Sheep - He Counts Them. He Leads Them. He Shear's Them.

2013 was a great  year for the Haas'!    We stood in awe at God's continual goodness over our lives, again and again!  

• God strengthened my body and my heart through cancer, and gave Chris a peace to lead us through with joy,  that only God could do.   

• God provided a way, when others said there would be "no way"!   God provided!  

• God resurrected dreams that we thought had been forgotten, and broken into too many pieces.  God guarded and shielded us - every day, every moment.  He was there.   He was a faithful shepherd!

Just like a good shepherd ...

He was leading us.

He was guarding us.

He was feeding us.

He sheared us.

He counted us.


The thing that has stuck out more than ever in this season, is realizing this simple truth.
He took what was sheared off (worry, fear, lost hope),  and made it into something beautiful and protective from brutal elements.  Just like when wool is sheared,  it then creates something more beautiful to help protect from the cold elements or to help bring comfort to many.   God sheared and continues to make something beautiful with the Haas' messy wool.


We can confidently say, God did this with our lives this year.  Our story of God's faithfulness was shared.  God's love was given.  We had to trust Him completely to take these pieces and create a beautiful tapestry. 


As 2014 arrives, we are  more determined than ever, to fulfill all God is asking.  We are excited and humbled, to see God's love for us be once again beautifully on display - along with all of the broken and beautiful pieces that make up this tapestry!


What areas are you trusting God to be the Good Shepherd?  Caring for you?  Providing for you?  Leading you? 


We are praying for your 2014 to be a year full of God's faithful love!   Trust the shearing!

The Beauty Of "It"!

Over the last few weeks thru various conversations,  this word - PRESSURE - has surfaced more than a few times.  I've noticed that many want to avoid it!  Or they haven't been taught how to welcome it! To many it's like a plague or disease! 

This summer while on vacation, we got to spend several days at a secluded mountain cabin.  While enjoying the front porch river view, I noticed these huge butterfly bushes that attracted hundreds of butterflies. I mean hundreds!  They were breathtakingly beautiful!  Colors filled each wing tip uniquely and perfectly.  Each flutter was perfectly timed.  


I would like to think that God put these little winged beauties on display just for me!   I had finally stopped and sat long enough to capture this view!  (Those who know me, know that I typically don't like to reside in quiet places for too long, nor to sit or stop - for too long!). My eyes were glued to these little gems!  Some even landed on my hand before launching off to their next stop!

It's hard for me to comprehend how our God is so creative that He designed this little critter, so intricately in every detail, but it has to endure various "seasons" of pressure to get to the beauty.  The butterflies aren't that glamored up and pretty when they are slimy caterpillar's.  Believe me, I avoid them!  Seriously, don't bring caterpillar's near me!

I may not know why He created them with this kind of process to get to the beauty,  with a defined season, but I am thankful for the chance to enjoy their colors in their final stage!  In the seasons of our lives, we may walk through pressures too. Some may be from crazy schedules, high demand jobs,  financial challenges, relationships, grief or failures.  I am confident that God has a purpose with each of these.

We've got to get it deep within our minds that God purposed "pressure" isn't bad!  If you allow God the chance and the room in the season you are in, He will reveal to you the beauty.  

• You may have to wait for it - The Beauty! You can't rush this.    Don't try to skip a step, or a season, or a moment - to avoid the pressure. If you do, you are going to miss the fullness of all He is trying to accomplish in you.  The beautiful you!

• You may have to "shed" some things off to get to it - The Beauty!  Maybe it's an attitude, a past filled with regret, an unhealthy relationship, a perspective.  What needs to be adjusted?  What needs to be "taken off" so you can see the beautiful view clearly?  It may hurt.  But if we trust it - the beauty will be worth it.

 

•  You may have to adjust the compass. God pressure is attempting to force you into a certain position or direction.   Dependence on Him, not yourself.   Fully giving worship and honor to God & His plan!  Why fight it?

• You may have to journey through some rough places (thorns, bushes & barren lands with no nectar or sweetness) to discover it -  the beauty of YOU!  In these rough places,  you could feel alone, forgotten, abandoned.  This isn't a terrain many dare to go.  This last leg of the journey is for the brave.  This step is for those who know there is beauty waiting, if they dare journey through.  If you forfeit here, you could get stuck.   Will you choose to push through the thorns?  Lonely places?  Fearful moments?   Or stay back - avoiding and running from it (the beauty), again?

Don't you dare miss this!     Trust Him to show you the beauty and make the pressure beautiful!  He is a Master at this!   We can trust Him.  

Dictionary.com

press/pressure

1.  to act upon with steadily applied weight or force.

