Featuring Heather Aynne and Serve One Another In Love

My Church Doesn’t Look Like That...


This past weekend, I attended a church growth summit. The theme of the summit was tipping the cows that hinder the growth of your church. The very first cow that needed to be tipped was the “my church doesn’t look like that” cow.

How would you react if you saw someone walk into your shirt wearing a tank top, shorts and bare feet? If you wouldn’t bat an eye, kudos to you! I can tell you from my what happened to me yesterday that walking in that way can be a very intimidating experience, especially if your church has a “mature population.” Some people didn’t notice what I was wearing, but I noticed a number of people who gave me disapproving glances as they walked past me. And this is as an established member of the church. Perhaps their knowledge of me and the memory that I stood before them the week before wearing a nice suit skewed their impression but I didn’t feel terribly welcome.

Luckily, many churches have begun to adopt a more casual dress code for Sunday worship. While some people may feel that this is disrespectful to God, I think it’s positive in the sense that a guest walking through the doors for the first time will not be intimidated by feeling under-dressed. If you see the story I posted today on Serve One Another in Love, you will see that even some pastors have cast aside their robes and suits to place them on the same level as their congregation.

If your church is still slightly more formal, I challenge you to dress down for church next week. Wear something that you would never think to wear to church and see how you are received. If you feel uncomfortable, I would encourage you to mention that to your church and explain how their views and reactions are holding the church back from growing. More importantly, they may be driving people out of the church who are in desperate need of the lessons that are being taught. If you attend a casual church, perhaps next week is the week to go all out and dress nicer than you ever would. Judging others based on how they dress when they walk through the doors is a problem at both ends of the spectrum.

It seems like common sense that we would accept guests for who they are but we are often clouded by our own perceptions of what our church looks like. In order to open our doors wide and accept everyone, we need to tip the cow of our own views and simply thank God that He led them to your church family.

Throughout this week, I am going to be posting more information that may help you help your church experience growth in a time when every day there are churches closing their doors. We all need to start taking action if we want God’s kingdom to thrive!

By Heather Aynne
serveinlove.net

Are You Up For A Challenge?

I recently heard about a book called Radical by David Platt.  I have not read the book although hearing what the author is challenging people to do moved me ...  "Take back your faith from the American Dream."   The American Dream ... doesn't that represent everything that we live and work for here in the United States?  Isn't the idea of the American Dream meant to inspire and motivate, not only us citizens, but people world wide who have hope for a brighter future?  It's painted on billboards, portrayed in movies and written about in books ... who would want anything more then to achieve the goal that we all desperately strive for?  I am not promoting this book as I have not read it.  I think it would be wonderful to read sometime and I have heard amazing things regarding it although the book is not what I am writing about today- just the idea of taking back our faith ... taking it back from whatever it is that is overshadowing it.

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:2). 


I have felt a relentless desire to grow deeper in my relationship with God.  I love Him.  I want my life's work to revolve around Him and bringing others to Him.  I know He desires more of me then I am currently giving.  Right now my walk is less exciting and moving then what I would like for it to be.  Life is going wonderfully.  I am busy doing things that I love doing and all because He has blessed me with amazing opportunities- He is beginning to lead me down a path that I have been prayerful about for so long.  I am just missing one little thing ... fulfillment in my everyday walk.  I know that He not only wants me to be happy and content, but to be filled to the brim- overflowing with Him.  I desire for that fire, that excitement that can hardly be contained!

So, in my quest to light that fire and grow deeper in relationship with Him I have decided to challenge myself.  I have identified some of the major areas that I feel keep me and others from getting closer to Him.  Yes, there are things that I am not thrilled to work on ... things that will take even more of my time and energy, but I know it will all be worth it in the end.  I know that I can be better then I am now if I strive to be the best that I can be for Him; that means giving Him my all- not just my leftovers.  I am really excited to start this journey and I can't wait to see what He has in store for me.  How much more will I experience when I am giving Him my all? 

Maybe you are in a great place and life is going well.  Maybe you aren't and your life is in turmoil and distress.  Maybe you're simply bored in your everyday walk.  Maybe you're desperately seeking. We are all in different places spiritually but I believe that we can ALL do more to grow in our faith.  Take back your faith!  Take it back from whatever is keeping it from being what it is meant to be.  Take it back from your desire to achieve success and the American Dream. Take it back from depression. Take it back from fear. Take it back from the boring and mundane.  Take it back from self service.  Take it back from the easy going.  Take back your faith!  What can God do when we give Him our all?  What can we experience?  How can we grow?  I am up for the challenge and I hope that you are too!  It excites me so much to think of the possibilities  ... I am expecting the unexpected and eager to follow where He leads. 

