A Quiet Celebration

Yesterday wasn’t noticed by anyone else.  It wasn’t celebrated by multiple well-wishes on Facebook or Twitter, and no one sent cards in the mail. In fact, no one knew that yesterday held any significance.

But, it did.

For Shawn and me.

May 1, 1999, we moved to Cumming, Georgia to start a new chapter in our lives: to plant Mountain Lake Church. We unloaded a moving truck, met our neighbors, and adjusted to life far from family and friends.  We spent the next 8 months prepping for our Grand Opening, and on January 16, 2000 we launched.  Now, that date is celebrated by many.  Our church honors its anniversary with a grateful look back over what God has done in our midst each year, and I love celebrating with all of our friends.

But, May 1 is a date that my husband and I hold just as dear.  It’s the date we stepped out in faith…..alone….with no guarantee what the future would hold.  I’ll never forget those early days or the feelings that accompanied them.  It was us against for the world.  We plotted, planned, dreamed, worked, laughed, cried……all while we prayed God would use us.

And, He has.

These have been the best 14 years of our lives.  We’ve experienced such contentment as we’ve lived out our purpose.  Sure, there have been days filled with doubt and moments when we’ve been ready to quit.  But, God has sustained us and He has equipped us for this task.

So, happy anniversary to Shawn and me.  Our quiet celebration warms my heart and motivates me to keep going.

Are you celebrating what God has done in your life?  Take a moment today and reflect.  You just might find the motivation and inspiration you need to keep going!

 

Birthday Wishes

Want to know one of my favorite things about my birthday?  All the Facebook and Twitter birthday wishes.

Sound a little weird?  Maybe, but I enjoy seeing alerts pop up on my phone and computer telling me someone cares enough to wish me well.  I enjoy the text messages from friends.  And, I love the phone calls.

Why does it matter so much?

Because I love feeling loved.  It’s as simple as that, really.  Of all the things I do and accomplish, the love I have with friends and family is what matters most to me.  So, I can mentor, write, and teach….I can check items off my to-do list…..I can clean and organize….and I can run my household…..and all of those things will make me feel accomplished or useful, but none of them will make me feel loved.  It’s the relationships in my life that matter most.  And, at the end of my life, I’ll most likely be measured by how well I loved (and was loved) rather than by how many tasks I accomplished.

Today has been a good birthday….not because of what I’ve received, but because who has celebrated with me.  Thanks, friends, for walking this journey with me.  YOU are loved, too!

Mission Accomplishing

This month marks Mountain Lake Church’s 13th anniversary. 13 years of high’s and low’s.  13 years of struggle and success. 13 years of learning and growing.  And, 13 years of watching God woo people to Himself.  Let me give you a quick overview of our history:

Fall 1999: My husband and I started a small group in our home in Cumming, Ga, and we grew to 25 people.

January 2000: We launched weekly worship services in Sawnee Primary School’s “cafe-atorium.” 185 people showed up! However, 2 winter storms blew in over the next two weeks, forcing us to cancel worship services.  On week 3, 67 people returned, and we were off and running!

September 16, 2001: Knowing we would one day need land and our own building, we launched our first spiritual and stewardship initiative.  70 families  step out in faith to pray, serve, and give toward future property for a church home.

Winter 2001: As we approached 200 in attendance, we were outgrowing classroom space and our tiny “cafe-atorium.”

Winter 2002:  We make the faith filled decision to move 5 miles north to North Forsyth High School, which doubled our rent. We only had $1500 in the bank when the decision was made (yikes!). The week after the move, attendance jumped by 50%!

Fall, 2002:  We purchased the first 9 acres of what is now our 32 acre campus, and began construction on our first phase building.

August, 2003: Grand Opening of first phase building with over 750 people!

Fall 2004: At this point, we were holding two Saturday night services and four Sunday morning services in our 300 seat auditorium!

Spring 2005: Grand Opening of Phase 2 of our campus as we doubled our worship auditorium space!

Winter 2006: We launched chhurchplanters.com, a church-starting ministry and held our first annual conference!

Fall 2006: MLC launches World Care Ministry and became a global leader in caring for the world.

Summer, 2008: We commissioned our first church planters! Over last 5 years, we have helped start five churches that host over 1500 ppl in attendance and have baptized over 400 people.

Aug 9, 2009: We held our Grand Opening for our new auditorium – the coolest place on earth.

May 2011: With growing attendance, we re-launched Saturday night services.

