I stepped out on a limb today. I went and sat at Starbucks with my venti–one bag Refresh, one bag Zen–tea, information about church, a prayer of confession, and ashes. And I waited.

I read my bible. Psalm 51. And promptly got ash all over it. And I waited. And I prayed. The first people came about 7:05. And we prayed. And people watched us. Slowly they asked questions. So I handed them cards with explainations and prayers of confession. This continued for two hours. I gave about 75 people I knew ashes. I gave ashes to babies and mothers and grandfathers. I gave ashes to teenagers who drove themselves to come and recieve. I even went in the mirror and gave ashes to myself! People watched, and asked. People saw that we were penitent. People saw that ashes were so weighty that they brought some of us to tears. People saw that we hugged and loved eahc other. They saw that we weren’t perfect. They saw us being the church in the middle of Starbucks!

No one I didn’t know asked for ashes, but I gave out many of my cards. I told them what it was about, and asked if I could pray for them. It was a powerful morning. So powerful that I’ll go to a different Starbucks this afternoon and give some more out. Then we will worship together at 7 pm. I imagine I’ll give some people ashes twice! And I love the thought!

Why do we do ashes? Maybe the blessing I’ve been reciting all morning might help you. It might explain it a little better.

Lent is a journey. A time where we stop, reflect and find ways to get closer to God! Ashes on our head remind us that we are broken, but that Christ can make us whole. They remind us that the cross on our head isn’t nearly as important as the one in our heart. The one by which Christ names us and claims us. And ashes remind us that one day, we too will be ashes, but that we believe and love a God who has overcome even ashes. Now, “Repent and live the gospel.”

I am covered in ashes. In my ashes and in their ashes. And reminded that none of us is perfect, but Christ is. I am thankful for today. Thankful for the ashes, and for Jesus who rises from them!

Blessings!
Emily

What a wonderful night of questions on Saturday! I pray they keep coming! Last week was, “Why doesn’t God come down and end all suffering?” Then we asked lots of your own questions. Check the Facebook page for more dialogue on questions this week!

Tomorrow (today?) starts Lent. Maybe its a tradition you aren’t familiar with–but its a 40 day journey from now until Easter. Tomorrow begins a journey toward the cross. Toward the empty tomb. Toward Christ. Some people give things up for Lent. Others take things on. I challenge you to spend some time today and examine your life. What is keeping you from God? What is separating you from a closer relationship? What can you do in the next 40 days to make a meaningful difference in your relationship with God?

Some people might give up extra TV and spend that time helping others. Or spend an extra 10 minutes cuddling with their kids to remind them how much God loves them. Some might give up soda or sweets in order to remind themselves to fight temptation while others might eat an extra sweet a day to remember how sweet God’s love is. I’m going to be intentional about taking a Sabbath day every week to spend time in prayer and rest! What will you do?

Lent begins tomorrow (today?) with Ash Wednesday. Tomorrow, I will be at the Starbucks on Wade Green Road from 7 am to 9 am imparting ashes. Then we will gather as a community to worship in the Sanctuary at 7 pm.

Why do we put ashes on our heads anyway? Because ashes remind us that we all sin need repentance. Because ashes remind us that death is a part of life–and someday we will all die. Because it is a sign of mourning and penitence. Because ashes connect us to each other–other Christians, other generations, other people suffering. Because it marks the beginning of a season walking towards Christ’s death and resurrection.

Lent ends with the Holy Saturday Vigil on April 7th. This will be a BIG night at Revive. We will be remembering our baptisms, preparing ourselves for Christ’s resurrection on Easter, and bringing in any members that wish to join! Its going to be a powerful night of worship using themes and rituals begun in the early church!! Make your plans now to be there!

I pray during this time you’ll journey with me closer to the heart of God! Let us take this journey together!

Blessings!
Emily

Saturday was a powerful day. I was amazed at how many people were touched by God’s moving in our space. I am thankful for all who came, and especially for God who cries with us when we grieve and laughs with us when we rejoice!

After service a few people came and shared some stories with me that I think need to be heard. Several people shared that they rejoiced when people died for they saw that their loved ones were able to go home to be with Jesus. We did not emphasize that at all. But this is a very true and real feeling. Sometimes, when we lose people we are able to celebrate with them a “homegoing”. Some traditions even don’t have “funerals”. Instead they have “homegoings”. This is important to remember as we talk about the many faces and experiences of grief.

But not everyone feels this. Sometimes, those who are grieving sit and can’t understand or feel God’s love. They know they should, and feel guilty for sitting out while others are rejoicing. Someone shared with me, the importance for those people to just put one foot in front of the other. That when you don’t feel it, when you can’t get up, when you feel lost, that just continuing on in the shuffle toward the goal of love and life and happiness and God is sometimes enough. That someday you will look back and realize that you’ve journeyed far and gotten closer and closer to the goal.

Its clear that we all grieve differently. In the same way, we all interact with God differently. It was such a blessing to be able to grieve and celebrate and cry and love with you all on Saturday nights. We worship together at Revive so that we can uplift so many of those different beliefs and styles. I am so blessed that we can worship together in our own ways. Thank you for blessing me with the chance to lead you–in our journey to God’s heart!

I’ll leave you with a song that makes me smile. I hope it makes you smile too!

Blessings!

