Making Room for Christmas

Do you ever feel as if you have more things on your schedule than you have time to do them? Too often I succumb to the pressure to get the most out of my life by cramming my schedule with as much as possible and stretching myself to the limit. I say, yes, to the sporting activities for the children, then I say, yes, to volunteer at the school. And I say, yes, again to coffee dates, play dates, sleepovers, . . .. 

I add, add, add, 

plan, plan, plan, 

schedule, schedule, schedule; 

and then wonder why I’m not really able to enjoy anything. 

This Sunday, Gregg will be talking about creating margin in our lives. Something of which I continually need to be reminded to do because I thrive on being productive.

God created us with limits and when we approach these limits, we squeeze out the margin and run the risk of burning out ourselves and those around us.

God invites us to live differently–to live with margin. Margin is the leftover, the extra, unhurried, unscheduled space. It is in the margin of life, where we are able to experience and truly enjoy life and relationships.

As the Christmas season is upon us, I want resist the temptation to spend it running from activity to activity—rushing around, stressed out. I desire margin. Time to reflect, time to pause, time to value people, time to enjoy and appreciate life. 


Most importantly, to take the time to slow down and consider the precious gift of God’s Son, Jesus, who entered a little, stressed-out, margin-less city of Bethlehem that was just too busy to even notice.

Thanksgiving for Everyone

I urge you, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all who are in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

As I was reading this scripture this morning, I was considering Paul’s urgent plea to offer thanksgiving for everyone. Often my prayers focus on thanking God for my stuff and the special people in my own life.

How often do I say thanks for everyone?

For all people?

Even people that I find difficult.

Even people with whom I don’t agree.

My life can be so microscopic, and myopic, so self-centered and inward focused.

How often do I turn my gaze outward and even attempt to see people as God sees them? To thank God for their lives and for the love that He has for them?

Lord, help me to see people as you see them, through your eyes of love, compassion and worth.

And to offer thanksgiving for everyone. 

My Daily Challenge: Chicken Bruschetta

This recipe is one of our family favorites. It meets my “daily challenge” requirements because everyone in our family likes it. In fact, it’s one of Gregg’s favorites. It’s also quick and easy enough to fix on a weeknight. Here’s how you make it:

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

salt, pepper and garlic powder

2 T. olive oil

1 8oz. pkg. of presliced mushrooms

1 small zucchini, quartered lengthwise and sliced into bite-size pieces

4 garlic cloves, minced

1 cup chopped tomato

1/3 cup chopped red onion

½ cup chopped fresh basil

2 T. balsamic vinegar

1/3 cup fresh parmesan cheese

1. Preheat your broiler.

2. Pound the chicken breasts until they are thin and then sprinkle them with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Place the chicken on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray and broil for about 4 minutes on each side, or until done. Remove the chicken from pan and keep warm.

3. Heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms, zucchini, and minced garlic; sauté 2 minutes. Add tomato, onion, basil and vinegar; sauté 3 minutes. Serve the vegetable mixture over chicken and sprinkle with the cheese.

I usually serve this with a side of pasta. Hope that you enjoy this as much as we do!

Now God

This Sunday, we will continue our series Choosing to Cheat with part Two: Now God. Here’s a sneak peak:

In the Old Testament, a man named Daniel faced a dilemma. Daniel had to decide who he was going to be loyal to—his Heavenly Father or his earthly king. He couldn’t have it both ways. He had to choose whom he was going to cheat. 

Every day we make choices as to how we’ll use our time and prioritize our lives. We often face a dilemma similar to Daniel’s. Who’s going to be our priority? Who are we going to cheat?

God takes full responsibility for the life that is wholly devoted to him. If we choose to reallocate our limited time according to God's priorities, we actually make space for God to intervene in our life in an exciting way.

Daniel had a “now God” moment when he did this and proposed a test. Daniel specifically identified what he desired to see changed regarding what was expected of him at work. He presented his plan to his boss and listened to the objections from his supervisor. Then Daniel asked his boss to test him in it for ten days.