December 16, 2012:  1611th Baptism! While it took us 10 yrs to baptize 1000, it only took us 3 years to baptize over 600! The impact is becoming exponential in nature!

Whew! I’ve lived every one of those moments up close and personal.  There were moments I cried in frustration or fear.  There were days I stood amazed at God’s activity despite my involvement.  And, there were weeks that both my hubby and I hung on for dear life as we just tried to keep up with what God was doing around here.  I’ve often said that if I knew all that would be required of me, I might have shrunk back from God’s call to plant this church.  God has (often) asked me to step out of my comfort zone to lead, speak, teach, trust, obey…..the list goes on.

But, I’m better for it.

I know my God at a deeper level.

And, I know He’s used me…my husband….my family for His purposes.

THAT’S Success!

But, it’s not “mission accomplished.”  It’s mission accomplishing!  2013 is going to be another fantastic year of serving God! Happy Anniversary, Mountain Lake!

Christmas Pop Quiz

My family loves Christmas movies.  We’re not even picky.  We’ll watch anything as long as Santa makes an appearance or snow is involved.  Of course, our top picks are Christmas Vacation and Elf, but we often lower our standards, as confirmed by our viewing of The Mistle-Tones on ABCFamily.  Our enjoyment continues long after the movies have ended, however, as we quote our favorites lines from scenes that made us laugh.

So, let’s have some Christmas fun today.  I’ll give you some quotes; you guess the movie.  Ready?  Here we go:

“Look, Daddy.  Teacher says every time a bell rings an angel gets his wing.”

“What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store?  What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?”

“Uh, since the United States Government declares this man to be Santa Claus, this court will not dispute it.  Case dismissed.”

“You’ll shoot your eye out, kid.”

“This place reminds me of Santa’s Workshop! Except it smells like mushrooms and everyone looks like they want to hurt me.”

“I don’t know what to say, except it’s Christmas and we’re all in misery.”

“Harry, I’ve visited you every Christmas for the past five years, and to this day I can never understand this extraordinary ritual of toasting the health of your old uncle Ebenezer.  I mean, everyone knows he’s the most miserable old skinflint that ever walked God’s earth.”

“Doesn’t anybody know what Christmas is all about?!”

“I want to be a dentist.  Right now, I’m just an elf.”

Merry Christmas, friends!

Girlfriends Review: Give Thanks

It’s November which means Thanksgiving is right around the corner.  I don’t know about you, but I have touches of Fall throughout my home – a wreath on the front door, swags of Fall leaves hanging around my house, pumpkins, gourds, and, yes even a Thanks-giving Tree.

A what, you ask?

A friend told me about this idea, and I thought it was so fabulous that I encouraged the Girlfriends of Mountain Lake to make some, too.

Let me explain.

This is the season of the year when we are supposed to be thankful, right?  But, if you are like me, you probably get so caught up in the hub-bub of the holiday (menu planning, travel plans, getting the house ready for guests) that thankfulness is well, an after-thought.

Not this year.  Not for the Girlfriends of MLC.  We made uber cute, but oh-so simple Thanks-giving trees.  Here’s an example:

Cute, right? And cheap! A mason jar, some raffia, and a branch out of your yard.  Then, the fun begins…..hanging tags all over the tree with the names of people you are thankful for.

Last Thursday night at our Girlfriends event, ladies took time to brainstorm who they are thankful for.  Their trees were full of nametags.  Then, they went a step further.  They wrote letters to those people to lavish them with love and encouragement.

That extra step is extremely important.  People ought to know they matter.  We ought to tell them.

This Thanks-giving month, why not help someone know they matter.  Brainstorm who you are thankful for, and then let them know!

 

 

Halloween – Zombie Style

Happy Halloween, friends! Since we just wrapped an incredible teaching series at Mountain Lake called, “Help! I’m A Spiritual Zombie,” there was really no other option for Halloween costumes for my family than, you guessed it, zombies.

We’ve attended 3 parties this month looking like this:

My youngest two kids even got in on the action:

Obviously, gone are the days of sugary sweet, innocent costumes.  But, after donning this look 3 times I can’t express how sick I am of looking gross.  My head itches from that crazy wig (someone thought it was my own hair! No, you crazy person!!), and I shock myself each time I catch my reflection in a mirror.  Next year, I’m going to be in charge of the Lovejoy costumes so I can be something that requires a little less gunk and a little more style.

