I just finished listening to the PCC live podcast:
Gather
Grow
Give
Go
I loved that all of PCC from the 3 separate campuses met as ONE today. Many people put selfies on FaceBook from the sanctuary. So cool. I miss them all! I miss PCC Hudson, my family.
I have been plucked out of service in Redwood City and planted in Santa Rosa. I can already sense the mission that God has here. I am honored to spread His Grace and Love here.
I thought a lot about the subject of today’s message from Pastor Gary Gaddini: grow. How are you growing? What is your plan to grow? He spoke about how if his daughter, now 17, had not grown since she was 10, Protective Services would be at their door. It’s not normal or okay to not grow. Yet in our Christian walk, sometimes we think it is fine to wait 10 years before we have a growth spurt. That is not normal or okay. So what is our part? Gary mentioned Grace and Grit. Grace is God’s part. Grit is ours. What are we doing? To what are we exposing ourselves? For what do we seem to have plenty of time, yet feel there is no time to grow in our Walk with Christ?
On May 20, I woke up and could not walk. That was phase one. Many phases continued including low vision, hearing loss, over sensitivity to everything, until I couldn’t move at all and experienced a 3 day hospital stay. I am still having symptoms, but I seem to be able to walk much better with a walker (when I think of it… hence, 3 falls this month). I have to watch my every move... I am not used to that nor do I care about how I am doing.
I have always been others-centered. The Lord has shown me that there is a balance: self aware AND others aware. Having been ill all of my life, I have learned to ignore myself because who wants to deal with it anyway? I am a very happy person. It takes a LOT to make me mad, and I am not envious or jealous. I just love everyone and everything. My family thought I was wrong for being this way. But I figure, they are the ones who created this, so get over it. My mother used to say in her “Wicked Witch of The West ‘AND YOUR LITTLE DOG TOO’” voice: “you just thing everyone is beautiful!” Yup. Guilty.
As I lay on the couch with a nice blankee this morning listening to the sermon, (and getting to see Gary’s face thrilled me), I considered my situation. I fell down the stairs yesterday, and got badly bruised. How can I grow as a Christian woman lying on the couch with ice bags and a blankee? The same way I always have: take time to listen, read and have wonderful conversations with my Father in Heaven.
I found my completely disabled time the most profitable in my Walk with Christ. I never felt sorry for myself. I didn’t understand what my body was doing, but closeness to my Heavenly Father was outstanding and overshadowed everything else.
Here I am mobile again. Do I have to lay flat and disabled to listen and grow? I hope not. I need to listen when I am okay. I need to listen when I am conversing with others. I need to listen when I am in public and when I am alone. When I am eating or cleaning the house, my inner ears need to be open and aware. So my grit is: train myself to listen in all circumstances.
My favorite verse is in the Message:
Philippians 4:13: “Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.”
The Amplified Version reads this way: “I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]”
The key is not me. The Key is Him. He strengthens me, He empowers me, He infuses me with inner strength, He gives me His confident peace and He is WITH me and FOR me. I have no other needs.
How did I grow during this last season? Several ways which I hope I will continue to embrace.
I miss my friends, family and support system in Redwood City. Yet I know I am supposed to be here. There were no long goodbyes. Not even short goodbyes. Just there one day and here the next. One day maybe I will understand, or maybe I won’t. That is all in the Lord’s hands. I look forward to everyone visiting when the time is right.
Big lessons, big changes, bigger blessings and big growth in this little planting of the Lord.
Gather
Grow
Give
Go
I loved that all of PCC from the 3 separate campuses met as ONE today. Many people put selfies on FaceBook from the sanctuary. So cool. I miss them all! I miss PCC Hudson, my family.
I have been plucked out of service in Redwood City and planted in Santa Rosa. I can already sense the mission that God has here. I am honored to spread His Grace and Love here.
I thought a lot about the subject of today’s message from Pastor Gary Gaddini: grow. How are you growing? What is your plan to grow? He spoke about how if his daughter, now 17, had not grown since she was 10, Protective Services would be at their door. It’s not normal or okay to not grow. Yet in our Christian walk, sometimes we think it is fine to wait 10 years before we have a growth spurt. That is not normal or okay. So what is our part? Gary mentioned Grace and Grit. Grace is God’s part. Grit is ours. What are we doing? To what are we exposing ourselves? For what do we seem to have plenty of time, yet feel there is no time to grow in our Walk with Christ?
