365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 81

I attended a women's day retreat this weekend at a different church than my own. Although it's always a bit nerve-wracking at first because it's a new place, people you have never met and you don't know what to expect, I found it to be very refreshing after getting past the initial gitters. One of the ladies was awesome and probably could see the anxiety in my face as I just have that kind of wear everything on my sleeve kind of face. She got me introduced to a few people at a table and my anxiety started melting away. They are just people for pete sake. I can't seem to remember that. The main message for the day at the retreat was about connections which I was a bit giddy about since it's been part of my mission to make connections with other Christian women through faithbooking. Did I meet my new best friend? No, but it was nice to be reminded of how similar we all are. We all have fears and we can all call on God to help us overcome our fears, to be courageous, to take initiative and seek out other sisters in Christ. I've made the connection with this church and look forward to meeting and building some relationships with my fellow sisters.
Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid?

365 Days of Praise Challenge-Day 49

I started a bible study group through my church 2 years ago when I kept finding that the timing of things going on at the church just wasn't lining up with my time. I think we have done about 6 different studies now. We have had some join for a short time and other long timers leave us who moved out of CO whom we have missed but we keep at it. We are currently doing a study called Fearless by Max Lucado. I am a huge fan of his writing style and love his children's books. I had the privelege of hearing him speak at a Women of Faith conference several years ago. He really knows how to say things that you already know but puts a great spin on it or puts it in another perspective that is just golden. In one chapter in Fearless, he talks about the incident on the boat with the disciples and the big storm. How afraid for their lives they became and how Jesus who was sleeping the whole time got awakened by them and their fearfulness and said for the uncounted time, 'do not be afraid'. Lucado points out that they are in a boat with the Son of God, the Messiah, sleeping or not, the disciples had no reason to fear. The same is true for us. He is with us whether we think he's sleeping or not and we have nothing to fear. My praise today is not only for this wonderful perspective gleaned from this bible study but for the ladies in my study who have brought lots of insight, wisdom and laughter to our group and made it so special. We truly are sisters in Christ. Do you have a community of believers that you gather with regularly to learn and grow more in your faith? If not, definitely seek one out or take the initiative and start one. If you are local, you can always join mine.
Proverbs 13:20 He who walks with the wise grows wise.