Prepare for Launch
Tell me if you've ever had a week like this: You have a growing list of things to do, but only a finite number of hours in which to do them. You're not really stressed (yet), because the things that you're doing excite you. However, no matter what you get done, there is always more being added to your plate? And then, a beautiful bomb gets placed in your lap.
Welcome to my week. More appropriately, Church Week.
Monday started off as just a normal day. Get myself and Amelia Pond ready for work/daycare, pick her up, take her to gymnastics, go home and get her to bed. THEN my work really starts. Read 30-40 pages of the church book club book that we will be discussing TOMORROW. But the book is really good and mind-bending, so now I can't sleep because I'm processing. Proceed to stay up until the AM discussing this and so much more with Husband. We discussed things that we haven't discussed for 12 years this night. More clarity, more passion, more excitement. Sleep.
Tuesday was a half day at work, starting with a morning to attend a Preaching seminar. I mentioned this briefly in my post about Procrastination. Not included in that story was a "quick" trip to Target, where when I only intended to spend exactly $5 plus tax, I spent $50. (Sorry, Husband.) After work I FINALLY get to meet with a friend after weeks of rescheduling with weather, life, and other reasons. We have tea and a lovely conversation, and she agrees to come to my church book club. AMAZING conversation at book club, and another exhausting, but fulfilling day.
Wednesday was another half day of work, but in the morning. Afternoon was training the leadership for an upcoming Via de Cristo weekend. I'll talk more about Via de Cristo in future posts. For now, suffice it to say that this was a train the leaders on how to organize a retreat type of event. We spent a glorious 4.5 hours together. But that meant that I was running later than I had hoped for picking up my daughter, going to church, worship, and adult forum. I made it to adult forum and read a fascinating piece about Paul and Thecla. Thecla is basically the first female superhero. More amazingness.
Today - I was expecting a little more relaxing day. After having time off, I expected an influx of things in my Inbox, and I was not disappointed. The highlight though was being able to have lunch with one of my favorite people on her birthday. She's one of two amazing pastors at my church. We had also been trying to arrange time to meet, but once again life, or in this case death (funerals) got in the way. We had a lovely vegan lunch and met to discuss my path to ministry. I had fully expected and prepared for this conversation. I have a list to follow up with and all is good.
Then a beautiful bomb came. I had expressed a desire to preach at our church. I want to be more practiced at it and dwell under the care of my two amazing pastors for a while and absorb what I can from them before I leave the nest and fly off to my own church someday.
How about next Wednesday? As in 6 days from now. I can help you.
I can't say no to God, right? This is an opportunity, right? Yes, yes God, I can do this. You and pastors will help me.
Then I get back to my desk. I begin to process what I just agreed to. Self-doubt chokes me up. But I've learned her tactics and I rebuke them. I open my devotional that I keep at my desk for times like this, and turn to today's date.
"Trust me and don't be afraid, for I am your Strength and Song... When you relate to Me in confident trust, there is no limit to how much I can strengthen you."
Guess what, self-doubt... you aren't going to win today. I got this. We got this.
So get ready for launch people, because Positively Pastoral Jessica is going to be preaching on Wednesday, March 27th at 6 pm. It will probably be pretty rough. I might mess up once or twice. But it has to be better than that one time at karaoke where I tried to sing an Amy Winehouse song and totally messed it up (sorry about that, Amy.)
Pray for me.
Positivity for the Day
Just because something is intimidating doesn't mean we have to be afraid of it. Fear is a natural human response - in fact, part of our survival instincts. But if we take a step back and look at our fears and squash them, they also become surmountable.
I will not die by giving a sermon. I will probably like it. It's going to be a lot of work, but I have people and resources to support me. It will help me grow both personally and professionally. People might like what I have to say. This is a good thing.
Whatever you need to do today that is hard, know that you are not alone. Fear and anxiety don't have to win. If you need help, reach out. Know your strategies to overcome fear. I'm here if you need a listening ear, someone to sit with you, or to talk.
