Life Groups
Jeff and I were
nervous to the core when we stepped into our first experience with a
LifeGroup. LifeGroups are sort of comparable to bible studies at our
church, except that not every one of them necessarily studies the bible.
Some do, but others may be centered around topics of finances,
parenting, etc. They are more like group get-to-gathers that allow both
strangers and friends to fellowship and get involved in discussions
together in effort to strengthen the bond of the church and help grow
deeper roots-be it in your faith or in the church, or both. Basically,
if you never talk to anyone at the church you go to, you'll never know
anyone. But rather than having trivial conversation, LifeGroups allow
for some substance; based on what the Word would teach or have to say
about something. Like I said, our first experience was nothing short of
nerve wracking ... it requires one to step out of their comfort zone to
walk into a room full of people they don't know and just open up.
Today is the first day of the new semester of LifeGroups. I'm looking forward to it, though I'll admit to a first-day-of-school type of feeling when I think about it. I had suggested an idea for a LifeGroup based off of a couple books I'd read last year to a friend (whom I'd met through the previous semester's LifeGroup Jeff and I attended). The books were Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul, and Wild At Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul. I read them mid year 2013 when my year was starting to finally turn for the better-though I don't think I realized it at the time. My mom had sent me Captivating a few months prior to when I eventually sat down and read it. I'm sure anyone and everyone who has ever read it will differ in their response to the book-but for me, the book was...healing, I think is really the right word. Anyway, the books are written by a couple though obviously targeting their own respective audiences. Nevertheless, it was suggested women go ahead and read Wild at Heart and men vice versa. I believe Wild at Heart was written prior to Captivating by John Eldredge, then he and his wife, Staci, wrote Captivating. I tell my husband sometimes it's hard for me to decide which book I actually got more out of. Wild at Heart is also a great piece! Which was where the idea came from to basically parallel a men's Lifegroup and women's LifeGroup with the use of the books, and yet at the same time it'll be very much a couple's LifeGroup as well.
" Whatever else it means to be feminine, it is depth and mystery and complexity, with beauty as its very essence. Now, lest despair set in, let us say as clearly as we can:
Every woman has a beauty to unveil.
Every woman.
Because she bears the image of God. She doesn't have to conjure it... No, beauty is an essence that is given to every woman at her creation."
One can probably figure it is to be expected that this book picks on the scar about women and vanity and all society tends to dictate about self image. What can I say other than to quote Dead Poetic? "So vanity's got this new gun that she wants to try on you..." She's a mean one I tell you. In so many ways the reflection in the mirror has wrecked our precious hearts to the point where what we see is a distortion of the truth. I know I'm guilty of looking through those non-rose colored glasses myself-even still today. As there is so much more to this book, there's so much more than just this to a woman and you are a fool if you think there isn't. (That sounds abrupt but I'm just saying this book isn't merely a feel better about yourself book. Neither is Wild At Heart for that matter.) I love how it talks about how "women are made to play an irreplaceable role in a great adventure". It's such fact! I love adventure.. I loved hanging my feet off the Grand Canyon's edge last Christmas, I loved swimming through the Great Barrier Reef knowing sharks were somewhere nearby (that was so vague when they said that), I love the potential adventure a new PCS could bring (maybe not always as amped up about that one but moving to SD was certainly an adventure). What I'm saying is, if God made boys to crave adventure, why on earth would he create a help mate who wanted nothing to do with it? Trust me guys, there is some version of a warrior princess in all of us ladies. Even the most girly girl considers SOMETHING to be an adventure-even if that equals sleeping in a tent and not a hotel (ah-hem...), sorry something got caught in my throat. And don't worry, I'm not ruining either book for anyone. The first chapter covers a lot on its own and its certainly not with the intention to tell you what kind of woman (or man) you should be. Instead, I'd say this book is just raw and rooted in the Word about what God has to say of who you are. After all the unfortunate events in your life, after all the misguided thoughts you chose to believe, after all is said and done-He's still constant and He knows best His own creation; His masterpiece (that would be you). It seems that we often need some periodical reminder of that fact for some reason so I'm hopeful this book will be used as a tool in doing so for anyone who need it.
Anyway, it'll be interesting. I was in a very dark place in my life when I read this (these) the first time. So for me I'm just expecting to come across a newness as I reread Captivating with the ladies each week. Naturally, I'm quite looking forward to what Jeff will get out of the Wild At Heart group as he begins this book again. I think the plan is that I'll sort of co-lead the women's group with my friend, though I'll admit I haven't read the first chapter again yet because I feared I'd just stay up all night and read through to the end. (When I read the book the first time I finished it in two days. Probably would've finished it sooner if I hadn't had to sleep and go to work.) At any rate, for this girl, Captivating captivated me without a doubt. If anyone wants to join our LifeGroup remotely please feel free to do so! We've considered Skype for one or two people who have recently moved out of town so it could be an option for you as well! I encourage you to pick up a copy of Captivating/Wild At Heart on your way home this evening and just take it one chapter at a time. If you're like me, you'll probably blow through it quickly, so in that case just buy the guided journal and walk yourself back through it over the next 12 weeks with us! That's what we'll be using in our discussions anyway.
