I can't get no... satisfaction.

Okay, I don't know how I managed to start with that line, but so be it.

I finished a book today... gods at war by Kyle Idleman. Fitting, considering the Holy Spirit's gentle nudge in the past month that encouraged me to evaluate my own search for contentment. This book was perfect confirmation!

The tagline of the book, reads "defeating the idols that battle for your heart."

As long as we live in this world, we face a never-ending struggle with idols/things/relationships/thoughts, could I even say homes, all vying for our affection. I wrote about this recently in another post. And if not for understanding the nature of the battle, I might even feel condemned about revisiting this topic. But the fact that I'm here again, confirms what Paul says in Romans 7 ... I serve the Law of God with my mind but with my flesh the law of sin. My flesh will continue to seek a perverted satisfaction in even the seemingly good things of this life.

Thankfully, this is no surprise to our creator God, who remembering that we are dust, has much compassion on us. His patience and mercy is great. (Psalm 103). And perhaps most encouraging of all, He will never let us come up successful in this search. One thing we don't have to worry about is screaming, "Score!" in our search for contentment apart from His presence. We will NEVER find true satisfaction in our appearance, in passion, hobby, or profession, in relationships, in being the best mother, or in anything else! By His existence and design, it simply can't happen- and last. If we are leaning in to hear His voice, we will eventually be drawn back to the Daily Bread, to the Well That Does Not Run Dry, to Living Water, to the only One who can satisfy. And when we rest there with Him, we wonder why we ever ran off in the first place.

So it is to Him I give my thanks, for reaching down and saving me, for not leaving me to my own devices, for tirelessly calling me back into His presence, for restoring my soul. Thankfulness for contentment for joy.

O to grace how great a debtor, 
daily I'm constrained to be!
Let that grace now like a fetter,
bind my wandering heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord I feel it,
prone to leave the God I love;
Here's my heart, O, take and seal it,
Seal it for thy courts above.

Final Days

Morbid blog post title, huh? Well, the truth is, all of our days are numbered, but aside from our lifespan, the Hurst family days in The Castle are numbered too. Likely around 40 of them left. 

Our landlord put our house on the market back in the summer. Though grossly overpriced and strange indeed, we knew that the Lord could bring someone along any day to purchase this home. And he did! We will be stepping down from royal status and relinquishing the throne to a new family at the end of January. 

I always find it difficult to say goodbye to a physical space, however, knowing this earth is not our forever home, I don't want my grief to be disproportionate to the truth. I struggle with that. I had a few moments of grief yesterday as my family enjoyed our backyard in the cool evening. We walked through the whimsical row of loquat trees on our way to Uncle Dave's, (our neighbor), and I thought about the numbered times we will do this in the next month. The kids were swinging, I was crying, and it seemed as every memory I have of this yard was surfacing. 

I could go on... and I probably will journal more about my experience here, but for now, I just want to savor my favorite time and place. Almost every morning of the past year I have risen early to start my day here. For whatever reason, God has blessed me with the privilege of such a setting for our time together. I feel so near to Him on this back porch, though I know He is omnipresent. It is in this space he has taught me the importance of Daily Bread. He fills me here to be emptied again. 

Reminding me of newness, I have enjoyed every morning sunrise on this lake. And some mornings I've just had to take a picture! 

(a particularly messy morning.)

Camping with Pops

This weekend we went on a family camping trip with Pops! The kids survived the long car ride to White Springs, Florida, and we arrived excited to explore the camper and settle in... of course... it was 11 o'clock at night! Considering the challenges that come with traveling with an infant, it was a surprisingly relaxing trip, feeling a bit like vacation! Both of the kids were a little sickly, but behold, we came with essential oils and a cabinet full of remedies! I left my phone at home, which ended up being a blessing in disguise. It was the beginning days of Advent, and I loved the mornings alone, undistracted, in the camper with the kids while daddy and Pops were out hunting. We read stories, watched Christmas movies, cuddled, and made breakfast. Sounds like bliss, huh?!

The kids and I got a chance to hunt as well! I hunted alone in a stand (alone? ask me what that's like), Grace Louise joined her daddy for her first real deer hunt (ipad in tow), and Jamesy and Pops rode around on the buggy. On the way back to camp that night we caught wind of a Christmas lights spectacular, complete with Florida snow! So we went! The fun just didn't stop! 

Exploring the campsite with Millie

These kids are clearly from Florida with all their orange eating.

waiting. waiting. waiting.

Hunting with dad.

It's not camping without smores!

Telling Pops where to go.

Catching that Florida snow.

Daddy and his little hunter girl walking to the stand.

The butcher, the baker, the disciple-maker

We love mother goose nursery rhymes in this house. Grace Louise can finish most of the rhymes and admittedly, when I'm reading them aloud, I pride myself in being able to recall them by memory too ;-)

But this post isn't about nursery rhymes at all. It's about making pint size disciples.

Though I have no idea where, I read a wonderful article recently about the ministry of mothers at home with their children. The writer validated the work and calling of moms and spoke against the common assumption that real ministry only happens away from the home. I so needed to read this. 

