Union Parents: He just keeps getting out | April 18, 2025

I find that Meredith Miller's  Kids + Faith  Substack posts are filled with absolute gems of truth and this week is no different.  This is the final post in a series she did about Easter.  I'm happy to share the complete six-week series with you, if you'd like to read them all.   He is RISEN! 
--------------

From Kids + Faith by Meredith Miller

Back in the early days of the pandemic lockdown, when we kept at least a fifty foot radius between us and any other humans we might meet, my husband started taking walks. Long walks. Make sure you put your sunscreen on because you’d regret it if you don’t walks. 

He did this especially if he had something he wanted to think about and needed space to turn it over in his head for a while. Because our kids woke up and began to talk and there was noise in the house for the next 13 hours until their bedtime.

One day on said walk, sunscreen liberally applied, he was working on his Easter sermon. (We are both lead pastors of our church.) 

What were we going to do as a church community to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection on tiny Zoom screens from our individual living rooms for Easter 2020? How is Jesus’ life good news when the headlines are filled with stories of death?

He’d gotten about half a block from our house, when this big shaggy dog came bounding past him. No one was around, so he kept walking. But this dog just kept trotting along, and Curtis kept trying to think about Easter, but the dog kept following. He found himself more and more thinking about the dog and where it lived, and what he should do about it, and less and less thinking about Easter. 

Eventually he stopped and looked at the dog’s tag, which fortunately had an address on it of a house that was a couple blocks back and around the corner. He turned around, took the dog back, and as he walked up the driveway, a woman and boy popped their heads out. They said thanks and he went on his way, glad that he could finally think about Easter now! 

But then Curtis started wondering, why did that just happen? Like, it’s not everyday that a stray dog comes following him on a walk. In fact, that hadn’t ever really happened before. 

It felt interesting. Unusual. Unexpected.

Maybe it was just due to the fact that he’d been reading a lot of Jeremiah at the time, a prophet who does things like find deep theological meaning in a tilted pot of soup, but Curtis started wondering whether there might be more there than met the eye, despite generally not being the type to wonder such a thing.

But as he reflected on the whole experience through that lens – what might this have to say to us about Easter? – he kept coming back to the specific words the woman had said when he brought the dog back up the driveway, “He just keeps getting out, and I don’t know how he does it!”
 

“He just keeps getting out,
and I don’t know how he does it!”

That pandemic Easter our church talked about this: the Bible is the story of how God just keeps getting out. 

The forces of death, evil, despair, oppression, sickness, chaos, destruction, over and over think they’ve won, they’ve forced God in, God can’t possibly escape, and then life springs forth again. 

That’s the story of our history as the people of God, and it continues to be. Over and over, even in the darkest of days, God leaves the forces of darkness to grind their teeth and say:

“Life just keeps getting out, and we don’t know how it does it!”

When we see that our God makes life break out, it helps us meet kids with one, an acknowledgement of that death, that its pain is real, and its grief is meant to be felt. And two, a hope that the death can be real, but not the end. Hope becomes powerful, not trite, when we can tell them that God really does understand sorrow and hopelessness and meets humanity there with a real solution.

As you think about the kids you’ll be with this Easter, what one piece of Good News do they most need?

• peace

• seeing God’s true character

• seeing who we really are

• freedom from the power of sin

• justice, and

• life. 

They aren’t the only reasons Easter is good news, but they are all important reasons that go beyond the chance to have a ticket to a future home in the clouds after you die and don’t hinge on the notion that sin must be punished.

So which one does your kid need this year?  Which one do you need?

It's good news that God keeps getting out.  Love is RISEN, indeed!

Union Parents: 5 keys to explain Easter, part 2 | March 13, 2025

Last week, we began looking at Meredith Miller's  Kids + Faith  post explaining some keys to talk to kids about Easter. We will finish this week with the rest of the questions/answers.  This is a longer post, so grab your coffee and dive in.  :)

--------------

From Kids + Faith by Meredith Miller

Here are the 5 key questions and the answers I hear over and over and over, from Easter lessons to Kids Bible stories.

1: What is Easter?

Easter is when Jesus died for our sins.

2: Why did Jesus come?

Jesus came to die because people had sinned and were separated from God.

3: Why did Jesus die?

Jesus died for our sins.

4: What does Easter mean for me?

You can accept Jesus as your savior and invite him to live in your heart.

5: How did Jesus’ resurrection help?

Jesus took the punishment we deserved for our sins by suffering on the cross.
 

Look, I know it’s possible these are the only answers you’ve heard. And I’m not saying they’re wholly untrue or all bad (except #5—that’s both bad and untrue—we’ll get there). 

But these answers often miss the point, they overlook something more important, or they give kids a conclusion instead of inviting them into a conversation.

Let's take each question one at a time, and I'll offer what I think is a better way to answer these questions with kids.

Sometimes it’s because of the substance of the answer. Sometimes it’s because of being as understandable to real human children as we can. Sometimes it’s both.
 

Questions 3-5:
 

3: Why did Jesus die?

TRY THIS: Because Jesus was talking about being king of a new kingdom, the Romans and their king, Caesar, were very upset. They wanted to kill Jesus for threatening the empire.

And because Jesus was talking about God’s kingdom, the religious leaders were very upset. They thought Jesus was not allowed to speak on God’s behalf – to say a new thing was happening. They wanted to kill Jesus for being disloyal to the way they were sure God wanted things.

INSTEAD OF: Jesus died for our sins.

BECAUSE:

1. The phrase “Jesus died for our sins” on its own lacks context, so kids often:

   - Think it was their personal fault. I know that some traditions make a lot out of people wallowing in the guilt of their personal sins holding Jesus up on the cross, but I find this at best disturbing and at worst sadistic. I firmly believe that the better way to set a kid up for a lifetime of trusting Jesus is to make sure they understand the goodness and life he offers us, not that they understand how horrible and guilty they are.

   - It can be over-focused on the individual "for me and my sins" instead of holistic global redemption. I’ve talked before about how the Bible far more often talks about Sin in the singular, as the systems and structures that trap us in cycles of injustice and violence and evil. Yes our individual choices and failures matter too, but they are a subcategory of the bigger Sin. The same is true on the positive side. Jesus’ hope is not that each of us would individually make better choices, but that the whole world would be made new, with new systems that reflect the goodness of God replacing the old ones animated by Sin.

