Ezer.
March 18, 2014
June 26, 2013
A little over a month ago I was presented with an opportunity and at the time I didn't really think much of it. Almost two months ago I started the Ezer study at my church and I remember praying and asking for God to open doors that will give me a chance to become an Ezer and learn from a new experience. It wasn't until last week that I realized just how He had answered my prayers.
The opportunity that sort of fell in my lap wasn't anything too serious. I didn't even think it was a chance for growth at first but soon after I realized this change could be a good one, so I decided to pursue it. I went full force with my heart and felt positive about this chance and honestly felt very optimistic about it also. Then there was the wait period that was not fun… it seemed to take forever for a decision to be made but I was right at the end of my Ezer study so I tried to focus on that. Putting my energy and my thoughts on Him and not myself but still going out of my way to be a helper to those around me and trying to be patient.
Last week a decision was made and it wasn't the one I was hoping for. It burned. It made me a little bit sad, a little big angry and a little bit relieved. It wasn't until I actually heard the news that I realized this was the door opened for me. This was my chance to grow and to learn how to be an Ezer even when it wasn't expected of me. To step up and help others during a very busy season of my life purely because that is what I am called to do. I was sharing the news with my Ezer Group and I typed this…
“I do wish it would have worked out but I have a sneaky feeling that the Lord was trying to teach me something instead. The way He shows us love and allows us to grow within His love always amazes me.”
And it’s true. We are safe within His love and we will be taken care of. As long as I’m living my life to glorify Him and not myself I know that the outcome will be okay. I will grow and I will be able to step back and look at the big picture that he arranged before me and honestly, that is the most important part about this journey. Being able to step back and see what the Lord has done.
**I'm also linking up for the first time with The Wiegands blog.
I thought this was a perfect post to share my heart. If you have never read Casey's blog I would hop on over, it is such a wonderful read and a beautiful family!
June 18, 2013
Last night was the last meeting for my Ezer study group and I'm so happy that we decided to do another bible study together. This group of women is so wonderful and I'm so thankful that I had a chance to be a part of it. It's amazing how we are all so different but still so similar. I've always wished I could find a group of "church girls" to connect with but it hasn't ever happened. When I decided to sign up for this study I was hopeful for a connection and I had a good feeling about it. Normally I am the type of person to quit something half way through but each week I found myself looking forward to our weekly meeting and every week would last a little longer thanks to the talking and laughing after and before our Ezer discussions.
This is normally where I would add some pictures from our weekly meetings. Sharing all the yummy snacks, the beautiful faces and the little details of our study but the pictures I have can't be used. I prefer to keep these new friendships so I won't share our big smiling faces all covered in a delightful, green face mask from our lovely spa night. That would just be rude.
I will however tell you that I've enjoyed every second with these wonderful women and I am so thankful for them already. I can't wait to see how God will move within our friendships during the next study and hopefully the many after that. I'm looking forward to all the honest and open talks about our struggles and our doubts. I can't wait for many more moments when we are all laughing (and snorting) so hard that we can't help but cry. I'm excited about the growth within our group and the growth within myself because of all the love and knowledge that these ladies will pour into my life. The following quote is from the Ezer study and I absolutely love it....
"True beauty, true delight is found in a woman who is fearfully and wonderfully made and who reflects the image of God within her. Being a source of delight to others is not marginalizing, nor is it weakness."
These women are a source of delight for me and I pray that I can be the same to them. I am praying for the Lord to prepare my heart during the next two weeks off so I will be ready for this next step. I'm so looking forward to it, I know it will be amazing!
April 16, 2013
The women’s conference was so wonderful and I absolutely loved every second of it!! It was overwhelming in the most perfect way and I truly learned so much. I was also excited to attend this conference with my cousin, Meghan. We are just now getting to know each other and I’m starting to wonder why it took us so long because we have so much in common and have a ton of fun together. So thankful for this new friendship that we have found.
Most of the conference was spent taking notes and learning from the speakers but we also had some time to worship. Oh my goodenss, let me talk about that for a minute... I have never felt so emotional during a worship service in my entire life. For the first time ever I was in a room full of women that were singing to their Savior and not even once did I hear a man’s voice. It completely shook me. I had tears streaming down my cheeks and I couldn’t stop it. Everywhere I looked I saw women wiping their faces and raising their hands without any second thought. It made me feel strong and important and worthy of this womanhood that God has given me. He made us to be strong, strong enough to carry the feminine parts of His love and share it with the world.
