Beautiful blessing

I am someone who has been involved with church stuff ever since I was a baby. Started to get more involved during my high school years and I continued to be drawn to Jesus in college, which leads me today. I started to get involved with a house church (hc) with Common Ground. I stayed with one group for 3ish years and saw a lot of people come in and out of it. It was a really good place for me. For the past month or so I've been thinking about my experience in hc in Indy and my experience so far in eugene. How do you combine those two things?

For the time I was in my hc I was really focused on that group. I was going to college and still had my college friends, but slowly I started to spend a lot of time with my hc. But I think I started to get a little too comfortable in that space. And God started to direct me elsewhere. My time with my hc was what I needed during that time and season I was in. It was not a waste. We need to be in community with people who love Jesus. But I think back to those times and then think of where I am now.

I'd love to see my new friends join us for Wednesday and worship with us. My heart desires and aches for that. But I know I am not in control of that (thank goodness). I know that I need to sometimes be uncomfortable and love people that are not always like me. I loved my hc in Indy, but I need to branch out more then I did back then. I need my community, all the eugene team, but I need my friends outside of it. I realize how comfortable I get if I just focus inwardly. So it's a balance. I could not survive with out the eugene team fighting for me through prayer and support and I could not see the raw beauty of God like I do in my friends that don't follow Jesus. I would miss out on a lot of beautiful moments only God could orchestrate.

So my prayer for all of us is to step outside of our "group" and get to know some people who are not like us. When we do we will be absolutely amazed at who Jesus is. I learn so much about Jesus from the people who aren't involved with "church" and/or "religion". I know that God has comforted me while I've been out here in eugene by using my friends who are not involved with "church". That puts tears to my eyes just thinking about. I wish I could express to you just how much that means to me. What a beautiful blessing.

Much love,
Stacie :)

Easter Weekend

This weekend we had a cookout at Alton Baker Park and invited friends from the library, running group, work, and where ever else we've met people. This is a time we would normally be with family so it was fun to have a bit of the mid-west with us... even if it was just cornhole and wiffleball. It was fun to get people together to eat and play. Sunday morning we got together and had communion at one of our service sites, aka- Clint and Rachel's apt.

The beauty of a child!

So I just need to take a minute to brag about my children. I hope you don't mind me doing so! A few weeks ago Rachel and I and the kids were eating lunch. Rachel and I were having a conversation about theology and the church. Elias began talking when he heard us talking and so we asked him what he had to say. And he said, "I think God died so he can rescue people." I about started to cry right then and there. I can assure you that Rachel and I had not said anything about that in our conversation at that time. Since then, I have written Elias' quote down and put it on our refrigerator like any good parent does...ha! It's so beautiful when a 3 year old gets the simple truth of the Kingdom of God. Maybe that's why Jesus said we must change and become like little children in order to enter the Kingdom of God.

Now, I don't want to leave Jael out. For the last few weeks our church has been navigating through the Lord's Prayer. So Rachel and I began reciting the Lord's Prayer with Elias each night before he went to bed. Elias picked it up pretty quickly and can recite it easily now. But Jael would often times be in the room when we would practice it with Elias. She is beginning to say a few words now but we didn't think she could say what she did one night about 2 weeks ago. We were getting ready to say our bedtime prayers with our children when Jael began reciting the Lord's Prayer. She got all the way through 'give us today our daily bread.' Again, I think I about started to cry. Rachel and I couldn't believe it. We didn't even know she had been listening each night as we practiced the Lord's Prayer with Elias. Well, 2-3 days later she recited the entire thing. Unbelievable! The funny thing is, she doesn't articulate the words real well, but I know exactly what she's saying. In saying that, I'm pretty sure I sound the same way when I pray, and I'm grateful that God knows exactly what I'm saying.

Our family and our church are doing well in Eugene. We would continue to ask for you to pray for our church. Please be asking God to draw hearts to himself. Please pray that we would be sensitive to his leading and that we would live out the words of 1 Peter 3:15 "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." (1 Peter 3:15)

Clint