Thoughts for Thursday: Perfect Love Casts Out Fear

 "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love." [1 John 4:18]
 
Fear.  No one likes to talk about it; perhaps because talking about it makes it feel more real to us.  I had a beautiful study this morning with some of my Women of the Chapel ladies.  As we sip our coffees and share amazing recipes, I think each of us is hoping, praying that the Spirit would work in us to stir one another up and to encourage one another in our weakest, most vulnerable moments.

The Lord undoubtedly worked among us today to break down barriers, to cast out fear; and ladies, it was amazing.  You see, it's difficult as a military spouse to be moving around frequently and develop close friendships.  It's even more difficult sometimes as a sister in Christ to go beyond that to levels of deep, trusted, vulnerable fellowship.  In other times, it's amazing to see the almost immediate connection you can have with other believers when the body of Christ comes together.

So what keeps us from sharing? from being vulnerable? from trusting other sisters whether we've known them for two weeks or two years?  My dear friends, I think it's fear.  Yes--we have all been stomped by putting ourselves out there, but I think the enemy uses that stomping, that previous hurt, to keep us from trusting even among the body of believers.  Is there a chance we can be hurt by sharing our deepest hearts, our "silliest" ideas?  Yes, but to assume that will undoubtedly happen is to live in the bondage of the lies of the enemy.

"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." [Galatians 5:1]

Sisters, we are free.  Free to live without fear.  (I need to say this to myself in the mirror each morning. Perhaps I'll start that.)  I definitely live in fear, believing the lies, but all I know is that sitting with beautiful sisters this morning, His perfect love cast out the fear, and we were vulnerable, and broken, and because of it we were able to more clearly gaze upon the magnificent beauty of our Father.


Linking up with Annie and Natalie for Thoughts on Thursday.

#namesofGod2014//post 2

Hello from Starbucks again, my friends!  It seems as though this has become my only place to sneak in some blogging time as Jon and I are moving.  We officially leave post today, will stay the weekend with my family, and report to our next duty station on Monday.  So exciting!  Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers during Jon's deployment, and now as we experience our first PCS together.  It has been wonderful catching up with friends in the area over the past two weeks that Jon and I have had here.

Anyway, enough of that for now. :) I am so thankful for the study Rachel and Nicole are leading/hosting in our sweet blogging community.  Even if you ladies haven't had the chance to follow along this go round, I highly recommend it.  If you are going through the study with us, I sure hope you'll join us for the link-up that they're hosting today.  Just like some of you have said, I am a few days behind in the study as well, and I love that that's okay.  The point is not the speed at which we get through the study, but what the Lord is teaching us in the midst of it.  I am so thankful that He gives us freedom from the crazy timelines of this world.

A couple of days ago, I was reading through the section that talks about God as our El Roi, the God who sees.  Upon first glance, this didn't seem like any new, mind-blowing thing for me.  That is, until God breathed some major truth my way.  In studying our El Roi, Arthur had us look at the story of Abram, Sarai, and Hagar, particularly through the eyes of Hagar.  Now, I've definitely never been in a position like Hagar's, but we all have experienced what it's like to feel unheard or unseen despite our desperate attempts to be heard and seen.  Ah, sweet sisters, how this spoke to my heart.  

^"So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me." --Genesis 16:13

Oh my goodness, what a sweet message of promise this story offers us.  How desperate and deep the longing is in each of us to be heard and seen.  I'm so thankful to the Lord for unveiling the gravity of a longing I quickly overlook or don't understand. We are designed to desire this, but specifically desire it with our Father.  I can't quite describe with words the natural temptation to seek fulfillment in being completely heard and seen by my husband, my friends, my coworkers, my family.  While I am totally blessed with an amazing husband, friends, and family, they, like me, are sinners.  How wrong I am to seek or expect to constantly be fully heard, seen and understood by anyone or anything other than my mighty Creator.  Praise God for breathing truth that this desire is real and that it can only be fulfilled in Him.  How precious. How real. How faithful He is.

Just as Hagar was freed from her attitude of contempt toward Sarai because of what God revealed in Himself, I am so thankful for the freedom that God offers us as our El Roi.  Although the enemy, along with our flesh, will always attempt to deceive us, we are completely set free from the frustrations of ever feeling unseen.  What beautiful rest He offers us in the comfort of knowing that He sees.  We need not ever fight to be heard or seen, sweet Sisters.  He always sees us exactly where we are.

