Love beyond the heart's desire

I had a rough childhood.  I lived in a small dark house. Black-out shades prevented the sunshine's warmth to enter and lighten the dark brown paneling.  My mother was extremely depressed and sometimes suicidal, my brother was scary and violent and addicted to meth. My dad, although not in the home, verbally abused me and did not want me.
  As a young girl, I had tremendous weight on my shoulders, and pain in my heart, I also had an unwillingness to accept that this life I was living would define me.   I was a good kid.  I was teacher's pet all through school, I earned the best grades.  And at the age of  14, God reached out to me, and let me know that HE absolutely loved me, that I was beautiful, and that despite my circumstances I could rest assured that He was taking care of me.
  My teen years were easier for me as I clung to God and his love for me, but my situation at home was still dark.  My brother was dealing drugs from his basement bedroom, and random sketchy men would enter and exit my house through all hours of the night.  My mom was often working and not home, and although she must have been just and unhappy with the circumstances as I was she chose to ignore it and hope it would get better on its own.  One day, when I was about 15, absolute chaos erupted, and I witnessed  my brother in an violent meth-hazed rage throw my mom down all thirteen steep, wooden stairs that lead to our concrete basement floor. Terrified. I ran to the safest place in the house, the downstairs bathroom, it had a strong door and a good lock. I locked myself in, and pushed the large towel armoire against the door for extra security.  As I hid in that room, I could hear my mom screaming in pain for help.  I felt ashamed that I was too scared to run to her rescue, as I sit hugging my knees in the corner of the bathroom, waiting for my brother to leave.
  As I write this, I do not want your pity.  In the past, I have minimized  the dark parts of where I came from, I didn't want to hurt the feelings of the people involved because I love them, and I didn't want to play the part of a victim.  And although in some aspects, I was absolutely victimized I was not a victim, I was a survivor.  God made me to be a survivor, and God made me to have a hope for a future, because He had a plan for my future.
  When I first started loving God, one bible verse, one PROMISE, I always found comfort in was Psalm 37:3-5  :
³ Trust in the LORD and do good;
   dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
⁴ Take delight in the LORD,
   and he will give you the desires of your heart.
 ⁵ Commit your way to the LORD;
   trust in him and he will do this:

The desires of my heart were to be loved, to feel safe, to be a part of a functioning, loving, family, to have a home filled with light.   Today I absolutely have those things.  I have a husband that cherishes me, and two amazing, beautiful children who, although they fight like cats and dogs sometimes, love eachother and a house that is mine with the sun shining through its windows.  God absolutely gave me the desires of my heart, I always trusted that He would.

If you are going through a dark time in your life, know that GOD LOVES YOU!  Rest in His love and His promises, "Take delight in Him and he will give you the desires of your heart."   You can make it to the other side!

posted by Devyn Lundy

It's Like Riding a Bike!

I was getting a sandwich and a glass of water for myself, while my husband and kids were playing outside, it was 7pm and I was going to enjoy a quiet house and some mommy-veg time.  As I went to turn on the tv, I glanced out the window at my family and see my almost-8-year-old daughter zooming down the cul-de-sac on her training wheel free bike with the biggest smile stretched across her face. It was her first time riding on two wheels!

Sandwich in hand, I ran out my front door, yelling, "Go Shaylee!!! Go Shaylee!" My husband and I have been trying to teach her how to ride for the past 2 years. Shaylee would freak her self out before she would even pedal for a whole rotation and exclaim she "couldn't do it" and would give up. But now..  She had finally learned how to ride!!!  I asked Geoff, " What did you teach her to finally make her get it?"  He said, "Nothing, its like she finally decided that she  wanted to do it, and she just got on it, wobbled a little and then took off!"  We were so proud of her.

After Shaylee called all her grandmas to tell them her big accomplishment, and the kids were at last in bed,  Geoff and I  were still talking about Shaylee's triumph. I said, "Its amazing to me, that she just decided she wanted to do it, and then did it! I get so frustrated with her sometimes, because I KNOW she could do so many things that she thinks she can't do if she just did it. She is so more able than she knows."   The second those words came out of my mouth, I heard God whisper to my soul, " THAT IS EXACTLY HOW I FEEL ABOUT YOU!"  Wow! And surprise, surprise, He is right.

My daughter has been afraid of falling off her bike, and that fear prevented her from even trying.  I never realized it, but I do the same thing in so many different ways in my own life.  I get ideas of things I could do, make, or write and then I over rationalize them in my head, and always lead  myself to the conclusion, that it would be a waste of time to even start or try.   How frustrated God must be when He knows that He made me special, and gave me talents and gifts that I don't use because of my own fears of failure and rejection.  Just like Shaylee, I tell myself, "I can't" before I even pedal a complete rotation.   He's frustrated not because I am failing Him, but because I am not experiencing the freedom and exhilaration  of zooming down the street on two wheels  that He wants me to enjoy so badly.. (the same feelings I had with my own daughter!)

