Dreaming Big Dreams

Last night we kicked off our brand new series "I Do, Until" at Illuminate.  I have to say that it was amazing to meet so many new faces. Faces of people who really wanted to know how to have a godly relationship and marriage.  They were tired of the same thing the culture has offered us for so long and without real results.

We know God provides and that His way is better.  But sometimes, it is just hard to live it out.  I hope with this series, men and women will see just how God's design for marriage is truly better than anything Cosmopolitan magazine, Access Hollywood and all the reality shows could ever offer us.  

We also launched our Communities for the men and women.  I have been praying for something like this for a long time.  To be able to provide a place for the guys and gals to invest in fellowship and in God's word...to dig in just a bit deeper.  To learn to read God's word for themselves instead of just relying on the Pastor to feed them. To have accountability and a place to share our hearts with intimate friends. I had so many things to share last night, but I am just not as gifted speaking as my husband. I am far better with the written word than my audible voice. So here it goes:

I have big dreams.  

Last night, I felt discouraged because it wasn't as "big" as I would have liked it.  I was afraid that no one was as excited about the community as the leaders and I were.  Because we were pumped!  

But after last night, after sharing my heart for the community I felt some peace. It wasn't because of my amazing speaking skills (because the Lord KNOWS it wasn't that), but because I felt that the girls understood what this was about as they settled into their life groups and got to know one another.  Relationships take time.  No one is going to poor out their entire life story in one sitting.

And for women especially. When so many of us have experienced the sting of betrayal at the hands of a woman we thought was a friend.  When our hearts are bruised, it can take years for it to repair. For a woman, trust is such an intimate and precious thing in our eyes that if it is broken, it can be lost among us for what can seem like an eternity.  We then begin the downward cycle of mistrusting everyone that comes in our path.  It is the result of sin on this earthly planet, filled with sinful people.  Relationships will never be perfect. But we can find friendships that are beautiful, meaningful and godly.

And that's what I want for this community.  For the girls, myself included, to see the beauty of female relationships. That while we have experienced pain at the hands of our own sex it doesn't always have to be that way.  That we can have a group of women we call our girlfriends. Who will carry us, pray for us, eat cupcakes with us, laugh at our drama and lovingly correct us when we need correcting.  I desire that type of friendship with my girls and I pray that those who attend the Women's Community at Illuminate desire the same thing.  

We weren't meant to walk this journey alone.  We place our faith and heart in Christ. He makes us brand new. He provides people, resources and His grace and mercy to move in this life. To share the gospel with those who need to hear it.  And we get the opportunity to do it with other women.

In a community. 

Tiff~