Impact requires investing

This past weekend I had the chance to help lead a neighborhood service event through Rivers Crossing Community Church. We mowed, pulled weeds, and helped do yardwork throughout a local neighborhood. But it was so much more than that!

The Monday before we went door-to-door telling people in the neighborhood that we would be coming on Saturday and would be in the neighborhood to meet people and ‘love on them’. We gave them a doorhanger to put out if they wanted to participate. Many responded by saying, “I remember all of you coming here and doing this before”, many were friendly but a little bit suspicious and guarded and some were interested.

Saturday morning we checked for doorhangers…6 houses. As we descended into the neighborhood, people became curious as they sat outside, watching an army of mowers, weeders, and edgers tackle lawns. We knocked on doors, talked to people, shared why we were there (simply to ‘do’–no strings attached!). Walls came down, people engaged and we were welcomed into helping at an estimated 40 houses in a neighborhood of 75 homes!

But it was so much more than the number of houses. We had time to meet the neighbors, hear some of their stories, and see God at work. There was the wife whose husband had just injured his shoulder and would not be able to mow. The family who accepted our offer, but were more thrilled that we could take care of their neighbor’s yard because they were elderly and had just moved into a nursing home. There was also the father who could spend a little much needed time with his pregnant wife and their young children, simply playing with sidewalk chalk in their driveway. As we finished in the neighborhood, a group drove past a nearby house and decided they would do a little “extra”. In that home was a man who had recently lost his wife and was completely overwhelmed with all he had to do with his kids and mother living with him. Taking care of his lawn was one thing we could take off his plate.

After we finished, the following email was received through the church website…

Hello,

My name is XXXX and I live at XXXX . I cannot thank you all enough for coming to my house today and pulling weeds, making my yard look much better.  I also saw a group from your church doing a lot of work in my neighbors’ yards, too. I am so impressed. Over the years, a number of people have periodically come into our neighborhood from  various churches, asking us to join their congregation. None ever did anything like what you all did!

I am going through a very tough time in my life and I have been working to make sense of it all, especially my spiritual life/relationship with God. I have also been trying to find a church where I can be with others and have a relationship with God. After witnessing what I saw today, I am very interested in learning more about joining your church. If someone could contact me, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks again. I am still amazed at what I saw today.

Real impact takes time. It takes effort. It takes building relationships and risking to step into people’s lives. It’s too easy to not invest in people, to focus on a task, or to have an idea and spend all our energy and resources on getting people to follow. When we take the time to meet needs, to truly care, and to throw out our agenda…that’s when lives are changed.

House updates

If you’re a regular reader here, you’ll know I bought a house that needed a lot of work. I’ve posted some before and after pictures as work has been completed. You can check them here, and here, and here. Today I have more progress pics!!

Bush/fence to cover electric box (there really is a fence under there!):

And who knew it could look like this!?

Screened porch before:

Porch after (the patio blocks were buried under 3 inches of dirt and tons of weeds!!):

That’s it for now!! More updates to come as we finish more projects!

Who needs money?

One year ago I had a house for sale (with no pending offers), was leaving a secure job to help start a new church and had a total of $1700 pledged in support for our income for a year! Our monthly budget this past year has been literally at the national poverty level. The church is now not happening, I have no ministry job, and the only other job I’ve had in the past year has been a temporary one for 2 months. Yet, two months ago I bought a house and yesterday bought a car. How does this happen?

The first and biggest credit goes to God. I have been blessed with just the right things at just the right times to meet my monthly budget. A miracle healing of heart of someone I thought could never experience it, a job (even if for only 2 months) in perfect timing, and opportunities that have been “too coincidental” to be a coincidence!

As crazy as it sounds, all the “crap” I’ve lived through has made me a survivor. Growing up abused regularly, with threats of being kicked out of the house, and never knowing what “they” were going to do next forced me to learn resilience and a “I don’t care what it takes, they won’t win” attitude. Though I’ve had to learn to not be quite so independent and there were many days where I was ready to give up, the “It doesn’t matter what it takes, I can do it” attitude is the one that really stuck.

But there’s a “practical” side to all of this too. It takes effort, planning and discipline! How has this played out for us? How can you still take vacations, pay your bills, not worry about feeding your family, and still minimize or eliminate debt, regardless of your income? Unless you’ve experienced a catastrophic situation or are in an extreme position right now, you can!! I’m going to be breaking down some of the ways I’ve been able to do all of this over a few upcoming posts. I’m no expert…which basically means I’m just sharing what has worked for us, but I hope you’ll be able to connect with some of the ideas.

My guys & I were sitting around a couple of months ago and I asked them this question…”For years I had a decent income and now we have very little coming in…what has changed?” Their response was a compliment that hit my heart…”Really, nothing has changed”. I’ll take that over all the “stuff” any day!!!

What can you do right now?

• sign up to receive emails of this blog right into your inbox–click on the link that says “subscribe to Experiencing the Journey…”
• bookmark this site
• check out these great “experts” for more ideas, advice, and resources:
  • The Change Group
  • JosephSangl.com
  • Dave Ramsey

I’m always looking for more great ideas, so please share what’s working for you!!!

