Thank you, Thank you, Jesus

Besides singing a psalm tomorrow night (read about that below . . .)

I'm also doing the children's sermon,

                      which I have turned into a children's Thanksgiving song.

It's one of my preschool chapel specialties -- a favorite, for sure!

I ask all the children to tell me something they're thankful for.  I write the list down on a piece of paper. And then I make up verses to this song:

Bonus:  I look at the words and sing as I go.  I usually try to make them rhyme.  Sometimes they get a little silly.

Here's a sample:  I'll probably use these verses tomorrow -- substituting a word here and there if the kids mention something different.


Sing along with me!


You might as well . . .


Thank you, thank you, Jesus.
Thank you, thank you, Jesus.
Thank you, thank you, Jesus, in my heart.

Thank you, thank you, Jesus.

Thank you, thank you, Jesus.

Thank you, thank you, Jesus, in my heart.

Thank you for our mommies,

Thank you for our daddies,

Thank you for our brothers, sisters too,

Thank you for grandma,

Thank you for grandpa,

Thank you for tiny babies new.

Thank you, thank you, Jesus.

Thank you, thank you, Jesus.

Thank you, thank you, Jesus, in my heart.

Thank you, thank you, Jesus.

Thank you, thank you, Jesus.

Thank you, thank you, Jesus, in my heart.

Thank you for the sun,

Thank you for the mountains,

Thank you for the wind that blows on me,

Thank you for the rivers,

Thank you for the oceans,

Thank you for that beautiful tree.

Thank you, thank you, Jesus.

Thank you, thank you, Jesus.

Thank you, thank you, Jesus, in my heart.

Thank you, thank you, Jesus.

Thank you, thank you, Jesus.

Thank you, thank you, Jesus, in my heart.

Thank you for ice cream,

Thank you for potatoes,

Thank you for mac-aroni and cheese,

Thank you for carrots,

Thank you for salad,

Now friend, pass the brussels sprouts please.

Thank you, thank you, Jesus.

Thank you, thank you, Jesus.

Thank you, thank you, Jesus, in my heart.

Thank you, thank you, Jesus.

Thank you, thank you, Jesus.

Thank you, thank you, Jesus, in my heart.

Thanks that I can run,

Thanks that I can tickle,

Thanks that I can give a loving hug,

Thanks for jumping jacks,

Thanks for long tired naps,

Thanks I can be snuggled like a bug.

Thank you, thank you, Jesus.

Thank you, thank you, Jesus.

Thank you, thank you, Jesus, in my heart.

Thank you, thank you, Jesus.

Thank you, thank you, Jesus.

Thank you, thank you, Jesus, in my heart.

Happy Thanksgiving.

May your day burst full with thanks.

Singing

I am singing tomorrow during the Thanksgiving Eve worship service.

Seven p.m.

(What does p.m. stand for, anyway?)

I googled it: These abbreviations represent the Latin phrases ante/post meridiem, which mean 'before/after midday

I'm sure I knew that before.


Anyway . . .

I am going to play the guitar and lead the congregation in Psalm 100, written by David Haas.

It is a very fun, upbeat song -- a great choice for Thanksgiving (good job, Donna).

It's got a 3/4 time, which is very fun to play.

The congregation will sing the refrain with me.

And I'll sing the four verses.

It goes up to high "F" -- which is a bit sketchy for my voice -- but when you smile and do it with confidence, either the sketchiness goes away . . . or you miss it but look like you're having a good time anyway.

One of those great theatre rules I learned . . . Don't Apologize.  Just act like it was supposed to happen. That way people will never know.  (Was that supposed to happen . . . ?  Or not . . . ?  I can't tell . . . )


Here's your chorus part, congregation:

We are his people,
the flock of the Lord.


Amen!

Preschool Groceries

*Retrospective Post: November 8*

Grocery shopping at preschool:

The prices are relatively inexpensive,

                      the produce is a bit aged (three year old corndogs?)

               and the service is exceptional!

Cash or check?  Wait . . . do people pay with cash or check anymore?

Have a nice day, ma'am!

Speak

Week Two Review

(of  a Bible study called If Only I'd Known: Living in God's Kingdom on Earth)

-- Rescued by Love --


What do I hear?

Dance through life . . . hair tangled in Holy Spirit wind . . .

Speak my truth.  Speak my hope.  Speak my light.

A new way to live!

Tingles and zings in Jesus.

Go.  Shine.  Speak.


And I pray:

Jesus,
   
              I am yours.

Use me to heal, to speak, to comfort, to love.

       I am ready.

                         to be your hands, your feet, your voice . . .

   to speak your truth, your hope, your light 

                                               your life.

Give me the courage, the wisdom, the strength, 

                    to surrender 

                                          to you.

Photographers

*Retrospective Post: November 10*


A family of photographers.

