Soul Sisters

Can We Talk? or Starting something new for Lent. Wait...Is that how it works?

2012-02-25T18:42:00.000-08:00

Hello ladies,

I was wondering if we could...um...talk? I know it is the weekend, and you are busy. There's laundry to finish folding, dinner dishes to load into our modern time saving devices, clothes to lay out for tomorrow's church service, items to move from freezer to fridge in preparation for tomorrow's lunch or dinner. Or maybe you are taking a much needed rest after a week that upped that Excedrin demand in your household: Work was tough, school was tough, both were tough, and you just want some peace and quiet. And not to talk. You are reading this fully knowing that sometime on Sunday you will have to think about what lies ahead in your upcoming week and you'd rather take a bubble bath than think about that, or anything else.

So...um...I've been struggling with how busy my weeks are and how busy my weekends are, and wondering when oh when can I just relax and do nothing, and say nothing and think nothing without feeling guilty about all that nothingness.

So far no date jumps out at me from my calendar. No super-special alarm is ringing telling me it is that special nothingness time, all for me.

Thinking about that got me to thinking-I know, I know, vicious circle- if that is how God feels as I go about my business wishing for time with no business to go about.

I mean, if I can't find time for me, when am I gonna find time for Him? And if I am waiting until I have more free time before I read my Bible, or listen for the Creator of the Universe' still, small voice then the Creator of the Universe is likely to be waiting a long while as well.
No date jumping out at Him from my calendar; no super-special alarm ringing to tell God that it is that special He and me time, all for us.

I talk to God during my waking hours. Sometimes a simple, "thanks." when He blesses me with seeing a bald eagle fly by the window at work, sometimes a full on prayer request or praise.So we've got that going for us, God and I. It isn't enough.

Many of you remember when I challenged myself, and anyone reading the post to read just a couple of Bible verses a day. That worked really well for many of us. We not only did our own reading and sharing of verses on the Facebook Event created for that purpose, but as Lisa Boyer pointed out, we got more than two verses daily, as we read others' posts. It was super- special God, His Word, my girlfriends and I (and Facebook) time.

So um...I was wondering...Can we talk? You and me and God, and okay, we can let Facebook into the mix. It is a convenient vehicle. I would like to share God's word again for about thirty week-days. Which will actually mean from Monday February 27, through Friday April 6, which happens to be Good Friday. So yes, math-fans and calendar buffs, that is 30 weekdays encapsulated within the next 40 days. Instead of giving something up for Lent we'd be starting something up. Again.

Starting this Monday.

Even though it is not yet Monday, I would like to end with these verses I really, really like.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:1-5

Blessings on us all-Lorilise

This is What We're Trying to Do

2012-02-21T05:04:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago while serving in our children's ministry I took a picture. Not at all unusual, the kids are cute, they enjoy seeing their pictures on our phones moments after being photographed, and some of them are hams and love making silly faces during free-play time.

Several of our little girls, Gabby, Natalie, Brisa, Kahmylia, and Bella had squished onto a see-saw together and giggling, said, "Miss Lorilise!" calling for my attention.

As I looked, they continued smiling and laughing and I saw the beauty of that moment. Five beautiful little girls with varying shades of beautiful skin representing different races and ethnicities.

"This is what we're trying to do." I said aloud to Melissa Blake, our fearless leader, as I took the picture, my eyes filled with tears. really good, happy, joyful tears.

When Keith and I asked the Methodist Conference if we might turn down their request to plant another suburban church west of Morning Star where Keith had been serving as an Associate Pastor, and pretty, pretty please, go to the city, our beloved St.L. instead, this is what we had in mind.

Keith often explains what called us to the city by quoting one of our personal heroes, Dr. King, who said, "The most segregated time in America is Sunday morning at 11."

And Dr. King thought that was wrong. And we thought that was wrong. And the powers that be gave us permission, blessing and a huge amount of encouragement and help to start a church at 4265 Shaw Blvd., because they think it is wrong too.

The morning I took the picture down in the basement of our church (our children's ministry is ironically named, "Word Up"), Dr. King's voice was in my head. I clearly heard his voice, from his famed "I Have A Dream" speech, "I have a dream; one day right here in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers."

And here we are in what has been reported to be one of the most racially divided cities in America, living Dr. King's dream.

Another dreamer, Sister Antona Ebo spoke Sunday about her own experiences going from St. Louis to Selma to march and express her desire that all should be free, all should have their God-given rights recognized and upheld. I hope she was gratified in seeing the full spectrum of God's rainbow represented in our congregation. I was gratified as I watched one of our little girls from that see-saw picture speaking one on one before service with Sister Antona. I don't know what was said, but there was smiling and a bit of giggling on both parts which brought me great joy.

Sister Ebo talked about Joy, giving us this acronym: Jesus, Others, Yourself. Sister Antona said this then, is how we should love. This is the order.

At the Word we have a reminder as as vision statement, though it isn't an acronym.

We say, Know.Love.Serve.

Know God, Love all, Serve others.

By this we shall be saved, we shall find joy, we shall be free.

I know that is a bold statement. But I believe it. We show the love of Christ, love we have experienced ourselves, and it fills us with joy. And it does free us.

Because the thing that tears down past hurts is love. The thing that fills us is love. When love pours out of us into the community, past hurts are torn down, replaced with love. We are free from pain, free from the past, free to know, to love, to serve.

And that is the thing. That is what we're trying to do.

Here is another quote from Dr. King, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

And one more quote for our day. From 1 Corinthians 13:13 "And now these three remain:faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

The commonality between Dr. King's quotes, Sister Antona's quote, The Word's Vision statement, and God's Word is love. Because the greatest of these is love.

That is what I wanted you all to know. Love brings only good. Its absence brings that which we want to eradicate. And to do so, we must love.

Blessings, Lorilise

Through Him

2012-02-13T19:24:00.000-08:00

Hey Soul Sisters,
here is the second post by our own, Melissa Blake.
With Valentine's Day on the horizon, I set out writing this blog wanting to talk about love. I had visions of conversation hearts and flower arrangements with inflated prices in my head. Then my world was turned upside down instead. This blog will be going in a different direction. To the romantic, I'm sorry.

During a Professional Development Day, I was walking on air. I had an ADORABLE new outfit on and I got to wear jeans. The jeans factor makes my day infinitely better. Some people prefer sweatpants. Not I. I look forward to jeans day at school about as much as Spring Break. Ok...not really but I needed to be a little dramatic for you to truly understand. I was sitting with close friends, pretending to collaborate...really? Grading. I got a text. It was from my Lauren. (see: best friend ever...coolest girl I know...the person I go to for EVERY success and EVERY defeat...yeah, her) The message said, “Hey any chance I could see you today?” This didn't have deep meaning to me instantly. It was when I said, “Possibly. What's up?” and just got the following reply, “What do you have going on?” A question...not an answer...that I felt panic run through my entire body. THIS is what 17 years of friendship will do to you. I tried to get more information out of her. Called her. No answer. Sent a text to her husband who basically just told me, “Get there. Promise her you'll go to her.” I walked back into the room with my coworkers (friends). They saw the panic. I had hives and I was shaking.

I was finally able to leave. I had felt every second of that half hour of waiting. I walked up to her porch. She opened the door and fell into my arms, sobbing. I asked her what was wrong. Finally, she came out with it. She had cancer. Not just any cancer. Colon cancer. My husband's mom was diagnosed with this. My husband's mom lives only in our hearts now. I literally tried to cry for about 3 seconds and couldn't. What was WRONG with me? This is not how the best friend is supposed to react. I calmly talked things out with Lauren. I asked about next steps. Consoled her that we would get through this. I knew we would. I didn't figure out, until recently, why I was so calm. (I'll get to that part.) I got into my car and broke down. Got to my mom's house after collecting myself and broke down again. Seriously...waterfalls of emotion. I freaked my momma out AND my daughter. I couldn't catch my breath. Mom practically shook me, asking what was wrong. I finally choked out the word, “Lauren.” This didn't help. Another minute or som went by. Now everyone was freaked out. Finally, I said the words, “She has cancer.” It was real now. Lots of tears followed. My husband picked up the pieces nicely.

Days passed. Lauren went to her doctor. He told her that she would need surgery to remove the tumor and scheduled a consult for the following day. That following day, I saw a missed call from her at basketball practice and went to the hall to call her back. She answered in a happy voice, but after telling me she would be having surgery the next day, I could hear the fear in her voice. This was a good thing, and I told her too. I told her I wanted to be there the whole day, both for her and her husband, a truly wonderful man, who I knew would need support as his wife went into surgery. She said something to the effect of “Of course, I want you there.”