Emily

God is amazing. Simply amazing. I don’t think I say that enough. Its amazing how God guides and leads and directs my paths. That the things in my life that I know will be the end of me are actually the beginning of such wonderful things. That the places I see as failures are are actually just amazing ways for God to work. That the things I see as my greatest successes sometimes end up being less than a blip on the radar.

A few weeks ago I came across this prayer, and its been one that I’ve used every day (every HOUR!) since. “God, use even this.” “God, I know bad things are happening outside of my control. I know I am not perfect, and I do more right than wrong. I know that things aren’t what I want. But God, use even this. God, use even this offering. God, use even this flawed body. God, use even this broken life.” When I try to control. When I try to perfect. When I try to put myself and my yearnings above God.

And since then things have been far from perfect. I have watched people have to bury their parents, their children, and sit in hospital rooms. I’ve watched people struggle to make ends meet and wonder where their next meal would come from. And I prayed, “Lord, use even this.”

I’ve made bad choices. I’ve said things that have hurt people. I’ve dropped the communion bread and cited the wrong scripture and done evil where I should have done good. And when I was done asking for forgiveness, I prayed, “Lord, use even this.”

See, sometimes we have to clean our our junk. Find new ways to love. To deal with drama and trial and heartbreak. But I believe that God can use even the worst things for good. I believe the sun will comeout tomorrow. And that God loves us even when we can’t see him. Faith is taking the first step, even when we don’t see the whole staircase.

Are you worried? Fearful? Frustrated? Lonely? Depressed? Then, lets all pray together, “God, use even this!”

Blessings–Emily

Happy New Year!

We celebrated the New Year at Revive by drowning the impending armies (See Exodus 14:21-29) and by lighting candles of hope for the New Year! It was a wonderful time together to reflect on our lives, our relationship with God and more!

But now, its the New Year, and its time to re-examine ourselves. That’s where our new Series–Storage Wars comes in! We will be cleaning out the JUNK for what’s Important.

So, ask yourself–what JUNK is in your life? Where in your life do you need to do some Spring Cleaning? In relationships, in attitudes, in your house, in your own body? Where do you need to make space for God to work? For good to come in? For change to happen?

We will examine stories from at least six different people and see how God has worked and still is working in their lives. We will see how scripture speaks to their lives and to ours. We will sing songs, pray, and meditate on how we, like them can work toward solutions.

More, we will then move to ask the question, once we clean out the junk–what are we making room for? What can we NOW do that we couldn’t before. What is there space for in our lives now that used to be taken up by the junk?

One element of this will be a clothing drive for . Most of us have clothes lying around that no longer fit us, or we don’t wear. So why not start by cleaning out our closets and blessing others. Do you have extra clothes? Bring them with you to service Saturday night! (Along with your favorite soup for !)

So excited to start this journey together. I’ll leave you with this last teaser–the bumper video–the piece of video that will get us ready to really worship! (Thanks !)

Blessings!

Emily

Storage Wars Bumper Video from REVIVE WORSHIP on Vimeo.

I can’t believe tomorrow is Christmas Eve!

Come join us for candles, communion, carols, and Christ. It is going to be an amazing time of worship! And don’t worry, we’ll have coffee, cookies, and care as always!

And we’ll sing Tim’s favorite song:

HA! Its actually more like this one: (Don’t worry, we’ll have both!)

See you at 6 pm!

Blessings!
Emily

So, this is the week I’ve been waiting for! Not because its the last week of our series (although when you do a four month series, honestly, its time!), but because its my FAVORITE image of God.

We started this series to be sure that we didn’t get stuck in a rut. Too often we have one image of God stuck in our heads and we never look outside our own boxes! This was an exercize to look at God OUTSIDE our own boxes. We challenged each other. We prayed. We sought after God.

But, truth be told, I love the image of God as love. That God loves me so much that I can’t help but love others. That when I love others I can show them God’s face. That I can spread love in the world.

But I do wonder sometimes whether my love for this image limits me. Whether I forget God’s jealousy or power when all I see is love. I wonder if in the same way that others limit God by focusing on his all-knowing or all-powerful nature, if I limit God too. For remember, The fullness of love is defined by God, but God’s fullness isn’t defined by love. God is bigger.

So, How does God love you? How is God love to you? And, how are you loving others? How are you reaching out into this world for Good?

Those are questions we will be looking at. Dealing with. Discussing! Bring your questions and comment and warm clothes! (Don’t forget, we’ll be caroling immediately after service!)

Can’t wait to see you. God loves you–so do I!

Love and Blessings!
Emily

I mean to post at least twice a week. But on weeks like this, I get side tracked. I’d like to give you all my great excuses, but they aren’t worth a “hill of beans” as my grandfather would have said. My life has been full–but so has yours!

What a wonderful day on Saturday. We examined what it meant to be saved. What it felt like to be saved. And we answered the question–”When were you saved?”–Well, when Jesus was here! I left tired, as always but excited. Excited that I was closer to the savior than ever. Excited that we all experienced God together. Excited about how wonderful God is and how I trust in a savior who assures me that I am saved.

But then the rest of the week happened. I got caught up in Christmas and work and people. I somehow forgot. I let that excitement dissappear.

And then I heard this song. And I stopped. And I prayed again the prayer I pray so much, “God, give me your heart, your eyes, your mind. God clear out everything that isn’t you. Save me from myself.”

I hope the song means as much to you as it does to me. I hope it reminds you that God is in control. Always saving. Always loving. Always moving. Take a minute to get closer to him. Take a moment to love him. Take a moment just to be assured that you are saved.

Blessings–
Emily