first impressions

WOW - yea that's what I said - WOW! I just finished another book -- FIRST IMPRESSIONS - creating wow experiences in your church - by Mark L. Waltz. All I can say is WOW. It is such a thorough book and covers so many areas of guest services. I figured since I started serving in December as a check in facilitator this book would be a way for me to personally connect with the vision of Granger and personally align with how they approach things.

I have had the opportunity to be a "guest" at Granger a few times before becoming a member. The first time was a few years ago -- maybe 4 -- before they completed the current auditorium. Since we had never been before and had a child with food allergies I believe I called first to get some information. I remember feeling comfortable and decided it would work. We met a handful of others and proceeded to put our children into their rooms downstairs. We happen to be there on a night that most women were gone and men were staffing the rooms -- we filled out our sons name tag and asked about snacks, explaining he had severe food allergies - they said yes they were having pretzels - I asked if I could look at the bag they said sure - they brought the bag which was clear plastic and I said is it okay if you feed him this small bag of pretzels we brought instead since there is no label on the bag -- he said sure.

Now this exchange sounds simple enough however I was flabbergasted - all they were concerned with was me and my child -- was I comfortable and was he - I never felt like I was a bother they were genuine and kind - it struck a chord in me and I have never forgot it!

Move forward to April of 2007 - My family decided to visit Granger again. Our sister in law and niece attended and so did another niece and her husband. We also had recently built a house and our builder and his wife had been attending Granger for a few years. So we drive up and realize how much it had changed. We navigate our way around and get our children into their rooms - then sit down for the service. If it were possible I would say we were blown out of our seats. We felt connected. So over the next few weeks we attended off and on - while continuing to remain at our "home" church. I remember saying more than once -- wow everyone is so friendly - you can tell they are serving according to their gifts! When wondering about my son's allergies again - they directed us to the guest service kiosk and connected us with the director of childrens ministry who had us fill out a card so that his tag would be printed with his allergy info -- it was about us and how to make us comfortable. Then one time I dropped off my clingy, crying daughter and the teacher said -- are you okay - are you comfortable -- It was about me - the guest-- she wanted me to get to the service!

As a guest I experienced what they had to offer on the deepest level - I felt needed and cared for - I felt like I mattered! Who would have known that fast forward and this would be where we call home! I had the opportunity to "experience Granger" and know that I matter to them. Now I have the ability to offer this to new "guests" to show them they matter to Granger and they matter to God!

Mark describes in his book the details and the thought process that surround the First Impressions team. By reading this book, I was able to solidify my "feelings" from being a "guest" into my desires and responsibilities of being a member. It feels great to take my next step towards Christ!

contentment

So I posted a few days ago what my daughter said in the bath tub -- then yesterday my entire MOTTTS (moms of tots to teens) bible study was about contentment. Have you ever noticed that when God wants to get your attention it comes at you over and over again in a short period of time in many different ways? Well God has my attention -- my husband posted about this on his blog (january -2muchstuff-1) -- so between my husband and I, my daughter and my bible study God is making it known this is an area that needs attention.

Have you ever thought - am I content? If I am not why not? If it has anything to do with stuff and circumstances then we don't understand what being content means! I believe the world contributes to our struggles with this -- if we continue to look around us we will always find things look better somewhere else -- however if we can look up then we will see that right here is where we are supposed to be and God is continually blessing us -- whether big or small - we just need to look!

