Love our small group!

Mike and I have been a part of a small group for a few years now and the people in that group have become like family to us. They have walked with us in great times and also in our worst times. Sunday nights have become a time we cherish. Not just for the time in the word and prayer time but for the fellowship we share over dinner every week. I have talked about them before but today I want to talk about something much more.

This past Sunday night, we had a smaller group than normal and it was pretty much amazing. Our conversation was such a blessing as we talked about how to best support and love our leaders in the church. As we started this discussion, we said that sometimes it is hard to know how to best pray for the leaders because they don't always share specific requests. Our thoughts on how to pray for the unknown lead us to the talk about how we can best be praying for each other in our group. It was this discussion that the conversation about being more in each others lives came up. And not just getting to hear the prayer requests about family, work, etc but about our hearts and walks with God. Sometimes, at least in my experience, the deep thoughts tend to not come to the surface. We don't like to look vulnerable, especially in regards to our spiritual life. I know for me, I think everyone has a better relationship with God so I don't want to share those struggles with everyone.

But this past Sunday, we went there. The group really opened up and I feel like I know and love those people more than I did the day before. As a group, we started something. Something that we can now show to those who weren't there. I'm excited to see this new desire to go deep to play out. I mean, that is what a small group is about...it isn't just about the Bible study or dinner but about being in each others lives.

This is the kind of group of people I want my children to see their parents interacting with. I want them hearing us talk about our faith. Not just the good but the bad and ugly. They should know that we are comfortable sharing this with others so that when they are ready to accept Jesus in their hearts, they know they can talk with us or their Sunday School teachers, because they saw their mom and dad doing that same thing. And as they grow in their faith, they can think back to the years we were all a part of this Grace Group and find others they can go deep with.

This is my dream for not only my friendships now for myself but the example I can now set for my children.

5 years...

It was 5 years ago today that I stood in that very spot and promised to love and cherish Mike Wise for the rest of my life. A day that I love remembering and celebrating. This year, we hit a big milestone...5 years. Feels like we were just newlyweds! I love being married to this man. This won't be a long post but I just wanted to say how much this man has changed my life. He is truly my best friend and partner in life. We have been through all the ups and downs and have come out stronger and more in love with each other. I am so blessed to be his wife.

Feelings check

When I was in high school, our family went to therapy (not for anything serious) and I hated it. I always felt that I didn't need to be there and that it was stupid. Now, as I can look back on those times in that office, I appreciate the tools that therapist taught us. I even use them today with myself and my thoughts and also with Mike in our marriage...and I hope that we can use them with our children to help build strong communication.

One of the more annoying (but also super helpful) things we were expected to do was a "feelings check." That is how we would start every session I went to. Now this wasn't just saying angry or frustrated or annoyed but to really dig and say how you were feeling. This was especially helpful when our family did not want to talk or really be honest with each other.

And this morning I was having my quiet time and was in the book of Matthew 13-14. The first chapter was the parables and chapter 14 was about the death of John the Baptist and the feeding of the five thousand. For some reason, chapter 14 left me awestruck. I was reading how sad Jesus was that his friend and brother John died. He went for a walk and had time by himself...he was feeling and mourning. I actually started writing this post yesterday and when I started reading about Jesus' feelings, I was humbled to remember that He feels too. I mean, I am amazed that God feels everything we feel, when I am sad so is He, when I am happy so is He. He takes it on and even in His human years, He too was like me...feeling things. So I am realizing that Christ wants us to acknowledge our feelings because He knows how they feel in so many ways. (I'm sure this sounds confusing but it was a great thing for me to understand this morning).

So today, I am wanting to do my own feelings check. Today I am feeling joyful and anxious. On the one hand, I am just so excited for the things that lie ahead of us and what each day brings. But the human impatience of it all is almost too much! I love this stage, I really feel like God is getting my maternal instincts together and preparing me for motherhood. The joyful, anxious feelings are beyond welcomed because they bring a peace and a hope along with them.