Winter Retreat

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from our Winter Retreat. Loved the snow, makeup, and bible study!

Dealing With Rejection

This weekend we spent a lot of time examining the fear of rejection. Many times in our lives we feel as though we are the only ones experiencing rejection and that no one else understands. However, we can take comfort in the fact that God knows and understands exactly what it's like to be rejected and humiliated as Christ himself had many first hand encounters with rejection when he dwelt among us in human form. It's often tempting for us as humans to retaliate against those who insult or reject us by insulting or rejecting them in return. However, that is not how God wants us to deal with our own rejections. In fact, Christ left an excellent example for us as to how we should deal with rejection in our own lives:

"People insulted Christ, but he did not insult them in return. Christ suffered, but he did not threaten. He let God, the One who judges rightly, take care of him." ~ 1 Peter 2: 23

Excited

Well we are a few days away from our Winter Retreat. I am getting excited! I am looking forward to spending some time together doing activities, playing games, and looking more closely at God's word. I hope that this trip begins to prepare us for summer camp which I am also excited about! After traveling to see the resort we are staying at, I got even more excited. I can't wait to wake up each day and see the ocean! For me it is one of the most amazing things God created. So even though we are heading to the mountains on Friday, take a few minutes to look at the pictures of where we are going and the beauty God has waiting for us. Get EXCITED!

Fear

This evening when we began Dismantled, our new Bible study on Fear, we were asked to consider a time when we felt most afraid. Throughout the course of this study, we will continue to examine some of our deepest fears. In thinking about this, I was reminded of the following quote by Nelson Mandela, the former South African president who spent 27 years in prison for his role as an anti-apartheid activist:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure about you. "

Something to think about...

Super Bowl

Last night was a great evening. I am glad so many of you were able to come. A big thanks to the Newton's for hosting the party! I know Adam enjoyed cleaning toilets:) It was great to all hang out apart from certain people making me look like an evil woman. I am looking foward to the Winter Retreat so we can all spend some more time together. As I type this and watch the Disney channel with Jeron, guess what came on? Eli Manning is living the dream and going to Disney World. I guess that guy with the sign finally caught up to him! Hope you all got over your food hangovers! Have a great week.

Huge Decision

So many times in life we are faced with huge decisions. I am not talking about the decision of what to wear today, what to have for lunch or dinner, or who to call on the phone. I am talking about those gut decisions that you may question for the rest of your life like should I smoke this joint, should I have sex with my boyfriend/girlfriend, where should I go to college.? I mean HUGE decisions. What drives our choice? Do we think about what will feel good at the moment? Do we think of what others will think? Do we ask our friends for advice? Do we follow our heart or our mind? What do you do? There have been times in my life where I have had to face a huge decision. A friend of mine from high school that I have only seen once since graduation has faced a huge decision this week. I found out about her via my sister-in-laws blog. Last week when she went to the doctor for an ultrasound to find out the sex of her baby she was flooded with concern from doctors and nurses. There were no kidneys, there were kidneys but low fluids. Loads and loads of bad unsure news. She had a follow up appointment on Monday and was told with 100% assurance that this baby boy could not survive! Then came the big decision. Should she wait for the baby to die on its own, should she carry full term, should she be induced? No matter the choice her baby boy will die. She made a HUGE decision. Tomorrow she will be induced and get to hold her lifeless baby. Please pray for my long ago friend. Pray from your gut. Pray for healing for the choice she has had to make, a choice too difficult to comprehend. While you are on your knees praying, pray for the decisions you are making, pray for God to guide you "Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." Luke 22:42

Faith & Deeds

We've been talking a lot over the past few weeks about faith and deeds. We've also discussed how it's not enough for us to just say that we believe in God. Our lives have to reflect our faith. How do they do that? Through our actions which are sometimes referred to as deeds.

On Sunday afternoon, I attended the funeral of a great aunt. I had not seen her in years, and I certainly cannot claim to have known her well. However, one thing was evident in her funeral service - that she was a woman whose life truly reflected her faith. I was inspired by her journal entries and the reflections that her children, grandchildren, and ministers shared about her. She did not live a fabulous life by worldly standards or hold any great positions of power, but her quiet influence in the little things that she did for others out of love obviously had a great impact on those who knew her. She clearly understood both the importance faith and the deeds that should inevitably accompany it.

It should be our goal as Christians to live such a life - a life in which our faith is reflected by our deeds. Our deeds should be inspired by our desire to honor and glorify God and to love our fellow man. Our actions or deeds include everything we do in life. Notice the keyword in that sentence - EVERYTHING. Not just some things. Not just the stuff we do at church. EVERYTHING. This week I challenge everyone to join me in examining whether or not our deeds are a true reflection of our faith. Do they really honor and glorify God? Do they really reflect God's love? Think about it.

" This is how we know what real love is: Jesus gave his life for us. So we should give our lives for our brothers and sisters. Suppose someone has enough to live and sees a brother or sister in need, but does not help. Then God's love is not living in that person. My children, we should love people not only with words and talk, but by our actions and true caring." 1 John 16-18