One Another

Challenge issued and accepted:

If you isolate yourself from relationships to avoid hurt, you'll end up hurting yourself and cutting others off from the help that is you.
— Doug Bursch (@fairlyspiritual) April 18, 2014

@JenniferNeyhart This conversation is your writing prompt. :) @fairlyspiritual @sometimesalight
— Ellen Mandeville (@EllenMandeville) April 18, 2014

When we are hurt by someone our instinctual, defensive reaction is to throw up our walls and get the hell out of there as fast as we can. And I've observed in myself that this can cause a chain reaction, affecting all other relationships. Thankfully, some of my closest friends have helped me see and fight this initial response, but it continues to be a struggle. I am so afraid that it will happen again. I tell myself that if I let others in, they won't like what they see and they won't love me the same.

But God created us for community: for deep, meaningful relationships, with God through Jesus and with other people. He never intended for us to journey alone. Think of all of the "one another" passages in Scripture:

"Love one another. As I [Jesus] have loved you, so you must love one another." - John 13:34

"Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace." - 2 Corinthians 13:11
"Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves." - Romans 12:10

"Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." - Romans 15:7

"Serve one another humbly in love." - Galatians 5:13

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." - Ephesians 4:2

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." - Ephesians 4:32

"be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit." - Ephesians 5:19
"Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." - Galatians 6:2

Over and over and over again, we are exhorted to encourage each other, love each other, bear with each other, and forgive each other. And all of this must flow from the love of Christ in us. God wants to love through us. I've experienced his love through his people, and I don't want to deprive myself of that by cutting myself and/or others off from the relationships that we have. By the grace of God I will continue to choose to be vulnerable and open with the people I know I can trust. And by the grace of God, we will continue to grow together. 

(Even this post is an example of community and encouragement in action! This post would not exist were it not for the encouragement of @EllenMandeville =) 

Mother-Sister-Friends

Today is International Women's Day, and in honor of that, Sarah Bessey is hosting a synchroblog  on the topic of Spiritual Midwives and Patron Saints.

She uses these terms to talk about the women intrinsically linked to her spiritual journey.

"in a way, Spiritual Midwives helped God give birth to some new part of me. These women were the midwives – by their lives, their faith, their obedience, their words, their prayers, their real-life example  – for the work that God birthed in me, and through me (they are the women I know personally)." 

This is the part I focused on.
Here are some snapshots of God using some women who are not only dear friends but also my sisters in Christ:

1. A friend who knows my darkness, my brokenness and isn't scared,
She's heard my doubts and sacrilegious thoughts.
She is not afraid to push me, to ask the hard questions when I need it to face the truth,
 - to face the mess, because she's not afraid of the mess.

She stretches her hand to my head and speaks Truth;
prays God's Love and protection over me, over my heart and mind,
her voice powerful, pouring strong words over me,
another baptism there in her backyard.

When my aunt is dying of cancer and I'm running to everything but God,
she tells me to just breathe.
Breathe in the goodness and love of God,
let go of everything else.
-----------------------------

2. I tell her I feel broken.
She says "you're not broken.
you are redeemed and you are being redeemed."

I see her cling to Jesus through much pain and suffering and it causes me to want to do the same.
And when I ask her to please keep praying for me she says,
"You know I am and I won't stop, there's a commitment between sisters."
And I am deeply humbled and thankful.

-----------------------------
3. "You have this moment to be to the glory of God."
"He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it!
He started the work and He will finish it!"

These mother-sister-friends have admonished me over and over again to stop looking at the darkness, at self and sin, and look instead to Jesus.

She tells me that sometimes, well, most times, with your spiritual sisters,
there's going to be an element of long-suffering.
When you are brutally honest and all of your ugly spills out.
When you are this close, you will feel each other's pain.
You will mourn with your sister as she mourns.

These women (and so many others!)
have believed for me when I couldn't believe for myself. They still do.
They hold on to hope for me when I can't.
They hold me up when I can't stand,
They hold my arms up in prayer like aaron and hur did for moses.

This is how God uses them and so many others as spiritual midwives in the birth of my soul.
We love hard, we bare our souls and lift each other up to our Father.

Thankful Thursday (on Monday?) 11/26/2012

Thankful Thursday (Inspired by Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts)

I am thankful for...

224. A long weekend off work (paid vacation/holidays! the novelty of this has not worn off!)
225. Safety as my family traveled out of town for Thanksgiving
226. Getting to see my Grandpa
227. Spending the day with dad's side of the family on Thanksgiving
228. Deep conversation with a cousin and uncle on Thursday night
229. Spending time with my cousin, Sarah.
230. Experiencing the Story Tour at Southeast - it was very encouraging and inspiring.
231. Christmas decorations going up at the house.
232. A surprise visit from Erin and her kids on Saturday afternoon.
233. The opportunity to spend time with Becca while she was in town on Saturday night.
234. Being led in worship by a best friend. (Seriously, there are few things as sweet as this. It reminds me of days in “Destiny” when this happened as well.)
235. Lunch with mom, dad, and brother on Sunday and then on to Half-Price Books with Brother. Book Stores are kind of our thing. :-)
236. Time to rest and relax on Saturday and Sunday.
237. Talking with Megan on my lunch break on Monday - so good for my heart, mind, and soul.

Sarah with me!

Grandpa with my cousin, Susan

Thankful Thursday 11/15/2012

Thankful Thursday (Inspired by Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts)

I am thankful for...