Dealing with change

When my son was little, he had to have a certain stuffed animal to go to sleep. He could handle traveling, being in new places, and loud noises and chaos…if he had his animal. He needed that security, that sameness, and that anchor in response to change.

I grew up feeling worthless, thinking nothing I did was good enough, and believing that no one would ever really want me around. I know now that although I was told those things every single day, they weren’t true. I also know now that those feelings still affect how I react today.

I’ve realized something about myself the past few weeks. I need “wins”. When life seems overwhelming or when I’m facing unknowns, my default is to do something that I can see I’ve accomplished. Something that has a right way of being done, so that when it’s completed, it’s a “win”.

Right now my career and job prospects are unknown, my kids are growing up and becoming more independent, we’ve recently moved to a new city and even more recently to a new house/neighborhood, friends are moving away, and meeting new friends is exciting yet stressful. I’m seeing potential opportunities that will require risk, I’m venturing into new areas of learning and I’m attempting to sort out where I go from here. It’s awesome, yet scary. I’m ready to jump, yet I want to curl up in a ball. I’m excited for what lies ahead, yet I need security.

Now, before I go any further…yes, Jesus is my anchor, my stability, my confidence and all that! This post isn’t about that. What it is about is patterns of behavior, our defaults, that we all go to in times of uncertainty. For me, it’s “getting a win”. What does a “win” look like for me?

When all is chaotic and unknown…for good or bad…I need a project that has a beginning and an end. I need “a win”. I may clean the house, pay the bills, or find a home improvement project to tackle. My house right now is that project. The improvements from what was are dramatic and I know I’ve done well. There’s a sense of accomplishment of something done right. I need that in times of uncertainty. It gives me an added confidence as I step out to attempt and attack new challenges. It’s my default in times of change and doubt.

What’s your default? Is it knowledge…acquiring more and sharing it with everyone who will listen? Is it rules…”if I can just obey all the rules, I know I’m good”? Is it avoidance or denial…turning away to “deal with it later”? How about perfectionism…giving order to chaos, getting it all “just right”? Having a default like these isn’t bad, unless you become obsessed with it and the default itself becomes the priority.

Leaders who avoid decisions, parents who can’t stand an unorganized house, friends who can never “bend the rules”, or those who obsess on facts, laws, or rules (or even Biblical verses) have crossed the line. Like a little child who has a favorite toy in times of stress, we all fall back on something that helps us through change. What about you…what’s your default? Is is giving you an anchor, or is it limiting you from stepping out and risking?

I’ve just checked off another project on the to-do list–now I’m ready to tackle another step in the journey!!

YOU feed them

Resources were low. Expectations were high. There was a problem.

When the apostles returned, they told Jesus everything they had done. Then he slipped quietly away with them toward the town of Bethsaida. But the crowds found out where he was going, and they followed him. He welcomed them and taught them about the Kingdom of god, and he healed those who were sick.

Late in the afternoon the twelve disciples came to him and said, “Send the crowds away to the nearby villages and farms, so they can find food and lodging for the night. There is nothing to eat here in this remote place.”

But Jesus said, “You feed them.” ~Luke 9:10-13

What?! The disciples saw the crowds and they heard what Jesus told them to do, but they had no idea how they were supposed to achieve the vision that was in front of them.

“But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Or are you expecting us to go and buy enough food for this whole crowd?” For there were about 5,000 me there.~Luke 9:13-14

The disciples were asked to do “the impossible”. It didn’t make sense. They couldn’t see how it would work out. What could they do?

Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?”~John 6:8-9

If we continue to read this story, not only were all the people fed, but there were plenty of leftovers! The disciples were given a “task”. They knew the vision (feeding all the people), knew they were the ones to do it (”You feed them”), and they did their part (got the 5 loaves and 2 fish). Jesus did the rest and the “impossible” happened.

Do you think God would ask you to do something that was impossible? Together with Him, anything can happen! Don’t doubt because you can’t see the whole path. Don’t stop because you don’t have it all figured out. Don’t let a lack of resources or answers hinder what you know you’re supposed to do. God already has the problem solved.

A few years ago I was given a vision that seemed impossible. From where I stand today, that vision in some ways seems even more impossible! Right now I am in a very uncomfortable place–not knowing what tomorrow brings, not sure where God is taking us, and people turning and/or going away. The crazy thing is, the vision is even stronger and clearer! I have no idea how it all comes together, but I trust that if I do what’s possible (keep stepping forward, doing my part), God will take care of the rest.

Some days I feel like screaming. Other days I’m excited for what lies ahead. I feel frustrated, impatient, lost, alone and wandering. I feel promise, boldness, honored, alive and encouraged. I pray and I step…it’s all I can do. He’s got the rest under control.

No limits

“Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news. The good news is that you don’t know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is!”~Anne Frank

I just read this quote on Steve’s blog from Anne Frank, who after hiding for over 2 years was captured by the Nazis and later died in a concentration camp. What a true statement! Too often we’re stopped by our fears, others’ expectations, or our lack of believing that God could actually use us in incredible ways. What’s stopping you? If you don’t step out, trust, and risk breaking through the ceiling, you’ll never know what might be!! Believe it and like Nike…Just do it! Do it today!!