There would not have been a “now God” moment for Daniel, if he had not made the decision to step out and trust God.  When you decide to order your life, family and marriage the way that God desires, you have no idea what God is capable and willing to do in the arena of your career.

To follow the series, you can download the full messages here.

But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel,… (Daniel 1:8-9)

Mom, I Think I Flushed My Wallet Down the Toilet

This afternoon, Jordan came running to me with a worried look on his face. “Mom,” he said in a slight panic, “I think I accidentally flushed my wallet down the toilet.”

Now for most 6-year-old boys, the spare change they’ve collected throughout the weeks wouldn’t have amounted to much. But Jordan has learned the value of a dollar at an early age and has somehow managed to squirrel away $115! All from a $1/week allowance!

So when Jordan said he “thinks” he “accidentally” flushed his $115 down the toilet, it sent us into search and rescue mode.

Thankfully, we found Jordan’s wallet on the bathroom floor. There are a lot of unanswered questions to today’s drama, and I still don't know all of the "why's" and "how's". But afterwards Jordan made the comment, “I think I have short-term memory loss.” 

Unlimited Patience?

A couple of days ago, I wandered into the family room and found my children eating a huge bag of frozen fruit. Not the neutral-colored fruit like bananas, mangoes, or pineapples. No, this was the berry variety of blueberries, raspberries and blackberries! Two of my children were covered up to their elbows in purple berry stains and it was soon to threaten the color of my furniture, walls and carpet.

Just the day before, I had to wash that same berry juice off of my couch. I had asked them many times not to eat food in the family room. Why didn’t they listen to me? I have to admit, I was frustrated.

Then I remembered how many times I have said that I won’t do something, only to find myself a short time later repeating the same habit, same attitude, making the same mistakes.

Lord, help me to be as patient with my own children as you are with yours.

“But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.” 1Timothy 1:16

Choosing to Cheat

In our culture, I think it’s pretty safe to say that work and family make up the two most significant and time-consuming arenas of our lives. It can be a struggle to juggle the demands of maintaining a career and a family. Success or failure in either category directly impacts and affects our lives.

The problem we encounter, is the reality that there is just not enough time to get everything done. We can’t do everything. Someone is going to get cheated. Worse yet, somebody is going to feel cheated.

This Sunday, we will begin a new series, Choosing to Cheat: Who Wins When Work and Family Collide? For those of us who wrestle with this ongoing tension, it’s going to be an honest look at the reality that although we will need to cheat somewhere with our time, we must make a decision not to cheat our family and the people who matter the most to us. 

Get Up!

Today Jordan, our 6-year-old learned to ride a bike. Before we started practicing, I reminded him that he will fall, but the important thing for him to do was to get up and keep trying.

He did fall . . . a lot. But after each fall, Jordan got up, brushed the dirt off of him and climbed back on his bike. He was determined to ride that bike! It was a huge accomplishment for him and afterwards, Jordan exclaimed, “Now, I’m a big boy!”

Watching Jordan’s determination reminded me that there are times when I will fall, when I will fail. The important thing for me to remember is to get up, to keep trying. Too often in my fear of failing, I avoid the risk altogether. Where’s the joy and satisfaction in that?

I truly think that a large part of our maturity as people is fashioned, and character is developed, when we persevere, endure life’s bumps and scratches, and refuse to stay down when we fall. 

“Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.” Micah 7:8

My Daily Challenge: Chicken Parm Soup

Today is a soup day in Hawaii. We don’t get too many of them, so I hope to take full advantage of it.

This soup is one that our entire family enjoys and it only takes about 15 minutes to make. I got the recipe from Rachel Ray’s book, Just in Time.

4 T. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 pound of chicken breast, chopped into bite size pieces

   Salt and pepper to taste

4 garlic cloves, 3 chopped and 1 halved

   Red Pepper flakes, to taste

1 (28-ounce) can of crushed tomatoes

1 quart (4 cups) chicken broth

4 thick slices of Italian or sourdough bread

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 cup fresh basil, shredded or torn

Preheat the broiler.