Every day the picture of my ministry in the home becomes more clear. Before becoming a mother I certainly looked ahead to staying home with my children, though I had no idea what raising them, teaching them, and keeping a home with them would actually look like (messy?).  I wish I could see the picture in my mind 4 years ago. One thing is for sure, I did not know it would be like this. I had it far simplified and far less meaningful. It didn't occur to me that I would be raising up disciples. 

Jimmy and I are responsible for training up (at least) one woman and one man of God to effectively go out into the world and make more disciples of Jesus Christ. If I have given anyone the impression that this life and what I'm doing as a mother is for any other glory, forgive me. I have misrepresented the mission. Everything we do provides an opportunity to intentionally point our children to Jesus or reveal their need for His matchless grace...the way we show love and affection, giving firm and loving discipline, teaching them to think well and deal with life's challenges, to be humble, diligent, obedient, compassionate, and serving. We really have a meaningful task here, moms! A weighty one, worthy of our greatest efforts, intention, and focus. And definitely worthy of being called a full time ministry position.  

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. -3 John 1:4

The end and the beginning

Today was our last day gathering together as CrossRidge Church. Over the past decade, CrossRidge has been a place for people from all walks of life to gather for worship, learning, growth, small group, and community service. And even though it was not part of our plan, CrossRidge became a conduit for the grace and love of God to penetrate our hearts like never before. Five years ago, Jimmy and I approached CrossRidge as visitors coming to share in a dear friend's burden as she grieved the loss of her young husband. We approached as visitors with no intentions of staying because, after all, we were comfortable with our no-strings-attached experience at a much larger church.

God drew us to this small church plant and changed our lives. Our connectedness to the Body of Christ took on a new meaning as we learned to truly share life with the people of our church- the good, the bad, the ugly. Our knowledge and love of the Word grew as we learned to study scripture, and, alongside our church family, applied it to our lives.

Jimmy has served as an elder in our church for the past couple of years, and God has grown him in wisdom and leadership. Every Sunday, along with the worship team, he humbly ushers us into the presence of God with songs, hymns, and spiritual songs. We have made the most precious and authentic eternal friendships here. I learned to teach children in Sunday School just in time- before my own younguns came along. God has used our meager offerings of food and effort and multiplied them to reach our community with His love. I could go on and on about how God has surprised us with good gifts and how thankful I am for the opportunities to serve, learn, and grow with this group of people. I say all of this for the glory of God!

Jimmy eloquently spoke of CrossRidge at our last gathering on Sunday. He mentioned our growth in numbers over the years, and our waning in numbers. He reminded us that God has been in it all... in the coming and going of people, and alas in the remnant who remain, eager to continue on in God's great commission.

I wrote a little about the vision for our new church in a previous post. More can be found at the Awaken Church Florida website. Our first Sunday service together will be in north Lake Wales on February 9, 2014.

So... there are several ways folks can respond to this news.

If you are wondering,"Why ANOTHER church?" 
John Piper writes in one of his sermons,

If somebody falls out of an airplane with no parachute on and you don't have one either, you aren't going to jump out after them. It won't do any good. Two deaths aren't better than one. But if you have a parachute on, you just might try one of those awesome rescue attempts, and free fall like a bullet to catch the helpless and pull your cord. It's the hope of safety in the end that releases radical, sacrificial love now.

Planting a new church is just one release of radical, sacrificial love, propelled by the hope of glory we know we have in the end. Folks are lost around us and we have the map. People are searching and we have the answer. If Awaken Church fills a void and reaches people with the love and truth of Christ... this is why.

If you are a Believer and are not connected to the Body of Christ, come play a part in genuine community as God desires and be a laborer! The field is ripe for harvest and we need folks to join us as the hands and feet of Christ as we embark on this new journey as Awaken Church. Our launch meetings are underway; we are gathering for planning and discipleship each Tuesday evening in downtown Lake Wales. The schedule and details can be found here.

If you are searching for fulfillment and purpose in life, come learn more. Hear our stories, listen to the Word of God, and see how this God we serve is great and faithful, and worthy of our lives.

If you are a Believer and are already connected to the Body of Christ, pray for us and for those we are meant to touch! We do not desire to grow by acquiring existing church members, but rather by spreading the Gospel to those who haven't heard and by providing a place for unplugged Christians to connect and live out eternal life knowing God well. A new church is not competition for an existing church! We are on the same team, Praise God! So get excited about what God is doing all over the place! And please, pray pray pray.

A camping party

Birthday parties are so much fun! But they can be a lot of work, so this year we decided on a low key evening get-together for Grace Louise's 4th Birthday. I somehow thought it would be a little less exciting. Ha! Apparently fun is in our blood, because this camping party was a blast! 

Welcome to...

Birthday girls can pick their nose if they want. While everyone is singing Happy Birthday. Yep. She did.

A few precious friends!

Silly string was a hit!

10:30 PM and jumping naked on the bed. Yep. She did that too!

THANK YOU to all who came to celebrate Grace Louise! Thank you for showing your love with gifts. We are grateful for your presence and willingness to have a little fun with us!

Busch Gardens

When daddy's away the kids (and mom) will play! During Jimmy's annual West Virginia deer hunting trip this year, we took our own mini vacation with CaCa to Busch Gardens! I went there countless times as a kid; it always has been my favorite park. 

This also happened to be the same weekend Grace Louise learned to start off on her big girl bike with no help...

AND got her first make-over by Rachel! Gorgeous!