Our Story… Part II January 30, 2012

In the Beginning  (1993-1996)

When we were first married, Russ & I enjoyed taking drives to “Nowhere” on the weekends.  For this young lieutenant family (living on  meager 1LT pay), we found our excursions were not only cheap entertainment but a good way to get the feel for a new city as well! As we meandered through Columbus, Georgia, on a Saturday afternoon in 1994, a new construction caught our eye.  Somewhat of a novelty at the time, the yet to be opened coffee shop, with its sleek interior and beautifully landscaped patio area, intrigued us both.  Feeding into our growing desire to one day have a business of our own borne out of a vision toward the future, we spent the next few months investigating ways to shape this abstract idea – the idea of merging something we truly enjoyed (having meaningful conversations with friends over piping hot cups o’ java) with earning a living – into reality.  However, after significant time in the Word and prayer…and a realistic evaluation of our financial resources… we concluded that the coffee shop idea was not what God intended for us.  (Seemed like the concept might catch on, though!)  Even so, our desire to work together, to build some type of business that would involve people, a life-long endeavor which we would not only enjoy but also pass on to our children, that desire remained.

Meanwhile, we opened our home to a group of young adults from our church who would meet for fellowship and Bible study over the next year a half.  As we spent time together and one-on-one with these spirited, inquisitive, tireless young singles, we began to experience and enjoy what we now refer to as “community”.   Their hunger for spiritual growth served to fan the flames of our own desire to mature in Christ, and community became a thriving environment for development.  The Word and people were central to our lives, even from those early years.   As God began to equip us for and point us to the mission of making disciples, He reinforced the value of building intentional relationships in which He was the focal point.  This was only the beginning…

Our Story … Part I January 26, 2012

How Did We Get Here?  (Jan, 2012)

This is the question that so many of us ask when we find ourselves in unfamiliar territory … when the known begins to give way to the unknown.

A few Sundays ago, Russ stood before the body at Image Church for the first time as Communities Pastor.  I, of course, stood by his side…literally and figuratively.  Lead Pastor Chris Rhodenhizer spoke of our decision …more accurately, our response to God’s calling… to go into ministry by becoming full-time staff as having been made with much prayer and fasting.  While this is certainly true, I’d like to elaborate on the story that goes beyond going without to stretch back almost two decades.

I hope you’ll enjoy reading this series of postings as much as I have enjoyed writing it.  I pray these words will encourage and inspire you to listen to God’s voice, to obey His Word and to keep moving forward.

A Glimpse… (2006)

On a beautiful day in early Spring, 2006, Russ & I sat on a bench watching our three children play on the playground.  As we often did in those days, we had walked to Cameron Elementary School in Alexandria, Virginia, from our home a few blocks away.  We would talk and dream and laugh and plan during those afternoon outings, our conversation invariably migrating toward the future.  Our future.  This looking forward was as common for us as for any other military family.  A new assignment, a new city, a new home, a new church … every two to three years…that was our “norm”.  As soon as life would settle down into a comfortable routine, as soon as meaningful relationships would begin to bear fruit, as soon as we had found THE best restaurant in town, the movers would pull into the driveway.   However, by 2006, Army life could begin to wind down if we so chose, opening up the real possibility of a new chapter for the Perkins’ family.  This prospect of retirement would bring with it big dreams … dreams of laboring for the Kingdom full-time…dreams of making disciples…dreams of reaching the world … from a tiny corner of Northern Virginia.   As we verbally expressed our deepest desires and our greatest aspirations that afternoon, we could imagine a life that now is.  As those who know us…and the long conversation that is our life together…can appreciate, this was not the first time Russ and I had discussed such things.

Big…ger Plans! January 20, 2012

Reading through 2 Samuel 7 today, I was impressed with the powerful message that God’s plans are always bigger…and better…and more lasting….than our plans.

David, recognizing that, while he lived in a fine palace made of cedar wood, the Ark of God (which represented God’s presence) was residing in a tent.  In David’s mind, this simply would not do!  So David declared his desire to build a temple for God to Nathan, the Prophet.  I don’t imagine David – even in his wildest dreams – could have been prepared for God’s response.

“Go tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty says: “I chose you to lead my people Israel when you were just a shepherd boy, tending your sheep out in the pasture.  I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies.  Now I will make your name famous throughout the earth!  And I have provided a permanent homeland for my people Israel, where they will never be disturbed.  It will be their own land where wicked nations won’t oppress them as they did in the past, from the time I appointed judges to rule my people.  And I will keep you safe from all your enemies.

