Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Church Search
Yes, I said it, the word CHURCH. I'm writing to ask you ladies to pray for Adam and me. We are looking for a church and really having difficulty finding one that fits us. And when I say it "fits" I don't even really know what I mean. I am confused about what I am looking for, and knowing what is important when searching for a faith community.
We have tried the traditional Presbyterian church in the area as well as a more contemporary church that meets on Sunday nights. This past Sunday we went to a church that is somewhere in between the more structured traditional approach and the whimsical, organic approach. If you want a better idea of the churches we've visited, see Adam's blog post here. He explains it a lot better than I can.
The issue for me right now is that I don't feel like I fit in at the church where we've been regularly going. One person, in a matter of at least 5 weeks, has introduced himself to us and recognized that we are new to the group. It isn't a big church, so in my opinion it's not difficult to look around and observe the new faces in the crowd. One of my dilemmas is this: do I base my decision about attending and investing in a church body solely on how welcome I feel there?
In short, I am pretty confused. I would really like to hear if anyone has any insight on the issue. If you have stories, lists of qualities you look for or like about your church, books on the subject, really anything would be of help!
Thanks for letting me rant, and I hope to hear from some of you soon!
We have tried the traditional Presbyterian church in the area as well as a more contemporary church that meets on Sunday nights. This past Sunday we went to a church that is somewhere in between the more structured traditional approach and the whimsical, organic approach. If you want a better idea of the churches we've visited, see Adam's blog post here. He explains it a lot better than I can.
The issue for me right now is that I don't feel like I fit in at the church where we've been regularly going. One person, in a matter of at least 5 weeks, has introduced himself to us and recognized that we are new to the group. It isn't a big church, so in my opinion it's not difficult to look around and observe the new faces in the crowd. One of my dilemmas is this: do I base my decision about attending and investing in a church body solely on how welcome I feel there?
In short, I am pretty confused. I would really like to hear if anyone has any insight on the issue. If you have stories, lists of qualities you look for or like about your church, books on the subject, really anything would be of help!
Thanks for letting me rant, and I hope to hear from some of you soon!
Friday, December 11, 2009
MOXY?
Hi Ladies,
It's been a while! I hope you are all well! I wanted to share this website with you. It is the blog site of a woman who works at Westmont, and I think she has some unique and insightful ways of expressing how to live your life as the person you were created to be.
http://themoxyprojectblog.com/
I hope you enjoy it.
Grace and Peace,
Emily
P.S. Over Thanksgiving I got engaged!
It's been a while! I hope you are all well! I wanted to share this website with you. It is the blog site of a woman who works at Westmont, and I think she has some unique and insightful ways of expressing how to live your life as the person you were created to be.
http://themoxyprojectblog.com/
I hope you enjoy it.
Grace and Peace,
Emily
P.S. Over Thanksgiving I got engaged!
Friday, December 4, 2009
Colossians 3:12
This quote has really hit home lately for me. Our pastor said it a couple weeks ago while talking about Compassion in the context of Colossians 3.
"Compassion without action is pity"
uh! so good.
oh, and one of my favorite books that really goes along with this train of thinking is "Under the Overpass". i highly recommend it!
"Compassion without action is pity"
uh! so good.
oh, and one of my favorite books that really goes along with this train of thinking is "Under the Overpass". i highly recommend it!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Is hope really worth it?
During the past two weeks I have had such tunnel vision - focusing solely on my school work and my relationship with Adam. I find that when I emerge from periods of such business and intensity in my life, I have a lot of processing to do! (Does this happen to anyone else?) I think a lot of this happens because I am an introvert, but I think that I also don't allow myself to process my life as it is happening because I tell myself I can't afford to spend the time or energy on "that" until later. It inevitably catches up with me. :)
Today at church God really spoke to me. I have realized I have some deep feelings of hopelessness and lack of perspective right now. As you know, Adam is hoping to move out to Colorado some time in the next few months, but he can't do so until he has a job. He has had several good conversations with people regarding job possibilities, but it seems like nothing practical has come of any of the work he has done. I think that on Friday, as I was finally able to start winding down from the past two weeks, I realized that this lack of progress, so to speak, is really wearing on me. In a conversation with my mom I said "Why should I hope for anything, because what if it doesn't happen?" I've really been wondering the last two days if it is worth it to keep hoping. The more I think about it, the less I want to go on without Adam in my daily life. He is one of my closest companions and I really am looking forward to a life with him. Anyway, I digress, but this weight is something I came to church carrying this morning.
