new beginnings & blank pages...

Ever since our decision to move from California to Atlanta about two months ago, I've been saying : "This is the blankest our pages have ever been." And it's true. We didn't have some master plan and we didn't leave California to come here for a job, nor had we been promised anything. We just knew that we were supposed to step out in faith and that God would write on our pages as He saw fit. The truth is, we've never had an assurance of any of the plans we've made and in that case, it's always been a blank page of sorts. But, before this move, we always had some sort of plan and an idea of how to get it accomplished.

I've loved this blank page journey. It's meant a change of relationships, a redefining of values in our family and our lives, a refocusing of passions and dreams and an increased realization of our total and complete need for the grace and guidance of God upon our lives. We find ourselves actively depending on it every day and clinging to Him (sometimes with a more white-knuckled grip than others) because He's the only constant in an otherwise unknown future.

Here lately, God's graciously written on a few of our pages with the provision of my new position as Director of Passion Kids for Passion City Church. We're so excited! I've loved ministering to kids in all its aspects for many years and have had the privilege of working in several great ministries. One of my favorite parts of the interview process for PCC was when Shelley said to me. "It's rare that people get to start with a completely blank page, and that's what you'll have the opportunity to do here with Passion Kids." And a blank page it is! The building is still under construction and I got to go walk through all of the spaces today. I had chills, watery eyes and excitement as I looked at all of the newness and the places that would soon inhabit the most precious of God's creations. Blank pages. Chances to do something new, something creative, something extraordinary. Chances to dream big, reach high and expect much. Chances to impact, care, invest and love.

My second favorite part of the interview was listening to Louie and Shelley as they cast their vision for Passion Kids. Quite simply, mine is the same. We want kids to meet Jesus. We want to carry the Name to them and in turn, have them surrender their lives to Him and live to carry the Name to others. We want them to learn that it's all about Jesus. We want them to learn about worship and its relationship to justice and we want them to be globally minded. We want to be intentional. In the sense of ministry to children, we're not doing something new and unheard of. We're not in uncharted territory and we're not trying to corner the market on ministry. But, we've got a blank page and we want to be faithful.

All this talk of blank pages is such a reminder to me of another blank page I've been granted and that's the one I've been given in Christ. It's unfathomable to me that the whole reason I'm even getting the opportunity to participate in ministering to children, or to anyone else for that matter, is because I've been counted righteous and been given a completely blank page and clean slate. God looks at me and sees me the very same way He sees His Son. All of His wrath toward my sin was spent when He put His Son through hell on my behalf. He has no wrath left for me and that frees me to serve Him and labor with eternity in mind. I'm grateful that the things I struggle with each day are not counted against me and are covered. I'm exceedingly mindful of the short accounts afforded me by consistent repentance and intentional forsaking of those same things. I'm learning more each day what it means to walk in the grace of that clean record.........that blank page.

I'm looking forward to the day that the kids come in and fill those blank rooms. I'm excited about the opportunity that we will have to invest in them. I'm grateful for the hearts that the Holy Spirit will draw unto Himself. Mostly, I'm grateful for these days of the blank pages. I'm learning that what was once so scary and uncomfortable really just may be some of the best days of all.

peace.