2. This phrase is a conclusion. It’s the end of a line of thinking. We want to invite kids into conversation, not give them conclusions. We want to show our work, so to speak. So it’s not about the truth of the statement so much as the process we could engage instead.

4: What does Easter mean for me?

TRY THIS: Jesus is alive, and we can be friends with him. God dreams of a world that works in a way that matches who God is. Because Jesus is alive, we can join the team that helps make that dream come true more and more.

INSTEAD OF: You can accept Jesus as your savior and invite him to live in your heart.

BECAUSE:

1. Both 'accept' & 'savior' are new vocabulary for many kids.Becoming friends, joining a family or team, or following are all more accessible ways to describe how a person might respond to Jesus.

2. "Living in our heart" is abstract and kids are concrete. The phrase tends to simply not make sense to many kids. (Also, last Easter I wrote about “Jesus in your heart”. You can read it here.)

3. When we focus too much on our individual status before God, on Jesus as only our personal savior, we lose sight of the full invitation Jesus extends to us. Jesus’ resurrection means that the kingdom of God is here, and that we humans are invited to participate in it. We get to partner with God in extending God’s goodness and justice and life to the world we’re a part of, not just sit around twiddling our thumbs and waiting for God to beam us up and out of here.

5: How did Jesus' resurrection help?

TRY THIS: Our world has hard and sad things in it, including death. There’s a gap between God’s dream and what is happening now. The Bible calls it Sin. Sin is just anything that’s not what God wants. But the hard, sad things won’t last forever. Jesus won and Sin lost, all because he's alive!

INSTEAD OF: Jesus took the punishment we deserved for our sins by suffering on the cross.

BECAUSE:

1. Penal Substitutionary Atonement (PSA) is just one of many ways to describe what Jesus does. Many of the other images–like winning victory by defeating death, for instance–are age accessible and easy to help kids find in the Bible.

2. Easter is good news for so many reasons: 

   1. having peace, hope, and God’s presence in the midst suffering; 

   2. giving us purpose for our real lives now, not just a future destination when we die; 

   3. demonstrating God’s true character of love and sacrifice; 

   4. freeing us from the power of Sin; 

   5. bringing hope for justice in a world of injustice; 

   6. and, most centrally, bringing life out of death.
       

Smooshing all these very Biblical ways of talking about Easter into one “punishment deals with sin” shaped box flattens the story into something much less good than it could be.

While many people would tell you that PSA is the One True Way to understand what Jesus did, it isn’t. At the very least, all the images and meanings I just listed need to be part of the story.

1. But beyond that, I would argue that PSA isn’t actually Biblical at all. It only works if you change the entire meaning of the sacrificial system, the entire story of God’s engagement with humanity and the entire character of God Themself.

What is Biblical?

• Jesus died because of Sin. The Bible talks about both the Roman Empire which killed Jesus and the Jewish leaders who handed him over and demanded his death as being driven by Sin. It’s the twin idols of Power and Violence at work.

• Jesus died to free us from Sin. Sin is often talked about like a force that enslaves people, forcing them to go its way. Jesus sets us free and offers us a new path that brings life.

• Jesus died and suffered the consequences of Sin. Sin has consequences, both for us and for the world around us. Anyone who has done lasting damage to a relationship through their own selfishness is aware of this. As is anyone who has seen the news headlines.

  Sin has consequences, effects, forms humanity such that we see and/or experience oppression, broken relationships, violence, fear, and, yes, death. Effect is not the same as punishment for Sin; they are consequences, the inevitable byproducts. Consequences come whether or not there is some person bringing a punishment; they aren’t the same thing.

• God does not require punishment to forgive Sin.

  To use just one example, the prophet Jeremiah had a lot to say about Sin, especially of the idolatry and injustice variety. He had a lot to say about judgment that was going to come in the form of Babylonian armies because of people’s Sin. He made it clear that it wasn’t too late to head off the worst. 

  His solution? Repentance. To turn around and head a different direction, living justly and trusting in Yahweh alone, at which point God would forgive the people freely. No punishment required.

  Medieval kings required death from those who crossed them. (This idea, conveniently, became popular around then. It’s helpful as the king if you can have god be just as violent as you.) Our God forgives freely and repeatedly. 
   

Here’s what I hope for you as a smart, compassionate adult who can think critically through these questions, various theological camps’ responses to them, and such:

I hope that, with kids, you start in a place that is true and at their level. You can always build onto ideas later, adding complexity, depth, and nuance.

I hope you lean into conversation and questions over answers that have to simply be accepted.

I hope you feel confident that Easter need not be the Sunday when kids are expected to feel sad and bad but can rather celebrate that the resurrection means life and joy as just right.

Thank you, as always, for being here.

Union Parents: 5 keys to explain Easter, part 1 | March 7, 2025

We just entered the season of Lent this week, but it’s never too early to start thinking about Easter!

Kathy Foster and I will be using Easter curriculum created by Meredith Miller.  She has developed lessons around 5 key questions that are hard concepts for kids to understand when it comes to Easter. Each week, we will tell the Easter story but also focus on these questions and allow kids to ask their own questions without pat (or downright scary) answers.  

Meredith writes a Substack newsletter called Kids + Faith and I'm repurposing her recent post about the 5 questions. Here I'll share about two of the questions and next week, finish with the other three. 

Read on...

Kids + Faith / Meredith Miller

Hello! I'm SO EXCITED about today's newsletter. While I'm not a kids pastor anymore, I still share a sentiment from that time: it’s never too early to start thinking about Easter!

Everyone is thrilled think about Christmas. Twinkle lights! Babies! It’s all good. Then Easter hits. Violence! Fancy theological jargon about what it means! Less good.

Add to that how many of us were given a heap of theological assertions that we were told are the way to understand Easter. Then we tell kids those answers.

Here are the 5 key questions and the answers I hear over and over and over, from Easter lessons to Kids Bible stories.
 

1: What is Easter?

Easter is when Jesus died for our sins.

2: Why did Jesus come?

Jesus came to die because people had sinned and were separated from God.

3: Why did Jesus die?

Jesus died for our sins.

4: What does Easter mean for me?

You can accept Jesus as your savior and invite him to live in your heart.

