**Mustard Seed Distributed**

In the past, you may have read things on MSD where I make correlations between my exercise and my body, and exercising my spirtual self and God. (Spoiler alert) This is one of those kinds of posts. I mentioned earlier this month that a NYR was to read my bible and journal each day, and yes, I am still on track with that goal. I don't think I mentioned, however, the other NYR I set for myself - to run 10 miles. If you have known me for a few years, and haven't spoken to me or hung around me in the last few years, that might even make you chuckle. "Yeah, right. T$? 10 miles? HA!" seems like a possible reaction. Especially if you take a look at the former 'Fat T$' pic in this post (as the pastor likes to call me in these older photos). But Saturday I ran 10.38 miles in 2:02. I know, not a blazing pace, but that is ok, I have learned that I am a slow runner. More of a jogger really that a runner. But I was proud of myself for accomplishing a 2012 g...

I am doing pretty well with one of my NYR goals this year - to read my bible and journal every day of twenty twelve. I know, you're thinking - 'hey that's great T$, but we're not even two weeks in'. I know. Humility. But I am excited as I press into the word each day and spend time engaging with God, and hopefully hearing things that I need to hear to grow in our relationship, and grow in understanding what I am on this earth to do each day. Trust has been a regular theme that continues to evolve in my conversations with God, and certainly in this time, I need to continue to trust Him more with more of my life. It is greatly rewarding personally to let all of the anxiety of life go, and allow Him to give me the peace Paul describes in Phillipians 4:7: And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus . But we are looking at HOPE at communitasnyc as of late, and I had somewhat of a revelation th...

A new year. New beginnings. New life. The old has gone, the new has come. An opportunity to set new goals based on the past, leave mistakes behind. Start afresh. Right. We are only four days into the year, and it appears the turmoil and tornadoes have erupted afresh. The clarity on what I am supposed to be doing in my job is the polar opposite of clarity. Not that I don't know what I am supposed to do in my current role. It is just that I don't know if that spitball is going to stick to the wall, or not. And I am fine with that. It is quite confusing, however. I have a peace that 'transcends all understanding' as Paul wrote to the Phillipians in 4:7. So I look at the message version and hear this: Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you do...

Here we are. The last day of 2011. (By the by, I am still in the 'twenty-eleven' camp, and tomorrow, I will be in the twenty-twelve camp). What a year this has been. Communitas is in an incredible place right now, on the edge of trusting God to lead us, and not having a pile of money in the bank can certainly lead you to more trust. The girls are healthy, have great friends and teachers. Superstar is always helping - somewhere, someone, including the kkft. I praise God for the opportunity to live in this great city and serve others. We certainly suck at times, and by no means are we even close to perfect, but when I really pay attention to God, when I tune in each morning, take time to journal, open my eyes ears heart and mind to what He wants me to see, do, experience, I am more equipped in this broken world to experience the hand of God in my life. And He seems to put Has hand in my life just when I need a boost. So next year, I have a goal for myself. Pastor write...

My heart was heavy this week. What am I doing? Am I sure that I hear God? Do I really know things to be true? Am I doing the right things for my family? Some of the questions that have been running through my mind this week. Are we supposed to stay in NYC? Do we need to move back to MI? My sense has been that we are where we are supposed to be. We are in NYC for God's purpose. We are supposed to support pastor times two, be the church, pour into our neighborhood, our kids, their friends, others first. There have been a couple of career opportunities that have come to me - in MI. Intriguing to me. Challenging. Moves up. But I have tried to pay attention to what God is teaching me. Pushing into the question - are we to stay in NYC? My answer continues to seem to be yes. Stay. You are in the right spot. All this when (again, surprise) my work position seems to be a temporary thing. I have been assured that this position is good for this year. Beyond that, there ...

If you follow this blog, you are aware that over the last four years, I have really tried to open my hands that I hold my career in, and allow God to lead me in this area. Not been easy. Not going to lie. But it does get easier as I go. The last four years have really been a challenge in that area - at times I have felt like: "Really, God? This is it?" This year is a bit different. I am so thankful that God has given me the opportunity to do what I am doing. But a great conversation with AD has led me (once again) to the conclusion that I really don't know what will happen beyond this year. Much like pastor's present state of employment, we both really are not certain what will come. My hope and my prayer is that I can continue to do what I am doing, for the company that I am doing it with. I believe in what we are doing. I passionately support the vision and mission. But my position is not locked in beyond this year. (Sound familiar?) And so I have ha...

It seems almost unreal to type this: I have been keeping this blog for four years now. That seems pretty crazy to me - that it has been that long. Really crazy. I can tell you that I do enjoy blogging, and you may have noticed that I don't do it as much as I used to. Not out of lack of desire to do, not out of lack of content. Matter of fact, I could probably blog everyday and produce some good content. (All those in favor of me blogging daily for a year say "I") But take a look at my reflection after one year here . I would say that as I worked in the D, God started to grow me in my relationship with Him, and I certainly was learning a lot. Take a look at year two here . I find it interesting that year two seems to be more profound in thinking than year one. Onto year three here . So taking a moment each year to reflect on where God has led me has been a great excercise in learning for me, and I find it interesting that year four doesn't necessarily br...