Kristen Schlee

We love our Lifeforce!

This is what we walked in to see at the office after our staff retreat...

“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."      --Winston Churchill

Which one are you today?  

Thirsty

It was 98 degrees outside as I pulled out of the parking lot after teardown today.  I happen to think that we have the most amazing volunteers on the planet at Lifepoint, and today was no exception. Honor, passion, and generosity are on display in these fine people for all to see between the hours of 6:00am and 2:00pm on any given Sunday at Chancellor High School.  Thank you to all of you who stayed late today--even if you weren't scheduled--to get us out of there as quickly as possible.  

I was still marveling at our "Life Force" when I encountered another group of volunteers on my way home. Stopping at Bottom Dollar (my "not-as-much-favorite" grocery store) to pick up some laundry detergent, I noticed a fire truck parked outside.  After determining there was no emergency, I went in and quickly grabbed my bottle of Tide, only to then stand in line behind many because they only had two checkout lines open (see my blog later this week on customer service!)  The lines were piling up quickly with people behind me, as well.  I turned around, hoping the growing line would alert someone to open another register, and noticed four guys from the Spotsylvania Volunteer Fire Department a few carts back, in full uniform, with their grocery cart full of Gatorade.  It looked as though they had been to one or two calls already on this steamy day, and the Gatorade made sense.  It was then that I heard the call--the dispatcher alerting them about the incident that needed their immediate response. Without hesitation they left their gatorade--still thirsty--and walked out into the sweltering heat and drove away to put themselves again in harm's way, hoping to secure the safety of some stranger.    

The passion and sacrifice with which these and our own volunteers faithfully and selflessly serve reminds me of that of the One for whom we serve at Lifepoint.  Jesus was no stranger to sacrifice, exhaustion, heat, hunger, pain--and thirst.  He put Himself in harm's way on our behalf--so that we might have life.  So that we might know God and His purpose for us, without shame or fear or deserved guilt sentence.  So that we might feel loved, regardless of our worth or past or mistakes.  So that we would be safe from the fire and quenched from our own thirst by springs of living water that never run dry.  His example is one worth following, and while it doesn't come without a price tag, there is no higher calling and nothing more fulfilling and worthwhile in this life.  

Thank you, Lifeforce, for all that you are and all that you do to make it easier for those who are far from God to be found by Him.  

Thank you, Spotsylvania VFD #8 (I think?) for responding to that emergency today, and many others, without regard for your own life, or safety, or thirst, or convenience.  

And thank you, Jesus, for responding without hesitation to my call and showing me your design for my life.  

Very cool Everlasting God

http://cdn.twitvid.com/84484.mp4?start=

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Church Gang

I recently heard a story about a former gang member who started attending a church in California.  In spite of his past, his piercings, and his ink, he was welcomed and accepted--and the guy really seemed to like what he was experiencing there.

After a few months, the guy stopped attending.  It seems this church just wasn’t turning out to be what he had expected.  He told someone that when he had originally joined his former gang, he was immediately immersed in a brotherhood--a family that had his back in any and every circumstance . . .people to go through life with, and whether they were living rightly or wrongly, he knew he belonged.   Although he was accepted at this church, he didn’t feel like one of them.  Though they welcomed him, he didn’t feel like family.

Do you have a group of people to whom you belong, people whom you know have your back?  Would it surprise you to know that is exactly what the church was designed for?   Sadly, many have missed the mark on that issue.  But God designed us to live in community, to go through life together, to be a group of people that look more like a family—a “gang,” even—than an organization. So if you are part of a church, work toward making yours a place like that.  If you aren’t part of a church, I challenge you to find one that is.  Because God really does have your back, and he wants to surround your life with people who do, too.

 

Busy

I have not blogged in quite some time but Jeremy put me to shame by blogging something really profound last night so I had to check in.  I'm sorry for those of you who check my blog (Mom) and haven't had anything new to read lately. . . the fact is, I have just been so BUSY!  Overwhelmed with busy-ness, actually.  I love my family, love my job, love Lifepoint!  Love my life, really. . .I'm just in a season of trying to fit more of it into each day than I reasonably and realistically can.  

