The tie that binds

"That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ." - 1 John 1:3

Fellowship. It's a word we use a lot. We speak of the great fellowship we had with someone. Of the fellowship within our churches. But of what are we speaking? Simply being together and enjoying one another's company?

Think of it with the analogy of a sport's team. The team's goal is to win. That doesn't mean that they can't have fun together, or enjoy being in each other's company. It means that being together isn't their goal. They can't meet each week and have spend time together talking and expect to win the championships. They can do those things, but their goal is to win the game and so preparing and drilling for the game must take first priority.

Fellowship is having a common purpose, a goal that you are mutually working toward. Fellowship with the saints is a body of believers with one common purpose: to glorify God. While it is wonderful to think of being joined together with so many others with a shared purpose, what really "takes the cake" is that we have been invited to fellowship with God. We were chosen by God and have been united with Him to glorify His name. What an amazing God we serve. Thank you, Father, for inviting me to fellowship with You.

Sometimes I wonder...

What is the exact line between gossip and information? If someone asks directly about it, where is the line between answers and slander?

What level of influence do different occurences in a person's life have in the formation of personality, likes and dislikes? Are certain personalities born at certain times of the month?

How does it ever occur that two people like each other mutually? I've befriended people that don't return the interest. Even with mutual likes or what-not, it seems a miracle to me when one has a mutual friendship or two people fall in love with each other.

What is it that causes us to wake up happy or sad? Why do some days we feel motivated for no particular reason we can express, and others, depressed?

Why am I an INTJ/ISTJ? How can I use my personality to glorify Yahweh and further Christ's Kingdom? How can I bless others through these particular traits?

What can I/am I doing to hasten the Kingdom and spread the supremacy of God in all things?

You are loved...

What is it about a cool, gentle breeze that makes it feel like a kiss from God?

How can certain songs penetrate the depths of your soul, putting feelings into words?

Why does such an undeserving wretch receive such an outpouring of heavenly love?

Sometimes it's the little things...

#60-#79

songs that make me smile as song as I hear them start playing.
His faithfulness, especially when I'm not.
chats with a friend.
young ladies I'm surrounded by that have such powerful passion to serve Christ. they encourage me just by living.
hope of a free from pain when emotional and bodily aches seem to never end.
love letters from God.
the smell of rain.
shared moments with family, knowing that as we all grow older these moments will be fewer on this side of heaven.
an absolutely amazing father that is a gift from God.
dancing in the rain.
checking things off the never-ending to-do list.
the lovely aroma of the new dish-washing liquid I bought this week.
finally getting the perfect shade of black paint after many mix-ups.
kind customer service that returned items not normally accepted.
learning from mistakes, hopefully to prevent them repeating.
the pure and innocent laughter of a child.
resting in the promises of God.
a young man carrying my heavy dance bin to the car, proving that chivalry is not yet dead.
the smile of a friend.
straightening up in preparation for much-looked forward to visit from a friend.

Fearless

"Let go." He whispers.

I know I should, but I can't. It's so hard to let go.

"I am here. I will catch you."

I know it in my head, but the battle is still waging in my heart. Myself, my happiness, my well-being, my future - taking all I am, and giving it to Him. Letting go, holding on to nothing but Him. Clutching the cross, trusting Him, serving Him.

But my lists, my plans, my wants...can I let go of them? I know His plans are even better than mine, but does my heart believe it?

All I have to do is let go.

Counting Blessings

#41-#59 (because I haven't posted this in a few weeks...)

Safe travels there and back again
Sweet times of fellowship
Car discussions
Thought-provoking talks
A signed CD from Michael Card
Home-cooked food
A little boy getting stronger every day
Underlining passages in books
Michael Card music in the car
Smiles on dancer's faces (I love it when people show they're having fun)
Finally dancing Piper and the Penguin
No rain until after the outdoor dancing was finished (but boy did it pour down afterwards!)
Happy dancers in spite of a faulty caller
Seeing friends one hasn't seen in ages
Lights that stay green when you're running late
Getting to church on time
Holding a four week old baby, gazing into those beautiful blue eyes. (I. love. babies.)
Inside jokes shared with those you love
Making plans for a friend's visit

Randomness about one of the best weeks ever...

