Twenty-eight years ago tonight at 11:38 p.m. I delivered our first child--a beautiful baby girl! One look and it was love at first sight for both of us! She was so tiny, so beautiful and they were actually entrusting us to care for her!
It was Gary's day off so we started our morning on the track at Turner High School, Gary running while I was walking around the track. I loved to walk and pray aloud. Usually there was no one else around so I could pray as loud as I wanted. After we returned to our little home on Miami, i began to feel funny. I called my doctor and they told me to alter my activity. Since I had been walking I rested and took a shower. The "feelings" began to get stronger and more frequent so we called the doctor again and he suggested we just come on in to his office so he could evaluate my status. Kristen's due date was November 2, the day before but since it was our first baby, I had no experience to compare labor and delivery, so I really didn't know what to expect. We had participated in childbirth classes but experience is so the best teacher!
So we went to the doctor and he broke my water during the exam and sent me over to Shawnee Mission Medical Center to proceed. We were going to have a baby!!!! It seemed so surreal! However, I was very short and knew that my flesh could not possibly stretch forever or much further!
It was about 11:30 a.m. when we got to the hospital and we were in for a long day! Gary was a very attentative husband and stayed by my side, coaching as much as I would allow.
How incredible and miraculous! What a beautiful daughter!
Twenty-eight years ago tonight at 11:38 p.m. I delivered our first child--a beautiful baby girl! One look and it was love at first sight for both of us! She was so tiny, so beautiful and they were actually entrusting us to care for her!
It was Gary's day off so we started our morning on the track at Turner High School, Gary running while I was walking around the track. I loved to walk and pray aloud. Usually there was no one else around so I could pray as loud as I wanted. After we returned to our little home on Miami, i began to feel funny. I called my doctor and they told me to alter my activity. Since I had been walking I rested and took a shower. The "feelings" began to get stronger and more frequent so we called the doctor again and he suggested we just come on in to his office so he could evaluate my status. Kristen's due date was November 2, the day before but since it was our first baby, I had no experience to compare labor and delivery, so I really didn't know what to expect. We had participated in childbirth classes but experience is so the best teacher!
So we went to the doctor and he broke my water during the exam and sent me over to Shawnee Mission Medical Center to proceed. We were going to have a baby!!!! It seemed so surreal! However, I was very short and knew that my flesh could not possibly stretch forever or much further!
It was about 11:30 a.m. when we went to check in and we were in for a long day! Gary was a very attentative husband and stayed by my side, coaching as much as I would allow.
What fun to celebrate with the Indian Creek Gardner campus in a night of serving the comunity by offering an alternative to walking the streets to gather candy! We love to celebrate that darkness does not win over light!
This is Landon's first little costume and he is a snuggly little teddie! His proud papa is a wonderful dad and serves on the Indian Creek Gardner team at the sound board.
It is my pleasure to write the Go Deeper for the week that launches a crazy idea! I value your feedback.
My dad is a very generous man. He has taught me by his life since I was a very little girl that to love is to give. Don’t get me wrong, we were never rich, but what we had my dad was quick to share and give away. And my father worked very hard for what he had. He is an entrepreneur and a self-employed man. And when his girls, his beloved daughters grew up, married and were struggling to earn a living; he gave. Why, because he said that he wanted to give resources to us now when we needed it most. He didn’t want to store it up for us to fight over when he died. And he has done just that. My dad did not store up financial wealth here but has invested it in the lives of those he loves.
My dad inspired me to be a generous person. How about you? What or who comes to your mind when you think of generosity? Are you a generous person with your time, love, money, gifts and life? Where are you investing your resources? In yourself, your family, the Church, this world?
God has something to say about generosity. Read 2 Corinthians 9:11; Proverbs 11:24 and 2 Corinthians 9:6.
One of the ways that I love to express my love for others is through gifts. I love to see the look on their face when I have presented them with something that they have been dreaming of, have needed but couldn’t afford or have desired. I think I learned that from my earthly father and eventually my Heavenly Father. I was sixteen years old when I encountered Jesus Christ, the love of my life! I fell head over heels in love with Him and began to let Him walk beside me and eventually learned to let Him walk in front of me and I followed His lead. That is a journey I am still on as an adult. Sometimes things get between us or I get ahead of Him but I am so grateful that He is patient with me.