Have you ever felt this way?  Like there just isn't enough time in the day?  I know that feeling well but I also know it has to be wrong. . .the day was created by the One who holds time in His hands.  God knew what He was doing when He gave us only 24 hours. . .and if He had given us more, you know we just would have used every square inch of it anyway, and still had the same complaint.  

So we have these 24 hours.  And with each of them, we have so many choices to make.  I like to have choices.  I just don't really like to make choices, so I tend to just choose "all of the above," when mostly I should really cut back on some things, prioritize some things, maybe even. . . dare I say it?. . . .say "no" to some things once in a while!  

Here are some things I am learning. . .okay, trying to learn:  

1.  Give the day to God, first thing.  Sound familiar?  Sound pithy and trite?  Well, it's still true.  Your day is God's to begin with, so why would it hurt to give it back to Him right at the beginning?   If anyone has the power to give you more of the time that you don't think you have, it's Him. 

2.  Hurry Home.  Hurry home to your spouse, your children.  They really are your safe haven.  It's fine to have a meeting now and then, to go out with friends and spend time away from time to time.  But whenever you can, as often as you can, HURRY HOME!  Don't delay getting back to your family, your husband, your wife. In fact. . . hurry.  That is certainly not time you want to waste.  

3.  "All of the Above" is not an option.  If you keep trying to do too much, too much of the time, not only will you hurt yourself, but you will not do any of those things very well.

4.  Saying "no" allows someone else to step up, to learn, to grow and experience what God has designed them to do.  Hate to break it to you but you may not actually be the very best one to do it, anyway.

5.  That task list will still be there tomorrow.  

So maybe you've heard these things but if you're like me, it doesn't hurt to be reminded.  Now get some rest.  I know I need to!  (After I do the dishes, finish this video, send three faxes, and prepare for the staff meeting tomorrow. . . )

 

Relay donation station

Carley, Debbie, and Patti raising funds for American Cancer Society

Powerful

American Cancer Society's Relay For Life: Survivors take the first lap!

Relay for Life with Chik Fil A

Tonight the Lifepoint staff made milkshakes, got drinks, handed out
sauces and otherwise got in the way at the Southpoint Chik Fil A! We
were helping raise money for this weekend's American Cancer Society
Relay For Life. Thanks so much to Meghan, Aaron, and Candice for
being so sweet and putting up with us ( to which they would reply, "
my pleasure!"). What a fun and sticky evening it was!

I love the Lifepoint staff and their families more than I can say. I
am so honored to work with you guys!

Happy Mothers' Day!

Today was another red letter day!  The Lifepoint staff's spouses (all wives and one husband--mine!) "brought it" today at Lifepoint by sharing the victories, struggles, ups and downs of life as a mom.  It was fun, funny, inspirational, motivational, sad and bittersweet at times, but overall it was just a gift to all of us who had the pleasure of being there.  My amazing (and HANDSOME) husband did a great job as "Ryan Seacrest" and facilitated as these amazing women talked through their stories.  Jen, Lindsay, Donna, Mia, and Tammie--you girls were wonderful today and I was humbled and inspired by your authenticity on that stage.  You are all beautiful friends, fabulous mothers, and amazing people and I am  honored to know you all!  Your children are blessed to call you "Mom" and one day they will rise up and say that themselves.  

A dear friend of mine visited Lifepoint today and emailed me after the service this morning saying her cup was "full."  Thank you all for being so faithful and willing to share your lives with the rest of us.  You truly make a difference!

And CONGRATULATIONS to Ashley and Dustin--what an honor it was to be in the "cloud of witnesses" this morning as you got engaged!!  Can't wait to see how God will continue to use you together.  We celebrate with you and will keep you in our prayers!