Kerri’s Blog

This month I turn 40. 4-0! There was a time that seemed soooo ancient to me. Not now. Today I can truthfully say that I feel as if I am just getting started on the course of my life’s purpose. I truly believe that the best is yet to come– and I am ready for it!

Something about turning 40 makes me feel like I should do some list-type posts, like “my top 40″ of something or other. But I don’t have 40 of any one thing (except maybe reasons not to exercise). So I am going to do 4 lists of 10. They may not be profound, but they may resonate with some of my friends out there in their various seasons of life. And if not, maybe they will, at the very least make you laugh a bit. And that is a very good thing! So for today:

Ten things I wish I hadn’t worried about so much:

1. What people in high school thought about me.
Seriously, it will not matter after you throw that cap into the air. Don’t get caught up in all the drama.

2. What I was going to “Do with my life.”
What I thought I would do isn’t what I ended up doing anyway. It’s best to keep learning and educating yourself. Be aware of the opportunities around you. Be honest and work hard. Be kind to others. You will be amazed at the doors these simple but timeless values will open for you.

3. My looks.
Jesus was right. You really can’t make yourself taller by worrying. Believe me– I tried.

4. If I would ever get married or who to.
Again, can’t make it happen, and worrying makes it worse–and gives you wrinkles.

5. Whether or not people approve of me.
Great quote from someone I don’t remember: “He who lives by the approval of others will dies by the lack of the same.” There will always be people who don’t approve of me or what I’m doing or the way I’m doing it. Worrying about it keeps me mired in people-pleasing and ineffectiveness.

6. Getting it wrong.
Whatever “it” may be, fear of failure keeps us from trying. Success almost always follows on the heels of multiple failed tries.

7. That I will look like an idiot doing that.
Worrying about looking like an idiot kept me from doing a lot of fun things–dancing, water skiing, playing in the rain with my kids, playing sports for fun, yoga. Everybody looks like an idiot at first –don’t worry about it and go have fun!

8. Getting the house too messy.
Ok, I still worry about this, but I’m a lot better.

9. Wasting time.
Being so time conscious has kept me from enjoying the moment many times. I’ve learned it’s better to be more present in fewer things and that the cram-packedness of my calendar is not a measure of my worth.

10. If I was pleasing God.
I know that might sound a little strange coming from a pastor, but in my early Christian years I spend so much time worrying if I was pleasing God that it robbed me of the joy of my salvation. Prayer time was basically repenting and confessing a list of all the things I thought I did wrong so God could be happy with me. I truly did not understand the fullness of God’s grace. Now that I do understand it, I spend my energy on loving God and learning more about Him. The focus is on HIM–not me!

Kerri
LB xo

Hi, everybody! I trust your last few weeks have been great. All of you in school (or with kids in school) are no doubt gearing up for summer and maybe a little more relaxed schedule. I always look forward to that.

June is a re-calibrating month for me. I always use the summer to do long-range planning and studying. So I am going to take some time off from blogging for the rest of the month and refocus my mind and heart.

I am really excited about the upcoming months and what they are going to bring for the women in Celebration Church. I am working on some strategic developments for ministry to women an just want to position myself for a Holy Spirit download!

So, you won’t hear much from the blogging front for awhile. But just know that my Celebration girls are always in my heart and mind. God has good plans laid out for each of you, so spend this summer pressing into Him. And don’t forget to make room in your world for summer groups!

Love you!
Kerri
LBxoxo

Just letting all of you wonderful ladies that have registered for SHINE after May the 3rd know that there will be a Will Call at all of our Celebration locations at the SHINE booth this weekend. This will enable you to pick up your wrist band (your ticket and entry into the whole conference) and not have to attend Will Call the day of conference.

For those of you that regisitered before May the 3rd we have send out another batch of confirmation letters and wrist bands just this week, so yours will be in the mail if you haven’t recieved it already.

Dont forget if you haven’t yet regestered for SHINE you are still able to this weekend at the SHINE booth and also online at www.shineinc.org

So looking forward to being with you all next week!!!

We loved partnering with Healing Place Church for SERVOLUTION during the two weeks leading up to Easter. I thought you might like to see what we, as a church, accomplished together. So I asked our Impact Director, Jenny Huang, to write a little recap. Here it is — enjoy!

SERVOLUTION story – Sharing the Love of Jesus Through Kindness

Sharon Frazier and her family have witnessed their fair share of violence. For fourteen years as residents in a Northwest Jacksonville neighborhood, the Fraziers have regularly seen or heard gunshots from rival gangs, murders, robberies, and drug deals in the area. Perched at the intersection of two streets across from Eugene Butler Middle School, the Frazier home often witnesses young students involved or hurt in the violence. On Saturday, April 11^th, violence was replaced by kindness.

 A team of more than 100 volunteers from Celebration Church in partnership with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office spent the Saturday morning painting and repairing the Frazier home, along with three other neighborhood houses. The outreach team also painted over graffiti in the area and picked up trash along the streets. The outreach and beautification effort renewed hope for Sharon Frazier and the Eugene Butler community.

 “It takes a good-hearted person to volunteer their time, even on a Saturday, to come help someone else,” Frazier said. “It’s a blessing.”

 Frazier was one of many who experienced the love of Jesus during SERVOLUTION, a weeklong campaign April 3-11, leading up to Easter weekend. Spearheaded by Healing Place Church, SERVOLUTION called on churches from around the world to initiate a radical change of a person’s life through simple acts of kindness and generosity.

Celebration teams from across all campuses and ministries joined in by serving in areas throughout Northeast Florida. Outreaches included a Special Needs Easter Egg Hunt, Jax Beach Homeless outreach, and various other activities serving women in crisis, homeless, and at-risk youth. Celebration Kids and middle school students also joined in by collecting hygiene pack items and socks/underwear for the homeless. It was amazing to see the church rally to share the love of Jesus to those in need!

 A big thank you to all the volunteers and teams for serving! For more info and the full story of the impact of SERVOLUTION, visit www.celebration.org.

 The impact of SERVOLUTION will continue beyond the campaign week – we have regular and new outreach teams who are serving the homeless at Jax Beach, nursing homes, at-risk youth organizations, and the Eugene Butler community. To join in local impact opportunities, visit http://impact.celebration.org. Come be a part of the revolution through serving!

I love Easter weekend, and I’m so expectant about what Jesus is going to accomplish through His church over the next few days! Tomorrow is good Friday, and in the midst of planning to connect and celebrate with family and friends, I can’t help meditating on Isaiah 52:13-53:12. This is the prophetic account of how Jesus would suffer on our behalf. And although I believe that we should not have a morbid fascination with the brutality of His crucifixon, there are seasons and times to meditate on the severe penalty demanded for our sins. How much more are we moved to passion for Jesus when we realize the punishment He bore for our freedom, for our redemption.

So, in that vein of thought, Church, let’s set our hearts this weekend on the One who took our place. Let’s rise up, each in our own way and in our own place, and prepare the house for the arrival of those yet-to-be-redeemed sons and daughters who are thinking of possibly coming home this Easter. Let’s pray, and serve, and love. We will love him best by loving those He sends our way.

Love to all of you,
Kerri
LBxo