On May 20, I woke up and could not walk. That was phase one. Many phases continued including low vision, hearing loss, over sensitivity to everything, until I couldn’t move at all and experienced a 3 day hospital stay. I am still having symptoms, but I seem to be able to walk much better with a walker (when I think of it… hence, 3 falls this month). I have to watch my every move... I am not used to that nor do I care about how I am doing.
I have always been others-centered. The Lord has shown me that there is a balance: self aware AND others aware. Having been ill all of my life, I have learned to ignore myself because who wants to deal with it anyway? I am a very happy person. It takes a LOT to make me mad, and I am not envious or jealous. I just love everyone and everything. My family thought I was wrong for being this way. But I figure, they are the ones who created this, so get over it. My mother used to say in her “Wicked Witch of The West ‘AND YOUR LITTLE DOG TOO’” voice: “you just thing everyone is beautiful!” Yup. Guilty.
As I lay on the couch with a nice blankee this morning listening to the sermon, (and getting to see Gary’s face thrilled me), I considered my situation. I fell down the stairs yesterday, and got badly bruised. How can I grow as a Christian woman lying on the couch with ice bags and a blankee? The same way I always have: take time to listen, read and have wonderful conversations with my Father in Heaven.
I found my completely disabled time the most profitable in my Walk with Christ. I never felt sorry for myself. I didn’t understand what my body was doing, but closeness to my Heavenly Father was outstanding and overshadowed everything else.
Here I am mobile again. Do I have to lay flat and disabled to listen and grow? I hope not. I need to listen when I am okay. I need to listen when I am conversing with others. I need to listen when I am in public and when I am alone. When I am eating or cleaning the house, my inner ears need to be open and aware. So my grit is: train myself to listen in all circumstances.
My favorite verse is in the Message:
Philippians 4:13: “Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.”
The Amplified Version reads this way: “I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]”
The key is not me. The Key is Him. He strengthens me, He empowers me, He infuses me with inner strength, He gives me His confident peace and He is WITH me and FOR me. I have no other needs.
How did I grow during this last season? Several ways which I hope I will continue to embrace.
- The crucial thought: “I have given you all you need to know and I love you enough to let you think for yourself.” I believe that is true of my relationship with others, and, how God works with all people. He lays out His plan, and says follow. At first, we do, then we don’t. He sends correction. We obey for a while, then we don’t. He sends His Son, and says, this is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Sometimes we listen, sometimes we don’t. The next time He sends correction, it will be eternal. Better listen up!
- What God says in His Word is TRUE. I do not have to worry about anything, He already knows what I need. There is a new song by Housefires, I’ll Give Thanks To God: “I'll give thanks to God, when I don't have enough, 'cause He's more than enough, and He knows what I need. So I'll give thanks to God, when I don't have enough, ‘cause He's more than enough, and He knows what I need.” He also knows what my family needs.
- I truly understand what Pastor Gary always calls, “the no elbow zone”. I don’t have to make sure anyone hears what I hear or knows what I know, God is in charge of that! My job is to love and obey. He is the One who makes the miracles!
- I can accept all people as the same. There are no differences in who we are. The outside has changed through experience, but the inside is still the same: a beautiful creation of God. God’s Word indicates behavior. He is the judge, not me. I welcome all into my life without hesitation. Those others find scary don’t frighten me. My life is in the Hands of the One who makes me who I am.
- The visit to the hospital was divinely ordered. Al and I walked away from that experience knowing that we were supposed to be there and how other's lives were changed as a result. Hard to explain yet true.
- I was removed from all activity and here I am. As I pay attention, I will understand fully. I can relax and let it happen. God knows, that is all that matters.
- Al and I have visited a church twice. It was nice. Not sure where the Lord wants us. He will show us in time. I still can not drive, so I depend on others’ provision and kindness, especially Al’s.
I miss my friends, family and support system in Redwood City. Yet I know I am supposed to be here. There were no long goodbyes. Not even short goodbyes. Just there one day and here the next. One day maybe I will understand, or maybe I won’t. That is all in the Lord’s hands. I look forward to everyone visiting when the time is right.
Big lessons, big changes, bigger blessings and big growth in this little planting of the Lord.
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