Monday, November 26, 2012

Change?!!!



Change?!!!

On December 14, 1986, God called me to be the mother to Jillian Nicole Vincent.  I had gotten used to my call as Mason's wife, a professional in the accounting world, as well as various little roles of daughter, sister, neighbor...  But this call was huge.  It was clearly a call that I was not qualified for, yet here I was holding this beautiful baby; completely terrified and completely joy filled! God had challenged me and pushed and carried me through things that scared me before, but never anything that required such a personal responsibility and investment.  Mason and I had no idea what we were doing, in fact the early videos are a bit painful to watch!  Miraculously, she somehow survived.  

 We were a little more prepared when Mason Thomas, Allie, and Madi came along over the next seven years, but still completely over our heads!  Our home was filled with chaos and love.  Nothing has defined me so powerfully and completely as my role as mom.
There were many ups and downs, but I remember laughter and such a feeling of finally knowing who I was and what I was called to do.  Bad theology!

 Soon came the crazy emotions of reality, as the time came to let my children go.  It came in small steps; "No, Mommy, I do it myself."  Preschool was quickly followed by school all day.  For me, there was never a time that they were all gone all day since we homeschooled through most of their pre-college years.  Being a mom completely filled my days.  But God held me close as He told me my call was changing.  High school, driving, youth trips, college, weddings... yikes!!!

In August we dropped our youngest one off at college; driving away I thought, "Wow, now what do I do?"  Mason knows what he does, he's been doing it! The nature of our family choices have been such that the role of dad was not as singular as my role of mom.  He still has the same job that he still goes to on a regular basis.  He loves that when he is home he has my undivided attention, I love that too! We both love the freedom of being empty-nesters (that still seems crazy to me!) but a big part of who I am is gone, or so I thought.

I told Jillian when I took her to college that it felt like I was being fired.  She said "Not fired, Mama, just reassigned!"  She was right.  I have loved every minute of being a mom.  I loved the chaos, the laughter, all of the games and recitals.  I loved the Nutcracker and the craziness of Christmas.  I have loved every tear shed and wiped away because of all that God did through them.  I loved the privilege of getting to know their friends and the imprint all of them have had in our home and our hearts.  I loved watching Mason be a dad, I love how our love grew so deeply as we raised our family together.  I love how God has revealed Himself to me so beautifully through this deep love I have for Mason and the kids. I loved my call to build God's Kingdom through raising our children.

So, moving on is bittersweet.  I am still a mom, but that role is changing as God makes room for more and different.  Sometimes our call to service is hard but He is always in the middle of hard.  Cancer is hard but God is faithful.  Wayward children, financial crisis, difficult family dynamics, marriage struggles.  These are all difficult calls that we learn to be thankful for the lessons and even the blessings through, but very thankful when they pass.  Sometimes, however, we are called to move on from something we love.  God is still good and He will faithfully lead and equip us for whatever is ahead.

Change is usually hard, it is how God pushes us as He grows us and uses us in so many wonderful ways to build His Kingdom.  Change is good.  It reminds us of how completely dependent on God we are.  A friend once told me that "God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called".  How very true.  If you knew the mess that both Mason and I came from, you would understand that as well as we do!  God has carried me through much, always teaching, always merciful, always graciously equipping for whatever lies before.  I'm not clear what He is calling me to in this next season, but I know He will stretch me and equip me for whatever it is.  As I seek His face, He will reveal, one step at a time; just as He will to each of us in this ever changing world.  One thing is sure, we are His servants called to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever.  That is who I am, who we are, what defines us.  We are His, bought by His blood, thankfully!!! Our call for service in this world will change.  Count on it.  But God never changes.

"Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever.  Amen." (Hebrews 13:20,21)

I would love to hear your stories of change as God perfects you...

Blessings,
Vicki



Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Acceptance


I've always been captivated by the sinful woman in Luke 7.  She went to the Pharisee's home, she wet Jesus' feet with her tears, dried them with her hair and anointed them with expensive perfume.

She loved Jesus with such abandon...  such courage... such boldness...

I have to admit, I've often wondered (with longing) what inspired her to love Jesus so freely?  What compelled her, in the face of those who judged and condemned her (the Pharisees), to pour out her love so extravagantly?

Verse 47 gives us the answer, "Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven - as her great love has shown.  But whoever has been forgiven little loves little."  She loved much because she had been forgiven much.

But I am like the woman - I came to Jesus when I was older, my sins were many, I had been forgiven so much, and still my love felt restrained...  It was confined by my fears of what others would think...  It was limited by something I was missing in the story...  Something that is not explicitly spelled out, but it is part of the essence of what Jesus did for her...  He loved her...  He forgave her...  He accepted her.

