Formed

God Knew

I’ve been reflecting on thankfulness. I try to thank God every day for my husband, my children, our home, our church, our jobs…etc. A lot of what I am thankful for are things I prayed for, longed for, asked God for and he answered. But recently I thought of blessings he has given me that I never even thought to ask for, things I didn’t even know I needed…but He did.

Let me tell you about my friend Jennifer.

Formed

Get A Life

Going into 2010, my New Year's resolution was to “get a life”. I was 26, single and worked a high-stress job. I had struggled to make and keep a friend group since elementary school, so my friends had changed based on life stage. High school friends were lost when I went to college; college friends were lost when we graduated and scattered across the country. The few people I had reconnected with after moving back from college were getting married and having kids at breakneck speed. I did attend a local church, but it felt like I was in some no-man's land between “right out of college” and “newly married”.

Since I didn’t really fit the demographic of any of the small groups that were offered, I chose to tag along with my friends who attended the “newly married” group.

Formed

Is it really well with my soul?

I preach to myself in song. It gives me an emotional high, and I’m not sure if it’s my enneagram 4 showing or the excitement from feeling closer to God. He frequently reaches my heart through worship music, as I’m sure He does for many of you.

Amazing grace, that saved a wretch like me…

All my hope is in Jesus, thank God that yesterday’s gone…

There’s an army risin’ up, yeah, to break every chain, break every chain….

There are a few songs, though, that just stop me. I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to sing these songs without a large ball of emotion assaulting my voice and spilling tears from my eyes. I didn’t always feel this way.

Formed

Worship Made New

What’s your favorite way to worship God? Is it through scripture? Singing? Nature? Going to church? For students – they love the peak experience of camp worship. There are always new songs, movements, intimate depths of the words repeated over and over. These songs usually lead into our worship experience at church in the fall. But unfortunately, they don’t get that experience this year.

Hope & Healing

My Journey to Recovery

On April 22, 2010 God’s plan intersected with mine and brought me to Recovery at IBC with the hope that this would be the place that would heal my family from the trauma and brokenness we were walking through. I came to Recovery with my husband to make sure he came and participated in the program, but I ended up staying for me. I was honestly not ready to look at myself, but Jesus knew this ministry would shed light on my own issues.

Formed

Perfectly Free

“We are not perfectly free until we live in pure hope.” I have read that line over and over. I’ve put it everywhere. On my mirror, in my car and on my computer as a reminder of where my hope comes from.