Maybe we’ll be super heroes.  Shawn can be The Hulk, I can be Super Girl (fitting, I think), Hannah can be Cat Woman, Madison can be Bat Girl, and Paul can be Captain America. Yep, that could be fun and require no gooky makeup.

Or, how about a food theme?  I could be a Coke bottle (everyone loves a coke, right?), Hannah could be a bag of chips, Madison and Paul could be mustard and ketchup bottles, and you guessed it, Shawn could be a hot dog.  (I don’t really think my fam will go for this one, but it makes me laugh to think of Shawn in that costume.)

So, what are YOU dressing as this Halloween? Whatever it is, have fun and make some memories.  I’ll be wiping the green gook off my face and scratching my head.  Some memories shouldn’t be made.

Celebrating What Matters

Around here, we like a good celebration.  A birthday, an anniversary, the first day of summer, the kickoff of college football, the debut of a good book, a fun holiday,….heck, if there’s a possibility of yummy food or a gift, we’ll throw a party! My family loves to celebrate.

Right now, I’m celebrating the return of my hubby and my oldest daughter from Tanzania.  They’ve been gone for 9 days, and I’m anxious for their plane to land today.  I’m sure they’ll have pictures to share and stories to tell, and I can’t wait to get wrapped up in their experiences.  So, I’m making some yummy food (ok, if you know me, you know that means I’m “breaking and baking” some cookies) and planning a little welcome home party.

But, I have something else to celebrate today, too! My middle daughter, Madison was baptized a year ago today. So, we’ll go out for ice cream (Cold Stone Creamery, Chocolate Peanut Butter Perfection, please), and we’ll chat with Madison about lots of things:

- what she’s learning about God

- how she is helping others learn about God, too

- ways she can make God smile

- and how it makes her feel to know God loves her so very much

We’ll even dive into some goals for this year:

- spending time with God

- inviting friends to church

- and, learning to choose God’s responses, rather than her own (something ALL OF US need work on!)

So, this week my family is celebrating what matters.  Family and Jesus.  It doesn’t get much better than that, does it?  Bring on the chocolate! It’s party time!

My Little Man

Today is my little man’s birthday.  Not Shawn.  He’s my big man.  (He’s going to hate that I just typed that.) My little man is Paul, and he turns 8 today.  8!!  Since he’s my youngest, I’m tempted to view him as my baby, but the truth is he’s maturing more and more each day.  I kind of hate that because I want him to always hold my hand, cuddle with me, and share his secrets with me.

I hope he always will.

But, I would be doing him a huge disservice if I treated him like my baby all the time.  He is mine to love and cherish….and to train.  All of his future relationships depend on what my husband and I teach him.  His character depends on it, too.

It is my pleasure to walk through life and call myself Paul’s mom.  I’m honored to hear his jokes, keep his secrets, wipe away the occasional tear, and, yes, even train him.  I pray that God leads me as I lead him.

Today, we celebrate who Paul is and all that he adds to our lives.  Skylanders will probably rule the day.  (If you have boys, you relate.)  And, hugs and kisses.  Lots of them.  After all, he’s not all grown up….yet.

Winning Matters

Each month I write an article for a local magazine, Up In Cumming, and I always like to share them here, too.  Since Father’s Day is this weekend, I had men on my mind when I wrote this one.  Check it out:

Men love to win.

I know this first hand.  I watch my husband annihilate unsuspecting opponents on NCAA Football on his Playstation 3.  He takes great pleasure in it.  I literally think it relaxes him.  My son is no different.  He can’t wait to tell me how he won a foot race among his neighborhood friends, declaring himself the fastest of all.  Recently, he told me that he beat his friend Alyssa at arm wrestling. (Yes, I know.  Arm wrestling a girl was not his finest moment.) Of course, scoring a touchdown or a home run puts him on cloud nine, too.  Winning gives the men in my life a feeling of accomplishment, and yes, satisfaction.

Winning is important to most of us.  We all want to know we’ve done a good job or we’ve played a significant role.  Maybe that’s why some of us love sports so much.  In sports, the scoreboard keeps a visible record of things we do well.  The points are tallied, and the crowd cheers us on.  It’s also easy to pinpoint our mistakes.  Fumble the ball and the crowd will boo.  Strike out and your team suffers.  Things are pretty black and white when you’re on the ball field, but in our personal lives things aren’t quite as clear.  Without the luxury of a lighted scoreboard, we don’t feel the immediate gratification of a good choice.  Without a stadium full of fans, we aren’t encouraged after a hard hit.  And, we certainly don’t feel the satisfaction of a post-game interview when we get to relive the glory of our best plays.  In the ho-hum of our everyday schedules, we are often hard-pressed to see the “wins” in our lives.

