LGG ~ Made for Community - Week 4 - Thursday

Good morning~

Nothing like waking up and thinking it's Wednesday but it is really Thursday.  That was a strange feeling.  Happy Thankful Thursday.  Today I am thankful for my sister.  She got a job yesterday.  She lost her job right before Christmas and was pretty devastated.  But praise God, she starts a new position Monday.  Please keep her in your prayers (and my Mom, too).

What are you thankful for?

Reading Ephesians 4:1-6

S.O.A.P.

S:  Always be humble and gentle.  Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love.

O:  Humble and gentle.  Because of love.

A:  Taken from You Version:  "Humility is the sober assessment and awareness of the truth of who we are with Christ and who we are without Him. Humility is not weakness, but the utter dependence on God and submission to His will in every circumstance. Humility yields gentleness. When we fearlessly recognize and assess our failings as we stray from the Lord, we become more gentle and compassionate towards others who fail us."  

I am hard on myself and others.  I tend to be a major 'eye roller'.  Praise God I am a work in progress, because of Him and being in his word more, I am becoming more forgiving and understanding.  But golly it is hard.  Especially now being in the south.  I never realized what Jeff told me until I experienced it for myself.  There is a laid back style here that is acceptable and very hard for me to learn to accept as far as a work ethic is concerned.  I am learning to be more loving, more forgiving,  more humble and gentle with others.  I like to say I do everything with love and because of love, but sometimes it is just plain hard.  I need to be more like and act more like Jesus.  He is my goal.  I need to keep my eyes focused on Him and in turn, I will love and be more patient in the areas of my life that cause me to roll my eyes.

P:  Father, I am a sinner.  I am not perfect.  I can only imagine how others roll their eyes at me.  Please let me remember that the next time I feel my eyes rolling because of what I think is someones weakness.  Give me a compassionate heart like Jesus.  Let me love and be gentle and patient in all areas of my life.  Forgive me for the times I fail you.  Thank you for loving me and forgiving me and for sending your Son to save me.  ~Amen

Simply Love~

LGG ~ Made for Community - Week 4 - Wednesday

Good morning Girls~

Happy Halfway Day.

Reading Psalm 133:1-3

S.O.A.P. 

Psalm 133:1

S:  How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!

O:  Wonderful, pleasant - harmony!

A:  What a force we could be if we all celebrated each other's strengths, gifts, talents instead of tearing each other down or by being jealous.  God gives us each our own gifts.  I think of when it is raining or when I spill something (my mom knows this has been a pet peeve of mine for as long as I can remember) but think of it.  The wet flows even into the nooks and crannies of everything in it's path.  What a covering.  We need to come together as a body of believers and for the greater good of Christ's people.  We can build on one another's strengths to become better for Him.

P:  Father thank you for the stepping stones in my life.  Thank you for allowing me to grow.  Help me to build my sisters up and recognize their abilities and not be jealous.  Give us opportunities to work together for your greater good.  Forgive me for tearing down and not building up.  I am sinful and jealous at times and that is ugly.  It feels so much better to celebrate than tear down.  Be with us as we go about our day.  Give us words to share with each other to build up and celebrate each other as a body of your children.  ~Amen

Be blessed and a blessing, Sisters.

LGG - Made for Community - Week 4 - Tuesday

Good morning Girls~

Reading today is 1Corinthians 12:12-27.

S.O.A.P.

1Corinthians 12:26-27

S:  If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.  All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.

O:  We are in this this together.

A:  What a boring world it would be if we all had the same talents.  I need to recognize that differences are what make us all unique instead of less than adequate.  Each person has something to offer.  If we are all using the gifts given to us to honor God, then I need to accept it and not try to change it to 'my way'.  My way is not always the right way.  Thank God he knows what he is doing.  If we were all doctors or lawyers or teachers or secretaries or home makers or factory workers or painters or house builders how in the world would anything get done?  I mean imagine a world with only one of these professions and none of the others??!!  YIKES.

P:  Father, thank you for giving each of us a role.  Help us to each be the part you choose for us and let us give all the glory, honor and praise to you.  Forgive me for not recognizing our differences as a gift and being judgmental.  Shame on me.  I fall short of your expectation every single day, but you give me mercy again and again.  Let me also show that same mercy to others.  Be with me today.  Give me eyes to see and accept that each person I meet today are in life doing what they do because it is the gift you have given them.  Let us work together to do your work and be an example to others of who you are and what you can do for them.  ~Amen

Have a good day, Girls.

LGG ~ Made for Community - Week 4 - Monday

Good morning Ladies~

Reading for today is Exodus 17:8-13.

S.O.A.P. 

Exodus 17:12

S: Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset.

O:  Supported and held him up.

A:  This reading brought me to tears thinking of what a bond these men had.  This is what good friends do.  We support and love each other when we feel we can't take another step.  That is what this our group is.  We support and love each other through tough times and in joyful times.

P:  Father, God, thank you for the reminder of what it is like to have good friends.  I pictured this story in my mind as I read it.  I can only imagine how tired Moses' arms were.  Thank you for Aaron and Hur being such wonderful examples of what friends should do for one another.  Thank you for the women in our group for always being here lifting each other up and praying for each other.  Be with us this week as we go about our lives and recognize people in our lives who need us to help them and show them what it's like to be a friend with you as the one we are serving. In Jesus' precious name.  ~Amen

Who will you support and lift up today?

Be blessed and a blessing.

