Word up?
I am converting. Why not?
Here is my new home:
http://bostonfound.wordpress.com
Again, that is
http://bostonfound.wordpress.com
Hope to see you there!
lexi
Showing posts with label Aletheia Boston. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Aletheia Boston. Show all posts
Monday, December 13, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Grace.
So, you know how I am helping launch a church to bring the truth, grace and changing power of the Gospel for the glory of God and the good of all people?
Well, today, I got just a bit of that grace extended to me. Was it the grace of God? Yes. Every day I am granted much more than I know what to do with. But I am not always aware, and because of that, rarely intentionally act on what God grants me.
But today, today's grace came from my employers. We'll call them the Color Family. C.F. for short.
So, last week I was twenty minutes late to work. *sucks teeth* And I can't stand being late. If there was anything I could do, I would rearrange all public transportation so that getting everywhere by full and half hour increments was the ultimate goal. Anyway, getting back on track...
I keep a journal between the Color parents and myself in order to update them on things they made need or need to know, and it stays at their home. So, last week, when I was ridiculously late, I wrote how profusely apologetic I was and that it would never happen again.
I know, right. Sounds like a good plan. Well, I was late today. Precisely 8 minutes late. I told them I would be ten minutes late, so that was a bit of leeway, but still. THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY!!!??? Really? I mean. Pa.The.Tic.
So, I had let them know that I would be late and apologized more when I arrived. I told them to penalize me or being late, because really, twice in as many days. I say it again: Pa.The.Tic.
So I'm talking to Mr. Color, and he's already spoken with Mrs. Color, and they agree that no penalty is necessary. (I couldn't even feel relief at this so disappointed as I was in myself.) Mr. Color explains that the family works on a system, and that, thought the time isn't necessarily important, the way that it folds into the system is. Which I understand. Kids=routine. Jacked up routine=kids unaware of what is happening next. And that, as some of you know, is not the way to begin tacking a day with 4 children, 3 of them under school age.
Mr. Color finishes his chat with me by saying that I am "released and should not let it weigh on me, that I am forgiven. There's grace."
Ah, there is that pesky word. Grace. I mean, it doesn't even make sense. Grace. If you say it twenty times you forget the definition. (That happens with most words-try it sometime.)
Back to me in my self-pity, punish me, give me what I paid for, let me have it, moment.
I nearly cried. Why? Because I am still learning what grace is. They just, forgave me? No penalty? No dock in payment? No LECTURE? Free. Just like that. Huh. Maybe this grace thing isn't so abstract after all.
At the end of the day, when Mrs. Color came home, she asked how my talk with Mr. Color had gone. I told her, told her that I nearly cried. Told her that I expect to receive what my actions warrant. Told her that it was hard for me to understand and accept what they were telling me, because it goes against my law, my experience, everything in my past. No. I do not forgive you. You get what you paid for. You get nothing from me. I extend judgment and punishment alone.
Not only when I was dealt with, but in my dealings with others.
If my forgiveness was not swift, the anger in its stead was sure to be. I knew nothing of grace.
So today caught me off guard. How in the world did I expect to bring the grace of the Gospel to a late, disorganized, pained and dark city, without understanding what it meant in time and eternity?
That's how we represent Christ. As a non-believer, I wouldn't really know what to do with that situation besides file it under really nice people.
But that's how we show Him. That's how we spread His Gospel. That is how we take this city by storm.
Learn it. Practice it. Live it.
Grace.
Well, today, I got just a bit of that grace extended to me. Was it the grace of God? Yes. Every day I am granted much more than I know what to do with. But I am not always aware, and because of that, rarely intentionally act on what God grants me.
But today, today's grace came from my employers. We'll call them the Color Family. C.F. for short.
So, last week I was twenty minutes late to work. *sucks teeth* And I can't stand being late. If there was anything I could do, I would rearrange all public transportation so that getting everywhere by full and half hour increments was the ultimate goal. Anyway, getting back on track...
I keep a journal between the Color parents and myself in order to update them on things they made need or need to know, and it stays at their home. So, last week, when I was ridiculously late, I wrote how profusely apologetic I was and that it would never happen again.
I know, right. Sounds like a good plan. Well, I was late today. Precisely 8 minutes late. I told them I would be ten minutes late, so that was a bit of leeway, but still. THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY!!!??? Really? I mean. Pa.The.Tic.