Since the unveiling of this paralyzing news, I sent Lauren a quote for each day. On the day of surgery, I found my own quote. Dang...I needed one. I decided on a Bible verse. “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” -2 Corinthians 1:4 This was perfectly fitting and is currently in the running as my life verse. This epitomizes how I want to be viewed in life. I want to be the strong one...especially for my friends. My goal on surgery day was to comfort...not cry. I came super close after she came out of surgery to breaking this promise to myself but held on. Phil needed comfort. Lauren's mom needed it. Everyone else in that waiting room (of which there were 8 in total) needed a positive word and a smiling face.

There were many prayers in that waiting room. I could literally feel a protective dome throughout the day. The feeling started in the prep room while I sat with Lauren and Phil, waiting for them to wheel her off. I cracked jokes about everything I could think of. This was after the nurse rudely told me to throw out my coffee. (I don't think she understood what she was doing and I'm still bitter towards her.) I felt it as I hugged Phil when they DID wheel her off. The prayers were wrapped around us both while it felt like our lives were falling apart. I sat in the waiting room with their families and felt the prayers there. I've long since felt to be a part of this family. They knew me in the awkward stages of adolescence and still love me. That's family.

By the time she was out of surgery and I had hugged her as much as one can when hugging someone in a hospital bed, and kissed her on the head a few dozen times, I decided it was time to go. I had done what I set out to do and I had only called out to God (literally, audibly) once. “Lord, keep giving me strength. #pleaseandthankyou”

On the long drive home, I thought about the day and the past few days. I asked myself...how on earth did I get through that and stay, ultimately, so dang positive.? How did I have the strength to put on a happy face and provide comfort for Lauren's family? The answer was clear. This whole time...I had simply trusted in God. I gave all the worry..all the tears...all the pain to him and, even subconsciously, I knew I could do that. “He's got this.”

Sometimes I question my faith. I wonder if I really follow God like I'm supposed to. I worry that I don't pray enough...that I don't thank Him enough...that I don't rely on Him enough. And I don't. The kicker is... I have faith in Him, always, to get me through the hard parts by giving me the comfort that I need. Right this very moment on this very page.. I give thanks that he gives me strength every day so that I, in turn, may comfort those who need it...through Him of course. :)

Always be joyful and never stop praying!

2012-02-06T08:19:00.000-08:00

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Contemporary English Version (CEV)

¹⁶Always be joyful ¹⁷and never stop praying. ¹⁸Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ. This is what God wants you to do.

I am so excited to be doing my first blog for the Shaw Soul Sisters. Each week when I receive the blog it’s one of the emails that I don’t just skip over in my inbox; I take the time to read it because it usually puts a smile on my face and reminds me that I’m not alone in the things that I go through.

I’d like to start by telling you a little bit about myself. I’ve been attending The Word at Shaw for almost a year now. I was brought here by the Holy Spirit. As a child and early teen, I went to church about every Sunday, attended Church Camp every summer, and knew that Jesus had given his life for my sins. But as I became a young adult and went away to college, I forgot about Jesus and what he had done for me and why. I walked away from my faith. I still occasionally prayed but almost always out of desperation when I couldn’t figure things out myself. I never remembered that all the good things that happened to me were manifested by God! Life went on like this for over ten years or maybe even closer to fifteen.

Then almost exactly a year ago, I found myself fleeing to The Women’s Safe House; hurt, afraid, emotionally and spiritually broken. I made a choice to be free! Not just for me, but for my boys too. Free from over five years of about every type of abuse that can exist within a marriage. I went to the safe house, not because I didn’t have any other place to go, but because it was not safe for me. I had made an extremely dangerous decision.

I had no money, no job, and very little support because of the years of isolation, but I was determined to make a better life for us. So over the next couple days, The Word at Shaw beckoned me. And I am so glad that I made it that first Sunday, and the next, and the next, and the next…

I have been able to rebuild my relationship with Christ. He never left me, he never turned his back on me. I just had to be open to his love and forgiveness. People used to tell me, “trust in the Lord for all your needs and he will provide.” I believed that they knew what they were talking about, but I didn’t think I had ever experienced it first hand.

Finding God’s love again was the most joyful thing in my life. I kept praising God for my freedom and praying that I would understand His plan for my life. The more I praised God for what He had done in my life and asked for things I felt I needed, the more He showed Himself to me. My fear was disappearing, my self-esteem was getting better, and I started feeling safe again. God was bringing people into my life that truly cared about me, people who would encourage me and tell me to “trust in the Lord and He will provide”. The more I trusted God the better things got in my life. Now here it is a year later and I have a wonderful home, a great job, more food to eat than I could ask for, and a church-family that loves and supports me.

I chose the verse above,

“Always be joyful and never stop praying. Whatever happens, keep thanking God

because of Jesus Christ. This is what God wants you to do,”

because I’m sure there are times when we forget how blessed we really are. When my kids and I pray each night the list of thanksgiving goes on and on. I’m gonna give you a small example. “Thank you Jesus for today, thank you Jesus for our bed, thank you Jesus for our covers, thank you Jesus for our family, thank you Jesus for our friends, thank you Jesus for our food, thank you Jesus for our hot water, thank you Jesus for the bus, thank you Jesus for the metrolink, thank you Jesus for socks, thank you Jesus for our tv, thank you Jesus for our toys, …”

I use this as an example because my kids and I are so grateful for even some of the smallest things. Yes we really do pray for the bus because without it we couldn’t get anywhere and for the t.v. because without it we wouldn’t get to watch the weather. Sometimes it’s Goodwill that we pray for because we can buy new clothes without spending much money.

God provides! He provides so much that I think sometimes we forget that there are others out there who are praying for something that we take for granted. Like last night, while most of us watched the Super Bowl, don’t you know there were hungry children in our own city praying for something to eat? Don’t you know there were men and women in our city praying for a warm place to sleep? While we rooted on a team and ate lots of snacks, there was a mother crying because her child had just died.

This isn’t to say that we are all ungrateful and that we should be ashamed of ourselves. No, it’s just a reminder to be joyful and continue to pray, no matter how good or bad life is for you in this moment.

My challenge to you this week is two-fold. Each day take a moment to thank God for something that you usually take for granted, find something new each day. And secondly, each day pray for someone you don’t know or for something that is foreign to you. Pray that someone else’s prayers are answered in a way that our Father in Heaven gets all the glory.

I’ll start: Thank you Father for a refrigerator and microwave at work so I can bring my leftovers and save the money I would spend on lunch. And I’m gonna pray for the students in the job readiness class that no matter what they are going through they will find the courage and confidence to become a better them and get on a path of success.

Have a great week and I’ll be praying for you!

Your sister in Christ,

Ruth Gary

Ohhh Mondays

2012-01-30T05:36:00.000-08:00

I've been waiting to post this blog until today as it is all about today.
Mondays. The day that signals the end of the weekend, the beginning of the long work-week, long school-week, and for some the day when we ask, "Where did that paycheck go?"

Mondays. When everything goes wrong and a co-worker, fellow-scholar or friend says, "Well, it is Monday." we accept this explanation as a valid reason why the coffee was spilled , the fax machine jammed, the server was down, the co-worker or scholar three desks over is grouchier than normal and the boss or professor just dumped an impossible assignment on us. We accept it as the cause of our fruit cup leaking all over our lunch container making our sandwich soggy. Of course we thought we zipped the Ziploc fully but actually didn't. We accept, "Well, It is Monday." when at the end of the day it's raining and we are in a building needing to get to our car-where sadly, our umbrella is, And our spouse calls us right as we get to our car to ask us to pick something up for them on our way home-when what we needed was for them to say, "Hey, just thinking about you. I Thought I would call and see how your day had gone. I Love you, bye." We say, "Well, it is Monday" when we arrive home where our children are in refusal mode no matter what we say or threaten, our best friend tweets to say they cannot make the Monday night girls-night at Hobby Lobby we had set up so Monday would end on a high note, and finally the national news anchor reports that surprisingly, several candidates slung mud at one another, and here are those highlights.

Perhaps this is why I have never heard anyone say, "I love Mondays!" I'm not about to tell you that I do. Nope. Not gonna happen. Forget it sister! Move off of that thought and back to reality.

But... You knew that was coming, right? Yep, Pastor's wife always has a big but. (I just threw that in there to give you a laugh on a Monday). So what's the but?

Just this. Maybe Mondays are doomed to be this darkened catastrophic day of gloom and mishap. But what if we chose to go through our Monday in conversation with God? What if when the coffee spills we say, "Lord that is hot!.Ouch." and when the fax machine jams we can look heavenward and say, "Really?" not as if to say we blame God for a fax jam, but more to say, "Really God, Can you believe this Monday I am having?!"

