Taking Risks

We are starting a new series next week on parenting called "The Parent Trap." We have promoted it rather well in the last week in local schools and the news paper. I know there are a lot of parents out there that are dealing with huge struggles with their children in many different areas. I feel like God has brought so many challenges into my family's life so that we might be able to help others with their struggles. Our struggles as parents are well documented. I have written about it often in my blog and preached about it on Sunday morning. I have been very open and honest as Erin and I journey through the jungle of parenting. We don't always get it right and we feel like we have more questions than answers.

It is risky for us to start this series. It is risky anytime you open up your life and share what is really going on behind closed doors. Especially the things you aren't proud of. I beleive God is going to use this risk as a step of faith. I hope and pray that it helps someone struggling...that it gives hope or even just a sense that others are not alone when it comes to parenting challenges. I ask you to pray for me and for my family. I have no doubt that these next few weeks are going to escalate issues in our household. I know anytime I am preaching on something that area becomes a test and I feel pushed more than ever there. Please keep our family in your prayers for protection, patience, and provision in the coming month as we take the risk of leading this parenting series.

This is also risky in other ways. Our church has never really done a series like this before. We have had a single sermon on parenting before but never an entire series. There are people in our congregation that are not currently parents or have older children that are out of the house. I know for them this will be a stretch. However, You will never change unless you try something new. That's what we are doing in this series. Trying something new that we think will reach new people with a different topic than many churches will usually deal with. I pray that people from all over the area will hear about it and come check things out. I pray that our people at OFC will invest and invite new people to the church so that their lives may be blessed.

Make no mistake about it this series is risky in so many ways. Then again I feel alive and excited that we are doing this. It feels good to know we are living out on the edge. There is a certain faithfulness attached when you feel like you are sticking your neck out for Jesus. I pray that in some way shape or form you are trying something new from the routine of life in order to see God work in a new way. I pray you have a great week. Blessings, Your Dreaming Pastor