It wasn’t until I got married that God began to tutor me on giving financially through my husband. My father had taught me how to receive.He modeled generosity and selfless living and I was the recipient. Now I am learning to be a giver and others are the recipients. Gary grew up generously sharing the resources God gave him with God’s people through the Church, supporting the effort to help people find their way back to Him. As we struggled financially to gain a foothold in the adult world, I saw for myself that we could never out give such a lavish and generous God! Check out these scriptures: Matthew 7:11; Luke 6:38; John 3:16; Romans 8:32; 2 Corinthians 8:9; 2 Corinthians 9:8, 11; 1 Timothy 6:17; and I John 3:16-18.
Our salary was meager (though not compared to the third world countries) so how could we give, I asked. However I learned to not be uncomfortable as we earned little and gave anyway.There were times our tithe wasn’t much but God is interested in our hearts. Give a percentage of what you have; do not be embarrassed because you are not rich. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have (2 Corinthians 8:12).Not equal gifts but equal sacrifice was one of Indian Creek’s very first building fundraising messages.
Read Luke 3:11 and Acts 4:32, 34-35.
God taught me so much through His Word and His Body, Indian Creek.I watched as the Church was the Church to one another and people shared with one another everything that they had! Truly, it was and is a joy to experience! I learned so much in those early days from those older than me.They demonstrated trust and obedience as well as just downright hilarious giving! Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful (same root word as hilarious) giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7.
As we grew older and we began to earn more, I was challenged and stretched as God taught me that it wasn’t mine. And that the more I made the more I was called to give. Although everyone is called to be generous, we should be especially so if we are wealthy. And if we live in the U.S.A. we are rich comparatively. We don’t need to be embarrassed by wealth, but remember it is not our money. And we are given it so that we can use it to bless others. READ 1 Timothy 6:17-19. Regardless of our financial situation, God wants us to look for ways to bless others. Let the following examples from the Bible encourage you to use your resources—your money and your home—to further the Kingdom of God.
·Mary Magdalene and other women helped support Jesus and the apostles, Luke 8:1-3
·Joseph, a wealthy man, provided his own tomb for Jesus, Matthew 27:57-60.
·Nicodemus supplied expensive spices for the burial, John 19:39.
·Priscilla and Aquila invited Apollos to their home to tell him about Jesus, Acts 18:26.
·The Corinthians gave money to help impoverished Christians in Jerusalem, 2 Corinthians 8 and 9.
·Philemon opened his home for church meetings, Philemon 2.
·Let Christ inspire you in Philippians 2:5-7.
Let’s ask ourselves these questions:
·Do I have a generous heart? Am I a generous person?
·Do I make generous donations to my church?
·Do I show generosity to poor and needy persons?
·Do I think God is pleased with my level of giving?
·Do I need to make any changes in how I approach giving?
And now, in these times, I am being challenged and stretched more by God to live a life of generosity as the economy is tight and it is not as easy to give from what I have. But I am determined that I will not give up my pursuit to live a life of giving it away! I enjoy the privilege of giving. I want to remember that it is God who gives you the ability to share. I am very thankful for the privilege of giving. Perhaps memorizing this verse will help me, But who am I, and who are my people that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. 1 Chronicles 29:14.
I want to live a life that is like my earthly father’s and my Heavenly Father’s: generous, a life of giving! What about you?
Some more Scriptures:
Matthew 6:19-20; Matthew 19:27-29; Proverbs 23:4-5; Proverbs 30:8-9; Ecclesiastes 5:10-15
Other Resources:
The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcott and Generosity be National Christian Foundation
What an incredible opportunity! I am so thankful for the experience I had and that I didn't miss it! I used to tell my kids that nothing good happened out at night after midnight (old Parent Proverb--they didnt' believe it either!) but I do know that sometimes lots of good things can happen before 9:00 a.m.! I must say the older I have grown the less excited I am about getting up in the mornings! And I hate it! I was always an early riser! I love the morning! Anyway this morning it was rainy and I really had a hard time crawling out of bed! (sometimes for me it is best just not to get in!)
Anyway, Gary and I had responded to an invitation to attend a prestentation by Makoto Fujimura who founded the International Artists Movement (IAM--cool name!) But more than that he is both iconoclast and fixture. His works are on display worldwide with the largest, 17 feet by 23 feet, filling CNN Asia headquarters at the Oxford House in Hong Kong. But on the weekends he is in the churches in Greenwich Village where he serves as a Presbyterian Church in America elder.
IAM's mission statement is IAM gathers artists and creative catalysts to wrestle with the deep questions of art, faith and humanity in order to inspire the creative community to engage the culture that is and create the world that ought to be.
