The Community of Christ

"8Let me say first of all that your faith in God is becoming known throughout the world. How I thank God through Jesus Christ for each one of you. 9God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God, whom I serve with all my heart F2 by telling others the Good News about his Son.
10One of the things I always pray for is the opportunity, God willing, to come at last to see you. 11For I long to visit you so I can share a spiritual blessing with you that will help you grow strong in the Lord. 12I'm eager to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. In this way, each of us will be a blessing to the other." Romans 1: 8-12

I was reading this passage in Romans tonight and I was struck with a familiarity of the feelings Paul was expressing in this passage when he wrote it. He was talking about longing for an opportunity to go visit this group of people because he wanted to be able to encourage them and in return be encouraged by them spiritually.
A couple of months ago, I wrote a blog about the power of community. When I wrote that blog, I talked about how people desire to be known and to know each other. But I think another great benefit of community is the encouragement it provides. To get together with a group of people that share things in common, to share goals, to share beliefs and to be able to spur one another on in life... well that is a great thing.
I am incredibly fortunate to be part of an amazing small group based out of my church. Every Sunday night we get together and hang out and discuss our faith in God and what God is doing in our lives, what He is teaching us. And every Sunday night when I leave, I leave energized and pumped up because of the things I hear my friends telling me. It excites me to hear what God is doing in their lives. It makes me look forward to seeing what God has in store for me too. It encourages me to dig deeper in the Word of God and to hear what He wants to say to me.
I think that is exactly what Paul was talking about in this passage of scripture. Even a great man of faith like Paul needed encouragement from other believers. The things that we go through from day to day can really weigh us down and to be able to get together with people who want to see God move in your life is like a breath of fresh air. We need that. We desperately need encouragement in our lives.
If you are reading this and you aren't experiencing this in your life, ask God to send you a group of people to encourage you spiritually, whether it is through a small group or something else. We need to spur each other on, to rally around each other, to hold each other's arms up when we get tired. That is the beauty of the community of Christ.

Creativity at its Finest

I have been wanting to write this blog for weeks. I saw the most beautiful sky the other night while I was driving and was struck by the vivid colors and the designs in the clouds. It actually brought tears to my eyes and I thought "how on earth could anyone think something so incredibly magnificent could have come to be by chance". I believe with all my heart that I serve a creative God. One that can speak beauty into existence by whispering a single word. One that sits on his throne and laughs with delight when he watches his creation do what they were created to do.
I went in search of some beautiful things, some really creative things that capture a glimpse of God's creativity.

His creativity in a brilliant sky


The inspiration of a baby


the originality of a weird creature



We get glimpses of His genius every day.




His creativity completely takes my breath away.

Joy from Obedience

Obedience. I hate that word. Because it requires me to do something that someone tells me to do. Ever since I was a child, I hated being told what to do. My mother could tell you some shocking stories (only they might not shock you if you know me well) about how I hated being told what to do. I hated being told what to wear. I hated being told to be quiet...the list goes on. I remember my mom telling me not to touch something because it was hot. What did I do? I put a finger on it just to show her that I would do what I wanted. As I have aged, this flaw of mine has only gotten worse. When Corey, my husband, tells me what I should do or what I shouldn't do, my answer is usually "Ok, dad" and then I usually do what I want anyway. Not my shining moments I assure you.
Today I came across an article that was about worship. It said that obedience is a requirement to worship.
John 14:15 says "If you love me, you will obey what I command." NIV and then in verse 21 "whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by the Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

He's saying that obedience is how we show Him that we love Him. I don't think I do a very good job of showing Christ that I love Him. Instead, I fight what He asks me to do because I think I know what is best for me. Or I say I will do what He asks but then I really end up doing what I want instead. And it always ends up in a mess. Just like the time when I burned my finger trying to show my mom that she wasn't the boss of me. Isn't that ridiculous that at almost 30 years old I am still doing that? I would hope that I would have learned something by now. God has told me that he has plans for me. Big plans. Plans to give me a great future. Yet I still think I can do things my own way and that it will turn out perfectly.

I really want this year to be a year where I learn the joy that comes from obedience.
I want to learn from my mistakes. I want to follow God's plan for my life and not my own. I want to choose His ways. This is painful for me, but growing hurts sometimes and I know it's going to be worth it.

A Worshipper's Prayer

I am scheduled to lead worship at my church this coming Sunday, and as I was preparing for that today, I stumbled across a song called "A Worshipper's Prayer". The words really spoke to my heart so I thought I would share the chorus here.

"'Cause here I am
And like a thousand times before, I sing again
And when all my simple words have found their end

Once again I'm even more amazed
By the beauty and the mystery of Your ways
Oh, how marvelous to hear You call my name

So when there's nothing left to bring
And there's no song left to sing
Here I am"- A Pocket Full Of Rocks


This new year I am looking forward to several things. One of them is not being a student anymore. Another one is getting to spend more time with my husband and family and friends. But the thing I am looking forward to most is using my time to grow closer in my relationship with the Lord. Our small group has talked alot about how we want to see God move in big ways in our hearts and lives this year. I think that for me, I am going to see this through my worship of Him. And I don't mean through just music. As much as I love music, love to sing, love to play music, what I am really talking about is the worship of God simply through offering myself to him. Offering every part of my life. I think as Christians we tend to compartmentalize our lives. Church, school, work, etc. And God may be in some of the compartments, but He isn't in all of them. This year, I want to tear down the walls, the compartments. I want him to consume every part of me and my life. I want Him to be evident in every part of my life. In the way I talk to people. In my attitudes. In my work ethic. In everything.
I think that is what real worship is. It is simply offering ourselves, all of us to Him, allowing Him to use us in any way He chooses, even if it's uncomfortable for us.
I want to have a true worshipper's heart this year. I want to honor Him with my life. I want to be bold in my faith.


If you want to check out the song, here is a link...