2.  to move by weight or force in a certain direction or into a certain position: The crowd pressed him into a corner.

3.  to compress or squeeze, as to alter in shape or size: He pressed the clay into a ball.

4.  to weigh heavily upon; subject to pressure.

5.  to hold closely, as in an embrace; clasp: He pressed her in his arms.

Shovels May Be Required

It's that time of year where I will plant properly, the spring bulbs I want to see blooming in the spring. I don't normally hold gardening talents that label me with a "green thumb award" from the local county fair, so I need to read and learn all I can, to make sure I'm preparing purposefully for the beauty I want to see ahead.  I know it's important for me to space out these bulbs out for growth, to plant before a frost arrives and to be aware of the health of the soil I plant in.  It's also important that I have the right tools to help me in the growing.

The same is true with growing leaders.  At Freedom House  & Freedom House Kids, growing leaders is a big deal!  It's a passion like none other! Just as I want the bulbs to provide beauty in the next season,  leaders must be purposefully prepared & ready for the next season God has in store! 

Over the last few months, our FHkids leadership teams have been digging deep!

1. They have navigated the tools together - digging into several great teaching resources (tools). 
2. They have invested together - cultivating mentoring time (soil) with the leaders.  
3. They have provided safety together - offering a safe environment (atmosphere) for current leaders and growing leaders to "dig deep".     

All of these things have to work together to bring the beauty in the next season.     

The courage that these leaders have given, is breathtaking.  They have been brave, faithful  and passionate to pursue God's best for their lives.   Digging deep has often required them to step into areas that they didn't know were still "rocky" in the underbrush.  Digging deep has required them to be vulnerable,  many trusting for the first time after "harsh, cold seasons" had come and gone.

The beauty of watching a new confidence and passion in their leadership that may have been buried, pushed aside, forgotten - for long cold seasons, finally pushing thru the barriers - is astoundingly beautiful!  Just like the multicolored rows of tulips that will line my front porch in the spring!

Chris and I are so proud of these leaders!  What fun it has been to learn along with them!  What a sight to see!   We love having this awesome view of watching God at work!



A few have asked ... "What are your top recommended books?".  There are so many fabulous resources to share, but here are a few of the non-negotiables that The Haas' hold close. 

Grab yourself a copy,  grab the shovel and dig in!

A Time To Twirl!

The last 48 hours have changed me.  Capturing the undivided, uninterrupted moments with my girl have shifted something in me.  I may not be able explain it adequately, but taking the time to "BE" with her has created a new passion in me I didn't expect to discover!


What began as a restful, quiet, but let's pack it all in - "Haas Girls Getaway", ended with so much more!
  

As I was sitting on the shoreline, watching my girl twirl fearlessly in the Atlantic sand, my heart was mesmerized!   She danced, she jumped, she twirled, she laughed, she chased, she smiled.   I watched her from a new view.  A view that displayed her courageous spirit.  Regardless of what was around her, she came to play!  Regardless of the chilled temperature of the Atlantic shore - she came to twirl in the sand and soak her toes in the fresh waves!  Regardless of what others were doing or not doing around her - she came to laugh and BE her!


It got me thinking ...


I admire her courage.  I admire her strength.  I admire her faith.  I admire her laughs.  I admire her twirl!


How often have I limited or discredited a moment?   Moment's bring memorials or regret.  Moment's lead to days,  then years.  Moment's define us.   I knew in that moment,  that I could not let it pass me by.   Moment's with my husband and children are some of the most intimate times that God will use to help bring a new definition or gentle reminder into my life.  It could be a new perspective,  an attitude that needs to be shifted or a defined place to trust God with complete courage to what He has created me to be and to do. 


The last 48 hours helped rediscover something in me.  I left with a renewed passion to be me - more of what God has asked of me.  I will laugh hysterically - frequently and more purposefully.  I will twirl without fear - making room for more celebrations & inviting others to enjoy the dance with me.   I will step in to this season with all that I am, with everything that God has purposed - regardless of what I see, hear of feel ...  or how cold/frigid the temps might be or the scare of jelly fish nearby!  


In Ecclesiastes 3, it says, there is a time and season for everything!  This is the Haas' time to dance!

If you see me twirling nearby - be sure to come and join me!



Twirl for a moment!

"What Are You Planting?" ... Growing Leaders At Freedom House Kids!

A lot of fabulous new things have been growing inside of the Haas' view over the last few months!    We can't wait to share all God has been doing from this view!   

We've been asked frequently of the details of why we have began a new focus of developing new leaders and how it all got started!  Many have wanted to sit and "dig in" to our experience of what it's been like to grow new leaders with Freedom House Kids and with our team at Freedom House! 

