Let me tell you about my wee gran.
She was a petite wee silver-haired whirlwind, known throughout our village for her legendary home-baking and ability to seemingly be everywhere at once. She had six grand-children and was retired for my whole life. She lived on her own, on a state pension and a few extra pounds as a widow's pension from when my papa died.
But the one thing that will never forget about my gran was her ability to be generous with the very little that she had.
I don't know how she did it but we never went without.
And that's the thing about families - they give dangerously. Even when it doesn't make sense financially - it makes less sense not to.
As the year draws to an end (sorry, that's a bit depressing, but I didn't want to mention the ho-ho-horrible financial nightmare that Christmas can be for some) I've been looking back over our year and asking whether our lives have lived up to the values we say we believe in? Have we been living like the family - household of God (Ephesians 2:19) - that we claim we belong to?
Being in church - and in our case NCLC (www.mynclc.co.uk) - we form an amazing community. But the loss of a friend recently showed us to be so much more... we are family (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!) We have wept together, laughed together, grieved together and grown together.
But what else should the family of God be doing?
Families celebrate excellence. You know it's a family when someone excels and the rest cheer them on. I can't remember a school prize-giving when my grandparents weren't in the audience. Excellence should never be just a word, or worse, a chore. It should be something we get excited about. It reflects God.
Families protect the family name. My brother and I fought like cat and dog for years. But if anyone says anything about my brother... the same should apply for us - especially as God's household. We need to protect one another and intentionally find the best to say. I hate the expression, 'if you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all'. What kind of lazy nonsense is that? Just say something nice! And when it comes to our pastors this applies even more so. They don't need flattery but the Bible makes it clear that the enemy is out to steal, kill and destroy - but just like me and my brother - he'll have to get through us first!
Families are in this together. Now listen, I understand not all earthly families get this - but that doesn't mean we shouldn't aspire to it. When it comes to it, if I have a disagreement with my 'family' I can't just walk out and find a new one. Instead we would have to work through that... we're family. And we need to see church like this too. Instead of staying offended or hurt, let's be family. And if you find it hard, make sure you get to connect group. It's incredibly difficult to sit down to eat with people you have issues with - and even harder when that meal is communion. Being with the heart of the family forces us to heal.
Families include generations. I remember my mum telling me off when I was little for being'good' for my gran and 'naughty' for her. But the truth was I behaved exactly the same in both places - it was just my gran chose to see past some of the other stuff. And you know, in our church family, we need to have every generation... and all doing what each does best. We need spiritual grannies who will see the best in a young person whose parents are pulling their hair out. We need dads for the boys, babies for the childless, wisdom from age, boldness of youth, loudness of childhood and the necessary restraint of maturity. All together.
And finally - back to my wee gran...
Families give dangerously. I don't think my gran ever thought for more than a minute about the loss of what she would have to give up for us - she just did it. I know she felt it, but because she always wanted to do more. And when it comes to playing our part as the building blocks Jesus uses to build his church I know I want to be one of those who gives dangerously. I want faith to begin with my money and end in a miracle of healing somewhere. I want my kids to grow up knowing we plan and budget to run our household but that we do that so we can be generous on all occasions.
I know this is long but I want to end by saying this. Over the last 18 months our joint finance dropped by about a third, petrol has gone up, food has gone up but... we have not dropped any of our financial commitments.
We still tithe
We still save
We still take the boys to Pizza Hut on a Saturday, and...
we now sponsor two more compassion kids than we did two years ago (a new one every year in jesus name!) -
I honestly don't say that to boast - but to say there have been times over the last year when we were squeezed, and I'm glad to say that tears weren't because we had to give up something, but only because we can't do more.
I want to encourage you... the family dynamic works two ways because God never abandons his household. He remains our provider, our shelter, our healer, our deliverer and our strength.
Could next year be the year where you also give dangerously?
Tuesday 15 November 2011
Wednesday 27 April 2011
I'm going back to the start... or am I?
I am wearing a skirt today , last worn almost 12 years ago. I remember this because I chose it as part of a power suit to sit my 'seniors' - the test that fully qualified me as a Senior Reporter. I was 20.
Today, skirt donned again, I am back reporting. My life, it would appear, has gone full circle. This statement in itself is enough to send me into some kind of meltdown. Having strived to 'push forward' with my life the thought of going back to the start filled me me with complete dread.
