Not a House but a Home...

Lately I have been feeling like a house of cards.  If I am balanced ever so carefully, I can be beautifully intricate, rise to amazing heights and simply amaze.  But that balance is so easily upset one breeze, however faint or shake of the table and I fall, hard, fast and into a messy heap(and most of the time my heap includes tears).  I feel flat, defeated, inadequate and so unorganized.  Like a mess of cards scattered every which way some facing up, others facing down, not good for anything except to sort through, clean up and possibly start (building or playing with) again.  Normally I find that one of many things have happened in order for my house to fall.  My foundation is not where it should be, or maybe I am building for the wrong reasons or maybe I am not supposed to be building at all and instead God has something for me in the clean up, the sorting through or the slow process of starting again. 

A few weeks ago Pastor Britta asked the children during the children's message what a church is?  The response was that is was a building to keep us safe.  Did you catch that?  A building. Sometimes I find that I am to concerned about my "House" and I neglect, ignore or don't even bother with my HOME.  My home is in Christ, with the Lord and my Savior.  When my focus is on other things, worldly things or even (gasp!) church ministry things, if my foundation is not in God and I am not based in the word, I am not home.  When I do not start where I should I become so unstable and the enemy can easily knock me down.

Harbert Community Church is in a time of transition.  Now more than ever we need to work on our home.  When we as a church family are hurting we need to take special care for each other.  A hymn came to my mind when that children's sermon took place and later during another sermon and discussion.  The hymn is "We Are theChurch" by Richard Avery and Donald Marsh.  I encourage you to follow the link and read or sing through the song. I encourage you (and me!) to focus on our HOME and not worry so much about the house.  Houses will eventually be destroyed, but our Home in Christ is Forever!

- written by Jodie Wilson

Isaiah 32:18-20 My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest. Though hail flattens the forest and the city is leveled completely, how blessed you will be...

So will you please join us as we try to continue building not a house, but a Home at Harbert Community Church.  Reach out to someone new, or that you don't know very well, step out of your comfort zone and offer to volunteer, but most importantly welcome everyone into our HOME.

Don't forget to check out what is going on this fall at HCC!

Women's Morning Bible Study        HCC Women's Luncheon
Holiday Bazaar

May We Run

Isaiah 41:10  "Fear not, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Many runners will tell you if you ask them, what they repeat as their mantra when they run long distances to help them along.  Sometimes I repeat, "Forward. Upward. Forward. Upward.". The visualization of those two things propels me well, forward and upward.  But more often than not, I recite Bible passages. These passages don't necessarily have anything to do with running, but are good to ponder and focus on instead of the discomfort of running for hours.  A common passage I like to recite is Isaiah 41:10. I have always been motivated by it and like to repeat it a few times and really dwell on what this passage means.

Often in our lives we are fearful of things to come or things that are happening.  We are dismayed when we think about the predicaments of our lives. But God tells us not to fear!  He is with us. We aren't alone in our trials.  He is handling this for us.  Don't dismay. Be hopeful.  He is our God.  He strengthens us and helps us through all difficulties in our lives.  He holds us up with his righteous right hand.  We are carried in the palm of his amazing hand.

When I'm running I visualize him literally holding me in his hand.  I picture him strengthening me and running that distance with me.  It is a metaphor for my life.  He doesn't just carry me on my runs, he carries me through my entire life- parenting my children, interacting with my community, working on my relationship with my husband, caring for and loving my parents and friends.  He is with me and I need not fear in any circumstance. He is my God.

-written by Kristen Kaspar

May we learn to run.  Not in fear but fully trusting that the Lord is with us, providing strength and holding us up with his hand.

In the Midst...

            I heard the mom’s tight voice just down the aisle from me in the store.  Speaking to her toddler, who was seated in a shopping cart being pushed by his grandmother, the mom said, “You better be nice in here, or you’ll be sorry!” 

            Whenever I’m out in a public place and hear a child on the receiving end of an adult’s anger, it makes me cringe.  If this is what goes on when they are out in public, what is life like in the privacy of their own home?  On this particular day, it was as if I could not escape the situation.  They were practically following me around the store.

