Last night I went out and painted pottery with a group of ladies from my Monday night bible study. I call them the MNL (Monday Night Ladies). It was so much fun especially because I am not the most artsy person around. I will post a picture of it when I get it back, it is being fired right now :-)
Anywho.....I have been doing different bible studies with these ladies for about 8-9 months. Our group has grown and shrunk according to different people's schedules but for the most part it is alot of the same ladies. In the beginning I said to Steven,"If I start this bible study, don't let me become a bible study junkie. Going from one bible study to the next and never stopping to live out what I learn." I was afraid that if I started attending a bible study I would get sucked into the vortex and never come out. Working at Lifeway I have seen so many ladies that live for "the next Bible study". They come in month after month buying studies, and I always wonder....."When do they live what they learn?"
But I have found that I don't always attend Bible study for the bible study :-) The friendships that have formed cannot be matched anywhere else. Now don't hear me wrong. I love studying God's word. I love the schedule that the bible study forces me to keep. I love the accountability that the group holds me to. But the fellowship.......is just so sweet. The past couple of weeks we have been between studies so we have done some "out" time. Last week we went to Panera Bread and then to Lifeway to find a new study and then this week we painted pottery. Our group has women from all walks of life. Some are single, some are married, some are moms, some are single moms, & some are grandmothers. The cool thing is that the past couple of weeks have shown us all that we have more than a bible study....we have friendship. There is something pretty special about friendships that are formed around the common bond of loving Jesus and being a woman.
When we first moved here I began to pray that God would give me true friendship. It is something I have struggled with in ever city we have lived in. God has given me some really special friends along our journey and I am so thankful. My prayer was to have some women that would love me and pour into me. Ministry can be so lonely sometimes and authentic friendship is hard to find. My prayer was also that I would have women to pour into. You have to laugh at my current scenario....I am in 3 small groups. One that is all mine. Where the kids stay home with daddy, no one goes with me, I am not responsible for anything but myself and getting me there. Another that is full of moms that have younger children. This one, the older girls babysit, my littles go with and play with the other littles, and I am one of 3 staff wives in the group. It is a new group and I am still learning my place there. And third is my small group with Steven. He and I lead a group of 5 couples. It meets at my house, kids are in my basement, and we are responsible for almost everything. So you can see that all 3 groups hit different places in my heart. Different levels of responsibility, accountability, and friendship. It is amazing to see how God has far and away answered my prayers.
I just received the book Friendship for Grown-Ups ~Lisa Whelchel. I am anxious to read it because this is something I have struggled with all of my adult life. Once I finish reading it I will review and then I am going to do a giveaway! I am reading 4 books right now so please be patient with me....I will try to finish it a couple of weeks.
Toodles
~LL
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Spring- April 2010
These are from a great day we got to spend at the National Harbor and then in DC. I LOVE SPRING!!!
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Enjoying It
Funny how life takes you in many directions. Sometimes it's a location, or a view point, or a schedule. But wherever I am...it seems that I don't stay there long. When we moved a couple of years ago we embarked on a change that I never saw coming. I went to work full-time and gave up my homeschooling journey to my husband. Don't get me wrong we are a team...yes...but it has mainly been my journey with our children. (He is the principal :-) God and I had some very frank conversations during that time of my life. He had moved us and I didn't like it. But slowly God began to open my eyes and soften my heart to what was happening around us.
He was once again, gifting us with grace. He had placed us in a job, a home, a life situation, and a new direction that we hadn't asked for. (Or did we?) Or prayer has always been the God will provide and take care of our family. In the "new direction" that is exactly what He was doing.....over and over again.
God has provided for us in countless ways. A home, a job, a new ministry, etc. We have learned to stop planning our direction and to be patient for His directions. We recently were able to purchase the home that we have been living in for the past 2 years. We didn't think we could buy again for a while (after the financial ruin we experienced when we left Maryland) but God has provided....again.
Over the past couple of months I have felt pressed to focus on the health of our family. We have been working out pretty regularly as family and now we have begun the food portion of being healthy. I guess that is where the whole garden thing really came from. I started reading labels and started finding myself pretty grossed out by what we were eating. I discovered that I can make things from scratch with just a little more effort and feel so much better about what I am feeding my family.
