On Monday nights for the last few years, I've gathered with other women from my church for an evening of Bible study and spending time together. It's one of the things I look forward to each week. What follows is something I wrote in spring as I was reflecting on these evenings. It's just a tiny glimpse into what these evenings look like from my perspective. My words probably don't describe it perfectly. There's just too much to contain in a few short words that comes from an evening spent with other women who want to study God's Word together.
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Pulling into the parking lot about a little less than an hour before things officially begin, I see a few other vehicles. Other people on the team to make this a great night are already here. When I walk up the stairs into the room, there's the smell of coffee brewing, the sounds of food being prepared, and the activity of getting everything ready. Conversation going on all around. It's the beginning of a new season and we're all excitedly preparing for the ladies coming to begin to arrive.
As the ladies begin to arrive, people are ready to welcome them, give them a name tag, and make sure they have their book for the study they've chosen to take. Time to grab a coffee and a snack on their way to take a seat at a table. The buzz of conversation grows as more women arrive.
It's time to begin. A few announcements and a welcome. Some time to worship together and then it's off to our different studies. Time to get to know one another better as we dig into God's Word sitting around tables. Sharing life with one another - the good times and the bad times. Praying for an encouraging one another.
It can't be time to go home already. The evening went by so quickly. Good-byes are said as people leave - already looking forward to the next week when we'll do this all again.
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When I think about things like this, I feel that this is a picture of the church being the church. Just a small sample of it. I know it happens more than these Monday nights. It happens across the world, in groups of all sizes, for different purposes. And it's what should be happening.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
endings
On Thursday I wrote a bit about new beginnings. As I've reflected on things since, I've come to see that with new beginnings often comes the end of something. It can be the end of something big or the end of something small. But for something new to begin, we often have to let something else end.
As much as I struggle against allowing something new to begin, I struggle more with letting something end. I don't like change and when something ends that means things are changing. Besides that, ending something means saying good-bye to it.
But if we never let things end, we'll find there are no new beginnings. Or that many new beginnings won't really take root because there isn't enough room for them the grow and flourish. We have to let things end so those new beginnings can happen.
In my own life, I've found that the most important thing about allowing something to end is that I do it well. If my time serving in a ministry is coming to an end, I give it the same level as before right up to the end. I don't stop doing things I said I would - I keep commitments to the end. That is the way to let things end well.
Ending aren't always fun. Sometimes they're hard because we don't want the end to come. But endings are a necessary part of life. And we need to learn how to end things well.
As much as I struggle against allowing something new to begin, I struggle more with letting something end. I don't like change and when something ends that means things are changing. Besides that, ending something means saying good-bye to it.
But if we never let things end, we'll find there are no new beginnings. Or that many new beginnings won't really take root because there isn't enough room for them the grow and flourish. We have to let things end so those new beginnings can happen.
In my own life, I've found that the most important thing about allowing something to end is that I do it well. If my time serving in a ministry is coming to an end, I give it the same level as before right up to the end. I don't stop doing things I said I would - I keep commitments to the end. That is the way to let things end well.
Ending aren't always fun. Sometimes they're hard because we don't want the end to come. But endings are a necessary part of life. And we need to learn how to end things well.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Isaiah 55:10-11
As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seeds for the sower
and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
(Isaiah 55:10-11, NIV)
God's Word always accomplishes that which God sent it out to accomplish. His purposes will always happen. When we spend time in the Word, God uses it to change us.
I don't know about you, but even though I know that, I need to be reminded sometimes. I find it easy to forget that. In the midst of life when things don't seem to be going as I planned, I need the reminder that God has said His Word will achieve the purpose He sent it for.
I don't have anything more to say about this today. God's Word is enough. My words don't always have anything of value, but God's do. Rest in that today.
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seeds for the sower
and bread for the eater,
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
(Isaiah 55:10-11, NIV)
God's Word always accomplishes that which God sent it out to accomplish. His purposes will always happen. When we spend time in the Word, God uses it to change us.
I don't know about you, but even though I know that, I need to be reminded sometimes. I find it easy to forget that. In the midst of life when things don't seem to be going as I planned, I need the reminder that God has said His Word will achieve the purpose He sent it for.
I don't have anything more to say about this today. God's Word is enough. My words don't always have anything of value, but God's do. Rest in that today.
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