grace•ology

Sunday recap: The graceKIDS Hair Edition

    Some kids just roll out of bed on Sunday mornings, throw on whatever clean clothes they can find, and mosey on to the doughnut table @ Grace.  That's one of the many benefits of our laid back, come-as-you-are approach to church.  But check out these guys.  No bed head here.  This is 100% style.  Hair like this takes time.  And product.  And a cool mom. 

5 Things God is Teaching Me Right Now

1.  That I have been given much by God: a great place to serve, a wonderful wife and son, a nice house in a great location, a great staff, many awesome volunteers to work alongside of, just to name a few.  

2.  To value and treasure Him more than ANYTHING.  If I were to lose everything, or even just one thing from #1, would I still love God and treasure him just as much?  Would God be enough?  In Psalm 73:25-26 the writer can profess, "Whom have I in heaven but you?  And earth has nothing I desire besides you.  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever."  

3.  To lead intentionally, graciously, and joyfully.  To be encouraging and empowering to others, while calling them to take their next steps in relationship, in church, or toward Jesus.  

4.  That organization and structure is a lifesaver.  I'm starting to put as much as I can about how I do my job, and about how Grace operates, on paper.  That way I don't have to try to keep it all straight in my head.  It just gets to be too much.  I think in personal life and in organizations, better systems and growth go hand in hand.  Sometimes growth forces you to come up with a better system, but we should strive to invent (or borrow) better systems to pave the way for growth.  

5.  That with increasing responsibility comes an increasing desire to be near God, to be obedient to Him and closer to Him.  Also with increasing responsibility comes a desire for the church--for its success and growth.  The more you are invested in something, the more you want to see it grow and succeed.   Incidentally, being near God helps because the church is his bride and his desire is to see it grow and be radiant!    

   Along that note, I know it's midsummer, but I'm already getting seriously excited about the fall at Grace.  God is working in us as a staff, and it's spreading to the rest of the church.  Be praying now, be building the momentum in your own heart for what God might want to do through you this fall.  

graceKIDS School Supply Store for the Destiny Foundation

This Sunday, July 19th, elementary kids are running a School Supply Store to benefit kids @ the Destiny Foundation.   This hands-on service project is EASY to support because we've hit the stores and pulled all the supplies together in one place for you. 

Here is how you can help:

• Bring $30 cash or check (payable to Grace Fellowship) to cover the cost of 1 backpack and all of the supplies needed to fill it up.
• "Shop" at the School Supply Store after any service to fill a backpack for a kid in need.
• The store is located on the first floor, Room 105.

We'll keep the backpacks and distribute them on August 1st at the Destiny Tools for School Event.  We are looking for families to help distribute backpacks during the event. 

Women's Series Pre/Post Service Playlist

(Guest blog by Hilary Wyatt)

For the past five weeks, through the What Women Want series and Casey Johnson’s message this past Sunday on our Stories, the following music has been playing on the pre/post service playlist:

Phoenix - 1901
Tal & Acacia - Garbage In
Tenth Avenue North - Love is Here
Jars of Clay - The Long Fall
Israel Houghton - Just Wanna Say
Better Than Ezra - Absolutely Still
Kristian Stanfill - Alive and Running
Michael Gungor Band - You Are The Light
Phil Wickham - Desire
Greg Laswell - How the Day Sounds
Anya Marina - All the Same to Me
Brooke Fraser - Albertine
Coldplay - Square One
Jars of Clay - Hero
Keane - Again & Again

Food Drive Extended -- Buy 1, Get 1 Free

graceKIDS is heading to the Destiny Foundation after church the Sunday to sort donated groceries. We are still in need of LOTS of donations.  The requested items are listed below and almost ALL are on sale (buy 1, get 2 free) @ your local Publix:

• Canned Green Beans and Corn (Green Giant brand on sale)
• Cereal (Kellogg's and Post cereals on sale)
• Instant Potatoes (Betty Crocker brand on sale)
• Peanut Butter

Collection bins will be in the lobby.  Let's fill them up!

Summer Service Projects for the Whole Family

   

Last Sunday we invited parents to join their K-5th graders for our first every Family ClubHOUSE.  We played, sang, laughed, learned, and prayed together.  We rocked the house!

