My Quest to Find Pumpkins in Hawaii

Today, I woke up with the realization that none of my five children has ever carved a pumpkin. Gregg assured me that they have, but after asking all five of them, none said they remember carving a pumpkin. What kind of a mom am I?

So I set out, with all five in tow, on a quest to find pumpkins. We were so excited! After several hours and many miles of searching, we couldn’t find them anywhere. Any suggestions? It finally started to get dark and the enthusiasm the children once had, had diminished into frustration and bickering. Disappointed, I bought a bunch of gourds and came home. 

Pray Until the Peace Comes, Part 2

Last Sunday, Gregg spoke a message on prayer that has dramatically changed the way I pray. I’ve heard many messages on prayer before, but this message brought a fresh perspective and new challenge. Here’s just a brief summary:

Uncertainty in our life can often reveal some of our deepest insecurities and greatest fears. When we experience uncertainty, we can choose to be ridden with anxiety or we can pray until the peace comes.

The reason that we’re often overwhelmed with anxiety is because we’ve not asked God to stand guard over our hearts and minds. We ask him to stand guard over our job, our finances, our children and our health, but we allow our hearts and minds to be devoured by stress and anxiety.

It is in praying, discovering and revealing to God our deepest desires and fears that we experience intimacy with God and the peace of God. God promises amazing peace when we take the time to search our hearts, and reveal to God the deepest desires of our heart.

Although three brief paragraphs don’t really accurately communicate the point, my amateur computer skills will attempt to link the full message here. Hope that worked.

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7 

Spam Musubi, Anyone?

The other day while driving in my car, I began to smell something funny. After looking through the car, Becca and I decided that the stench must be one of the boys’ stinky slippers.

Yesterday on the way to church, we discovered the true source. One of the boys presented me with a moldy, stinky spam musubi that had been decaying deep in one of the seat pockets. We’re estimating that it had been there for quite some time, but had finally developed the potency to be found.

I think it’s time for me to thoroughly clean my car. You never know what else I may find hiding and growing in there.

It’s also a good reminder for me of the importance to daily cleanse my heart. If I neglect to, things that may seem to be small and insignificant, if left untended, will grow into something ugly and stinky.

“Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.. . . Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:2, 10

Pray Until Peace Comes

Two years ago, both Gregg and I began feeling that tugging from God. We had experienced this feeling many times before and began sensing that God was moving us into a new ministry role outside of Nashville. The only problem was that we didn’t know where this new place would be!  But we were so sure of it that Gregg found his replacement and began to transition out of his role. Someone even offered to buy our home, and we hadn’t even put it on the market yet.

So here we were in Nashville with no home and no viable prospects for our next season. Our neighbors would ask us, “Where are you moving?” They couldn't believe that we would sell our home without a next step in place. In hindsight, I can’t either! There was so much uncertainty! Yet, in the midst of the uncertainty, there was this incredible peace.

Uncertainty can often surface our deepest insecurities and greatest fears. While experiencing uncertainty, we have a choice to make. We can choose to be ridden with anxiety or we can pray until peace comes.

This Sunday, Gregg will continue his series, He’s Still Got the Whole World in His Hands, with part two, Pray Until Peace Comes. He’ll unpack this truth further by discussing that although our circumstances may be uncertain, dark and confusing, we can still experience the peace of God, which transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:7).

Hope to see you there!

He's Still Got the Whole World in His Hands

Just returned from my women’s small group. I’m so thankful that I have a group of women with whom I can meet weekly to talk, pray and process life. 

Today, we discussed Gregg’s new sermon series, He’s Still Got the Whole World in His Hands. Sometimes I forget that most of the Bible was written under extremely uncertain times and circumstances. It is filled with stories of people facing uncertainty and discovering that not only is God not absent, he is diligently at work accomplishing his will in the world and in the lives of those he loves.

Last Sunday, Gregg proposed that if you were to ask Jesus’ disciples when their time following Christ was the darkest, most fearful, and most uncertain, they probably would have told you that it surrounded the events of Jesus’ crucifixion. But he went on to also say, that if you were to ask those same disciples about when God was doing his greatest work, in hindsight, they probably would’ve also said it was during that same time of darkness, fear and uncertainty.

This is encouraging to me because even when life is uncertain, God is not. Even when it seems that my life has spun out of control, God is still in control. Even when his voice seems to be silent and his activity appears to be absent, He is still at work to accomplish his purpose. He’s still got the whole world in his hands. 

Adventures in Church Planting: An Unexpected Surprise

When Gregg and our team made the decision to move our Sunday services to Kahala Elementary, we were excited for the opportunity to be in a community and to reach our Honolulu community.

A couple of weeks ago, Kahala Elementary held their school beautification project on Sunday morning during our services. One of the fathers that had come to help paint decided to bring his family yesterday to check out the new church in his neighborhood.

When Gregg got up to speak, he immediately recognized him. Turns out, this was one of the college students Gregg introduced to Christ more than 17 years ago when we were campus ministers at the University of Hawaii!

Gregg spent hours with this young man. In fact, if you’ve listened to enough of Gregg’s messages, you’ve probably heard a story about him (for example, Gregg’s near death snorkeling experience). He didn’t know that we had returned to Hawaii; he definitely didn’t know that we were planting a church at his children’s school. 