When the server crashes we might say, "I wanna hit this computer with a hammer. Good thing I don't keep a hammer here, right God?".

When the boss or Prof. dumps that ginormous assignment in our lap, or on our desk, we can say, "Again Lord, good thing I don't keep a hammer here." and/or, "I know I should pray for all people in my life Lord, but I confess my prayers for him/her would probably not be good prayers right now. Can you help me to see their side of things?" I know...I know, that would be a tough thing to ask for. Some might rather say, even though it is wrong, "Hey God, can you hand me a hammer?"

When we find our soggy sandwich, we can joke with our creator, "I was thinking of fasting and praying through lunch anyways." and then ya know, maybe pray during lunch since you suddenly have some time freed up in your day.

When we run through the rain to our car, we can acknowledge that God is with us, and sent the rain n the first place. "I know, I know, the farmers need it, we've been in a drought. But you couldn't turn it off for five minutes?" Because God can handle a little complaining. It may even give him a laugh on a Monday.

After our spousal let-down we can ask God to help us not to turn into a total grouch as we run our extra errand, and to please, please, help us be nice to our family when we get home. This could be a really important prayer if those kids are in refusal mode.

When our pal has to cancel girls-night, we can look heavenward and sigh. He understands.
When we see the evening news we can look heavenward and sigh. He knows.

Our God is a God who sees all and knows our hearts. He doesn't need us to tell Him what we are going through or how we are feeling about it. We need to tell Him. Because it draws us closer to our God and being in conversation with Him reminds us that we are not alone. He is with us. Always.

In Genesis 16:13, after God sent an angel to speak to Hagar as she hid alone in the desert, she learned what we know: He sees us, He is with us.We can talk to Him and He hears us.

"Thereafter, Hagar referred to the Lord who had spoken to her, as, "The God Who Sees me." for she said, "I have seen the One who sees me."

Have a tolerable Monday, and share it with my friend and yours, Our Father in heaven.
Let me know how it goes.
Blessings-Lorilise

Speaking of Great Expectations....

2012-01-25T21:28:00.000-08:00

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things unseen. Hebrews 11:6

Last week Lorilise shared a post about expecting God to make a way for us to do the things for which we are called. As I've been ruminating over this, it occurs to me that I don't often expect great things from God. Frequently, my faith is reduced to barely a shred of hope that God will step in at the last minute to cover the little tiny gap that is left between my effort and something truly great. The implication here is that I've got it mostly covered on my own, and I only need God to grant me a few drops of His strength and goodness to get it the rest of the way.

WHAT?

Yes, this is actually how I (often) function. So, when I'm finally at the end of my own strength (which really doesn't take that long, if we're being honest), I am able to recognize God when He steps in. Of course, I'm totally blown away because His strength and goodness far outweigh anything I could ever conceive. Then it strikes me that He's been at work in my situation- in my life- all along!

He is always at work; He doesn't step in just to save me from myself at the last possible second.

Let that sink in for a minute.

I've had this idea, and I don't think I'm alone in this, that God is around to help me do good things. When in reality it is God who lets me participate in His good work.

How did I get that backwards?

I think it is because at my very core, I still would prefer to do things my way. But wouldn't it be so much easier to do things God's way? I mean, seriously, He's GOD! I'm pretty sure He has the best, perfect plan, plus I'd be willing to bet He's considered everything and has all the details worked out!

So where does this leave my faith?

My expectation = My faith.

Based on my expectations, I would say my faith needs quite the adjustment! I need to recognize that God is always at work in my life, and He is always doing greater things than I could ever do on my own! Changing my expectation of God to reflect who God really is, increases my faith in Him.

So, what are your expectations of God? What does your faith look like? Do you see any upcoming changes in your expectations?

Great Expectations

2012-01-17T03:54:00.000-08:00

Expectations can be a great thing. Or a beyond, beyond less than great thing that creates great disappointment.
I expect food delivered hot and fast when I go through a drive-thru. Mostly because I am in a hurry, starving because I've been "too busy to eat", and oh yeah, the establishment's commercials set up that expectation.
So while receiving an order of limp, luke-warm fries and a less then tasty sandwich, I feel disappointed and ripped off, I tend to chastise myself, "What'd you expect? It's _______, (insert fast-food joint's name here).

Even though half the responsibility surely rests on the disconnect between a New York ad agency, the restaurant's Marketing Department and the actual restaurants, some responsibility is mine. Because I have had bad fast-food meals more often than I have had good fast-food meals.
I should at least switch locations, or chains, right?

This type of expectation falls into the category of I expect this because I want it to be true. Really more wishful thinking on steroids.

There are great expectations that come to fruition and I am always so thrilled.

In July of 2011 Keith and I stood at the altar of a sanctuary with carpet so worn you could see the holes in the floor underneath. Dust on the widow sills was measurable in inches. The windows themselves were beautiful-just dirty.( In fact to put it in realty terms, the building had great bones. It needed cleaning and updating).

We prayed together to God. We told our Heavenly Father that if this was where He wanted us to do ministry, we would do it, we would give it our all, we would meet His people in the Shaw community and do life with them, helping in the ways we could, sharing the Word, breaking bread, and working really, really, really hard.

We did not place expectations on God as to what color the walls would be painted, who would paint the walls, how many people would help us, or how hard it would be to renovate a building while serving in the community. These things mattered but were not at the forefront of our prayers,

Our expectation was if God wanted us here, He would show us the way, to continue on Eva's theme from last week, step by step. I continue because Eva was right, and Dr. King was right when he said, "Faith is taking the next step even when you can't see the whole staircase." Keith and I believed in God's ability to move us through our journey, And we just had to take the next step. And then the next step. And the one after that. One at a time, each one taken with equal faith in the God we love.

God brought us people to help with the building. Actually-we helped them as Keith and I epitomize the term unskilled laborers. God brought us people to help work at our first National Night Out only a month after being blessed with our church building.God brought us people from the neighborhood who have become our mentors, sounding boards, friends and great church members. With each step we took in faith and continue to take, God showers blessings upon us. Most often in the form of the beautiful people of the neighborhood.

My expectation now is that God will continue to bless if I will continue to step, alongside my favorite pastor and yours, Keith.

I do come to church every Sunday with great expectations. I expect to encounter God through Worship in music and in hearing His Word. Harry and the rest of the praise team and Keith, are vessels for this encounter.

I also expect to share life with friends, reveling in their victories, and praising God with them for those. Praying with them about their struggles and mine.

When I go to work each day I expect to work hard to earn my pay and am never disappointed. I also expect God to show me ways I can be Jesus' hands and feet for those I encounter. I pray to God each morning to show me someone I can minister to and to give me the right mindset and words to do so. As long as I am praying that prayer, and have that expectation, I have had that opportunity. No kidding.

This is a lot of me going on and on about how great our church is-and it is. And a bit of me sharing about my Monday-Friday life. But my point and I do have one, is that if we want to love others the way Jesus does, and grow as a disciple of Christ then we all have a job to do. We need to know we are on a mission from God. We need to have an expectation that God will show up if we ask, that He will bless our lives by allowing us to be His hands and Feet not just on Sunday but daily.

Who's willing to do two things with me?
1. be willing to be one of those vessels of God's love for others.
2. set up the expectation.
Okay three things.
3. take the first step.
So are we willing? Are we ready? Let me know how it goes. You can share in the comments section so we can all be encouraged by your great expectations.

Blessings, Lorilise

Changes

2012-01-09T19:02:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

So it seems a little weird to be saying that on the 9th of January, but as far as I'm concerned, "the year is still young!" : )

And though it may seem too late to some, I think this is the perfect time to talk about New Year's resolutions. By now, many people have already started to lose determination steam for their resolutions, but I figure, "What's the rush?" We are talking about changes we want to make over the long term, right?

On the 1st of January of this year, I made a realization about myself. I realized that I get easily overwhelmed. Anything that takes patience, or a long term solution, really just frightens me. The thing is, I really, REALLY want to be Super Woman. And I am so task oriented that if I see that a task can't get done in half an hour, or an hour, or a day, or any conceivable amount of time, I put it off.

I. Simply. Don't. Start.

So things don't get done. My house stays messy. My weight remains the same. My Bible sits untouched. My prayers lay unanswered because they were unasked.

Then, when I resolve that things are going to be different, I run head first into my disorganized life in a kamikaze frenzy and wonder why I can't keep up the pace long term. Hmmmmm.........