I will be doing short devotionals on different areas of struggle and will finish each off with a challenge for you and I to pursue.  I would love to hear your thoughts along the way.  Where are you struggling?  What is He doing in your life as you challenge yourself to take back your faith?  What praises do you have to share?  I ask that you prayerfully consider journeying through this with me.  Leave me a comment on Inspiring Excellence's facebook page letting me know that you are taking the challenge!  We can encourage each other along the way. 

Take back your faith and watch your life radically change!

Featuring ... Fancy Little Things!

This week I am excited to feature Fancy Little Things!  This blog is a wealth of information for women which features multiple different topics - there is something to meet everyones interests!  Please stop by FancyLittleThings.com and check out all they have to offer.  You won't leave dissapointed!

About Fancy Little Things:

FancyLittleThings.com is a brand new blog featuring 8 topics for women: Projects, Home & Garden, Faith, Relationships, Food, Health, Style & a Book of the Month. This blog is the idea of Editor & Projects Author, Aimee Steckowski of byAimee.com. She’s a writer & website developer with a passion to encourage woman to share their ideas and for small businesses & entrepreneurs to be successful. Also, selfishly, Aimee was eager to find a place to share her simple craft projects & connect with a bigger community. She rallied her friends & mom to take on a topic that they felt passionate about and to begin sharing their thoughts, ideas & photos!

Each day of the week focuses on a different topic:

• All project tutorials, project giveaways and other fun handmade-related things will always be posted on Monday.
• Tuesdays will feature our Home & Garden topic where you will see different projects & décor ideas for both the interior & exterior of your home.
• Each Wednesday will be a guest-featured series on Faith; a Bible study series, sharing of their personal story connected with Bible verses or a chance to dig a little deeper in your Christian walk.
• We have Relationships on Thursday that will answer reader’s questions 3 weeks each month.
• Friday is all about FOOD! Recipes, kitchen gadgets, how-to’s and ideas for how to feed a family on a regular budget!
• The end the week with Health & Wellness tips, exercise advice and activities on Saturday.
• Style will make a splash on Sundays with tricks and ideas to be trendy, modern & still keep your personal style at the forefront.
• Our Book of the Month will be featured on Saturdays a few time each month. A new book will be introduced along with discussion questions and other reading-related articles.

You are sure to find something on this blog for you! You can check them out by going to their website, subscribing to their blog, “liking” them on Facebook or following them on Twitter.

Am I Waiting For God or Is He Waiting For Me?

"But those who wait for the Lord (who expect, look for and hope in Him) shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up (closer to God) like eagles.  They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired" -Isaiah 40:31 AMP.

I have journeyed a long road in trying to figure out who I am, what I am meant to be, where I am supposed to go.  I knew He had amazing plans for my life, but what those were exactly was a mystery to me.  After wishing and hoping that God would reveal to me His great plan for my life and then not seeing any results, I became discouraged.  Why was it so hard to find the answers to my questions? 

After reading Isaiah 40:31 many times and really applying myself and my life to it, I gradually began to see that it would take more then "wishing" to get to where I wanted to be.  Those who expect something to grow or happen over night are foolish and I had been that fool.  Faith comes gradually and by practice. When we plant a seed does it sprout as we sleep that very same night? No, we must care for it by watering it and giving it sun light.  It is a continued cycle of dedicated time and attention. If we devote our efforts to this plant, we can proudly watch it sprout, grow and become something beautiful and fruitful.  If we neglect it, it withers away to nothing.

The same goes with our faith.  I had been expecting to grow by starving myself spiritually and became frustrated when I didn't get the immediate answers that I was after.  I can understand Jesus, love Him, desire to be in relationship with Him, but if I'm not willing to do what it takes to have relationship with Him I am lost.  In Revelation 3:20 Jesus calls out to us saying, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me."  If I'm not willing to open the door, how will I have community with Him?  After all, Jesus never forces His way in, we must invite Him. 

By learning to expect, look for, listen and hope my faith began to grow exponentially.  It is exciting  knowing all that can happen and be revealed by Him by simply following through and giving myself ample opportunity to learn and grow.  We aren't born mature Christian individuals.  Hearing God's voice takes practice.  Without really learning to tune into Him and listen to His words, we cannot honestly hear Him.  When we are open and willing He can work in marvelous ways!   Can I now see every step where He is leading me?  No, but aren't we called to walk by faith?  Do I know exactly the plans He has laid out for me?  Not exactly but I have a better idea.   I am at peace knowing that His plans will come to life and in the meantime I am loving the growth and closeness of our relationship.

Do you struggle with figuring out the plans God has for your life?  Do you feel like you are stumbling around in the dark waiting for Him to shine the light down on you?  I encourage you to invite Jesus in and find new ways to grow in Him.  Try a new bible study, read a new book in the bible that you have never read, start a journal (!), try out expecting Him to move in your life rather then wishing, read one encouraging verse every morning before you start your day, ask Him to reveal Himself to you everyday ... there a many ways to grow, you just need to find them and dedicate yourself to them- then watch things happen!

