Busy bees

Well, October was a busy month for this Skaggs tribe.  At the beginning of the month, I was able to go back to Columbia for a friend’s wedding.  In a small way it was like a reunion, because I hadn’t seen some of these people in literally years.  It truly was a blessing to see and talk face-to-face with some of the most precious people I have ever met.  I also got to meet (and hold!) Josh’s new little brother, Joel.  I think awesomeness runs in the Skaggs family, because he’s a pretty cool kid already.  And after 3 months of looking for a year-long home for Kaiser, I brought him to his last (hopefully) temporary home.

  Not only are my friends amazing, but they’re gorgeous too!

     

Joel Jedediah Skaggs 

       

Kaiser snuggles

Then, Josh and I decided to utilize his 3-day break from work and head down to San Antonio.  I have seen a lot of interesting cities, but in the small amount of San Antonio that I saw, it might be on the top of my list for US cities.  That’s a bold statement, I know, but it was a great mixture of history and modern entertainment.  While there, we walked the famous Riverwalk, explored the caverns, remembered the Alamo, and visited one of Josh’s old ALERT buddies.  There was so much more we wanted to do and see, but we didn’t have enough time to fit it all in this time.

  

The River Walk- it was like stepping into a European city

 

                                                     I like him.                                                   

   The Caverns

 The Alamo

We came home for a day and then flew to Corpus Christi to visit some sweet friends who are getting married next weekend!  It was great to be able to relax with them and see their new town (they also just recently moved to the country of Texas from SC).  For those of you who don’t know, Corpus is right on the Gulf, which makes for perfect weather and salty goodness.  It made me realize how absolutely fun it would be to live by the beach (at least for a little bit).  We were hanging out in our swimsuits in the middle of October.  No biggie.  After eating as much seafood as we could manage, we headed back to our current locale.  This week, we’re heading to Key Largo for the wedding of those Corpus Christians.  Told ya we’ve been busy..

A good old fashioned boat ride through the canals.

    And, a good old fashioned bike ride tandem style!

It’s rough.

We’ve actually been kinda slack as far as exploring our own territory.  So after all of our out-of-town adventures, we decided to check out a few of Dallas’ own gems.  We finally went to see where JFK was shot and explored the Perot Museum.  We have a list of other museums and famous places we need to visit this month, but one thing at a time.

   X marks the spot where JFK was shot.

 A view of Dallas from the Perot Museum

It’s strange that we’ll only be here for a few more weeks.  We’ve gotten pretty comfortable here and have enjoyed that famous Texas hospitality and pride.  And the people who we’ve met here have been so incredible.  It’s a little sad to say goodbye- even though we haven’t truly been here long enough to put down roots.  But along with this goodbye, there’s a new hello and we’re pretty excited to see what Washington has in store for us.

Heaven

I want Jesus.  Really badly.  Not only do I want him, but I need him desperately.  I’ve been thinking about heaven a lot lately.  I’m sure it’s going to be so much more grand and glorious than I actually picture in my mind, but whenever I think about it, I get giddy.  That’s never happened before. 

When I was little, I used to think it must be boring living in a pure white city where mysterious fog seems to constantly hover over the ground.  I just pictured everyone walking somberly along, and when that certain part of the day came, every somber and serious saint and angel would recite their praise to a God who was just as somber and serious. 

As I got older, I tried less to imagine what my life would be like there and more of how I would even be able to make it into that white, white place.  I had this view that the Paul’s and Peter’s of this world were welcomed in gladly and that God smiled as they came in.  When it came time for “regular” people to walk through those pearly gates, though, God waved us through annoyed, casting judgmental looks our way like we only made it by the skin of our teeth and if it wasn’t for his infinite mercy, we would be kicked out of paradise to the place where no one wishes to go.

Thankfully, the Lord has been changing my view of himself and heaven.  Honestly, who wants to serve a boring or critical God?  He has pursued me tirelessly this year and has loved me with a depth I didn’t realize he had (the God I used to know only loved out of obligation) and didn’t realize I was capable of experiencing.

Who is my God?  He is a King- a mighty King.  He is my Savior- one who refused to let me slip through the cracks.  He is faithful, loving, compassionate, merciful, gracious, just, strong, wise, powerful, glorious, and holy.  He is everything I need and more.  It’s easy to spit out those words as one raised to know those things about God.  But, I’m able to know now just what it means to proclaim who He is.  I have lived through those times when he is faithful or just or glorious.  I have felt his love for me and for others in ways I just could not imagine before. 

