ivy is super cool and changed her blog so i copied her and wanted to make mine cooler too. the thing is, i had to re-do all my little links and pictures and such. i had a bible verse at the footer of my old blog, and i wanted to put it back...but i forgot where/what it was. i was thumbing through my bible trying to find it, when i stumbled across this passage:
"he is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. their responsibility is to equip God's people to do their work and build up the church, the body of christ, until we come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord, measuring to the full stature of christ. then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or because someone cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth. instead, we will hold the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like christ, who is the head of his body, the church. under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. as each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and full of love." eph. 4:11-16
i have to admit that i'm at a spiritual stand still at the moment. i've been conveniently finding reasons to not go to church, been too exhausted to read my bible before i go to sleep, and have not given God enough of myself. but here's the good news:
we go to church to "get equipped" with spiritual wisdom. most of us have been around churches all our lives. so, even though i'm putting my spiritual life on the back-burner, i still make myself write in my prayer journal and say a prayer every night. and you know what i always tell him? how lucky i am to have friends like you. friends who influence me in good ways; friends who are ever so encouraging to me; friends that can relate to how i'm feeling and how hard it is to maintain a strong spiritual life; friends that would do anything for me. i can honestly say that praying for you girls has helped me out a lot. i lay down and smile and just start off with, "father, there are these girls that i adore, and...."
i truly believe that God had a plan when he placed us in each others' lives. he did it because we're part of his body, fitting together perfectly so that we can encourage each other, be there for one another, and to learn how to truly love and be loved. even in times when things are stagnant, he puts people in our lives who can make us feel less alone and give us strength. he loves through others.
i think that is so radical.
4 comments:
omg. laura dee, i am so glad that i got online for those 5 seconds so that i could talk to you and then we could make a quick conversation turn into a very long one, which i of course ADORED!
i loved this blog because like you said, it is so wonderful to have friends to relate to. you know i feel like you feel right now, too. just like my spiritual life has been on the back burner. it is so hard to make it a priority, and i struggle with it everyday. im so glad youre in my life and i can talk to you about things like this. im always here for you. i loved our convo tonight, and i want them to happen ALL the time! i love how we are all so close and can always rely on each other!!! i love you SOO much.
oh laura love...where to start? i'm so glad we have each other to turn to when things get hard even though we are miles and miles apart. it's funny isn't how we all seem to be struggling so much spiritually at the moment. it's almost as if my spirituality has become a second thought, a i'll get to it when i have more time, or something that i really mean to do. growing up, it seems religion is so convenient,built into our lives, and more easily maintained. once we get out of that comfort zone it is so hard to actually own our beliefs and worship, but i think in the end we become stronger for it. anyways i miss you dearly and pray for you every night when i lie down. y'all get me through the day.
p.s. SOOOO jealous of your new template...if i wasn't so lazy i'd do something super cool with mine too!
it is radical isnt it? on one of our last nights in austin, i remember telling you girls that you were my angels. i believe all friends are angels. and ive learned that some friends, soem angels,come and go while hopefully others will stay a lifetime (we're young but i'm positive this will our case) - but regardless of if they are passerby angels, or angels for a lifetime, each friend has something to teach us.
laura, ive always been a follower of Christ, but throughout college you were my way back home to Him.
i love and miss you.
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