home groups rock!

Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer.
-Psalm 4:1

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting awy, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
-2 Corinthians 4:16-18

My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant... The Mighty One has done great things for me-Holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful.
-Luke 1:46-54

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
-Proverbs 3:5-8


I am so blessed to be a part of such a wonderful home group. Hebrews 10:25 says...

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

If you are not a part of a regular small group, I would encourage you to get plugged in. Believers gain so much from each other by meeting, praying, and sharing their hearts together. This week has been rather stressful and difficult for me; from losing Heather, to preparing for my mission trip to Honduras, to being stretched by God and striving to become more obedient and Christ-like, and I feel so renewed from our group tonight. Barry (our leader) shared that verse from 2 Corinthians with me tonight, and he hit the nail right on the head. All around us is death and decay and we are "wasting away", but inwardly in the meantime, as we pour into the word and what God has for us, we are being renewed by the Spirit of God. This week, try with me to focus on the unseen rather than that which is so easy to consume yourself with and so easy to stress out about. Fix your eyes on the cross, on the goal, on your walk... because what you see there in the unseen will FAR outlive what you see here in the seen.