As we look to improve the connectivity / connectedness (??) of our class, we agreed that we need leadership and assistance in each of the following areas:
- Inreach: This includes checking on our class members when they're out, and coordinating assistance if there is a need (meals if a new baby, death of a close family member, etc). Emily Compton agreed to take this role. Thanks Em!
- Outreach: Assist with calling class members who visit, or when we get leads on new potential members. Need assistance here_______________!
- Ministry opportunities outside of church...coordinate with Juliana, or other staff member. Need assistance here______________!
- Fellowships: Monthly at someone's home, preferably. Does not have to include bible study...just hanging out. Could be weeknight (limited timeframe), or weekend. Need assistance here_________!
Other ideas: Eat out after church? Guys' weekend away at the cabin? Lake trip (Zach)?
If you feel led to assist with one of these, please let me know. You don't have to take it forever...just for now.
Thursday, March 16, 2017
Saturday, January 23, 2016
The Fearful Heart
Comments are based on learnings from the book, "The Wholehearted Marriage" by Dr. Greg Smalley and Dr. Shawn Stoever. This post is a continuation of the topic "The Fearful Heart".
Our marriages can be places where walls can come down...where TRUE intimacy can occcur...if only we are willing to be vulnerable. I'm not talking about just sex here. True intimacy is allowing your spouse to see every part of you, and allowing them to do whatever they will with that information. But we will only allow intimacy when we TRUST our spouse with our hearts.
Openness and trust comes at a price. Many of us have past experiences that cause us to build a wall around our hearts, and our emotions. We don't want to be open or transparent. We're afraid that if we are that vulnerable, our spouse will mistreat us (maybe we've had some experience with hurt in that area, perhaps?). So how do we allow our spouse to penetrate the walls we've built, and let them in? Can true intimacy occur without our spouse having access to our hearts?
Shawn Stoever and Greg Smalley remind us that Criticism is one of the killers of transparency. If our spouse can't trust us with their deepest secrets, hurts, feelings, etc...then they most definitely will not open up.
We need to therefore remind ourselves to 1) have a constant attitude of appreciation for our spouse, and 2) show actions that back up our love and devotion to that person. If walls are still present, we have to be careful not to bombard those walls...but to lovingly show ourselves as trustworthy, so that the walls come down.
Our marriages can be places where walls can come down...where TRUE intimacy can occcur...if only we are willing to be vulnerable. I'm not talking about just sex here. True intimacy is allowing your spouse to see every part of you, and allowing them to do whatever they will with that information. But we will only allow intimacy when we TRUST our spouse with our hearts.
Openness and trust comes at a price. Many of us have past experiences that cause us to build a wall around our hearts, and our emotions. We don't want to be open or transparent. We're afraid that if we are that vulnerable, our spouse will mistreat us (maybe we've had some experience with hurt in that area, perhaps?). So how do we allow our spouse to penetrate the walls we've built, and let them in? Can true intimacy occur without our spouse having access to our hearts?
Shawn Stoever and Greg Smalley remind us that Criticism is one of the killers of transparency. If our spouse can't trust us with their deepest secrets, hurts, feelings, etc...then they most definitely will not open up.
We need to therefore remind ourselves to 1) have a constant attitude of appreciation for our spouse, and 2) show actions that back up our love and devotion to that person. If walls are still present, we have to be careful not to bombard those walls...but to lovingly show ourselves as trustworthy, so that the walls come down.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)