#namesofGod2014

Hey there, Sweet Sisters!  I'm sorry it's been so long since the last post!  I'm definitely not professional enough to have planned posts ahead in my absence.  However, I have been quite occupied with Jon RETURNING from deployment and all!:) Praise God!  I promise to post more on that in the near future.  Our schedule is crazy right now, with me snagging time in coffee shops to read and write as we move over the next week.  I love you guys, and even though I'm not always a faithful blogger I appreciate you following along on this little adventure.

One thing I have managed to make time for is the amazing Bible study I'm doing with Rachel and Nicole.  They are two outstanding women of God, and it has been so encouraging to see the Lord moving in their lives.  Right now they've invited everyone to join in reading Kay Arthur's Lord, I Want to Know You.  I hope y'all are reading through with us.:)  

Although I haven't had the opportunity to post on the study yet, reading along with you ladies has been such a tremendous blessing to my heart.  I have no particular structure to posting on this study, so I'm just going to go with it.  Arthur reminds us in her introduction that "What you have learned, God intends for you to share."  This was such a great reminder to me that anything I learn in this study isn't just for my own knowledge or growth, but to be shared.  It seems so simple, but the hard reality is that I probably don't share half of what I learn from the Lord.  I'm so hopeful that God will enable us to learn, grow and share with each other in this study.

She also makes the point that "to boast in" also means "to trust in".  How many times in fellowship do we encourage each other to boast in the Lord?  This is so much easier said than done for me.  It also caused me to revisit "boast" as a parallel to "trust".  It's crazy to me that I have somehow developed a way to openly tell others about the Lord, all while the actions of my life fail to display trust in Him.  Praise God for revealing this to me. 

Arthur reminds us that in biblical times a person's name  represented their character.  In this study we are focusing on the names of God not just to know His many names, but to know Him.  How wonderful and merciful He is to give us the gift of knowing Himself.  This is the only place where true peace, rest and delight are found, and I thank Him so much for opening our eyes to this truth. "Let him trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God." --Isaiah 50:10

One of the names of God we have studied is El Elyon, the Most High.  This is the name that designates God as sovereign.  The sweet reminders of God's sovereignty could not have come at a better time as Jon and I are making the next big move and transition in our lives.  It's so so easy for me to get wrapped up in the lists the world helps to create for us, and to feel God's sovereignty in it all is the largest blessing that I do not deserve.

I hope He's using this study to encourage each of you where you are.

A Blog Bible Study

So, if y'all don't already follow Rachel and Nicole, you definitely should.  They are two of the sweetest lovers of Jesus that I have met through this blogging community.  Oh my goodness, how I can't believe the fellowship that this little blog has provided.  You ladies are such an encouragement.  On Monday, Rachel and Nicole posted here and here about doing a bible study together.  They selected Lord, I Want to Know You by Kay Arthur and invited everyone to join them in the six week study kicking off on June 30th.  I am so excited! This was a hands down yes for me, especially since I just wrapped up  Arthur's Lord, Teach Me How to Study the Bible in 28 Days with a small group of ladies from my church.  I never thought the books of Jonah and Jude could be so packed with lessons.  We learned so much, and I loved it!  And get this:  Rachel and Nicole did a giveaway for the study, and I won!  I seriously never win anything.  I was totally shocked!  This gift totally blessed me. Thank you ladies so much.  I simply can't wait to get to know the Lord more fully alongside you sweet sisters.

Y'all should totally join in, and encourage those around you to study as well! 

Five on Friday

Happy Friday, y'all!

Today I'm joining in on the link-up with Christina, Darci, April & Natasha!

1. Tonight I'm meeting with some sweet ladies for movie night and chocolate popcorn! I've never had it before, but I hear it's pretty good.:)

2. I've been reading The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian for about the last month. It's super good, ladies. Y'all should definitely check it out.

3. I heard on the radio this morning that a bakery in NYC now offers cupcakes through a 24-hour ATM.  BEST idea ever. Yum.

4. Since Jon and I found out that we move to northern Virginia next we have been in the process of home hunting, which means I have enjoyed looking at decor inspiration for our next space together. I love this living room.

5.  Did I mention we've been married 6 months today?! I love this guy.

What I'm Reading Link-Up: February 2014

Hey y'all!  So today I'm starting a link-up with Ashley over at The Christian Wife Life for her What I'm Reading Link-Up.  If you haven't checked out her blog, please do it!  She is an extremely inspiring wife and woman of God.  I'm sure you'll enjoy her posts as much as I do.

My February 2014 Reading List:

1. Redemption:  Freed by Jesus from the Idols We Worship and the Wounds We Carry by Mike Wilkerson

I'm currently reading this book along with a group of women from my church.  We get together once a week to discuss how God is working through deep issues in our hearts and in our own lives and the freedom that Jesus has given us in those struggles. So far, it's a great, very confronting book.

