also, the curls also, the curls
her joy is the best her joy is the best
Happily blaming @laurenpapa3 for telling me about Happily blaming @laurenpapa3 for telling me about this series. Rabbits. Royalty. Battles. Family. Hope. SO GOOD, @sdsmithereens.

I apologize in advance if your kids stay up until midnight like I did to finish a book. 😬
We’re at the park, and she’s happily bouncing, We’re at the park, and she’s happily bouncing, amazed by the big trucks driving by, never wanting to stop going down the slide, smiling constantly — and I’m laughing with her, amazed at her joy and think — Is this what God feels like with me as His child? 

Delight. Lightness. Wonder. Love.

I was filled to the brim with it, covering every crack and reaching every corner. And then I realized — this. is. it. 

This is how I operate in the world. 

I felt so... whole... not because of my efforts at wholeness but because I have God and He has me. (Psalm 23 rings loud: with Him as my Shepherd, I lack nothing.) 

The best I can do for myself is accept and live in His love, especially when mistakes and lack and circumstances scream reasons I can’t. And the best I can do for others, those under my roof and those on this platform, is to extend invitations of His love through my own and through His Word. 

If your life has told you He doesn’t want to love you or know you, I’m here to tell that He does. It’s waiting for you, probably even pursuing you... it just takes a Yes of faith. 

Message me if you want to talk about it; I would LOVE to hear your story, no matter how different we are. 

You're not forsaken,
You're not alone
His love is unending
So know it well
Remind your soul,
remind your spirit,
remind your heart
The love of the Father
Know it well
—Kari Jobe
Bless you and thank you for your heart and work, @ Bless you and thank you for your heart and work, @morganharpernichols.
“I told you about my life, and you answered me; “I told you about my life, and you answered me; teach me your statutes. Help me understand the meaning of your precepts so that I can meditate on your wonders. I am weary from grief; strengthen me through your word. Keep me from the way of deceit and graciously give me your instruction. I have chosen the way of truth; I have set your ordinances before me. I cling to your decrees; Lord, do not put me to shame. I pursue the way of your commands, for you broaden my understanding.” Psalms‬ ‭119:26-32 CSB‬‬
18 months old and she’s joined the ‘lover of t 18 months old and she’s joined the ‘lover of the slide’ club
“We must reflect that, when we reach the end of “We must reflect that, when we reach the end of our days, our life experience will equal what we have paid attention to, whether by choice or default. We are at risk, without quite fully realizing it, of living lives that are less our own than we imagine.” William James

With the help of God, may we strive to become abiding and attentive people instead of distracted and defeated people.
The entire thing is He loved me first. And even wh The entire thing is He loved me first. And even when our surroundings are burning or when all we see is rubble, there is an unseen Kingdom to serve, a Family to be part of, and a powerful Love to give and receive. 

Every week it seems I’m inspired by a comment a friend and pastor made years ago — “Don’t be afraid to talk to someone about the truth of Jesus. Think of it as joining a conversation God might already be having with that person.” 

May we be conduits of that strong, courageous, welcoming, comforting, healing, transforming, sustaining, peacemaking, eternal Love. Or as Bernice King said, “Love puts in work.”
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faith · 04/27/2015

What I Like About ‘Small Group’

Small Groups | heartnatured

One day a week J and I get together with four other couples to eat good food, catch up, read the Bible, and pray together. It’s called many things: small group, discipleship group, life group, bible study, fellowship, etc. What it continues to be for me is a continual burst of refreshment for this endurance race of life.

In high school we had them for youth group, in college I led one, and now we are in one with other married couples. Different seasons of life, different levels of maturity, but always the same goal: a group of human beings sharing life together, processing Scripture, praying for each other, connecting.

I am passionate about ‘small groups’ because it is accountability, and it teaches me steadfastness.

It’s not a weekend revival complete with spiritual mountaintop experiences, but it is a weekly challenge to lean a little more into Jesus, to learn a little more about the Bible, and to interact with other believers. It is a weekly couple of hours where we externally process verses we read, where we break them down and dig deep. Taking the time to do that kind of study consistently can seem unattainable amidst our busy lives, but it’s possible. And it’s even greater to hear what other people think about a verse or topic, because we all come from different experiences, and we all perceive life in different ways.

Over the weekend I heard a sermon on John 10, the Good Shepherd and His sheep, and something new caught my attention.

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

The wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. How much more vulnerable are we when we are isolated and alone? And that is the Enemy’s goal. To discourage us, to cause us to doubt and fear, to tempt us to sin.

I’m also thankful for the weekly visiting with other people who, like me, are trying to surrender their lives to Jesus more and more.

I encourage you, friend, if you don’t have a relationship like this, find one, pray for one.

