365 Days of Service

I’d mentioned in a post in May that I thought my math was bad which ultimately meant that when June 11th rolled around again, I’d still be finishing up my 365 days of service. This amazing adventure all began in New Orleans on June 11, 2008. It turns out somewhere along the journey I miscounted my days and on June 11 (Day 358) I’ve still got a week left to serve. It’s not a problem, however, because I fully anticipate these 7 days being jammed-packed full of awesome opportunities to serve! It also means that I’ll be celebrating my 7th wedding anniversary with Ryan, watching several hundred people be baptized (some by Ryan) at LifeStock on Sunday and celebrating my 365th day with my family in Texas! God is so good.

I’ll be serving at one of the One Prayer micro mission opportunities available around the Oklahoma City area on Saturday, June 13th. Will you join us?? http://edm.lifechurch.tv/blog/post/mission-partners-2009

Day 355 - June 8

I spent the evening resting tonight, instead of making my usual trip to Mercy Ministry. This is the day of the month when a fantastic group of people get together to knock it all out before I even leave work. I have not been feeling well recently so I just needed a night to rest. I spent time in prayer over the prayer requests we receive at Church Online: http://internet.lifechurch.tv/. I have not been able to serve during their live experiences recently, so I volunteer as part of the prayer team. It’s been a different way to serve for me, but I believe in the power of prayer and am glad to be able to lift up these requests to God.

Day 356 - June 9

As part of the One Prayer series this year (http://2009.oneprayer.com/) I asked our LifeGroup to serve with me at Mercy Ministry one evening. Tonight was the night we decided to work on some special projects that needed to get done. We painted signs on the building, touched up a bathroom with paint and repainted a few walls in the wherehouse. It was a great time for us to serve alongside each other, to focus on others and to make an impact on a really deserving ministry.

Day 357 - June 10

Usually I serve at SWITCH with Ryan on Wednesday nights, but because my usual role (student check-in) doesn’t apply to one evening a month, I wasn’t needed to help out. I spent a few minutes with the kids while they played a few games. It was pretty entertaining. But because I am leaving on vacation very soon, I worked through the evening so I could give Ryan a ride home. I got a ton of work done and will have a couple of new series to add to the OPEN web site very soon!

The end of this fantastic journey is slowing getting near. I have been so excited about all that has happened in our lives during the past year. But I am most excited about the opportunity to share the power of this journey with those I get to meet in the future. Thanks for following along over the last year!

Day 347 - May 31

I spent the day serving Ryan around the house today. He had expressed some frustration with me waiting until the very end of the weekend to get started on house cleaning (I guess I was interrupting his Sunday night down time). So I got it all done earlier today. Not bad really, considering now all I have to do tonight is relax!

Day 348 - June 1

Tonight I ran to Mercy Ministry to take a look at some opportunities to serve during One Prayer (http://www.oneprayer.com) this year. I’ve been asked to lead a small group mission project during the series and I have some ideas how we can serve at Mercy. I was able to connect with volunteers tonight, too, and spent some time in prayer over our clients this coming week.

Day 349 - June 2

When we met with our LifeGroup tonight, one of the members of the group wanted to watch a powerful documentary about a family that overcame terrible grief to impart grace, forgiveness, and blessings on another family in their town. It was really inspirational to see how a relationship built out of obedience and God’s love has the power to overcome anything. This world is a place where we are going to hurt and where we will experience suffering, but it’s all about how we choose to embrace life that truly sets us apart and makes us holy. It was definitely a message we all benefitted from hearing. Our group also prayed for our friends, one who is recovering from surgery, and her husband who is taking care of her. We’re feeding them meals all week.

Day 350 - June 3

Served alongside Ryan at Switch tonight. What a great experience it is getting to serve as a family. Ryan left and went to another expeirence at a LifeChurch.tv campus and had an opportunity to minister to a group of troubled kids. It was a great night getting to talk about the incredible ways God is using our family to bless others.

Day 351 - June 4

I spent the evening serving single moms at Mercy Ministry tonight. It was a great night full of great conversation, prayer, catching up with the ladies and meeting God with these women. I love being able to connect with them every month to see how their prayers have been answered and to see that they are thriving in their relationship with God. Amazing to see lives changed right before your eyes.

Day 352 - June 5

I followed up Single Mom’s Night at Mercy Ministry by serving another Single Mom’s organization here in town: The Bethel Foundation http://www.bethelfoundationusa.com/. They received a truck shipment full of gifts and food for their patrons this morning and needed help unloading it. I spent the morning working alongside some regular volunteers and the organization’s director, Linda. It was good to connect with them and to be able to offer more services to the single moms we minister to at Mercy Ministry. I look forward to staying involved with Bethel Foundation.

Day 353 - June 6

I served at the Edmond Campus of LifeChurch.tv recruiting volunteers for our One Prayer Micro Mission opportunities during the month of June. If you want to get involved, read more about them here: http://edm.lifechurch.tv/blog/post/mission-partners-2009.

Day 354 - June 7

Spent the morning at the Edmond Campus again recruiting volunteers for the One Prayer missions. It’s so good to see so many people ready to step up and serve the less fortunate or those in need.

Day 342 - May 25

Had a group of the wives of the Edmond Campus of LifeChurch.tv over for dinner tonight. We had a great night of conversation and laughing. I definitely count myself blessed to have these amazing women of God and pastor’s wives to call friends.

Day 343 - May 26

We had our LifeGroup meeting tonight and we were all planning meals for our friend who is having surgery next week. I love that our LifeGroup can get together to take care of each other. I also grabbed a Papa Murphys pizza to benefit Kennedy Stearns to share with our LifeGroup. Kennedy is a little girl in the church who is battling Leukemia.

Day 343 - May 27

Served during the first part of Switch tonight while Ryan was busy organizing the night. I am excited to get to play a very small role in leading these kids to become fully devoted followers of Christ.

Day 344 - May 28

We had the opportunity to join with other staff to serve our senior pastor, Craig, by sitting in the auditorium while he recorded two messages. He’s taking time off to be with his family - one week for family camp, so cool - and he expressed his appreciation for our help allowing him to do that. What a guy!

Day 345 - May 29

Ryan and I attended a wedding for two friends who are creating a brand-new family together. It was so exciting seeing them finally get married after a long engagement. The bride was beautiful, the reception was fun and we really got a chance to celebrate all the amazing things God is doing in thier lives. We took a gift and prayed and offered some advice about married life. Had a lot of fun with our friends.

Day 346 - May 30

I was able to get a painting started for a friend. Her little girl is about 4 years old and she’s started a French theme in her bedroom. I’m adding a wall mural with her initial and some Fleur de Lis. It will be very cute.