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So this is what we look like! Kind of. This is a small representation of our church family. There are lots more images of these first two meetings. I might upload those onto facebook... The website is up and running, but the plan is to add more images and content. So I guess that is sort of a visual introduction.
But to speak of who we really are... many of the folks were members of Redeemer, the church that birthed us (if that makes sense). Some are new, like our family. Our pastor had emergency colon surgery right around the time that we were supposed to start, and he says that the scar on his stomach bears witness to both our weakness and the strength of God. I like that alot. We are definitely a group of people who need God, which is good because we belong to a God who loves to be with us. We sing hymns that have words which are profound, but with beautiful modern music. We share in Christ's body and blood every Sunday. We meet in a perfectly imperfect elementary school. The kids love it (there is an awesome playground and two kid-sized bathrooms), and I love it too, not only because of the people who gather there, but because of the light... it has beautiful natural light. We are a church... what Rick McKinley would call a 'beautiful mess'.
Our family is so full of joy to be part of this. I know that God has gospel dreams for this church and every church. I can't wait to see them unfold in his timing.
I just want to briefly mention that our church's website is up and running. Be sure to visit the music section under the media tab.
And these are some shots I took of the place we call home... Athens, Georgia.
I have been wanting to write about this for a little while... honestly, my life has become imbalanced in a lot of ways. Some of that I think is just part of life... being busy is a good thing, these opportunities are good things. But in my life lately this has become much more an issue of my heart going after these things, elevating good things to the level of THE thing. I guess I am saying that I have been neglecting the One who gave me life, who sustains me and made me. I haven't been meeting with him, I haven't been pressing in and clinging to him consistently through prayer and reading his book, the Bible. I have been so busy that I've not been spending time with other believers. I miss the closeness with Jesus.
Yet his gentle hands are shaping my life, drawing my heart to him, pursuing me despite my idolatry. I must meet with God. I guess the struggle is fighting to carve that time out of every day, protecting that time, not because I can then know that I did good, but because I need to meet with God. I need his renewal everyday. I need him to re-orient my heart away from the fleeting things I set my hope on and instead quiet my heart with his love, the only thing that never changes and will never be taken away. Knowing God is the most precious thing in my life, and no matter how good something else may be, it cannot take the place of this relationship.
When we lived in Portland, we were in Bible college at Multnomah University. Even though we were busy then too, we were surrounded by other believers, studying the Bible every day under wonderful teachers, in a uniquely close-knit group of families who were (and still are) our best friends, in a very supportive church. I remember being so scared to leave this nurturing environment. I was scared that I was almost leaving God's presence. I've found that God is as much with me here as he was there, and I have grown SO MUCH in knowing him here...
"Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, 'Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,' even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you." (Psalm 139).
The void that I feel from the distance between us and our family of friends has been something that pushes me into the arms of God. It makes me so thankful for God's family of messed up people that he is forming into his beautiful bride. It makes me eager to share life with those at our new church. It reminds me of the importance of forgiveness in relationships. The absence of our inspiring teachers has caused me to cherish the Bible and wonder even more that God gave this book to us -- the ultimate work of art. It has made we want to study this book every day of my life and truly be renewed in the spirit of my mind... to see things as God sees them, to call good what he calls good, to build my life in this story... to meet Jesus, because he can be met in this book.
My favorite book of the Bible used to be the Psalms. They will always have a special place in my heart... they are so rich in revealing the character of God. But lately I have been reading the book of Hebrews, and I love it for so many reasons. Trevor and I studied this book with John MacMurray our last semester at Multnomah, in a class that covered Hebrews through Revelation. I was hugely pregnant, especially toward the end (Piper was born two weeks to the day after we graduated). The author is writing to people who have been redeemed and have even suffered for the sake of the gospel, but who are in danger of slipping back into the ways of thinking that they followed before hearing the gospel (possibly legalism). I say that because the author's main point in this book is the supremacy of the new covenant over and against the previous covenant (7:18-19 and throughout) -- and he proves that by emphasizing the supremacy of Jesus, the One who mediated once for all time a better, perfect covenant by his blood. He exhorts his audience not to neglect this great salvation, but to cling to it everyday (as long as it is called today), to study it (5:11-14), to build their life around it, to have their heart shaped by this grace. He makes the connection that sin is unbelief (3:7-19). He likens his audience to the Israelites in the wilderness, who, though they *just* walked through the parted waters of the Red Sea and received manna from heaven, grumbled against God (Exodus 17). They said things like, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?" (Exodus 17:3). They even questioned the very presence of God-- "Is the Lord among us or not?" (Ex 17:7). I think the author is making this connection so deliberately because just as the Israelites doubted God's presence and blessing, his audience was in danger of being hardened by the deceitfulness of unbelief. Faith believes that what God has given us in this new covenant is better than the passing pleasures of sin. It is better than trying to earn our own pardon, offering sacrifices again and again for sin. It is better than trying to define ourselves by putting our hope in our own strength. Thus he calls the reader/listener to cling to this salvation, everyday. This resonates so deeply in my heart today. I am reminded of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. He is the true Pleasure that my heart desires. His salvation is the greatest gift, the only one worth building my life on.