And because he is those things and so much more, I need him because I am not.  This is why I want Jesus and need him so badly.  I need him to love me well, to pursue me well, to change me and make me whole.  I need him to have a constant place in my life, because without him, I don’t know what my God is capable of.  He goes back to being a judgmental King who sits on his white throne day and night.  AND MY GOD IS SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT! 

So, the more I learn about the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, the more I see how praiseworthy my God actually is!  I heard something the other day about Old Testament prophecies and how a particular passage pointed to Christ’s second coming.  Just the very thought of seeing Jesus- there are no words!  My body actually aches sometimes when I think about it.  I yearn to see him and be with him so badly that everything else I care about pales in comparison.

Alright, getting back to heaven.  I don’t know what it’s going to look like or be like (besides what the Bible says about it).  But I know this: my God is not boring.  Maybe, just maybe, God likes to have fun?  Maybe he also enjoys beauty?  Maybe he would rather love than judge?  It’s been hard to retrain my mind to think of my God as anything but critical and judgmental, because that’s how I viewed him for so long.  But once we’re home, we’re home!  We are in a place where there won’t be tears.  I personally believe that we might not even remember what pain (emotional or physical) feels like or what it was like to experience it on earth.    When I picture it now, it’s not stark white with weird fog.  It has colors I have never seen before and music I have never heard before.  And people are constantly laughing and clapping and praising a King who has a love that is too pure not to be praised.  And there He is.  My glorious King and his Son- the Conqueror.  These beautiful beings who look at me and smile so gently because they delight in me (Zephaniah 3:17).

This is the kind of heaven I want to live in for eternity.  This is the God I want to serve here and in heaven.  So, while God is not finished with me on earth, I am so excited for the day when he is.  I will get to meet amazing people (I’m actually really excited to meet Abednego and his buddies, martyrs, and Josh’s mom) and see amazing things.  Most importantly, I will be completely whole and restored.  But most, most importantly, I will gladly sing “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”  Because HE is!

RV life

I’ve been asked this question a lot, so I figured I’d satisfy your curiosity if you haven’t yet asked.  What’s it like living in an RV?  Whelp, honestly, it’s not bad.  There are a few things that I’ve had to get used to, but as a whole, RV life isn’t too shabby.

It’s definitely more cramped than we’re used to, but it’s totally livable with just 2 people.  Other than the down-sizing, there’s some little adjustments here and there.  For example, our water supply comes from a faucet outside.  Hence, our water pressure is pretty weak, which makes taking a shower a little more difficult.  I have resorted to skipping the conditioner and just wearing my hair up most days.  Also, we have 50 amps of power for this whole place.  That means that if I’m going to do laundry in our cute little washer, I have to make sure all the extra lights and fans are shut off otherwise we’d trip the circuit.  Having 50 amp power means that it takes a little extra for the place to cool down.  Texas doesn’t have many big, beautiful trees to park under, so our poor house bakes in the sun all day whilst trying to keep the inside cool.  It does a pretty good job, though.   I just have to remember to do the laundry at night when it cools down and try to cook as fast as possible before the entire place turns into a furnace.

Other than that, it’s been a fun little place to live.  I half expected to feel trapped and pace back and forth like a lost puppy.  None of it.  This really is all the space we need at the moment.

So there you have it.  Sorry to disappoint if you were expecting a more adventurous lifestyle.  In reality, it’s pretty peaceful and cozy.  We might just stay awhile longer like this.  :)

Body parts

I think I may get in trouble for this post, but I’m writing it anyway because this has been a huge burden on my heart for several months. 

I grew up in church, I have had a Christian education, and I have been constantly surrounded by Believers my whole life.  I am by no means an expert, but I am in a position to know a good bit about the Bible and Christianity (and I am I thoroughly grateful for that).  However, in the middle of all this spirituality and religion, I have yet to hear a pastor or teacher talk about the importance of spiritual gifts and practicing them regularly inside and outside the Church.

It wasn’t until early this year that a dear friend of mine opened my eyes to a whole different way of life.  You mean miracles and healing and speaking in tongues doesn’t just happen in foreign countries?!  I didn’t take her for her word at first, because let’s be honest, we have all seen and heard about people abusing these so-called gifts and wreaking havoc on our reputations.  I always kind of pushed those people aside into a category labeled “crazy.”  She was so patient and gracious with me, though.  The more I studied Scripture, the more I couldn’t help but see those words jumping off the page at me.