Church planting can be challenging. But seeing someone, whom you helped introduce to Christ more than 17 years ago, still loving God, still following Christ, reminds me that I wouldn't want to do anything else. 

A Church Planting Essential

This January, we will officially plant Grace Bible Church Honolulu. Believe it or not, this is the fourth church plant of which Gregg and I have been a part. You may wonder, are we crazy? Possibly. Glutton for punishment? Most definitely. And we have the gray hair to prove it! We’ve learned a lot through our experiences and the growth it has brought forth in our lives is invaluable.

Yesterday, during my daily ramblings to Gregg about church thoughts, ideas, etc., Gregg stopped me and reminded me of this one church planting essential:

He said, “All that we need to do is to stay in love with Jesus, and help others to do the same.”

It sounds like a no-brainer, but in the midst of planning, meeting, scheduling, preparing, and the daily demands and routines of a family and ministry, it is so easy to . . . slowly . . . drift . . . away from God.

So, fellow church planter, fellow Christian, stay in love with Jesus and help others to do the same.

The God Who Sees Me

This morning during my devotional time, I read Genesis 16. This is the story of when Sarai, unable to have children, gives Hagar, her maidservant, to Abram. Then when Hagar conceives a child, Sarai begins to take her hurt, insecurity, jealousy and anger out on Hagar.

Talk about dysfunctional!

Hagar must have felt so betrayed. So unloved. So used. So alone. 


After the angel appears to her, “she gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me.’” Genesis 16:13

When I hurt . . .

When I cry . . .

When I feel all alone . . .

When I feel as if no one cares . . .

You are the God who sees me. 

Do What You Gotta Do

One night as I was putting my little Jojo to bed, I noticed that he had something in his mouth. It was a mouthful of candy! The little rascal. He was pretty bummed when I had him spit it all out. I vividly remember how he looked at me and with a sigh, he said, "Go ahead. Do what you gotta do."

Jordan didn't resist, didn't argue, didn't excuse. I laughed, but got to thinking how often my tendency is to resist God's work in my life, to make excuses and justify my attitudes.

David seemed to understand this too as he prayed in Psalm 27, "Teach me your way, O Lord; lead me in a straight path. . ."

I want Jesus to have his way in my life. Lord, do what you gotta do.

Mulligans

Yesterday, Gregg and I were able to break away from our routine for an afternoon of golf with some friends.

Now, playing golf is not something I get to do very often, and I don’t do it very well either. For some reason, when I hit the ball in one direction, it has the amazing ability to follow a completely different trajectory.

Because of this, I always get a little nervous before playing. What a relief to me, when on the first hole, my friend, Annie, said, “Would you like to take a mulligan? Go ahead, take a mulligan.”

In golf, a mulligan is a do-over. You get a fresh start. You don’t have to play your horrible shot that landed in someone’s backyard, you don’t even have to count it. It won’t be written on the final scorecard.

A mulligan is similar to what God offers to us, isn’t it? A fresh start. A clean slate. A do-over. Have you taken your mulligan?

“. . . he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. . . as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:10, 12)

Who Ate My Cookies?

For my mom’s birthday, I bought her a box of cookies from the Honolulu Cookie Company. These cookies are so good and they come nicely wrapped in a gift box.

Anyway, until I got around to sending them, I placed them in the refrigerator with a big sign, “Do not open!”

Last night Gregg and I went out for dinner and upon returning home, I noticed the box had been opened and cookies had been eaten! (Sorry, Mom.)

I began my search with the usual suspects . . . the children. After some probing, one child finally came forward and confessed to eating the cookies.

Why do confessions often turn into excuses?

“I ate the cookies, because I didn’t see the sign.” “I didn’t know I wasn’t suppose to eat the cookies.”

We often do the same thing, too. Don’t we?

As Gregg and I discussed this with our child, we mentioned that true confession involves taking responsibility for what you’ve done, not shifting the blame or making excuses for it.

John Ortberg, in his book The Life You’ve Always Wanted, makes a good point saying, “Confession means saying that somewhere in the mix was a choice, and the choice was made by us, and it does not need to be excused, explained, or even understood. The choice needs to be forgiven.”

So Mom, be looking for an opened, slightly eaten gift in the mail that came with an important life lesson for your grandchild.

What We Need the Most

In a few weeks, my youngest child, Jessica, will turn five. She’s busy planning her big day and has decided that what she really wants, what she really needs is a “muffin maker”. What Jessie thinks she really needs is an easy bake oven so she can cook for treats for everyone.

Most people, spend their entire lives pursuing what they think they really need, but neglect pursuing the one thing they need the most: forgiveness.

Last Sunday, Gregg talked about how God is generous with what we need the most. He invites us into an incredible relationship that is characterized by forgiveness, mercy, grace and unconditional acceptance.

Yet, He doesn’t stop there. God asks that we, too, be generous in forgiving others. This is tough because it’s sometimes easier to focus on what’s been done to us by others, rather than focusing on what’s been done for us by God.

We forgive others not because they deserve to be forgiven, but because we have been forgiven.

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32