Archives for September 2009

Worship and the ER

 

These two words were interwoven into an exciting scary week for us…

I read this verse earlier in the week:  “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against the rulers against the authorities against the cosmic powers over this present darkness against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

Wednesday night we (with our full band Saint Lewis) led worship at St. Simons Community Church’s INSIDE OUT youth group to build excitement for Friday’s concert there.

WE had a plan.

The plan: 1) eight songs on the list 2) rehearse and do six of them and 3) pick the four best ones for Friday night (C.D. Release Party for our friend Kyle Jones).

The night began as planned: we plowed through the walk-in song and then – following a game and announcements – the next 2 high-energy worship songs then Heather Blankenship led “You Won’t Relent”…

…There was a strong sense that God wanted to do something different…we ALL felt it even though the band had stopped as planned.  Shannon sensed it.  Heather sensed it too. I walked off the stage hearing these words “I have a plan that is different from yours – follow my plan“ echoing Jeremiah 29:1 and Proverbs 16:9.  I responded in my heart “God these songs are basically the run-through for Friday night!”  Still God said “My ways are higher.”

I remembered Kenimer’s Tiny-Town scripture memory verse “God’s way is perfect” (Psalm 18:30). Jon took the stage The plan was to start a video-teaching but he cut the video off as it was starting then challenged the kids. He challenged me.  He challenged himself.  He took the step off the edge that we all felt was necessary.  My husband in fact was face-down on the floor beside me – he didn’t even feel as though he should sit-up at that time.

Next far earlier than we had originally planned the team came back up and we sang “You won’t Relent” AGAIN plus 3 or 4 other songs entirely off the cuff completely unplanned and unrehearsed. Kids came up and spoke sharing words of what God was doing in their lives and challenging their peers. Some were praising hands to the sky and others were face-to-the-floor crying praising and praying.  God was moving.

I was so grateful that we were following his lead!

“Let me hear Your plans over my own” became my heart’s prayer’…

…then the text came from Mom: “Took your dad to the ER – babysitter is with the kids” and “Tucker is running a fever”.  Tucker is our youngest – not yet 2.  I immediately remembered the verse again:  “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against the rulers against the authorities against the cosmic powers over this present darkness against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places”.

Dad had been bitten by a spider thought to be poisonous though thankfully it turned out harmless. However we went to pick up the kids and found Tucker with a very high fever (over-the-counter medicines wouldn’t touch it) labored-breathing and a scary bark-sounding cough. We immediately called Doc and were instructed to go to ER.

Here I was sitting in the ER wondering how the night progressed from rehearsal to exciting worship to praying fervently for my dad and then sitting in the ER waiting room with my youngest? I continued praying and repeating the verse.

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against the rulers against the authorities against the cosmic powers over this present darkness against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places”.

Then again I heard the voice in my heart “If you’re going to take ground on my battlefield you have to expect the enemy’s darts of destruction.”

This was all making sense… the ER visit proved somewhat productive as we went home after shots breathing treatments and etc. There was the temptation to get angry as the next day was filled with medical stuff and overwhelming exhaustion was setting in. Our personal plans were shot.

But I remembered “God’s ways are perfect.” Ok God – if this is your way I will trust that is perfect.  The event brought to mind how many times in my life that important ministry opportunities were preceded by catastrophe conflict and hardship.  And yet every time God was still in control – directing drawing boundaries telling even the Evil one “Only this far – and no more”.

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against the rulers against the authorities against the cosmic powers over this present darkness against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places”.

So we choose to worship Him even when we don’t see the big picture and the immediate picture is that of an Emergency Room holding my precious little boy and deciding that I will indeed trust the one who’s ways are higher than mine.

An eventful week to say the least.

Four years ago on this day I became a mom. I have experienced so much in – all things considered – so little time. Words can’t describe the transformation of becoming a mom and all that it entails. This journey has been eventful and so full of life. This little guy opened my womb and started my mommy-hood!

 

September 14 2009 – Four years ago this little man came to visit.

 

 

Four years later we celebrate! And did we EVER celebrate!

 

Birthdays are not taken lightly in the Lewis household: “Birthday Weekend” we call it. Many conversations led up to the “Birthday Weekend”. On Birthday’s Eve we had a complete birthday party with the extended local fam: grandparents aunts and uncles. We had balloons hats balloons blowers and did I mention balloons? 

 

 

He wanted a Lightning McQueen cake (from Pixar’s CARS – which he pronounces “White-neen Mukeen Birfbay). His dad even managed to make a racetrack on the cake complete with a Piston cup and all. We opened presents ate a wonderful meal (Baked Crusted Tilapia with Ginger-Lime sauce!) had cake and even lit fireworks in the backyard thanks to “Grandpa Mack” – I mean “Pi-Pie” as Kenimer calls him.

