What a Ride!!!

"Now I believe roller coasters are an ... accurate model for the Christian life.  You say yes to Jesus, and suddenly you are strapped in and you think, I'm going to die!  Then you begin the long climb of growth - Sunday school, baptism, church membership - and you think, Hey, no problem, I can follow Jesus anywhere, and then-ZOOOOOOOOOOM- you crash into the twists and turns of life, jerking left then right, up then down and fifty, sixty years go by and-WHAM!-your dead... If I were to have a heart attack right at this moment, I hope I would have just enough air in my lungs and just enough strength in me to utter one last sentence as I fell to the floor: 'What a ride!'" (Dangerous Wonder, Michael Yoconneli, pg 106)

If you haven't read Yoconneli's book - you should.  Unfortunately I think many Christians will not exclaim "What a ride!" at the end of the journey.  Why?  In order for this ride to be exhilarating, we must open our eyes and be in complete AWE of how God pulls some of these things off, and we also have to be willing to follow Him BOLDLY. 

Following Him boldly can mean a lot of things - likely something different for each person.  The reality is that God is capable of doing many things that we are not, and if you do not recognize God sized events going on with you or around you, then your bold step may simply be to ask God to show you WHY you are not seeing it.  Getting to witness such things is what spurs us on... it's what makes the "good news" INCREDIBLE news.  It's hard to share something that is just "okay news".  Lets be intentional together, as a body of Believers, to be a part of some God-sized stuff.

My husband and I committed a few years back to praying more boldly and offering our family to God in order to do His God-sized work - this resulted in our family having a "Topic of the Year".  We've done this for two years, and I am in complete AWE.  I really am... how did God use a family of 3 to do so much especially during our time of grief? In the process, He built our strength and our character... He opened our eyes and our hearts. 

Below I am going to share about our "Topic of the Year" experiences to show off the enormity of God.  I would LOVE to hear some of your God-sized stories as well.  Please send them to me in the comments section.  By the way, the theme for 2013 is "Celebrating Marriages".

2011 - Feeding Families

Goal: To feed as many families in need as possible.

Background: Our church put several challenges inside unmarked envelopes; wherein should anyone choose to take an envelope they were to complete the enclosed challenge.  There was a challenge to feed 500 people – we didn’t receive that envelope, but it did challenge us to think about the economy and those in desperate need.  We also thought our son, 3 years old at the time, could understand this concept of giving.

Events/Goal Reaching:

·         Took meals to sick friends or people who had babies

·         Took meals to the elderly

·         Held lemonade stands and other “fundraising” type events to give proceeds to John 3:16 Mission to feed the homeless.

·         “Trick or Treat for Cans” – Our family distributed fliers throughout our neighborhood about our plans, then we went trick or treating for non-perishable food items that were donated to a local food pantry.

·         Traveled to Russia to teach job skills to orphans who had aged-out of the system. While I was there I provided, cooked and served meals to graduated orphans.

·         Connected with a homeless person, who ended up staying a short while with us.

Results: Fed between 600-700 families!

2012 - Celebrating Life

Goal: To celebrate lives of those often forgotten.
Background: Our son Elliot was still born in Dec 2011; therefore, we thought it would be appropriate to celebrate his life as well as many others who are often over looked in our society for whatever reason.  God values all life, and so do we.

Events/Goal Reaching:

·       Had a baby shower in memory of Elliot, and all the proceeds went to Mend Pregnancy Resource Center – a place that shows God’s love and encourages families to choose life for their babies.

·       Sat by the sides of friends as their loved ones were dying or just after they had died.

·      Our family chose a beans and rice budget for several months, and the proceeds are being used to celebrate lives through organizations such as: Happy Hands, The Little Light House, Home Improvement Ministry, Blackbox International, Family Life, Mother’s Enduring Neonatal Death, etc.

·       Lemonade/cookie stands (Reese even went door to door) and other fundraising events; proceeds went to  organizations.

·       Wholeheartedly asked God to use us in any way he deemed necessary to love on those who had also lost a loved one, going through a divorce, etc.

Results: This is difficult to define, but I will try.

·         The baby shower resulted in ~$800 in financial donations, and 3 truckloads donations.

·         Continued serving as Ministry Leaders at Celebrate Recovery, though it was difficult during our time of grief.

·         Ron and I “officiated” my Mother’s funeral.  We got to honor her and share God’s love with many people.

·         Through fundraising events and our rice and beans budget, more than $6000 in donations to organizations listed above.

·         Our family made a decision to adopt.  We turned in our application in November.

·         There is so much more in regards to this year, but I can’t put it into words.  Just know that God is BIG and AWESOME.

Along this path, we met many people, shared some amazing times, and our hearts are forever changed.  I can't wait to see what He will do next... I can't wait for our son or daughter to get here... I can't wait to see lives changed... Wow... What a ride!