So while our growth has been at 102% over the past year and a half the best part of the story is the lives being changed.  I hear the stories all the time of how we're blessing people in need, how God is touching hearts and lives, and how people are being challenged toward obedience and greater faith. 

One woman said it this way in a recent email.

"I am amazed at Lakeland's kindness and compassion for my situation.  My prayer is strong and my hopes are high."

Another man shared his appreciation toward Lakeland by saying...

"Thanks for helping me with the gift from the church for my electric bill.  Some unexpected things happened and I am thankful for your assistance and willingness to help a newcomer. I felt quite uncomfortable asking but my need was great.  I am striving to give back to God what He did for me through your help in the matter."

Whether it's practical physical needs or spiritual needs, God is meeting them through the generosity and church body at Lakeland.  It's such a joy to be a part of great Kingdom work.  If you're on the outskirts of what God is doing, I invite you to jump in and join the fun...I just love it and look forward to more of it. 

http://youtu.be/jgFU5Ak88-k

However as I listen in I’m utterly depressed by their conversation.  These two are about on par with what we might think the typical talk would be at the local ladies Salon.  These two are as good as any of the best gossipers out there.  They talk about the local elections and those running.  They talk about all the dirt they know about the candidates.  They analyze, pick apart the positions, and degrade. 

My heart breaks…is this all these guys have in life?  To talk local gossip, to plan and coheres one another to their position on a city board member. 

I just can’t help think…how sad.  That at the end of these guys lives this is what their collective experiences, knowledge, and wisdom is producing. 

I know the starting place is going over there and telling them about Jesus, that they might know and understand that life is not about these petty issues but about a great King who loves them and has great purposes for them…(which I did end up doing)

But for those of us who call ourselves “Christians”, we have the best news on the planet, we represent a Kingdom that brings life, restoration, and world change.  This morning I too met with a group of men, however our conversation was about being better husbands, better dads, trusting in the Lord more than our jobs, making life long impacts, etc…When I’m old and grey sitting around a table drinking coffee with some comrades I pray our conversation will still be about what we are doing to love our wives, still impact our kids and their kids, introduce people to Jesus, perhaps solve world hunger, reverse the divorce rate, you know…something a little more Kingdom-minded.   

Lisa’s response:

While I whole-heartedly resound with the author's very raw sentiment and have experienced the same, I think that is the "nose to the grindstone", "head-down" perspective.  It's what you write at the end of a hard day.  I think that women of young children (particularly those who don't have kids in elementary yet) read this article and feel great camaraderie in their weariness and frustration.  They feel like, "Phew, glad I'm not the only one."  I have had those days.  Days that usually end in tears.  Days where you sit on the end of your bed at the end of the day and pray that God would erase the horrible imprints you made on their impressionable souls.   You pray that He would blot out the destructive words and the frightening tone.

I am only a few years on the other side of having a slew of preschoolers at home.  I have 5 in school now and already feel that time is slipping through my fingers at a faster rate than my ability to catch and treasure these moments.  Already I would say to young moms, "Treasure the time".   I truly believe there is more joy to be found than just seizing little moments, much more.   I think the aim and trajectory is all wrong.  If we only strive for "good enough for me" we have missed the mark, His mark.  If we for a minute think or believe that child-rearing is to be enjoyable every minute or full of hourly magical moments, we are sadly misinformed.  Mothering, serious 24/7 discipling, is purposeful.  I totally agree with the author when she proposes that if you are doing it (parenting) right, it is hard.  I would add excruciatingly, self-sacrificing hard.  Joy, though, true joy found in mothering, is knowing all our efforts will produce something beautiful.  Something greater than we can even comprehend. 

When I brush my teeth every day, I do not enjoy it.  However, I daily enjoy the fact that I don't have cavities.  I don't have pain, drills, etc. entering my mouth.  That gives me great pleasure.  When I exercise, I likewise do not enjoy it.  I nearly loathe it.  However, I love to be healthy and able to fit comfortably into the clothes that I love.  I do not love changing diapers, stopping fights, disciplining my children and doing 11 loads of laundry per week.  However, I love knowing that I am raising lovers of Jesus.  I love knowing that one day I will see great, eternal fruit for my labors.  That is where I find enjoyment.