One thing God has spoken,
two things I have heard:
that you, O God, are Strong,
and that you, O Lord, are loving.
Today is the first day of the new semester of LifeGroups. I'm looking forward to it, though I'll admit to a first-day-of-school type of feeling when I think about it. I had suggested an idea for a LifeGroup based off of a couple books I'd read last year to a friend (whom I'd met through the previous semester's LifeGroup Jeff and I attended). The books were Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul, and Wild At Heart: Discovering the Secret of a Man's Soul. I read them mid year 2013 when my year was starting to finally turn for the better-though I don't think I realized it at the time. My mom had sent me Captivating a few months prior to when I eventually sat down and read it. I'm sure anyone and everyone who has ever read it will differ in their response to the book-but for me, the book was...healing, I think is really the right word. Anyway, the books are written by a couple though obviously targeting their own respective audiences. Nevertheless, it was suggested women go ahead and read Wild at Heart and men vice versa. I believe Wild at Heart was written prior to Captivating by John Eldredge, then he and his wife, Staci, wrote Captivating. I tell my husband sometimes it's hard for me to decide which book I actually got more out of. Wild at Heart is also a great piece! Which was where the idea came from to basically parallel a men's Lifegroup and women's LifeGroup with the use of the books, and yet at the same time it'll be very much a couple's LifeGroup as well.
" Whatever else it means to be feminine, it is depth and mystery and complexity, with beauty as its very essence. Now, lest despair set in, let us say as clearly as we can:
Every woman has a beauty to unveil.
Every woman.
Because she bears the image of God. She doesn't have to conjure it... No, beauty is an essence that is given to every woman at her creation."
One can probably figure it is to be expected that this book picks on the scar about women and vanity and all society tends to dictate about self image. What can I say other than to quote Dead Poetic? "So vanity's got this new gun that she wants to try on you..." She's a mean one I tell you. In so many ways the reflection in the mirror has wrecked our precious hearts to the point where what we see is a distortion of the truth. I know I'm guilty of looking through those non-rose colored glasses myself-even still today. As there is so much more to this book, there's so much more than just this to a woman and you are a fool if you think there isn't. (That sounds abrupt but I'm just saying this book isn't merely a feel better about yourself book. Neither is Wild At Heart for that matter.) I love how it talks about how "women are made to play an irreplaceable role in a great adventure". It's such fact! I love adventure.. I loved hanging my feet off the Grand Canyon's edge last Christmas, I loved swimming through the Great Barrier Reef knowing sharks were somewhere nearby (that was so vague when they said that), I love the potential adventure a new PCS could bring (maybe not always as amped up about that one but moving to SD was certainly an adventure). What I'm saying is, if God made boys to crave adventure, why on earth would he create a help mate who wanted nothing to do with it? Trust me guys, there is some version of a warrior princess in all of us ladies. Even the most girly girl considers SOMETHING to be an adventure-even if that equals sleeping in a tent and not a hotel (ah-hem...), sorry something got caught in my throat. And don't worry, I'm not ruining either book for anyone. The first chapter covers a lot on its own and its certainly not with the intention to tell you what kind of woman (or man) you should be. Instead, I'd say this book is just raw and rooted in the Word about what God has to say of who you are. After all the unfortunate events in your life, after all the misguided thoughts you chose to believe, after all is said and done-He's still constant and He knows best His own creation; His masterpiece (that would be you). It seems that we often need some periodical reminder of that fact for some reason so I'm hopeful this book will be used as a tool in doing so for anyone who need it.
Anyway, it'll be interesting. I was in a very dark place in my life when I read this (these) the first time. So for me I'm just expecting to come across a newness as I reread Captivating with the ladies each week. Naturally, I'm quite looking forward to what Jeff will get out of the Wild At Heart group as he begins this book again. I think the plan is that I'll sort of co-lead the women's group with my friend, though I'll admit I haven't read the first chapter again yet because I feared I'd just stay up all night and read through to the end. (When I read the book the first time I finished it in two days. Probably would've finished it sooner if I hadn't had to sleep and go to work.) At any rate, for this girl, Captivating captivated me without a doubt. If anyone wants to join our LifeGroup remotely please feel free to do so! We've considered Skype for one or two people who have recently moved out of town so it could be an option for you as well! I encourage you to pick up a copy of Captivating/Wild At Heart on your way home this evening and just take it one chapter at a time. If you're like me, you'll probably blow through it quickly, so in that case just buy the guided journal and walk yourself back through it over the next 12 weeks with us! That's what we'll be using in our discussions anyway.
One thing God has spoken,
two things I have heard:
that you, O God, are Strong,
and that you, O Lord, are loving.
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