5: How did Jesus’ resurrection help?

Jesus took the punishment we deserved for our sins by suffering on the cross.
 

Look, I know it’s possible these are the only answers you’ve heard. And I’m not saying they’re wholly untrue or all bad (except #5—that’s both bad and untrue—we’ll get there). 

But these answers often miss the point, they overlook something more important, or they give kids a conclusion instead of inviting them into a conversation.

Let's take each question one at a time, and I'll offer what I think is a better way to answer these questions with kids.

Sometimes it’s because of the substance of the answer. Sometimes it’s because of being as understandable to real human children as we can. Sometimes it’s both.
 

1: What is Easter?

TRY THIS: Easter is when we celebrate that Jesus is alive!

INSTEAD OF: Easter is when we celebrate that Jesus died for our sins.

BECAUSE: 

1. Good Friday and Easter are two stories--tell them as such. And, Easter is the only one of the two that stands on its own. Good Friday only makes sense, and only means anything, in light of the Resurrection. Jesus being alive matters no matter what. So let’s start with the meaning of Jesus’ new life.

2. On a related note: Good Friday details are for older ages. The story of Jesus’ death is heavy, hard, confusing, disturbing. It requires understanding the evil that comes when people idolize power and violence. It’s steeped in injustice and fear. A kid needs to be older to understand what is going on in it, both because of their emotional maturity and because having a firm foundation in God’s goodness and life are necessary before Jesus’ death can make sense.

3. Jesus’ Resurrection is the most important part of the story. Good people and failed Messiahs were murdered by Rome all the time. The only reason the story of Jesus matters is that he is the only one God brought to life again. It’s the Resurrection, according to the whole New Testament, that changed everything. It’s the thing to celebrate. God’s dream is for life to explode throughout the whole earth; Jesus being alive is the key to it all.

2: Why did Jesus come?

TRY THIS: Jesus came to show us what God is like and say the time had come for God to make all things good. He called it a kingdom, like a place where God was the good king and everything is just as good and lovely as God is.
INSTEAD OF: Jesus came to die because people had sinned and were separated from God.

BECAUSE: 

1. Sin doesn’t separate us from God. We know this because God: directly talks to Abraham, wrestles with Jacob, talks again to Moses, leads Israel in a column of fire and cloud, dwells with the people in the tabernacle and then the temple, and, oh yeah, becomes human and lives among humans for 30+ years. Sin affects us. Sin harms the good creation God created. Sin makes God sad and mad and heartbroken. And even so, God is like the father who watches for his lost son to come home every day, runs to him, and throws a party at his return without the son saying a word. God is like a shepherd who searches for the lost sheep and brings it home. I’m pretty sure the sheep didn’t “pray the prayer” before the shepherd loaded it on his shoulders for the return trip.

2. The phrase “came to die” often causes us to lose sight of Jesus’ life. Jesus didn’t just come to die. He came to live, and in his life he showed us the character of the God we trust and love and follow. A God who cares for the widow and the orphan, the sick and the marginalized, the broken hearted and the lonely. A God who heals us and gives us life. A God of joy and abundance. A God of justice. Jesus came so that we might see the heart of God in the way Jesus lived, not just how he died.  

More next week...we will look at questions 3-5.

We hope Meredith's work will guide your family's journey through Lent to Easter this year. Let us know what you discover. 

Union Parents: Firsts and lasts | February 15, 2025

n the brief window when the recent snow was cooperative enough for sledding, Caden grabbed his toboggan and headed to the biggest hill our neighbored could offer.  Our small "mountain", more like oversize mound, offers anyone who'd like to try enough speed for even a little air at the end.  As I recorded him sliding in the one-inch snowpack, I caught his whoops and hollers as he enjoyed the quick, but satisfying journey down.

I thought to myself, "This might be the last time."  Who knows when it will snow again enough for Caden to sled?  Who knows if he'll want to or will he decide he's too old for that and no longer interested?  It was a thought that gave me pause and I felt the emotions rise.

It's the firsts and lasts that tug at my heart.  The first baby steps. The last day of preschool. The first tooth. The last time a special dress is worn. The first smile. The last time they make a pillow fort.

And honestly, sometimes the firsts and lasts are more than I handle. While in the moment, we long for the challenge or phase to be over. But then the milestone is passed and it seems so much easier in hindsight. I thought caring was a baby was hard...until that baby became a toddler and so on. Time moves on and the emotions go deep.

I wondered how God deals with deep emotions. The ones that sometimes seek to overwhelm us - whether they revolve around parenting or some other life situation. I was reminded that emotions came hard and fast for Jesus.  His response?  "Jesus wept."  He felt heartache and feels it still.  He is the One who empathizes with us and knows the human experience of deep emotion. (Spoiler alert: He also celebrated, too.)  

Now, the firsts and lasts you are experiencing with your child may not be as dramatic as grieving the loss of a friend named Lazarus, but they could trigger emotions that you didn't expect. The joy and wistfulness of seeing our children grow and learn is a tension that I realize that I need to pass over to God's loving hands. 

Author Kate Bowler writes in her devotional, "Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day!", this blessing about the emotional tensions we feel - both as parents and God's beloved::

Blessed are we, the anxious,
with eyes wide open to lovely and the awful.
Blessed are we, the aware,
knowing that the only sane thing to do in such a world is to admit the fear that sits in our peripheral vision.
Blessed are we, the hopeful,
eyes searching for the horizon, 
ready to meet the next miracle, the next surprise.
Blessed are we, the grateful,
awake to this beautiful, terrible day.

As we approach Lent (a bittersweet time of expectant hope), we can hold the parenting firsts & lasts, the highs & lows, the old & new, and the beautiful & the heartbreaking in light of God's overarching love and commitment to us.  We wait for God's fulfillment of the work being done in our hearts and in the children we shepherd.  He is the Alpha and the Omega - the beginning and the end of every parenting emotion that comes our way.  It's a beautiful, terrible and blessed journey.

Isaiah 43:18-19
 “Forget the former things;
    do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?"

Union Parents: Saying grace | January 31, 2025

Meal time prayers are everyday prayers.  They are "give us our daily bread" prayers.  They are simple prayers of trust and thanks.  They are good.

