Has it really been that long?

For real? For real? I can't believe I lost wrote on the blog in 2011. I told you I go through seasons of posting. A lot has changed since I last wrote. The most important change has been an addition to our family. In May, 2012 we welcomed Mack into the Bailey household. He is now 8 months old and we fall more and more in love with him each day. He loves his big brother. He wants to be with Judah all the time. He also loves to eat, and it quite the chunk-munk. He is a big boy! Very healthy!

Back in November 2012, I joined a social media bible study with 12 other woman from all over the USA. It has been a great opportunity for me to dive deeper into God's word. More than anything, it has been a great accountability tool for me. These women, who I have never met, have blessed me with encouragement, prayers, and friendship. In January we started a new study. It is a seven day/week study. Our leader wrote to us at the beginning that it would be different because it was a 7 vs 5 day study. Then she said, "but we aren't supposed to take time off from God's word anyways". And just like that a light bulb went off. I will admit...in the 18 years I have been serving Christ, I have almost always taken time off from the word (vacation time, weekends, laziness, etc.). So I made a commitment to stay in God's word seven days a week. I asked my teens to join in the fun with me. I started a secret group on facebook for them to post daily what they have been reading in the Word. I have posted everyday for 23 days. For the first time in my life I have read God's word for 23 days straight! I know I am a youth pastor and all, but I pray I am not the only one brave enough to admit that?

Just this week I was reading Psalm 86:11,
"Teach me your way, O Lord,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name." (ESV)

I was writing away in my journal and it wasn't until the very end that I went back to re-read the verse. FEAR popped off the page and quickly caught my attention. Suddenly the whole scripture began to speak volumes to me. God's Word always flows at the perfect time in life. It is because His word is His active Voice. He is ALIVE and so is His Word!

This scripture (or I will call it my new prayer), ask for the Lord to teach ME His ways so that I can walk in truth. Then it ends with "unite my heart to fear your name". Why does my heart need uniting? Because I have a tendency to put my focus, attention, time, love, hunger, passion, etc. into things other than God. God needs my whole heart, not just a part of it. He needs me every day, not just 5 days a week. He needs my whole heart to focus on Him. When I fear the Lord I will have wisdom. When I have wisdom I will know how to walk in the way of truth. How do I know that? Proverbs 1:2-7 tells me:
"To know wisdom and instruction,
to understand words of insight,
to receive instruction in wise dealing,
in righteousness, justice, and equity;
to give prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the youth-
Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
and the one who understands obtain guidance,
to understand a proverb and a saying,
the words of the wise and their riddles.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction." (ESV)

But how do I have the fear of the Lord? By standing in His presence! And I do that by not taking breaks from Him and giving Him my whole heart every day!

America

This seems more like a title for July 4th, but I've been thinking about America a lot these past two weeks. Last week, my mother and I drove down to the boonies of North Carolina in search of our history. I am a genealogy freak. I love love love to research my family history. My mother and I have been working on this project for several years now (she has been working longer). I spend most of my time researching the "Corbett" crew and she often focuses on the "Marks" (her maiden name). My American history begins in the 1700's when Thomas Corbett came from Scotland to America to settle down. He and his brother in law donated land in Ivanhoe, North Carolina to erect one of the first Presbyterian Churches in the state (1745ish). This little town sits nicely on the Black River of Eastern North Carolina. At one time, Ivanhoe was known as "Corbett's Ferry". Ivanhoe is no longer a bustling small town. It has been dead for many many years. There is an emptiness when driving through the area.

On Monday, my husband, son, and myself drove to Wrightstville Beach for the day. We took 117 South from Wilson to Warsaw. It is definitely a more entertaining drive than I-95 and I-40. You pass through several small towns along the back country roads. Repeatedly you can see where small town America died. Almost all of these areas have an old railroad track (some are still used). The railroad doesn't perform the same function from 50 years ago. So the town died. It reminds me a lot of when dinner time was an actual family event that everyone participated in. I have a theory that part of America's demise is the moment when dinner time at the table became obsolete. (we'll save that for another post).

There is a lot to be said for knowing where you came from and maintaining a close connection with family and community. We don't do that well enough anymore. We live in the hustle and bustle of big city life. We like things shiny, new, fast, and on the go. We have lost the feeling and purpose of small town America. When I use this term an image pops in my mind. It reminds me of community churches, schools, neighborhoods, playing softball with my neighbors until 10 pm every summer night, values, morals, hard workers, incredible local food, etc. I yearn for that feeling of being tightly connected to my family and community. Perhaps this is why some of my favorite movies include "The Sandlot" and "Fried Green Tomatoes". I know, odd combo of movies. But my point is, we have become so spread out and big that we forget what it means to be truly connected in each other's lives. We have so much independence that I don't have to make eye contact with the individual who grew my vegetables, I just quickly walk through the grocery store. I don't need to stop at the local store and see what's happening in the world today because the internet and TV allow me to view the news in private.

I see so many of my counselee's suffering from depression, my youth drowning in a pool of "no one notices me", and no more eye contact with a passing neighbor. If we were truly connected in life the way small town America used to promote, would these issues be on the rise? Where is your local community? Are you fighting to know your neighbor and be involved in their life? This week, pause for a moment and reflect on your history and what it can teach you. I am hoping that your desire to find an intimate community connection will arise in you.