I laughed at myself as I was fencing off my garden. Who would have thought 6 months ago that this is the direction our family would be going? Organic food, exercise, and wishing I could have a couple of chickens :-). I can't help but to think that some how the garden and change of lifestyle is God's way of allowing us to start over. Fresh, new, rested, healthy.
Funny how life changes. I don't know what God has for us tomorrow, next week, or next year, but I do know this: I am enjoying NOW and whatever directions come next I will trust Him.
~LL
He was once again, gifting us with grace. He had placed us in a job, a home, a life situation, and a new direction that we hadn't asked for. (Or did we?) Or prayer has always been the God will provide and take care of our family. In the "new direction" that is exactly what He was doing.....over and over again.
God has provided for us in countless ways. A home, a job, a new ministry, etc. We have learned to stop planning our direction and to be patient for His directions. We recently were able to purchase the home that we have been living in for the past 2 years. We didn't think we could buy again for a while (after the financial ruin we experienced when we left Maryland) but God has provided....again.
Over the past couple of months I have felt pressed to focus on the health of our family. We have been working out pretty regularly as family and now we have begun the food portion of being healthy. I guess that is where the whole garden thing really came from. I started reading labels and started finding myself pretty grossed out by what we were eating. I discovered that I can make things from scratch with just a little more effort and feel so much better about what I am feeding my family.
I laughed at myself as I was fencing off my garden. Who would have thought 6 months ago that this is the direction our family would be going? Organic food, exercise, and wishing I could have a couple of chickens :-). I can't help but to think that some how the garden and change of lifestyle is God's way of allowing us to start over. Fresh, new, rested, healthy.
Funny how life changes. I don't know what God has for us tomorrow, next week, or next year, but I do know this: I am enjoying NOW and whatever directions come next I will trust Him.
~LL
Book Review- How Should a Christian Live?
Book Sneeze has again given me the chance to read and review a book. My last book that I had to review was not so great.
But this one comes From the Word of Promise: Next Generation. It is, How Should a Christian Live? Devotional & Journal. The book guides you along with devotions and then takes you to a cd that is included. The cd had parts of the New Testement on it and it is read by famous young stars. Like: Jordin Sparks, Emily Osment, Cody Linley, and many more.
This book has a devotional guide for 12 lessons that are geared toward the teen reader. The lessons aren't too long and or overwhelming for a new believer or a teen who is new to devotion time.
I love that the intro to the book gives a "how to" become a Christian. It defines the word salvation as- the rescue of someone in trouble. But then it goes to into how Jesus can supply that.
Good book! Great gift.
~LL
But this one comes From the Word of Promise: Next Generation. It is, How Should a Christian Live? Devotional & Journal. The book guides you along with devotions and then takes you to a cd that is included. The cd had parts of the New Testement on it and it is read by famous young stars. Like: Jordin Sparks, Emily Osment, Cody Linley, and many more.
This book has a devotional guide for 12 lessons that are geared toward the teen reader. The lessons aren't too long and or overwhelming for a new believer or a teen who is new to devotion time.
I love that the intro to the book gives a "how to" become a Christian. It defines the word salvation as- the rescue of someone in trouble. But then it goes to into how Jesus can supply that.
Good book! Great gift.
~LL
Monday, April 5, 2010
Easter Joys
Oh the joys of Easter. I grew up feeling like Easter was mainly about getting a new dress and the Easter Bunny visiting. I can remember specific dresses that I had and even some things that I got in my basket. I can even remember where they used to be hid. I am still not sure how my mom pulled off Easter Sunday morning. Getting us dressed, letting us search for the baskets, and getting us out the door to go to church. Even at my church growing up it was all about the clothing and a packed church. The pastor preached his best,the music was like a concert hall with full orchestras, choirs, etc. But it was done for the crowd. It wasn't because of the possible 1 chance we as a church might have to reach someone, but as the BIGGEST Sunday to preform. Seems pretty sad now that I really think about it and write it all out. But the truth is I loved that stuff as a child.
