How to make a difference in the local church

To close out his Next 2010 conference message, “The Church,” Kevin DeYoung gave a list of suggestions for how to be a difference maker in the local church. He said:

• Find a good local church.
• Get involved.
• Become a member.
• Stay there as long as you can.
• Put away thoughts of a revolution for a while.
• Join the plodding visionaries.
• Go to church this Sunday and worship in Spirit and truth.
• Be patient with your leaders.
• Rejoice when the gospel is faithfully proclaimed.
• Bear with those who hurt you.
• Give people the benefit of the doubt.
• Say “hi” to the teenager that no one notices.
• Welcome the old ladies with the blue hair and the young men with tattoos.
• Volunteer for the nursery.
• Attend the congregational meeting.
• Bring your fried chicken to the potluck like everybody else.
• Invite a friend.
• Take a new couple out for coffee.
• Give to the Christmas offering.
• Sing like you mean it.
• Be thankful someone vacuumed the carpet for you.
• Enjoy the Sundays that “click.”
• Pray extra hard on the Sundays that don’t.
• And in all of this, do not despise the days and weeks and years of small things (Zechariah 4:8–10).

HT: CJ Mahaney

10 reasons why I love my dentist

Here's the short story: I am about to get my eighth root canal next week, six of which were "diagnosed" by my current dentist, Dr. S, and referred to a local endodontist (who is filthy rich off me alone). It seems that every time I visit my regular dentist, she gives me more bad news. Upon hearing this sort of news, I usually cry right there in the chair. Well, either I cry from the bad news or from the shot of Epinephrine to numb the "bad" spot in my mouth. The adrenaline rush makes me weepy and I have to have the hygienist stay with me/hold my hand. I'm very OK with going to the dentist and I don't fear the shot, drill, or blood....however, I do fear the heartbreak that MORE work is to be done. I hate what my dental file is doing to our bank file.

My dentist is good, though. She relieves me of my pain or refers me to someone who can do more extensive work in my pathetic, pitiful rows of teeth. You'd think I'd know the numbers for all my teeth but I've yet to educate myself to the grid. All that to say (yeah, short story, right?), my mouth has been hurting for a solid week. Ibuprofen has become my best friend and I'm so excited about my dentist appointment this week. I'm weird, huh?

Upon leaving her office last week, my dentist hugged me and jokingly said, "I know I give you all sorts of bad news but please don't leave me for another dentist!". I just laughed and responded with, "There's no one else in this town who would want to take on my case. My file is so thick and they wouldn't know where to start! No one knows this set of teeth like you do. I'm not going anywhere!". So, I wanted to put this list together of the ten reasons why I love Dr. S. I appreciate her team and am so thankful for all the work she's/they've done for me.

Why do I love my dentist? Let me count the ways...

1. ...because Dr. S always greets me with a smile and genuine interest in my family.

2. ...because Dr. S loves Jesus and treats her patients with compassion and grace.

3. ...because she has hired an amazing office/dental staff that all know me by first name and enjoy seeing me often (at least they act like they do!).

4. ...because Dr. S knows to give me an alternative numbing medication due to my reaction to Epinephrine. And, you couldn't tell by looking that I have so much falseness in my mouth (unless I laugh with my mouth open).

5. ...because Dr. S just took on a new partner, Dr. B, who has been present my last two visits to get to know me. I told you she hires well!

6. ...because Dr. S is thorough when explaining the complications in my mouth and tells me her advice on what to do next.

7. ...because Dr. S and Mrs. B, the office manager, are merciful by letting us pay off our bill in a consistent, yet compassionate, manner.

8. ...because Dr. S doesn't mind working on me often and reminds me that my teeth are salvageable...she encourages me.

9. ...because Dr. S hums while she hovers over my face, hard at work. She usually hums an old hymn like, "Rock of Ages" or "Nothing But the Blood of Jesus".

10. ...because her office called in an emergency Vicodin perscription for me over the phone late one weekend evening four years ago. I'll never thank her enough for that. I'll always remember.

How can I glorify God through this physically and financially painful constant need? I can thank the Lord that I still have teeth and painkillers to ease the throbbing....and tell you that God is good to give me Dr. S!

Do you think I'll get a discount on my next exam now?

Vote for Abigail

I entered Abigail in a summer photo contest on Shutterfly. If you have time, could you vote for my sweet little Goggle Monster?

Contest details

It's time for another one

I visited the dentist (again) this week.

Guess what?

She discovered a need for another root canal.

This will be my eighth one.

Soon, I'll have a mouth full of nothing but porcelain.

Underwater fun

Only two weeks left of summer vacation before school starts back. If I don't answer my phone or email, you'll know where I am.

Tennis....it was crazy fun

Andrew played tennis this summer and I think he enjoyed it. Other than it being on days that registered well into 90+degree weather, he was focused and enjoyed learning the sport. Upon completion, I asked him, "So, want to do it again?". He decided he likes soccer and baseball better. Maybe it had something to do with the clay court.