The reality is that while I know that things need to change in my life, I don't know how to keep the ball rolling. I can start the ball on its way, but I just can't keep the darn thing in motion!

So here is where my second realization came in. I have to change the way I make changes in my life. I cannot waffle between overwhelmed despair and Super Woman frenzy every other week. You see my problem is that when I see a huge obstacle, I think, "Where in the world am I gonna get enough energy to accomplish this mountainous feat?"

Here's the secret...

I only need enough energy for one small step.

That's it.

So this year, I'm gonna take that step. I know that God is calling me to make some changes, so this year, instead of trying to overhaul my life in an hour, I'm just gonna put my hand in His and trust that one small step is enough.

Oh Christmas Tree, No Christmas Tree.

2011-12-17T11:51:00.000-08:00

"I don't have a Christmas Tree." This was the confession I made to friend and fellow-Word At Shaw member, Lynette Beeny a full eight weeks ago. She is an artist and helped me talk through some Christmas decor alternatives such as vases filled with ornaments, banks of lights hanging from the walls, garland framing windows on the inside of my home.
Friend Leeann Volle, whom I have known for 31 years, sent me a web-page of ideas for unconventional "Christmas -Trees" including a ladder wrapped in bright kitschy 50's style lights. You know those big colorful ones.
Still I had no tree.
December dawned and the corner of my living room was spare. Usually I had our 7 foot tree fully decorated in the silver, black and white ornaments by the Saturday after Thanksgiving. I had slowly built up my collection over the six years Keith and I had lived in Missouri until finally in 2010 I said confidently, "It's finished. There are no gaps in my tree-finally!"
Unfortunately, on December twenty sixth of 2010 I said, "It's finished." in reference to our tree. I was okay with eight branches held on by duct-tape-don't worry HGTV-ers, it was "Forest Green". But after taping the ninth branch back onto the tree halfway through last year's December, I knew it was time to let the tree go.
I didn't worry as I disposed of it on the twenty-sixth. I knew we would move to the city and have a completely different living room to fit a tree into in 2011.
That was our plan.
But selling a house at this time is tough and preparing a house to sell at this time even a little tougher.
So on December 5th, after test-confessing to two girlfriends, I let Keith in on my big oops.
"We have no tree. I got rid of it last year right after Christmas."
Keith smiled. He is patient, and used to his red-headed wife's ways.
I didn't want to go buy another big artificial tree as we would only have to move it when we moved in 2012-insert all your prayers for our home sale here-and we have enough to Craig's List outta here before then.
Jesus didn't have a Christmas tree and he did okay. Of course he was Jewish.
Aside thought for the day: What eight gifts could you give the Savior of the world for Hanukkah? This I can ask when I see Mary and Joseph someday in heaven.
Back to my own holiday issues.
I do not need a tree to observe Christmas. In fact, in years past I always felt more of a kinship with my Irish ancestors when I brought a live tree into my home in December and lit and decorated it. It was the Irish who brought all manner of items inside from the forests in order to brighten up their homes in bleak winter months.
In order to observe Christmas I need, what? A heart that has prepared for the celebration of Christ's birth? yes. An understanding that Christmas would not be so meaningful without Easter? yes.
A love for my savior? yes. But shouldn't I have that year round? yes.
So what makes Christmas Christmas to me? It isn't about the presents-they are a symbol of Christ's present to us, or maybe they stand in the gap of our inability to give him a birthday present?
It isn't about lights around my yard, or a six foot inflatable Santa on the lawn, or a tree.
I know for many "Christmas is about families being together..." &/or "...taking time to give to others."
These are nice sentiments. I am personally counting the days until daughter Jenna Scarborough arrives. Also, I have dumped quite a bit of change and bills into some red kettles this month.I am absolutely for giving to God's family in any way I can-especially those who truly need to feel the love of Christ this season.
But I know Christmas is about my acknowledging the immense gift God gave to the world in the form of a beautiful baby and trying to still myself enough to hear from God on how He would like me to glorify Him in this season.
If I get a small tree to commemorate this holiday, I will do so with the understanding that I didn't need to do so.Maybe I will wrap something else in lights or fill those vases with ornaments. Maybe I will do a combination of creative Christmas Season decor. Tree or not.
No matter what, I will celebrate the day Jesus came into our dark world to be Light.
And the fact that he is alive and fully light in our world to this day.
I hope this finds you well. That you have time to read some of the gospel accounts of his birth, and feel the peace that his life, death and resurrection brings all who believe.
Blessings-Lorilise

Jesus Came to Save Christmas

2011-12-06T20:14:00.000-08:00

I had intended to post a few days ago, but I've had a lot weighing on my mind in regards to this post, and I just didn't have a coherent message to relate. I knew I wanted to write something about Advent- the special time when we await the "advent" or coming of the day in which we celebrate the birth of Jesus- but I just didn't know exactly how to say what I really feel without sounding like the Mexican-American "Grinchita" Who Stole Christmas.

I generally have mixed feelings when the Christmas season rolls around in late October. On the one had I love the nostalgia; I love the snow; I love the ballet, the concerts, and the food (although, I'm not really sure you can call cookies and chocolate food in the truest sense of the word!); I love the lights. I think the lights have always been my favorite tradition of the holiday season... So what's not to love, right?

Well, let's see. Things I don't like:
~That feeling of coerced obligation to spend, spend, SPEND money I don't have on things people didn't know they wanted- or needed for that matter.
~The genuine sadness I feel when I witness millions of people every year celebrate a holiday they truly know nothing about.
~The envious green hue of disappointment my kid's faces take on when they inevitably feel entitled to WAY more things than I can afford.

And the list goes on. But not here. Because this post isn't about that.

As I was contemplating, I actually started to feel anxious. Questions and doubts swirled around my thoughts, and the worrying took over. I anxiously pondered the sins of the season-- overlooking the poor and the orphans, buying gifts made in sweat shops that exploit child labor, making a holiday about the birth of THE Redemption Story of humanity about materialism and greed... I decided to pray because my anxiety was making my stomach hurt. As I prayed, I had a thought.

This is why Jesus came.

Jesus came to redeem a sinful world from the grasp of its own self destruction. He came to make a way out of the envy, the greed, the materialism, the neglect, the overindulgence, the slavery, the evil, the meaningless pursuit of ourselves.

So, Jesus saves Christmas.

Truth is, I don't really know exactly how we at the Walls' house are gonna celebrate Jesus differently this year. But maybe that's it. We aren't celebrating the holidays, we're celebrating Jesus. We aren't observing festivals, feasts and traditions. We are remembering the life whose divinity changed the course of human history, worshipping the God who paved the lighted path to our salvation.

This year let's strip away whatever distracts and detracts from the best celebration we can make of one of the greatest events in the Redemption Story- Jesus' birth. And please, hear me clearly. I'm not telling you what it is that distracts and detracts, because I don't know what that is for you. I'm simply suggesting that we all strip away the excesses in our own lives until we can see HIM clearly.

Ladies, I pray that you all have a wonderful, heart-transforming Christmas season, and may Jesus be the center of it all!