When it comes to food & water - both basic human needs - prayer sometimes gets pushed aside in lieu of hunger or inconvenience or squirrelly little people who have an agenda of their own. Deep down, we know we want to pray. The spirit is willing; the body is weak...and hangry.

Meals mark time for us and give us the reminder to pray. While there's no right way to "say grace", praying at our meals puts me and those at the table into God's world and it allows the entry of God into my world and presents our needs. It's communing with the Spirit and each other over the soup of the day or crackers and bananas.

Peter Santucci authored a booklet called Everyday Meal Prayers - each one served up as a first-course to shape our souls as we eat and drink. He writes, "I want to consider nourishment of my body and soul regularly. I want to make every time I put something in my mouth, to feed myself a holy moment. I want to infuse my life with prayer, with God-presence."

This isn't trying to be legalistic - saying we must pray to be godly or good parents. Instead, it's seeing that eating and praying share the same rhythm. Meal prayers are opportunities for daily moments to connect our body and soul, even sometimes very briefly, with our Creator. Beyond meal time prayers, Peter even penned words to quietly offer when getting a coffee or snack.

Prayer is an amateur activity - no formula required - that we can share with kids at a table. Meredith Miller suggests using a complete the sentence prompt to make a meal time prayer very accessible:
“Let’s name yummy foods! Thank you God for…” Call out foods and when the list runs its course, close with, “We’re so glad you gave us taste buds and all these neat flavors. Amen.”

I thought I'd try one for early elementary children:
"Thank you Jesus for making good food for me to eat. Thank you for filling my tummy and my heart.  Bless this food and my family and help us to love others.  Amen."

Children's own prayers are often the most authentic, like the one I recorded by three-year-old Jade:
"Dear Jesus, thank you for the food.  I love mommy.  I love daddy. I love Justin and Caden.  I love Stormy and Sunny.  And I love myself. Thank you. All done."

How do you approach meal prayers with your family?  I'd love to hear if you do one of your own. Together, we can "taste and see that the Lord is good" one bite at a time.

Psalm 107:9 (NIV)
"for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things."

Union Parents: Hello, my name is... | January 4, 2025

Is there anything more personal than our name? Given to us at birth, we carry it throughout our life - it identifies and defines us.  Names are constantly changing. The names from my childhood like David, Jennifer, Brian and Michelle have given way to Olivia, Liam, Emma, Noah, Charlotte and Oliver. 

Picking a name for children is a tough job!  How you spell it, what it means and how it makes you feel all add up to finding that perfect nomenclature.  Never did I know that I would name my first child, Justin (man of justice & righteousness).  Or go with Caden (Companion of Peace)  for number two and never in my wildest dreams did I expect to have a daughter named Jade (harmony & love).  Each name has important meaning and each name brings me joy.

Somehow those names just seemed right for them when they were born.  It was as if they came with a name and we just had to find it.  How or why did you choose the names you chose for your children?  

Renee Notkin shared this week that she loves the idea that Jesus was given a name that blesses us.  His name, Jesus, means God Saves, and that must have been a small clue to His purpose on earth. Luke 2:20 says the child was named Jesus.  This also means that Jesus knows our names and our names matter to Jesus, who is given the name above all names that saves and restores and loves.

Our names matter; we matter.  And we are also given another name: Beloved.   We know that our given and beloved names are forever sealed on the heart of God.  Truly, what better names could there be?

See you on Sunday!

Matthew 1:21 (NIV)
"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Union Parents: Water is life | January 17, 2025

Water is mission critical when it comes to our wellbeing - as we've all seen in huge technicolor this week as fires burned unchecked.  Truly, water is life.

Water was pretty critical in New Testament times, as well.  It's no wonder that Jesus uses water to describe Himself to the woman at the well. Jesus sits down at the crossroads where the Samaritan locals faithfully came to draw at the well. That's when the conversation began and the promise of Living Water that flows from is announced. 

And where does this promised life water go?  It fills our world and touches others as we experience this abundant life that comes from trusting God. Jesus makes it pretty clear that He has more than enough Living Water to keep it flowing endlessly when we are connected to the Source. Not always an easy concept for children ( or adults) to grasp, but one that we can trust because we know Who is pouring out love. He is love.

This week's Union Kids lesson about the woman at the well is part of a larger curriculum designed by Meredith Miller, author of Woven: Nurturing a Faith Your Kid Doesn’t Have to Heal From, whom you may remember from Union Family Quarter last year. Meredith is skilled at creating lessons that are designed with spiral learning to make sure the content and theology are age appropriate. As part of her curriculum, she prepares a companion piece for grownups and there will have copies on Sunday to take home for further discussion and exploration. 

We will ask questions like:

-What does it feel lke to “not be thirsty” in the way Jesus means?
- If Jesus is living water, one thing that means is that he’s always there. Where do you go in a typical week? In all these places–Jesus is there.

One more word on water...In the early days of Union, one of our faithful pray-ers shared her vision.  Although at that time, Amazon wasn't even in the neighborhood, yet she envisioned the ceiling of 415 open to the sky and the love and life of the Spirit in the form of gushing water to pour through the building, out the windows and doors, and into the streets of South Lake Union.  It is Living Water - powerfully poured out..  

This Living Water has changed lives through the faithfulness of the Spirit and I'm excited to see how this vision of Life-flowing continues to play out for Union, our kids and the broader community.

John 7:38
”Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”

Union Parents: Healing tape | November 30, 2024

Jade picked up some masting tape while she and I were playing with the doctor kit and her dolls the other day. "This is my healing tape," she announced.  "God make it for me to heal me before I was born!"

This statement kind of blew me away.  Clearly, she knew that God intended for her to be well and that God had her on His mind before she was born.  I mean, isn't that what Advent is all about?  God creating a way for healing before we were born? 

As Union begins our Advent series, we will look at the genealogy of Jesus and the people who came before us who were part of the story.  They made way for healing before we were born.  These people - of all kinds and with a variety of stories - were the continual thread moving toward Jesus.  In Genesis through the end of the Old Testament, the prophets were announcing...God is making a way to heal us and live with Him as part of God's family.  

During Advent this year, I wonder if we can wonder about the places where God was working before we recognized it.  Maybe by looking back as seeing God's handiwork, like we do in Jesus' genealogy, we can see where God was before us, loving us, and making a way we didn't see at the time,  He's been in the past with us and is definitely the One who leads us in the future.  Forever healing and loving.  

