Guest Post @ The Life of an "Ordinary" Housewife

Today I have the privilege of guest posting on my lovely cousin Danielle's blog over at The Life of an "Ordinary" Housewife! Dani is my cousin/adopted big sister, and I love her so much! She's on a Bahamas cruise (jealous!!) with her hubby for their 2nd anniversary this week, so she asked me to post in her absence. I'm talking about My List, and this is the first post in a little series that I'll be doing now and then as opportunities arise, so make sure you go check it out! Thanks for having me Dani!

Follow Your Heart...

How often do we hear those cliche words: "Follow your heart?"

Even as Christians we may find ourselves saying this; we may try to make it sound a little more 'spiritual', but let's be honest, we mean the same thing. Well, in Bible reading the other day I came across this little gem, which seems to be God's opinion on that lovely piece of advice, so I thought I would share it...

Jeremiah 16:12
"And you have done worse than your fathers, for behold, each one follows the dictates of his own evil heart, so that no one listens to Me."

Dang. But wait. There's more...

Jeremiah 17:9
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desparately wicked; who can know it?"

Oh snap. Yeah, He just said that. Who did? Oh right, GOD. Aw man.

"So I'm not supposed to follow my heart? If in my heart I really want something, I can't just assume that is God speaking to me?? It's not like I want bad things!" Let me look at that one more time: "..each one follows the dictates of his own evil heart so that no one listens to Me." Sounds like a big NOPE.

Now, here is the big key in this. There is a definite difference between "following your heart" and being sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, i.e. following God; listening to Him. But I have to learn to tell the difference! Let me tell you though, that is not always easy! Sometimes my heart tries to convince me that it is the Holy Spirit, because it wants to have it's way! But just because I want something so badly in my heart, and it seems like a good thing, does not mean that's the direction God is taking me right now. Oh boy, have I been learning this lesson lately. He is telling us right here in His Word so that we have no excuse to not know that this is the way that it works. I must learn to determine the difference between His Spirit and my own heart. But who can tell?

Well, when I read His Word, the Bible, more often...every day, (something that I still have to make an effort to do, to be honest), I find that I learn to be familiar with how He speaks, what He cares about, what He would and would not tell me to do or say. I learn what's on His agenda, what kind of things He expects of me and what He's promised me. It's also so important to take time to pray, i.e. talk with Him often, and spend quiet time with Him. Then when He leads me, my heart can line up with what He's saying, and I'll still know that it's Him! And ya know what? As I spend more time with Him and His Word, my heart begins to lean toward His heart so that - though my own heart can still be deceitful and wicked and don't follow it's every whim - I do find that when He speaks, it's not so contrary to my heart's desire. He is creating in me a clean heart; a heart that wants what He wants. I'm being washed by the Word so that my inclinations of my heart are become less and less selfish, deceitful, etc. Does that make sense?

Well, these are just some thoughts from my own time spent in the Word of God. Hope it provokes you to think and challenges you to check your own heart. Have a lovely weekend!

Palm Springs, baby!

  

This beautiful spot is where I spent the entire day Monday, and part of Tuesday!

Tuesday was was my friend Tabitha's birthday, & Monday was her mom's (Pastor Bonnie), so what better time for a girl's get-away weekend?? 8 of us took off on Sunday afternoon to spend a few days doing absolutely, gloriously NOTHING at a condo in a gated community in Palm Springs.

   

Me with each of the birthday ladies

We spent our time tanning, swimming, eating, watching movies, and joy riding in this adorable golf cart!

Edith, Karise, Me

God knew that I was sooo in need of a vacation, even if  a mini one, and oh my goodness, do I feel better! Something that He reminded me from this trip is that I need to take mini breaks more often. I need it physically, emotionally & spiritually. If I keep going and going like I have been lately, I will be more likely to come to a point of burn out where I just want to shut down! It's so important to make a day of rest a priority. This trip was a fantastic way to be reminded ;) 

Well, I'm back in the office all too soon! But weekend is tomorrow! Woot! Happy Friday!

               Birthday flan & fried ice cream!

Me, Sarah, Edith, Tab, Anna, Karise

Having some fun while shopping :)
Karise, Tab, Edith, Me, Tracy

Worship and Word

Two posts in one week! I've broken a personal record! Well, it's another link to a guest post I did on the Emerging Leader Network blog :) Please click this link: www.emergingleadernetwork.com/worship-and-word/ to read my post, and then share it, post it on facebook, tweet it.. help us tell people about our ELN program here in Long Beach! Thanks friends :) Happy Friday!

It Only Takes One

This week I had the privilege of posting on the Emerging Leader Network's blog. You can read it here! Please go check it out, and share it, copy & paste the link on facebook, tweet it, whatever! Please help us spread the word about Awakening. Thanks :)

Hometown Missionary

Our Mission Team!

