Here's a picture of me and the kids on Easter Sunday.
back left: Kaylan
front left: Stovie
front right: Annabelle
Monday, April 9, 2007
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Easter at Celebration
It's about 6 PM on Easter Evening, and I am sitting here with Kaylan while she finishes up a vocabulary lesson before returning to school tomorrow. A pretty regular ending to an over-the -top, extrordinary, miraculous weekend at Celebration Church! There have been a few times in our church history that have been what I would call "markers," or times when I knew that God was expanding our capacity as a church. This weekend was the biggest by far.
First of all, it was a miracle that the annex was completed and ready to use by this Sunday. As of last night, the floors were still wet and could not be worked on. The last worker left the annex at 7 AM this morning, and workers were here all night Friday preparing the new kids rooms for servicesthis weekend. So many people went above and beyond the call of duty to make this weekend happen -- but it was so worth it.
Secondly, so many people -- over 1,800 -- crossed the line of Salvation this weekend. I know there was so much rejoicing in heaven! Thanks to so many of you for getting behind the vision and really stepping out to invite your friends. I have NEVER seen our church so packed! there were literally people in every single area that had a screen to view -- the lobbies, the network lounge, the classrooms -- and everywhere, people got saved!
Working with Watoto Children's Choir was it's own miracle. To see first-hand what God can do in the lives of these kids was so inspiring. I was sitting in the front row, and all of them were sitting behind me. I heard all their little voices singing, "I am a friend ofGod," and I thought what kind of meaning that might have to them. That God called them friend, and that some of them were literally rescued from the trash heaps. Talk about God putting a new song in your mouth! I hope we will get to have them back.
So, ending the day here, I am beyond grateful. I am incredibly humbled that God would allow us to partner with Him to bring in the harvest. I am filled with wonder, knowing that despite our very best efforts, systems, technologies, and production, if HE does not show up and bring His favor, it all amounts to nothing. I am so very glad that the beautiful Holy Spirit DID show up in every way. I wouldn't miss one step of the journey -- and I'd do it all again tomorrow!
So here's to an amazing Easter weekend. Love all of you. Live Beautifully, humbly, gratefully.
Kerri
xoxo
First of all, it was a miracle that the annex was completed and ready to use by this Sunday. As of last night, the floors were still wet and could not be worked on. The last worker left the annex at 7 AM this morning, and workers were here all night Friday preparing the new kids rooms for servicesthis weekend. So many people went above and beyond the call of duty to make this weekend happen -- but it was so worth it.
Secondly, so many people -- over 1,800 -- crossed the line of Salvation this weekend. I know there was so much rejoicing in heaven! Thanks to so many of you for getting behind the vision and really stepping out to invite your friends. I have NEVER seen our church so packed! there were literally people in every single area that had a screen to view -- the lobbies, the network lounge, the classrooms -- and everywhere, people got saved!
Working with Watoto Children's Choir was it's own miracle. To see first-hand what God can do in the lives of these kids was so inspiring. I was sitting in the front row, and all of them were sitting behind me. I heard all their little voices singing, "I am a friend ofGod," and I thought what kind of meaning that might have to them. That God called them friend, and that some of them were literally rescued from the trash heaps. Talk about God putting a new song in your mouth! I hope we will get to have them back.
So, ending the day here, I am beyond grateful. I am incredibly humbled that God would allow us to partner with Him to bring in the harvest. I am filled with wonder, knowing that despite our very best efforts, systems, technologies, and production, if HE does not show up and bring His favor, it all amounts to nothing. I am so very glad that the beautiful Holy Spirit DID show up in every way. I wouldn't miss one step of the journey -- and I'd do it all again tomorrow!
So here's to an amazing Easter weekend. Love all of you. Live Beautifully, humbly, gratefully.
Kerri
xoxo
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Not So Perfect
Hey, everybody -- just want to thank all of you for your comments. I can't respond to all of them, but I sincerely enjoy reading them. Well, I haven't posted in a few days, and one thing I know about this blogging thing is you have to keep up with it. So here it is, Sunday night, and I am sitting on my couch watching "Barbie: Swan Lake" with Annabelle. Stovie is running in and out to watch the fight scenes -- otherwise he is disinterested -- too girly.
