The Body

{disclosure: I am typing this so excitedly and having a hard time articulating this post appropriately... so hopefully this makes sense and isn't just a bundle of jumble. if so, sorry. maybe soon the Lord will show me how to better write the words. for now, it just makes sense in my heart.}

"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." Ephesians 4:15-16

I think the Lord showed me something tonight.

He created his children to grow into maturity as we grow in Jesus. We grow together. We are one body, even though we are many bodies. He uses each of us in a unique way to bring glory to His kingdom. And within the one body we make up when we join together in worship of our Lord, there are many parts. The body is joined together by every single supporting ligament. Each part of the body has a purpose. Each of us represent a different part of the body as each part does its work, but the body must be one to function as it was created to function.

The Lord God created the body. He created Adam and from Adam he created Eve.

I wonder if when he created Adam, he knew his plan for this creation. This creation was to work together and become one body. As he created one body. He knew the purpose of every part of the body in one person to live. And he knew the purpose he created each part of the body of Christ to be in order to truly live in Christ.

He knew about the body of Christ at the beginning of the world. Because he is all knowing. And he is Christ. The Lord God created the human body when he created Adam and Eve. He knew how he would use the human body to symbolize the body of Christ later. He knew he would use the parts of the body to symbolize the members of the body of Christ doing their respective work. He knew people would understand this symbolism because of how the parts of a body are dependent on one another to function appropriately and effectively.

The body is SO important. I had never thought of how important the body is. To every human life. To Life. And to the kingdom.
And God surpasses my understanding. He is all knowing, all present. He had a master salvation plan before he even began creating.

God seriously blows my mind.

A Thankful Heart: Community

I have been a part of many different bible studies growing up. 

Each of which helped form and shape me into the woman I am today.

Each brought {primarily} women who loved Jesus and loved each other 

to teach me love and joy and grace.

The most recent bible study I have the privilege of being a part of 

is made up of J and me, and just a few special friends.

I must say, it has been such a blessing to do community with others in a raw way.

I love growing with others in the Lord and in friendship.

Tonight was another night of fellowship with friends.

And I'm reminded how thankful I am for community.

Fall and fellowship

I'm blessed to be a part of an amazing group of people. I love our new church ministry and I love the people that represent it. I love our pastor and I love the friends we have made. And I love the ladies.

This past week, I got invited to a ladies night to have dessert, fellowship, and talk about new opportunities for ministry.

To say I was excited to be included is an understatement. I had to find something super fun to make for dessert. Inspired by my friend, pumpkin cupcakes it was.

(this is my new fun cupcake carrier. i had to have something to put them in!)

Sidenote about pumpkins:
Mind you, I am not a pumpkin person. I mean, I love pumpkins. But eating them...not so much. Like, I don't know if I've ever even had a piece of pumpkin pie, because it just doesn't look that good to me. But when Jessi brought these to bible study a few weeks ago, I fell in love. I even tried my first pumpkin spice latte. I know, I'm behind. It was good! Until the end... then it got luke warm and orange and sorta freaked me out... anyways. The point is - these are good. And pumpkin flavor is actually pretty good!

I took them over to ladies' night, and the girls liked them! In addition, we enjoyed amazing fruit salad and beautiful decorated cookies. Although my favorite part was probably the cookie dough... "no eggs!" ... by Sondra. Girl after my own heart.

We sat in her backyard, the 5 of us, and talked about life and love and ministry. We talked about encouragement and caring for others, and ways to implement that in very tangible ways. Great ideas were presented, and I'm so excited for the potential for this new ministry. Encouraging people is one thing I really enjoy, and now that I'm done with school, I'll be happier and hopefully more encouraging. :) It's all in the works right now, but I hope it can become something huge.

And I hope some of these friendships can also become something huge.

Learning contentment

Tonight I was, again, encouraged by the ladies.

By their laughter,

their stories and testimonies,

and their insights,

particularly on this scripture.

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. 

For we brought nothing into the world, 

and we can take nothing out of it." 

1 Timothy 6:6-7

Contentment. 

It's near impossible to attain

since the world teaches we are to strive to be better,

richer,

stronger,

wiser...

unless the Lord is my focus.

And so, God, be the center of my life.

In the moments I don't feel completely content,

remind me of this simple truth 

and focus my thoughts back toward You when I forget.

For my heart is prone to wander.

Please take my heart and seal it for You alone.

Thankful for these women

sometimes God reminds me the beauty of women
and being in relationship with them

like tonight

at bible study.

we chatted & laughed & cried & shared with each other.

we talked about how faithful God is time and time again.

and i was reminded how blessed i am 

to be in a group of women

who really and truly love and fear the Lord.

thank you, ladies, for fellowship

and thank you, Lord, for creating me to need that

and for allowing me to partake in that.

Girl's Night Out

Friday night, I called up my mom and sis and invited myself along on a girl's night extravaganza at church. It was so fun to go back to my home church with the girls for a night of pampering. I most definitely forgot to take pictures, so my not-so-articulate words will have to suffice for explaining the evening.

