I enjoy the week before Easter thinking and meditating on Christ’s suffering and resurrection.
This morning I was reflecting on: I Peter 1:19,
“He paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ,
the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.”
Our South Bay staff has said all month how Easter is like “Super Bowl Sunday” for church, and we sure do have an exciting weekend ahead.
On Saturday we’re having a huge Easter Egg Hunt for the community w/ over 10,000 eggs! It’s our way of loving on our community.
Then Sunday is the BIG day. I’ve heard it’s gonna be an amazing service.
Can’t wait!!! Expecting great things.
Right now it’s the little things that make life just a little more enjoyable.
When the main task of you day include:
breastfeeding a newborn,
changing lots and lots of diapers,
teaching “1st time obedience” to a 2 yr. old,
reminding a 3 yr. old what “1st time obedience” is.
A grande decaf non-fat two pump dark cherry mocha from Starbucks hits the spot every time.
Mmm…
What’s your little thing?
The first time I led a small group I felt like I had no clue what I was doing. My college pastor had asked me to lead a group on my college campus and, reluctantly, I agreed.
I remember being scared to death that first night. The material was prepped and I was as ready as I knew how to be, but I was filled with feelings of doubt and inadequacy. As the night began, over twenty of my peers were sitting in a circle staring at me. In that moment, I knew I had to step up and lead whether I felt qualified or not.
This is an excerpt from my latest article over at SmallGroupTrader.com. You can click HERE to continue reading.
As I was writing my birthday post, I couldn’t help but think of so many things that I still want to do. I’ve had so many opportunities so far, but I don’t ever want to stay content with the past, but continue to experience new things and challenge myself in new ways.
That’s when I had the idea of making a “Bucket List”, a wish list, for my thirties. I’m focusing just on my thirties cause for me thinking of the rest of my life feels too broad and long-term (assuming I live till I’m at least 80 or so). Giving myself a ten-year time frame helps me focus more on things I may actually be able to do.
I’ve never been one to struggle with regret or the feeling like I haven’t ”lived”. Part of my personality thrives on change and new experiences so I often incorporate new things into my life naturally. Whenever I really want to do something, I usually do what I can to make it happen. But, needless to say, it’s fun to have a wish list of things you’d still like to do- some more realistic than others.
Disclaimer: Just because it’s on my bucket list doesn’t obligate me to do it. That’s why I can put things on here and feel no shame if I reach 40 (or 50, or 60) without crossing them off.
Bucket List for my 30′s (in random order)
1. Visit Boston & Seattle (the only 2 major U.S. cities I think I haven’t been to). Just not on the same trip.
2. Become fluent in Portuguese- before my kids are.
3. Publish a magazine article.
4. Take a family trip to the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Watching a gymnastics event is a must.
5. Go to Brasil for the 2014 World Cup too. (and hopefully a few more times before & after the World Cup too.)
6. Ski in Tahoe.
7. Go on a cruise.
8. Go back to Hawaii.
9. Take my girls to a Broadway show ( I hope Wicked stays around for a while!).
10. Travel to Europe with Filipe.
11. Publish a Bible study.
12. Visit Greece.
13. Go on a missions trip to Africa. And maybe a safari too!
14. Take surfing lessons.
15. Take a trip back to the Dominican Republic to visit our Compassion boy, Josiel (the last time we saw him he was 4 yrs. old- now he’s 10).
16. Hike down into the Grand Canyon.
17. On each of my kids 4th birthdays I want to sponsor a Compassion child in their name (same age/same gender) for them to write to and become friends with.
18. Get all of my kids potty trained. (can’t wait for the day I can cross this one off!)
19. Visit Foz do Iguacu in South America.
20. Go scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef.
21. Spend a weekend in Napa Valley.
22. Go rock climbing.
23. Take a class in pottery making. (always wanted to sit at a potter’s wheel).
24. Spend a weekend at a spa- full treatment included!
25. Have dinner with Beth Moore.
26. See U2 in concert.
27. Run a half marathon (I’m laughing at myself as I write that one).
28. Attend a Catalyst brainstorming session (always wonder what they’re thinking when I get a box in the mail w/ random stuff- like this years gold tooth & Twinkie.).