What can I do to help with being content? here are some ideas that I have thought of or heard from others over the last few weeks:

• cancel catalogs - are they really necessary - do they leave me wanting?
• stop excess magazine subscriptions that fuel the "i need to be like that mentality"
• go to the store when you need something - not just to look around
• internet shopping can be addictive -- wow free shipping I have to buy something
• make a list of your blessings
• work at discerning wants from needs -- tough, tough, tough
• spend time thanking God for all you have (not just tangible things)
• get out and help others and get your mind off yourself
• stop complaining to others -- this feeds discontent
• choose to seek counsel instead of airing a complaint - change the way you phrase it!
• choose what you are going to confess with your mouth - don't lie and say everything is great - but think before you speak

SO for me it is time to ask God to provide me with a new perspective and hold me accountable to the things he has shown me lately! and thank goodness for my trusted friends to speak truth into my life - you know who you are:)

words of wisdom

My 5 year old daughter just announced during bath time that commercials try to get you to buy things and you don't have to buy everything you want just everything you need! I think that should be my family's financial motto in 2008: to only buy the things we need!

anger management

SO if you haven't noticed by now we are working on anger management in our house. It seems my son, who is 7 1/2 really struggles with it -- now we are trying to teach him that it is okay to get angry -- and I just read in Exodus 4:14 Then the LORD became angry with Moses. And in Matthew 17:17 Jesus replied, "You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you?..... Both God and Jesus got angry with people - it is definitely a feeling that exists and I believe that trying to teach our kids not to be angry is a disservice to them! God has redirected my thinking and therefore my actions on how to deal with this. Do I want an angry child? -- NO WAY -- however I can not control my child even though I wish I could. Now when I see the signs of anger rising up I acknowledge them out loud "I can see that you are getting angry" Then I ask questions "what can you do that will help you calm down?" "how about playing the piano or guitar" "do you want to go listen to your worship cd or an adventures in odyssey cd?" "how about I read you a book?"

Now you need to realize it goes against every ounce of my flesh to do it this way. I want to say or shout STOP or GET A GRIP!! But he is 7 and I need to teach him how to manage it now -- not that it shouldn't exist. I want to help him find ways to deal now before he grows older and ends up using inappropriate ways such as: hitting or fighting, drugs or alcohol, food or smoking, spending money, crazy driving, or anything else that could harm himself or others!

I am thankful God got me to this place now! Is it easy? NO I wish I didn't have a kid that had anger troubles but you know what? Atleast I know exactly what he is thinking and struggling with -- he is not sneaky or passive at all -- it is all out in the open -- way out in the open! Is it fun when he kicks or hits me -- not one bit -- however instead of continually letting satan convince me I am a bad parent who is not doing enough I am going to CHOOSE to believe God chose my husband and I "for such a time as this" knowing that with Him we could survive this!

verse 21

Did you know that in Matthew 17 there is no verse 21? Check out your January 26th reading and look at the footnotes! So amazing that some manuscripts contain it and some don't. What do you think about the missing verse?

my mouth

Psalm 19:14

May the words of my mouth

and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you,

O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

old testament soap opera

I just keep reading and reading and reading and reading and I still can't get over all the stuff about numerous wives, servants, lies, cheating, murder -- really I think they make todays soap operas almost seem tame. Granted they weren't doing all those things for others to watch and live vicariously through...... however I am amazed at God's patience and faithfulness to them. He kept his word -- when he made a covenant with them he followed through regardless of their future behavior. There are so many examples I do not know where to begin. Can you believe it? If, instead of focusing on the mess they got themselves into, I can focus on God and his role in it all I can truly walk away with some great lessons in parenting and marriage! I love my husband, son and daughter no matter what. On July 10, 1999 I entered into a covenant with my husband and God. -- No matter what the future holds that covenant will remain - my marriage is not dependant upon behavior it is dependant upon God! On Septmenber 13, 2000 I gave birth to my first child, a son, and no matter how hard it is right now -- he is a gift to me to raise for God and I want to do it right! On September 6, 2002 God gave me a daughter to raise for Him -- I have no idea how long she will be mine but I want to spend these days doing it His way!

As I type this I realize I do not enter into relationships lightly :) and you know what..... I am thankful for that --- it means that each relationship I am in is an important one to me - one that I want to invest in - one I want to grow with and one I want to share God with -- If you are reading this you probably already know that about me :)