Monday, June 23, 2014

Attention Shoppers!


Grocery shopping is serious business for me.  I plan out my menu in advance and make a thorough list.  Then I highlight my list with four different highlighters (yes, I said four) to indicate which store I am buying that item from. 

When I get to the store, I am in the zone.  It is rare that an item ends up in my cart that was not on the list.  I don’t waste time gazing at all the products, picking up this one then that one.  Oh no, I am all business. 

Nor do I waste time just carelessly throwing my groceries on the conveyor belt to get rung up. There is a process for that too! Big bulky items go first, then cleaning supplies, then cold items, you get the point.  I have a system.  You can’t have your big jug of ketchup squashing the bread!

The other day, I was wrapping up my food shopping trip, placing my items on the belt to be checked out when I heard a little boy crying.  Crying is an understatement.  It was more like wailing.  This little guy was not happy.  In fact, he was unhappy the entire time I unloaded my cart.  People were beginning to stare at him and his mom as they stood at the service desk.  I felt really bad for the little boy.  My momma heart strings were being tugged and I had no idea why he was so upset. 

The cashier and I wondered out loud to each other what the problem was.  That was when the situation began to escalate.  His mom started yelling at the cashiers behind the desk.  She was pointing at them with one hand while holding her cell phone to her ear.  It was at this moment that everything in the store screeched to a halt.  (Insert sound of a record being scratched here!) Everyone in the store, from customers to cashiers, was staring at this lady and her little boy, while she screamed and he wailed.

My heart was breaking at this scene.  I didn’t know all the details but I knew it wasn’t good.  I knew too, that this situation needed some prayer.  While my cashier was ringing up my groceries, I was praying silently in my head.  I prayed for comfort for the boy, peace for the mom, and a good end to whatever the problem was that was causing so much distress. 

Have you ever had a prayer time so engrossing and so focused that everything around you melts away? A time when nothing distracts you from pouring your heart out to God and begging Him to intervene? I was so deep in prayer over this situation, the entire store and crying boy faded away.  Only when I had finished my prayers, did I realize my groceries were all bagged up and I needed to pay!

As I put the last bag in my cart, I saw a box of fruit snacks on top.  I thought to myself, “What kid doesn’t like fruit snacks?” Then I heard the Lord whisper to my heart, “You need to go over there.  Ask if that little boy would like some fruit snacks.”

Now you guys, I have shared before how I am a shy person.  I do not normally go up to strangers in the store, much less angry, screaming strangers in the store.  But I felt compelled.  I had to go over there.  I was supposed to go over to this lady and see if she needed any help.

As I maneuvered my cart over to the lady, I said one more prayer, “Lord, I am walking over here because You want me to.  Help me to be obedient to You. I pray I can help this little boy.  Give me the confidence to do this and the right words to say. Amen.”

I parked my cart next to the lady, with the box of fruit snacks right on top. I said, “Excuse me, would your little guy like some fruit snacks?” The lady, who was still holding her phone, looked at me like I was an alien from Mars with three eyes and a giant green head. Then she tersely responded, “No thank you.  He’s not hungry.  He had a stroke a while back and he gets very upset sometimes and THESE PEOPLE NEVER KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING!!”

How does one move forward in a conversation when the other person has just screamed at the employees again? I just kept pressing on.  There was something inside of me that wasn’t afraid. So I said, “I see you are on the phone.  Would you like me to hold your little boy while you take care of things?” She said no.  Then I replied, “Well, you have a good day.” I patted the little boy’s back and said, “You take care, buddy!” cheerfully, as if he wasn’t a stranger but a friend. 

Seeing as how I had nothing else to say or offer the situation, I pushed my cart away.  That’s when the doubts started flying at me.  All these thoughts flooded my brain, “See! You couldn’t do anything! What good did it do to go over there? All you did was embarrass yourself!” I could feel my cheeks get red.  It felt like every eye in the store was on me now!

Just as I was feeling defeated and heading out the door, the kind, little, old greeter lady at the exit stopped me.  “Honey! Where did you get that Elvis t-shirt? I just love it!” she gushed at me. Huh? What? (Insert scratching record noise again!) Suddenly all the negative thoughts stopped as I racked my brain to recall that I had picked it up a few summers ago at a store nearby. For the next few minutes, this lovely lady and I shared Elvis facts and swapped stories only Elvis fans would enjoy!  All the lies the enemy was throwing in my ear were gone!

I walked out the automatic doors with a huge smile on my face.  As I pushed my cart to the car, it hit me.  If there was a light bulb above my head, it would have just lit up! That entire episode, from the screaming boy to the outraged mother, was not at all about God having me swoop in and save the day. It was all about obedience.