Art is society's existential statement, in answer to the question, "Why live?" International Arts Movement works as a catalyst to inspire people to hope, engage deeply into the depth of culture's critical zones, and create a world that ought to be. We believe that artistic excellence as a model of what ought to be" paves the way for lasting, enduring humanity.
I AM falling in love with this movement and especially appreciate Makoto's courage to steward his creative gift, and use it to magnify the creative character of God. Here are a few nuggets I gathered this morning.
Mako encourages artists to wrestle with the reality beyond the reality as they exist fully aware of the tension! Some quotes from this morning:
·Art creates a safe space for God to work.
·Do we invite Christ the Creator to move and work in our heart and life as we do Christ the Savior?
·We were created to be creative.
·Dancers use bodies as an instrument to communicate.
·Artist find themselves standing in the gap between the reality we see and the reality behind reality…between the visible and the invisible.
·Christ gives us a chance to be connected with Him deeply to ultimately find this alternate reality.
·Artists can be catalysts…to engage us to be fully human.
·Our world has turned to despair and is rather void of joy. Art can rehumanize the culture.
·Sometimes artists feel like misfits not only in the world (because they sense and see and feel things not quite as apparent to others) but also they feel like misfits in the church.
(He calls the picture above, Near To Me and the one below, Humbled Himself.)
Artists are missionaries in a sense, seeking to engage the culture on the front lines…
He quoted Ken Gire’s book, Windows of the Soul. He encourage us to visit the gallery, Signs of Life in Lawrence. Be generous with your supporters and they will be generous with you.
He was very inspiring and engaging. My soul resonated with the Truth of His message and it will most definitely flavor my message on Sunday! Can you tell I am inspired!
I encourage you to invest some time, poking around his website, looking at his artwork, understanding his voice, and watch his ability to gather artists, from many different disciplines, and engage them into a conversation about faith. I wonder how we at Indian Creek Community Church can encourage and engage artists to be all that the GREAT original I AM created them to be!
I was sick over the weekend and God did an incredible amazing thing! He touched my physical body but more importantly He touched my spiritual body! He healed my heart in a way that renewed my joy! Not only did He allow me to share His message with His beautiful beloved daughters (You can watch the podcast.) but He also bathed my heart with His love while I listened and drank in this Truth! I hope that it encourages you today.
Today is an amazing day! Today Kristen is sharing the message in Audover, Kansas, Living Out the Jesus Mission and sharing her heart about Project Partner. Luke Kendall is sharing his heart in a message at Bridgepoint Church in Lawrence, KS serving alongside of Pastor Dennis and Anita Carnahan. Gary's brother, Brad Kendall is preaching at his new location at Woods Chapel Church of God in Lee's Summit, Missouri. Meanwhile, Gary is supporting new campus pastor, Steve Southards at Indian Creek Community Church ! Wow, God, you are doing mighty things!
We are humbled and amazed! We are grateful for your prayers as they speak today!
Jeremy is such a proud papa of son, Landon and we are proud of him and Jesi! We were delighted on Friday when Jesi needed to work so she asked if we wanted to take care of Landon at our house while she prepared curriculm for the children at the Indian Creek Gardner campus. So we did,
Aunt Kristen came by and enjoyed loving on her first nephew. He is so precious who can resist! He seemed to enjoy her presence as well.
When Jeremy got off work he joined us and took the opportunity to gather four generations of Kendalls for a picture he was anxious to capture.
What a fun time we had sharing him all day and evening long!
Why? That is what mostly comes to mind when we stood beside of the little hole where this family was to place the tiny casket that held the body of their baby who never got to take a breath here. Why? Though I can't answer that question, I rejoice and celebrate in the hope that there is more to life than this!
This little family had only been attending Indian Creek Community Church a short time when she learned that the 13 week old infant that she was carrying no longer had a heartbeat! She was devestated! How could someone be pregnant one day and not the next? What happened and why?
Of course those thoughts ravage our minds. She reached out in her grief and connected asking for support for someone suffering a miscarriage. We connected via email, phone, and Facebook and walked through the next excruciating week. A fellow sufferer, sojourner, a woman who had suffered FIVE miscarriages called to encourage her and comfort her with the same comfort that she had received from the Great Comforter, Jesus Christ.
Amazingly, just the week before God had been preparing them for this day when Jamie took her son, Gabriel to visit the gravesite of her grandfather and his namesake at the cemetery that he and his twin brother were caretakers, Mt. Calvary in Leavenworth County.