I included some shots of the butterfly tree outside of our front door. Piper and I keep an eye out during the day, and when we see them there, we quietly step out onto the steps and watch them. She loves butterflies. I also wanted to share some shots of her little face. She is so precious.
My next post will be about our first church meeting :)
We are sick. Piper got it first. Then me. Trevor hasn't gotten it yet, which is good because he just started classes today.
I had a bigger post almost finished filled with some things I have been reflecting on lately, a little bit of repentance, and some words on our church's first service. I guess I will have to finish that later, but in the meantime, Trevor got me these flowers to cheer me up. He did this for me even though I haven't exactly been a picture of gentleness and grace with my family. Gah. I feel icky inside and out.
I did find the blog of a man who was a dear friend (along with his family) in Portland. He has Parkinson's Disease. He was an elder at our church, which has now been reformed into another church (kind of). You can read about his fight against Parkinson's and his inspiring walk with God here. It definitely caused me to think more about the gift of suffering in a believer's life. Though the Bible talks about this alot, it becomes so much more clear when you see a brother/sister walking through it (or of course you experience it yourself). I realized how selfish my attitude is when it comes to discomfort.
I am going to go drink some chicken broth now. Bye readers.
Today we spent the day together... Trevor took off from the public defender's office, and Piper and I left our sewing so that we could be together as a family. Just for one day. School starts back on the 16th, and we will be spending alot of time apart. The school year for law students is really difficult. He has to work on the other days also, except for Sunday, which will be filled with stuff to help me.
But yet-- I can't believe we are where we are today. Just having the opportunity for Trevor to be in law school is amazing. It's worth the sacrifice. Trevor is gaining skills he can use to help people in a real way. This is what we have always wanted!
So for our last day together before the start of school, we went thrifting :)
We hit up some of my favorite spots here in town, ate at Harry's Pig Shop, then drove to Madison and visited a lovely interiors market. The second photo is of a pair of illustrations I bought for our alcove at the foot of the stairs. They were $15 together, frames and all.
So other than school starting, and the obvious need for me to be sewing at all times, we have lots of other big things happening as well... our church plant's first real service is on Sunday! If you are interested in coming, we meet at 10:00 at Fowler Drive Elementary on Gaines School road. I'll bring my camera and shoot some photos, but I would love to have some visitors. I am so excited about this church. These people are a blessing in my life and God is doing things in this family of friends. I can't wait to grow in relationship with them.
Piper is starting to play pretend.. she has a baby doll that she tries to feed and give her juice/milk to. It is the cutest thing ever. She also has a fondness for sitting on things that are just her size.. the bottom stair, the fireplace foundation, kid-sized chairs. She is a wonderful little person.
Reflecting on the past year... I think I am loving being here in Athens. I am starting to really love this city and the people here. I like being back in the South. I think I understand and appreciate it since moving back... something perhaps I would not have been able to do if I had never left.
Until next time, take care...
I think this is my official declaration... I am overwhelmed. In a good way, but sometimes in a not-so-good way. I am really thankful for ICP, and super pumped about being a part of it... I am just struggling to do everything I need to do. I haven't been very good at juggling my various roles. I am so, so aware of my need for God's grace in my life, which is good because most days I need grace just to know that I need grace... that's just the ugly bent of my heart. I need to be reminded again and again that God's grace is abundant and all that I need. So being overwhelmed like this is healthy for me and good... just hard sometimes. If any crafters out there have advice on how to prepare for a craft fair I would love to hear it :)
So the pictures above: we sold our Ikea coffee table (which I was never really crazy about) and found this sweet little gem on craigslist for $20! I am going to paint it ballet slipper pink. My poor husband... Then the olive chest of drawers came from goodwill, for $25. I just could not pass up this thing. I love it.
The tunic is an example of some of the girl's clothing I'll be selling. I have had wonderful luck buying vintage patterns over the three years that I have been sewing, and they are turning out really cute. This particular dress came from a 1967 pattern.
I mentioned last time that I would include an update on Piper, so here goes (even though I didn't include a pic of her... if you want to see her, consult my last post): Piper loves to laugh and play. She has so much personality! She brings so much joy into our life. She turned 14 months old on July 29th. She has twelve big teeth. She tries to say every word that I say but doesn't get alot of them right yet, although she does get quite a few of them right. She loves birds these days... loves to point them out when she hears them or sees them. Repeatedly. She thinks it is hilarious to feed me. Especially when she uses a fork. She has a very acute sense of humor. She always wants to sit on my lap when I am sewing or playing our piano. Here eyes are definitely green and it look like they will be staying that way. She was born with an umbilical hernia, and though it hasn't yet disappeared, it has gotten alot smaller, which is wonderful... we have really wanted to resist operating on it for as long as possible. Hopefully it will completely disappear on its own. She also is really interested in seeing how things fit together right now... which shapes fit inside of others, where switches are for things, etc. I have struggled so much lately with trying to make sure she knows she has my attention even when I am busy. It is hard to balance work with caring for her sometimes. I am a little bit discouraged in this area, and actually alot of areas, but I see God's tender hands shaping my/our life and I know that his purposes for me/us are good.
I guess that is all I have to share for now. Take care readers; we'll meet again soon :)
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