 

I don’t know who was more blessed: Kenimer or we his parents. It is so fulfilling to give gifts to our children. We love to bless him. He giggles and is so appreciative and thankful. He repeatedly said “I wike my birfbay par-ee mama”.

 

On the grand ole day we had a special Birthday breakfast of dad’s morning specialty bacon and eggs. I showed Kenimer his baby pics and told the story of his birth. He kept saying “I not a baby anymore mama!” excitedly.

 

Later he went to preschool and came home with a birthday crown then in the afternoon we measured him on the “growth door” and got some handprints! Then later than evening we went to Tokyo Joe’s for Kenimer’s first experience with a Japanese steakhouse. This was so exciting. He laughed and laughed. He ate and laughed some more. That was a Win Win because we all love eating there but even more-so because we got to see the joy on his face of being treated special on his special day.

The wonderful birthday night ended with Kenimer dozing off balloon in one hand his night-light “Wally” in the other.

Kenimer – we love you and look forward to so many more birthdays! You bring us so much joy! Thank you for brightening each and every day! You are such a gift!

One and a half months ago: July 17^th 2009 marked the milestone – 5 life changing years of marriage and 5 x 50 000 lessons learned to date. The day approached and I was expectant.  Jeremiah 29:11 began to ring through my soul “For I know the plans I have for you…”  Then two nights before our anniversary I was awakened with this verse screaming at me: “You are a new creation the old has gone the new has come.”(2 Corinthians 5:17)

My heart began to feel dreams unfolding seeing the tips of the mountains and the hope flooding in…

and we talked………………..

We were mulling over the hard questions:

·        What are we most proud of ?

·        Worst disappointments /challenges?

·        How did we handle crisis?

·        What could we do better?

·        What are we doing well?

·        What about parenting?

·        Etc etc etc

The conversations went on and on for days.

We felt a stirring of sorts.  These years had definitely brought some crisis and crisis always means change.

Humorous memories of our wedding day filled late night talks.  While reviewing old pics I thought that maybe I had gotten married in the dark ages.  I mean really- “what are these brown square things”… “Oh that’s film”… you heard me right – our wedding was shot on FILM… yes 35mm film.

Needless to say I marched up to Walgreens with a million film packets in hand asking for C.D.s – DIGITAL PHOTOS thank you very much.  Now I can edit them…in fifty years when I have that kind of time.

Through vivid imagery we watched a beautifully arranged video

listened to songs thoughtfully written for each other

recalling meticulous details and how important they were to me –

each detail had some significance.

I remembered how thematic I had been about the whole thing…

I was a kindergarten teacher. I planned with themes taught in themes and even thought in themes – I still do!

The video collage included footage from the rehearsal dinner. My memory began to un-cloud “Oh I had a theme for that night!” I recalled: “Harmonies of praise” – looking back it sounds more like the title to a 80’s Hosanna tape (I said “tape” – mind you). I can see the big worship leaders packet complete with lyrics and chord charts. I remembered the strong desire to create beautiful harmony literally and figuratively with my marriage and life.  This meant the interweaving of two separate lives individually secure and rooted in Jesus coming together. The wedding memories served as shovels to dig out the true desires I had for our union.

I felt the revelation. The knowledge that I had a different plan of what our ministry would look like. As be toppled over bumps in the road and recovered the Lord began to reveal. I feel clearer about where we are headed and what we are doing. I am truly grateful for the disappointments and conflicts – they have only strengthened us. Our relationships are deeper. Our community is wider. We are better. We are becoming seasoned and are aging with Jesus. We had our own idea of where we were headed. As we have been in this refining stage our dreams have become infused with God’s. It’s a beautiful thing I think.

So eight weeks ago we committed to strengthening our marriage. Here are some of the ways:

·        Regular date nights: I am having a blast with this. We used to say we didn’t have the

money. PSHAW!  There are really great ways to have cheap dates but that’s

another blog entirely!

·        Prayer accountability and devotion: we have been rising early to do Love Dare. We

pray that the children will stay asleep – most of the time they do. This has been

phenomenal. If we don’t get up early we squeeze it in some other way.

·        Marriage enrichment: We each currently reading What every woman/man should

Know.  Great books with some helpful insights.  The one for men begins with a fold-out

chart and Shannon – with chart in hand – walked into the bathroom where I was

cleaning up and said “Hey Cyle – according to this fold-out you’re pretty normal!”

I’m normal!  How encouraging!

I am honored and privileged to be married to my best friend and the best part? He never runs out of cool interesting fun-facts or stories to tell me! …. And there’s more – Im married to my favorite singer… Looking forward to the rest of life!

Cyle