Community Groups and ....Community

Our community groups at Gospel Community Church have started back up again for the year. We have already had 3 meetings and a lot of great discussion. Stephen and I first joined a group back in June of 2012. We have been able to meet some new people and make new friends through it, but also study the Word with a group of fellow believers. Our group is also a type of accountability group which is great for me, since I am very likely to fall asleep in the middle of anything nowadays. Praying...zzzz. Reading...zzzz. Talking...zzzz. Studying...zzzz. Driving...zzzz....just kidding! I have yet to fall asleep while driving. It is also good because I need to focus more on being intentional with my family, friends, strangers, and with God.

Last semester, we didn't go to our community group because we were still adjusting with Austin joining our 'team', but this semester, we are studying the book of James. It has really got me thinking about how I want to reach out into the Lynchburg community more. I'm not always sure how to do that, but I think it will take me being more intentional and being a lot less lazy. Usually, whenever I have a free minute from school, Austin, dishes (we have no dishwasher), cooking, and studying I just want to lay down and relax-preferably sleep. But I've recently felt challenged to step out a little more.

Stephen and I are hoping to get involved in a local youth group out of Gospel Community, and so we are currently praying about that next step. I also want to find people in the community and do what a can for them. Today, a friend of mine and I took some food and baby supplies to a young girl who recently had a baby. I know I appreciated all the help I had when Austin was born, so I really wanted to share that with someone else who could use it. That was just one small thing, but I had been wanting to do that for months, so I was glad we were able to do it.

I was also hoping I could help coach lacrosse this semester, but I just don't have the time. Because of that, I really feel left out of the community. I want to reach out to those who aren't Christians and was hoping I could really work on that with the girls on the lacrosse team. But, God closed that door so now I'm looking for another....

It is so difficult because I think of all these limitations I have-finances, time, energy, etc-and it is almost as though I try to talk myself out of serving these people. But, James really has me thinking and I am trying to step out a little more and put my faith into action more. I think I need to start by forming some relationships with my neighbors-literally. Anyway, maybe other people reading this are in the same boat as I am-looking, praying, and trying to live out their faith more...hopefully, I can come back later on and have a good update on this topic...

Lessons Learned

Every year on February 19th my birthday rolls around. Well, it is that time of year again as my birthday will arrive on Tuesday. Stephen never knows what to get me because I rarely take the time to think about what I may want. Well, this year, I made a secret board on Pinterest with all the things I would love to have. Not that I need to have them, just to keep Stephen from yelling at me for not giving him any ideas ;p I showed it to Stephen so he could plan ahead.

With that said, this morning Stephen looked at it. According to him, I don't actually want the things I want.

Cute swimsuit top at Target? 'No, that's from the 80s'.
Nice creme colored hobo bag? 'I already got you a purse 2 years ago'.
Hair cut? 'That's too expensive' (I get my hair cut ONCE a year).
Down comforter? 'We already have a comforter'.
Curling iron? 'Maybe. I'm not sure though' (I haven't had a curling iron for 4 years).
New shirts? 'I don't know what size you wear.' (I haven't bought clothes for myself in at least 2 years-except for 3 maternity pieces, and I can't wear those anymore).
A whistle, jump rope, collared shirt, gym pants, PE books? 'No, that's not what you want for your birthday' (Yes, yes it is).

So, next year, I will revert to my old ways and not tell him anything since he will disregard it anyway. #2,835th lesson learned about life with Stephen...what a crazy fella :)