   For those who don't know, I work as the administrative asssistant pastor for a Foursquare ELN School of Ministry called Awakening, at The Lighthouse Church. One of the important aspects of an ELN program is to go on some type of ministry outreach/mission trip, usually toward the end of the school year. For us in Awakening, we wanted this to mesh with our mission of city outreach; to not only go serve somewhere, but to do it in a way that we could learn and then bring what we learned back home. We want to begin something here in our own city. So we decided that in this, the first year of our school, we would do that mission trip at the Dream Center in Los Angeles. (If you don't know about the Dream Center, you can learn more here) So after we read Pastor Matthew Barnett's book, The Cause Within You, we scheduled our Monday-Saturday mission trip for the end of April!

The Dream Center

   Each day we awoke around 6:30am to be at breakfast around 7:00, then we met up with whichever ministry we were serving in that day. On Tuesday, our first day out, we were scheduled to work with a ministry called 'Under the Bridge'. If you'd like to hear me explain what that is and tell my story from this day (and you haven't already listened to it via facebook), rather than me retelling it just click here.  It really set the tone for me for the rest of the week!

Me praying with Charles

These people live here in the park

Justin & I serving up the food!

The rest of the week, we served in a variety of other ministries, such as the Food Truck, where we sorted out groceries and went along to take them to sites where people can pick up a bag of food for their family...

Pastors Paul & Bonnie playing with the kids

Kid's Jam, which goes along with the food trucks to do a fun program, play with and love on the kids while their parents are in line for food...



Adopt-A-Block, which goes out to city blocks and does anything from yardwork to housework to playing with kids to bringing people food; whatever the people in that block need... and then probably my favorite ministry that we did, which is called Project Prevention. This ministry works with families who have open cases, who are at risk of having their children put into foster care simply because they don't have the finances to provided basic needs. Project Prevention brings groceries, diapers, furniture, clothes... to some families they bring food every single week. Most of the parents shared their story with us, of how they got where they are, and how they got connected with the Dream Center. It was so inspiring and encouraging to hear how the Dream Center folks really are out there changing lives and making a difference in their city!

   The thing is, I know that my purpose is not only to sit here within the four walls of the church. I'm called to go out and to make a difference for the Lord in my city; whatever city He has put me in right now! However, this is SO much easier to say than to actually do. Right?? Well, the Dream Center started with ONE man, who was willing to step out in faith and obey God. That's it. All the ministries there each started from one person's dream or passion, and over time developed into the huge things that they are today. God can use me like this too if I'm just willing and available to step out in faith on the things that He has placed in my heart and the passions that He has given me. I have known for a few years that I am called to be a hometown missionary, and when I heard one of the interns there at Dream Center talk about being on the mission field in her own city, it resonated in my spirit. There is no reason I cannot do it right now! If I will just begin doing SOMETHING, together with Awakening and with The Lighthouse, we can begin to impact our city one person, one family, one block at a time.

Charnock Family Reunion!

This post has been sitting in my drafts, and is a little late in coming, but I have been INSANELY busy! Anyways...


My entire family (minus brother-in-law, Brendon) was together again for the first time since my brother Zach's & his wife Aimee's wedding in October 2010. I can't believe it has been so long! Much too long in my opinion. The occasion was my sister Brooke's & Kale's wedding on 3/24/12. Zach & Aimee, my sister Alexa & her baby girl Aeralyn, and I all flew in to Ohio from our different states and our whole family was accounted for by Wednesday afternoon!

 We had a packed weekend after that; full of dance rehearsals for the reception, decorating the church & reception hall, wedding rehearsal & dinner, & bachelorette/ bachelor parties, of course! Everyone pitched in on the preparations, and we had fun spending time together even though we were busy busy!

Bachelorette Party!

Then before we knew it, it was already time for the main event. Brooke was an absolutely gorgeous bride! I couldn't believe my little sister was getting married! Kale was quite a good looking groom as well ;) They both wanted several unique touches in their wedding, and here are the fun ideas they incorporated...


The wedding began with an amazing video made by Kale & his brother, but sadly I don't have a link to the video. The setting was the day of the wedding, Kale getting ready and running to the church. I can't describe it all here, just that it was touching and it was funny! Then as the video ended, Kale came running down the aisle! Loved it :)

Another great touch that they included was their guestbooks. I am super bummed that I do not have a picture of them! On one side was a pretty, formal book matching their wedding colors; on the other was a Steno pad & Crayons. Yes. This was one thing he really wanted and I thought it was great! LOL.

Kale singing his vows: a song that he wrote & surprised her

And this is the dance that we, the bridal party, did at the reception. This video is a bit dark so you can't see all of our great moves, but you can get an idea! Let me just tell you, it was better than what you can see on this video ;) We were formally introduced into the room, then at the DJ scratch, the music changed... click this link: http://youtu.be/s76LYZnDvgM

The wedding was beautiful, and very fun! I had a great time with friends and family dancing all night at the reception. Then we sent Mr. & Mrs. Horvath off to Cancun!

 It was so good to get to spend some time with all of my family, but it wasn't long enough! 

Surf's Up!