But, we (Hubby and I) have chosen to take a different approach to Easter. Normally the week before we tell bible stories about the events leading up to the cross. On Good Friday we try to do something special but this year we simply talked through what was "good" about Good Friday. Saturday night we attended a prayer and communion service to pray for what God was about to do on Easter. Then Easter morning came.....no eggs scattered, no fancy new clothes, no jelly beans down the hall, nothing. We got up and got dressed just almost just like normal. Except we put our game face on. I gave a pep talk on the way to church about what this morning could mean for hundreds of people. I talked about our attitudes not distracting us from the purpose of the day. I thanked the older two for choosing to volunteer an extra day without hesitation or complaint. And then I reminded them what Jesus did for all of us and how this morning was going to change peoples lives.
First service I sat with Baily and Shelby (which never happens b/c they are usually in their middle school environment). Music was off the charts. We sang about God's amazing grace and freedom. And the preaching...oh the preaching...was on the money. Pastor Daniel preached about King David and Mephibosheth. He talked about being crippled and being summoned by the King. He asked what cripples us and keeps us from coming home? It wasn't a typical Easter message about the cross, the tomb, the angels, the disbelief, the thorns, the last supper, the garden etc. It was a message to lead people to the cross. I loved it! The church day ended with over 1600 people attending, 300+ were kiddos, and hundreds giving their lives to Christ.
Easter is what you make it. Jelly beans, fancy dresses and chocolate bunnies aside....yesterday hundreds of people decided to "Come Home". Don't hear me wrong. I think you can have fun with Easter, without losing site of the real purpose. I just think it is a fine line that must be walked very carefully.
Thank you God for what you did thousands of years ago for our eternity. Thank you for your son Jesus who died a horrific death, taking on our sins, so that we can choose to live eternally with you. Thank you God for yesterday! We at LP saw mountains be moved and miracles happen. Thank you for calling us home.
Happy Monday after :-)
PS. We are going to D.C. today. YAY!my favorite thing to do. I will post pictures later. Gonna be a great day.
But, we (Hubby and I) have chosen to take a different approach to Easter. Normally the week before we tell bible stories about the events leading up to the cross. On Good Friday we try to do something special but this year we simply talked through what was "good" about Good Friday. Saturday night we attended a prayer and communion service to pray for what God was about to do on Easter. Then Easter morning came.....no eggs scattered, no fancy new clothes, no jelly beans down the hall, nothing. We got up and got dressed just almost just like normal. Except we put our game face on. I gave a pep talk on the way to church about what this morning could mean for hundreds of people. I talked about our attitudes not distracting us from the purpose of the day. I thanked the older two for choosing to volunteer an extra day without hesitation or complaint. And then I reminded them what Jesus did for all of us and how this morning was going to change peoples lives.
First service I sat with Baily and Shelby (which never happens b/c they are usually in their middle school environment). Music was off the charts. We sang about God's amazing grace and freedom. And the preaching...oh the preaching...was on the money. Pastor Daniel preached about King David and Mephibosheth. He talked about being crippled and being summoned by the King. He asked what cripples us and keeps us from coming home? It wasn't a typical Easter message about the cross, the tomb, the angels, the disbelief, the thorns, the last supper, the garden etc. It was a message to lead people to the cross. I loved it! The church day ended with over 1600 people attending, 300+ were kiddos, and hundreds giving their lives to Christ.
Easter is what you make it. Jelly beans, fancy dresses and chocolate bunnies aside....yesterday hundreds of people decided to "Come Home". Don't hear me wrong. I think you can have fun with Easter, without losing site of the real purpose. I just think it is a fine line that must be walked very carefully.
Thank you God for what you did thousands of years ago for our eternity. Thank you for your son Jesus who died a horrific death, taking on our sins, so that we can choose to live eternally with you. Thank you God for yesterday! We at LP saw mountains be moved and miracles happen. Thank you for calling us home.
Happy Monday after :-)
PS. We are going to D.C. today. YAY!my favorite thing to do. I will post pictures later. Gonna be a great day.
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