They have quite the eye.

Not Yet

This little girl thinks she's in preschool.

In line for preschool chapel.  With her pink purse.

Two more years, my little sweet . . .

Gingerbread House

So . . . we never got around to carving a Halloween Jack-o-Lantern.

Oooops.


So when Dash begged to make our gingerbread house today . . .

          I thought . . .


    "Really -- better early than to miss it altogether."


So here it is.

November 15th.

And we decorated our gingerbread house.


Next up:

Carving that Jack-o-Lantern!

Creation and Design

Little Gumdrop Toes

Making a gingerbread house . . . in your underwear.

Don't eat it yet!

Lick.

Wild Turkeys

Youth Group!

Makin' turkeys.

Out of Oreos.

Awesome.

Creating Masterpieces

Cuteness

Two little turkeys, sittin' on a plate . . .

Wild Turkeys

It's 9 pm . . . bring out the Oreos!

My Kids

My Wednesday nights have been full of high school youth for fourteen years now.

Youth Group is one of my all-time favorite parts of being a Family & Youth Ministry Director.


My high schoolers are usually pretty awesome.


This is one of my favorite years . . . ever.


What an amazing group of young adults.

Really amazing.


What sets this year apart:

• Our family's living room (as opposed to a room at church.)  So warm.  So inviting.  So comfortable.
• Treats!  I've never done treats on a regular basis before.  Sweet treats = sweet smiles.
• New faces.  All the time.  I have quite the group of evangelists.  They are always inviting their friends.
• Assortment of ages . . . assortment of friend groups . . . a gathering of those you wouldn't expect outside these doors.  But they are becoming friends.  
• Curiosity, eagerness and wonder about the Bible . . . about Jesus . . . about imperfect Old and New Testament people that God used -- in spite of their imperfection.
• Daily texts.  I send a prayer or quote or thought or Bible verse of the day.  Almost every day.  They miss it when I don't.
• Kindness, compassion, questions, theological thinking, vulnerability, honesty . . . just wow.
• Laughter.  Joy.  Fun.

These are my kids.

My kids bless me . . . big time.

They are constantly in my heart . . . prayers for them on my lips.

They are a gift.

Marvelous Life

We beg you,

              please don't squander

                                            one bit

                                                      of this marvelous life God has given us.  

-- 2 Corinthians 6:1 The Message

Caught by surprise . . . surprised by grace.

In awe of dancing birds.

Dear friends, God is good.  So I beg you to offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing.  That's the most sensible way to serve God.  Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think.  Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.  --Romans 12:1-2, CEV

So here's what I want you to do, God helping you:  Take your everyday, ordinary life -- your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life -- and place it before God as an offering.  Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.  Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking.  Instead, fix your attention on God.  You'll be changed from the inside out.  Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it.  Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.  --Romans 12:1-2, The Message

Nap

Tired?

Take a nap.

Happiness

Happiness is between your ears.

Pirate Ship Birthday

*Retrospect Post: November 10*


We love birthday parties.


Play!  Presents!  Pirate Cakes!  Pinatas!


O joy!

Pirate Cake Birthday Girl

Playing the Piano

Making Music Together

Busting a Princess Castle

Patience for Presents

The Gathering

Studying the Bible is like . . .


Standing in a sun-dappled forest,

                          large wicker basket in hand,

stooping to gather sticks and berries, nuts and acorns.


A bountiful harvest that never ends . . .

             a gathering to last our entire lifetime.


The basket never full.

        Our backs never tired.


               A journey of fullness, joy and treasure.

Choosing the Chosen

I think it's so fascinating that Christians speak of salvation so differently.

I wonder . . .

is the intent the same?

                  or are the thoughts really as different as they sound?


From my Bible study today:

If you have never chosen Jesus as Lord of your life, you may be ready to pray this prayer . . . 


Huh.

Lutherans never speak that way.

We are always quick to point out John 15:16 when Jesus says:

You did not choose me.  I chose you and sent you out to produce fruit, the kind of fruit that will last.


Different language.

           Different meanings . . . ?


Choose.  Accept.

or

Chosen.  Accepted.  Marked.  Washed.  Robed.


Gift.  Grace.


Always a flood of grace.


Amen!

Communion Class

Jesus comes to us in the bread

                and the wine.

Given, shed, broken for you.

         For me.

                       For us.

Amen!

Communion Class

Hands outstretched -- for grace . . . for life

Jelly Bean Kids

What is better than stopping off at the Grandpa Principal's office after school each day to fill up on . . .


Jellybeans!


(Apparently, not much.)

Jellybean Kids

Finley -- a jellybean professional.  No help needed.

On the way . . . to the jellybeans.

Backwards and Forwards

A bit of backwards and forwards . . .

