'be' in the loop

Armor

lauriekubicek — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 06:09:20 +0000

Time flies…it always does. It’s been quite a while since I have taken the time to sit down and post. Today, I was chatting with Ann Nichols and watching her granddaughter Taylor swimming with Ty as I policed Wyatt paddling around on the top step in the pool. We were talking about the way that sometimes it seems like one by one, things seem to start pressing in on us…eventually to the point where it is really more than pressing, it’s all caving in. It was a good reminder to me, and not the first one in the past few weeks, that as we do life we are confronted with an enemy (Satan, the Devil, and his legion of evil followers). The Bible instructs us to be on guard against the enemy and his schemes, it reminds us that the battle we confront isn’t physical – but rather, spiritual, and it reminds us that Satan is about this Earth, seeking to steal, kill and to destroy.

I wonder then, why I so rarely approach the start of my day mindful of the battle that is afoot. I should start my day by taking time to intentionally put on the armor that God has provided. He has equipped me with an arsenal (Ephesians 6:10-18) that cannot be matched! Let’s remind each other about the real battle going on out there, and about the fact that we have everything we need to meet the challenge in Christ. Thanks Ann for a great reminder today!

Much love,

Laurie

safe

lauriekubicek — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 03:33:54 +0000

In life group on Thursday nights, we have been doing Bible studies each week that coincide with Pastor David’s sermon series on the book of Acts. We’re learning so much about the early church. There is a great deal for us to gain from examining the way they engaged in community. This week Pastor David’s discussion questions focused in part on safety. He asked if we could give an example of a situation where we had chosen obedience over safety. This is a much more difficult question than meets the eye in my opinion. We first peeled away what we think “safety” means in today’s context (since none us of are facing the jailer for doing the work of the gospel). As we talked more, it was really difficult for us to come up with specific examples. Problematic. I challenged the group to spend this next week thinking about where God is calling them to obedience, and then assess where the risk is. I would challenge you to do the same as well. Think about what really is risky. I think this is a much more difficult thing to grip than we admit. There are things that I can do that further the kingdom at absolutely no risk to myself. They are not wasted time – and we should keep doing them! But what about this question of obedience and safety? It’s well worth spending a little time evaluating what hard things God might be calling you to do, and then praying for the discipline to obey.

Are you living in community with other Christians who are challenging you in your faith? If not…get connected! Start with a life group or small group Bible study. The reality is that we grow as a unified body of believers as we struggle through life’s challenges together, and as we ask each other the really tough questions. Life group is a perfect place to really engage in that process. At the end of the day, we can take the risk and obey God because we serve a God who is all powerful – He is our strong tower, our great deliverer, our mighty fortress, everlasting…beginning to end. The safest place we can be is to be living out the great plan God has for us – He designed the blueprints for each of us, knows intimately what we need and what our limits are, there is absolutely nothing that can separate us from God’s great love.

Much love,

Laurie

Fresh air…

lauriekubicek — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 22:27:19 +0000

It’s that time of year again. Fall is just beginning to arrive and the air is a bit fresher out there – before you know it, there will be autumn leaves falling from the trees. Fall is really my favorite time of year, the weather is amazing, I get a fresh start at work (being a teacher is nice that way!), and it is an awesome lead-up to my favorite holiday – Christmas! I was looking back today at my post from last October…I love to look back and see what I was writing about, and what was going on in the life of our church. A year ago our interim pastor had just arrived. This year, our new pastor is here and teaching through his first series in the book of Acts. I love it! Last year, I blogged about the ‘be’ mentoring retreat. I hope more women will join us on the journey this year. I would love to connect women for partnership/mentorship even if there is no immediate ’crisis’ in their lives, but instead, just so that they can find new connections and sharpen each other on this journey of faith! I love the idea of doing life one-on-one in real relationship. I also blogged about living a life worthy of the gospel of Christ (that had been the theme at our retreat and wow…did it challenge us!!!) I would ask you a year later, have you thought about and addressed the things that get in the way of living that kind of life? Is the way you are living the day-to-day stuff of life glorifying to God – is it worthy of the gospel? Sometimes I feel like I wish that just an hour would go by when I felt like I was glorifying my savior. Other days, I think I’m doing quite well (and I wonder if God sees it the same way I do?) This fall let’s start fresh…breathe in some of that crisp fall air and let’s decide together to think again about what is getting in the way, and let’s do something about it! Do something. Join a Life Group. Start a Bible study. Ask for mentorship. Become a mentor. Let’s do everything we can think of to glorify God as women and as a church.