I will try to do this as systematically and concisely as possible (Please know that there are so many more passages to explore than these, but these are the main ones that I keep coming back to):

-John 14:12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.”

-Acts 1:8  “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”

-Romans 8:11 “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you…”

So here we see that we have access to an indescribable power, because the Holy Spirit lives within each and every Believer.  Whether or not we believe that we have such a powerful Being within us at all times, it’s the truth!  The Counselor is always with us to encourage us, teach us, convict us, protect us, etc.  He is a constant source here on earth until Christ returns.  Because of that, His power and authority (because He is separate and equal to the Father and Son) are accessible.  Notice, I am not saying we are powerful or we have authority.  No.  It is only through the work of the Spirit and the name of Jesus- which is above every name- that we are able to function with any means outside of our physical/natural capabilities.

I strongly encourage you to read I Corinthians 12 through I Corinthians 14 (I’m not about to type it all out here…).  Paul is making a huge case for spiritual gifts and their functioning within the Church.  He does not say anything about a select few using them or that you have to be part of an exclusive group to have them.  His letter is timeless and universal.  All Believers have spiritual gifts and all should use them to contribute to the Body. 

“These gifts are not optional.  The people of the Church have missed God in the past by deciding for themselves whether or not they would accept them.  The gifts of the Spirit are not placed at the disposal of the Church on a take-it-or-leave-it proposition.  We either take them or lose what we have.”  (The Gifts and Ministries of the Holy Spirit by Lester Sumrall).

This leads me to my last point: WHAT IF THE CHURCH FUNCTIONED THE WAY CHRIST INTENDED?  I’m not necessarily talking about a perfectly peaceful congregation and that every guest gets a hospitable handshake when they walk in the door (although, those would be great as well).  I’m talking about What if the mouths spoke?  What if the legs walked?  What if the arms lifted?  What if the neck turned?  In other words, what if those who have the gift to speak and pray in tongues did so regularly alongside the help of an interpreter?  What if those who had the gift of healing gave the blind back their sight?  What if those who have the gift of miracles fed an entire starving village?  What if those who have the gift of prophesy daily comforted, exhorted, or encouraged fellow Christians?  How about those with the gift of faith, wisdom, and knowledge?  What if they stepped up and challenged the Church to be stronger and more mature?  What if we distinguished spirits- clean and unclean- and used the name of Jesus to bind or loosen?  WHAT IF THE CHURCH FUNCTIONED THE WAY CHRIST INTENDED?

In addition, what if we confessed our sins to one another daily?  Or sought out single mothers, widows, or orphans to bless?  Or prayed intently and purposefully for each other, our ministries, and the Harvest?  What if we actually spent more time reflecting Christ than we did worrying about what color the carpet is going to be or what brand of coffee to buy for Sunday mornings?  What if we tithed regularly with faith and thanksgiving?  What if we loved the people who hated us?  What if we thought less about ourselves and our own lives and spent more time and energy thinking of the Body and how every brother and sister is intertwined by the blessing of eternal life?

I know I can’t be alone in this!  It is my desire to see the Church truly act like the Church- not perfect, but striving for it.  It’s my guess that we would have a much stronger and stable reputation, more loving members, and more passionate people.  When a person is healthy, it’s easy to see.  If the Church functioned like it was meant to function, the world would notice.  Paul said to use words if necessary, so maybe we can get attention with pure action.  Jesus’ ministry comprised of all the gifts (minus tongues) as well as the apostles as they started their ministry after his death.  It wasn’t just preaching, it wasn’t just service.  It was a multitude of gifts and community and disciplines (prayer, meditation, fasting, etc.) that allowed Christianity to spread over continents and centuries.

I have been the good, quiet Christian my entire life.  I’m kind of done with sitting back in the corner not really contributing to the Kingdom and damaging the enemy.  The Lord did not give me eternal life to start living once I get to heaven.  It’s for me to start living now.  To use my gifts now so that the Christ can be glorified, the Church can be edified, and the lost can be reconciled.  I’m just one part of a finger, though.  We need more fingers and a hand and a wrist and an arm and a shoulder, etc. 

I’m not sure there is an excuse for us in the 21st century to be ignorant of this or to be ignorant of what our gifts could be.  We have too many resources for us to be naive about it.  Maybe it’s apathy?  I’m not sure and I’m not one to judge.  All I know is that the first generation of the Church didn’t miss much in their lives because they were afraid or apathetic.  They lived well and left a legacy and a guide for us today.  I want to be part of a generation that functions as a Body- a unified and glorious Body.

