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. . .

You are the God who sees me. 

Why Do I Serve?

"Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord and not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does." Ephesians 6:7-8 


Too often I look for my reward to come from men, not from the Lord. I want the recognition, I want the encouragement, I want the honor. Isn't this what the hypocrites were desiring too? 


"Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 6:1 

Ouch. I want to live for a reward that comes from God.

A Heart at Rest

"My soul finds rest in God alone..." Psalm 62:1

It's easy to "seek rest" in things other than God, isn't it? A job, financial stability, good health. But when chaos and uncertainty swirl around us, how often are our souls truly at rest? 


David was surrounded by people that wanted to dethrone him. Through the years, he had learned to trust God and find rest in Him. May that be said of us as well. 

Is Anything too Hard for the Lord?

As I was reading in Jeremiah this morning, I came to chapter 32 where Judah is being taken over by Babylon. War is raging and the people are being carried into exile. In the midst of all of the uncertainty, fear and turmoil, God tells Jeremiah to buy a field.

Seems like a silly request, doesn’t it? How irrational must this seem to Jeremiah? How foolish must Jeremiah look to the Israelites. Why would anyone invest in land when their future in that place looks so bleak and hopeless?

It was through this request to Jeremiah that God illustrated to the Israelites that He can be trusted and that His promises are true, regardless of the circumstances surrounding them.

The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah was, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?” Jeremiah 32:27. In the midst of the darkness and uncertainty, God wants us to trust Him and actively depend on Him even when things don’t look the way we’d hoped or expected.

God assures Jeremiah and the people of Israel that they can trust Him to do what He promised. “I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul…so I will give them all the prosperity I have promised them.” Jeremiah 32:41-42

You can trust Him. If there’s a dream that He has placed in your heart, don’t let go. He will fulfill it in His way, in His time. 

It Came from Within!

If a monster was freely roaming, destroying and terrorizing our city streets, you’d probably want the city to do everything in their power to stop it, right? This morning, Gregg introduced us to some real-life monsters that we’re not always so aggressive in eradicating from our life. These are monsters that seek to invade our hearts.

While we learn from an early age how to monitor our behavior and filter our words and our actions in order to make life work, it’s not enough to monitor our behavior; we have to learn the art of monitoring our heart.

That’s why Solomon, the wisest man to ever walk the earth, said this:

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23

Above all else…before you do anything, do this one thing because everything in life emanates from your heart—your words, your thoughts, your actions and your relationships.

You guard your heart by watching what goes in and keeping an eye on what comes out. How’s your heart? Don’t be afraid of the monsters. God has given you specific weapons to fight and defeat them.

It’s going to be a great series. You won’t want to miss it. 

Three C's-Connection

At the beginning of the year, Gregg took some time to expound on three of Grace Honolulu’s core values— we’re calling them the three C’s. Since I’ve been lagging in my blogs, it looks like I kept you hanging for over a month to reveal the third “C”.

Well, here is it: connection. Connection is experienced when we’re devoted to loving God’s people and growing through relationship with others. Two of the main ways we do this in the church is through participating in a small group and serving on a ministry team.

How are your relationships in the body of Christ? Are you getting connected with other believers by sharing your life with them in a small group? Are you a part of something bigger than yourself and your own schedule through serving on a ministry team?

As Christ-followers, these are three important groups of relationships for us to have in our life if we’re going to partner with God in becoming all that He’s created and called us to do.

Christ—being devoted to loving Jesus and experiencing relationship with a living God.

Community—being devoted to loving people and influencing our culture by following Jesus into the places where we live, work and do life.

Connection—being devoted to loving God's people and growing through relationship with others in small groups and serving with a team.

Tsunami Adventure

Finally, we are home safe and sound. After watching the news from Japan about the earthquake and tsunami they experienced, we’re so thankful and grateful to God for watching over and protecting Hawaii. Please continue to pray for the people of Japan. What a devastating series of events and long road to recovery they have ahead of them.

My minivan conveniently broke down Wednesday evening and was still in the repair shop when the tsunami warnings went off last night. Having no other alternative, we crammed all seven of us—and the dog—into Gregg’s tiny car. It was already past 10pm, when we left our home in search of higher ground.

After stopping at Wal-Mart for emergency supplies (Oreos, beef jerky, Cheezits, Spaghetti O’s and a toothbrush), we pulled up to our friend’s house around midnight. 

Thanks to our dear friends, Darrin and Jo, for opening up their home to seven stranded people, their dog and all of the stuff each person brought because they were determined they could never live without it.