Like when a dad tells his daughter he’s proud of who she is.  His words can penetrate deep into the recesses of her heart, shaping her view of herself.  That’s a touchdown.

Like when a man draws a line between work and home and learns to shut off the laptop and engage his family at night.  Building memories with our families is about so much more than sharing a few good laughs; it’s about relishing the people who know us best and love us most.  That’s a home run.

Like when a man takes time to teach his son responsibility and compassion.  His coaching will affect the way his son parents his own family one day.  Points go on the board with every lesson.

Or, like when a man displays integrity, even when it hurts. His willingness to lead well at work, on the ball field, or at home sets an example for all of us to follow.  It’s attractive.  It’s contagious.  It’s the stuff of champions.

It’s tempting to measure our success by our possessions or status, but the true measure of our success is in our everyday decisions.  My husband recently wrote a book, The Measure of Our Success, for pastors about this very topic.  Yet, all of us could learn from it.  All of us need to reconsider what winning really looks like.

This month we’ll celebrate Father’s Day, but I want us to celebrate more than just the fathers around us.  Let’s celebrate all the men in our lives.  Let’s be a verbal scoreboard for them. Celebrate who they are and the sacrifices they make for the ones they love.  Cheer them on when they fight a good fight and encourage them after a hard hit.

Winning matters.  More than you think.

 

Wednesdays Are For Women: Easter Rewind

Pastors’ wives (PW) and women in ministry are incredible sources of wisdom and creativity as they use their gifts in leadership and service. I highly value their insight, faithfulness, and diligent labor. That’s why I’m hosting Wednesdays Are for Women. Each week, we’ll hear from a different PW or ministry leader and gain her perspective on God’s activity on her ministry team, her local church, or the issues facing church leaders today.

Today, I’m throwing my two cents in about life in ministry on holiday weekends. 

I’ll never forget it.  Easter, 5 years ago.  As my husband and I were shaking hands and hugging necks after each of our weekend services at Mountain Lake, I heard person after person relay their afternoon plans.

“We’re having lunch at my grandmother’s house.”

“All of my brothers and sisters are getting the kids together for a huge egg hunt.”

“We have 13 people coming to our house for an Easter feast!”

“Our entire family is in town, and we have an afternoon full of food and fun planned.”

I was genuinely happy for these friends, but after about 51 comments like that, I began to feel lonely, and I found myself crying in my husband’s office.  You see, my extended family lives in different states, so munching on some fried okra with them wouldn’t be possible, and I was feeling the sting of one of the small sacrifices we’ve made to be in ministry – we don’t live near any family. To make matters worse, I didn’t even have a meal planned for my family.  No celebration.  Our focus was the work we were doing at church, not working in the kitchen.

We went home that day to hot dogs instead of an Easter feast, and we vegged out in front of the TV instead of laughing with family and friends.  After multiple worship services, that’s all we had energy for.

That’s when I made the decision.  Life in ministry didn’t have to mean missing out on the fun of the holidays.  While we had done a great job teaching our kids the value and meaning of these special days, we had missed the mark on celebrating the fun side! No more.  I made a plan.  Since I didn’t have time to cook a big meal on Sundays, I now cook our holiday meals 1-2 days in advance.  Easy stuff that can be re-warmed.  I find a family or two that are in the same boat as me – no family nearby – and invite them over.  Oh, and I make sure plenty of caffeine is on hand because we’re usually dragging by 2PM on Sunday.

My planning doesn’t stop there.  My kids get their Easter baskets on Saturday, since Sunday morning is full of ministry prep.  Giving the baskets a little earlier means I have more time to focus on them.  And, to top it all off, I give Easter treats to our entire Ministry Team, too.  Nothing extravagant.  Just little tokens on their desks (for their spouses and kids, too).  Life in ministry might be lonely for them, just like it can be for me.

Since that Easter 5 years ago, my plan has been working.  My family has created some fabulous holiday memories, the sting of loneliness hasn’t been part of it, and I’ve felt the joy of brightening a few others’ day, too.

So, there you have it.  My plan.  Life in ministry may look different sometimes, but it doesn’t have to be lonely.  What about you?  Do you have a plan to enjoy the holidays that we help others celebrate?  You deserve to celebrate, too!  Make a plan of your own, and create the fun moments you want your family to remember.