We have to remember these older women saying to us, "It goes by fast, treasure every minute." are on their way back down “Everest”.  Of course their climb up “Everest”, the phase of motherhood where you have your kids at home, was a difficult climb for them as well.   This new phase of motherhood can be a long and lonely walk down.  She has an emotional descent in front of her.  This older woman has released her children from her constant supervision.  Upon releasing her children she turns to head down.   She is now able to see what she never could have seen on the climb up.  She is now above the "motherhood cloud" line.  She is able to see clearly.  Think clearly.  Breathe easily.  She knows she will never return to that 24/7 "Everest" again.  She will have to reinvent herself.  She will spend years redefining her role as mother to grown children.  Her mission that consumed her for 18+ years is now changing once again.  She hopes she has done enough.  She prays that her kids will be successful in life.   All these thoughts are churning in her mind as she heads down.  She is savoring every moment she can remember of her climb up.  This is where she meets you on the mountain as you are struggling with your climb.  She could say to you, "Boy, that was the crappiest climb ever.  It only gets worse.  Just wait until they are in Jr. High and High School.  They will hate your guts.  Right now you are physically weary, but as they get older, that morphs into emotional weariness, brace yourself."  What kind of encouragement would that be!   That is not what you want to hear when you are already struggling to take one step.  You are at the point of no return.  No giving up and heading back down.  You don't need a pity party.  Not productive.  So she says to you the one thing heavy on her heart, the thing we as young moms hear over and over.  She says to you with a little empty ache in her soul, "Enjoy every minute.  It goes by fast".  Not out of ignorance, optimism or self-righteousness, but awareness and wisdom.  She possesses the clarity of a different vantage point.  What she doesn't say, but is probably thinking is, "I wish I would have."   If in frustration you throw her off the mountain, you might miss the encouragement that God has strategically placed along your climb.  He can use that moment to cause you to slow down and take a breath.  Perhaps laugh at the ridiculous moment you are trapped in.  He can use it, only if your initial reaction isn't an offended heart fueled by pride and insecurity.  When you hear the older woman's voice, say to yourself, "That's right."  If it is the most common theme, the most common phrase we hear from other women, it is probably right and probably very true.  Say to yourself, "That's right".  Use that cue, every time you hear it to take a deep breath and drink in the moment.  Take that brief pause to refocus on your purpose, to make disciples of Christ. 

Last fall, Josh and I were able to go to a conference together.  Lyla was just 3 months old.  I was very weary.  Fully enveloped in the "motherhood cloud".  Honestly a little depressed.  Lyla is my 7th child.  I only wanted 3, prevented the other 4 in fact, to no avail.  I always wanted to sing.  I wanted to be on stage somewhere, but I found myself drifting farther and farther away from my dream because of the demand of 7 kids.  People often say to me, “You must be such a great mother because God has given you so many children.”  I know I'm not a phenomenal mother and have really questioned God’s wisdom in blessing me with so many kids.  I truly believed that I could be so much more effective for the Lord if I were able to pursue my dream of singing.  If I'm totally honest, I'd have to say that I was a little resentful and frustrated with God who was allowing this to happen.  So the weekend of the conference I was looking for the Lord to strengthen me.  To touch me again in some way.  I was eager to see what He would do. 

Kim Walker got onstage and told us about a dream the Lord had given her.  She had been asking God to show her what He was thinking when He created her.  What a great question!  What did my Creator have in mind when He was creating me?  In her dream, God tore a chunk of his heart out and started molding it like clay into Kim’s image.  God took this clay “Kim”, put her into a musical jewelry box and closed the lid.  When He opened it, she heard herself singing and dancing in worship to the Lord.  God began singing, dancing and laughing over her, just absolutely delighted with her.  I loved that and wanted that exact same dream for myself.  I wanted God to show me that He created me to sing for Him too.  I forgot one very important thing about my God.  He is a creator and not a duplicator.  He does not make copies or prints.  He only produces originals that bear the tender imprints of His hands.  Of course the answer to my question couldn't be the same as Kim’s.  I started praying for God to show me what He was thinking when He created me.  I was praying and asking constantly.  Day after day, nothing.  No encouragement, nothing.  I was getting angry and started using God’s own Word against Him.  "God you said if I would seek You with all my heart I would find you.  You said that if I ask it will be given.  If I seek, I will find.  If I knock the door will be opened.  God You said that you know how to give better gifts than earthly fathers.  I'm asking You to show up and You aren't!"  I had just about given up, just about decided that I really didn’t want an answer anyway.   I was expressing my frustration to my husband and he reminded me to persevere...keep knocking.  So I kept asking.  Still nothing.  Then one afternoon the Lord gave me a vision.  I've never had one before and almost missed it because it happened so fast.  Vision sounds a little "crazy" and I wasn't even sure how I felt about that.  It was just like a moving photograph.  It was a picture and nothing was happening, but things were moving slightly.  There was, however, so much emotion attached to this "picture".

 I was in a super green, lush grassy field.  There were beautiful trees that were waving in the breeze.  It was beautifully sunny and the air was fresh.  I felt so excited.  I was aware that an epic battle or war was about to take place, but I wasn't fearful at all.  Rather, I was amped and ready to go.  There was great anticipation and eagerness a little like, "This is it!  It all comes down to this moment.  Let's go!"  I became aware that I was holding someone's hand.  I turned to my left and saw Josh standing right beside me.  This thrilled my soul.  He had the same enthusiastic look on his face.  Right before my mind pulled out of the vision, it was like the camera zoomed out and I could see that Josh was not right next to me, but he was at the end of a long line of adults all holding hands.