Quick catch-up

‘Ello friends!  It’s been awhile, but yes, we’re alive!  We’ve been busy over the past few weeks trying to take in all that Dallas has to offer.  We’ve had quite a few date nights (which is kind of a shock to my system…thanks residency) because Josh’s schedule is so flexible.  It’s been nice to be able to hang out so much and do the fun things that we haven’t been able to do until now.

“Night at the Nasher”  Every first Friday of the month, they have a live band in the art museum’s courtyard until it gets dark.  Then, they project an outdoor movie on the back of the museum!  So fun!

 

Enjoying the concert from our blanket.

 

A good old fashioned Texas rodeo where they say “God bless Texas-America!”

 

 

We went down to Austin for a few days to visit some friends.  We happened to enter ourselves into a corn hole tournament and the guys came in 2nd place of 16 teams!  They have skills.

Also, we found an awesome church to attend while we are here!  We visited the Village (Matt Chandler’s church) at first.  We absolutely loved it, but it was so big that it was hard for us to get plugged in.  I googled “churches in Mesquite” one day, which led me to several websites.  After looking at a few, we decided to go to this one called New Community Church.  I’ll post another blog about this and what I have been learning through this church, but for now, I just wanted to take a moment and point out an important aspect of this journey.  I prayed for 2 very specific things for us this year: that God would provide really great friends in each city and that God would provide a really great church in each city.  I know some of you have prayed this prayer along with me and I thank you for that.  It’s very nerve-wrecking for me to move to a new place, not knowing anyone, and realizing that in a few months time I’ll be starting over again.  So, this is my way of saying that the Lord is faithful and He has answered those 2 prayers within the first month of us being here.

We have some sweet friends who live in Dallas but are actually about to move to Columbia (we’re switching).  It’s been great to hang out with the wife and see the Lord’s work in her life.  She has an amazing story!  We were talking about moving and all the mayhem it involves.  Then we started talking about missions and “what if the Lord called us to go to _____ or _____?!”  She said something so amazingly perfect that I just have to share it.  She said, “The Lord has been so faithful in my life, how could I resist His will?”  That has stuck with me so strongly over the past few weeks.  She is so right!  God could ask me to go to Siberia (although, Lord, it’d be nice if you didn’t) and I should go, because His will for my life is always better than my own.  So, bringing it back to answered prayers….my King has answered mine and will continue to do so, because He is gentle, compassionate, faithful, and intimate.  Wow!  I’m so glad my God is that good.

Last little update….or big update.  Like I’ve said before, our plans are not definite.  We thought we would be in Texas until October.  Looks like we will now be here until the end of November.  From here, it looks like we might be going to (drum roll please) Tacoma, Washington!  Talk about extremes!  We were looking into Colorado or Utah, but there don’t seem to be any jobs opening up soon.  The next best place that would kind of be similar to that mountain feel we were looking for that’s available is WA.  For those of you who aren’t familiar (I wasn’t), Tacoma is about 30 minutes south of Seattle and about 2 hours south of Canada.  Really, I’m laughing to myself, because I don’t handle cold weather well (come on, I think SC winters are bad!), yet here we are, going way up north during winter months in our little RV.  Alls I gots to say is that they better have excellent hot chocolate up there!

So, there you have it!  Our lives thus far in a nutshell.  I’ll keep the updates and ramblings coming on a more regular basis, hopefully!

The way these eyes see it

I probably should have paid more attention in high school to my artsy, animated philosophy teacher.  I couldn’t really get past his hand gestures at 8 in the morning.  I also should have listened to my quiet, wise theology professor in college.  Maybe I would be a little further in my spiritual fundamentals.  But then again, maybe it’s a good thing I zoned out during those important classes.  They had important things to say and some of it did stick, but sometimes a classroom isn’t the best place to learn things about God.  Sometimes, you understand more about God’s character from seeing  prayers answered, from walking through difficult times, or from simply not knowing the answers already. 

I started a letter to myself a year ago and have slowly been adding to it ever since.  (I do this sometimes, write letters to people to give to them years later.)  I started writing it because I was just coming out of a difficult time and wanted to remember what I was learning.  I realized that I might need to write it to my future self just the same.  I know I will face more trials.  Harder trials than before.  In those times, I don’t want to forget what I know about Truth.  Because, honestly, doesn’t our view of God seem to change with our circumstances sometimes?  I know mine has the tendency to.  I am writing myself a (lengthy) letter, so that when I am tempted to think differently about myself, God, others, my marriage, my children, the Church, etc, I can come back to what I truly believe is the right way of viewing these things. 