She didn't have to fear the rejection of the Pharisees (or anyone else for that matter) because she had the complete and total acceptance of the one who created her!

Acceptance...  the act of receiving something that is offered.  Please know that I am not in any way suggesting we condone sin, but the sinful woman offered Him all that she had at the moment.  She didn't wait until she was cleaned up...  perfected...  or worthy by the world's (or Pharisee's) standards.  She simply went to Him in all of her sin and Jesus accepted her, she was enough...  He received what was offered without a demand for more (or even better).  He knew that what He offered would eventually transform her.  Transformation is a journey and, like Jesus allows us, we need to allow people the grace for their own journey.

As I'm coming to understand more and more that Jesus loves and accepts me right where I am... that I cannot do one...  no, not ONE thing...  to make myself more loveable or acceptable to Him (He did it all on the cross), I am freed to love Him with abandon...  without fear of what others will think...  And I am freed to live by His grace, trusting the journey, that He will be faithful to complete the good work He began in me.  I have to wonder though, how well do I reflect that acceptance to others?

As we enter into this wonderful season of Thanksgiving and Christmas, let's consider...

1.  Has there been someone in your own life that offered you the gift of love, forgiveness and acceptance and showed you Jesus?  For me it was my grandfather, Pop Charlie...  (Feel free to leave a comment in honor of them.)

2.  And... are we willing to offer the same gift to others?  To family that we may not get along with?  To those who disagree with us politically?  To one whose sins we think are many?   Are we willing to give the gift of acceptance in gratitude for what Jesus did for us?  Maybe, like the woman in Luke 7, that's all that someone needs to begin their journey of experiencing the love and transforming grace of Jesus!

Happy Thanksgiving!
Sharla

Monday, November 12, 2012

Snow Sharks?!?

Collecting quotes is a past time I enjoy.  I believe quotes can synthesize significant thoughts and express them in simplified terms.  One of my favorite quotes is:

"I was at this restaurant.  The sign said, 'Breakfast Anytime' - So I ordered French Toast in the Renaissance."  -- Steven Wright

What is the profound truth in this quote?  There isn't one really.  But I do think it's hilarious!

Many times we are so busy about the business of life that we forget to stop and enjoy it.  This is very true of me.  I am often consumed with my tasks and lists; consequently, my focus is on what I am doing and what I need to do rather than enjoying the moments of life.  Now, let's not be unrealistic.  God expects us to do the work he has given us with diligence but I believe we can do that work without forgetting to take time to have fun (and perhaps even find fun in the work).

At times, even my desire to be a better disciple of Christ makes me feel that I should do more 'for God.'  Then I remember, it's not about the work I do but it is about God working in my life.  As I think about the person of Christ, I usually reflect on his character traits -- you know love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness -- and forget who he was as a human.  Jesus balanced his life so well between his work and his times of fun.  Is there any wonder a crowd of disciples followed him??  Jesus enjoyed parties.  Jesus gave people nicknames.  Jesus did those things which aren't necessary in life but which are essential to live the life God designed for us.

So embrace the life God designed for us.  A life in which we take a little time for fun.


As I attempt to find fun in the day, I am yours faithfully -- Cynthia

Monday, November 5, 2012

Simplify

About a week ago I downsized from a smart phone to a basic one. I did so to save money. I'd had the smart phone for six months and rarely used the features offered like navigation or the awesome apps people rave about. I did get addicted to checking e-mail and Facebook. So I'm surprised that a week after downsizing, I don't miss the old phone. Instead of feeling like I am missing out on the latest news, I am happy to be "out of touch" while waiting in doctor's offices and the grocery store line. I'm happy to look around, chat with the person next to me, or read a book.

Downsizing is swiming against the tide of our "more, more, more" culture. Nothing wrong with using and appreciating the advantages of technology. I am glad my friends with busy lives find their smart phones so helpful. But owning a smart phone, a car with power windows, or a house with air conditioning on both floors is not a need. Those are wants. One of the keys to simplifying is discerning the difference between needs and wants. Another is to decide what your priorities are.

One of our priorities these days is saving money for college for our two teenagers. So buying a less expensive phone and getting rid of the data plan allow us to set aside that money for education. I wonder - Have you ever downsized in one area to invest in another one? Was it worth it? Were there any unexpected blessings? (One I wasn't expecting was feeling less tethered to my phone.)

I'm not advocating living a simpler life for the sake of finding peace or contentment. Those things can only be found in Christ. I'm asking if you have, like me, downsized and found yourself suprisedly devoid of any feeling of loss. Downsizing my phone reminded me that I don't "need" what I thought I did. Ultimately, I only need God. He is more than enough.


- Kathryn