God made a way before we were born.  


Psalms 139:1-5 (NIV)
You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me.

Union Parents: A boy called BC | November 15, 2024

There is a boy at the school where I work whom everyone calls BC.  That's not his name; his name is Benjamin.  But all through elementary school, he was one of two Benjamins in his class so he needed a different name to keep it simple.

Now, everyone calls him that - even he calls himself BC, which I noticed when he proudly wrote it on his name tag.

I'm sure when he was born, his parents never planned that he'd be called BC, but his name is the product of his environment.  It was a shaping that happened because of the community in which he operates. Lots of kids end up with nicknames, but I was struck by how in this case, it a clear result of BC's proximity to something else: his classmates.

As parents, teachers, caregivers, and supporters of children and youth, I think this is good reminder.  Our children and youth are shaped by what they are near. Simply by bringing your child on a Sunday morning or to an event or for youth group, they are in proximity of a community who desires to nurture how they are shaped. They are in the presence of Jesus' wide embrace and that will shape how they see themselves.

Our Union Kids lessons from now through Advent will emphasize that we are part of God's family, a church community, our own family, and our world.  We are shaped by those who are around us.  And we pray that each child will feel the love of God and others when they walk through the 415 Westlake doors.

In a few weeks, we will be hosting the second annual Gingerbread House Decorating event on December 7.  One of the main reasons we do this is to provide "proximity" to Jesus.  To open the doors of our church, which doesn't look like a church, to more people. 

This is Jesus' wide embrace in action. And it shapes us by drawing near to His extravagant love.  We are home and we all can write the name that God gives us on our name tag: Beloved.  
 

2 Corinthians 13:14 (The Message)
"The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you."

Union Parents: Hooray for the algorithm | October 19, 2024

Hooray for the algorithm said no one ever.  At least that was what I thought until recently. My perspective changed through a strange course of events that brought me encouragement via social media.

It started because I began following Mariner pitcher Logan Gilbert, who I'd learned was a strong Jesus follower.  With that move, the algorithm took over.  Soon my IG feed was filled with all kinds of posts about major league baseball players who were Christians, memes about trusting God, and young adults who testify that their lives are transformed through Christ.

So, some good can come from social media because my encouragement level went up.  Seeing the depth of faith and renewal that these people were sharing gave me hope.  Some coming from near suicides to reborn lives. People proclaiming that God is good, all the time. 

As you may know, this past year has been extremely difficult for me.  While I've never doubted the goodness of God, I have struggled to wade through the challenges and pain.  I have sought to abide in Christ and trust even in the smallest steps of faith, but it's been far from easy and I needed some encouragement.

Maybe you can relate.  Feeling short on encouragement?  Do you have something really big (or even on the small side) that is weighing you down in your life? From parenting dilemmas to difficult life circumstances to your finances to a loss to old hurts that don't seem to go away.  

I get it.

While life may never stop hurling uncertainties or unfavorable circumstances our way, we can choose to abide in Christ  even when life is tough. Especially when life is tough.  Connection to Christ is where the encouragement and courage flows from a wellspring of love that never leaves you alone. 

Not that I would have suspected that the Spirit could use an algorithm to send me some encouragement and a reminder that God's work in the world never stops, but why not?  When I'm abiding in Him, He is free to use all kinds of tools, people, and touchpoint to make sure I know that His love transforms and showers me with hope. 

And as one IG reel by a Savannah Bananas player (ask me later) told me, "May be a reflection of the One who is actually worth following…”.

Amen.

John 15:4 (NIV)
"Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."

Union Parents: A prayer for this school year | Sept. 14, 2024

Last Sunday, as a community, we prayed for all those who are connected to education - from the preschooler to those teach at the college level.

As I watched literally everyone stand and surround the students and teachers in prayer, I was struck that we are all connected to this very important element of life.  We are all on the journey of learning and life and seek to trust that God is with us.  We all affected by what goes on in our schools and how important it is for our students and teachers to thrive.

Embarking on another school year brings me to my knees to pray.  Know that this will not not be the only prayer I pray for our Union Kids, teachers, and school administrators this year.  But this is the one that I pray as we launch into the unknown of the 2024-2025 school year.  We are blessed and Zephaniah 3:17 that Emily Huff preached about a few week ago tells us this in no uncertain terms. We are not alone. 
 

Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)

The Lord your God is with you,
    the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
    in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
    but will rejoice over you with singing.

Lord,

As children walk into school, I pray that Your strength and peace will cover them each and every day. Remind them they can turn to You when they feel scared or discouraged, and You will give them exactly what they need. I humbly ask that You will remind them that they don’t have to do this life alone because You are always with them.  

Lord, please clothe our children with Your mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience so they will glorify You. I pray they will show kindness to their classmates and the staff. If a time comes when kindness is not shown to them, may they feel Your presence all around them enabling them to be a light for You even when it is difficult.

Lord, I humbly ask You to protect each and every child as they go to school every day. You are their refuge and ultimate protector. Therefore, I ask that their emotional, spiritual, mental, and physical health will be guarded and protected by Your mighty hand. Thank You for caring for them, Jesus. When they face a hard subject, have a problem with friends, get in trouble, or simply feel fatigued from school in general, I ask that You will uphold them with Your mighty hand and restore them. 

We pray that You would equip all teachers, educators and staff with wisdom that they need to lead their classes and schools every single day. God, we pray that Your strength would fill them and enable them to do all that they do with a heart of compassion, grace, and understanding. We pray that you, God, would give them encouragement. Give them help when they’re weary and lots of grace when they feel like they’ve reached the limit. Everything that concerns them, God, we know that it’s in Your hands today. We lift them up.

And we ask that you would raise up people (and students!) of prayer that will cover each school and learning center with your Spirit. May transformation take place this year in new ways in our schools.  God, you are good, and you are good at being God so we trust you in all of this.

In Jesus’ name, Amen
 

Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Union Parents: Winding down and onward! | August 31, 2024

Do you feel like summer breezed by?  For some reason, this summer went by in a flash for me.  I do remember years when both Justin and Caden were still quite small and the summer seemed to last forever - especially when we had the blazing hot weather that made me melt in my house.