Back in reality, Josh and I were headed into a restaurant to eat.  I was analyzing the picture over and over and was consumed with frustration that these adults in the vision were separating us!  Whatever battle we were entering, I didn't want to do it without Josh by my side.  I sat for a few minutes trying to remember the faces in order to determine if they were church people.  Well, that thought just made me even more frustrated.  There is no way I'm letting church people get between us!  As hard as I tried, I couldn't recall the faces clearly.  Just that they were a robust bunch of young adults, 20 to 30 years old, men and women.  I decided that rather than getting upset I would let it go, assuming that this was not from God (because I didn't like it).  Right before I was going to release the picture forever, I mentally screamed, "Who are these people?!"  That is when I felt God say, "They are your children."  I was immediately flooded with great joy and wonder.  God had given me what I asked for.  What He saw when He was creating me was a mother of an army of His soldiers, His mighty warriors.  Our family, hand in hand, eager and ready to enter into His Kingdom battle.  He saw the culmination of all of my efforts as a mother.  God had given me a small glimpse into the future.  All of a sudden motherhood meant something more.  Not survival, not seizing the little moments, not loving every minute, but obedience and perseverance.  So, on the weary days and sleepless nights, I purposefully recall that picture to mind.  Not that I love and enjoy every single moment, but I love that every single moment has eternal potential and every single moment leads up to a battle line.

I firmly believe that if you aim at nothing you'll consistently hit nothing.  If I only aim at survival, I'll hit it.  One day, I could stand at a college dorm door with my son and say, "We made it.  I survived and you survived.  It was terribly difficult, but we had our good moments.  I hope you're ready.  Good luck!"  However, it is my intent to stand at that door, hold my son's man-face and say, "You are ready for this.  I taught you as a toddler to be obedient.  I taught you as a child to make wise decisions.   I have taught you to seek and love righteousness.  I have taught you to hear the voice of God and obey it above everything else;  above your friends, your teachers, even me.  Now go, bring His Kingdom everywhere you go.  See you ‘round the battle line."

It had me (Josh) crying the first time she read it to me...I knew she had to share it...and of course she's free for speaking engagements.  She really knows how to knock it out of the park.

Psalm 33:  ¹³ The LORD looks down from heaven
      and sees the whole human race.
 ¹⁴ From his throne he observes
      all who live on the earth.
 ¹⁵ He made their hearts,
      so he understands everything they do.
 ¹⁶ The best-equipped army cannot save a king,
      nor is great strength enough to save a warrior.
 ¹⁷ Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory—
      for all its strength, it cannot save you.

 ¹⁸ But the LORD watches over those who fear him,
      those who rely on his unfailing love.
 ¹⁹ He rescues them from death
      and keeps them alive in times of famine.

 ²⁰ We put our hope in the LORD.
      He is our help and our shield.
 ²¹ In him our hearts rejoice,
      for we trust in his holy name.

How often do you try to solve the problem on your own?  How often do you contemplate and strategically try to put together a plan to win or succeed?  Not that plans or strategies are bad by any sense…but do we understand that God may have greater purposes for our lives and He will bring His plans to fruition.  The Psalm talks about the reality that the best equipped army cannot save a king.  Meaning, no matter what opposition you might be facing, God is bigger than it.  God can frustrate the plans of those with the greatest plans.  We have a God who will win the victories that He wants won for His kingdom.  He has the ability to shift the resources of this world in whatever way He wants…do we fully put our hope in Him?  Do we really trust fully in Him or are we trying to win the battles on our own?

Lakeland, my prayer is that we stay perfectly in step with Him and watch Him win the impossible battles and show us the amazing victories.   

Just last week I met a woman who infomed me she and her family had been attending Lakeland for a couple months now and her husband is just coming alive in his questions about God and this "Christian life" we live.  In short, she said, "my entire family has been changed, it's like they're all waking up."

All I have to say is Go God Go....Go Get Em.

To highlight a few groups...we've got a couple men's groups.  One that meets Thursday nights 7pm, and "Man Up" which meets Saturday's at 8am.  Women's groups...one on Monday nights 7pm and one on Wednesday mornings 9am.  Celebrate Recovery which targets supporting one another as we work through our hurts, habits, and hang-ups, on Friday's at 7pm.  A prayer group that meets to truly engage in the spiritual battle and take ground for the kingdom on Saturday's at 7am.  And a home group study that is meeting for 5 weeks on Tuesday nights at 6:15pm...at the end of the 5 weeks those involved will launch into home groups moving at their own paces.

The point is this, you've got to have others in your life.  As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.  I always encourage people to find the group that is most useful to where they are right now in life.  Don't join three groups, just find one group...but the point is find one, connect, take the next step in your journey. 

This is a video from my previous church when I had taken a team there. 

http://vimeo.com/6167308

Lakeland is enjoying watching God bring dead things to life…come be apart of it.