3rd C.....

It has been a few days since I last logged in to finish up this "C" talk I am working through. Nothing short on excitement though. 56 students in our student ministry yesterday. That is exciting! Family and Student ministry meeting last night, College basketball game tonight with "MyKids" and then a service project with our middle and high school students and their families tomorrow night as we head to the Christmas Center to shop for the kids and adopt Angels through the Salvation Army. I am so very excited about this time together as it is such a humbling experience to really adopt these children and take ownership as the students shop for gifts for these families. Its personal and such a joy to see. I will post some of those experiences later in the week. But this brings me to my third "C" and its fitting because we are on the move and putting action to our faith. See faith is not just meant to be seen or heard. It is meant to be demonstrated. As director of the student ministry at church - I need to work harder at doing this and communicating more effectively. See this is half of the bigger picture and not just being and leading the students. So as we Celebrate where we are and where Gods has us, we Connect with others to help us on our walk to keep us focused and encouraged and we Contribute by being the hands and feet of Jesus to those around us. I can't be the light for Jesus in your world. You can't be that light in my world. We are all called to illuminate Gods love and grace where we are doing life. Christmas time is here and the days are winding down. I am not feeling ready this year mainly because Carol and Kyle both have birthdays in there before Christmas. Its hard to concentrate on both and still be in the spirit. Its the worlds vision of spirit I am talking about - giving is just a part of who I am. I am in constant prayer of opportunities to walk with people and help out where I can. If done for the right reasons - blessings can be felt, experienced and shared no matter what time of year it is. There is nothing better than sending a family a box wrapped in love with things in the box that screams - someone cares and not taking any credit for it at all. Man that is sweet......
Romans 12:
6-8If you preach, just preach God's Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don't take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don't get bossy; if you're put in charge, don't manipulate; if you're called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don't let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.
9-10Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.
11-13Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.
14-16Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.
17-19Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."
20-21Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.

What do you want your life to be about? Some of the things above are hard for sure - some just dont make sense at all but looking beyond the surface of things - there is a bigger picture. I look at the student ministry that I am involved with and that has so much of my heart and makes up so much of who I am. It never would have started if I didn't take that first step. Did I think 4 years ago that I would have this burn in my chest for our children and students back then? No way ... I would have never taken that step ... to scared... I may have thought I was nuts... Carol would have thought I went nuts. But here I am .... Celebrating what God has and will do in my life, Connecting with others and serving hard to Connect people together and then Contributing by giving so much back. My time, my energy, my thoughts and prayers..... and serving with my hands and feet as we reach out to others.
When all of this is clicking .... there is no bigger smile on my face and on my heart. The both show so much about who we are and what we are becoming.
Celebrate - Connect - Contribute

Love you all,
Lonnie~