So, I had let them know that I would be late and apologized more when I arrived. I told them to penalize me or being late, because really, twice in as many days. I say it again: Pa.The.Tic.
So I'm talking to Mr. Color, and he's already spoken with Mrs. Color, and they agree that no penalty is necessary. (I couldn't even feel relief at this so disappointed as I was in myself.) Mr. Color explains that the family works on a system, and that, thought the time isn't necessarily important, the way that it folds into the system is. Which I understand. Kids=routine. Jacked up routine=kids unaware of what is happening next. And that, as some of you know, is not the way to begin tacking a day with 4 children, 3 of them under school age.
Mr. Color finishes his chat with me by saying that I am "released and should not let it weigh on me, that I am forgiven. There's grace."
Ah, there is that pesky word. Grace. I mean, it doesn't even make sense. Grace. If you say it twenty times you forget the definition. (That happens with most words-try it sometime.)
Back to me in my self-pity, punish me, give me what I paid for, let me have it, moment.
I nearly cried. Why? Because I am still learning what grace is. They just, forgave me? No penalty? No dock in payment? No LECTURE? Free. Just like that. Huh. Maybe this grace thing isn't so abstract after all.
At the end of the day, when Mrs. Color came home, she asked how my talk with Mr. Color had gone. I told her, told her that I nearly cried. Told her that I expect to receive what my actions warrant. Told her that it was hard for me to understand and accept what they were telling me, because it goes against my law, my experience, everything in my past. No. I do not forgive you. You get what you paid for. You get nothing from me. I extend judgment and punishment alone.
Not only when I was dealt with, but in my dealings with others.
If my forgiveness was not swift, the anger in its stead was sure to be. I knew nothing of grace.
So today caught me off guard. How in the world did I expect to bring the grace of the Gospel to a late, disorganized, pained and dark city, without understanding what it meant in time and eternity?
That's how we represent Christ. As a non-believer, I wouldn't really know what to do with that situation besides file it under really nice people.
But that's how we show Him. That's how we spread His Gospel. That is how we take this city by storm.
Learn it. Practice it. Live it.
Grace.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
It's not about me
God is stretching me.
Today was our second Preview Service. We plan for about...a month for each of these. Mostly because we have them once a month. Anyway, Friday night, and I'm talking midnight, Donny asks me to do the Connection Card moment. for those of you that know me, I like schedules. I like to be well aware and well-prepared. So, '36 hours' as Donny said hardly seemed enough prep to stand and talk in front of 50 people with little time to practice. I told Adam and Donny that I was scared to be stretched this way.
I know God is in control. And that He gives me the benefit of the doubt when I whip out my planner as if, if I could just write it all down in neat time segments, then I would be in control, able to handle whatever comes. So, when He pulls fast ones on me, I flounder for a bit. Earlier this week I thumbed past 1 Peter 5. In pink highlighter, I have marked: "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen."
That's exactly what I did. God has called me and extended immeasurable grace to me. I suffered for just a little while, and just a tiny little while in this instance. And He restored me. In all of my feeling nervous and being sure I would stutter for 5 minutes until someone had mercy or Adam called in the dogs, I forgot. The Bible mentions nothing of me restoring myself. It does say that my attempts to redeem myself are proud, ridiculous, and a waste of the existence God offered me. But I can't restore myself. I can't do it alone. In fact, it's not even about me. "The chief end of man is this, to glorify God." I exist to bring Him glory. So, as long as I submit to Him, a living sacrifice, pleasing and acceptable, He will do the rest.
I'm glad I remembered that in time. Otherwise, even a Connection Card moment, done on my own strength, would have been a major disaster. Both for me, and for everyone forced to endure it. So, it's not about me.
"Rid me of myself, I belong to you. Lead me. Lead me to Your heart."
Glad for all this grace.
Today was our second Preview Service. We plan for about...a month for each of these. Mostly because we have them once a month. Anyway, Friday night, and I'm talking midnight, Donny asks me to do the Connection Card moment. for those of you that know me, I like schedules. I like to be well aware and well-prepared. So, '36 hours' as Donny said hardly seemed enough prep to stand and talk in front of 50 people with little time to practice. I told Adam and Donny that I was scared to be stretched this way.
I know God is in control. And that He gives me the benefit of the doubt when I whip out my planner as if, if I could just write it all down in neat time segments, then I would be in control, able to handle whatever comes. So, when He pulls fast ones on me, I flounder for a bit. Earlier this week I thumbed past 1 Peter 5. In pink highlighter, I have marked: "And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen."
