"THIS for THAT"

Our church just completed a building project. Well, half a building project. We have a new sanctuary. It was desperately needed. Prior to the opening of the new sanctuary, people were crunched and crammed into the old sanctuary, and we had overflow....where our family would end up most weeks because we just couldn't get to church early enough to make it into the regular sanctuary. Most Sunday's overflow would become too full and there would be standing room only. More than once I decided to just go work in the nursery (because they are always desperate for workers anyways) instead of standing in overflow...or because I felt guilty....I never knew who was leaving overflow because I was sitting in a seat instead of them...what if that person didn't know Jesus? What if they really, REALLY needed to be there...I couldn't live with the guilt :) Anyways, I digress. We needed a new sanctuary. We got one. (nice how that works right? we needed something, we got it. Somehow life doesn't always work that way...this time it did. Its nice) Right now there are major renovations going on in our old building/sanctuary to create a new children's wing...which is also desperately needed.

Anyways, the theme that our pastor's have been trying to communicate since we've had the privilege of being in our new building (that seats 1800 people, has luxurious seating and ample space in the atrium, hallways, aisles...etc!) is...THIS, for THAT. Meaning....lets keep our perspective here....we have this great new building and the awesome opportunity to constantly be surrounded by good teaching and people who love Jesus...SO THAT we can do a better job of bringing Christ to the nations...sharing Jesus with those who do not have Him. THIS for THAT. I love it. It reminds me to be very careful lest I soak in all the goodness that has been handed to me and think that I'm deserving and not responsible to do anything with it. Oh man. We are so responsible.

I want to implement this perspective heavily in my own life. THIS struggle, for THAT move towards holiness. THIS blessing so that I/we may bless THAT person. Whatever has been given to us...its always leads to something else. THIS for THAT.

When we were trying to selling our house and realizing how terribly upside down we would be, I struggled with how we immediately felt like we didn't deserve to be stuck where we were. Like living in the house we were living in was so completely unacceptable....we were better than this, our neighborhood had taken a nose dive and OUR children had no business being brought up in a area like we were in. Man. When did I become such a SNOB!? :) Ha. I tell ya, I really really wrestled until God brought me to a place where I was completely happy to stay in our little home on the west-side of Indianapolis. Where our neighbors blasted loud gangster rap that shook our walls and teenagers walked the streets at nights looking like they were up to no good. I had to take a good look at my heart. Who am I to know the mind of God? Who am I to question what he has for my life? What if our neighborhood to be our mission field? Maybe. And I tell you honestly that if God asked us to stay there for the rest of our lives, I would have been peaceful about it. True story. However, he made a way for us to get out. Barely :) But we did get out. And now, when I think about what we CAN have....a safe neighborhood, a much bigger/better house, good schools...neighbors that do NOT blast gangster rap :) You get the idea. I think...man, I really want all of this prosperity to be put to good use. THIS for THAT Lord. Your blessing to us in exchange for YOUR glory! I'm ok with having good stuff if we can use it to bless others. I'm praying that God will keep our family sensitive to know how we can use our lives to serve others. I'm not that good at seeing it. To date, I have removed myself from a consistent situation I had to share Jesus. I am now a stay at home mom with my children. I attend church, I go to bible study, we attend a small group, my best friends know and love the Lord...you get the picture. I felt like at least when I was working I had the opportunity to be around people that I could love on for Jesus. And now, I'm just praying that I will be wise enough to see where Jesus would have me to go from here. Vision trips? Doing more to support or missionaries? Standing on the street corner telling others about Jesus!? :) I don't know, but I know it has to be something.

THIS for THAT Jesus! I want to know you more :)