Thoughts to Corpus and Dallas...

Hi Amanda! Miss you, girl! Come home and work out with me on Friday!!

There has been so much discussion on community and sharing. I have TRIED to do "life" with other small groups and friends at other churchs and I know what has worked for me and what hasn't worked and why. As a starting point, it is spending time together as a group of believers. Time and Believers being the key words.

Time is important because just as friendships develop - you just need time under your belt to let the Holy Spirit work. Time to go to the movies together, break bread, drink coffee, jam out at concerts, gather and pray together, be silly and play games, pet dogs, giggle with babies, work out together (agh!), cry for each other, read scripture and talk theology together, let people perhaps rub us the wrong way at first - then time lets us appreciate them for who they are and the unique view they bring to the table. Time is important because as the Holy Spirit leads us (to Amy's point) to share our deepest issues, our sins, our joys and blessings we feel like we've had the trust and love of the group to do that. I was part of a small group that felt that WHAM BAM we were all instant friends. No time was allowed to build, no grass under our feet could gather. It was hard. We tried hard once a week but then all went our separate way in the end! It is also key to note that it isn't just TIME - it is time together. Wednesdays together, calls to each other, dinners, lunchs or sitting in the sauna at LA Fitness pretending to work out on a Friday afternoon (forgot my shoes..lol).

Being BELIEVERS is what makes it "community" rather than just a group telling each other intimate secrets and going to the movies. We learn, as followers of Christ, from each other how to encourage each other, reminding each other to run the race, endure hardships, be in prayer for each other to ask God for guidance and hope, not to judge, hold each accountible, love and care deeply. In fact, it is what makes community DEEP.

I'm so very happy to know you, Amanda. I hate that you are in a valley. Hate it! You don't need to feel pressure to share everything with everyone but let us all surround you with love and encouragement anyway. I'm so happy to be getting to know everyone in our group. You are all authentic. I know that God brought this group together.

"When I cannot understand my Father's leading,
And it seems to be but a hard and cruel fate,
Still I hear that gentle whisper ever pleading,
God is working, God is faithful, ONLY WAIT."