Oh, what a PAINT night!

Yeah, we got together again...we love each other that much. The ladies of our church are fabulous. Painting while sitting next to your best buds is just the best of times. A local art studio let us crazy gals in tonight so we could paint. It was sooooooooooo much fun! There was talk of doing this again in the fall.....what do you say, ladies?

It's a random Sunday night

Sometimes I think it's weird when bloggers apologize for not having written much in days. Having said that, I only feel a need to apologize to my mother and mother-in-law who check my blog daily, longing to see of and hear about their grand babies.

I have so many pictures on my memory card and on my ext. hard drive that I want to post on this here blog but I don't know when I'm going to do it. Get ready for a photo explosion soon!

Just returned home this evening from a trip to the north part of our state for a beautiful outdoor farmhouse wedding. Mitch took this Sunday off so we could worship up yonder with some old friends who used to belong to our church. It was a nice time and we look forward to seeing them again one day.

I'm looking forward to going out with a group of friends tomorrow night. The women in my church are getting together to paint. Pictures will be posted, I'm sure...they are a fun, wild, and crazy bunch.

Only 2 more weeks until school starts and I go back to work after six years of being at home with my children. God has given me a job teaching at the school where all three of my children will be attending. Fantastic, right? I KNOW! Now, where's my lesson plan book?

We just finished VBS at church. Around 40 kids came everyday. I was taught a great many lessons and loved on by many tiny people. Grand, it was.

Andrew is still singing camp songs and telling me something new from camp everyday. He's yet to make "those noises" from his underarm. Maybe next summer.

I spoke on the phone a few weeks ago with a dear friend and she reminded me of the value of relationships...especially those of woman to woman. Then, just last week, I spoke to another dear friend and experienced first hand the meaning of a long distance sob session...and how meaningful it was.

After sharing a bed with one of my children last night during our hotel stay, I must say that I prefer sleeping with my husband. That's a good thing....I KNOW!

Our church is studying through Paul Tripp's, "What Did You Expect?: Redeeming the Realities of Marriage". OH. MY. GOODNESS! It's such a rich study, full of truth, gospel centered, and encouraging. It makes me love my husband more!

Ok, I think that's all I can process tonight.

She's 3! How many? THREE!

Abigail turned three years old over a week ago. I had tons of tokens from that cheesy place so we played for a bit and then cashed in our tickets for cheap plastic prizes (to her delight!). Her oldest brother was at camp so only the four of us went. There were no gifts and no mention of cake...and she never asked. I think she was just happy to be with her family. She even said she missed Andrew.


Once her brother returned from camp, we had a small birthday celebration at her grandparent's house. You should have seen how full that pool was of party people! Some of her favorite people in the world were at her party eating cake and ice cream with her. She was thrilled.

What DID she ask for? Well.....a birthday wouldn't be a real birthday without Chick-Fil-A. Delicious as always.

Abigail, you are dearly loved. Our prayer for you is that your knowledge of the Lord will grow and his love and grace will soak deeply into your heart. Love Jesus, little girl. Tell others of Jesus. Enjoy God. There is no other purpose in life.

Happy birthday, baby girl.

Thoughtful Thursday

Someone's on our mind and we wanted them to know.

VBS!

We are in the midst of VBS this week at church and I'm having a fabulous time! I'm teaching music with hand motions and then walking around as the official photographer/floater. It's been delightful to meet each child and see them face-to-face each morning.

My children are enjoying new friendships, singing songs of praise (courage CD), hearing amazing and true stories, making crafts, and playing outside. Besides seeing them having fun as they learn about their Creator, I get to see some of my best friends and have great conversations with them every morning this week!

Austin teaching the young boys his skillz!

One of three classes of children....42 children came today!It's hot outside...hot, indeed!

Sweet friends.

My cousin graduated and I made her this mug thingy

I like to make things. When my second cousin, Jamie, graduated from high school in Los Angeles last month, I knew I wanted to make her a little somethin' somethin'. So, what else does a future college student want and need? A COFFEE MUG TO GO WITH THEIR COFFEE!

I jazzed up a boring insulated plastic coffee thingy by taking pictures from her graduation announcement, making a collage from them and other words/letter/pictures from magazines, and then laminating the collage to fit inside the mug's inner lining. I put a packaged sample of Starbucks iced coffee inside the mug and then wrapped it with love before mailing.


It was really a lot of fun to make and I think the fact that it was created for a family member made it more of a treasure. Not to mention that our other cousin, Kelly, actually took the photographs of Jamie! Jamie text'd me today to tell me how much she loved it. I can just envision it in the middle console circle of her car as she zips around Culver City.

I think this will become my staple gift to give all female graduates....I'll be up a creek with no paddle when it comes to the boys, I guess. Suggestions?