So my big thought of the day is PERFECTIONISM. The dictionary defines "perfectionism" as a disposition that deems anything less than perfect as unacceptable OR a belief that pefection is actually attainable. I just started realizing today how often I procrastinate or put off things altogether simply becuse I can't do it exactly the way I imagine it should be done.
For example -- I want to post pictures on my blog. That's the way Pastor Dino Rizzo does it (www.dinorizzo.com) and I like that. I want to do it too. But I'm having trouble uploading pics. Anyway, Friday morning I went to the gym and when I walked in I saw Meredeth Springer, Lisa Stewart, and Debbie Lindsay there. then Tarik Stewart and James Price walked up and we were all talking about church life. I thought, "How awesome that we can see at the gym the people we work with everyday and we still want to be around each other --- AND talk about work!" I felt so blessed at that moment. I thought it would be a great thing to post on my blog to share with you guys. So we went and found Stovall and took a picture together by the bench press.
Fast forward three days -- no post.Why? Because I couldn't post the picture, and I did't want to do it "half-way." Because I was so caught up in doing it right, I lost sight of the purpose of the blog --- to stay connected. So I am sitting here thinking, how many other ways do I let unrealistic expectations, or perfectionism hold me back... I don't have time to list them here, but trust me, it's too many.
Anyway --- baptism by fire today. Stovall and I were out at OP today and guess who was on video doing the sermon out there? You guessed it! Me! If you've been around me for any length of time you know how much I hate seeing and/or hearing myself on video. I make it the goal of my life to NEVER have to see myself on film. But today I had to sit through 2 whole services and watch myself. You know what? It wasn't that bad. Yes, I made mistakes. Yes there were times I thought, "Ouch, bad camera angle." But overall, I was pleasantly surprised to find that most of my issues were just in my mind, not reality. Again, I thought if I can't do it perfectly, I don't want it on film for everyone else to see. What I realized today is that my mistakes don't stop other people from receiving the word, but if I get caught up in trying to be perfect? Now that could be a serious hinderance on my life! Anyway -- time to tuck the kids on bed. Its' a school night.
Love you girls. Live beautifull, and don't forget about Joyce Meyer on Wednesday!
Love, Kerri xoxo
So my big thought of the day is PERFECTIONISM. The dictionary defines "perfectionism" as a disposition that deems anything less than perfect as unacceptable OR a belief that pefection is actually attainable. I just started realizing today how often I procrastinate or put off things altogether simply becuse I can't do it exactly the way I imagine it should be done.
For example -- I want to post pictures on my blog. That's the way Pastor Dino Rizzo does it (www.dinorizzo.com) and I like that. I want to do it too. But I'm having trouble uploading pics. Anyway, Friday morning I went to the gym and when I walked in I saw Meredeth Springer, Lisa Stewart, and Debbie Lindsay there. then Tarik Stewart and James Price walked up and we were all talking about church life. I thought, "How awesome that we can see at the gym the people we work with everyday and we still want to be around each other --- AND talk about work!" I felt so blessed at that moment. I thought it would be a great thing to post on my blog to share with you guys. So we went and found Stovall and took a picture together by the bench press.
Fast forward three days -- no post.Why? Because I couldn't post the picture, and I did't want to do it "half-way." Because I was so caught up in doing it right, I lost sight of the purpose of the blog --- to stay connected. So I am sitting here thinking, how many other ways do I let unrealistic expectations, or perfectionism hold me back... I don't have time to list them here, but trust me, it's too many.
Anyway --- baptism by fire today. Stovall and I were out at OP today and guess who was on video doing the sermon out there? You guessed it! Me! If you've been around me for any length of time you know how much I hate seeing and/or hearing myself on video. I make it the goal of my life to NEVER have to see myself on film. But today I had to sit through 2 whole services and watch myself. You know what? It wasn't that bad. Yes, I made mistakes. Yes there were times I thought, "Ouch, bad camera angle." But overall, I was pleasantly surprised to find that most of my issues were just in my mind, not reality. Again, I thought if I can't do it perfectly, I don't want it on film for everyone else to see. What I realized today is that my mistakes don't stop other people from receiving the word, but if I get caught up in trying to be perfect? Now that could be a serious hinderance on my life! Anyway -- time to tuck the kids on bed. Its' a school night.
Love you girls. Live beautifull, and don't forget about Joyce Meyer on Wednesday!
Love, Kerri xoxo
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