Category: Thanks

Thank you, Bekah!

On By MarkIn Staff, Thanks1 Comment

Grace has a wonderful staff of people working to serve our body and the purposes of our church.  This past week we said farewell to Bekah as she devotes more of her time to her Senior year at NAU.

Bekah joined our Grace office staff about three years ago.  Her family has been such an integral part of Grace for a long time.  True to her roots, Bekah has extended grace and kindness to everyone she has touched in our front office. She was the one who likely answered the phone when you called, or welcomed you as you entered.  She has been the one to produce our bulletins and keep all the calendar information flowing as well as a host of other duties critical to the smooth functioning of our church. Bekah, we will really miss you. Thank you for your sweet servant’s heart that clearly reflects Jesus to all as you’ve ministered through our office.

You’ll still see Bekah faithfully serving around Grace. She’s very committed to serving alongside our Children’s Ministry and she is one of the leaders in GSM as well.

Thanks Bekah.

Thanks, Emily

On By MarkIn Thanks2 Comments

A few months ago I hired my first assistant.  Emily took on a new position and helped give it definition. She has been an amazing blessing to me and Grace. I’m very thankful to God that He sent her our way.

Seth and Emily were relatively new to Grace and she was looking for a part time job.  Just a couple of months into her new job Emily broke the news that they were moving back to the Show Low area where they both were raised. There she is taking on a new job at a local Christian school.

Last night we said good-bye. Though sad I’m loosing an excellent assistant, I have observed a few things during this time:

1. People do their best work when they’re using their talents for God and His purposes.

2. When we each do our part, we free up others to do their part as well. Kind of like a body.

3. It’s okay to take a risk when you’re trusting God.

Shortly after Emily announced they were moving I was asked if it was a mistake to hire someone I didn’t know that well. My immediate and confident response was “No. Look what I’ve learned in the process.”  And now I’d add, “Look at this wonderful family Laurie and I got to know.”

4. After some coaching and wise counsel from others in my profession, I learned the value of an assistant.  That was only confirmed once I took the leap and made the hire.

5. In a less dramatic fashion than Job’s experience, The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed is HIS name.  I gladly welcome my new assistant Nicole to the team.

Thanks, Emily.  Thanks for learning a new job that had little clarification on day one. Thanks for representing Jesus and His church so well. Thanks for assisting me in changing the world from Flagstaff.

Thanks

On By MarkIn GRACE, Jesus!, ThanksLeave a comment

Okay. Here we go. The week of thanksgiving is upon us.  I know, I know, it’s all predictable and everything, but seriously, we have much to be thankful for, and we need to give thanks.

Giving thanks seems a bit different than merely saying thanks.  It’s easy to say thanks. Especially right after we’ve somehow been motivated.  Someone gives you something, you say thanks. Someone holds the door, say thanks.  The last cookie is offered to you, you better say thanks, and maybe break it in half!

But to ‘give’ thanks takes a little more thought. And it shouldn’t be limited by the season.  Giving thanks is like going out of your way to ‘say’ thanks.  Don’t just say thanks for the obvious right in front of you, the open door, the cookie (half). Think and consider what you have, what you are blessed by and then go out of your way to give the thanks to whom it is due.

I want to give God thanks. For a lot of things.  My wife, my family heritage, my faith, my church family, my town, my struggles, my friends, staff, neighbors, my health, my home.  I want to especially give Him thanks for bringing 8 people to Himself this week.  Eight people that are now in a personal relationship with God all because of His great love for them.  Like me, none of the eight deserve this gift they received, they couldn’t buy it, couldn’t work long enough or hard enough to earn it. But because of Jesus, they have it.  And so do I. For that I’m most thankful.

Love One Another – An Opportunity

On By MarkIn Christmas, Flagstaff, GRACE, Thanks8 Comments

There are various ways we show our love for one another. Here are a couple of opportunities and a reminder for you to consider this week.

Love Others Around the World

Thanks to everyone at Grace for taking shoe boxes to fill for Operation Christmas Child. The boxes are due this Sunday and next.  Thanks for sharing God’s love with children around the world.

Love Others in Our Community

We have just learned of a great opportunity to bless our neighbors right here in Flagstaff.  The Sunshine Rescue Mission is putting together their annual Thanksgiving food boxes that they will give out the week of Thanksgiving.  Here’s how WE can help.  Buy a turkey and deliver it to SRM Monday through Friday within the next two weeks.

AMAZING TIP:  This week Fry’s has frozen Jenni-o turkeys on sale for 40 cents a pound.  I bought mine this morning, for like $7 and saved $24!  So NOW is a great time to go get your turkey, keep it in the freezer until next week when you can drop it off at the mission.  It might be helpful for us to keep track of how many we can provide, so please comment below that you’re in, or drop me an email.  Let’s do this!

Love One Another through your church

This Sunday is an opportunity to worship together at 10 a.m. and then join with us for lunch and our membership class right after church at the ministry center. We love the “one anothers” of our church as we join together for the common mission of Grace Community.