How did it feel for you this year?  What were your highlights or lowlights?

Despite the speed at which this summer has gone, it's been a fulfilling time with Union Kids.  I've been personally been blessed by digging into Psalm 34 with Sayuko and all the kids and this complex Psalm has provided us with multiple themes that we could communicate to the kids:

-Praise God at all times
-God is our rescuer
-God is good
-Seek the Lord and you'll thrive
-God is our friend
-He is always right there, we don't have to fear
 

As the summer winds down, we are finishing up with our last lesson this week. The theme of verses 20-22 is a bit challenging (see verses below), so we are summarizing it as the promise that "God protects us." I think this is a very fitting promise to send with our kids into the new school year.  What is to come, good or bad, is unknown.  But we know that God asks us to take refuge in him and he will not let us down.  What an amazing promise to bless our kids:Remember you are not forgotten or alone. You are rescued and protected.

As part of our activities this week, we will create a framed version of Psalm 34. I hope that you'll put in a place where everyone in your home can see it and be encouraged.  Maybe your kids will sing Jeff's song, "Taste and See" and above all, I pray that you and your family will know that God is good and he is close.

Onward to a new school year! 
 

Psalm 34:20-22 (NIV)
20 "he protects all his bones,
    not one of them will be broken.
21 Evil will slay the wicked;
    the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22 The Lord will rescue his servants;
    no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned."

Union Parents: I didn't know what to write and then I remembered this...| August 16, 2024

Last week, I was supposed to send an email to you all. But I could not think of what to write.  It wasn't a case of writer's block as much as it was writer's blank.  I had nothing. Blank. 
 
As I pondered how deep the writing abyss was last week, I suddenly remembered this. Now, bear with me as I once again tell about how much I'm learning from God via Caden.  Someday he will read the things that I've written my parenting journey with my middle child, I hope that he too will be encouraged and not rolling his eyes with a "Mom, really?" response. 
 
When we last left Caden, he had just returned from Lakeside Bible Camp on Whidbey Island with his Goodwill sleeping bag and suitcase.  What a great week it was for him!  He enjoyed the "boy-centric" activities, made some new friends, learned some Bible verses, was inspired by the music and is already planning to go back next year.  What an answer to prayer! I can't even express how much. 
 
Before I move on, I need to back up a little (or a lot) to 2018.  Caden was in first grade and struggling.  We didn't even know all that he was experiencing, but later learned it was centered around some sensory issues and executive functioning challenges.  At the time, I was reading The Healing Light with my Union prayer group and I was applying many of the principles that I was learning, mainly being open to what the Spirit could do and trusting that it would be done according to God's will.  I was praying in faith and praying without knowing the answers. 
 
Over the years, we have continued to experience challenges as Caden has grown and worked to address how to become the "best Caden he can be".  I do know one thing for certain, his journey has made me a better person.  God has used him for that purpose. So, as I thought about the prayers I prayed in 2018, arms lifted over little six-year-old Caden as he slept in his big queen size bed, it occurred to me that those prayers  are being answered now.  Following his camp experience, he desires to listen to praise music on his Spotify channel and is trying to learn them on piano. He wants to sing at church and he is growing more confident in himself as he starts middle school.  I didn't know how God would work in 2018 and I probably would have expected a different path over these past years.  But this path he is on and these answer are good because they are God's way. 
 
Not to say that I'm letting up on praying. We have not arrived and so prayers continue. There are many more days ahead when I will need God's guidance, strength, answers and help as I parent and grow in my own faith. But in this moment six years later, I'm encouraged that answers do come.  Life is abundant and pouring into Caden. The Lord continues to hear, deliver. and care.  Just like the Psalmist said.  I'm grateful for the promises in Psalm 34 and hope the ancient words and Caden's story encourage you, too. 
  

Psalm 34:17-19 (NLT) 
17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; 
    he delivers them from all their troubles. 
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted 
    and saves those who are crushed in spirit. 
19 The righteous person may have many troubles, 
    but the Lord delivers him from them all; 

Union Parents: God knew it was at Goodwill | August 2, 2024

Nothing like leaving the packing to the last minute!  Caden was leaving for a week at Lakeside Bible Camp and I didn't know where the sleeping bag was, or if we even had one anymore.  And finding an old suitcase that could get beaten up, dirty or wet would certainly be helpful, too!

But who could I ask?  Where could I borrow one or both?  I started racking my brain so we'd avoid making a quick but expensive trip to Outdoor Emporium to outfit him for camp.

"Go to the Goodwill on 128th," said a voice in my head.

Of course, Goodwill.  That was a good plan.  And it occurred to me that God actually did have a plan and he knew where the things were that I needed for Caden.  I felt assured as I pulled out of the driveway.

Opening the glass front doors of Goodwill, I quickly scanned the store for the sporting goods aisle. "Okay, God, where is the sleeping bag?"  I looked down one aisle and nothing, but in my spirit, I knew it was there and I just needed to find it.  So, I turned the corner to the next row, and boom, there is was. Green. Rolled up with elastic loops. Just the right size. Perfect for Caden. 

Sleeping bag - check. 

Next stop was the suitcase aisle and sitting there waiting for me was a just what I needed: a not-new but perfectly adequate blue suitcase.  Just the right size again and the perfect price at $3.99.  Who says God can't bargain shop?

Suitcase - check.

In less than 10 minutes, I walked out with what I needed for Caden at the very reasonable total of $15 and even more importantly, I took with me the certainty that God was involved in the details - right down to the available inventory at Goodwill. I knew that God had gone before me because I had put my trust in him.  

I must admit, however, that I had felt a kind of desperation, even a bit of panic, just 60 minutes earlier when I didn't know where I'd find a sleeping bag or suitcase and I might have to shell out a bunch of money to get what Caden needed. In that worried place, I was forced to trust God.  Not that I wasn't willing to trust him but when I realized it was really my only option, there was a freedom that ensued and carried me all the way to the Goodwill checkout line.

This Sunday morning, Renée Sundberg will begin the new sermon series, "Messages from the Heart" with a favorite verse: 2 Corinthians 3:17. "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."  As I thought about this verse, the words rang true to me a new way.  The freedom to trust was real because the Spirit was there when he sent me to Goodwill. No need to rely on my own problem-solving skills. I was with the Spirit - and was free to simply retrieve what I needed.