Using Your God-Gifted Tools

2011-11-26T12:18:00.000-08:00

The tangibles:Starbucks. French pedicures. Flowers on my bedside table. A glass of wine and a good book.
These objects downright delight me. All crashing together into one positive fantastic day? In the words of the always articulate Kevin Bacon..."Jump back!" I mean, throw in a block of Butterkase and some crackers and you've got yourself a perfect day! Let's say for the purpose of argument, that one of these "perfect days' was unfolding.
What can destroy it?
A series of tedious, "no-big-deal-until-the-third-person-cuts-in-front-of-you--narrowly-missing-your-newly-
pedicured-foot-with-their-cart-only-to-come-to-a-complete-stop-and-block-your-view-of-the-ENTIRE-
imported-cheese-section" events. And why? Why do we constantly allow things that, if we had a little more patience and a little less of a "NOW-NOW-NOW" attitude, wouldn't bother us?
OK. All of that was misleading. You thought I was going somewhere with all of this; especially after creating a mental picture of something that strikes a little close to home.
Clearly, I don't have an answer. I'm a hot mess just like the rest of you most of the time. All I know is that we CAN make ourselves happy if we try and we CAN put a little more faith in The Big Guy to provide clarity, sort everything out and lead us down a path of iced white mochas and sweet smooth dairy products. I think it at least starts there. We need to use the tools He gives us though.
Perhaps you've heard the story/joke of the man who wouldn't leave his house during the flood of '93? Authorities drove to his house and said, "Sir, the rain's not stopping. You need to evacuate."
The man said, "No. God will save me."
They came back in a boat and pulled up to his second-story window saying, "Sir you are going to drown if you don't come with us. This flood is not stopping!"
The man said, "God will save me."
They finally came by helicopter and said, "This is your last chance Sir. You need to come with us!"
Again, the man said, "God will save me."
When the man drowned and went to heaven, he asked God, "Why didn't you save me? I put all my faith in you and I still died. How could you do that?!"
God replied, "I sent you a car, a boat, and a helicopter. What else was I supposed to do?"
This is meant to be a silly story but it is BURSTING with truth. God gives us what we need in order to handle every situation that we come across...even the little sassafras that cuts in front of you at the cheese counter. We just need to listen and use the tools provided. It's cliche but He doesn't give us any trauma or drama that we can't handle.
To finish off this here blog, let me tell you about the many tools in my life...no pun intended. (Spoiler alert...I get gushy here and you might want to avert your eyes, but I want to prompt you to take inventory of your own toolbox whether you read this last part or not.)
My husband is my rock. When I feel I am at my weakest he's there to pick me up, throw me over his shoulder and carry me through the gauntlet. My daughter is my sunlight. She doesn't even realize it, but Natjobla can make me laugh when I feel like breaking everything made of glass in any given room of the house. My Lauren is my mirror. She sees everything beautiful in me and everything ugly and reflects herself right back to me without embarrassment, ridicule or judgement. She gets me...because in most ways, she is me. My family is the string tied around my finger. They remind me who I am and where I came from...of the values and morals that shaped me. My friends are my glue. My Elmer's. The good stuff. They hold me together. Every.Single.Day.
My challenge to those who read this: realize and understand the tools God has given you. Use them. Never neglect them. Hold onto them for dear life...because that is exactly what they are.

Here's my Complaint

2011-11-20T05:47:00.000-08:00

Staples.
That's it. My complaint about my new job in a building that generates lots and lots of paperwork. Staples are everywhere! Embedded in the carpet are staples. Lying at the edge of every desk are spent staples. Easy enough to sweep those laying on desks into the trash. However those staples which have become one with the carpet must be pried, loosed, cajoled out.
And that's it. That is my complaint.
Here are five things I love about my new job. Five things for which I am thankful.
1. Viewpoint: From my parking spot I have a beautiful view of the river. It is the first and last thing I see at work each week day. Pretty awesome view, thanks to The Creator.
2. Pay: Enough said.
3. People: The people I work with are friendly, intelligent, and genuinely appreciative of what I do. Dare I say in this season of gratitude, they are thankful? In fact many have thanked me for my work. My supervisor thanks me at the end of each day. What a guy!
4. Satisfaction: I find satisfaction each day making the building I work in look nice and smell good. Don't you love when you walk into an establishment and the first thing that hits you is the scent of clean?
5. Believers: I have already located several fellow-Christ-followers at my job. I look forward to their encouragement each day, and try to provide them with the same.

It is easy to complain. Often we have every right to do so. We may be completely justified in a full blown rant on occasion. But complaining pulls energy from our spirits. It can lower our mood, rather than lifting it up. Complaining can lower the moods of those we complain to in those perfectly justified rants.
It feels good to have dear friends whom we can "unload on" when life gets really, really tough. It is important to have loved ones to share our walk with. People we can share the ups and downs of our daily life with, be it in the form of a diatribe, tears, laughter, or even all three.
Unfortunately it is also easy to get stuck in the muck and mire of a complaining pit. As preventative medicine in our Thanksgiving week, I want to challenge all of us to try to find five positives for every one negative.
So if I have one negative about my job (staples), then I need to share five positives. (viewpoint, pay, people, satisfaction, believers).
Lets see how our days are changed in the coming week as we play this 1:5 game in our heads. Please, please, share your most profound, most amusing, most insightful 1:5 negative:positives with all of us in the comments section of this post.

I leave you with these words from God's Word:
"Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever." Psalm 136:1

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name." Psalm 100:4

I'm thankful for each and every one of you!
Blessings-Lorilise

Feeling Thankful

2011-11-13T19:29:00.000-08:00

HI!

How's that for enthusiasm?! Despite the fact that I have a nasty head cold that I have been battling for over a week, I am actually feeling really great inside. Would you like to know who is responsible for this? (I think you would.) Becky Nichols. Well, she's sort of indirectly responsible. A catalyst, if you will, of my feeling really great inside. And Becky, if you're reading this, you may be surprised to hear this!

So here's the story. Last year during the month of November I noticed that Becky was posting a daily Facebook status about why she was thankful. I thought this was pretty fantastic even then, but couldn't really bring myself to do it because I had already missed the first week of posts. Admittedly, it is ridiculous not to participate in "thankfulness" because you are latecomer (especially when you really want to and you think it's fantastic), but that is what I thought. And since this is the women's ministry blog, the least I can do is tell the truth. :-) So I decided to do it the following year. This year, my memory of last year's promise resurfaced when I saw Becky's and others' Facebook posts. This time I got in on the action right away- on exactly November 1st. Every day, even on the two days I've missed posting, I've found myself thinking about which of my blessings I would like to share with my friends. And every day my blessings have to compete for a mention. I have so many reasons for which to be thankful that I couldn't possibly share them all! The funny thing is that the more I think about why I'm thankful, the more I discover reasons to be grateful. It's like driving toward a mountain that seems to get bigger and bigger the closer you get to it. Until at last, when you arrive at it's foot, it's larger than life! And when you are faced with such monumentally undeserved blessings, you simply must fall down in worship to the Unreserved Giver of such treasure!

This is what I would like you to take to heart:
When we think about all our blessings, it causes us to reflect on the greatness and the goodness of God!
And when we share our thanksgiving with others, we never know who we will inspire! (Thanks, Becky!)
P.S. It's never too late to start!

Thrive from a mom's perspective...

2011-10-18T11:10:00.000-07:00

Hello Ladies!

It has been a while since I've posted! Lorilise has been doing a really wonderful job, hasn't she? I've been getting some much needed encouragement from her posts, as I'm sure you have as well.

So, as you all know, we at The Word at Shaw have been collecting diapers, wipes, and cash for Thrive St. Louis. Obviously anything that you have that is useful, and in gently used to new condition would also be accepted! I mostly only mention this because I'm in that category! : ) I will be donating some of Quint's gently used (stain-free of course!) clothes and bibs, and whatever else I can find that might be useful.

I just wanted to take a moment to share a little bit about my personal experience with Thrive. When I found out I was pregnant with Quint, both Harry and I were unemployed. If any of you have ever been in this stressful position, you know that here in Missouri in order to get prenatal care through Medicaid you must obtain a form from a medical professional stating that you are in fact pregnant. Now this posed a problem for me because I couldn't afford to go to my doctor to confirm my pregnancy. So I did a little research online and found Thrive. It was really great to get help from an organization that really, genuinely cared about me and my baby. The volunteer who worked with me prayed with me and was very encouraging. They even scheduled me for a free ultrasound. Since I had been unable to get prenatal care, it was such a relief to get to see my little man flipping around on the screen! All this to say, I was truly impressed with Thrive's care and concern for more than just my physical needs. It was obvious that they were also interested in my emotional and spiritual needs as well.

Thrive is a Christian, non-profit organization, so I know they depend on people and churches to support them in various ways in order to serve their clients. It is so exciting to see how we can be a part of this effort! Thank you so much, ladies, for all you do!

Eva

Soul Sisters: 3 Things

2011-10-10T12:18:00.000-07:00

Soul Sisters: 3 Things: We are Doing Three things. Thing 1 is trying to spread the word about this devotional blog to all our Word At Shaw Women. If you are readin...

3 Things

2011-10-10T12:09:00.000-07:00

We are Doing Three things.
Thing 1 is trying to spread the word about this devotional blog to all our Word At Shaw Women. If you are reading this we have your email address or you already subscribe. Or both. If you are tight with any of our soul sisters at The Word, and are unsure if they read this, please email it to them-or email the link, or Facebook message it, Or tweet it, or Google Plus it...you get the idea.
Thing 2 is continuing to collect 3 things for Thrive:

Diapers in large sizes
baby wipes
actual cash for those of you who still pay that way out in the world, and therefore sometimes have actual change. We are asking that you save your change, to make change for Thrive. See what I did there?

Thing 3 is continuing with our 2-a-Day bible verse challenge. We challenge one another to read 2 bible verses a day and share by posting to Facebook (if you are on Facebook). Please use the hash tag, #bibleversereadingonadeadline, at the bottom of any posts.