I truly believe that God doesn't give us gifts for His pleasure but for ours. When we give our own child  gifts.. aren't we giving the gift to make  him or her happy?  When we don't use the gifts God gives us, we are missing out on the joy God wants for our lives.  I don't know about you, but I certainly want to tap into all the joy God has to give me. I don't want my fears and over rationalizations to hold me back anymore.  I am ready to start taking off my training wheels, are you?


Posted by Devyn Lundy

New opportunity to serve our world at Mercy Church.. Bridge 68

 Mercy Church presents Bridge 68
For Justice. With Mercy. In Faithfulness.
“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” Isaiah 1:17 (NIV)
Mission:
Bridge 68 is a ministry of Mercy Church KC.  We are a gathering of Christians whose love for God and His people call us to stand in the gap for those who are the victims of oppression and injustice, to act justly on behalf of those wounded, to show mercy for those in need, to walk humbly and in submission before God, and to provide this outreach under the direction and teaching of God.

Our map:
The focus of this ministry will be to take a Biblical approach to injustice and oppression.  What exactly is injustice?  You can imagine that there are many definitions for injustice.  “Injustice occurs when power is misused to take from others what God has given them, namely, their life, dignity, liberty or the fruits of their love and labor.”  Good News about Injustice, Gary Haugen.  Through this ministry we will grow our faith and understanding of God’s word regarding justice and mercy, and as we grow we will engage in outreach works focused on justice.  Injustice in our world takes the form of abusive child labor, abusive police or military, child pornography, child prostitution, corrupt seizure or extortion of land, forced migration, genocide, organized political intimidation, organized racial violence, state sponsored torture, state sponsored religious persecution, and so much more.  In the United States, we face injustice issues of domestic violence and sexual assault, the effects of poverty and discrimination in the school systems, refugees in our community who have escaped terror or genocide, discrimination against various groups in the workplace and in the community, etc.

Below are some statistics on a few categories of injustice to get you thinking:
Human trafficking is a growing problem in the United States and in Kansas City.  Kansas City is a growing hub for human trafficking.  Targeted groups are those who are most vulnerable - immigrants, runaway teens and young women are forced into slave-labor conditions or the sex trade.  The United States is a source and destination for thousands of human trafficking victims who are sexually exploited, and to a lesser extent, exploited for labor. The average age of entry in the U.S. into sex exploitation industry is 13.
One in four women in this country (25%) has experienced domestic violence in her lifetime. Nearly three out of four (74%) of Americans personally know someone who is or has been a victim of domestic violence. On average, more than three women and one man are murdered by their intimate partners in this country every day.
Approximately one in five female high school students reports being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner.

In 6 seconds a child will die from starvation.  In 1 minute, ten children will die.  600 children will die in an hour and 14,200 will die in a day.  5, 256,000 will die in a year.
There are over 27 million people living in modern day slavery today.  That is more than the slaves tortured and dehumanized during the transatlantic slave trade.  This would be equivalent to the population of the State of Texas. 161 countries out of 192 (according to the United Nations) are involved with human trafficking. Children comprise half or fifty percent (50%) of human trafficking target. Human trafficking, as an organized crime, is approximated to generate 32 billion revenue each year.  The industrialized countries are the main source of slaves or labor servants approximated at 15.5 million victims.  Traffickers sell women and children online everyday.
2 million babies are killed before birth or at birth simply because they are girls.

The genocide in Darfur has claimed 400,000 lives and displaced over 2,500,000 people. More than one hundred people continue to die each day; five thousand die every month. Since February 2003, the Sudanese government in Khartoum and the government-sponsored Janjaweed militia have used rape, displacement, organized starvation, threats against aid workers and mass murder.
Nearly 15 million children in the United States – 21% of all children – live in families with incomes below the federal poverty level – $22,050 a year for a family of four. Research shows that, on average, families need an income of about twice that level to cover basic expenses. Using this standard, 42% of children in the United States live in low-income families. Poverty can impede children’s ability to learn and contribute to social, emotional, and behavioral problems. Poverty also can contribute to poor health and mental health.


Posted by: Kori Carew

There's a Butterfly on my Shoulder

I've had a butterfly tattoo on my shoulder since 2006... I got in in part as way to rebel against the religous people in my life at the time that were telling me I wasn't good enough, and in part to remind myself that God created me perfectly and I was good enough.  I know that a butterfly tattoo is the stereotypical ink that girly girls get because "they're pretty."  But I specifically chose a butterfly as a symbol.  