I have found that when I come to worship with expectations, God does not always choose to speak to me right away, but today He totally reminded me about my hope in HIM. Apart from what Adam does to pursue job leads in Colorado, independent of when he can move here, and regardless of anything else that could happen in my life - my hope is in Jesus Christ, and my purpose is in Him. I was brought to tears by this realization this morning - such a gentle, compassionate message from a God who loves me infinitely and who will never leave me.
Please pray for me! Whatever the Spirit lays on your heart about Adam, me, our relationship, and job possibilities for Adam. Thank you in advance for praying with all the saints on behalf of your brothers and sisters in Christ.
Today at church God really spoke to me. I have realized I have some deep feelings of hopelessness and lack of perspective right now. As you know, Adam is hoping to move out to Colorado some time in the next few months, but he can't do so until he has a job. He has had several good conversations with people regarding job possibilities, but it seems like nothing practical has come of any of the work he has done. I think that on Friday, as I was finally able to start winding down from the past two weeks, I realized that this lack of progress, so to speak, is really wearing on me. In a conversation with my mom I said "Why should I hope for anything, because what if it doesn't happen?" I've really been wondering the last two days if it is worth it to keep hoping. The more I think about it, the less I want to go on without Adam in my daily life. He is one of my closest companions and I really am looking forward to a life with him. Anyway, I digress, but this weight is something I came to church carrying this morning.
I have found that when I come to worship with expectations, God does not always choose to speak to me right away, but today He totally reminded me about my hope in HIM. Apart from what Adam does to pursue job leads in Colorado, independent of when he can move here, and regardless of anything else that could happen in my life - my hope is in Jesus Christ, and my purpose is in Him. I was brought to tears by this realization this morning - such a gentle, compassionate message from a God who loves me infinitely and who will never leave me.
Please pray for me! Whatever the Spirit lays on your heart about Adam, me, our relationship, and job possibilities for Adam. Thank you in advance for praying with all the saints on behalf of your brothers and sisters in Christ.
Friday, October 9, 2009
grace upon grace = grace squared?
I listened to a sermon online last Sunday and one phrase, from a passage in John 1:16 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%201:16&version=NASB, really stood out to me. It mentions that we receive grace upon grace from God. All week, this has been my mantra, my breath prayer. As I prayed this and thought about this concept, I began to be convicted by how easy it is for me to ask for God's grace, and how difficult it is for me to dispense it. I also realized that in order to dispense grace I require even more! It seems like a compound grace effect where I am always needing more. I am so humbled by my lack of grace, because even though I withold it, God never does.
Another random note: I wanted to share this website with you all. Specifically, the essay in the link below really spoke to me about "trying to do everything" as a woman. What part's of you does this speak to? http://burnsidewriters.com/2009/09/23/she/
Another random note: I wanted to share this website with you all. Specifically, the essay in the link below really spoke to me about "trying to do everything" as a woman. What part's of you does this speak to? http://burnsidewriters.com/2009/09/23/she/
Thursday, September 17, 2009
perspectives on death and heaven
So, we just moved to Denver and that was a little scary to consider because it took us so long to feel at home in Colorado Springs when we both moved there. But, I realized this morning that I'm already feeling at home here, mainly because we found a church that we both feel at home at and are excited to check out more and get to know more.
This past weekend, the sermon was on being "holistic" and mainly focused on perspectives of heaven. While I'm not an expert on the topic, there were a few main points that were just so good from the sermon. He focused a lot on how death is bad. One of the main comments the pastor made was that God's original plan was for us to live in perfect unity with him; death was not in the plan. Death was against what God started. I had never thought about death this way before hearing this. And so, essentially, his focus (and how he tied it back to being holistic) is that God is in the business of redemption today and is restoring our world even today. The Bible does not reveal a lot about what heaven is like, but it does teach us how to love God and love others. Our focus should not be fixated on just the someday of heaven and in getting there, but in living now in our present lives. And so, the question becomes "how is God rebuilding, renewing, and restoring this world in the midst of the present evil?"
This past weekend, the sermon was on being "holistic" and mainly focused on perspectives of heaven. While I'm not an expert on the topic, there were a few main points that were just so good from the sermon. He focused a lot on how death is bad. One of the main comments the pastor made was that God's original plan was for us to live in perfect unity with him; death was not in the plan. Death was against what God started. I had never thought about death this way before hearing this. And so, essentially, his focus (and how he tied it back to being holistic) is that God is in the business of redemption today and is restoring our world even today. The Bible does not reveal a lot about what heaven is like, but it does teach us how to love God and love others. Our focus should not be fixated on just the someday of heaven and in getting there, but in living now in our present lives. And so, the question becomes "how is God rebuilding, renewing, and restoring this world in the midst of the present evil?"
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