Much love,

Laurie

change and good news…

lauriekubicek — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 21:58:41 +0000

I am excited about what God is doing in my life right now. It’s a time of real challenge and transition for me…I’m expecting a baby, gearing up to watch my first-born start kindergarten and planning for a potential move (but not far…so you aren’t getting rid of me!!!) As I sit amidst swirling transition, it’s funny that I’m not feeling like the anchor is loose. I am leaning hard on the confidence I have in Christ and rather than feeling like it’s all coming undone, I feel just the opposite…like it’s all coming together. The other day a woman I’ve been working with professionally stopped me and said “If you ever wonder whether you have it together, I want you to call me, so that I can tell you that I’ve never seen anything like what you are doing right now!” I laughed (out loud!) but in all seriousness, I shared with the woman that I have no doubt where this peace comes from…it’s incomprehensible for a reason (God designed it that way). I love God so much for knowing that our ability to process would be limited, and for creating a mechanism (His perfect peace) that provides us calm in the midst of the storm.

At Sanctuary we heard good news this week. The Search Committee, after months of faithful service, has chosen a candidate to propose to our congregation to lead our church. I spent some time this week reading David Beck’s blog (he is the candidate…and if you didn’t catch it in the letter the Vision Team sent us this week, he blogs regularly…and it’s really very good: http://tdavidbeck.blogspot.com). As I read through some of his posts I got so excited. I know it’s sort of crazy…but it all fits in my “coming together” feelings right now. I was reading a post that David wrote on leadership, where he reflected on a children’s musical performance and found analogy to Christian leadership…I really liked it:
Although we as Christian leaders are not out to get people to “perform well” in the Christian life, there are analogies here for ministry.

1. The Scriptures set a lofty vision for us – nothing less than “it is not I who live but Christ who lives in me.” It is proper for us to call people to that mountaintop and not settle for the foothills of simply becoming nice or morally upright people.

2. The Christian life is fulfilling. There is nothing better than being a vessel through whom other people are blessed. As John Piper might say, it’s good for us to revel in the enjoyment of living as God intends.

3. We as Christian leaders must walk with people on the journey to allow Christ to live through them. If we are walking with them (and allowing them to walk with us), we will be prevented from walking away from them to go on to “the next thing.” What is needed is relational perseverance – or what is also known as patience and longsuffering, which is the fruit of the Spirit.

Regardless of whether you feel like you are a ‘leader’ right now…I love the idea that God is ready and willing to use you, and that He has called you to great [lofty] things. He wants YOU to be the one to walk with others, to persevere in their journey of faith, step-for-step, walking right alongside them. He’ll provide someone to do the walking WITH YOU as well. [SHAMELESS PLUG FOR OUR WOMEN'S MENTORING PROGRAM: we want to connect you with someone to walk with you, and if you want to mentor others...we want you to join our team!]. Something that I have loved since I first came to Sanctuary was the richness of gifts reflected in our congregation. We are a community of honest people – who for the most part, are willing to live broken before each other and the Lord. We are a community of people who desires to see its broad and deep range of gifts taken and used to impact the world for Christ. Today, as I imagine a little bit what it might be like to welcome David as our pastor if it becomes clear through the final stages of our search process that he is the one God has called to us, I am experiencing in earnest that rush of hope that God’s Word promises will not disappoint us (Romans 5:3-5).

Much love, Laurie

mission

lauriekubicek — Tue, 04 May 2010 23:25:57 +0000

“We exist to glorify God through lives that are transformed by the good news of Jesus Christ, and through living in authentic community, so that all may know Him”. The Vision Team (our Board) at Sanctuary Covenant Church has been working hard over the past months on that language. It expresses in succinct terms why Sanctuary exists…why we meet together every Sunday morning. I think it is exciting on so many levels. I have a question though: had you thought before that one of the reasons you attend church is to glorify God? That is such a lofty kind of concept. I love that it’s part of our nuts & bolts mission at Sanctuary. God’s great love for us is so unique. He sent His one and only son to live here on Earth, explain the good news of salvation – that if anyone believes in Him they will have eternal life, and then to die to pay the price for the sins of the world. This is one unique kind of love. It isn’t like any other love we have ever experienced…it is truly unconditional – given without expectation, knowing that many won’t choose to believe Him, and won’t return that love. It’s this great love that has transformed my life. I think it is perfect that as a part of our mission, we set ourselves to intentionally glorify God by living like we have been transformed. How cool is it that we don’t have to “do” something special or have some incredible talent to glorify Him, just that our very transformed lives scream the good news to the people we encounter every day? Whatever pressure you might have been putting on yourself to do, say, or be the right thing…you can end that now! Instead, live a life transformed…and when people want to know why you are different, tell them the truth. Living transformed lives translates into living in authentic, honest community. I want to be a church where people know who I am and they love me anyway and I think that many of the amazing people at Sanctuary are so good at that. I love my life group for that reason. They don’t make faces when I say something during a discussion that might be off the mark. They forgive me when I am difficult. They trust my motives (I can’t tell you how much I value that). As God’s sanctification of our lives transforms us, He is faithful to take our story and use it to strengthen the community of believers – and to spark an interest in the people we interact with and love who haven’t decided to trust Christ yet. So that all may know Him.

