LIZZ WU =)

Deanna! thx for setting up the blog..yayy!!

After spending the first night with you girls yesterday, I was literally so joyful to be embraced by such an awesome group of young ladies that have such an energy and passion to pursue Christ.  Whether you were someone that has heard it all before and grew up in the church to a newer believer, it was such a delight to see the common bond of Jesus bring us all together...and that we genuinely enjoyed each other's company.  After sharing last night about my own unfulfillment at my church community, you can probably understand that having a group of people sharing a common desire (even within church) is not always a guarantee...so you guys bring a renewed sense of joy and reminder of what true community and communion with each other as sisters looks like!

THANK YOU KATIE for doing a great job! And remember...we wouldn't be Pulse if it wasn't 'awkward' sometimes ;)

So this morning I read another entry in The Love Dare book.  As a challenge to myself and the Bf (maybe you guys will meet him later haha), we are taking on the challenge of performing these Love Dares to those around us...friends, church, enemies, family...

Today's challenge was: Love is Thoughtful.

"Love thinks. Its not a mindless feeling that rides on waves of emotion and falls asleep mentally.  It keeps busy in thought, knowing that loving thoughts precede loving actions.  But too often we become frustrated or angry because we lack the patience to deal with others or are tired and easily frustrated.  You speak harshly now and determine later if you should have said it.  But the thoughtful nature of love teaches you to engage your mind before engaging your lips. Love thinks before speaking. It filters words through a grid of truth and kindness."  *hmm reminds me of the vs...being slow to speak and slow to become angry. James 1:19*

DARE= Contact a friend sometime during the next few days, maybe one you have neglected to speak to bc they annoy or frustrate you.  Have no agenda other than asking how he or she is doing , how you can pray for them and if there is anything you can do for them.

I will be taking on this challenge! Feel free to join in or share about something else this week!!

Looking forward to a wonnnnderful year of pursuing Jesus with you girls!

Small Groups: Patience

Today was AWESOME we had our first ever devotional as TMI! Katie lead us in a devotional about patience. The passage we went over was James 5:7-11. We learned how impatient we are and how our impatience is a form of unbelief.


For those who were unable to make it to tonight's small group, or if you just want to be reminded of what we talk about, here is a quick recap.:
Inward Application:

1. We must have patience through our suffering as we wait for Christ's return.
2. Stand firm as believers as you go through trials; Don't grumble, but persevere together as you wait for Christ's return.

We then referenced John Piper's article, "In God's Place, at God's Pace" and "The Battle Against Unbelief." (handout, email Katie Wong for a copy). Through this article we discovered that being impatient translates to us being faithless. When we are unfaithful, we are basically telling God that we don't trust that he has everything all planned out for us.

Outward Application:

• What can we take in and change inward and how can they express it outward?
• What is one spiritual discipline you can apply in your life that will help you gain patience and stand firm when you're facing trials or doubt? (e.g. reading the Word, prayer, accountability, practicing the fruit of the Spirit, being still, jounal prayers, etc.)

HOMEWORK! (yes you have homework)

In the comment section please enter the following:

• any prayer requests, praises, challenges for yourself that you would like to be held accountable for
• anything you liked or have questions about

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• Next Wednesday (9/28) is our Commitment Day. If you show up, we are going to assume that you have made a commitment to coming to our small group every week. There are only a few exceptions to not showing up, we will go over this on Wednesday.

Hope all of you have a great week! We'll be praying for you all!

The Mirrored Image

Why The Mirrored Image? God is the light in the darkness. He is the one who draws us out of our sin into his mercy. So the reason TMI is because we as Christians are supposed to reflect His light onto the rest of the world that has chosen to reject God. My desire for everyone is that we become mirrors that reflect God's characteristics and desires from us onto others. My prayer is that our lives will reflect God's will through everything we do, say, and think.


I pray that through this blog, we will be able to held accountable for our actions, words, and thoughts. I'm counting on everyone who reads this to encourage and guide us through our walks with Christ!