Redemption: Freed by Jesus from the Idols We Worship and the Wounds We Carry By Mike Wilkerson "Redemption. The word is so familiar its meaning is often taken for granted. In everyday use it suggests recovery, repayment, rescue, or vindication. But what does it look like in real life with real people who are broken, wounded, or addicted?" --From the Introduction

2. Psalm 91 Military Edition: God's Shield of Protection by Peggy Joyce Ruth

I was given this book in a goody bag at a pre-deployment briefing.  I started reading it before the deployment, and am currently still working through it.  This book has some great stories of God's protection in very dangerous situations.  I have found it to be a little dangerous myself because it sometimes causes me to think myself or Jon is guaranteed to be physically protected if I pray in faith. This is obviously not the case.  However, it has caused me to more fully consider God's gift of promise and protection, but spiritual protection over physical protection.

Psalm 91 Military Edition: God's Shield of Protection By Peggy Joyce Ruth Blessed assurance for battlefield dangers! Offering an in-depth look at "protection" promises from a military viewpoint, Ruth walks you through Psalm 91 verse by verse to reveal God's presence. Her hope-filled insights will help you turn away from fear and put your trust in God's supportive shield that surrounds you.

3.Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence - Devotions for Every Day of the Year by Sarah Young
Obviously this is a popular one.  I have been meaning to read Jesus Calling for a while now, and I decided that January 1st was a great day to start.  I was a little skeptical because of how it's written, but let me tell you; this book is so good!  Y'all should definitely check it out.  It is so amazing in how applicable it is to my daily life.
Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence - Devotions for Every Day of the Year

By Sarah Young


After many years of writing in her prayer journal, missionary Sarah Young decided to be more attentive to the Savior's voice and began listening for what He was saying. With pen in hand she embarked on a journey that forever changed her along with many others throughout the world. The result of these meditations is the classic devotional, Jesus Calling, Enjoying Peace in His Presence. In these powerful pages are the words and scriptures Jesus lovingly laid on her heart. A year's worth of daily readings from Young's journals are now available for you, in order to bring you closer to Christ and move you deeper into His presence and His everlasting peace.

That's all for now, ladies!  I'm praying y'all are finding good reads to encourage and grow you in God's presence this month.

Wife After God: Day 3, The Need for Companionship

Companionship has been a tremendous thing to reflect on this week.  Companionship is something that Jon & I both longed for this week.  As I said the other day, he has been in Poland for work the past few days, & although we wouldn't have seen each other during the work week (he's in NC & I'm in VA), it has still been a sad, strange feeling knowing that the man I'm becoming one with has been half the world away.

This devotional brought me a lot of comfort in missing Jon.  Sometimes I think we try to tell ourselves that 

we're silly for missing loved ones... that we just need to better occupy our time.

I know I'm guilty of this.

The truth is that we were created for relationship, created for companionship.

God created Adam because he desired to have relationship with him, to know him, to walk & talk with him & to protect him.  God created Eve as a companion for Adam to illustrate the importance of relationship.

As I was reflecting on this, I was better able to understand the deep feelings of missing Jon, of longing for him.  I was created for that.  The major conviction came when I realized that

however much Jon & I desire to be in relationship with one another, God desires to be in relationship with us SO much more than that.

It's been amazing to me how much my relationship with Jon helps me to better understand & know who God is.  I am very thankful, & hopeful that he will use our marriage in so many ways to teach us & draw us closer to Him and closer to one another. :)

"Wife After God": Day 1

Happy Sunday, Ladies!  I hope y'all's weekends have been wonderful!

After following some of you sweet bloggers, I recently decided to jump on the "Wife After God" wagon and see what it's all about.:)

Boy is it already amazing.  For those of you who aren't familiar, Wife After God is a 30 day devotional on how to draw closer to God & closer to your husband.  I figured this was the perfect thing to be reading as we prepare to say "I do" in 34 days! yay!

I also thought it would be cool to just kind of share the days through posts as often as I can, to get ideas out there & grow.

Day 1 was all about God's purpose for marriage, which was even more awesome because we've spent a lot of time talking about this.  It's so amazing to see in Genesis that we are created in His image.  I know we've all heard that, but it's extremely mind blowing if you allow yourself to ponder over it.  Very intentionally, Jon & I were created to be able to better show the world a fuller picture of who God is when we join as one.

Something I felt the Lord tell me in this week was to remember that regardless of how tough things get  (& they will get tough) we must remember that always we are better able to display God's image together... even if that means some things become more difficult by being together.  Marriage is not for our glory, but indeed His.