Well, that's what they called it. They did have a massage table, but the line was like an hour long. And they told me how rude it is to wait to RSVP to things. I know, I'm not a fast RSVP-er. It's my way of being free spirited and "going with the flow" ... I know. I'm ridiculous (and wrong). They did have some yummy snacks, though, and these amazing cupcakes (poor Mom's fell off her plate, and then I kicked it to make matters worse, which spread the frosting all over the carpet. Aren't we a pair!).

Mom bought me the prettiest flower homemade earrings (thanks Mom! I already wore them once!), and I picked up a colored flower chocolate. I am a sucker for all things chocolate. And spring time colors. And anything with flowers. We learned how to fold napkins into bunnies. Guess I should buy some fancy linens now so I can fold bunnies in the comfort of my own home. :)

There was a raffle, and we got to pick which two raffles to enter. Well wouldn't you know it, but I won the tea bag of goodies!! I hardly ever win things like that - it was totally cool! I got tons of flavors of tea, a pretty pink mug, a book, a ring pop, and a lipstick set (not totally sure how the last two fit in...).

What a fun night of randomness, laughs, food, encouragement, and my mom and sister. I love being a girl.

Thanks for letting me tag along, guys! And if anyone is in need of new lipstick, I have about 10 beautiful new colors which I am totally willing to donate to a good cause ... ;)

Rags to Riches

Yesterday was a frustrating day. Like, one of those days when you remember all the annoying moments and fail to see the good moments.
- I was irritated with my professors.
- Theory class was less than productive, and ethics class was moved to I couldn't go to bible study.
- I was late to meet my friend.
- I smashed my finger in the door of my car (like, it was stuck in my locked closed door. So now it's basically out of commission for awhile, which is a huge disadvantage, seeing as I work with my hands at the hospital, especially my right pointer finger!).
- I didn't feel good after lunch.
- And I have a zillion papers to write. Ok, maybe just 6, and 3 presentations. But it feels like a zillion. In 4 weeks.

But in the midst of that, I was reminded that God is faithful. And His grace prevails in the midst of life's frustrations.
- I went for a morning sunrise walk with my husband and pups.
- My dogs are becoming best friends.
- I had the best lunch with my mentee.
- I saw another arena of nursing - palliative care. I heard testimony after testimony from an MD about people who found hope in Jesus in their last days, which brought a period of peace. I was reminded that Jesus brings true peace. And he changes lives.
- I got out of class early.
- I got to go to bible study after all, and be encouraged by some amazing ladies.
- And J welcomed me home with the sweetest hug.

I wish I had seen those blessings a little sooner in the day.
But that's ok.
Thank goodness God's grace is sufficient to meet me in my selfish frustration, and remind me of his joy.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
2 Corinthians 12:9

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."
Colossians 3:15

Dear Jesus,

Thanks for bible study last night. Thanks for a group of girls who really love you and want to learn about you. Thanks for great conversations and friends and tea and laughter. And for giving us your spirit and your armor.

Thanks for my husband. Thanks for the fact that he misses me when I'm gone and gets excited when I come home. And thanks for an evening of nothing on the calendar tonight. Finally! Not that I don't love activities - I do. But it's sure nice to be home together.

Thanks for Emma. Thanks for blessing us with a little animal who cuddles with us in the morning. Well, with me until J wakes up quite a bit later. :)

Thanks for getting me up early this morning to spend some time with you. I do it sometimes, even often, but not for long enough, ever. So thanks for today.

Please help me get this paper done today. I really have to concentrate and I'm kinda struggling to be focused. Thanks for caring about little things like a paper.

Thanks for being faithful when I'm not, for being strong when I'm weak, and for loving me when I don't feel very lovable. But I love you.

Amen.

Top 10 from the week

1. [Almost] 1 week down, 13 weeks + 1 semester + 1 exam to go to becoming a nurse!
2. John is home, safe and sound from his little business travels.
3. Emma did [fairly] well on her first official 'training' walk.
4. An encouraging bible study with amazing women of God.
5. Good conversations with good friends.
6. I get to mentor the sweetest new nursing student ever.
7. Miguel's for dinner... welcome home J!
8. Family time and looking forward to seeing my sister tomorrow.
9. School is so much better than last semester.
10. I sold 3 books online!

Women in fellowship

I was so blessed to attend a women's bible study last night led by my wonderful friend. I met a great group of girls and am so excited for where this will go. Sometimes I get caught up in life and forget how refreshing it is to sit with a group of girls with a common faith base and just be able to chat. I haven't been a part of a girl's bible study since, well, consistently since high school. It is good to be back. I write this to keep myself accountable to going. To not letting life get too busy for fellowship. Because isn't that what it is about?

There is something unique about when women come together. There are a few common things that bring women together. Heartbreak. Tea and/or coffee. And the Lord. And sometimes, all three.

I like new beginnings. They are kinda scary, but almost always worth it.