113. Encouragement with brothers and sisters in Christ last Thursday night.
114. Meeting a new friend with whom I have much in common.
115. Friday night with Ashley O.
116. Saturday night with Ashley H.
117. Fun and laughter with friends at the Baby Shower for Rachel on Sunday
118. Megan M -talking to her on Sunday night
119. Lots of time with Julie and Nathan (Mon,Tues,tonight,Sat,Sun)
220. Grandma being in town this week! (Supper with her on Monday, Tuesday, and tonight, and plans to spend time with her Saturday and Sunday as well!)
221. The BEAUTIFUL sunset I saw leaving work last night
222. A nice dinner with the fam last night
223. A (rare) evening to slow down and relax on Wednesday night.

Ashley playing one of the games at the Baby Shower

Laura, Johnna, Rachel, Jessica

Thankful Thursday 11/8/2012

Thankful Thursday (Inspired by Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts)

I am thankful for...

103. Lunch with Lauren on Friday
104. A great Friday evening spent with Erin James. God sure knew what He was doing when He put us in each others lives all those years ago at White Mills Christian Camp.
105. Going to Erin Dana’s wedding and seeing friends I hadn’t seen in years!
106. Worshipping with my Sojourn family Sunday morning
107. A trip to Huber's Farm on Sunday afternoon with Julie Holt and Nathan Holt.
108. Tuesday night Community Group
109. Dinner with friends I’ve had since high school Wednesday night (Stevon, Johnna, Dana, and Shanen!)
110. The new book from Rachel Held Evans - it is blessing me immensely!
111. That Jesus is still King and my hope is in Him, not in any political party or candidate.
112. Laughing and being ridiculous with Megan on Wednesday night

me and Erin James - 1998 at White Mills Christian Camp!

Erin Dana and me!

Thankful Thursday (on Friday) 11/2/2012

Thankful Thursday (Inspired by Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts)

I am thankful for...

92. Saturday night with Erin and Cedar
93. Cedar (22 months) loving on me and telling me "I love you too" for the first time!
94. Extra rest and sleep on Saturday and Sunday
95. Family time Sunday
96. Sojourn on Sunday night with Lauren (and Erin on worship team to boot!)
97. Dinner with Lauren/encouraging conversation (Sunday night)
98. Community Group Tuesday night
99. Free nights Monday & Wednesday
100. Good conversation/prayer time with Megan on Tuesday night
101. Seeing Susan & Stephanie Thursday night
102. Late-night conversation with Lauren on Thursday night

Me and my lil buddy, Cedar, (back in July)

Thankful Thursday 10/11/2012

Thankful Thursday (Inspired by Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts)

I am thankful for...
58. A really great weekend with Megan - it was just what I needed.
59. The time with Stephanie and Susan on Friday night
60. A good night’s sleep for the first time in a long time (Monday & Tuesday night)
61. Safe travels for Nathan and Julie as they drove home Monday
62. Time with Nathan and Julie Monday night
63. My walking buddy, Ashley
64. Opportunity to hang out with Dana Tuesday night
65. Opportunity to talk with Karen C. on Wednesday morning
66. Lunch with a co-worker on Wednesday
67. Encouragement from being with my church family Wednesday night
68. Spending time with Lauren, Nathan, and Julie tonight. (Including celebrating Nathan's birthday)
69. Breakfast with two friends from community group in the morning
70. Lunch plans with Rachel on Friday
71. Laughter with my family last night

A picture from a few years ago that makes me laugh
and showcases Nathan's personality...

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for:

10. Precious time and conversation with Teri last night
11. A good night with good friends discussing good literature (George MacDonald's The Princess and the Goblin) that was good for my soul on Wednesday night.
12. My Community Group on Tuesday night - encouragement and prayer
13. Sweet time with my friend Abby and her kiddos on Monday night
14. Moments of joy and laughter with my family

15. Laughing unbelievably hard with Megan over "Urkel Kentucky Wildpants"...
16. Time to spend with Lauren tonight
17. The opportunity to see "Wicked" tomorrow with friends
18. Friday night spent with good friends

Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday (Inspired by Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts)

6. I'm thankful for the opportunity I had to go visit dear friends in Ohio last weekend. I cherished every minute with them.

7. I'm thankful for safety as I traveled.

8. I'm thankful for a job where I finally have some paid vacation time!

9. I'm thankful for my family...

Five Minute Friday: Connect

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..



Connect...

I've never participated in one of these 5-minute Friday exercises before. I've wanted to, but for various reasons I hadn't, until today.

The topic is actually one of my biggest strengths: Connecting with others.

God has given me such a passion and love for people. I love to hear their stories and encourage them where they are.

Daily, I thank God for the people he has put in my life: the ones who make me laugh so hard that I cry; the ones that encourage me and love me when I am least lovable; the ones who admonish me, rebuke me, and hold me accountable. Examples from this week:

1. I'm thankful for the two hour phone conversation last night with Megan, my roommate from college who is still one of my best friends.
2. I'm thankful for the conversation with my friend Teri while we walked 2 miles together.
3. I'm thankful for time with Dana at her house on Wednesday night, playing with her sweet baby boy.
4. I'm thankful for time in the Word and in prayer on Monday and Tuesday evenings with Susan and Stephanie.
5. And I'm thankful for time with good friends from high school last weekend.

I really could go on and on! Good thing there's a time limit!

Who are you thankful for? How are you connecting?