I'll be honest I'm not the best at seeing everything from the right perspective. My default setting is not selfless and outward looking, it's selfish and more than prone to some naval gazing. Pushing ahead, for me, has always involved one heck of a cause to live for. Otherwise I would naturally default to making everything about me. For me that cause is Christ and his incredible church. I have sown my life into living for something and someone way bigger than me.
There's an incredible passage in the Bible found in Habakkuk 2.
1 What's God going to say to my questions? I'm braced for the worst. I'll climb to the lookout tower and scan the horizon. I'll wait to see what God says, how he'll answer my complaint.
then in verse four:
4"Look at that man, bloated by self-importance—
full of himself but soul-empty. But the person in right standing before God
through loyal and steady believing is fully alive, really alive.
I love this passage - for me best expressed in The Message. Habakkuk is someone I can relate to. Desperate for answers, unable to get perspective on a situation consuming him he asks God some big 'why' questions. I have so been there. But Habakkuk is clever. He doesn't stay in the place of crisis - he gets above it. He looks down on it - he gets perspective and it's there God now only gives him some clarity - but points out what happens to the person who can't look from the outside in.
God calls us - so that's me too - bloated with self importance when we make everything about us. Me going 'back to the start' of my career at first was soul crushing (excuse the drama!) until I looked from the outside in and saw that I had come so far that I was now able to not need to push for work opportunities but was able to do what I love -writing! I have to say this revelation has helped me in church life too. If I make it about me I miss the incredible opportunities God has given and continues to give. Nathan and I once sat in the balcony at the Dominion Theatre in London looking down and dreaming of being part of a church - knowing leaders - getting to serve in a church like that. Dreams come true when you position yourself in order to get perspective.
The words in that passage end by saying the person who is all right in God's eyes, is the one who is loyal and faithful. Pastor Jon has been encouraging us with this very thing - that loyalty should be a character trait not just something we are for one thing or another. I don't think you can ever be loyal if you 'look in'. Looking in means you expect something of everyone else around you. If they let you down, what then, will you move your loyalty to somewhere else? Looking out means you persist and plod and give and serve regardless of how it affects you.
You know, the reason I can wear the now infamous skirt is because I have been loyal to my diet regime. Slowly but surely things are changing. If I cease with that - I'll go back to where I started. But if I keep going I'll end up being the size I was at 20. Keeping on - always takes you forward. It's stopping that takes you back to the start.
Today, skirt donned again, I am back reporting. My life, it would appear, has gone full circle. This statement in itself is enough to send me into some kind of meltdown. Having strived to 'push forward' with my life the thought of going back to the start filled me me with complete dread.
I'll be honest I'm not the best at seeing everything from the right perspective. My default setting is not selfless and outward looking, it's selfish and more than prone to some naval gazing. Pushing ahead, for me, has always involved one heck of a cause to live for. Otherwise I would naturally default to making everything about me. For me that cause is Christ and his incredible church. I have sown my life into living for something and someone way bigger than me.
There's an incredible passage in the Bible found in Habakkuk 2.
1 What's God going to say to my questions? I'm braced for the worst. I'll climb to the lookout tower and scan the horizon. I'll wait to see what God says, how he'll answer my complaint.
then in verse four:
4"Look at that man, bloated by self-importance—
full of himself but soul-empty. But the person in right standing before God
through loyal and steady believing is fully alive, really alive.
I love this passage - for me best expressed in The Message. Habakkuk is someone I can relate to. Desperate for answers, unable to get perspective on a situation consuming him he asks God some big 'why' questions. I have so been there. But Habakkuk is clever. He doesn't stay in the place of crisis - he gets above it. He looks down on it - he gets perspective and it's there God now only gives him some clarity - but points out what happens to the person who can't look from the outside in.
God calls us - so that's me too - bloated with self importance when we make everything about us. Me going 'back to the start' of my career at first was soul crushing (excuse the drama!) until I looked from the outside in and saw that I had come so far that I was now able to not need to push for work opportunities but was able to do what I love -writing! I have to say this revelation has helped me in church life too. If I make it about me I miss the incredible opportunities God has given and continues to give. Nathan and I once sat in the balcony at the Dominion Theatre in London looking down and dreaming of being part of a church - knowing leaders - getting to serve in a church like that. Dreams come true when you position yourself in order to get perspective.