I think it's very easy & very typical for two people to enter into a marriage with selfish tendencies & even vague ideas of some things that they somehow feel entitled to.  I felt God very clearly speak to me that there are not entitlements in marriage.  Constantly remembering that our marriage is about so much more than just ourselves will hopefully help to kill off a lot of our own selfish tendencies, allowing us to freely love one another & those around us.  

I've been reflecting a lot on how my life as a Christian should look different from those around me who are not believers & being serious with myself when asking whether or not that's actually happening. The same thing applies to Jon & I in our marriage.  If we truly seek to bear the image of Christ & His church our marriage should undoubtedly reflect it.  I look forward to God using our marriage to rid us more & more of our own selfishness & shape us into a picture of His great love story.

: ) Claire

I hope y'all's weeks start off nicely.  I saw Jon off to Poland for work this morning, & then headed home.  I miss that sweet man already.

Our First Read as a couple :)

Since the beginning of our engagement, well our relationship really, Jon and I have been so blessed with discipleship from many married couples both in Richmond and in Fayetteville.

To me, this is probably one of the most valuable things that has and will equip us in our life together.

Through that we have gotten a long suggested reading list.

I know no book could possibly teach us all there is to know about marriage (except the Bible), but we are only on our second book, and as a result, have had so many good (sometimes hard) conversations.
I highly recommend Sacred Marriage.  I feel it brought Jon and I so much closer to talk about deep issues, and have God speak His truth to each of our hearts.
The main point of this read was the focus on what marriage really exists for.
The world (and us in our own selfishness) would have us believe that marriage exists solely for our own happiness. This is SUPER SUPER wrong.
The book really strives to teach and encourage us in that marriage is made for something SO much greater; that instead of existing to make us happy, it exists to make us holy.
I don't want to give too much away, but y'all should check it out. :)

Happy Tuesday!

Love,
Claire

"Radical" by David Platt-check it out!

So I know forever ago I blogged as I started David Platt's "Radical".  Well, I finished it forever ago.  (Sorry I'm just now getting around to telling y'all about it.)  SUPER good book.  It was pretty influential to my way of thinking.  A lot of it covers stuff that wasn't entirely new for me, but stuff that I  had somehow been able to skim over in an effort to convince myself that many Americans (myself included) weren't in fact missing a lot about what living out the Gospel really looks like.

This book no doubt confronted me on that, but in a way that my heart wasn't able to skim over.

Since reading "Radical" a few months ago, I have found myself referencing some of David Platt's insights in everyday conversation and praying for  the situations that came to life for me in that book.

I don't want to give anything specific away, but the Lord really spoke to me while reading this.  It was very much like I didn't ever want to reach the last page, so I often savored it, reading small bits at a time, and reflecting through the day on what they might mean.

It was convicting to say the least, to be made aware of the sweet sacrifices that believers make every day in some of the darkest parts of this world to worship our Father in what seems to some of us to be the most unpleasant and dangerous of environments.    

Risking their lives to know Jesus more.  To read His word for hours.  To introduce Him to others for the very first time.  To sing Him praise.
I couldn't help but be confronted with the questions,
"What am I sacrificing to know Him more?"
and
"What does that even look like in American culture?".
It confronts us with the reality that megachurches don't necessarily hold TONS of true followers of Christ as they sometimes appear to, and also the question of how much "American Christianity" truly illustrates the Gospel.
It is tough, but SO good to ask ourselves these questions, to be made aware of how the Spirit moves in other parts of the world, and to be positioned face to face  with the strong possibility that God has so much more for us than what we are currently seeing.
Check it out, and let me know what you think!


I hope you've all had a terrific Monday, Loves!
Claire :)

"Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream"

by David Platt

I just began reading this one last night, and it's off to a great start. :)

Details soon!

"Captivating": Blog 2

So I finished up "Captivating" tonight. I will still say what I said before, buy the book. It is awesome.

"A woman of true beauty is a woman who in the depths of her soul is at rest, trusting God because she has come to know Him to be worthy of her trust.  She exudes a sense of calm, a sense of rest, and invites those around her to rest as well.  She speaks comfort; she knows that we live in a world at war, that we have a vicious enemy, and our journey is through a broken world.  But she also knows that because of God all is well, that all will be well."

Ahh, I love it!  Ladies, we trust Him don't we?  We believe that all is well because of Him.  If we believe these things, then why do we have reputations for being so crazy?  I'm thinking it may be because we forget to totally rest in Him.  We try to carry burdens that are not necessary.  I am beginning to see the constant battle between resting in ourselves and resting in Him.  I think we'll be better if we rest in Him. :) Just saying...