Now that dishes duty has officially transferred into Ryan's hands --

   I have time to write on my blog!

Hip Hip Hooray!


So . . . we'll see.

I think I'll write some theological reflections . . .

Share some pictures and stories of life today . . .

And then go in a backwards motion -- through pictures -- to share life from a few yesterdays.  In no particular order.  You know . . . the days I missed writing about while I was on my blog hiatus.  Doing hours of dishes every day.


It shall be fun.


Shan't it?

Rescued

Jesus,


You have rescued us.


Rescued us from a worthless life . . .

               
                                          a pitiful existence . . .


                              a dead-end journey . . .


         into hope

                      and light

                                 and purpose.


Today I was given the gift to see with new eyes.  And hear with new ears.  The gift to touch and feel and taste.  To breathe deeply . . .

                                       . . . and notice

                . . . with thanks.


I saw impossibly huge brown eyes blink at me over a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios.  I heard the tender voice of a first grader serenade me with two chapters of Junie B. Jones.  I smoothed the soft skin of a four year old's itchy back.  I bit into the firm chewyness of an extra-large chocolate chunk cookie from Safeway.  I smelled a musky sweet perfume from the folds of a sweater.

a day full of mystery

                           and delight.


A day of being rescued.
         


Christ. . .  the high priest of the good things that are now here. . . Now we can serve the living God and no longer do things that lead to death . . .  -- Hebrews 9:11, 14 CEV

. . . the blood of Christ cleans up our whole lives, inside and out . . . Through the Spirit, Christ offered himself as an unblemished sacrifice, freeing us from all those dead-end efforts to make ourselves respectable, so that we can live all out for God.  --Hebrews 9:14-15 The Message

You were rescued from the useless way of life that you learned . . .  know that you were not rescued by such things as silver or gold that don't last forever.  You were rescued by the precious blood of Christ, that spotless and innocent lamb.  -- 1 Peter 1:18-19 CEV

Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God.  -- 1 Peter 1:18 The Message

Well Child

We officially have two well-children.

Three flu-misted noses.

One flu protected arm.

And four chubby legs full of Band-Aids.

I think Finley may be a doctor when she grows up.

She knew what was up.

Finley listening to Blazer's heart.

Friends

Friends are fun.

Really fun.

It's especially fun to see friends you haven't seen in awhile.  

To catch up.

And tell funny stories.

To laugh.

And dance.

Always dance.

Birthday Brownie Cupcakes

Make a Wish

Serious Dancing

Asleep . . . ?

Dance Party!

Light

Week One Review

-- Created for Relationship --

So I started this Bible study called If Only I'd Known: Living in God's Kingdom on Earth.

It's fabulous.


I'm the type that cannot move on to Week Two until I've reviewed, summed up and written my paper.

Don't worry -- it's a short one.


My favorite experience from Week One was my Feel So Close experiment I wrote about here.  As of this moment, seventy three people have read that blog post.  That kind of makes me giggle . . . because I wonder how many of them now think I'm totally loopy.

Loopy for Jesus . . . right?



When we first moved here, we did a listening prayer exercise during a staff meeting.  I remember looking at a picture of a worn dirt path disappearing into friendly green leaves, summer sun making patterns on the ground.

Through my prayer I heard God saying:

Elizabeth, I have sent you to this place to be a mom and care for my children.

I've reminded myself of that a lot.  I'm here to be mommy to my own three sweets -- but also to so many more of God's precious children.  Babies on up through the great-great grandparents in our church.


This week, through Bible study and more listening prayer, I heard another calling . . . an addition:

I have called you to bring a word of light and hope and joy to my children.  I need you, dear daughter, to be a light . . . to some of my hurting children.  You are called to bring forth change.


That's pretty dangerous to write.

You know . . . vulnerable and all.



Well, I guess on to Week Two.  We'll see what treasures are hidden this time.

Baptisms

I love baptisms.

They are my favorite.

There is nothing better in the world than welcoming a new member into God's family . . . 

     . . . to see someone splashed,

                     marked,

            robed,

                           and sent out to shine Jesus to others.

Very cool.

Amazing, really.

We had a baptism today.

I make baptismal banners for all our newly baptized in the church.

I started a couple years ago . . . it was February 2010 when I made the first two for Mateo and Noelia.

Last night I got to make Madison's.

I've probably made around 30 or so.

Dash wants one of his own.  I think all the children in our church need one of their own!  Another fabulous project to think about . . . 

Welcome to the family, Madison!

It's the best journey you'll ever take.

*Snow*

When it snows here, it's imperative to take advantage of it.

You never know if it will be the only snow you'll see all year . . .

I remember the winter we bought snow pants for the boys after the first snow.  The tags are still on them.

So we got a dusting today.

Not much to shout home about.

But enough to catch on your tongue . . . and scream and run around a bunch.