If you are not on Facebook, don't think we don't want you to do the challenge. It is just a way of continuing to delve into God's Word every week day through Oct 28. We picked the 28th since it is the last weekday of the month. We all say we want to be in God's Word, we all confess to being busy-sometimes to the effect that we don't open our bibles for days at a time.
This challenge is just a simple start to changing that in our lives. For those of you who read your bibles daily, and more than two verses, this won't challenge you so much. But it is fun to share cool bible verses you come across with other women. So please share. You can also post bible verses you love in the comments section of this blog. Use the hashtag #bibleversereadingonadeadline there too, as it will call our attention to it sooner.

One more thing, Dear Ones, how are you doing with fear? We have been doing our message series on fear this month. Pastor Keith has been teaching us all a great bible verse on fear at the end of each sermon. Do you remember the first two he taught? I particlularly liked, "perfect love casts out fear." God is love, and love perfected at that, so His love is that perfect love. No surprise there, right?
We have talked about our big fears on Sundays, like fear of failure this past week. What are some small fears you have? Does God's perfect love cast that fear out too? Yes. Of Course. We know this.
Yet how many times have you been driving from school or work to home, and get so lost in worrying over little things, little fears, that you arrive home having no memory of the last 2-3 miles of that journey? I once worried all the way home because we had a birthday party planned for one of the children that night, and I was just positive I could not get everything done in time. I worried myself right up to 5 miles over the speed limit. The officer who stopped me was very sympathetic as he wrote my ticket. Then I had that to worry about. Worrying about something little-a birthday party-cost me some bucks. And worrying didn't help any, and my fear was unfounded. Because even after losing twenty minutes of precious time, my prayers to God to help me were answered. Everything that absolutely needed doing got done. And everything else was shoved into an upstairs closet for another day. I was far better off praying through my little worrisome fear, than actually worrying and fearing.
So my question is this: What are your small fears? will you try to pray your way out of that fear? That is my challenge.
Here's a great verse for us from Philippians 4:6-7, "Don't worry about anything: instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done.If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."
Please share in the comments section of this blog. Because saying it out loud, typing it, is part of letting it go.
Blessings, Lorilise

Soul Sisters: 2 a Day Challenge and more

2011-09-30T13:10:00.000-07:00

Soul Sisters: 2 a Day Challenge and more: Hello Women of the Word at Shaw. We are sort of at a half-way point on our 2 a Day Challenge, in which we all agree to read two bible verses...

2 a Day Challenge and more

2011-09-30T13:06:00.000-07:00

Hello Women of the Word at Shaw. We are sort of at a half-way point on our 2 a Day Challenge, in which we all agree to read two bible verses per weekday, and post as time allows, those verses which are our favorites, that we want to share with our sisters in Christ.
And I must say. this has been exciting. So many women signed up on that first weekend-a holiday weekend no less- and have been going strong since. We have over 80 participants-because we opened up the challenge to all women within each of our networks. Some of you got very busy inviting. As a result I have commented on verse posts of women I have never met-and THAT is exciting.

My friend Lisa Boyer pointed out that we are all getting more than our two verses a day, as we read the verse posts of fellow-bible-verse-readers. THAT is exciting.

Here is something I found very exciting as I read in my bible earlier today. It wasn't a new verse to me. In fact I associate it with a worship song from the church in AZ Pastor Keith and I went to until moving to Missouri.
But it felt like a confirmation of what we have been striving for at The Word at Shaw. Not only on Sundays, but at all times. Reading it renewed my energy as I thought of all the service opportunities we had accomplished, and even more-so, those that are on the calendar for the Fall and Winter.
The verse is from Romans chapter 12:1 "I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service."
I looked at that verse today, and smiled a huge smile thinking of you all. How many of you were a part of our Serve 2011 day! Thank you for your spiritual service on that day. I have seen the joyous way Julie and Dennis Biggs lead servants at the dinners at Shalom House each month.That leadership, and all the time they spend coordinating and preparing extra activities for the women of Shalom House is spiritual service on Julie and Dennis' part.
Such a smile on my face as I consider those who have stepped up to make leading a small group their act of spiritual service. I truly enjoyed and was blessed by the women's small group meeting this past Sunday. Brenda is a wonderful leader.
I search my mind's memory bank and don't have to go too far back to recall a time when one of you have stepped up and stepped in to service. Teaching our children, holding babies in the nursery, serving the servants on Serve 2011 by getting all that yummy food ready, checking in all those children downstairs so we can maintain Safe Sanctuary standards, coordinating fellow-volunteers to go forth and serve, leading us worker bees with no skill and teaching us some of your hard-learned skills in the process, welcoming newcomers to God's House on Sunday mornings, coordinating all that behind the scenes stuff so our pastoral staff can preach,teach,lead worship, counsel and pray, and oh-I could never forget-those of you who have stepped up to be our prayer warrriors, praying for those requests that come in during the week, and prayer partners on Sundays, thank you one and all!
For me it is exciting knowing how so often the servant is blessed beyond any blessing they give in the act of serving. I don't say this to devalue anyone's service. Your service has great weight in this world. It is just that I know from experience, and from the front row seat that ministry gives me, the greater weight is the blessing you take away after having served.
And God grows us in our service. When we serve others, we serve Him. I know he sees that service as an extension of our love for Him, and therefor as an act of worship. One that we can perform within the church building or out in our community; on any day that ends in "y", morning, noon and night.
Now THAT is exciting. I'm excited for the portion of the body of Christ that is made up by those of The Word at Shaw. I am excited by all the possibility for spiritual growth that exists for each of us every time we serve and receive the blessing that goes with it. Can't wait to serve some more with all of you for the remainder of 2011. It will bless the community, bless us more, and I pray God will feel our love for Him as we show the love of Christ to those we encounter.
Blessings, Lorilise Scarborough

By way of announcement: We are collecting a few things for a great organization called Thrive. They help expectant parents with everything from parenting classes to locating resources to physical needs during pregnancy and afterwards. We are focusing on three things for Thrive in the month of October:

diapers in larger sizes-most donations are for newborn or small size-
diaper wipes
money

For those of you who still pay in cash and therefor still get change, we are asking that you fill up a baby bottle with your change during the week, and bring those filled bottles back to The Word on Sundays in October. We will keep a tally and update you on our progress. For those of you who deal in debit, ATM's and checks, of course a check donation is fine-just write "Thrive" in the memo line. Make it out to The Word at Shaw.
If stopping at the ATM before church, you can place that donation in an offering envelope writing, "Thrive"
on the envelope.
Women's Ministries identified Thrive as a vital part of the Shaw Community early on-let's show them some baby-love and gift them with a large donation at month's end.
Thank you for your sacrifices both of money and body. It is not for ourselves, but for Him..

Soul Sisters: A Bouquet of Sharpened Pencils

2011-09-04T13:31:00.000-07:00

1. read blog

2.accept challenge

#bibleversereadingonadeadline

Soul Sisters: A Bouquet of Sharpened Pencils: In the classic chick-flick, You've Got Mail, Joe Fox writes to Kathleen Kelly sharing that he would love to give her a bouquet of sharpened...

A Bouquet of Sharpened Pencils

2011-08-28T15:37:00.000-07:00

In the classic chick-flick, You've Got Mail, Joe Fox writes to Kathleen Kelly sharing that he would love to give her a bouquet of sharpened pencils in celebration of the arrival of fall. It seems the perfect sentiment for the season which bridges the warmth, humidity, gardening glories and BBQ's of summer to the grey-white, crisp, cold of winter.

Fall is a great time of year. Mild weather, beautiful foliage in pale yellow, vibrant russet and jack-o-lantern orange soon followed by the crunch of leaves underfoot ; the first taste of hot apple cider, and Pumpkin Lattes; a trip to pick apples and baking apple pies immediately thereafter; the joy of picking and decorating pumpkins, a great Trunk-Or-Treat event on our church lot; Football season and bonfires-it's all so magical to me.

Autumn is also the time when many families settle into more structured routines as school begins again. Be you a student or the parent of a student, it is a time for letting go of the relaxed schedules of summer. If you have no students in your home, and the need for buying school supplies for your household has long passed, the idea of the new school year can still old something tied to our childhoods, in the renewed desire to learn and grow. It just seems like the right time, doesn't it?

As I type this I have a learning goal in mind for the women of The Word At Shaw. So many of us learn better on a deadline. I think it hearkens back to when we were in school and a bouquet of sharpened pencils would have been a perfect gift. As an adult I've noticed that If I sign up for a fitness event, the looming deadline does more for the consistency of my workout than purely wanting to be more physically fit. I've talked with many girlfriends who agree. One such friend has a hash-tag entitled, "running on a deadline"" because signing up for a half-marathon this fall has her feeling the workout consistency.

