Yesterday our church had a car wash at the local Les Schwab in the Renton Highlands. It was such a great time spent with one another as we got to wash cars. Huge thanks to Corianne who did a great job organizing it! I mostly stood near the street with Corianne and Ashley waving signs and yelling to people we were having a free car wash. Which we thought was funny after, realizing that it was girls out on the corner telling people to get their car washed, then to have a group of 6 fellas there to actually wash the cars. If any dirt bag guys thought it was some sort of bikini car wash they were quickly corrected. haha! I did help wash a few cars and I got the chance to talk to a lady who could not believe we didn't want her money and that we just wanted to serve the community of Renton. This reaction seemed to be common among our recipients yesterday. Shock. That a group of people would actually gather resources and spend their saturday morning washing cars for strangers in order to serve the community. As well as hand out cookies and awesome strawberry lemonade! As God would have it, the most fruitful response was from two ladies who were met that didn't even get a car wash, they were on a walk!
Pastor Brian spoke a great message today out of Mark 8 in continuing our "Leaving His Mark" series as He and Elder Ryan Strieby are preaching through the book of Mark. In His message, Brian also referenced Isaiah 55 and verses 8 and 9 stood out to me so much today in thinking not only about my life but made for an impact in our outreach event yesterday.
Isaiah 55:8-9: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than yours thoughts."
HOW CRAY CRAY IS THIS?!?! Our Way: An outreach in wanting to wash cars and tell people about our church from getting their car washed. His Way: Two ladies out for a walk who we found out happened to be looking for a new church! Then bring their whole family(totaling 8!) to come to not only a Doxa service but to come out to lunch with us today! And we found out one of the girls who came with the family just had a birthday so we got to sing to her today in our long standing tradition of singing "Happy Birthday" after service and before cupcakes=)
God is SO good!! I just think it is funny that the means by which we thought we would meet people, God truly showed us His ways are better and are more fruitful in any efforts we put forth and the means by which we think we will people and be able to tell then about the gospel. I am so thankful to have been saved by a God that is continually showing me just how great He is!!
Here's to His plans being greater than any we could ever conjure up!
Unwritten
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Friday, August 3, 2012
A maybe not so short story about Tay...
So this is a short-ish story of how I came to be where I am now as far as church goes. Just thought I would share because I was feeling so thankful in the adventure God has taken me on and even though it has been scary and unknown in a lot of ways, stepping out in faith has shown me just how incredible God is when I truly put my faith in His plans for me. Where we end up is always where God wants us to end up... So read on I suppose =)
I didn't really grow up going to church as a kid. We were the Easter Sunday and Christmas Eve type of family, and then I went to church camp when I was 12. I'm pretty sure around the campfire on that Wednesday night was truly where Jesus saved me and thus my heart was regenerated and inclined to want to know more about my Creator. So I started going to local youth groups in Maple Valley to try to find a fit. It wasn't until I was 17 that I really found a church that I felt God was really calling me to and thus began my journey to knowing God and what the Bible I had(that had collected dust on my shelf for years) was saying to me about Him. I grew spiritual and relational roots there. I was blessed to be able to have meaningful relationships with the pastors and their families and was privileged to serve there in multiple ministries. The 6 years that was spent and invested in there have been a part of my journey in beginning to know and understand God, His ways and His plan for me. Making that my home church was wonderful but nothing could have prepared me for the adventure God would take me on these last 2 years.
About 2 summers ago I felt that God was leading me in a new direction and it was time to move on from this church and the relationships I held so dear. As hard as it was for me to have to say good-bye to everything I knew about church, mentorship and ministry, there was far more that I had yet to be exposed to. I knew God needed to get me out of my comfort zone in order for me to further grow. What a scary thing! I had never had to set on my own to try and search for a new church when I didn't really know what I was looking for. I wasn't as prayerful as I should have been during this process, but God was so good to bring me to Doxa Community Church. It has been the most challenging years of my life. Growth is hard. It is something I am thankful for everyday and something I pray to continue to fight through. The hardest thing I have had to fight for recently is being evangelistic. I never really had the mindset of an evangelist. I knew I wanted people to know about Jesus and His little church in the Renton Highlands that has been used so much for my growth. The problem was, I just had no way of saying it without thinking I would come across sounding like an awkward, soap box standing, "turn or burn" annoyance. I know that is not the right way to tell people about a caring, graceful and loving God. Through much struggle of our church as a whole, it was revealed through one of our elders that we needed to create opportunities instead of just pray for them to show up. A difference between being a faithful christian and a faithful church planter is a faithful Christian seizes opportunities when they are presented to them. A faithful church planter seeks to create the opportunities by connecting and relating to people, forming relationships, and praying for soft, receptive hearts of those they will come into contact with to share the Gospel and point them to a community where they can further understand the sacrifice of Jesus and the ultimate glory that God enjoys of His creation as we seek to treasure Him above all things.