As I journey in life as child of God and a parent of kids, I can access this trust and resulting freedom all the time.  So, why don't I?!!  Probably because it's hard!  But when I see God at work like this even in little ways, it definitely becomes a lot easier and the trust starts to grow. Earl Palmer (for those of you who remember this beloved pastor) said that faith is "putting your weight on the downhill ski" - or in other words - trust in the trustworthiness of Jesus Christ.

I felt that strongly in the aisles of Goodwill of all places. 

So, as Sayuko and I share Psalm 34:10-14 with Union Kids this Sunday, I hope you'll also be encouraged that "those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing". Even if that good thing consists of a simple green sleeping bag and someone's old rolling suitcase that are perfect for a boy going off to Bible camp. 
 

Psalm 34:10-14 (NLT)
10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,
    but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.
11 Come, my children, and listen to me,
    and I will teach you to fear the Lord.
12 Does anyone want to live a life
    that is long and prosperous?
13 Then keep your tongue from speaking evil
    and your lips from telling lies!
14 Turn away from evil and do good.
    Search for peace, and work to maintain it.

Union Parents: Taste and see | July 19, 2024

This week, we continue our series in Psalm 34 and this may be the most delicious week yet.  The theme is  "Taste and see the the Lord is good;" So, we will have some tasty things for kids to try.  It's going to be a blast - and I hope you can join us on National Ice Cream day (hint, hint).

We'll continue to sing the song that Jeff Fisher wrote called "Taste and See." Here are the lyrics and musical notes for any families who'd like to sing it at home. It's one that you will likely find yourself singing throughout the week - serving as an ongoing reminder of these verses.

Where have you tasted his goodness this week?  Or where do you need his refugee?  As Jeff write, "Taste and see that the Lord is good, God provides like he said he would."  

Thank you, God, for this incredible promise!
 

Taste and See 
by Jeff Fisher

Verse 1

C

I will always praise the Lord

             F

I will sing to God with all my heart

C

I will always praise the Lord

                       G

Won’t you join and sing with me?

Chorus

         G                                            F

Oh taste and see that the Lord is good

   C

Open the doors to the neighborhood

     G                                          F

Taste and see that the Lord is good

   C

God provides like he said he would

                           G                          F

Those who seek the Lord shall not hunger

           G                                         F

So share God’s love with one another

           F                          G                               C

Oh taste and see that the Lord is good
 

Verse 2

C

If your heart is broken you’ll find God here

                 F

If your body aches you’ll find God here

          C

The Lord will keep an eye on us

        G

So don’t you fear

Psalm 34:8-9 (NIV)
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Fear the LORD, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing.

Union Parents: Encamped around | July 12, 2024

Camping was not something that I grew up doing. I am a total greenhorn when it comes to this outdoor activity that most of the Pacific Northwest populations does on a regular basis. In fact, one of my earliest camping experiences was in my 20s as a sponsor for The Edge at UPC - taking high school kids rock climbing near Leavenworth. (By the way, it poured rain, as it does in the mountains.)

So, what's the purpose of bringing up camping? Well, first I think it's generally expected that outside of the occasional backyard campsite, camping requires that you find a place away from your normal environs.  Cell phone coverage could be spotty and Trader Joe's might be miles away.  You make a little home in the forest away from home, as best you can.  

But secondly, even the best and most well-trained campers are not immune to trouble or unexpected happenings. Not even Bear Grylis is completely devoid of trouble or unexpected challenge. 

In Psalm 34, the chapter we are discovering this summer with Union Kids, David talks about God encamping around us. In verse 7, I hear an unspoken assumption that we too are "camping" through life - doing our best to live in unsettled conditions that might test us at best or require a rescue operation at worst. We are people on the move. So, when I read that the Angel of the Lord is setting up camp around me, that is about the best scenario I could ask for. God has chosen to set up residence with those who decide that he is the very best security system. The very best tactic for moving from survival to a life that radiates joy.

Maybe you've been feeling vulnerable these days.  Maybe you have big grief that has also moved in with to stay for an undisclosed amount of time. Maybe summertime brings different anxieties that you don't feel prepared to handle.  Or maybe you are wondering if God will be do something - even in the nick of time - to step in and provide what you need as a parent or simply as a human on this life journey. Those fears, among others, could be creeping in and making you nervous, just like those uncertain night sounds in the forest.

Then, I read:
"The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them." v. 7

He has my back as I look forward to him.

The key to me seems to be this modus operandi: Consider God in every situation.  As we as parents consider God - what the Holy Spirit is doing - the deliverance system is in motion and he goes to work.  It reminds me of another favorite verse from Romans: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." v. 8

Where do you see God's security system kicking in?  Where do you see that he is surrounding you in the wilderness of daily life and providing the way to an answer and a God-radiant life?  Where is he answering and creating good from not-so-good situations?

If you set out for a PNW campground this summer, being in that outdoorsy setting may it be a tangible and very present reminder that you are surrounded by a God that loves, protects, delivers, and knows us.  We never camp alone. 
 

Psalm 34:7 (Everyday Psalms)
"Great guardian of God's people,
The angel of the Lord, 
Moves in.
He takes up residence in the very homes
Of those who consider God
In every situation - 
The best security system ever!"

Union Parents: Jolted awake in the night | June 7, 2024

Parenting is no joke and it humbles me daily. Parenting sends me to prayer more often than just about anything else I've ever experienced.

For the last six months or so, I've used an app called Lectio 365 to help me pray consistently, especially at night.  

Last week, as I was getting ready for bed, I was quietly praying for something that was really concerning me and I was trying to leave it in God's hands.  I went to bed, uncertain of how God could possibly answer. Per my habit, I clicked on the app to start the devotional and promptly fell asleep immediately.  Didn't hear a word of it.  I was out, exhausted.  When suddenly, I was jolted awake the moment this verse was read:

‘I am he who will sustain you.  I have made you and I will carry you.  I will sustain you and I will rescue you.’   Isaiah 46:4 (NIV) 

I could see no other explanation than those words were for me. I could not believe it - would God answer me so directly?  Would the God of the Universe speak to my uncertainly in an audible voice (with an English accent in this case)?  In my soul, I knew He had awakened me to get across His message. 