Gabriel had been intrigued and very contemplative. He had spent time at the cross on the appex of the property and when Jamie asked him what he was praying for, he said for his little brother or sister.
How much comfort they drew this week from knowing that God had been preparing them for the comfort and hope that they would find in eternal life! Truly, there is joy in knowing that they will see Maggie in Heaven when she has a new body! And the comfort in knowing that she will never have to suffer hurt, pain or abuse in this life or ever! Nothing can touch her or hurt her where she is, safely at home in Heaven. I don't know anything that could bring more comfort to a mother!
I know it was for me when we lost our daughter at 21 months a comfort to know that we had an investment there that no one could steal or destroy!
We read the words of Steven Curtis Chapman's song, With Hope to remind us of that on Monday standing by Maggie's gravesite.
Yes, losing a baby is devestating but how much sadder to grieve that loss here if I didn't have the hope of seeing her again!
Jamie's grandmother had learned that Maggie could be buried at the foot of her husband's grave. God had provided for this little family graciously! What a special time to take the time to reflect and make a special place to remember a life though brief affected a family tremendously!
Jamie and Anthony wisely allowed Gabriel to fully participate and engage in the activities of the day of remembering his little sister whose birth into this world was due on his seventh birthday, 3-7-2010.
Sometimes you just have to DO something with your grief! We lowered the tiny box and released balloons to remember that Maggie was released into her new home in Heaven and not bound by this earth!
The balloons had messages written on notecards and attached to remind us what we wanted to remember about Maggie and her short life here. The wind was brisk and quick to snatch them from our hands and carry them quickly to the wild blue yonder reminding us that where Maggie was we could not yet go! But that there is a place prepared for us as well when our time comes. Until then we remember our brief encounter with her life with joy and sorrow.
Baby Tears
We cried tears when we learned that a child would be, that your GOD had allowed you to quicken in me. We cried tears with our loved ones as they shared our joy, and we thought about names for a girl or a boy. I cried tears as I thought of the things that we would do, all the things that your Daddy would pass on to you. And I cried as I thought of each inch you had grown, as I pondered the day you’d make yourself known. Then, to think of the world you must enter brought fears. Once again, little loved one, your Mother cried tears.
Something’s wrong, I can tell – once again there are tears, and I’ll not get the chance of your love through the years. Oh the ache and the sorrow and all of the pain, and again, yes again, my tears fell like rain. Then His peace comes to me as I think of you there, gently rocking with FATHER in His favorite chair. Your sweet little fingers clenched tight in His palm and His SON softly singing to help keep you calm. Our FATHER knew you days before they came to be, and He knew, little one, you would not stay with me. So, I cry but I know that when this life is done, I will greet and embrace you my little sweet one. There’s a time to be born and a time to die, and the joy and the sorrow both make us cry!
1 Corinthians 15:54-59 (New Living Translation)
42 It is the same way with the resurrection of the dead. Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. 43 Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. 44 They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies.
45 The Scriptures tell us, “The first man, Adam, became a living person.”[h] But the last Adam—that is, Christ—is a life-giving Spirit. 46 What comes first is the natural body, then the spiritual body comes later. 47 Adam, the first man, was made from the dust of the earth, while Christ, the second man, came from heaven. 48 Earthly people are like the earthly man, and heavenly people are like the heavenly man. 49 Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like[i] the heavenly man.
50 What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.
51 But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! 52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. 53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.
54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die,[j] this Scripture will be fulfilled:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.[k] 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?[l]”
56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
2 Corinthians 5
1For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
Last Sunday, September 20, What a pleasure it was for us to stand with Jeremy and Jesi and dedicate their precious firstborn back to the very One Who Created him! Amazing opportunity, we are in awe of God who is such a Master Designer!
What an awesome joy to have so many of our family in one place! Aunt Kristen hosted a Celebration at her house in honor of Landon Michael's dedication!
We were overjoyed to have all three of our children and their families as well as Gary's parents, Paul and Ruthie and his brother, Brad; wife, Kristel and one of their three sons, Colin in the same area!
Great Aunt Kristel and Great Grammie Ruthie adore little Landon!
Proud Papa Jeremy takes the opportunity to take a break from daddy-duty in Kristen and Josh's hammock!
Josh teaches Luke the fine art of cornholing. There is something for everyone in the Levitt's backyard!
Kristen shares her hammock with good friend and great fisherwoman, Michelle!
