Community

When you hear the word community you might think of your neighborhood or a small city. If you are like me when I hear that word I think of my church family. "From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work" Ephesians 4:16. Our pastor spoke on this topic just a few weeks ago. I am just now experiencing being apart of a church community, even though I have gone to church all my life and became a christian at an early age. Church community is a family. These are people you are serving the Lord with, worshiping and glorifying with, and growing deeper in Christ with. All these things are so important in being a Christian, it only makes since that you should be so close to your church family. We started our church about 2 1/2 years ago and even before then our community was established. I know because of these people, I can make it through this life. We share the most intimate things together, just as a real family does. We all have struggles, just as the bible said we will, and because we are doing life together we will come through those struggles. We encourage each other to call upon the name of the Lord, we guide each other through His word, we listen when we need to listen and we give advice when we need to give advice. As Bo, our pastor, said, "WE NEED the church and the church NEEDS US". Yes you church is at a building, but it goes way beyond that building.

~Andrea T.

God's Love

I read a book every night to my daughter about Christ sacrifice on the cross. Most recently we have been reading about Christ entrance into our world, with the story of His birth. And over the past several months I have been reading the New Testament in my own morning quiet times. Because I didn't go in order I am now reading the Gospels. And now with the Thanksgiving holiday coming to a close, needless to say God's Love has been very fresh on my mind. As I read the story about Christ Birth and Death to my little girl I reflect on His love for us. "For God so loved the world that He sent His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life" John 3:16. As I pray everyday I begin with praises and thankfulness. Praising and thanking Him for His beautiful creation, His divine plan, sacrifice on the cross, the country He placed me in, the christian heritage he allowed me to have, the godly husband He gave me, the two children I have, the health of my family, the church family he placed me with, the means of financial support I am blessed with, a beautiful home, transportation, food and water and the list goes on. All these blessings because He loves me. Thank you Father for your love and reminding me everyday in so many ways.

~Andrea T.

Women need encouraging

Last Friday night we had our Ladies fellowship and bible study. What a wonderful time of chatting, laughing, food, God's word and prayer! I believe each one of us walked away encouraged. Encouraged in His word and with the words of each ladies hearts that was poured out. The topic at hand was thankfulness/peace. How they so undoubtedly go hand in hand.

       "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your mind in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

Peace is not had without thankfulness, and thankfulness is not had with out it accompanying peace. We discussed why it is so hard to have peace when thing are chaotic and life is not going the way you planned. We also talked about why it is so hard to be thankful when there are so many things going wrong. But what we must realize is Peace and Thankfulness is in CHRIST ALONE. Yes we can experience a sense of peace when life is "calm" and yes we can have a thankful heart when we have "all we need". But true peace and thankfulness is what we should have at all times (bad and good) because Christ saved us. We have a different end, the Kingdom! Be thankful for the peace of your salvation. And when things are not going perfect CALL UPON HIS NAME AND HE WILL GIVE YOU PEACE, THE PEACE WHICH SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING.

Women need encouraging. These words have been on my heart alot. I go through seasons in my life where I need to hear uplifting words more than ever. I recently went through a season of this and through prayer and bible study the Lord laid something very clearly on my heart. I need to be more encouraging than ever, to others! That turned a season of feeling inadequate and down to a season of a heart full of joy. What I realized is there is A LOT OF WOMEN going through these seasons. So my encouraging words are uplifting them and what do you know, me!

      "Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as your are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11

~ Andrea T.

Heart Strings

I  wanted to start a blog to write down what has been pulling at my heart strings. At church last month our pastor spoke about the Holy Spirit. He reminded us if we want to hear the Holy Spirit speaking into our life we have to dive deep into relationship with Him. I have been. And I have heard the Lord speak into my life more these past few months than in my whole life. I can't explain how much joy I have in my heart when I obey the leading and instruction on my life. Much of His leading lately has to do with others. And ironically (even though irony has nothing to do with God knowing exactly what I need) one of my biggest struggles and biggest prayer request is putting others first. It has mostly been small prompts, but very obvious ones. Hearing, though is only the first step, acting on it is the next (and sometimes really hard to do) step. But as I previously said obedience brings joy. If you want to hear the Holy Spirit, go deeper with Christ.


A few months ago the Lord laid this on my heart:

"I want to be a godly woman who loves the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, strength and mind. A woman who honors and takes care of my husband. A wonderful mother to my children. That I continue to grow in knowledge of my Lord and that I lead and guide others, in love, to Him."

~ Andrea T.