In Christ,

Laurie

my red sea experience…by Mary Daffin

lauriekubicek — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:00:56 +0000

Hey Ladies,

I’m borrowing this post from my good friend Mary…she sent this over to me today and asked if I would take a look at it for her – of course – I said I’d love to! When I read it, I felt like it struck such a chord with me. I know sometimes it feels like what we are doing is ordinary, and isn’t causing a stir anywhere…so I love the perspective she offers here…much love ladies, Laurie

“I’m sure there are many of you who may have no idea what “the red sea experience” is in reference to, so to start a little history. It is the location in the Bible where a climax of epic proportion takes place. The main characters in the story are a man named Moses, an Egyptian Pharaoh, a people group of nearly a million (the Israelites), and God of course – after all it is his book.

Ok, here is the story in a nut shell. Moses has an encounter with God in the desert. He is told his people are being greatly oppressed by the Egyptian Pharaoh. Moses is asked, really more like commanded, by God to approach the ruler and demand his people be released. Pharaoh is adamantly opposed to the request: no surprises there but finally caves after 10 different pleas from Moses, which actually was the result of the increasingly disgusting plagues that fell upon Pharaoh’s people with each one of his refusals.

The newly freed people make their way through the desert en route to their new home, appropriately named the “Promised Land”, when Pharaoh experiences seller’s remorse and sends his army to fetch the million person labor pool back home. Moses gets wind of the plan and knows it’s impossible to hide a million in the dessert, so with no place left he heads for the Red Sea and ultimately into a miracle for the ages….Just picture it, Moses, an old dude with a white beard and staff, standing at water’s edge, arms outstretched and raised, sea spray in face, crying out to heaven above for the impossible and the impossible happens! A gale force wind pushes back the water and a way out is created for the people on the run.

I just have one question…Why doesn’t this ever happen in my life? I mean really, where is the drama! The people who mess with me aren’t getting warts from frog invasions, drinking bloody water or having their flower beds eaten up by locusts….(fyi…those were just 3 of the 10 plagues, gross right!) I don’t know about you but I haven’t had any sea part and dry land appear for Ms. Mary to walk on by!!!

Come to think about it, I haven’t taken any SOS calls from God either. It’s more like a call from a friend of friend who is in need. It doesn’t involve the masses; it’s usually just for a few and in most cases, just one, which really doesn’t warrant much media coverage. The plea is never to provide a flashy medical procedure that could actually save a life or provide an escape from imminent danger. No way…nothing that special - but to be honest, I don’t think I know any life saving techniques, but that’s beside the point. It’s more like the mundane tasks like providing a meal, a ride to and from or even the more menial are the joys of grocery shopping or cleaning someone’s house – which always includes a toilet of two. No exotic plagues here…just the plain, unimportant, ordinary stuff of life.

I know what you might be thinking at this point, the last time you looked at me, I wasn’t Moses! I get that but does it make my red sea experience any less meaningful for the person I encounter. Does a ride to and from provide a type of freedom or a “way out” when there doesn’t seems to be one. Is a hot meal delivered to someone at the dinner hour just as miraculous as manna dropping out the sky…if you don’t know that part of the story, you’ll just have to read the unedited version in the book of Exodus. When we grocery shop or clean up someone else’s mess, do we believe we are alleviating some type oppression, goodness knows that’s how I view housework and cooking. I think it could be the same, but it’s really so vanilla, if you know what I mean…

I just had a new thought as I was writing this, God was doing for Israelites what they could not do for themselves, which was spectacular and unbelievable and that is exactly what He is asking of us which makes all those boring, mundane and menial tasks spectacular in the eyes of God. Now that adds a touch of drama, don’t you think?”