29. Wake up to snow on Christmas morning.
30. Publish a book.
What are some of your dreams? Things you’ve always wanted to do? Places you’ve always wanted to go?
Do you have a Bucket List?
After watching the following video clip, God reminded me just how privileged I am to be under Andy & Stacie Wood’s leadership.
One of the biggest reasons I had such a peace about moving my family across the country to start a church in one of the most unchurched (& most expensive!) regions of the country is because I trusted in their vision and their leadership.
The role of the senior leader and wife isn’t an easy one- especially with a church plant. There are so many uncertainties about the future- we don’t really know what the next few months or years will be like.
Stacie, thank you for being obedient to God and for being such a great example of a godly wife and mother. You challenge me to be a better woman in so many ways. You are doing an outstanding job embracing the role God has giving you. I feel honored to be under your leadership.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH5y5bxp4GM]
Today is my 30th birthday! Wow. I mean it’s not like sweet 16, or turning 21.
One of my favorite movies is 13 Going On Thirty, and the best thing about it (other than the Thriller dance!) is that it made it exciting to turn 30 (for a woman at least!).
And while I can’t say I’ve waited my whole life for this day, I have decided to embrace my thirties and look ahead for what God has for me. I also want to take the time to reflect on the last thirty years and all the significant (and not so significant) things in my life.
Wow, 30- it’s still sinking in.
30 Random Facts about Me.
- Moved across the country 4 times.
- Managed to grow up in the South and not have a southern accent.
- I was always one of the shortest kids in the class. I think I still am.
- I used to sip my grandfather’s coffee when I was a little girl.
- Had to get stitches 4 times, never broke a bone.
- Dreamed of being an olympic gymnast when I was 8.
- Received an award for reading the most books when I was in 4th grade.
- Didn’t read another book again until I graduated college.
- Attended the same Christian school till I was 18.
- Captain of the cheerleading squad.
- At 14, wanted to be a lawyer.
- Began a personal relationship w/ Christ on Aug. 20th, 1997.
- Voted most athletic in high school.
- At 18, I wanted to be a politician.
- I’m not a morning person- my mind works best after 8pm.
- Had 10 jobs between 15-21 including working at a sushi bar.
- Don’t like sushi.
- I love drinking coffee.
- Learned you could meet friends at 18 and feel like you’ve known them your whole life.
- I was studying abroad in Oxford, England on my 20th birthday.
- Have no memory of my 10th birthday.
- I’ve traveled to 12 countries, but I’ve never been to Mexico or Canada.
- Graduated w/ a B.A. degree in Humanities from Charleston Southern University Dec. 2001. What is humanities? Still trying to figure that one out.
- Realized after I graduated that I would be in ministry would be my life for the rest of my life.
- Did I mention I love coffee?
- Lost a dear friend April 3rd, 2003.
- Fell in love w/ Filipe…& Brazil. Married him April 5th, 2003.
- Have 3 amazing children.
- Not a pet-lover.
- Started a blog in 2007.
Filipe and I were talking the other night about my birthday. I mentioned that one thing I like about this year is that I feel like I know myself better now than any other time in my life.
Thirties, here I come!
I mentioned in my previous post that the focus of our 1st anniversary service at South Bay Church was on the individual and how God cares for the one. During the service we did a cardboard testimony presentation of how God has changed the lives of people from South Bay Church. It’s a powerful reminder that He can change us no matter where we’ve come from or what we have done.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FjGuF2kJqw&hl=en_US&fs=1&]
Yesterday we celebrated South Bay Church’s 1st anniversary. It’s pretty incredible to look back over the last year and see all God has done. The focus of the morning was on celebrating the individual life God has changed.
Below are two of the videos we showed during service. The first is a recap of the history of South Bay- going ALL the way back to the 80′s. The second is a video of several of our sponsors congratulating South Bay and issuing several challenges for the years ahead.
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Year in Review http://vimeo.com/9819090 About this video: |
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Encouraging Words http://vimeo.com/9820221 About this video: |
For more info. about South Bay Church check out our website- www.southbaychurch.org