That's exactly what I did. God has called me and extended immeasurable grace to me. I suffered for just a little while, and just a tiny little while in this instance. And He restored me. In all of my feeling nervous and being sure I would stutter for 5 minutes until someone had mercy or Adam called in the dogs, I forgot. The Bible mentions nothing of me restoring myself. It does say that my attempts to redeem myself are proud, ridiculous, and a waste of the existence God offered me. But I can't restore myself. I can't do it alone. In fact, it's not even about me. "The chief end of man is this, to glorify God." I exist to bring Him glory. So, as long as I submit to Him, a living sacrifice, pleasing and acceptable, He will do the rest.
I'm glad I remembered that in time. Otherwise, even a Connection Card moment, done on my own strength, would have been a major disaster. Both for me, and for everyone forced to endure it. So, it's not about me.
"Rid me of myself, I belong to you. Lead me. Lead me to Your heart."
Glad for all this grace.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Aletheia Kids!
Today was Aletheia Boston's first Preview Service.
I was not present to listen to Adam's service, but was able to serve with the kids.
We learned about God's first day of creation. Our memory verse was: God created day, light and dark, and it was good. We read a short lesson, and did two crafts to emphasis the point. The kids glued yellow or black paper onto squares labeled with 'Light' or 'Dark.' Then they colored pictures of the Solar system (the teachers had a bit of a tough time remembering the order of planets-Ben did an excellent job of redeeming the older folks in the room).
And, I must say: What a Pleasure!
I had such a great time with the children today. We had snack. We discussed the truth of God's Creation. We spoke kindly to each other. We spoke truthfully to each other. The parents of Aletheia are doing a fantastic job of raising their children in the Truth. And it reflects when Mom and Dad are not around.
But even if there would have been a Goldfish smashing extravaganza, a massive glue eating contest, and a lesson that took physical restraint to get through, God would still have been glorified. Christ would still have been preached. Children will still have been a joy.
See, I came with expectation, as Adam told me to, and I took a little time to pray for the service. And God does not disappoint. God promises many things, but the greatest, outside of undeserved salvation, is that He hears us. And not only that He hears, but that He RESPONDS!
What a great God. What an awesome God. Who am I that He gives two hoots?
Being with the kids today was a pleasure. Being with family today was a pleasure. Being a child of the light is a pleasure.
Thank you to the parents of Aletheia Boston. Thank you for fighting for your marriages, for your children, for the advancement of the Gospel. Your children are a blessing to the workers. Your hard work, your dedication, your discipline in training your children are noticed and appreciated.
So, what a pleasure. What a pleasure, to know and love your children.
Thank you.
I was not present to listen to Adam's service, but was able to serve with the kids.
We learned about God's first day of creation. Our memory verse was: God created day, light and dark, and it was good. We read a short lesson, and did two crafts to emphasis the point. The kids glued yellow or black paper onto squares labeled with 'Light' or 'Dark.' Then they colored pictures of the Solar system (the teachers had a bit of a tough time remembering the order of planets-Ben did an excellent job of redeeming the older folks in the room).
And, I must say: What a Pleasure!
I had such a great time with the children today. We had snack. We discussed the truth of God's Creation. We spoke kindly to each other. We spoke truthfully to each other. The parents of Aletheia are doing a fantastic job of raising their children in the Truth. And it reflects when Mom and Dad are not around.
But even if there would have been a Goldfish smashing extravaganza, a massive glue eating contest, and a lesson that took physical restraint to get through, God would still have been glorified. Christ would still have been preached. Children will still have been a joy.
See, I came with expectation, as Adam told me to, and I took a little time to pray for the service. And God does not disappoint. God promises many things, but the greatest, outside of undeserved salvation, is that He hears us. And not only that He hears, but that He RESPONDS!
What a great God. What an awesome God. Who am I that He gives two hoots?
Being with the kids today was a pleasure. Being with family today was a pleasure. Being a child of the light is a pleasure.
Thank you to the parents of Aletheia Boston. Thank you for fighting for your marriages, for your children, for the advancement of the Gospel. Your children are a blessing to the workers. Your hard work, your dedication, your discipline in training your children are noticed and appreciated.
So, what a pleasure. What a pleasure, to know and love your children.
Thank you.
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