Parenting

I seem to be having a multitude of exciting opportunities this year. In a few months, I will be hosting my first parenting seminar. YAY!!! This seminar will be focusing on commuincation between parents and teens. It seems fitting to lead this seminar. I am constantly bombarded with parents who are in need of advice in dealing with their teenagers. Likewise, my teens are constantly texting and facebooking me about issues they have with their parents. Sometimes, I just sit back and laugh. Although I make light of the subject, I often witness a deep hurt between both. By the time I am contacted a series of arguments and words have been shared. Most of the time the result is not pleasant. I desire to teach both teens and their parents how to survive the adolescent years with joy, peace, and a biblical perspective.

Every parent and caregiver is invited. You can register for the conference by visiting http://www.fellowship-church.com/ and click on EVENT REGISTRATION under the Calendar.

Cheese...

Definitely not a post about cheese. I am uber excited today that the sneak peak is available for the portico photo shoot from last weekend. These are so much fun! I definitely have some favorites. But, I'll let you decide which one's you prefer them most.

Check them out!

Porch Talk

I'm having way too much fun blogging this week. Don't worry, it won't last. My blogging desires are like snow storms (some light flurries, some blizzards, sometimes a whole winter of no snow).

I wanted to chat a little bit about the portico. I have been asked many times since becoming the official youth leader if I wanted to change the name of this youth group. Nope. Often, I am an advocate for name changes when something new and fresh is on the horizon. But I am attached to this name. I just like. It's different. It means a LOT to me. The portico name came sometime around 2004. It has seen several leaders, volunteers, and students come and go. But all in all, the porch is still standing. I think I like the name so much because of the southern connotation it holds. When I think about North Carolina spring and summer seasons, I often have an image of sitting outside. On my grandmother's porch their are several chairs, hanging baskets, and a swing. It's an amazing porch. So often after a delicious family meal, we will all congregate out there for hours and just talk. It's good porch talk. I love it. I feel warm, relaxed, engaged, and loved. I love to sit on a porch and just swing. No matter how life is going, in those moments it is perfect. I imagine this is a true glimpse of what God desires from us when He says, "be still and know that I am God". I can't help but breathe in His beauty and creation when I am sitting on a porch.

The portico name is a reference to the porch or colonnade that existed in Solomon's temple. It was a place that everyone could hang out at and chat. It was an invitation to gather together just before entering the temple. The people had fellowship on the portico. It was a place to talk and a place to listen. As the weather turns warmer, you will find me outside a lot more. Just sitting in the grass or if I can find a good rocking chair for my new patio, I'll be rocking! I urge you to find your portico. Then invite God over for some porch talk. Let Him talk and you just listen.

Beautiful faces

This past weekend, I invited a college friend to take some group shots of the portico students. How exciting! It was a beautiful day. We spent a little more than an hour playing in the Nashville park, posing on the railroad, and just acting silly. I am excited to see the final results. My friend is an amazing artist, and I encourage you to check her out at http://www.ashleysisk.com/. I personally think you will enjoy reading her blog (especially if you enjoy photography).

As my friend was leaving she commented, "Pam, you have some really good kids here". I responded, "I know". Let me pause a moment and insert that I am by nature sarcastic and lack humility to be funny. This was not one of my humorous moments. I agree 110% that I have the honor and privelage of serving some amazing teenagers. They keep me on my toes and fill my life with a joy that is unexplainable. It is my heaven on earth. Why God entrusted their lives with me, I will never know...but I am eternally grateful. While I will never say they are perfect, I will shout from the rooftops: "THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL". Their hardships, flaws, imperfections, craziness, silliness, devotion, unexpected nature, love, and emotional baggage make them completely human and beautiful. I love them. Through the heart aches, pain, hurt, sadness, joy, prosperity, blessings, and peace I know they have some beautiful faces...

http://www.ashleysisk.com/

Discouraged

Post was actually made on January 13, 2011

It seems sad that my second post on my lovely blog (which is still in the decorating process) would be about discouragement. It is hard for a youth pastor to admit discouragement. It’s like a major sin. It’s taboo. We are supposed to be the joyful type that has everything together at every moment. Sorry, world…we don’t.
I don’t even know if discouraged is the right title for my blog. I just know that I have faced an unbelievable amount of opposition in my current life path in the past two weeks. I must admit that I only like change when I propose it. These new changes do not have me very happy. I have this yucky, edgy, slighty at the verge of a major-emotional-sob-fest feeling. It feels like discouragment.

Yet, as I am writing this, David Crowder is singing on my computer, “how could you be so good to me?” Such a great moment for that song! Why is God so good to me? Little ‘ole me? Despite being at a MAJOR crossroad, God is GOOD. And more importantly, He is good to me. YES ME!

A dear friend has reminded me of Matthew 5 when Jesus taught on the mount. I am not going to say too much at this point, because I have a message to preach to the Portico in a few weeks regarding this passage. YAY for message inspiration in the midst of my discouragement. But in The Message Bible, Matthew 5:3 reads, “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and His rule.” Some moments over the past two weeks I have felt that I am at the end of my rope. This passage elevates me so much! To know that in the middle of my despair and discouragement, there is now more of God and his rule. I want more of you God and more of your Kingdom in my life. Please pour yourself into to me! Let me hear your voice! Let me experience your greatness and glory. Oh how I long for You!