The words in that passage end by saying the person who is all right in God's eyes, is the one who is loyal and faithful. Pastor Jon has been encouraging us with this very thing - that loyalty should be a character trait not just something we are for one thing or another. I don't think you can ever be loyal if you 'look in'. Looking in means you expect something of everyone else around you. If they let you down, what then, will you move your loyalty to somewhere else? Looking out means you persist and plod and give and serve regardless of how it affects you.
You know, the reason I can wear the now infamous skirt is because I have been loyal to my diet regime. Slowly but surely things are changing. If I cease with that - I'll go back to where I started. But if I keep going I'll end up being the size I was at 20. Keeping on - always takes you forward. It's stopping that takes you back to the start.
Monday 31 January 2011
If you get this you get me
The first bible verse I ever learned was in Revelation. I was going along to a summer club at 'the mission' for all the kids on our estate and in order to have the privilege of sticking your hand into a big fake brick wall to pull out some kind of scripture stationery (I am and always have been a stationery junkie - the smell of the inside of a new pencil case sets me off every time) you had to learn a memory verse.
Mine was "Be thou faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life."
As a kid, a wee girl in fact, this was awesome. I didn't know anybody from our 'scheme' to wear a crown - except the gala day queen!
But as an adult I have reflected on that so many times of the years that I've come to realise it has shaped me.
You see back then - age six or seven - God gave me that call. He told me to be loyal and unswerving in my beliefs - knowing that I would one day be making my living in journlism. Need I say more?
In that call - that one wee verse - for me, is God's belief of me - he told me to go the distance - and he surely would not set me up to fail?
But I also know that verse was not just for me - it's in the Bible - God's living breathing word. It's for everyone.
And if you get that - you'll get me.
Why I am so often accused of 'expecting too much of people'? Easy - because I believe you can do it.
Why do i find myself feeling hurt when people don't accept an opportunity to step up? Because I believe more for them and want more for them.
And it's for that reason that I know I am planted in the right church. I love that we believe that everyONE has a part to play and everyONE can contribute.
Of course within that there will be mistakes made - hands up, I've made them. I've given people things to do that they just couldn't handle and it's ended more often than not in tears.
But in those times - please hear me if you find yourself in a similar situation - instead of feeling useless or hard done to or any of the other plethora of emotions involved (I've been there too btw - ask Nathan about my baptism preach where I walked off the stage crying!) - why not ask why?
Why did my leaders ask me to do that when they know I'm so busy / not skilled / not ready? Answer - because we believe in you and the great BIG god in you.
Instead of being hurt or offended at the mere suggestion of you having a part to play - why not thank God you are planted in such a great place where the leaders start from a baseline of believing in your value and your contribution to the House - not a starting point of being in negative equity having to prove yourself.
And what if you're reading this and you can't relate because you have never even had an opportunity to fail at...
Well - one, this week ask your pastor or youth worker or whoever, what can I do? And decide before hand that if it involves a toilet and a brush that you're ok with that.
Two - get on their radar. In Eph 4:11 it says Jesus gave gifts of evangelists, prophets, apostles pastors and teachers to the church to raise God's people up - why - for works of service.
If you want to step up, step out.
So there you go. Blog number 2. Sorry it's long but when my pastor spoke last night he affirmed his belief in me. I want you to know the same.
To quote our Glllllooorrriiioooussss senior pastor, Brian Houston, 'the best is yet to come.' so come on let's go the distance - you can do it!
Mine was "Be thou faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life."
As a kid, a wee girl in fact, this was awesome. I didn't know anybody from our 'scheme' to wear a crown - except the gala day queen!
But as an adult I have reflected on that so many times of the years that I've come to realise it has shaped me.
You see back then - age six or seven - God gave me that call. He told me to be loyal and unswerving in my beliefs - knowing that I would one day be making my living in journlism. Need I say more?
In that call - that one wee verse - for me, is God's belief of me - he told me to go the distance - and he surely would not set me up to fail?
But I also know that verse was not just for me - it's in the Bible - God's living breathing word. It's for everyone.
And if you get that - you'll get me.
Why I am so often accused of 'expecting too much of people'? Easy - because I believe you can do it.
Why do i find myself feeling hurt when people don't accept an opportunity to step up? Because I believe more for them and want more for them.
And it's for that reason that I know I am planted in the right church. I love that we believe that everyONE has a part to play and everyONE can contribute.