Be blessed by the opportunity, not overcome by it.
Peace,
Positively Pastoral Jessica
Welcome to my week. More appropriately, Church Week.
Monday started off as just a normal day. Get myself and Amelia Pond ready for work/daycare, pick her up, take her to gymnastics, go home and get her to bed. THEN my work really starts. Read 30-40 pages of the church book club book that we will be discussing TOMORROW. But the book is really good and mind-bending, so now I can't sleep because I'm processing. Proceed to stay up until the AM discussing this and so much more with Husband. We discussed things that we haven't discussed for 12 years this night. More clarity, more passion, more excitement. Sleep.
Tuesday was a half day at work, starting with a morning to attend a Preaching seminar. I mentioned this briefly in my post about Procrastination. Not included in that story was a "quick" trip to Target, where when I only intended to spend exactly $5 plus tax, I spent $50. (Sorry, Husband.) After work I FINALLY get to meet with a friend after weeks of rescheduling with weather, life, and other reasons. We have tea and a lovely conversation, and she agrees to come to my church book club. AMAZING conversation at book club, and another exhausting, but fulfilling day.
Wednesday was another half day of work, but in the morning. Afternoon was training the leadership for an upcoming Via de Cristo weekend. I'll talk more about Via de Cristo in future posts. For now, suffice it to say that this was a train the leaders on how to organize a retreat type of event. We spent a glorious 4.5 hours together. But that meant that I was running later than I had hoped for picking up my daughter, going to church, worship, and adult forum. I made it to adult forum and read a fascinating piece about Paul and Thecla. Thecla is basically the first female superhero. More amazingness.
Today - I was expecting a little more relaxing day. After having time off, I expected an influx of things in my Inbox, and I was not disappointed. The highlight though was being able to have lunch with one of my favorite people on her birthday. She's one of two amazing pastors at my church. We had also been trying to arrange time to meet, but once again life, or in this case death (funerals) got in the way. We had a lovely vegan lunch and met to discuss my path to ministry. I had fully expected and prepared for this conversation. I have a list to follow up with and all is good.
Then a beautiful bomb came. I had expressed a desire to preach at our church. I want to be more practiced at it and dwell under the care of my two amazing pastors for a while and absorb what I can from them before I leave the nest and fly off to my own church someday.
How about next Wednesday? As in 6 days from now. I can help you.
I can't say no to God, right? This is an opportunity, right? Yes, yes God, I can do this. You and pastors will help me.
Then I get back to my desk. I begin to process what I just agreed to. Self-doubt chokes me up. But I've learned her tactics and I rebuke them. I open my devotional that I keep at my desk for times like this, and turn to today's date.
"Trust me and don't be afraid, for I am your Strength and Song... When you relate to Me in confident trust, there is no limit to how much I can strengthen you."
Guess what, self-doubt... you aren't going to win today. I got this. We got this.
So get ready for launch people, because Positively Pastoral Jessica is going to be preaching on Wednesday, March 27th at 6 pm. It will probably be pretty rough. I might mess up once or twice. But it has to be better than that one time at karaoke where I tried to sing an Amy Winehouse song and totally messed it up (sorry about that, Amy.)
Pray for me.
Positivity for the Day
Just because something is intimidating doesn't mean we have to be afraid of it. Fear is a natural human response - in fact, part of our survival instincts. But if we take a step back and look at our fears and squash them, they also become surmountable.
I will not die by giving a sermon. I will probably like it. It's going to be a lot of work, but I have people and resources to support me. It will help me grow both personally and professionally. People might like what I have to say. This is a good thing.
Whatever you need to do today that is hard, know that you are not alone. Fear and anxiety don't have to win. If you need help, reach out. Know your strategies to overcome fear. I'm here if you need a listening ear, someone to sit with you, or to talk.
Be blessed by the opportunity, not overcome by it.
Peace,
Positively Pastoral Jessica
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