That said, I would love it if each of us could commit to reading two verses per week-day in our bibles, beginning on Monday, September fifth and ending on Friday, October twenty-eighth.

That is forty days of reading two verses per each Monday-Friday (weekends off), for a total of eighty verses.

I'm not asking you to memorize; just read. Make a note of verses you read which speak to you, or are most pertinent in your life. In fact, feel free to post some of your favorite verses into the comments section of this blog. Also, please post in comments that you plan to do the verse challenge.

I will be doing the verse challenge too, and am looking forward to sharing what I find in my reading, and even more so, learning what you find in yours.

Blessings, Lorilise Scarborough

Update on Hope

2011-07-22T20:02:00.000-07:00

It gives me great joy to give you a little update on my last post. Hope, my friend Amy's three year old daughter, had a fantastically successful surgery! She was released Friday and is doing very well. She is on lot's of antibiotics and has to take it easy for six weeks, but so far it is looking very good!

Thank you so much for all your thoughts and prayers!

Hope for Hope

2011-07-17T19:02:00.000-07:00

Hi Ladies!

It has been quite a while since I last shared anything with you on our illustrious (however unknown) blog. As most of you know, I defeated the odds and drove an ancient car--a 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue--halfway across the country with a 7 year old, a 6 year old, and an infant without major incident. Yep, that was me! Crazy but Triumphant! As I'm sure you can imagine, my days were long and my adventures many. So for the next few weeks I will be sharing just a little bit about my trip.

I've decided not to share my stories in chronological order; you'll be able to see why in just a minute. So to begin, I would just like to say that this is really not my story, and my part in it is very small. But the people in this story have had a great impact on my life and I know that you will appreciate that.
So without further ado...

Four years ago my friend Amy shared with me that she believed the Lord wanted her and her husband Tim to adopt a little girl from China. Now, at the time, Amy and I were barely getting to know each other and I wondered if I would ever get to see this come true--especially because she and Tim were moving away from St. Louis to Seattle. But despite the fact that we weren't very close when she left, our friendship actually deepened as time went on. She would always visit me when she came to St. Louis, and would keep me updated on how things were going with the adoption process. Amy told me that they had already chosen a name--Hope. When we spent time together we often cried and prayed with each other, because the waiting was so hard! But finally, things started turning around for my friends. In the midst of their long wait, they became pregnant and had a baby boy in January of last year. And because of how much they loved Baby Max, I'm pretty sure it only increased their longing to bring home their little girl.

They were told by the Chinese government that they would only be allowed to choose from special needs children. They pored over images of tiny unwanted faces looking for their little girl. Incredibly, when Tim was away in Houston on business, and Amy was in their new home in Austin, they received a set of profiles; and--without consulting each other--they chose the same child! Her name was Pan Pan. When Tim had her name translated just guess what he learned. Yep, Pan Pan actually means hope! I was in tears when I got the news. I felt so privileged to watch a miracle literally unfold before my eyes. Finally, in March of this year they got to bring Hope home. In May, I got to meet Hope just briefly, but in June on our vacation, we got to visit with Tim, Amy, Max, and Hope for five days! That was so stinkin' cool!!!

Now, I mentioned before that the Chinese government would only allow children with special needs to be adopted. Hope is really a walking miracle. She was born with a large hole in her heart, so it has to work extra hard to keep the blood pumping. When she came home to Austin she weighed just 17 pounds, and was very malnourished. In order to gain weight she consumes nearly 3,000 calories a day! But thanks to the great care she is getting she now weighs about 22 pounds. Yay! But this isn't the end of the story. Until three days ago, Tim and Amy thought Hope would probably be having open heart surgery at some point in September, but after their consult with the cardiologist in Houston on Friday, it became clear that the surgery needs to happen right away. The surgery will be the day after tomorrow--Tuesday morning.

You may be wondering why I shared this story. The most obvious reason is that I truly want everyone I know to be praying for my friends and their little girl--especially while she is on the operating table on Tuesday. But beyond that, I want to share just a little bit of the inspiration I get from this story. A story about waiting in great expectation for a faithful, gracious God to do exactly what He has promised to do. In my own life, I find that it is so hard to sit still and wait for God to do His work. And yet, I find that when I do, it is so worth the wait!

Is there something in your life that you are waiting for God to do? Something you know that you can't do yourself? Something you can't change or get rid of? I would encourage you to trust and wait. And while you wait, meditate on this Scripture:

But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. Then will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

P.S. Here is a link to video about my friend and her beautiful family. Enjoy The Journey for Hope!

What was needed, not expected

2011-07-09T19:19:00.000-07:00

I attended Show Me Hope, a benefit concert for Joplin last night. I expected to see The Word at Shaw's very own Harry Walls singing original songs with a group of fellow worship leaders from other Saint Louis area churches. I was not disappointed.
Spoiler alert-shameless cause plug: For those of you interested, you can purchase the original music online and should contact Harry Walls or speak to him after church, because he loves conversing with people, and also really, really wants to help the people of Joplin with the proceeds from this cd.
I expected to spend eight dollars of Scarborough money on a cd last night, and was not disappointed there either. I woke the house this am by blaring the song, Middle of it All. The volume was way past eleven, but the hour was too, so I have no guilt.
My kids expected it anyways, as I warned them last night that I was doing a musical alarm today.
So all things about and around the benefit concert were as expected both last night and this morning.
No wait. That isn't 100% correct. Because while we had planned to go to the concert, and I knew what I would be hearing-songs of hope, and from whom I would be hearing them-local worship leaders from several churches, I did not expect to be transported backwards to the frustration of my day by my friend Harry, before he even began to sing.
But God is so good. Harry shared last night just a little bit of how he and his wife Eva were feeling in their job search prior to coming to partner with us in ministry at The Word. He shared how he came to write the song, Middle of it All , around that same time, because he realized that in the middle of all our struggles and attempts to make our dreams happen, and efforts to play out career moves like pieces on a game board God is there. He is with us, and He is orchestrating His own plan for us in The Middle of it All.
Before Harry sang a note of the song he composed amidst his struggles, he acknowledged his aha-moment, which was the exact same aha-moment I needed to have last night. Never expected, but needed.
God is so good.
I had spent the day trying to slip the binds of red-tape between two higher learning institutions, praying that they would cooperate in the way I wanted so I could have things my way. Yes, I am guilty of thinking the world is my Burger King. I had shared with the World's Best Husband what I wanted to happen, and what obstacles stood between me and having higher education my way.
I was frustrated, kinda irritated with a particular department of one of these institutions, and looking quite forward to escaping thoughts of my life to listen to some really beautiful music. I knew that nothing more would be resolved after five pm, and I expected to feel somewhat grateful upon considering once again the blessing of a roof over my head, while I listened to music meant to give hope to those with no roof over theirs.
I never expected to get exactly what I needed from God, my aha-moment, through the words of a friend. But I did. This morning as I blared Harry's song, I had what I needed to move forward, seeking God's will for this aspect of my life which I had thought to manitain control over. You know, because God is busy, and I have given over all these other areas of my life and blah, blah, blah-list reasons we all use when we try to put God in a box-here.
I am so silly sometimes. But God is so good all the time.

In Genesis 14:18-20, Melchizedek who was the king of Salem and a priest, blessed Abram saying,
"Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High who has helped you conquer your enemies."

My understanding is that this is the first place in the Bible where we see God referred to as God Most High, more specifically, Sovereign God. (El Elyon in Hebrew).

Sovereign God. In other words, In charge of and with dominion over everything. Everything including me and my dreams and my future; including institutions of higher learning. God has dominion over red tape just as He had dominion over the enemies of Abram. Just as He had dominion over Harry and Eva's lives. I am so grateful that He brought them to our attention when we were prayerfully seeking a Worship Leader.
Many of you who attend the Word, volunteering at and through its' ministries, were also prayerfully sought by Pastor Keith and I. We knew God could and would bring those He chose to be our partners in ministry. We remembered that He had dominion, that He was and is El Elyon, The Lord Most High.

Now if I can just remember this for all the other areas of my life. I welcome your prayers, friends. Pray that I would not only recall God's sovereignty, but give myself over to it in more and more areas of my life. Pray that I will see His hand in my pursuits, and more importantly that I will see what He would have me pursue.

If recalling God's sovereignty is something you also struggle with, please share how you are doing with that in the comments section. This is a safe place to share our failings and successes, as well as encouragement.
Blessings-Lorilise

Our Preamble, Our Declaration

2011-07-03T00:23:00.000-07:00

As the arsenal of fireworks our neighbors have purchased for tonight's midnight display are set off in a caucophony of missile-like whistles, bangs and pops I wonder if our country's independence might be celebrated in a way which doesn't involve my trying to determine if the projectiles will put a hole in our pool liner.