 And now the LORD declares that he will build a house for YOU — a dynasty of kings! For when you die, I will raise up one of your descendants, and I will make his kingdom strong.  He is the one who will build a house – a temple- for my name.  And I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. …  Your dynasty and your kingdom will continue for all time before me, and your throne will be secure forever.”  2 Samuel 7:5-16  NLT

I can only scratch the surface in this note, but suffice it to say:  God spoke to me this morning through this passage!

My desire to “build” the kingdom pales in comparison to God’s plan to accomplish that..and so much more! My desire to bring people in, to help them grow in faith, to train them to invest in others to the same ends is far surpassed by God’s.  (God is the One who can actually accomplish that work … in me as well as in others.)  While I desire to serve Him, He has already performed the ultimate act of service – even death on the cross.  While I desire to pray for others out of love for God, Jesus continually prays to the Father for me!  While I desire to give from my limited resources of time, money and talent, Christ gave His very life …and continues to give Himself to me! I simply cannot “out-give, out-plan, out-do” God!  God simply takes any desire I have that is of any value … and uses it to reveal that His love towards me and His plans for me (and you!) are infinitely superior.

Defining Proper… January 6, 2012

“Offer proper sacrifices and trust in the Lord.” Psalm 4.5 NLT

In the quiet hours of the early morning, I’ve found myself with David lately, my time in 1 & 2 Samuel, Chronicles and Psalms giving me a front row seat to the unfolding drama that is the life of the Warrior-Poet-King. Today my reading took me to Psalm 4, and  I prayed that THE Good Shepherd would speak into my own life through these few verses written so long ago.  And He answered my plea via verse 5.  “Offer proper sacrifices and trust in the Lord.”

Proper: marked by suitability, rightness, appropriateness; fit.  Sacrifice: the act of offering to a deity something precious.  As I continue to mull over these eight words, the Spirit illuminates their Truth.  My question:  what is a proper sacrifice…for me at this point in my life?

As a child, a proper sacrifice could have been simply sharing the last popsicle with a friend on a hot summer day instead of keeping it for myself.  Tithing a portion of a teenage girl’s babysitting money would definitely qualify, considering I knew that would mean even more frugal shopping on my next trip to the mall. (This particular sacrifice would prove a valuable learning tool for later, when full-time work meant making some “real” money.)  In early adulthood,  a proper sacrifice meant getting up to go to early worship…and then working in the nursery during second service.  Later as a young woman with a good profession, I felt it proper to buy new toys for that same nursery…rather than yet another new outfit … with my monthly bonus check.  By my late 20′s, I must admit that a very proper sacrifice was to end my relationship with Mr. “I’ll Go To Church With You” … and to wait patiently for Mr. “Spiritual Leader”.  (That really panned out … and didn’t take as long as I thought!)  During my time as a young wife, I began to sacrifice more strategically … at first by making meals for church families in need, then by leading ladies’  small group studies, later writing short studies and leading ministries … all geared toward helping ladies grow spiritually…and all taking time away from my own family.  Each of these sacrifices served to help me grow in my trust of the Lord by creating the opportunity for me to see His faithfulness.  This sacrificing, this offering up of something precious, is not only a measure of how much we trust the Lord, I believe it is also means by which to actually learn how to trust.  I’ve found that along with the sacrifices, comes God’s unlimited graciousness.  I can truly never out-give the God Who makes whatever small thing I’ve given up pale in comparison to the rich reward He grants for my obedience.   Consider the great reward of Jesus’ death on the cross…although His proper sacrifice was no means a small thing…reconciliation between hopelessly lost, sinful man and a holy God!

However, if we never give anything sacrificially… no money, no time, no talent…what are we even trusting God with?  Nothing.  Instead, we are holding onto those things and trusting them! This is not something we can afford to do if we say we know Jesus!

At this point in my walk with Jesus, giving of myself…my time (which is limited), my knowledge and any wisdom I may have (even more limited!), my understanding of Scriptural principles (again, with the limitation caveat) by investing those things into other women rather than hoarding them or spending them on myself or my family alone…seems to be the “proper sacrifice”.  Taking the time to help someone learn the value of spending time in God’s Word…even how to do just that.. when I had planned to run errands that day…seems a “proper sacrifice”.  Supporting my husband as he takes on new responsibility at God’s direction, knowing that means change for our entire family…seems a “proper sacrifice”.  Then I must trust God to make these efforts fruitful.  Self-reliance is not what God intends for us, but rather complete and utter trust in Him.   He longs for us to give proper sacrifices…whatever is appropriate for and truly precious to us…because He longs to show Himself as worthy… and trustworthy.