Heat the EVOO in a soup pot over medium high heat. Add the chicken, season with salt and pepper, and cook until lightly browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the chopped garlic, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes to taste. Stir in the tomatoes and chicken stock and cook until heated through.

While the soup cooks, char the bread on both sides under the broiler. Rub with the garlic halves and drizzle with EVOO, then mound with handfuls of Parmesan cheese. Return to the broiler to melt the cheese.

Turn off the heat and stir in the basil. Ladle the soup into bowls and float the toasts on top. You’re done! Enjoy!

My Daily Challenge

Every day, I wake up with this challenge. 7 days a week, including holidays I face it, wrestle with it and encounter it. This daily challenge, of course, is what to make for dinner.

I love to cook, but the challenge I find is coming up with something different every day, that will accommodate the palettes of seven people. Yet it must be easy enough to make in the midst of homeschooling, house cleaning, helping with homework and the variety of sports and activities that we continually have.

So, I’ve decided to pass on a few recipes that I’ve found that meet two criteria:

1.   They must be quick enough for me to make during the week, and easy enough for me to make considering the many distractions and interruptions that seem to occur only between the hour of 5-6pm.

2.   They must taste good and pass the test of at least 5 of our 7 family members.

I’ll plan to post the first recipe in my next post. Bon Appetit! 

Youth Can Make A Difference

Last night, our Friday night youth service was completely run by the students. They operated the sound, led the worship, played an entire band, taught a strong word, served the snacks and even coordinated the rides home for those who needed them.

But what inspired and encouraged me the most was to see the enthusiasm, care and effort they put into making the entire evening a success. They rose to the challenge given them and used the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of their peers.

JR and Toan began their teaching by asking their peers if they had ever been told, “you’re no good” or “you’ll never amount to anything”. Hands shot up across the room.

These young men encouraged their peers to not to believe the lies and not to “let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12

It is heartbreaking to see so many young people who have experienced deep betrayal, rejection, and feelings of worthlessness at such a young age.

They’re looking for somewhere to belong. Looking for someone to believe in them. Someone who will affirm their worth. They're looking for someone to believe that their lives matter and that they can make a difference.

What a great opportunity for these youth, who are seeking answers, to see their peers living with hope, purpose and passion in an environment that often seems unfocused and without direction or purpose. What an inspriration for them to hear that their lives have value and they have something to contribute.

Young people can make a difference. 

Even As We Put Our Hope in You

Last Sunday, Gregg concluded our series, He’s Still Got the Whole World in His Hands, with the message Hope, describing hope as a person or thing in which our expectations for the future are centered.

Although we don’t often think about it, whatever we are leaning our life against is that in which we have placed our hope. Gregg described hope like a ladder that we lean against a wall. Often we find ourselves leaning our lives against temporary and unfulfilling things such as our career, our relationships, or our finances.

Placing our hope in the world, in anything temporary, is futile because our world is hopelessly broken. Sin has messed up, infected and impacted every living thing. If our hope is in the world, we will always be disappointed. The only way to maintain hope in a broken and uncertain world is to lean our ladder against, or place our hope in God’s incredible love for us.

We asked one of our campus staff members, Shaun, to paint some artwork for the set. Shaun is also a professional artist whose work is currently on display at two of Hawaii’s libraries. You can view Shaun’s portfolio here. The picture below shows what Shaun and JR, one of our talented high school students, constructed for last week’s message.

May your unfailing love be with us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you.” (Psalm 33:22)

Brandon's Big Catch

Last weekend, a friend of ours took Brandon and Gregg free diving for the first time. I have to admit, I was a little nervous. Free diving in the open ocean, sharks, . . .. But what really scared me was the though of my highly curious 11-year-old swimming around armed with a spear gun. 


Thankfully, there were no injuries to report. None, except this one:

Can you figure out what this is? It's a tako, Japanese for octopus. It was about the size of a grapefruit and Brandon speared this little guy all by himself. Island living suits Brandon well.