Amidst the busyness of our new life in Ankey, we found ourselves heading into today (Saturday) with no plans...hmmm...

Well then, amidst the endless options awaiting us just outside our door, amidst options for activity, interaction, and the American dream, we stayed home and pretty much did nothing!

For most of today nothing looked like:  practicing memorizing 50 states for a 4th grade assignment (with daddy candy prizes given out), folding some laundry, singing with the guitar, playing a few video games, cleaning the bathrooms, playing with playdough and mostly doing..................just what came next.

In the midst of all this, came an amazing moment.  Josiah has been really captured by the story of Jesus in a boat in a STORM! from the gospels. So he created it in playdough form.  It was incredibly cool for me to watch this. He was both historically accurate as well as culturally relevant, as Jesus and the disciples were having pizza in the midst of the storm.

I love the amazing moments in the midst of doing nothing.

Not profound, just cute!

I came home the other day to this "important" meeting that was taking place on our kitchen table.  I was astounded!  In my very home, here they were - Darth Vadar, Luke Skywalker, Yoda, and some random, nameless storm trooper chatting the afternoon away.  It was all very pleasant by the way, no explosions of anger, no death rays, nothing about giving into the dark side. In fact, they were all getting along very well. 

I must give credit where it is true.  Our amazing 8 year old was indeed "teaching" and mentoring them.  Josiah was telling them that they didn't need to fight, and that it was very important to share and get along. Wow, I must say I was impressed.

I guess I did have a thought.  Maybe Luke and Leia weren't twins after all, maybe they were triplets, and Josiah was Anakin's third child.  I mean the "force" was strong with him that day.  After all, who else do you know who can get Darth Vader and Yoda to sit down for afternoon tea?

Kids' wisdom

Heading off to church this morning, and one of my sweet kids says...."I hope God talks to you and tells you what to say today"

How simple is that?

As I prepare to prepare...pray, read, ask God about what I think I'm supposed to preach on, that I already think I might know, but am not sure.....as I prepare for an elders retreat this Friday night and Saturday morning and try to prioritize and ask for wisdom...and as I seek to slow down so I can speed up, listen so I can speak, meet with Him so that I can forget about myself.....................

I am reminded that indeed God is eager and will be found when I seek him with my whole heart.  Jeremiah 29:13

Wholehearted Prayer

Some folks gathered for prayer last night at church.  I have heard all my life and read from Scripture how significant prayer is.  That's crystal clear from God's word, and yet....

Much of my life has been prayerless.  Much of what I've seen and experienced in God's church is prayerless and powerless, or at best is a meeting with a list of requests that ends when the list is prayed through.

But is this the kind of wholehearted seeking God calls us to?

Joel 2:13 says:  "Rend your heart and not your garment"

So when do we prayer in this way?  When does seeking God go beyond our list and bring us to a full, wholehearted, humble surrender before Him?

I was delighted in the hearts of our folks last night.  The vulnerability, honesty and God honoring praise was sweet.  I am honored to be a pastor here, and am thrilled to be seeking the Lord with a broken hearted group such as this.