One of the fun elements that we decided to incorporate into our ELN program here in Long Beach, CA is a few surfing lessons! Since we're a program in Southern California, only 20 minutes or so from Huntington Beach, Surf City USA, it seemed we would be incomplete without this! ;) Our very own worship leader, Pastor Jim, just so happens to be skilled in this particular sport, so we finally worked into our schedule the very first Awakening School of Ministry Surfing Lesson...

As you can see, we had a few younger folks hanging out with us as well! (Perks of being the pastors' kids)

Terrance, Justin, Chris, Tony

Me & Annelise

It was so much fun! We went to Bolsa Chica Beach, and the waves were great for beginners. At first we were more excited about getting pictures of ourselves with the wetsuits and boards than anything else..

 but eventually Pastor Jim rounded us up. We needed some lessons on the sand before we hit the water!

This was everyone's first time, except for Pastor Chris & myself. I have actually tried out surfing with friends a couple summers ago, so we let the other four take the first round. He had us practice lying on the board and hopping up onto our feet so we could get a good feel for positioning and get the hang of jumping up into the center of the board to avoid tipping over.

Then it was time to get into the water! It was FREEZING! I wish I could tell you what the temperature of the water was, but I don't know; all I know is that I was shrieking the whole way in until my legs went numb. You see, my wetsuit had sleeves, but the legs cut off at the knee! I wasn't allowed to say I was cold, so I just kept screaming, "I'M WARM! I'M WARM!"

Side thought: more than one person said to me something like, "You're from Ohio! Aren't you supposed to be tough in the cold?" Hahahahahahaha... I find this quite funny and respond similar to this: "Yeah it gets cold in Ohio, but you don't see us running around in the snow in a swimsuit! We dress appropriately or go in where it's warm!" Really, people ;)

Anyways, once it was my turn and I was out there and my legs were numb, I had a great time! I got to have Pastor Jim helping me one-on-one, so I didn't have to worry so much about paddling out or figuring out which wave to catch. He had me hop on the board and he would tow me out there and line me up, and tell me when to go. The trickiest part for me was keeping the nose of the board pointing up while riding the wave in. That sucker just wants to tip down into the water, and as soon as it does, off you go! That's the scariest part to me, because the board would pop up behind me, I fall into the wave and my board comes flying at me, a few times on top of my head, and once it barely missed smacking me right in the throat. I got a few good rides in on my belly and knees, but I didn't yet get to try standing up. My lesson actually got cut short because the wind suddenly got really crazy. I was getting blown to the side and the water was blowing all up in my face, so we had to call it a day. But a very fun and adventurous day it was!

All 3 of us are standing up in this picture LOL

Auntie Katelyn!

I'm about to brag on my new niece, so if that's going to bore you, stop reading now!

Introducing Aeralyn Marie Prosch

Born Friday, January 13th 2012

6lbs 4oz, 19in long

Alexa, Brendon & Aeralyn

I just had the privilege of spending about 3 1/2 days in Boise, Idaho with my sister Alexa, her husband Brendon, and their brand-new baby, Aeralyn! (Mom was there too;) On the morning of Friday the 13th I found out that Lexi was in labor, over 2 weeks early, and heading to the hospital! I kept my phone glued to my hip as updates came all day from Brendon's mom, Sharon. It was so fun to get to hear how things were going throughout the day :) But by mid-afternoon I started getting emotional and upset about not being there with my little sister. So, to shorten the story, thanks to my boss for giving me the time off, I got online and booked a flight leaving the next morning! I told my mom and Sharon, but Lexi and Bren had no idea that I was coming, so I surprised them at the hospital and it was great...

Surprise!

I'm so thankful that God provided the money, the affordable flight, and the time off of work to let me go!

Aeralyn is my first niece and she is soooo cute!!!! And I'm not saying this because she's family or because I'm being polite. I have never called a baby cute that I did not honestly think was cute. I would never tell someone that their baby is not cute, but I aint gonna say they're cute if they're not! As Lexi herself said, something like this, "If my baby comes out ugly, I'm not gonna lie and say she's cute just cuz she's my baby!" So there you have it. But as you can see, she is ADORABLE!

She seems to be a pretty quiet baby so far, at all of 4 days old. She only cries when she's being changed or when she's having a hard time trying to nurse, and her cry is quite mellow and quiet compared to a lot of baby cries I have heard. Overall, I'd say she's a keeper!

This is probably a bit cliche, but I think it's worth saying anyways, and to let ya know that it's true... I have never felt anything quite like I did meeting/holding this little girlie, my sister's own baby. I remember thinking I fell in love when I held my best friend's first baby, and I did, but this was that time like a thousand. I can't even tell you, I think it's something that you have to experience for yourself, but let me just say that I did :) It was so surreal, to be there totally unplanned (which is TOTALLY unlike me haha) and to be holding MY SISTER'S newborn, tiny little baby. I never wanted to give her back! Now it makes me curious, and I can't even imagine, what it's like when it's your own baby. Maybe someday I'll get to find out, but until then, I'll be spoiling my new niece, as well as whatever other babies come along from my brother and sisters in the next few years... bring on the babies! :)