I would have never thought I'd be a part of a church plant. But God always has other plans for us doesn't He? Last weekend was Renton River Days and we had a little booth set up(which coincidentally was the first time 2 years ago that I saw the people with whom I'm now sharing life with, weird!). I am so thankful for the encouragement of my fellow Doxa family as we set out together to share with people about us and invite them to check out our service on Sundays.
I really can't get over the whirlwind that it was to see my church family be bold, connect with so many people and really fight to be better evangelists. I am hopeful for the fruit that will develop from this opportunity(including inviting Earl Thomas from the Seahawks![btw pre-season starts on sunday ABOUT TIME!] Good job Michael Posey! haha).
I am so blessed to be in this season of life. I take it for granted so often and when my emotions take me on a rollercoaster, I am often so quick how beautiful life really is. How when we find ourselves in places we never intended to, it is such a great example of God working in our lives. I love not knowing where I'm going to end up or who I'm going to meet. Life is an incredible blessing and adventure.
Here's to a bold adventure!
I didn't really grow up going to church as a kid. We were the Easter Sunday and Christmas Eve type of family, and then I went to church camp when I was 12. I'm pretty sure around the campfire on that Wednesday night was truly where Jesus saved me and thus my heart was regenerated and inclined to want to know more about my Creator. So I started going to local youth groups in Maple Valley to try to find a fit. It wasn't until I was 17 that I really found a church that I felt God was really calling me to and thus began my journey to knowing God and what the Bible I had(that had collected dust on my shelf for years) was saying to me about Him. I grew spiritual and relational roots there. I was blessed to be able to have meaningful relationships with the pastors and their families and was privileged to serve there in multiple ministries. The 6 years that was spent and invested in there have been a part of my journey in beginning to know and understand God, His ways and His plan for me. Making that my home church was wonderful but nothing could have prepared me for the adventure God would take me on these last 2 years.
About 2 summers ago I felt that God was leading me in a new direction and it was time to move on from this church and the relationships I held so dear. As hard as it was for me to have to say good-bye to everything I knew about church, mentorship and ministry, there was far more that I had yet to be exposed to. I knew God needed to get me out of my comfort zone in order for me to further grow. What a scary thing! I had never had to set on my own to try and search for a new church when I didn't really know what I was looking for. I wasn't as prayerful as I should have been during this process, but God was so good to bring me to Doxa Community Church. It has been the most challenging years of my life. Growth is hard. It is something I am thankful for everyday and something I pray to continue to fight through. The hardest thing I have had to fight for recently is being evangelistic. I never really had the mindset of an evangelist. I knew I wanted people to know about Jesus and His little church in the Renton Highlands that has been used so much for my growth. The problem was, I just had no way of saying it without thinking I would come across sounding like an awkward, soap box standing, "turn or burn" annoyance. I know that is not the right way to tell people about a caring, graceful and loving God. Through much struggle of our church as a whole, it was revealed through one of our elders that we needed to create opportunities instead of just pray for them to show up. A difference between being a faithful christian and a faithful church planter is a faithful Christian seizes opportunities when they are presented to them. A faithful church planter seeks to create the opportunities by connecting and relating to people, forming relationships, and praying for soft, receptive hearts of those they will come into contact with to share the Gospel and point them to a community where they can further understand the sacrifice of Jesus and the ultimate glory that God enjoys of His creation as we seek to treasure Him above all things.
I would have never thought I'd be a part of a church plant. But God always has other plans for us doesn't He? Last weekend was Renton River Days and we had a little booth set up(which coincidentally was the first time 2 years ago that I saw the people with whom I'm now sharing life with, weird!). I am so thankful for the encouragement of my fellow Doxa family as we set out together to share with people about us and invite them to check out our service on Sundays.
I really can't get over the whirlwind that it was to see my church family be bold, connect with so many people and really fight to be better evangelists. I am hopeful for the fruit that will develop from this opportunity(including inviting Earl Thomas from the Seahawks![btw pre-season starts on sunday ABOUT TIME!] Good job Michael Posey! haha).
I am so blessed to be in this season of life. I take it for granted so often and when my emotions take me on a rollercoaster, I am often so quick how beautiful life really is. How when we find ourselves in places we never intended to, it is such a great example of God working in our lives. I love not knowing where I'm going to end up or who I'm going to meet. Life is an incredible blessing and adventure.
Here's to a bold adventure!
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