Hooray!

P.S.  It was basically melted by the time we got inside.  We had hot chocolate anyway.

Student

I am a student.

I've always loved being one.

I like to research and dig and read . . . and not form an opinion until I've got a handle on the subject.


I don't have a lot of time to research and dig and read these days . . . but when I do . . . I highly enjoy it.


Today, as my kids sit and stare at Elmo's World, I am a student of the Bible.

I love studying the Bible and coming away with more questions than answers.

That's the best way.



I push myself.

I push myself when I study, when I read, when I dig and try to understand.  I push myself when I run.  I push myself when I'm decorating a Spiderman birthday cake.

When you combine one who loves being a student and one who pushes themselves . . . well, you get someone that has the potential to annoy.

(I can pretty much guarantee I was annoying to high school and college classmates.  Probably to people who know me today. . .  I was the one who read the text books cover to cover.  And asked questions.  And worked until I understood what the heck was going on.  Yeah.  I was that kid.  I probably still am.)

I don't push myself to be annoying.  Or to be the best.  Or to be perfect.  Or to be better than anyone else.

That wasn't even a thought of mine.


I push myself because I can.  And because I want to.

I push myself out of thankfulness.

I am thankful I have a mind that can grasp and comprehend.
I am thankful that I have a strong, healthy body that can run past my mind's limits.
I am thankful I have the courage to try new things . . . and am willing to make mistakes . . . and can turn mistakes into something new.

I am thankful for new and interesting ways to think about God's Word.
I am thankful for creative endeavors to try.
I am thankful.


Yeah!  I'm thankful!

An Experiment

Ok.

So here's an experiment:


I was reading question number four of my Bible study . . . and it says:

Ask God to bring new revelation of who He is and the difference it makes in your life today.


I picked up my ipod, to drown out the noise around me, so I could pray.


A silly song greeted me . . . well, silly for this exercise.  But I thought, "Well God . . . why not?"


So I closed my eyes.

Turned on the song.

And had a little Jesus dance party.


I couldn't stop smiling.


On to the experiment: (sorry for you non-visual people . . . this is just how I roll)

Close your eyes.

Picture Jesus.  There with you.  Holding your hand.

Listen to this song:  Feel So Close (just click the title and it will take you to it.)

And Go!  (Remember -- close your eyes!)



Ok.  What did you think?

Pretty cool, huh?

It's as if Jesus is singing to us . . . and we are singing to him.


For me, Jesus has my hand . . . and he's taking me on a journey.  We're nearly flying . . . gliding along through the world -- seeing his creation . . . holding his children . . . wind tangling our hair . . .

Robed.

Washed.

Windy.

Bursting with joy.

(Really, how can you not burst with joy when you hear this song?)


What difference does this make in my life today?

All the difference.

Look what life can be!  Look what life is!!

Beauty . . .

          Relationship . . .

                        Clutching the hand of Jesus.


It doesn't get any better than this.


*Side note:  Ryan pointed out to me a while ago that a force field actually keeps things away or apart from each other.  Apparently Calvin Harris didn't know this.  For the sake of the experiment, pretend a force field draws you together -- inseparable.  (Nothing can separate us from the love of God -- not death, or life, or angels, or rulers, or things present, or things to come, or powers, or height, or depth, or anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  --Romans 8:38)

Here's the lyrics, in case you were wondering:

CALVIN HARRIS LYRICS

"Feel So Close"

I feel so close to you right now
It's a force field
I wear my heart upon my sleeve, like a big deal
Your love pours down on me, surrounds me like a waterfall
And there's no stopping us right now
I feel so close to you right now

[Dance beat plays]

I feel so close to you right now
It's a force field
I wear my heart upon my sleeve, like a big deal
Your love pours down on me, surrounds me like a waterfall
And there's no stopping us right now
I feel so close to you right now

[Dance beat plays]

And there's no stopping us right now

And there's no stopping us right now

And there's no stopping us right now

I feel so close to you right now...

My favorite lyric: your love pours down on me, surrounds me like a waterfall. (Baptism reference, anyone?)

Brilliant!

Thanks, Calvin Harris.

Feast

I love eating at Ryan's parents' house.

No matter what . . . we will be served a feast.

There is always an Abundance of food . . . never lacking . . . never sparse . . . never a need to scrape the bottom of the pot.

One 4th of July, the pasta salad was so plentiful that twelve people didn't even make a dent in the extra-large green tupperware bowl full.

Abundance.

Feast.


Jesus says . . .

I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.  - John 10:10b, NRSV

I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest.  - John 10:10b, Contemporary English Version

I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.  - John 10:10b, The Message


Full . . . 

        Abundant . . . 

                Spilling life . . . 


  . . . more than we've ever dreamed of.


Now that sounds pretty awesome.