Three C's-Community

Christianity is more than a religion--it's a relationship with God. During our series, Connecting the Dots, we've discovered that too often there's a disconnect between our faith and how we live our everyday lives. We can compartmentalize God, keeping Him as a "Sunday thing" we do, instead of seeing Him as real and actively involved in the world in which we live. 


We've been learning about three important groups of relationships--the three C's. The first is our relationship with Christ. The second, is our relationship with our community. God desires for us to take this incredible relationship that we have experienced with Christ and share it with the community where we live, work and do life. 


Community is being devoted to loving people and influencing our culture by following Jesus into the broken, hurting world around us.

Three C's - Christ

This month, we began a new series, Connecting the Dots. Too often there’s a disconnect between our faith and how we live our everyday lives. Yet, God is real and He is actively involved in our lives and our world.

Throughout our series, Gregg will be discussing the three most important groups of relationships for us to have as Christ-followers—we’re calling them the three C’s. The first is our relationship with Christ.

We experience how real and reliable God is when we trust Him first. Going to God should not be a last resort, but a first resort. Here are some practical ways to trust Him first in your life this year. At the first of each day, seek God. At the first of each week, gather together for worship. At the first of each month, give God your tithe. And at the first of each year, set aside time to seek God through fasting and prayer. 

As for the other two, you'll have to come back next week, or see you Sunday!

A New Normal

A new year. Time to reflect and re-evaluate for the year ahead.

The Christmas season is a special time of year when God’s presence invades our culture like no other time of year. People are thinking of him, talking about him and celebrating His goodness.

Once January hits, the temptation is to settle back into our old routine—the busyness of life in which God becomes less noticeable.

My hope this year is that I would adopt a “new normal”. The active, visible presence experienced through December would naturally continue throughout the year.

A new year. A new normal. Serving a real God who is actively involved in my real life and world.

Peace On Earth

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests. Luke 2:14

The other day while checking out at the post office, the woman helping told me that she’ll try to be efficient because “I don’t need any more stress in my life this time of year.”

Something doesn’t seem right. The season of year that should be the most joyous and peace-filled can often be the busiest and most stressful.

Imagine the scene…imagine the stress two thousand years ago. Augustus had issued a decree that everyone must travel to their hometown to register. The roads were crowded, the city was crowded, everyone was in a hurry. Who had time to pause and recognize the birth of a baby in a smelly stable?

God reveals himself to those who have the time to listen. Could it be, perhaps, that lowly shepherds were the few people who weren’t too busy to pause and notice?

God’s peace entered the busy, stress-filled town of Bethlehem. Holiness dwelt in the midst of the hectic.

But did they pause to notice and consider the amazing gift God had given them? Will we?

“Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11

Joy

My blogs have been sparse lately. I started a new job as our Children’s Ministry director. It's been great, although it has eaten up the little bit of “blog time” that I had.

This month our kids are learning about Joy: finding a way to be happy even when things don’t go your way. Sounds like a message for all ages, doesn’t it? When things don’t work out as we expect—we lose our job, experience health problems, it can shake our faith. We don’t even realize it, but we begin to base our joy on our circumstances instead of the faithfulness of God.

Even in the difficult, unexpected seasons of our life, we can have joy because God keeps his promises and nothing is impossible for Him. Sometimes our plan looks a lot different than God’s plan. That’s when we need to trust that He loves us and His plan is always best.

God’s message is good news of great joy for all people! He gave us what we need the most—a Savior! And because of that, we can have joy even when things don’t go the way we expected them.

The Purpose of Christmas

The Purpose of Christmas

This Sunday, we’re beginning our Christmas series, The Purpose of Christmas.

I love the Christmas season, yet it seems that there is a disconnect between the story of Christmas and the message of Christmas. The story is familiar and when stories become familiar, the original message can lose its power and potency.

When an angel of the Lord appeared before the shepherds the night Jesus was born, the Bible says they were terrified. I wondered why their first reaction was one of fear, yet then thought, would my response be any different? I used to dread getting in trouble at school. How about you? When your boss calls you into his office, is your natural response one of fear? 

Paralyzed by fear, the shepherds assumed God had bad news, but the news He had to share was magnificent. The message of Christmas is good news for all people! In spite of what you’ve done or haven’t done, God sent what you needed the most—a Savior. When you embrace the message of Christmas, God gets all the glory and you get peace. That’s good news!

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10-11

The Unfamiliar

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them… Isaiah 42:16

I don't like walking in the dark. I always bump into things and stumble around. I'd much prefer to see where I'm going...there's more security in that. 

Sometimes our life can feel as though we’re walking in the dark. We can’t see where the path on which we’re walking will end. It’s scary, unsettling. Yet, God says that He’s there with us, guiding us through the uncertain and unfamiliar. And we just need to trust Him.

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. 