            The cute little guy was giggling and having a great time with his grandma, who was doing a good job of entertaining him while the mom shopped.  His legs flipping back and forth, he jabbered and pointed, while grandma toured the store with him.  In his tiny hands he held a Kindle, which his mother had given him to “play” with.  A moment later, there was a clunk, followed by crying.

            The grandmother soothingly said, “That’s okay, honey.  It was an accident.”  The little boy whimpered, “I sorry.”  The mom’s voice rose as she reprimanded her son for dropping the Kindle, while the grandma came to his defense.  “He said he was sorry, honey.  If it slips out of his hands, what is he supposed to do?”

            “Mom!  I just got this back after having it repaired the first time!”  And then, turning to her sobbing son, she said, “Quit your crying or I’ll give you something to cry about!”

            Meanwhile, my brain evaluated several exit ramps.  Should I saunter over to the mom and say, perhaps in a smooth Laura Dean accent, “Love him when he’s little, ma’am; he’s gonna grow up before you know it.”  Or, should I go grab one of those cute tractor books I saw on the way in to the store and place it in the boy’s chunky hands, flash the mom a beautiful Lindsay Small smile and wink at the grandma?  I also considered using my own mother’s reaction to such a scene, which would be an audible tsk of the tongue, followed by a heavy sigh and departure.

            But unfortunately, I did nothing.  I stopped long enough to notice the worn, dirty coat the mom was wearing, the exasperation in her voice.  I noticed too the gentle hands of the grandma.  Who was I to think I knew exactly what was going on here?  More often than not, there is much more to a story.

            Instead I found myself saying a prayer for the little boy, the grandma, and the frustrated mother.  God was right here in the midst of all this drama.  Just as He has always been with me in my times of frustration, fatigue, and impatience as a mother.  I remember well those times when my children were the least lovable, because it was at those times that they needed my love the most. 

            All three of these people needed Jesus at that point.  And, quite frankly, so did I.  

- written by Debbie Reith

Romans 14:13 "Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister."

I would like to add that Debbie did not "do nothing," as said above.  

She prayed.  May we remember the "I sorry" of the little boy and pray instead of passing judgement on others.  May we also learn to fully rest in the Lord.

Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

Time...

How is it that one little word can conjure up so many thoughts and feelings?  There are many definitions of time, just as there are many feelings the word time brings to mind.  After reading through all of the definitions given by Merriam-Webster if I had to summarize time, it would be: when something happens.

   Time frustrates me.  I think the reason why is that I cannot control it.  No matter if I yell to "Hurry Up!" or if I try to slow time down.  It doesn't work.  Either I need more time or I cannot wait for time to pass more quickly.  Maybe the passing of time makes me feel stressed or rushed.  For instance when there is a deadline in place, especially if I am running behind.  But then I also may wish to stretch out a certain time that I am enjoying so much I don't want it to end.  Maybe I am so anxious or excited about an upcoming event that I am the one early with time to spare and I want the time to speed up.  You see I personally have NO control over time itself.  It keeps going, at its own pace.  Here is the thing though, I can control what I do with my time.

   Lately, I have been reminded over and over that you never know what time may bring.  Maybe it will be an end or a new beginning.  Something you never saw coming or maybe you had an inkling.   Even though we do not know what the future holds, God does.   I have to give my time to God.   I have to be willing to let go and listen, wait then follow.  Many have heard or are familiar with Jeremiah 29:11.  But I encourage you to look at the verses that follow, read at least to verse 13.  How will you seek God with your time?

   At the end of the day I will most likely not be upset that I played with my children or took time to talk to a friend even if the laundry is not done.  I hardly ever truly wish for time to go by faster, even if I have wished for nap time or bed time to come sooner.  But I think this is what God has shown me.   I have to be willing to wait and be patient, yet also ready to let go and continue to move on.  For me I have learned to slow down my pace, sit back look at what God has given me and take the time not only to be thankful but also enjoy.  While time still frustrates this type A personality frequently,  I try to live in the moment and enjoy the pace whether it be frantic or Relaxed. 

I challenge you to enjoy this amazing journey of time and always remember God is right by your side.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 

written by Jodie Wilson

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