This type of things doesn't happen often, but maybe it could.  Could I hear more answers when I need them if I was praying and listening consistently?

I was watching a YouTube video by Tyler Staton, a pastor in Portland who leads the 24-7 USA prayer movement. He is also the author of Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools: An Invitation to the Wonder and Mystery of Prayer. He is advocating that churches consider an ancient prayer rhythm - morning, noon and night.  What changes could we see in our families, church, schools, and community if we tried this rhythm?  I'd love to find out.

The 24-7 prayer movement as created an app called the Inner Room to make this rhythm as accessible as possible. (You can download it for free from the App Store.). It provides prompts and categories to guide prayers.  I choose three prayer foci - my children, Union Church and myself - and the app gives three (or more) minutes to pray for each. You can choose the ones that fit with your prayer needs and there are lots of tech-y features that Seattle people will likely appreciate.

I would love to hear if this prayer app is appealing to you or if you try it. Union is built on rhythms and I hope this could seamlessly enhance those rhythms.   

As a young teenager, Tyler Staton prayed for his middle school all summer and nearly one-third of the student body found the Lord the following school year. In the month of June, Union Kids are exploring prayer and the different types of prayer. For those kids with access to a device, this app could be a good opportunity to try praying for themselves.  And we could collectively see what God does.  

So be it.
 

1 Samuel 3:10 (NIV)
The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”  Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

Union Parents: The unofficial start of summer | May 24, 2024

Memorial Day weekend is commonly known as the unofficial start of summer. While the calendar doesn't turn to summer until June 21, most are ready to start with a summer vibe by now. 

As we anticipate the end of the school year (almost to the finish line!), I thought I'd give a little pre-game show of what you can expect this summer for Union Kids. So, here is what we have in store.

In June, Olivia Hill will be leading our Sunday mornings as we talk about prayer and what it means to pray and why we pray.  The fifth Sunday in June will be a family worship Sunday with no Union Kids in the cafe area.  We will have activities in the main space at tables in the back for kids who are older than nursery age. 

Starting on Sunday, July 7, Sayuko Setvik and I will be leading the Summer Union Kids.  Each Sunday morning, we will focus on a part of Psalm 34.  As part of the lesson, we will be teaching a song based on Psalm 34 to help the kids learn the words and doing activities related to the Psalm.  Second Sundays will continue to focus on creation care projects as well as Psalm 34.

In July and August, the middle school kids will be gathering in the parking lot or Fresh Flours on the first and third Sundays. This time is designed for kids who are in 5th through 8th grades, led by Phil Lewis and team.  Middle schoolers are also welcome to help with the Union Kids activities following the lesson.

On Wednesday mornings through the summer, we will be gathering at parks around the region for outdoor play - organized by our Play & Learn community of toddlers, preschoolers and caregivers.  Elementary age siblings are welcome to join the fun and we'll be posting a calendar with dates and locations soon.  Playdates are from 10-11:30am each Wednesday.

And lastly, if your elementary or middle school child is looking for something to do on Mondays from 10am-12noon, please let me know.  We hope to have a few students help with the (supervised) Monday cooking for ICS.

Well, that wraps up the pre-game announcements.  It's going to be a great summer, I have to say.  I look forward to spending time with your children and can't wait to see the play-by-play of what God will do.

Enjoy the unofficial start of summer this weekend! 


Psalm 34:8-9 (The Message)

"Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see—
    how good God is.
Blessed are you who run to him.

Worship God if you want the best;
worship opens doors to all his goodness."

Union Parents: Kids and fire | May 19, 2024

Kids and fire.  That is a combination that never seems to lose it pull.  When the Fourth of July rolls around each year, my boys are always ready to light fireworks or sparkers.  Summer campfires never fail to draw kids - especially when s'mores are involved. We all revel in a warm fire at night in the fireplace when the winter months are dark and dreary. 

Fire is powerful.  It's an element that quickly spreads and changes whatever it touches.  I find it interesting that the Spirit is seen as fire - a power that rests on us as believers.  Megan Prince, fellow Union parent and accomplished artist, was sharing this week how she has also found a fascination with fire as part of her creative work.  Fire is a symbol of power, light, and change.

This Sunday, we celebrate Pentecost and as a symbol of the Spirit's power and presence, Union Kids will place "fire stoles" on Union community members as part of worship during our Pentecost Spanish song.  The stoles are made of ribbons that the children assembled last week. I hope that you will take one or two home with you as a reminder for your family of the Spirit's presence and power.

A friend and I were just talking about how we both grew up with a lack of understanding about the Holy Spirit and the role of the Spirit in our daily lives. Now, we both feel that the Holy Spirit is what keeps us going as parents!  Thank you, Lord!  She shared a part of a creed from the Iona community that is recited each Sunday at her church, which includes a portion about the Holy Spirit that I loved: 

“We believe in God within us, the Holy Spirit of Pentecostal fire, life-giving breath of the church. She is the spirit of healing and forgiveness, source of resurrection, and of life everlasting.”

May the Holy Spirit's power and presence fill our Union Kids (and us!) with hope and fire, like the disciples experienced 2,000 years ago. 
Amen.


Acts 2:1-4 (NLT)
"On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability."

Union Parents: Do it anyway | May 11, 2024

Yesterday, I was having a conversation with my friend over lunch.  The topic?  Children and parenting, what else?  She recounted to me a recent seminar she attended - and the big takeaway she gleaned:

Do it anyway. 

Do it anyway. Simply meaning, continue to invite your children into connection, love, activities, even faith, when they may or may not be responding. Do it anyway, because that is what love does.  It invites; it holds space; it doesn't give up.

I take this to heart as I parent boys who are quickly approaching the teen years, as well as my sweet almost-five-year-old.  Don't give up inviting them and loving with my whole being because God never gives up on me. Jesus gives me the strength to do the parenting work because it gives Him joy.

A passage that has been coming up for me over and over lately is John 15:7. "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."

This is where the strength comes from - connecting to Jesus for His power and love and ongoing strength.  "Remain in me" is the ultimate invitation.

While Nike might have the Just Do It slogan locked down, I will keep with my Do It Anyway mantra when it comes to parenting because I know I have the God of the Universe in my court as I seek to remain, invite and love. Always.

I Corinthians 13: 4-7 (The Message)
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.