I was being obedient to the urgings to pray for the mom and boy.  I was being obedient by going over, walking in faith, and talking to those people.  I was being obedient by bringing the light of Jesus to that tense situation.  I will never know how things ended up for the mom and her little guy. They may have been changed by a stranger coming over to them or they may not have.  But I know I am changed.  I am not the same at all!

God was at work on me that afternoon in the grocery store. Can I tell you that I simply love that I am still a work in progress? God is not done with me yet.  And you know what?  He is not done with you yet either!

 We are always here for you, please email women@westridge.cc with questions or prayers.  We love you!


Tuesday, June 10, 2014

West Ridge Women - Spotlight #3

Our West Ridge Women Spotlight today is on the lovely Pastor Kathryn Loucks.  Kathryn is the Kids Director of North Country, our children’s ministry at West Ridge.  In addition to North Country, Kathryn also heads up the Kingdom Life Ministry and oversees the Financial Peace classes. Recently, I sat down with Kathryn to chat about the many hats she wears for West Ridge.

Kathryn lives in North Fayette with her husband, Dave, and daughter, Taylor.  They all share the home with a neurotic, fluffy dog named Patch.  Kathryn lives not too far from West Ridge and grew up in the area.

Kathryn was raised in a very loving, Christian home.  She was led to Christ by her parents when she was very young.  Kathryn recalled, “I think I said the sinner’s prayer with my mom.  My parents have always been a big part of my spiritual life.”  Kathryn attended Rhema Christian School where her mother, Wava, taught third grade.

After graduating high school, Kathryn attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Kathryn remembers, “They encouraged us to really own our faith for ourselves.” This thinking allowed her to figure out, as a young adult, what kind church she wanted to belong to and what she saw as her niche for ministry.

During this time of discovery, Kathryn never questioned God but was beginning to question people and Christianity in the organized church. It was the eighties when church scandals were frequent topics on the evening news. She graduated from college feeling a bit jaded and cynical.

The turning point for Kathryn came when she returned to Pittsburgh for a visit and attended a West Ridge service with her parents.  This was back in the early days of West Ridge when the congregation was still meeting in the Moon High School. She heard a message about being wounded by the church.  During the sermon, an apology was offered to anyone who had been hurt by the church.  Upon thinking about the message, Kathryn put her focus on where it needed to be, on Jesus and not on people. After Kathryn moved back to Pittsburgh, she experienced a new closeness with God.  She was getting more from the messages each Sunday and made West Ridge her church home. 

Kathryn has been with West Ridge since 1997.  In that time, she has served in so many different areas.  She seen many, many changes and been involved with a variety of ministries.  While Kathryn was teaching the Freedom Ministry (which is now called Kingdom Life) she felt like God was moving her from her professional career as a teacher but she wasn’t sure where.  She had taught at Rhema Christian School for sixteen years but was unsure what to do next.  After much prayer, she believed God wanted her to take a step of faith and leave her teaching position and join the staff of West Ridge full time.

As the Kids Director for North Country, getting to know all the kids that attend North Country each week has been most rewarding aspect of this ministry for Kathryn.  She has plans for the future in getting all of the kids classes learning the same theme at the same time and focusing in on one truth each week so all of the students are on the same page with their lessons.  She is also super excited for the VBS theme, “Gotta Move: Keeping in Step with the Spirit”.  West Ridge/North Country will host the free VBS July 16-18, 6:30-8:30 pm and July 19, 9:00 am – Noon.

Also this summer, Kathryn and North Country will be partnering up with the Women’s Ministry by providing classes for the kids while their moms are participating in the “Captivating” Bible/book study.  While the women are studying, the children will be learning too!  The study begins June 18th from 9:00 – 11:30.

In addition to all of that, Kathryn is leading the Kingdom Life team. Kingdom Life will be holding the Foundations class in June for anyone and everyone.  She describes it as, “Basically about living the life God created you to have.  It’s about understanding who you are in Him, and hearing from Him for yourself.” The class will take place over a weekend and then there will be some topical, one session classes through the rest of the year.

It is time to wrap up our interview but before we finish, Kathryn has to answer the Super Six questions!


  1. Are you a morning person or night owl?  Definitely morning!
  2. What was the last book you read? I am a total Jane Austin lover and right now I am reading “Death Comes to Pemberley” by P.D. James.  It is a mystery based on the Jane Austin book “Pride and Prejudice”. It is a modern novel but it picks up at the end of “Pride and Prejudice”. I love mysteries!
  3. What is your favorite way to relax? Read…  I love to read!
  4. What would you have for the perfect meal? My mom’s homemade spaghetti. She makes homemade sauce from tomatoes in her garden.  It’s probably what I ask for most on my birthday.
  5. What is your favorite Scripture to meditate on in times of stress? Definitely Psalm 23, I love that one! (“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.  He makes me lie down in green pastures…”)
  6. What is your favorite thing about West Ridge? West Ridge is a family.  It’s just an extension of being at home!