One of the parts of the book that really tickled me was the part where Matthew 7:6 is referenced.  "Do not throw your pearls to pigs."  Now, I know this means to be careful not to "give something precious to someone who, at best, cannot recognize its beauty, or at worst, will trample on it", but I specifically feel like God speaks to His daughters like an awesome father by saying "hey, don't waste your precious gifts on guys who don't recognize their significance".  I love it.  Thank you, Father.  Amen.

So the struggles with the Enemy have really been on my mind and heart lately. It's a scary thing.  I think it's good to recognize this war, but then I also wonder, if I spend too much time dwelling on it am I allowing the Enemy to succeed?  Also, I sometimes look back on previous times in my life where the Enemy was quite clearly succeeding and feel this tremendous amount of shame.  The following quote brought me a lot of comfort, "God allows spiritual warfare and uses it in our lives for our good.  It is how we learn to grow in exercising our God-given spiritual authority as women."This is awesome, and indeed so true.  I have definitely grown in my spiritual authority, so instead I should be rejoicing in the growth. :)

Lastly, probably my favorite quote in the book, "Security is not found in the absence of danger, but in the presence of Jesus.". This is just plain awesome for its obviousness. 

"Captivating": Blog 1

I have no idea where to begin. Buy this book.  John and Stasi Eldredge are awesome and I can't wait to read more of their work.  

I honestly started out kind of slow in the book.  I've been spending a lot of time in the Word, and definitely want to continue to do that.  To me, the book starts out pretty warm & fuzzy which is great, and makes me as a woman feel awesome.  Obviously it starts out just covering the surface of what they later dive in to.  I am only about halfway through, so I also don't want to speak too soon.

It is awesome to be reminded that we as women are created to reflect God's beautiful, captivating image.  We all desire to be captivating to everyone around us. This is exactly what God's desire is as well, to captivate us.  It makes me feel so special to be chosen and created as a beautiful representation of Christ. :)  I am in awe when reflecting on it.  Just as we wish to be pursued, He wishes to be pursued.

A common misconception or quite frankly a lie from Satan is that we women are too much of one thing or not enough of another.  We are convinced by society that we either lack something necessary or possess something undesirable.  We don't just fear failing at what we do, but instead something much more serious--failing at who we are.  Our very core, our heart, is under attack.  Satan knows that is where to strike.  God says to guard our heart, because it is the wellspring of life. It is so scary to see and feel how negatively our surroundings and even we, ourselves make attempts to tear at the heart.

Ladies--the most important thing to know is that we ALL have a beauty to unveil.  This is true because we ALL bear the image of God. This is not something we conjure up, but instead is an essence given to us at our creation.  :)  So please, take a sigh of relief, Beautiful.

"we've come to see that the only thing more tragic than the things that happened to us is what we have done with them"

This quote is the beginning of when "Captivating" really hit home for me.  John and Stasi go on to address how we somehow feel that the bad things that happen in our lives are our fault. Don't get me wrong.  I definitely made bad decisions that I knew would steer me away from my Heavenly Father and I am by no means proud of it, but He has recently been working to soothe my heart and let me know that the guilt and pain I feel in my heart is certainly not all my fault, and that I by no means should feel like I ever deserved to feel so horrible.

The above quote builds me up and tears me down at the same time because it gives me hope that I have more control than I initially thought, but unfortunately it is exactly what I'm doing with some of life's previous heartbreaking experiences.  It is something I am well aware of and pray for on a daily basis.  The Eldredge's definitely address how we experience hurt and choose to lock it away in a place in our heart and not permit anyone (not even God) to go there. This is what I have done, and it has provided temporary relief just as the authors say it will.  Unfortunately, it keeps that part of my heart from loving in the way that God intended it to.  Not only that, but it keeps me from fully trusting and definitely doesn't allow me to be my complete self.  Some things are extremely painful to address so we cover them up in an effort to not feel and to move forward.  This is what I have done with what happened to me, and I knew it just as clear as day as I held back the tears while reading in Barnes & Noble.  Jesus desperately wants to hold your hand and walk with you to the deepest darkest corners of your heart. He wants to heal us completely.  It has been hard and painful, but something I know I desperately need...something I know I want because my Father wants it for me.

Ladies, the book is good.

"Captivating"

by John and Stasi Eldredge

I'm really excited about this read, and look forward to sharing my thoughts through it with you!  This book specifically targets a woman's heart and God's purpose in creating her.  "Wild at Heart" by the same author is written to focus on the heart of a man.  I may read this as well in an effort to discover what guys really do think along with God's plan for them.  Stay tuned, y'all!