Butterflies are the best illustration of what Jesus does for us..now and eternally.  One day you are trudging along in the dirt on your belly as a lowly catapillar.. then you take a nice refreshing rest.. and you wake up a beautiful butterfly.. full of color and able to fly.  The comparison is sort of obvious when you think of the ressurrection..in Heaven we will all take on a new amazing form... but the illustration is true now as well. Every day, that we choose to give God control He molds us, changes us, transforms us... we can be butterflies on earth!

When I went to get my tattoo, which was surprisingly not as painful as I had planned on it being, I was going through a difficult time in my life.  I was in a place where there was so much pressure on me to be someone I wasn't and no matter how hard I tried to be the person people were telling me to be, my efforts were never good enough.  I became pretty depressed, and hopeless.... If I had been a butterfly before that, I allowed these people to rip off my wings and shove me back down face first into the mud.  Eventually I remembered that God loves me and has a plan for me and I began trusting Him in the bad situation...I made my way out of the cocoon and got my butterfly wings back!   So I marched myself down to the tattoo shop and had my wings inked on my shoulder to always be a reminder that I don't belong in the mud, but in the air.


So this spring when you you catch a glimpse of a fluttery little butterfly... remember that God has a set of those lovely little wings for you too :)

  Posted by: Devyn Lundy

Let's Get Together

It's March the sun is shining.. spring is around the corner!!!  March also brings a new series of Life Groups and Bible Studies to Mercy Church... many of which are just for us girls! Being a part of a Life Group has so many benefits-- you will have fun, you will make friends, you will learn, you will really feel connected at Mercy Church!  Please plan to sign up for these fun groups this Sunday at church!  Also make sure your man checks out the group, "Mercy Dads," this group is designed to give mom's of young kids a night off.. because daddy takes them with him!!  There are soo many good groups this quarter...here is a list of all the groups and bible studies we are offering this spring:

SUNDAY SCHOOL

 

1) THROUGH THE BIBLE

Leader: Dennis  Putinski

When: Sundays – 9:00 AM

Location:  Mercy Church - Room 137

Description:  Join Dennis to study through all 66 books of the Bible, old and new testament, and learn new exciting things about God’s word. You’ll be sure to leave well educated.

 

PRAYER GROUP

 

2) PRAYER - M3 (Mercy’s Mountain Movers)

Leader: Sally Barchman

When: TBD

Location: 3009 W. 49th Place , Westwood , KS - 66205

Description: If you like to pray this Life Group is for you!  This team prays for all the prayer requests turned in to the church each Sunday via weekly emails and also weekly group prayer meetings on various nights. Regular attendance would be lovely, but this can also be on a "drop-in" basis for people who would like to have extra prayer a certain week.  This is also a great way to get connected with members of Mercy Church in a smaller setting. 

 

 WOMEN’S GROUPS

 

3) REAL WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY

Leader: Christen Blando 

When: Wednesdays - 7:00 PM

Location: 6412 W. 61st St. Mission , KS - 66202

Description: For women of all ages who want to experience a deeper level of faith through Bible Study and fellowship with one another. We’ll be doing a 12 week study of the book Beautiful Things Happen When Women Trust God by Sheila Walsh.

Book: Beautiful Things Happen When Women Trust God by Sheila Walsh.

 

4) CHICKS FOR CHARITY

Leader: Michelle Thomsen & Jennifer Jordan 

When: Wednesdays - 6:30 PM

Location: TBD

Description: Be a part of this Wednesday evening woman’s life group offering  encouraging love and support for each other while also reaching out to those in need in our community.  Each month we will meet at a centralized eating establishment for dinner and fellowship. A charitable theme will be designated for each of these events and all items collected will be donated to a local charity (TBD) in the name of Mercy Church .  Be a part of something as special as you.

 

5) HOOPS IN MOTION

Leader: Nikki Smith 

When: Sundays - 5:00 PM

Location: Oregon Trail Park - Olathe - 66061

Description: Fun, fitness, fellowship using hula-hoops.

6) BON APPETIT

Leader: Kori Carew 

When: First Friday of the Month - 6:00 PM

Location: Rotates each Month

Description: Love food? Want to explore the foods of the world right here in Kansas City ? Join us the first Friday of each month as we fellowship at various Kansas City restaurants. 

7) MERCY MAMAS’ YOGA

Host: Mandy Pruett 

When: Every Other Thursday - 6:00 PM

Location: 15403 W. 164th Terrace Olathe - 66062

      Description: Yoga led by Mandy, just bring a yoga mat and some comfy clothes and sculpt that body

                      through some intense yoga and lots of fun.

MEN’S GROUPS

 

8) MERCY DADS

Host: Geoff Lundy 

When: TBD

Location: TBD

Email: Geoffrey.lundy@farmersinsurance.com or geoff_lundy@yahoo.com

Description: We will meet together every other week with our kids at a fun TBD location. Most of us have wives that could really use a night off, and most of us have kids that could really use some healthy interaction. Here is our chance to give the wives the night off and we will get together and have our kids play and wreak havoc while we chill, and maybe watch sports, and definitely have some great conversation.