Jessie's Big Day

Jessie's halau had their first performance tonight. Nestled in between our final two soccer games of the year and the festivities that accompany that, she was so excited to take the stage. Here are some not-very-good-but-she-sure-looks-cute photos. 

Loving the Church

I just read this post on Henri Nouwen's website, Bread for the Journey: 


"Loving the Church often seems close to impossible. Still, we must keep reminding ourselves that all people in the Church - whether powerful or powerless, conservative or progressive, tolerant or fanatic - belong to that long line of witnesses moving through this valley of tears, singing songs of praise and thanksgiving, listening to the voice of their Lord, and eating together from the bread that keeps multiplying as it is shared. When we remember that, we may be able to say, "I love the Church, and I am glad to belong to it."

Loving the Church is our sacred duty. Without a true love for the Church, we cannot live in it in joy and peace. And without a true love for the Church, we cannot call people to it."

I Am What I Do

This Sunday, Gregg will conclude our Identity Theft series with I Am What I Do.

I have found myself believing the powerful lie that says my worth comes from what I do. This mentality for years led me to live as if my performance was what made me valuable. I would do, do, do…add, add, add wearing myself out to prove my worth and significance. This mentality kept me in bondage through most of my high school years as I battled an eating disorder. I thought if I looked a certain way and accomplished a lot of great things, then I would be content.

When we live this way, we wrongly derive our identity from what we accomplish, what we have and what people think about us. What we do shouldn’t define us. The one who created us should define who we are. If we are not allowing the truth of God’s word to define who we are, then something else will define us.

Our culture sends a lot of messages about achieving success and attaining “outer” beauty, but very little guidance is given as to how we can develop inner peace, beauty and contentment. We’re left to figure a lot of it out for ourselves. Developing this worth doesn’t come from trying harder. It’s not about doing more. It’s believing the truth about God and how He sees you. It’s about becoming the woman that He created you to be. 

Parenting Beyond Your Capacity

Last night, Gregg and I began a small group for parents. We’re reading and discussing a new book called, Parenting Beyond Your Capacity by Reggie Joiner and Carey Nieuwhof. It was a great turnout: 20 adults and 12 children!

I don’t know about you, but I’ve often felt as if the immense job and responsibility of parenthood stretches me beyond my limit. The job requires far beyond my capacity to give.

A couple of months ago, I was painfully reminded of how ill-equipped and incapable I am as a parent and how dependent I am on God and others for help, wisdom and encouragement.

About 6am one morning, Gregg and I were awoken from our sleep by the sound of someone knocking loudly on our front door. Gregg pulled himself out of bed to go to the door to see who was disturbing us so early in the morning. It was our 14-year-old daughter, Rebecca, covered in a blanket, looking disheveled. When Gregg opened the door and Becca announced, “Thanks a lot, you locked me out of the house last night and I had to sleep in the car!” We thought she had gone to sleep, but apparently she had gone outside to look at the stars before heading to bed.

Thankfully, I’m slowly learning and realizing something which we discussed at length last night: God isn’t holding up a perfect picture of a perfect family; He’s writing a bigger story.

I find that very refreshing. God doesn't have this unattainable standard for me. He wants to, and is more that able to use my family just the way we are. Here are just a few of my book notes from last night’s group:

• It seems like God is more interested in using broken people that He is in creating a better picture.
• If you were to invite God into your less-than-ideal story and learn to cooperate with whatever He wants to do in your life, the dynamic of your family could radically change.
• What if our purpose as parents is to illuminate the bigger story, to influence the next generation to experience God in a more genuine way.
• The family exists, even in its imperfection, to display the heart of God to every generation.

It's not to late to join! Call the church office to register. 

Great to Be Home!

I just returned from a wonderful week in Nashville. It was an incredible time of seeing old friends and making many new ones. The retreat of which I was a part inspired and encouraged me to continue to press on in my role as a pastor’s wife and church planter.

I don’t leave town often…rarely alone. The last time I did was over three years ago. While I was away, Gregg conveniently lost two of our children at a water park. (In his defense, the boys were standing in a long line and Gregg ran to the car to get something. While he was gone, lightning struck and they closed the park and evacuated everyone.)

Upon handing Gregg the children’s sports and school schedule before leaving he commented, “It will be a miracle if I don’t lose someone, somewhere.” Comforting.

Thankfully after this trip, all of our children are accounted for. The only casualty seems to be a bird that Jessie found and hoped to nurse back to health. The dog discovered it this morning in the backyard. 


I just found out why all of my children smell. Jessie says they didn't take baths all week. Great to be home. 


Editor's comment: Gregg adamantly just assured me that all of the children were thoroughly bathed while I was away.