We are excited to share that over the next few weeks, we are going to share a few of our "lessons learned" in our adventure!  We'll share a few of the challenges, the celebrations, a few of our "misses" and the practical tools and wisdom we were able to apply.  It's truly been an honor to walk thru the last 5 months with this core team of new leaders and be able to watch God deposit and grow such vast promises in each of them!

Stay tuned for more coming this week as we share a few of the FHkids team organizational ideas' we've navigated, leadership resources that we have dove deep in to learn and apply ... and more!

We look forward to hearing of how you are growing leaders around you as well!

Dig deep!  Plant well!   Enjoy the Harvest! 

What Are You Reading?

I've been on a reading frenzy lately, seeking and finding some great resources for families!

Here are a few of my favorite new finds and resources that have impacted my life and my family!

Here ya go!

• The Sacred Echo - Margaret Fienberg
• A Young Man After God's Own Heart - Jim George
• Jesus Calling For Kids - Sarah Young

Over the last two months I've been watching with a front row view God's fresh Word affect me and my family.   Let me remind you ... Leaders are readers!

What are you reading that has impacted you?   

It's Summer Time!

It's Summer Time!


This summer I want to turn the sprinklers on for my kids and run through them with them. 
This summer I want to let them have ice cream for morning snack.
This summer I want to stop more, play more, and listen more.
This summer I want to play dress up with my girl and let her glam me with glitter and pearls!
This summer I want to slow down and watch my kids have a blast in our home.
This summer I want to take morning walks with my kids.
This summer I want to take them to the park more often - even if it's hot, humid and buggy!
This summer I want to make berry shortcake  with whipped cream for dinner.
This summer I want to make a batch of homemade lemonade and sit on the deck it with my family.
This summer I want to create memories of laughter with my family!

This summer I want to make sure that those little times, those pedals and pushes, and late afternoon hours playing together before a muggy thunderstorm rolls in really matters - in fact, really happens.

After all, look at them. Growing up.

Right in front of me. First they crawl, and then the walk, then they run, then they ride their bikes, and scooter, and on and on growing. Every day. One step older, one more moment of letting go.

This summer I want to take a bike ride next to them.
This summer I want to play catch in the backyard.
This summer I want to surprise them with really cool trips - beach, sand, fishing, fun!
This summer I want to remember to slow down.
This summer I will push through and try to understand that video game he really likes!

But, if you are like me, we lose track of that thought. We get stuck in the short sight - all we need to accomplish (that ever growing TO DO list!) or finish, or what they're not doing right or what needs to change or what we're making for dinner - that stuff. And we lose the idea that this day, this moment, this scooter ride down the hill and back, this matters.

Yes, we absolutely have to do all the short every day to day stuff, there's no way around it - the dishes, the TO DO list, the cleaning, the working, the laundry folding, etc - it's just part of life. But, we could get stuck only doing the to-do list and missing those moments that we'll want to remember. Are we really wanting to look back and remember that we got all those dishes done or the laundry was perfectly caught up or we sent that perfect tweet for this summer of 2012?

This summer I want to pay attention to the mom watch my cool trick moments.
This summer I want to look with wonder at that bee in the flowers.
This summer I want to look at both my kids in the eyes and tell them how much I love them.
This summer I want to take my oldest to see a late midnight movie.
This summer I want to rest in the grass and look for cloud shapes with my seven year old.
This summer I want to take them camping, real camping - in a tent on a cool mountain top.
This summer I want to worry less about the dirt and more about the heart.

It's too easy to race through the day, being busy, and than get to the end of the day when our little people  need to go to bed and to realize that less then ten minutes of time was really spent with them. Summer, despite the lazy hazy days of summer line has the tendency to actually race by with it's own form of busy. And, if we're not intentional the summer could pass, this summer, without accomplishing many of the things in our hearts that we want to do.

Make a list, my friends, make a list. Sit down, take ten minutes, and ponder what you really want to do, what would matter to your family, to others this summer.

This summer I want to surprise my husband with fabulous date nights, where I listen!
This summer I want to value our days and cherish every moment of his love for me!
This summer I will speak his love language and value every day we have been given! 

This summer I will find creative ways to show how I appreciate all he gives to our home!

 

You've got your to-do lists. Now, add a this summer list. I've shared with you a bit of my list in progress throughout the post. Will you check everything off? Probably not. Will it make you more intentional? Definitely yes. Before you know it this summer will be gone - summer has a way of doing that - grab this time, this summer - and really intentionally live capturing those moments that matter and that you want to remember.