 

9) MEN’S COFFEE & BREAKFAST

Host: Timmy Gibson – (913) 390-1200

When: TBD

Location: TBD

Email: pastor@mercychurchKC.com

Description: If you are interested in gathering a couple times a month over coffee and/or breakfast to talk about guy stuff, please sign up to get the email to find out where we are meeting and when.  

 

COUPLE’S GROUPS

 

10) YOUNG MARRIEDS

Host: Jessica Herring & Daniel Fultz 

When: TBD

Location: TBD

Description: If you are a young married couple looking to hang out and get to know other young married couples from Mercy Church then sign up to be a part of this group.

 

11) GAME NIGHT

Host: Allen & Jess Woodward 

When: Sundays - 7:00 PM

Location: 1504 E. frontier Lane Olathe KS - 66062

Description: Get together with others to play games and have a blast. You will definitely want to be a part of this fun time. Just be warned, It might get crazy!

 

Hanky Panky Challenge is drawing to an end

There are only a few more days left of our annual Hanky Panky Challenge!  Don't loose momentum now!

  What I love about the HPC is it makes me focus on the FUN part of marriage.  Its easy to get caught up in the every day grind of bill paying, child raising, job going, household running of marriage.  I love the rebooting the HPC brings to our minds and reminds us about the romance, the cuddling, the supporting, the kissing, the loving that marriage also is.

In these last few days of the challenge.. I have been thinking back about my unmarried life and what I promised myself  I would do when I was married--- like wear fancy, frilly, pjs to bed every night, always kiss my husband good bye before he goes to work , cuddle on the couch with my husband for at least the length of a half hour sitcom every night... stuff like that.  Normally I don't do all those things every day (especially the pj thing... usually i wear some huge old pj pants and a old worn out tee shirt)  but this week I am going to try.   What are you going to try?  What did you dream marriage would be like?  What can you do to help those dreams come to light? 

And even though there are only a few more days left of the actual challenge... lets try to bring Hanky Panky to our marriages all year long (at least something special once a week??) Now that is a challenge!!!  Good luck ladies!

 *try slipping one of these little numbers on before going to bed--- in the name of Hanky Panky!

A GOOD READ :)

If you are looking for a great book to read---one that is as entertaining to read as Twilight, but also good for your relationship with God---look no further than Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.  It is the story of the Bible's book of Hosea retold in the setting of California in the 1850's during the gold rush.  Its a story of a man who loved his imperfect wife just as Christ loves the church, sacrificial, and unconditionally. No matter how many times his wife would leave him, be unfaithful, break his heart, he kept on loving her and praying for her.. until one day she was a new and redeemed woman.  I love the story  for many reasons, one it is such a good illustration of how God loves us... he rescues us from the muck and grime we get stuck in, and even though we run away time after time, he is always there waiting for us to return and when we do He loves us and forgives us. Also, what a perfect time to read this book as we are learning about healthy relationships at Mercy Church, this book follows a couple's relationship from weak and shallow to strong and grounded... its a story all about relationships!  Another reason-- it's just plain good... seriously, you'll laugh, you'll cry, your tummy will get butterflies!  It's a great read!  Check it out!

posted by Devyn Lundy

Hanky Panky Challenge time....

Its February and that means its Hanky Panky time at Mercy Church!  Hanky Panky is all about strengthening our relationships with our spouses and focusing on fulfilling the needs of our mate... (emotionally, and physically.)

Now for us ladies.. we are probably wanting our husbands to be more romance minded... we want bubble baths, massages, flowers, thoughtful notes, warm embraces.. etc. etc. 

Our husbands, however, are probably wanting our physical relationships spiced up.  So what are you doing to introduce or reacquaint your man to your inner-vixen?

Here are some quick and simple ideas for you to test out:

1. Send him romantic or "suggestive" texts through out the day..make sure you mention how strong and hot he is.. and to really rev it up.. send him a picture message of you eating a banana with the message, " thinking of you at lunch time"...  now whatever you text to him.. make sure you follow through when he gets home ;)

2.  Try playing a game at bedtime.  On little scraps of paper write things like: tickle, caress, massage, kiss, lick, stroke, etc.. and through them in a bowl,  in another bowl write down body parts on scraps of paper.. not just the down there ones, but things like "neck, shoulder, hand..."  then take turns picking one from each bowl and doing what they say... it will be fun and silly at first, but will end up being some great hanky panky.

3.  Surprise him by wearing something "special" to bed..  If you don't feel comfortable wearing lingerie you can find something sexy to wear right in your closet... try wearing his dress shirt with strategic buttons undone, his tie loose around your neck, and a pair of heels.


Okay.. there are 3 simple, simple, simple  yet BOLD ideas for Hanky Panky... I dare you to try them out!