We also "launched" our summer of service for the whole family.  In June, kids will be collecting essential food items and preparing snacks for kids who visit medical clinic @ the Destiny Foundation. In July, we'll focus on stuffing backpacks with school supplies.  There are three ways for families and kids to participate:

DONATE-SORT-DISTRIBUTE.

Check out the details here.

Week Three of the Fasting Challenge: Don't Give Up

We’re in the middle of our third week of the Fasting Challenge at Grace, and I am so encouraged by the things you have been telling me. Here are some quotes from the Facebook page:

The best parts of this fast are my much more frequent conversations with God: "God, please give me strength." ... "God, Why did I choose to do this?" ... "God, the evil one is telling me to pull into McDonald's." ... "God, thank you for being there for me." ... God is always there, and always wants to hear from us!!

Is it just me or does Scripture seem like food when you’re fasting?

As I've been fasting and feeling physical hunger, I have had to ask myself (and God) if I am really HUNGERING for Him. Do I feel the same pain if I do not have God in my life after just a few hours? Food feeds and nourishes us physically, but do I feel a true hunger for God if I haven't had my fill of Him today? I repent for my lack of God-desire.

Check out the Facebook page for more. There are stories on the wall and on the discussion tab.

Even if all you are getting out of the fast is being obedient to God’s call, you are getting somewhere. He will not trust you with much until He can trust you with little (Luke 16:10). Keep it up! 

I am also looking forward to week two in What Women Want this weekend. God is giving me some good stuff. Looking forward to this week’s Man Moment, too. Here’s a link to our video channel where you can see a slightly extended version than the one we showed in service.

It’s good to be home from a great vacation. See you guys on Sunday.

What the mohawk???

What would cause a seemingly level headed student pastor to shave his head into a blue mohawk? Your awesome students!!! This past six weeks the teenagers have been collecting change for our Grace Students "Change Wars". 

The purpose of the change wars was to help send students to camp who might need financial assistance. It also was to challenge the students to learn that every last penny counts and can make a difference for the kingdom. 

Our students raised almost $450 in change and that helped send several kids to camp!!! You should give them a big hand for doing this all on their own (Some of you may now understand why your purses were void of change, or maybe why you couldnt find any spare pennies lol!)  The guys were pitted against the girls to raise the most money and the chance to shave my head into a mohawk. PLUS which ever team won got to color my hair too. (PINK for girls and BLUE for boys)

I guess you can figure out who won.; ) Please be praying for us the week of June 15-19 as we head up to Auburn, AL for our Radius Missions camp. We will be serving at two gov't housing projects the whole week and attending camp at night. We are so stoked to be taking 17 students up to learn what it means to be hope to those who need it most. Thanks for your prayers and for your support!!!    -Norm

Fasting Challenge: Week One

Week one is almost over, Grace Fellowship fasters. Whether you fasted 1, 2 or 3 days, we are encouraged by you and the steps you've taken to pursue God this week, and we've enjoyed hearing from you about your fasts.

Kelly and I were reading some of St. Augustine's thoughts about fasting this week, and he had an amazing point: Fasting was the first command from God in the Bible and the beginning of God's law —"Thou shalt not eat." He says "Because we have not fasted, we fell from Paradise. Hence we should fast, so that we might return there." Wow.

If you haven't been visiting the Fasting Challenge Facebook page, be sure to check it out. Many people are sharing their experiences and encouragement on the Wall and on the Discussions tab.

Keep praying for your relationship with Christ and for Grace as we move forward together. We're praying for you.

Worship Set - 5/24/09

Worship Set:

Sing Sing Sing - Chris Tomlin
Lord of all - Kristian Stanfill
Beautiful Jesus - Kristian Stanfill

Both songs by Kristian Stanfill are amazing worship songs and I believe that they both will become favorites at our church.

I normally do not post the song lyrics, but I had a request on Sunday to post Lord of All because of the chorus.  You can read them below.  Have a great week!!

Wonder and awe surround you Lord
Glory and fire light your way
Day after day the heavens proclaim
The beauty of the holy One

We will respond
With joy in our song
Your enemies rise
Your enemies fall
Your fire consumes them all

There is none so high and holy
King of kings the one and only
You are adored
You are the Lord of all

Mysteries unknown
Are known to you
All wisdom is yours to reveal
You hold in your hand the days of all men
All life and breath are Yours to give