When the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776 did John Hancock put his quill to parchment paper first because he was in a hurry to finish and get to lighting a bottle rocket? I think not.

The colonists had had it! That is why a team was formed to draft the Declaration. It included Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston and Thomas Jefferson-though Jefferson is most associated with the document. They chose Jefferson to compose the document because he was the best writer/communicator amongst the men, and because if the measure were to pass, it would need the support of the territory of Virginia-which Jefferson represented.

Interesting isn't it, that Jefferson was chosen because he had a gift for the task and because his involvement would insure success.

Jefferson began with the following, "When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."

This fancy introduction, called the Preamble, communicated that the colonists had had it, and that they felt it only right to say why they had had it, with whom they had had it, and what they intended to do about it.

Of all the words in the Preamble, I like words eight, nine and ten best:: "...it becomes necessary..."
The colonists had tried letters to the King, requests for policy change, visits to England to more strongly convey their grievances, a few protests, some product boycotts-all to no avail.

So as Jefferson wrote, it had become necessary for them to do something more.

Whatever your politics, religious beliefs, education, upbringing, there comes a time in life-or their will-when you too have had it and it becomes necessary for you to do something more. And that will be your Preamble. The moment when you choose to say why you have had it, what or whom you have had it with, and what you intend to do about it. Your Declaration will follow. The time and place where you declare what comes next for you, with regard to the circumstance and/or persons you've had it with. Your preamble and declaration may take the form of a conversation in your head, followed by prayer, discussion with friends, loved ones.

Your Preamble and Declaration may not involve two weeks of locking yourself away from others to draft a document bound to become the foundation of an uprising. It may be even more tenable, involving your specific gifts for the task. Your involvement may be exactly what is needed to insure success. God places callings in His people to stir them to action; He places gifting to move the action forward.

Recently our Children's Ministry Team asked all of us at The Word at Shaw to pick up an empty plastic, lidded box and to fill it with items from a list. These newly filled boxes will be delivered to children of Joplin who have been affected by the tornado. Because for those in our Children's Ministry, they had had it when they thought of children in Joplin who had lost everything, not having a venue to express themselves, or to play. To those of you who purchased sidewalk chalk, crayons, markers, small toys for the Boxes of Hope, thank you. Your gifts will impact positively the lives of children you may never meet.

Our Outreach Ministry Team couldn't stand the idea of not helping to physically rebuild Joplin. They will be taking a team there later this month. If you have had it with tornadoes creating great need in this state, and feel it has become necessary to help restore Joplin-this is your Preamble moment. See Pam or Ryan Gassar to sign up. Don't let this moment pass. Because God doesn't place a gifting and an ability to succeed at something in His people, for it to lay in wait. We are called to be a people of action.

Maybe you have picked up and filled a flood bucket, a Box of Hope, and you plan on being on the Joplin Mission Team because your call is to do everything humanly possible to help members of a slightly distant community in every conceivable way.

Or maybe there is something else stirring in you, something you can't quite name, but a restlessness about something in the immediate community of Shaw. If God is calling you to do something, I would reccomend obedience. The dogged persistence of some ministry teams and Word at Shaw Pastors is nothing compared to the chasing after our Lord is capable of.

Pastor Keith and I feel called to this church. Not to leading a church somewhere, but the church on the corner of Shaw and Tower Grove, at 4265, in the Shaw Neighborhood, in St. Louis, Missouri. A number of people felt called to Shaw with us-some for a period of three months, some for twelve months, some indefinitely. Some living in Shaw, some living farther.

The commonality is our desire to Know God, Love All and Serve Others. In fact, that is the mission of The Word at Shaw, with good reason. We feel called to do all three of these things. And we agree that through serving others, meeting various needs as God creates a passion in us commensurate with gifting and an ability to succeed at the task, we will draw closer to one another, to others, and to God.

1 Corinthians 12 talks about how each of us is given different gifts to perform the tasks needed for God's kingdom. In verse 4, "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit."
Verse 5, "And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord."
Generally this chapter of the Bible is quoted when discussing unity or the equal importance of each task performed in the name of Christ, be it up-front or behind the scenes. Being a different thinker, I am always drawn to the truth that our gifts are placed within at God's bidding. Therefore we have a responsibility to use our gifts for God's calling on our lives.

I don't point this out to apply pressure, but instead to confirm what you may already suspect. That stirring you can't quite name, that sense that it has become neccesary to do something, may very well be God's calling on your life to be actively involved in your community.

Now is a good time to ask yourself, "How am I called? What have I had it with?" If you are actively involved-thank you! Seriously. I pray that you feel God's blessing on the tasks you perform as part of His calling.

I know some of you may feel conflicted because you feel passionate about so many things and aren't sure if you are choosing the task or tasks that God has for you. That is a tough one, especially in balance with family and school and work. There is no easy answer for this dilemna, but I do reccomend prayer, and talking to others whom you trust have your best interest at heart, as well as a desire to serve God themselves.

If you would like to share where you are at with God's calling in your life-successes, stirrings, frustrations, questions-all are welcome and can be posted in comments to this blog. Lets start a conversation about our preambles.
Blessings-Lorilise.

In the Midst of Others

2011-06-25T05:00:00.000-07:00

Hello Ladies,
If you have been reading this blog from the beginning, you may remember a Greek word I talked about, Meta, which means companionship in the midst of others. It can also be translated fellowship in the midst of others.
I am experiencing that all over this week as my sister has come to town for a visit. The one who has known me all of her life and still loves me; the sister who laughs at my jokes-even the really lame ones; the sister who sounds so much like me that we can fool our mom on the phone. Caller ID put a stop to that joke, but it was fun while it lasted.
As we have talked, chilled, laughed, broken bread together, told her son to stop picking on her daughter-together, I have felt the warmth that having wonderful, close family brings.
I get that all the time with pastor Keith's family living so close, but this is different. They came into my life when I was an adult.
My sister Milissa came into my life when I was six. So we have played dolls together, watched cartoons together, sorta wished we were one of the Waltons together, learned to cook together, learned we didn't love math but were capable of doing it-together, got grounded together and finally grew up together. Though one of us couldn't wait to do so and the other fought it kicking and dramatically stomping her feet-I'm not saying which one us was which-you decide.
Aside from cyber-teasing my sister, or using self-deprecating cyber-humor (again, you decide), I wanted to share all this with you, my sisters in Christ, for a deeper reason. Whether you have siblings or not, whether you have a sister who's now a friend, or a friend who is as close as a sister, hopefully all of you have been blessed by a deep friendship with somebody. Someone with whom you can experience Meta.
There are some people who have never had that. They feel lonely or perhaps guarded. Some people, and maybe you can relate, have spent so much energy just trying to get through each day that they haven't had energy or time to connect with neighbors or co-workers let alone experience Meta.
The Bible tells us that we are meant to be connected, to draw close to God-together. To experience fellowship in the midst of others.
One of my favorite Bible passages is in Acts chapter 2, where we can read about the early church.
"And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayers. " vs 42.
Later in the passage we read, "And every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple complex and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people, And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved." vs. 46-47.

There's a lot of substance here, enough for Pastor Keith to unpack into a three point sermon. I want to focus on two things though: Within six verses we see mentioned two times two things. Devotion to meeting together and eating together.
I think if the Bible places emphasis on them, so should we. We might feel that we have enough friends, are too busy to nurture the relationships we have, or worse, are too busy and emotionally tired to reach out to others in pursuit of friendship.
These are all things I have heard from women who tell me they are lonely, or have fair-weather friends, but not deep, sister-like friendships.
I have also heard from people who have great friends, that they feel badly for someone they've encountered who seems lonely, "somebody should reach out to them." They declare.
I often respond to that, by asking, "Do you think it is possible that God placed them in front of you because you are the somebody who should?"
God means for us to be together, to devote ourselves to meeting and eating together. Not solely those endeavors, of course, as there is work for all of us to do on Christ's behalf in our communities. But if we feel lonely, or are standing next to or in front of someone who does-we are called to reach out, to spend time together.
To experience Meta-fellowship in the midst of others-is to experience deeper connection, to laugh at each other's jokes-even the lame ones, to experience a rare closeness in the midst of others whom you are also close to, but not as close.
I encourage each of you reading this to reach out to someone God places in front of you, to nurture the friendships you already have, on your road towards experiencing Meta.
Blessings, Lorilise