Well I just realized I haven't blogged in a LONG time. Over a month. I think about it and then I just don't do it.
Honestly, a lot has happened in the last few months.
Mostly spiritually. The end of the summer the church I had been a part of stopped meeting and I began feeling the deep sadness and mourning the loss of something that had become a huge part of my life and week. I missed the weekly gathering of our tight-knit body of believers.
Then one of the men from that house church (as we affectionately called it), contacted me about coming to a Bible study that has been meeting in his home for some time. I was thrilled beyond words to start meeting with this group mostly because I have heard about what happens at this Bible study and had met a few of the core people who attend.
The first few weeks were good, I loved it yes, but it was slightly a challenge because I had to learn names, relations, and get over the fact that I was the only white person there.
This group has captured my heart. As the weeks have progressed, I found myself longing for Friday night, so ready to be with them all again. This being not only because they are such a fun group and we play Mafia after studying the Word, but because the hunger for learning and growing is so contagious. I don't know a time in my life were I have been around people so excited to know the things of God--and I went to Bible School! You would think the people there would have such contagious presence! Learning with this group has been a huge encouragement and so very refreshing.
The last few years all of the ministry I have been a part of off campus has been mainly outreach/evangelistic focused with little to no results. That can be and is discouraging to countless Christian workers.
While this Friday group is definitely outreach and evangelistic in nature, it is so much more. The people who come who are not believers are engulfed in a room for sometimes six hours with people who only show them love. Our leader's wife said once that could possibly be why they keep coming, they realize that they want to be loved like that. Its a safe place.
Due to the evangelistic turn our Fridays have taken, a few weeks ago we decided to have the core believers meet on Wednesday nights for accountability to deepen our faith and grow in the knowledge of the Word so that we can better witness and love on those who come on Fridays.
So far this too has greatly impacted my spiritual life. Again, I have never experienced anything like this. There are five girls, and five guys. We meet and separate by gender. In our tight groups of five we discuss the scripture we read in the previous week, allowing for questions and clarification on any part of the text. This is so good for the new believers in our group! And they soak it all up! We also have committed to pray for the lost people we interact with daily. These are specific people. We desire to see these people come to know Christ.
And lastly we confess sins to each other. This is hard I think for all of us because most of the group (myself included) has never done this in front of others. It is biblical and so freeing to lay our sins out there, and know that what is said in that place stays there, and is forgiven. We close in prayer and leave with a new section of scripture to read for the following week.
Because of this, I have been in the Word because I want to more than I have in five years. (And I went to BIBLE COLLEGE??!!?!?! yes.) I say this not to brag, but to say my life has been greatly affected by this group. I needed spiritual renewal/revival and God brought it just when He knew I needed it. He brought this group of people and an older couple who naturally and passionately pour into all of us.
Can I just tell you what we've read? It's so exciting and so much fun!
Homework for Bible study one week: Psalm 119 (as many times as we could!)
Week 1: Luke
Week 2: Proverbs
(currently) Week 3: Romans and Colossians(x2)
For the Wednesday group we have a healthy competition going between the guys and girls: Each week we report in on who completed the entire assigned reading, one point is given per person who completed it, two points are deducted for any one person who does not finish. The prize for the winning team is a choice of either a John MacArthur Commentary or purchasing chicks for a village in Cambodia. So far as of Wednesday night this week the girls are winning. :)
So basically I just had to share this or put it into typed out words so that I can look back and see this amazing season of life and remember what God is doing!