Give Away Winner ...

Heather at serveinlove.net ... you are the winner!!!  Thanks to everyone for your comments and everything ... I hope you enjoyed learning more about some of the different names of God.  I encourage you all to read the book Trusting In The Names Of God by Catherine Martin ... it is seriously life changing and can deepen your relationship with Him so much.  Stay tuned for more give aways to come at the end of April! 

I can't wait to feature Heather ... be sure to check her out at Inspiring Excellence soon! 

Abba, Daddy

My husband and I love song lyrics.  They tell such amazing stories and stir up all kinds of great feelings and emotions.  Since our first daughter was born seven years ago we have found a specific song for each of our three girls that described our feelings towards them each individually; a song that we dedicated to them and labeled as "their song".  My husband chose the Kenny Chesney song There Goes My Life for our middle daughter.  She loves listening to it and loves when her daddy sings it to her.  She could listen to it over and over again.

The other day they were out running an errand together and that song came on the stereo.  The part of the song that says,

Oh yeah..........he loves that little girl.

Momma's waiting to tuck her in,
As she fumbles up those stairs.
She smiles back at him dragging that teddy bear.
Sleep tight, blue eyes and bouncin' curls.

He smiles.....
There goes my life.
There goes my future, my everything.
I love you, daddy good-night.

My husband was singing along with it and glanced in the rear view mirror and realized that our daughter was in tears.  He quickly asked her what was wrong and she said, "Daddy these are happy tears.  I am happy because you love me so much."  It was one of those precious moments that he will never forget.  Her gentle little four year spirit recognized the great love that her daddy had for her and it moved her to tears ... beautiful!

"Jesus addressed His Father in a special, most intimate way when He was in the depth of suffering- His dark night of the soul.  He was in the Garden of Gethsemane just before His arrest and crucifixion on the cross.  He prayed, 'Abba! Father! All things are possible for You; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will' (Mark 14:36).  Abba is the Aramaic word translated 'Father' and is used in the spirit of a tender, affectionate child in much the same way as a child today would use the word daddy.  Jesus used Father in His prayers much more often than other Jewish teachers and writers.  Because of our new relationship with God through Christ, we may employ this display of affection, this expression of endearment, Abba, Father." - Catherine Martin, Trusting In The Names Of God Devotional.

The Great Yahweh who created the Heavens and earth is our Father ... our Daddy if you will. We are His precious children and nothing, and I mean nothing, in all eternity means more to Him then us.  He weeps when we when are hurting, He basks in joy and excitement when we are happy, He is heartbroken when we turn away from Him.  His love for us is never ending and pure.  We have the incredible privilege of coming to Him in the intimate way a child goes to their daddy.  

When we are hurting we can turn to Him and take refuge in His loving arms and His arms are ALWAYS open and willing to take us in.  No matter what we have done, even if we have walked away He is still lovingly waiting for our return ... no strings attached.  He provides the most pure love that we could ask for. 

Charles Spurgeon says, "If an earthly father watches over his children with unceasing love and care, how much more does our heavenly Father?"  Maybe you have experienced unconditional love through your earthly father, maybe you haven't ... no matter the circumstance you have Abba who loves you dearly.  Get to know Him, rest in Him, delight in Him.  There is nothing He desires more then you.  He gave His precious life so that you may have life.  Catherine Martin asks, "Will you  crawl up into the lap of your Abba, Father now and lay all your cares and worries in His loving arms?"   

In Closing This Series:
I encourage you all to read the book Trusting In The Names of God by Catherine Martin.  I have explored in my blog, Yahweh, Yahweh Nissi, Yahweh Jireh and Abba which are some of my favorites.  Her book explores many more of His names that are so incredible.  When your really get to know our LORD in all His different elements, it allows for such a deeper understanding and appreciation of Him.  Dig into this book and watch your faith grow in beautiful strides.

Give Away & Chance To Promote Your Blog!

I am finishing up my short series on some of my favorite names of God inspired by Catherine Martin's, Trusting In The Names of God. I am ending it with a fun giveaway that I think you will LOVE!

This Friday I will be doing my first drawing ... The winner of my drawing will recieve a copy of Martin's, Trusting In The Names of God and a featured guest spot on my blog!

How do you enter to win? #1 Leave a comment on any of the Names of God posts. #2 Subscribe to my blog OR "like" my Inspiring Excellence facebook page (see link in the right hand side bar of this page).

I will announce the winner this Friday at noon mountain time. If you win, you will recieve the book and be scheduled for a featured spot on my blog this April. If you are looking to bring new readers to your blog, this is a great opportunity! Can't wait to hear from you ...