about Being Intentional and Living Out Mission Statements

Solana Beach Presbyterian Church is taking us through a series called For The Life of the World.  This spring we took a step back to October 25th where we had been introduced to Team Z and spent some time getting to know them in person over March 11th (Mel spoke at MOMSnext), 12th ( Mel and Ed shared at a special "Evening with Team Z" event) and the 13th in worship.

Team Z's family mission statement is "Loving, Encouraging, Blessing"

As I heard Ed and Mel share about their mission statement and how they were intentional and focused in parenting my mind wondered how that fit into the culture I was raising my children in a decade later.  With two in college and only one still at home they are in a different stage of parenting than I am with a 10, 8 and 6 year old.  While I live in a culture that promises that the decisions I am making today are impacting their college and career options I feel that being intentional is just the beginning.  As I dug into Team Z's story I saw words that went deeper like Ed's discernment in developing his family's mission statement, the way he sought God's direction.  I heard Mel's attention to understanding who each of her children were uniquely and her passion to connect with and develop them into who God created them to be rather than some worldly mold for "success".  I heard about the time invested as they carved out space to be a family and cheer one another on.  I heard how their church partnered with them in raising children who are world changers.

What does it look like to live out a mission of loving, encouraging and blessing?

Well, I would say it means keeping God at the center - to understand how our story and Jesus' story intertwine in letting us see how God is at work in our lives.

Yesterday, for me, it meant entering into my daughter's space as she mourned that she didn't know what animal/year she was, and, therefore, didn't know when to celebrate as her classmate did. Couldn't I please, please, please tell her what animal she is?  And it was getting down to her eye level and asking "When does Jesus say you should celebrate?" as my heart prayed, "Lord, how do I let her know that it is You and not an animal or year she was born in that will direct her days?"

It means depending on discernment to know how to bring out each one of my children's unique personality and gifting and removing barriers so they can reach their potential.

It means partnering (in our school we call it collaboration) with local churches, global ministries, and my neighbors and community to care for God's world and invest in God's Kingdom.

It means letting my love for God and the world around me grow and encouraging those around me to do the same so that we can all together see God's blessings.

#AFierceFlourishing #ForTheLifeOfTheWorld #NoticeGoodness #StarryEyed

Easter Gardens "For the Life of the World"

What does it mean to celebrate Easter For the Life of the World?

How do you create sacred space between school and basketball, chess, piano and school board recognition of Science Olympiads? 

How do we do less so we can be more?  Can we carve out time to share the gospel in amongst our everyday activities so we can flourish and practice hospitality through loving, encouraging and blessing?

An hour and a half of time between piano and a school board meeting was our window of opportunity.  Some friends could join us and others had “too much to do.”  $2.97 for a bag of topsoil, some collecting of sticks, rocks and recycling.  Another $3.97 spent on a bag of moss. The purchase of some 50 cent clay pots and some glitter flowers.  All in all a pretty minimal investment but it created space.  Space to reflect on the story of Jesus death and resurrection.  Space for my daughter to bring out our set of Resurrection Eggs and share her version of the Easter Story.  Space for a friend to share her Easter storybook.  A small space for a big story.

It was also a space to grow.  A space to struggle in a small way with what it means to live with scarcity of resources. What does it mean when we don't have "enough" of my favorite colored gems or flowers?  How do I respond when my friend doesn't have any flowers at all because they are all on my garden?  How do I respond when my friend doesn't want any flowers on their garden?  How do we celebrate the uniqueness of each garden?  How do we celebrate our diversity rather than forcing unity of design?  How do we encourage each other to create what God calls us to create and hear what is important to each one of us?

And for me?  As I experienced my neighborhood children create their gardens it gave me hope that the Easter Story would live on in the lives of my children and their friends.  That the transforming power of the gospel will be an everyday occurrence for them as they continue to grow in stature and wisdom.  That each of them in their own way will commit their work and everyday lives to taking a part in God’s big story – that we have a God who is calling us together as a people to bless each other with the goodness He pours out on us for the flourishing of our cities.  A God who calls us to rest in the good news that He has died and rose again -- his dying words echo that the hard work is done -- come celebrate -- "It is finished" -- join in the hope of His story -- participate in his restorative work in the world - go out and love, encourage and bless one another.

The Easter story so vividly captures that quandary of life and death -- we must embrace both to enter in.  What dead spaces do you see God restoring to life today?

#FLOW #ForTheLifeofTheWorld #Exiles #AFierceFlourishing #Celebrate Lavishly #NoticeGoodness #Embrace Rest