And just like that, I leave you with a little of what the Lord has been faithfully showing me.  But then again, maybe these are just like my professors’ lessons:


“If God was willing to break perfect unity with His Son so that mankind could have the hope of being adopted as children into eternity in paradise, does that not make Him the ultimate picture of love? Is there anything more extraordinary than God’s sacrifice of part of Himself to rescue a perishing race? No. There is not- nor will there ever be- anyone as loving and good as God. That is why Job could endure his suffering. Because God is good in spite of our circumstances. We may not see that He is good in our circumstances, but he is good in spite of them…..If the rest of my life is full of pain and torture and endless agony, God is still good. He is good, because He loves me with a ravishing love that would not allow my soul to perish. He loves me with a love that willed the Trinity to break its perfect unity to save me from eternal wretchedness. He loved me when I did not have the ability to love Him back. He loves me still. He loves me in my anger, doubt, fear, insecurity, sin, unfaithfulness, and brokenness. He is completely good no matter what is happening to me, because He sealed my soul for Himself for the rest of eternity. My body and problems will die with this earth, but my soul will reign with Him in His Kingdom forever. He is good. Always.”

It’s the little things

I’ve had at least 5 people in the past week tell me I need to blog more.  I honestly didn’t expect many people to read this on a regular basis, but I’m honored to know that you do!  So, thanks friends for stopping by my cyber world to check in on Skaggs news.  It definitely makes me feel loved!

Josh and I headed back to Columbia last week to drop off our dog (*tear*).  We had been trying to move to an RV park closer to the city, but when we found out we had a spot, they told us they wouldn’t take us with a big dog…maybe I should have said we had a small horse instead- less intimidating.  So, on Josh’s week off, we headed back to SC to find a home for our pup until we returned from this adventure. 

We had only been gone for 2 weeks at that point, but pulling into Columbia felt so weird.  I was driving on the same roads I always drive on and saw the same stores and took the same routes- it just felt different this time.  It kind of felt like I didn’t belong there anymore.  In a sense I don’t (at least not for this portion of time), but I still had a little twinge of sadness as I realized that this place isn’t home to me right now.  This place that has been my home for 25 years is just another city. 

I wouldn’t say that’s a bad thing, though.  While it makes me sad at times to feel removed from familiar places, it’s good for me.  It pushes me to be more intentional with what I appreciate and to pay more attention to the lifestyle I’m in now.  Ok, for example, I dreaded going to the grocery store in Columbia.  One of my least favorite chores.  Here, it’s exciting, because it’s new!  There are new people, new products, new everything!  And, as the extreme introvert that I am, I used to just get the job done and go home.  I think I have talked to more people in the grocery stores here than I probably ever did back in SC.  Is that really how I want my life to be?  Keep my head down and keep moving to get the job done?  I am forced to move outside my comfort zone in this new city, because I don’t know what I’m doing and I do need the extra help.  I talk to random strangers because that is the extent of my human interaction.  I don’t have friends who just pop over to say hello or go to dinner with a different person every night (not that I did that before, but I at least had the option).  That’s just the point: I don’t have the option.  If I’m going to have friends in the different places we go, I have to find them.  I have to seek them out, go up to them, ask them to hang out, call them, text them, etc.  Introverted me is scared to death to do this, because it’s uncomfortable and it takes a lot of effort on my part.  Then again, maybe it took a lot of effort on my friends’ parts in Columbia to come up to me.  And if they hadn’t done that in the first place, my world would desperately be lacking some amazing relationships.

Going back for the week helped me realize something to a greater degree:  I am unbelievably blessed by so many people.  I saw people for breakfast, lunch, and dinner pretty much everyday we were there.  Every person I met with, I realized more and more how much I truly appreciate that they are in my life!  Even people who I don’t know very well seemed extra special to me.  I like this new perspective, because that’s how I should have viewed these people all along!  I’ve always loved the people around us, but I know I’ve taken it for granted.  A lot of people don’t have the quality friends and family that Josh and I have.  We have servants, providers, care-takers, interceders, challengers, and encouragers in our midst.  How could we not be grateful?

So, to each- and I do mean each- person we saw and more, thank you for being incredible to us, for being strong and faithful in this relationship, and for caring beyond the natural tendency.  You are more appreciated now than ever, and I hope we are able to show you that more fully.