It's 2016 and Sisterhood is back! Pastor Janis has been preaching from the Beatitudes in Matthew 5. If you've been able to attend at all, you know it's been beautiful and challenging and wonderful and difficult. The premise is the Beatitudes are "The Way Forward," they're the truths that shape our lives and show us how to embrace kingdom living. This way, though, is about being vulnerable. It's about surrender. It's about trust. This way is nothing less than taking up the cross.
At the end of her second message in this series, Pastor Janis said something profound, something that keeps resonating in my spirit: "There must be an emptying before there is a filling." I think these words matter so much to me because God is asking me to empty myself. It's been a confusing couple of weeks. I've experienced loss and purposelessness and loneliness. In the middle of all these things I've felt far from God and so I started doing the only thing I knew to do- cut back distractions, turn off the noise so I can try to hear my Father. Things like social media and games and comparison and approval of man and mindless pursuits pile up like thick underbrush in the jungle. But I'm on a journey and God is leading and He has a destination in mind. I have to have machete in hand to cut back everything that gets in the way. Often times this means fighting back myself, my flesh. Pastor Janis reminded us that navigating life is about overcoming ourselves. It's amazing how removing distractions, opening His Word, and asking God to speak is all the invitation He needs to move in and move things around.
Just yesterday I was reading Philippians 2, studying up for my connect group, and I encountered what felt like one million verses on Christ's selflessness and obedience. I quickly pulled up a few tabs on why obedience is important to God. You know, I thought I'd do some research. And then I realized I was pressed for time so I prayed and asked God to show me why he cares so much about obedience (namely because one of friends told me I could ask God how to accelerate this wilderness time through obedience). Not really expecting to hear anything right away, I resumed my house cleaning and isn't it just like God to bring things to your mind while you're doing something mundane like vacuuming? I kept thinking about those verses I had read, about what it would take for me to really be like Christ. God asked me why I expect my daughter to obey me. I thought about how it's important for Em to obey because I want to protect her, if she doesn't listen to me or do as I say she might get hurt. Obedience is a sign of trust; I want Em to trust that I love her enough to take the best care of her. I want obedience to be a thing she wants to do and not a chore. I want my daughter to obey me so things will go well for her in her life. How much more does God want those things for me?! How much more does he love me, care for me, protect me, help me so things go well for me? How much more? I'm grateful for the time He took to explain that to me. I'm grateful that God is personal. While research is good, nothing beats going straight to your Dad seeking answers and help and safety. Nothing beats that. This study of the Beatitudes will challenge us and take us to new depths in God if we empty ourselves and allow God to fill us with himself alone.
In traditional Leah-fashion I have a few links to share with you.
1. I've had a song rolling around in my head, challenging me nearly every day for the last few weeks- What a Saviour. It's honestly just one line in the whole song that keeps getting me. "If this life holds nothing but my Saviour, I will praise you always." Really? Will I really praise Him if all I ever get out of this life is Jesus? If none of the dreams I dream ever come to fruition, if I never get to try anything new, if the only roles I ever fill are wife/mom/friend, will I still praise Jesus? Will I love him and pursue him for his intrinsic value, or am I only after relationship with God for what I can get out of it? I'd like to think not. I'd like to think I'm better than that- better at love, better at relationships, better at doing what's right, better at letting go and giving things up, but I'm not. Will you continue to praise Jesus if he's the only thing your life has in store?
2. On a lighter note, here's the link to Week 3 of "The Way Forward." I'll try to update these as quickly as they are made available on the website.
3. FINALLY (I saved something really awesome for last!), our first Sisterhood United event of 2016 is this Friday night, February 19th at 7 pm! Check out our Facebook page for more event information and click this link if you'd like to preregister for the event (it's essentially a fast pass for the night of and you'll receive a confirmation e-mail and everything!).
I love you girls so much. I'm looking forward to hugging as many of you as possible on Thursday at Sisterhood and at least one hundred more of you on Friday night for our United event.
Love,
Leah
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