Thursday, March 18, 2010

Baja Group Leaves Today

Good Morning Homebuilders - Just a reminder to pray for the group headed to Baja this morning!! Hope everyone has a great day!

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Self-defeating perfectionism

So today I was reading an article online and the author said the following: "Perfectionism may be the ultimate self-defeating behavior."

I think I might agree with this statement because if you think about it - perfectionism can cause everything from anorexia and bulemia to depression and lack of self esteem. Where did this idea that we just aren't quite good enough come from? Who decides when we are good enough?

How much laundry does a mom (or dad) have to do in one day to be good enough? What job title must one achieve? How many dishes must be washed? How many miles must be run? What diplomas must be hanging on the wall? What type of car in the driveway?

Do any of these strike a cord with you? They do with me. I think this nagging idea that I am not quite where I am supposed to be or who I am supposed to be follows me around continuously.

I believe depression is directly related to perfectionism.

In high school, I had a major major bout with depression. I played softball, basketball (then quit basketball), cheerleading, choir, SGA, volleyball and don't get me wrong -- this wasn't odd almost everyone played everything at our small school. But sometimes, I think we get involved over our heads...there just aren't enough hours in the day to be every where and do everything we want to do. I wanted to be perfect - at everything. Never miss a throw, never miss a ball, never make a mistake and when I did it just ate me up. I had trouble letting things go.

Now life has totally changed. I don't play sports - at least not competitvely, but I still struggle with these same feelings that I felt all those years ago but this time it relates to being the best mom, being the best wife, being the best friend, being the best employee etc, etc...

And the weirdest part is that sometimes those around us who seem the happiest and like they "have it all together" are actually struggling with this the most. I'm glad that God included all different types of people in the bible. There are murders, liers, back stabbers, cheaters and for me I am especially glad there was a perfectionist - Martha -- who thought she had to have everything just right. And in the midst of having the Savior sitting there in front of her she was missing the whole point.

So today my prayer is that my Martha ways become more like Mary's -- what are your thoughts on perfectionism?

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28, NIV).

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Don't Worry Be Happy

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. – Philippians 4:6

Worry - ugggghhhhh - I don't know about you but worrying is a big part of my life. I worry about money. I worry about my job. I worry about my family. I worry about my kid. It is so hard not to worry sometimes. You know as a Christian that worrying shouldn't be a part of your life, but it is so hard to fight off that feeling and to give things to God.

What things do you worry about? How can we find peace in the midst of all the stress? Once you pray about something - do you continue to hang on to those things that you asked God to handle?

Today, let's give our cares and burdens to Him and then trust that he is guiding our lives and that we are in the palm of His hand.

Hope everyone has a great day today!

Monday, March 8, 2010

Class Announcements 3/7/2010

Bags for Baja are due back by next Sunday, March 14th. More info in yesterday's bulletin.


Friend's Day will be Easter Sunday, April 4th. There will be an extended service, so no classes will be held. Don't worry-there will be special classes for the kids!! :) Be thinking about who you can invite!

Helpers are needed for the children's Special needs class on monthly rotation (Sunday AM or Wednesday PM). See Kacey (kacey@mayfair.org) if you can help.

The Activity Planners are planning a one-night retreat in April.

en-cour-age

Main Entry: en·cour·age

Pronunciation: \in-ˈkər-ij, -ˈkə-rij, en-\

Function: transitive verb

Inflected Form(s): en·cour·aged; en·cour·ag·ing

Etymology: Middle English encoragen, from Anglo-French encorager, from en- + curage courage

Date: 15th century

1 : to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope

2 : to spur on

3 : to give help or patronage to

Yesterday in class, Lee talked about what an encouragement cards were to him after his father passed away, and he brought the big stack of cards and showed them to us. So, today as I was considering what to post - the word encouragement kept coming to mind. I thought it was interesting that the dictionary says it means to inspire or spur on...

When I think of the words "spur on," they bring to mind a mental image of this jockey (little small man in a little green shirt and tight white pants just in case you were wondering) riding his horse and as the horse is flying around the track the jockey is digging his heels into the horse repeatedly "spurring" him on toward the finish line -- as if to say --don't stop -- keep going -- you can do this.

Don't each of us have days and weeks or even months that we need our friends to tell us - that we are doing a good job or that we will make it through whatever trying circumstances we are facing? Who around you needs that kind of encouragement? Let's keep our eyes peeled for someone who needs a little friendly spur in the side this week.

Romans 12:8 (New Living Translation)

If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Who Am I

The older I get the shorter life seems. I remember being a child when a week felt like a year and a year felt like a 100 years. Especially when I was 14 desperately wanting to be 16 so I could drive or date or whatever it was that made the days feel so long.

This song by Casting Crowns really puts our lifespan in perspective. The song compares our life to a wave that is here and crashes and is gone or a flower that blooms, but only for a season. Life is so short -- I get that now. I think having children also makes you realize how fast things change.

This song really speaks to my heart and I hope today that it will be an encouragement to you - a reminder that God cares about us - about our fears, our hopes and the storms that life brings.

Who Am I (Songwriters: Hall, John Mark; Casting Crowns)

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth

Would care to know my name

Would care to feel my hurt?

Who am I, that the bright and morning star

Would choose to light the way

For my ever wondering heart?



Not because of who I am

But because of what You've done

Not because of what I've done

But because of who You are



I am a flower quickly fading

Here today and gone tomorrow

A wave tossed in the ocean

A vapor in the wind

Still You hear me when I'm calling

Lord You catch me when I'm falling

And You told me who I am

I am Yours, I am Yours



Who am I, that the eyes that see our sin

Would look on me with love

And watch me rise again?

Who am I, that the voice that calmed the sea

Would call out through the rain

And calm the storm in me?



Not because of who I am

But because what of You've done

Not because of what I've done

But because of who You are



I am a flower quickly fading

Here today and gone tomorrow

A wave tossed in the ocean

A vapor in the wind

Still You hear me when I'm calling

Lord You catch me when I'm falling

And You told me who I am

I am Yours



Not because of who I am

But because of what You've done

Not because of what I've done

But because of who You are



I am a flower quickly fading

Here today and gone tomorrow

A wave tossed in the ocean

A vapor in the wind

Still You hear me when I'm calling

Lord You catch me when I'm falling

You told me who I am

I am Yours, I am Yours, I am Yours



Whom shall I fear?

Whom shall I fear?

'Cause I am Yours, I am Yours

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Mission Lazarus

Mission Lazarus is a holistic ministry that focuses on basic primary education, skill development, health education and treatment, agricultural development, and preaching and teaching the Word of God.

http://www.missionlazarus.org/

Jarrod Brown, the CEO and president of Mission Lazarus, came and spoke to our class a few months ago about the work going on here and it just blew me away! Let's take today and pray for the children who call Mission Lazarus home and for all of the staff who work day after day to make this a successful ministry.

Ephesians 6:18-19 (New Living Translation)

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think

Romans 12:2 (New International Version)
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

and here is the same verse from a different translation...

Romans 12:2 (New Living Translation)
Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

When the communications team started this blog, we wanted it to be a place where we could share information but also where as a class we could have a conversation -- a place where ideas are shared and in return our relationship with God and with each other becomes even stronger.

As we are going through this process of letting God transform us...what are the most difficult aspects of that process? What are the easiest? Why do we push away from God instead of letting him guide us through the transformation process?

Sometimes, I fear God's transformation just because I always assume that it means something bad (or something I perceive as "bad") has to happen in my life in order for that transformation to occur. For instance, you go through a hard time and someone says - God is using this to build your character or to strengthen you for something else in the future.

What are your thoughts on Romans 12:2?