In: faith

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Comments

  1. Ally | A Home Called Shalom says

    04/27/2015 at 8:53 pm

    I love this!! I’m a big fan of “group” (as I call it!), too. It’s so important to find good, encouraging, Christian community! (And I never thought about that verse in that context before!)

  2. Kristin C says

    04/27/2015 at 9:15 pm

    Great, great point! My husband I host a bible study weekly at our house and we love it. It is a “anyone is welcome” kind of thing, so we stay pretty basic, but it is a great time of fellowship and bible study each week!

    Kristin // The Peculiar Treasure
    athisfeetdaily.blogspot.com

  3. Mandy Jackson says

    04/27/2015 at 9:31 pm

    My husband and I love our weekly small group as well. It is so good to learn and grow together through this stage of life with other young couples!

  4. Ashley says

    04/27/2015 at 10:13 pm

    I love this so much! I too, am passionate about life groups/small groups…community! I cannot believe how I feel when I miss it for a few weeks. Honestly, we have only recently really jumped back into community, and weekly – If not daily – I wonder how we made it for so long without it. (The answer is we really weren’t.)

  5. Chelsea B.E. says

    04/28/2015 at 12:44 pm

    I agree, Mandy. Ours is also made up of couples from all different stages of life — 25 year marriages, 5 year marriages, etc. I love it.

  6. Chelsea B.E. says

    04/28/2015 at 12:47 pm

    That’s cool, Kristin C! I think any kind of place to get together consistently is great! Cool of you guys to open up your home. :)

  7. Chelsea B.E. says

    04/28/2015 at 12:47 pm

    I hadn’t thought of it like that either, Ally! But it was a fresh perspective I’m grateful to have heard.

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also, the curls also, the curls
her joy is the best her joy is the best
Happily blaming @laurenpapa3 for telling me about Happily blaming @laurenpapa3 for telling me about this series. Rabbits. Royalty. Battles. Family. Hope. SO GOOD, @sdsmithereens.

I apologize in advance if your kids stay up until midnight like I did to finish a book. 😬
We’re at the park, and she’s happily bouncing, We’re at the park, and she’s happily bouncing, amazed by the big trucks driving by, never wanting to stop going down the slide, smiling constantly — and I’m laughing with her, amazed at her joy and think — Is this what God feels like with me as His child? 

Delight. Lightness. Wonder. Love.

I was filled to the brim with it, covering every crack and reaching every corner. And then I realized — this. is. it. 

This is how I operate in the world. 

I felt so... whole... not because of my efforts at wholeness but because I have God and He has me. (Psalm 23 rings loud: with Him as my Shepherd, I lack nothing.) 

The best I can do for myself is accept and live in His love, especially when mistakes and lack and circumstances scream reasons I can’t. And the best I can do for others, those under my roof and those on this platform, is to extend invitations of His love through my own and through His Word. 

If your life has told you He doesn’t want to love you or know you, I’m here to tell that He does. It’s waiting for you, probably even pursuing you... it just takes a Yes of faith. 

Message me if you want to talk about it; I would LOVE to hear your story, no matter how different we are. 

You're not forsaken,
You're not alone
His love is unending
So know it well
Remind your soul,
remind your spirit,
remind your heart
The love of the Father
Know it well
—Kari Jobe
Bless you and thank you for your heart and work, @ Bless you and thank you for your heart and work, @morganharpernichols.
“I told you about my life, and you answered me; “I told you about my life, and you answered me; teach me your statutes. Help me understand the meaning of your precepts so that I can meditate on your wonders. I am weary from grief; strengthen me through your word. Keep me from the way of deceit and graciously give me your instruction. I have chosen the way of truth; I have set your ordinances before me. I cling to your decrees; Lord, do not put me to shame. I pursue the way of your commands, for you broaden my understanding.” Psalms‬ ‭119:26-32 CSB‬‬
18 months old and she’s joined the ‘lover of t 18 months old and she’s joined the ‘lover of the slide’ club
“We must reflect that, when we reach the end of “We must reflect that, when we reach the end of our days, our life experience will equal what we have paid attention to, whether by choice or default. We are at risk, without quite fully realizing it, of living lives that are less our own than we imagine.” William James

With the help of God, may we strive to become abiding and attentive people instead of distracted and defeated people.
The entire thing is He loved me first. And even wh The entire thing is He loved me first. And even when our surroundings are burning or when all we see is rubble, there is an unseen Kingdom to serve, a Family to be part of, and a powerful Love to give and receive. 

Every week it seems I’m inspired by a comment a friend and pastor made years ago — “Don’t be afraid to talk to someone about the truth of Jesus. Think of it as joining a conversation God might already be having with that person.” 

May we be conduits of that strong, courageous, welcoming, comforting, healing, transforming, sustaining, peacemaking, eternal Love. Or as Bernice King said, “Love puts in work.”
Call it ‘a Sunday stroll in Appling.’ Call it ‘a Sunday stroll in Appling.’

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