LGG ~ Made for Community - Week 2 - Friday

Reading Luke 6:27-36.

 

S:  Luke 6:35 Love your enemies! Do good to them.  Lend to them without expecting to be repaid.  Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.

O:  LOVE. That's all. 

A:  Let me tell you there are people I've encountered who I don't love and even have a hard time even looking their direction because they are so evil. But I'm to love them anyway. Boy oh boy do I have some work today. This community stuff is plain hard. When you step outside your little comfortable circle sometimes it's hard to love and give. I need to keep remembering what a wicked, unworthy soul I am and He loves me anyway. 

P:  Father help me. You know where I struggle. I need more love. Less judgement. Give me blinders when I am seeing something in someone I don't like. Let me love them anyway. Give me strength to want to help those in need. Give me courage to step out of my comfort zone. ~Amen. 

Have a great weekend Sisters. 

LGG ~ Made for Community - Week 2 - Thursday

Good morning~

Thankful Thursday.  What are you thankful for?  I am thankful for an encouraging boss and co-workers.  I am really struggling with my new job.  It is just plain hard.  Either that or I am just having a really hard time learning something new.  I have been having terrible anxiety attacks and cry daily due to the stress of this job.  But my boss takes time every day to check on me and see if I need anything.  My co-workers are right beside me helping me through the training process.  I pray I am cut out for this position, because I am very thankful to have such a job with wonderful support system.

Please share what you are thankful for.

Reading and SOAP verse is Proverbs 27:17

S:  Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

O:  Sharpen.

A:  Of course this would make me think of a dull knife.  My husband doesn't allow me to use knives often.  I always cut myself.  Last night, while preparing my lunch for today, I was chopping almonds for my salad, (after he went to bed, of course) the knife I was using flew out of my hand and fell back on my knuckle cutting me.  Now had I sharpened that knife, we would have been making our way to the ER for stitches.  Thankfully it didn't.  So my analogy is this.  How good is a dull knife?  I mean if I had sharpened the knife it would have cut the almonds through.  (yes, I may still have cut myself) but if the knife was sharp, it would have done it's job much better. (cutting the almonds, not me)  So as a friend, I can be better and can be bettered by a friend by standing by each other.  Helping each other with God's words, God's commands.  Guiding with love. Pointing out things that I may need to change in my life.  Making me better for Christ.  Sometimes it even hurts.  Like Linda said earlier this week.  I was very touched by her opening up her heart and sharing that very personal story.  That is what this group is all about.  We can sharpen one another.  It makes us think and dig deep into ourselves based on the word and truth of God.

P:  Father, thank you for this group of women who openly share their hearts and lives with each other.  Thank you for giving us your word to know what we need to do to be better at being your children.  Sometimes it hurts to be pruned of the bad branches, but when we look at the fruit we bear after the pruning, it becomes clear.  Sometimes it takes a while.  I know I am thick headed at times and want things my way and I am not willing to give up my selfish ways.  But your way is always better than mine.  Show me the way.  Father I also want to thank you for providing a job for Debbie.  She is such a good woman, wonderful mother and follows you.  Thank you for allowing her the desires of her heart.  Be with her as she embarks this new position and the changes that come with it.  Be with the boys.  Let them be a help to her as this transition takes place.  There will be bumps, but with you as the Head of their household, they will be just fine.  In Jesus precious name.  ~Amen

LGG ~ Made for Community - Week 2 - Wednesday

Good morning,

Today's reading is Ecclesiastes 4:7-12.

S:  Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.  If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.

O:  Two are better than one.  Help each other.  Alone in trouble.

A:  This made me think of the other week when it was icy.  I was a nervous wreck.  My first experience with ice in NC.  I had heard stories about it and the talk was crazy the days leading up to the storm.  The year before I saw  firsthand the aftermath of destruction while visiting the area after a great ice storm.  It wasn't pretty.  So anyway, I started off the drive thinking this isn't so bad. I watched the cars inch along.  I saw TEN accidents on my drive that morning, but thought it wasn't so bad.  Then I parked my car in the parking garage and started my mile or so walk to the office.  I didn't see many people that morning and after having looked for my co-worker, I was on my own walking.  I am petrified of falling and breaking a bone, so I took it slow.  I asked the first person walking toward me how is was?  She said it was slick  and to be careful, however she hadn't been on campus (where I was headed).  The second person I saw approached me and said be careful! It is very icy over there.  Pointing RIGHT  to where I was walking.  I looked and saw no one in the direction I was heading.  Not a soul to buddy up with and walk together.  So I turned myself around after walking about a block or so and got back in my car to park closer to the building and risk a hefty parking fine.  All this to say, if I had someone to walk with me, I would have gone the distance.  I imagined myself falling and laying on the sidewalk and waiting for help.  I just didn't want to risk it alone.  I would have if I had someone with me to help me or me to help them.  

P:  Father, thank you for always being beside me.  Thank you for your holy spirit who gives me understand and nudges to know right from wrong.  Thank you for giving me your word to turn to when I am struggling to know what is right and wrong.  The answer is always there.  I only need to search and I will find it.  You have given me direction, I only need to follow and trust you.  Be with each of us as we walk this journey.  Thank you for giving us each other to lean on and share with and turn to.  You know our every need before we even know what to ask.  Let us hear your voice.  Let us understand what you are telling us.  Bind us together.  Let us keep our eyes fixed on you.  ~Amen.

Pray without ceasing.