such a patient teacher while I sat in frustration and boredom freezing my fingers off. He graciously took me home for some hot coffee and a warm breakfast promising that the afternoon would be better. My husband is an avid fisherman and I had hoped that I would catch the bug too on our “date” together. Instead, I caught nothing and ended up disappointed. I thought this was supposed to be an adventure, but all I did was ...

Dream Big I have a dream – a vision. It’s just a dream though. It feels like it could just disappear like a mist the moment I awake. Like most dreams, the details are sketchy, but it seems like something important…. I guess dreams are the stuff that hope is made of. Instead of inspiring hope, my dream fills me with fear. I responded to the Lord readily with “here I am Lord, send me,” but now I don’t know where to go. Of course I’m excited by the dream but I’m not really a dreamer. I’m a practical girl in a practical world. How do I make the dream come to life? I dove right into the deep water and now I’m realizing I’m not a very strong swimmer. Oh Lord, can I please go back to the shallow end and get some swimming lessons? Or am I to learn as I flail about helplessly? Joseph (in the Bible) was a dreamer too. I wonder if he felt overwhelmed or frightened by the dreams God gave him. How in the world could he plan to become the manager of Pharaoh’s empire? Who knows what Joseph was thinki...