Most people that know me have heard me reference my "bucket list" at one time or another. Go ahead and feel free to laugh. ;) My bucket list is really just random little selfish things I think would be incredible fun to do someday (think: camping, backpacking, world travelling, crazy recipes, whatever catches my fancy. ;) ). As a side - a bucket list for me is not a list of things I must do before I die, it is more so a list of self-centered things that I assume I will never do but would if I got the chance. One of those things on my list was to meet Michael Card. He is one of those on my list of inspiration people. His music has some of the best biblical insights I've ever heard, and ministers to me in so many different ways. I always thought it would be incredible to hear him in person, but I never thought it'd be possible. But God is good, and not only did I get to hear him speak, I heard him perform live some of my favorite songs and even had dinner with him! Best week ever? I think so.

Michael Card wasn't the only person that I was interested in hearing. Pastor Trice is one of my favorite speakers to listen to. He shared many good insights over the week, and covered a huge variety of topics/questions quite well. It wasn't until Sunday afternoon that it really hit me - BWSC is over for the year. No more Q&A sessions (one of my favorite parts of the conference). No more fellowship - I think I'm going into social withdrawal. ;) I'm afraid I wasn't as social as I could've been, but I enjoyed catching up with a couple of friends I met last time, and getting to know better some friends that I actually see outside of BWSC. I have this aversion sometimes to making friends that I don't actually get to see in person that often, because online friendships tend to be so superficial, but that's a different topic for a different day. Even after all the goodbyes, it really doesn't sink in for a day or two that it's already over. Four and a half days have never passed so quickly. Three hundred and sixty-five days is long time. Even if I do end up going next year (really just depends on some different variables), as wonderful as it would be it could never be the same as this year because it won't have Pastor Trice and Michael Card. (2011 - MOST EPIC BWSC EVER).

I enjoy listening or participating in discussions on a variety of topics, but I especially enjoy it face-to-face. One of my favorite parts of the conference was the car discussions that happened on the way there and back. I guess it happens so rarely for me to get an opportunity to discuss various issues among my peers that I take particular pleasure in those few times when it happens. The flow of ideas, the different viewpoints, the wisdom of those who have been there...they leave you with something to think about. We are sharpening each other. There are some friends that sharpen me a bit more that others, but I am thankful for the godly friends that Yahweh has brought into my life.

There is something about singing Psalms and hymns in four part harmony with a piano accompaniment that makes my soul soar. Again, perhaps it is because it is something I don't get to do often. I couldn't tell you why or what causes it, just that there is nothing like it. We didn't do a whole lot of singing during the week, but I loved every minute of it. The singing is certainly one of my favorite things about BWSC!

In some ways, I feel like a different person because all these new ideas floating around in my head. It is now  when the rubber meets the road. Where you must take what you learn and decide how you will apply it to your life. Some ideas will fall into the pail of the forgotten never to be retrieved. Others will be set aside to age and brought forth at a later time. A few will simmer away on the back burner. One or two will be at your side, constantly changing your ideas and the way you think. Because now that you know, you can't plead ignorance. We are taking what we wrote on paper and translating it into the language of everyday life. I am excited about what God is teaching me and what He has in store for my future!

Something I need to remember...

I have unanswered prayers
I have trouble I wish wasn't there
And I have asked a thousand ways
That You would take my pain away
That You would take my pain away

I am trying to understand
How to walk this weary land
Make straight the paths that crookedly lie
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine


When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands


When You walked upon the Earth
You healed the broken, lost, and hurt
I know You hate to see me cry
One day You will set all things right
Yea, one day You will set all things right


When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave Your hands


Your hands
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still
Your hands that shape the world
Are holding me, they hold me still


When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave You when...


When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave...
I never leave Your hands


-Your Hands, JJ Heller