It’s all new…

lauriekubicek — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 04:43:39 +0000

I love winter! I keep seeing Facebook posts about how people are tired of the gray days, and cold weather, and how they are wishing the fog and rain away. I get it, I mean, cold, dreary, damp…not necessarily weather that calls you outdoors. I love it though. I love the reprieve from the Sacramento heat. I love the snow. I love knowing that before I know it, I’ll turn around and there will be daffodils everywhere, and then in an instant it will be hot and we’ll be complaining about how we just wish it would rain again. My sister and I joke around all of the time about that always wishing we had what we don’t, then once we have it, wishing we had something else: “it’s the law of diminishing returns” my mom would tell us when we were kids (plain English translation: “you guys are never happy!”) I was thinking today about how I am often that way. I want to be less busy…so I try to clear my schedule, then I feel bored or lonely and disconnected. Then I schedule more hang-out time with friends, do that, and feel like I wish I just had some peace and quiet. I think it’s just the way we’re built…the grass is always greener…I think it really is the law of diminishing returns =)

As 2010 gets off and running, I hope that I can savor things a bit more. Be happy where I am, trusting that whatever the circumstances are, it’s just exactly where God knew I would be, and that He is ready to walk each day with me, one at a time. I am reminded of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 in which Solomon explains that there is a time or season for everything in life, even death. It is so good for me to intentionally take one day at a time. To be deliberate about asking God exactly what it is I’m supposed to do that day (Judy Carlson likes to ask God in the morning “what is my assignment today?”…I love that).

So today, instead of wishing for what isn’t, ask God to help you walk in what ‘is’. He is faithful to stay with us, stride-for-stride. In Ephesians 3, Paul prays for the church to be able to grasp how wide and long and high and deep Christ’s love for us is, explaining that it surpasses all knowledge. That is my prayer for us this year…to begin to catch a glimpse of that powerful love and that it will be impossible for us not to share that love with the people around us.

Much love,

Laurie

reflecting a bit

lauriekubicek — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:47:05 +0000

Fall is officially in full swing, and even though it’s not quite Thanksgiving yet, in a matter of a few days we will have been thrust into winter (because if you haven’t noticed, it’s already the “Christmas Season” in every store in Sacramento!) I actually love, love, love this time of year. It’s my favorite season. I love the cooler weather and I’m a huge fan of the holidays.

This year I have spent a lot of time focusing on Thanksgiving…I was intentional, I didn’t want it to get lost in the rush to Christmas. Every day in November we’ve been making notes on our refrigerator about what we’re thankful for, and it has been a great exercise. It has given my family a concrete forum for our gratefulness. As I think about Sanctuary Church my heart is full and I am grateful. God’s faithfulness abounds. He has provided Rick Hampton to shepard us in this season of transition. Rick has served so well in such a short season. Our ‘be’ ministry has grown this year. We were treated to an incredibly diverse and full calendar of events in 2009. We hung out with each other, we encouraged each other, we served others, and we gave our time and money to help the sick and the poor. Pretty remarkable stuff. Along the way as I engaged in this ministry and poured myself into the lives of women, in return my heart was filled. It’s crazy to think that I have spent a year working with the ‘be’ team (seems like I just got started!). It has been my great privilege. I have been encouraged, prayed for, carried through hard times, and served. I am so thankful for the women of ‘be’!

Going forward my heart is full of hope. I dream of the new ways that God will be at work in our lives and the life of our church family. I can’t wait to see God reveal Himself to us. I am praying faithfully for each of you (I have a list =) As I do, I know that God will be present with you in whatever circumstances you find yourself in…and that He’ll never leave you. If you need prayer for something specific, I hope you’ll e-mail me so that I can lift it up to the Lord (laurie@sanctuary-church.com). Of course, you can always send a confidential request to your own personal team of prayer warriors…the ‘be prayer chain’.

The ‘be’ ministry team has been praying and working diligently to craft ideas for a great calendar of events in 2010. I hope that if you are new to Sanctuary, in 2010 you will settle in and feel at home, and that this ministry will play a part in making that happen. If you have been at Sanctuary for months, or even years, in this moment you may feel disconnected. You might be wondering how you got there…maybe you used to feel right at home and somehow it doesn’t seem the same any more. I hope you will give us a chance to re-connect with you. Make time for us, take a risk and come to a ‘be’ event…or even better, join a team for one of our ‘be’ events! It is my deep desire that our ministry stays focused on the things that really matter: that we are drawn into deep relationship with God, that we learn about who God is and how we can love Him well, and that we are trained and equipped to love others with the profound love God has shown us.

Please share with me what you need. Do you desire to study God’s Word and pray in a small group of women? Do you need accountability? Do you need to learn how to read and study the Bible? Do you want to be more disciplined in prayer? I want to make sure that this ministry is meeting your specific needs, and we can’t do that unless we hear from you. In a couple of days we’re going to be celebrating Thanksgiving…wherever you are, trust that you are on the list of things I am so incredibly grateful for!