Even the smallest blessings

On By MarkIn Pray, Thanks2 Comments

The front passenger tire had a slow leak.  Stopped by the tire place and was told it would be about 30 minutes.  So I made use of the coke machine and sat down with my iphone to twitter away the 30 minutes.  I realized how little of an inconvienience this was. There have been times when I’d be irritated to be told to wait for 30 minutes. But now I have this great little tool that can keep me busy for a long while.

The other small benefit was the guy has espn on and I was able to multitask and get somewhat caught up on sports news that I’ve missed lately.  I was surprised to see Edgerrin James may be on his way to Seattle.  I’ve been ‘out of the loop’ so this was news to me.

Then when I went to go pay for the repair I was told those coveted words, “no charge Mr. Smith”.  Huh?  “You bought your tires here, so, no charge.”  Sweet.  It’s not their fault a screw wound up in my tire.  But what a nice policy.

You know, sometimes it’s the small things that remind us that really, it’s gonna be alright.  I’ll have much larger issues to deal with soon enough. For now, well… ‘thanks Lord for the tire man’s policy and for the orange soda and for espn and for time to mess with my iphone.’  Amen.

Complaining or Laughing?

On By MarkIn Laughter, Thanks14 Comments

Seriously, I have a few things to groan about. So, naturally I’ve been in groan mode for a bit. But now the list is getting longer and the groaning is turning to laughter. I wonder why? I wonder if it’s God’s way of getting me to Stop It! Stop complaining, stop pouting.

Humor me by letting me therapeutically write this out. You may find something familiar in your own story today.

You ever have those times when everything is breaking, like all at once, or at least in one long continual stream of events? I’m almost afraid to go anywhere, because something will break.

Here’s my list that makes me laugh:
1. First day of travel to California: ipod quits working. Like in one instant, it’s playing, but no sound.
2. Within first hour of travel to Tucson, CD player quits working. It reads: “see dealer”.
3. Within first 10 minutes of leaving Tucson (3pm, mid-July, 100+) a/c goes out.
4. An hour before company arrives, toilet breaks, leaks to a constant running.
5. Company arrives, screen door falls off. Like on top of them.
6. For the past two Mondays, I have to spend way too much time on IT stuff to figure out how to get my computer properly working with office server. Why?
7. Truck odometer reads the multi-hundreds-of-dollars maintenance is due (in man-talk that means over-due)
8. Because one car is in shop getting a/c fixed, I ride my bike only to get a flat tire on way home.
9. After a nice walk home I’m welcomed with an old medical bill sent with an apology, but with a huge balance due.
10. This morning, power window switch quits working in truck.
11. Now at my office the barking dog next door is relentlessly crying for someone’s attention. Next door means right on the other side of my 4inch wall. Directly.

You see why I’m laughing? Partly because the list grows everyday, but mostly because as I ponder this little list I realize none of this matters. Like really, not one bit. It all has to be dealt with, but really nothing on this list is of significant loss.

1. ipod? Big deal. We have radio. We can drive in quiet and talk if we want
2. cd player? Big deal. We have radio. We have quiet time. Still stuff to talk about.
3. a/c? Okay, very inconvienient, but once we get out of the dreaded desert, we do live where a/c is mostly optional. We still can drive home in a nice car. We can have the windows down (every man’s dream). Not so quiet. No talking.
4. Toilet? We have two. (Odd Bonus: company came and fixed toilet!)
5. Screen door? We actually own a house. Close the door or buy a flyswatter.
6. IT? At least I have a good computer. Working through the server is always optional.
7. Truck maintenance? Really who believes those books anyway? It’s all a scam to get you to spend too much money. Runs fine. For now.
8. I own a nice bike.
9. I live where I can walk home in July and love every minute of it. I have insurance that covered most (apparently not as “most” as I hoped) of a medical procedure in a clean, modern hospital.
10. Power windows? Are you kidding me? I have 3 other windows in my truck that open. Three. I’m spoiled.
11. Dogs eventually leave the vets and go home.

What a fun list. Your list may not be quite as easy. You may be going through stuff that really does matter. My list ranges from a .50 cent fuse to a few thousand dollars of bills and repairs. Whether your list is laughable or seriously causing pain, let’s choose not to complain, but bring our stuff (great and small) before a loving God and trust Him with the ‘why’ of right now.

I’m not lying…the dog just quit barking. Things are already looking up!
Have a great day. Regardless.

Happy Birthday America!

On By MarkIn Flagstaff, ThanksLeave a comment
Don't miss the bugles
Don't miss the bugles
photo (2)
I'm what you call 'patriotic'.

Hope all are having a safe and happy celebration! Last night we saw a different angle on Flagstaff by walking the crowded streets of the First Friday Art Walk. Today, we enjoyed the pancake breakfast put on by the American Legion, just prior to the annual parade.

What’s the 4th without grilling something? Today was a simple burger with my favorite topping – jalepenos, chased by my almost favorite store-bought cookies.

I think there’s apple pie later!

If you’re anywhere near Flagstaff, tomorrow will be a highlight at Grace. We have 7 missionaries all from Grace sharing what God is doing in their particular ministries. I’m so glad they’re here! Hope you can come, if not, we hope to have something online early next week.

Thank you Lord, for the United States. And thank you that we get to be a part of the larger world outside these borders. Blessings. PM