Of course within that there will be mistakes made - hands up, I've made them. I've given people things to do that they just couldn't handle and it's ended more often than not in tears.
But in those times - please hear me if you find yourself in a similar situation - instead of feeling useless or hard done to or any of the other plethora of emotions involved (I've been there too btw - ask Nathan about my baptism preach where I walked off the stage crying!) - why not ask why?
Why did my leaders ask me to do that when they know I'm so busy / not skilled / not ready? Answer - because we believe in you and the great BIG god in you.
Instead of being hurt or offended at the mere suggestion of you having a part to play - why not thank God you are planted in such a great place where the leaders start from a baseline of believing in your value and your contribution to the House - not a starting point of being in negative equity having to prove yourself.
And what if you're reading this and you can't relate because you have never even had an opportunity to fail at...
Well - one, this week ask your pastor or youth worker or whoever, what can I do? And decide before hand that if it involves a toilet and a brush that you're ok with that.
Two - get on their radar. In Eph 4:11 it says Jesus gave gifts of evangelists, prophets, apostles pastors and teachers to the church to raise God's people up - why - for works of service.
If you want to step up, step out.
So there you go. Blog number 2. Sorry it's long but when my pastor spoke last night he affirmed his belief in me. I want you to know the same.
To quote our Glllllooorrriiioooussss senior pastor, Brian Houston, 'the best is yet to come.' so come on let's go the distance - you can do it!
Tuesday 11 January 2011
Let me introduce myself
Well as my profile tells you I am a wife (to Nathan - who is a campus pastor part of Newcastle CLC and also works in the volunteer sector), a mum to two of the world's most gorgeous (and strong willed) boys that God ever thought up , I am a campus pastor, alongside my husband, as part of a great church (www.mynclc.co.uk) under incredible leadership and I'm also a journalist for a daily newspaper. An interesting combo!
Why the blog? It's quite simple really. A little bit of it comes from creative frustration - I love to write but spend way too much time social networking - this will probably quench some of that. The biggest reason though is borne out of pastoral frustration. It's the tension of being the seemingly strong woman leader alongside the regular (more often irregular) girl who does normal mummy things tackling life alongside everybody else.
If I have heard once - I've heard it a million times, "But you're so strong Linz." Pah - ask my husband... by rights I should have a saline deficiency given the inordinate amount of time I spend crying. Neither have I a shortage of reasons to bow out, duck out, give up or chill out. I am a working mum. The thing is... I got saved. I got absolutely, unequivocally changed by surrendering myself to Christ (first at 12 and properly at 19) and was utterly transformed by Jesus. And in getting to know the head of it all - I fell in love with the body. I cannot tell you how much I love the Church. Being a part of it fills me with purpose and passion.
And so this will be my blog. It will centre around my domestic chaos, my marriage, my position as a leader, my place as a servant in our church and in His kingdom and my absolute love for the Church.
I'm just an ordinary gal, in a very ordinary house, surrounded by very ordinary people - people who when collected form the extraordinary organisation called the Church - which when functioning as it should sustains the transformed and transforms the lost.
Welcome to the purpose driven wife.
Why the blog? It's quite simple really. A little bit of it comes from creative frustration - I love to write but spend way too much time social networking - this will probably quench some of that. The biggest reason though is borne out of pastoral frustration. It's the tension of being the seemingly strong woman leader alongside the regular (more often irregular) girl who does normal mummy things tackling life alongside everybody else.
If I have heard once - I've heard it a million times, "But you're so strong Linz." Pah - ask my husband... by rights I should have a saline deficiency given the inordinate amount of time I spend crying. Neither have I a shortage of reasons to bow out, duck out, give up or chill out. I am a working mum. The thing is... I got saved. I got absolutely, unequivocally changed by surrendering myself to Christ (first at 12 and properly at 19) and was utterly transformed by Jesus. And in getting to know the head of it all - I fell in love with the body. I cannot tell you how much I love the Church. Being a part of it fills me with purpose and passion.
And so this will be my blog. It will centre around my domestic chaos, my marriage, my position as a leader, my place as a servant in our church and in His kingdom and my absolute love for the Church.
I'm just an ordinary gal, in a very ordinary house, surrounded by very ordinary people - people who when collected form the extraordinary organisation called the Church - which when functioning as it should sustains the transformed and transforms the lost.
Welcome to the purpose driven wife.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)