psalm 139:13-16

"For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be."

access

Our church community is in the habit of asking questions.

This is a normal part of life for us.

I was just thinking about the fact that not everyone does this.
It's not really that normal.

But I love it.
It's a huge part of my ability to intake and process what God is teaching me.
One of those said questions we've been asked recently is:

Who has been given permission in your life to speak of the truth of God?
Some simliar questions I've thought of for myself while processing that one are:
Are you in the practice of asking questions? Are you seeking answers?

Are you willing to let people speak truth into your life even if it strikes a nerve of sensitivity?

Do you go out of your way to ask hard questions to your friends and allow them to ask them to you?

Does your posture and availability allow you to be accessed?

hebrews 11:6

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

ownership

I don't know how to gently ease into this subject...
So I'll just come right out and say it:

Boy, have I been in a battle with my flesh lately. Big time.

It's funny (well, maybe more frustrating than funny) to me that coming out of a time of intense learning and anticipation of applying that learning, I just wanted to give up.

Ugh! I kept wondering, what is my problem??

I've been reminded of the vital importance of discipline... of pursuing Jesus daily... been challenged by the Holy Spirit to give up my selfish desires and to give of myself... to seek out God's purposes for my life...

But I just can't seem to get it together!

Well, just like everyone else out there, I'm human.
And I've been letting my own human desire get in the way of God's more than a little lately.

I can list lots of reason for this but I want to address the power of community and scripture right now.

I've not been in community enough lately.
It's not always been intentionally avoided, I just haven't been present.
And I truly felt it.
I need community.
Not because I can't try to do it on my own... because I can...
...But not very well.

I truly believe that God intends us to live in community because it helps us reach such potential that we simply cannot on our own.

The encouragement, accountability, reality checks, honesty, shared ambitions, swift-kicks-in-the-behind... and just the idea that I know they are there to point me to Christ and help hold me up... I cannot express how vital it has become to my life.

It also just so happens... I'm reading "Community" by Brad House right now.
As Andrew and I were talking about group last night (we meet on thursdays), the subject of ownership was brought up.
This book addresses the idea that the ownership of our faith inspires us to grow in it and share it.
I think I've really been lacking ownership of myself and what I believe in.

There's a gazillion reasons I could list as to why, but lets just say I'm in need of some owning up to myself... the good, the bad, the ugly and everything in between.

I've also been slacking at keeping up with my scripture memorization and I can really tell the difference it's made in my days.
There is power in God's Word.
I've truly seen a difference in my life since I've been memorizing it, and when I'm not, it is missed.
I'll just leave it at that and one of my verses for the month:

"My soul finds rest in God alone; 

my salvation comes from him. 

He alone is my rock and my salvation; 

He is my fortress, 

I will not be shaken."

-Psalm 62:1-2