Five Fun Questions:
1. What is the thermometer reading at your house this morning?
i don't want to know.

2. Snow—love it or hate it?
ah, the famous question! I don't mind snow, it can be pretty. I do start to get sick of it around this time of year. It also helps that I live in a condo and I don't have to shovel!

3. What is winter like where you are?
F-R-E-E-Z-I-N-G. actually about 40 degrees below freezing.

4. Do you like winter sports? Any good stories?
do i like any sports, really?

5. What is your favorite season, and why?
that is a hard one! there are things i really like about all the seasons. but lately i've become a summer girl. good weather to be outside, lots of sun, my birthday, greeness, flowers, fruits and veggies, festivals...you can't beat it!

I read from Anne Lamott's newest book "Grace (Eventually)" for my devotions this morning. This quote stuck out at me: "When I asked Father Tom where we find God in this present darkness, he said that God is in creation and to get outdoors as much as you can." I find God's peace so much in creation, and that makes this frigid weather hard for me because I can't be outside as much. But spring is coming...closer each day!

Bonus: Share a favorite winter pick-me-up. A recipe, an activity, or whatever.
Hmm...having tea or hot chocolate with my mom and dad!

RETREAT!

Tonight I leave with the 9th Graders for their confirmation retreat at Pine Lake Bible Camp. This is one of the highlights of their 3 years of confirmation (hopefully they agree with me!). I am SO excited. Pastor Paul and AIM Ruth have put together some amazing exercises and sessions to help these youngsters to really grow in their faith and claim it as their own. I am so excited for them and can't wait to see and hear what they say.

This has been making me think back to my confirmation. It was one of the most meaningful days of my life. I think it was at my Affirmation of Baptism that I really felt called by God. I didn't know to what yet, but I think when my pastor, parents, and sponsors laid their hands on me, God came to me in a way that I had never experienced before.

I pray that our 9th Graders will also feel God's presence in them this weekend and in May when they make a public confession of their faith and intent for their lives.

Do you remember your confirmation? What was it like for you? When are times you have felt called by God to do something?

Stephen Leader Training Report!

It was an exhausting but enriching week. I learned more about Stephen Ministry and am even more thrilled with our program here at Grace. In the sessions, they gave LOTS of examples of what to do and what not to do. Grace's leaders and Stephen Ministers do an excellent job- I found myself having to refrain from bragging :)

Sadly, I did not see Stephen Orlando last week! But I did meet a lot of wonderful, caring people. I was amazed at how many people (over 400) gave up a week of their time to learn how to equip others to do caring ministry. And this week is only the beginning for so many of them, who now have returned home with a BIG task ahead of them. And all out of their love for Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the center of this ministry. He is why we do Stephen Ministry. We walk with others because he came to walk with us, to be with us in suffering, and to suffer himself. But he also came to heal, to rise from the dead, and to give us hope. One mantra of Stephen Ministry is "Jesus is the curegiver, we are the caregivers."

I pray that you will be open to having a Stephen Minister if you ever need one. If you are mourning, going through a sickness, loss of job, divorce, trouble with family, or are hurting in some way, please let a pastor or Stephen Leader know if you'd like a Stephen Minister. They listen, pray, and walk with you as needed. If you are curious to learn more about what this means, also feel free to ask. We don't bite! :)

May God the curegiver bless our Stephen Ministry program!

A journey to Stephen Orlando's homeland...

Next week I will be at Stephen Ministry training in Orlando, Florida. Yes, that's right...your pastor makes HUGE sacrifices for you! :)

All kidding aside, I anticipate this being an intense and enriching experience. I have shared with some of you that my mom was trained as a Stephen Leader. She left for 2 weeks (they have since shortened the training) when I was 14. It was really hard for me to have her gone for so long, and I ended up spraining my ankle while she was away. I could hardly wait for her to get home!

When the day finally arrived, I was so excited and so was she- but for a different reason. She walked in the door a different woman than when she had left. She was on fire in a way I had never seen her before. She talked and talked about the new ministry, what she had learned, and how amazing the program was. It really made an impression on me about how important sharing Christ's love with others was for her. Parents- take note!

When I learned that Grace had a Stephen Ministry program, I was thrilled! Caring for each other in a Christian way is certainly not only up to the pastor, though it is a part of my job I love. God has gifted so many of you with that ability as well. Thank you to all who make time for this. Also, to allow ourselves to receive care from another is hard for us. I pray that when you need it, you allow the hands of a Stephen Minister to reach out to you.

As many of us are aware, our brother in Christ Ray Johnson died this week. Ray was a Stephen Minister, one who shared Christ's love through this ministry and made all those around him smile with his sharp sense of humor. He will be missed!

I will be praying for you all this week and thinking about how I can better serve you. Please pray for me as I travel and learn about Stephen Ministry.

God's peace be with you!