We sang this song during our worship time and I couldn't help but feel the true power of His love.
You Are Faithful
the village church
faithful are You
and gracious to us
that You would save us
a guilty race
a name so holy
so sweet yet mighty
how could You place it
on our heads
You are faithful
You are gracious
You alone are God
Your name will always be
the only covering
over all my guilt and shame
Your name
You are faithful
You are gracious
You alone are God
yea... so good right? Imagine almost 900 women in one room singing this to the Lord. It was amazing! I will never forget the way I felt in that room. All the many things I learned about my body AND my soul will always stay with me. I am starting the Ezer Bible Study at my church next week and I pray that I soak everything in so I can help encourage others through my writing on this blog. I want everything I share here to point toward His love and His redemption... that is all I want.
He is everything.
April 12, 2013
I’m pretty excited about this weekend at home after my long weekend away! It will be filled with a lot of time with Jesus and I am so thrilled. I love my church and the programs that they have for women and men. I truly believe that they have a big part in how my relationship with Peter works so well and I am thankful for that.
via
This weekend I’m going to attend the Ezer Conference above and it has been a long time coming. The last time an Ezer Conference was available Peter and I had been dating {again} for a month and everything I learned rocked me to the core. After almost a year since then so many things have changed. My life is in a COMPLETELY different place now and I can’t wait to learn even more about what being a woman of God is and what my thoughts on body image should be. Can't wait to soak all this knowledge up and share some of it with all of you. {To see what I learned last time click here}
I hope you all have a beautiful weekend full of sunshine. It's supposed to be gorgeous here in Greenville and I am pretty excited about that too!
April 24, 2012
I know I mentioned on the last post about the exciting conference at my church but exciting just does not express it accurately! It was so incredible... I know I can't explain everything I learned and tell all the amazing stories I heard but I thought I could share some of my favorite parts!
"A woman, as an ezer, reflects God as an Ezer, as someone who comes alongside, nurtures, and lends strength. Being an ezer is the core of who a woman is. It is not a role she plays, nor is it defined by her season of life. On the contrary, because it is who a woman is, it translates across all roles and seasons of life as mother, daughter, employee, employer, mentor, grandmother, single, widow, or empty-nester."
"Our Self Image has become our Body Image." - As a worldly woman we lose sight that our body and soul is intertwined. Our given beauty is from our Creater... He made us with purpose. God was sovereign in our conception and we are GOOD the way He made us.
"The act of sex creating life is unspeakably Glorious." - It is a God-like activity within marriage and He made it to be good, powerful & necessary.
"We are confessed sinners and we won't be perfect until we see the face of Jesus." - He wants to restore, rebuild and renew us but we will never find perfection here on earth.
"A man's desire to pursue is not wrong- but when it is broken from faith it is lost." - When men use what God has equipped them with to love and protect we {women} become the winner.
"What we do with our bodies does matter" - It shapes who we are, it shows how we feel about God because we do not own our bodies. He does. {1 Corinthians 6:15-20} Who we are in Christ does matter... righteous, holy, blameless & spotless, heirs to the Kingdom and we should live up to all of that. He is not ashamed to identify with us so we must live to what we've already attained.
"We are created as women in the image of God to be helpful and we don't have to wait for a husband to serve that role." - we are able to have a healthful expression as a woman in many ways. We need to fully engage and impact the world with our womanhood.
"Jesus is Lord and King, not our boyfriend." - If we try to make Him that we are robbing Him of saving us. We must submit and rely on God, not come alone beside Him
"God will give you the desires of your heart." - BUT we take this verse and switch the meaning so often, He will shape the desires of our heart to match what He desires. Our legitimate desires doesn't mean we are entitled to them.
"Purity is not our highest goal- Worship is." - This should help us sustain from our wants as a single woman because our bodies are made to worship Him, not ourselves.
Mmmmm, everything I learned on Friday night and Saturday morning will stick with me forever. I absolutely loved it. If you enjoyed the little bit that I shared I encourage you to take a look at the Ezer Blog that my church so generously updates frequently. I also heard that they were going to have the audio added so you can even listen to what I heard over the weekend. Happy Tuesday, friends!! :)