Much love,

Laurie

run

lauriekubicek — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 03:55:21 +0000

It’s been a while. In the past month or so things have been busy and really exciting at Sanctuary Church. I was chatting the other day with someone and heard myself say “I’m more excited to be at Sanctuary today than I was 7 years ago when I walked in the door and heard Shannon Curtis singing”…for those of you who have heard Shannon sing, that is really saying something. What’s cool is that I really meant it. God is at work in our midst in ways I hadn’t expected, and He is demonstrating His great strength in our weakness – something I would think was crazy if it wasn’t His trademark. I love God for that. When we can’t wrap our minds around where things are going, or envision what could possibly be in store, He surprises and astounds us with exactly what we need in that moment. Rick & Marci Hampton joined us in September, Rick agreeing to serve as our interim pastor. Already he has preached through a terrific 5-week series on what the church is…ending this week with a sermon explaining that the church is a place of promise. How gracious God is to offer us glimpses of His character through the exercise of making promises to us. They reassure us of His love, compassion, and mercy. Looking back at His kept promises we are reminded that He is faithful.

I met a few weeks ago with a group of women who are doing a study with me on mentorship. As we spent the day together for a retreat I felt something incredible. Something that I consider a privilege – both from the perspective of what God allowed and these women allowed me to experience. As we shared our stories and challenged each other to identify what in our lives was getting in the way of our living lives worthy of the gospel, I knew with confidence that in those very moments the Holy Spirit was at work in our lives – right before my eyes. That isn’t a feeling I get very often, I mean, sometimes you feel like you see evidence of God’s hand in someone’s life…but this was much more *present* than that. Again, that’s it. It’s why I’m so excited to be here, now, in this season. 2009 is coming to close. It has been a year wrought with challenges for some of us, and for others, it’s been relatively calm. Whatever the case was for you, there isn’t any guarantee that as it wraps up things will stay the same. In fact, things almost never do. Knowing that, I would encourage you to examine your heart…ask God to show you what He requires of you and then run, seriously…RUN. Run headlong after Christ. Don’t stop pressing forward. Do everything in your control to live a life worthy of the gospel of Christ. I want to run side-by-side with you guys and I can’t wait to see where we go!

Do you want someone to go on this journey with you? I’d love to see you running toward Christ together…let me know if I can help connect you with another woman at Sanctuary who is looking for someone to *train* with. You can e-mail me at laurie@sanctuary-church.com anytime.

waiting

lauriekubicek — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 23:36:08 +0000

Waiting can be a challenge. What are you waiting for? Are you hopeful for a new job? A new relationship? Renewal in an old relationship? A baby? A new body? Deep friendships? Are you waiting for God to do something to grab you and inspire you? I don’t know what you are waiting on…but I know that whatever it is, you likely find it consuming your thoughts and eating away at you sometimes.

Sanctuary is in a season of waiting too. We are waiting together for a glimpse at what God has for us. I hope that in this season of waiting, you will wait with God instead of for Him. Consider what that might mean…that instead of praying for God to hurry up and do something, that you might sit and spend time with Him – sharpening your listening skills as you attempt to hear His Holy Spirit speak to you. Waiting with God is much more difficult for me than waiting for Him. I am an expert at waiting for him, I chat with God all the time, as I go through my day it’s sort of an ongoing conversation. I sometimes think “wow, I do such a great job of connecting with God, I do it all the time!” Then, every so often, I am really challenged to realize that talking with God is just one aspect of developing our relationship. If I’m going to really fall in love with Him, understand His character, connect with Him…I’ve got to do more than chat away. I would challenge you again as I did last month to dig deeper into His Word; to work hard to develop keen ‘spiritual ears’ so that as He speaks to you - and to us collectively, we hear His voice. My prayer is that we’ll be ready so that when our direction becomes clear, our waiting will have been time well spent. I want to hear His voice in the days and weeks ahead. I want Sanctuary to be listening for His voice together.

How can you begin to make this a reality? Are you in a life group? If not, I would challenge you to find one, and don’t just go – really invest yourself in gaining a deep understanding of God’s truth, and supporting the believers in your group. Are you confused about this spiritual journey that God has you on? Reach out and ask someone to walk with you for a season. Send me an e-mail and we’ll work together to find the perfect person to partner with you. Do you want to prepare yourself for support and mentorship? Join us for the study of Verna Birkey’s book, Women Connecting Women – we’ll complete the study between Aug. 10th and Sept. 20th as part of our mentorship ministry (if you missed the start, and still want to participate – let me know, you can jump in along the way!)

I am praying for you in the waiting…and I hope you’ll do the same for me. My excitement about what God is doing in the hearts of the people at Sanctuary grows every day, and I want to be ready!

Much love,

Laurie