Seeking Community

I've been yearning for friends, for community.  I've been feeling like I don't have that and I want it.  I want people around me that just do life with me.  Nothing fancy, just life.

Then this weekend happened.  The Twin Cities were hit pretty hard this past weekend with storms.  I went to a friends house on Friday night for a slumber party.  Just me and two of my girlfriends.  We planned to do some Holy Yoga, play some games, polish our nails, do some facials and drink some margaritas.  God had so much more in store for us.

So. Much. More.

We got to my friends house (which was plan B already due to the power being out at the other home) and 15 minutes later her power went out.  What to do?  We got on our yoga mats.  We worshiped in the dark by candlelight.  It was beautiful.  It was Holy.

We felt moved to pray when we were done.  Sitting together in a circle, knees to knees and holding hands.  You could feel the Lord's presence there.  He was with us in the dark.  He was a light shining among us.  It was peaceful and amazing (even with the gurgles of water coming from the basement).

We went downstairs to check out the gurgles and found her husband and daughter had been transferring water from the overflowing sump basin to the utility sink for the last thirty plus minutes.  Thus began our bucket brigade.  In the basement, in the candlelight, for the next hour.  I have never had more fun doing work like that.  We laughed, we sang, we slipped, we were doing life together.

If we hadn't been there that night, if we had been at the original location, their whole basement probably would have flooded.  God put us right where we needed to be.  And he gave me what I had been longing for.  People who were just happy to be around each other doing life.  Nothing fancy, just life.

I have community here and it spreads wider than the women I was with that night.  We have amazing family and friends that came together this weekend and we did life together.  What I longed for, I already had.  It just took a storm for me to see what was right in front of me.

Do you have community?  Do you long for community?  If you're in the Twin Cities you can find some Holy Yoga community here.  It might change your life.

Blessings,
Megan

The Good Life

The Casting Crowns song has been going through my mind all day, all week in fact.  Seek Justice, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly with your God.  Over and over again.  So, I have one verse on my heart today.  That verse is Micah 6:8.

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you?  

To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.  (NIV, emphasis mine) 

In the Message the verse reads like this;

But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women.  

It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, 

and don't take your self too seriously - take God seriously.

Maybe you know this verse, maybe you don't.  This defines what our walk with the Lord should look like.    So what exactly does it mean to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly?

Act Justly- a commitment to fairness in relationships, do what is right

Love Mercy- a heart response to the needs of others which compels a person to help, love kindness and live with compassion toward others

Walk Humbly- remain responsive to God, submitting gladly to His will

By doing these three things, Micah says, God's followers will please Him and live happy lives.  Simple lives.  God honoring lives.

Friends, the good life is simpler than we think.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength and love your neighbor as yourself. (Mark 12:30-31, NIV).  

Blessings,

Megan

Love That Lasts a Lifetime {MUMC Sermon Series on Marriage}

Well, here it is, the final sermon in the series.  I hope you've enjoyed listening to them as much as I have.

Love That Lasts a Lifetime

Blessings,
Megan

One of Those Days

Have you ever had one of those days weeks that just seems like nothing could go right.  I'm having one of those this week.  It's the first full week of summer vacation and I'm glad my kids are home, but it's been raining.  A lot.  We even went to the pool yesterday and it rained while we were there.  So we've been stuck inside. A lot.

This week it feels like nothing is going my way.  I feel like bursting into tears and have several times.  You know at great times like driving to the pediatricians office or to the grocery store.  I'm just emotional.  I'm worn out and I'm tired.

But that right there "nothing is going my way" is probably my biggest problem.  I'm trying to control my life and my situations and when they don't go my way, I pout.  Maybe I even through a fit.  Isaiah 55:8-9 says "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord.  "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Yesterday I decided to forced myself to do an audio Holy Yoga practice with Brooke Boon.  It was on my mat where I heard Him say this.  

Why are you trying to do this alone?  Why are you trying to rely on yourself to get you through this?  I'm right here waiting for you to let me help you.

Bam!  How true is that?  Why don't I rely on Him when the going gets tough?  Because I know from experience that it's going to get tough.  Life is one big roller coaster with ups and downs.

Matthew 11:28-30 says "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

He wants to bear the weight of my loads, of your loads.  He wants to help us through the thick of it and get us to the other side.  It won't be easy, it will take work.  But He will give us rest.  He has a plan and it's a good one.  I just don't know what it is.  But, if I take the time to be with Him every chance I can I might start to see little bits and pieces of it.

"For I know the plan I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

Can you lean into Him with me today?  Can you trust Him enough to let go of your plans?

Blessings,
Megan

The Six Most Powerful Words {MUMC Sermon Series on Marriage}

Here's number 5.  The series will conclude next week.  Hope you're enjoying them as much as I am.

The Six Most Powerful Words

Blessings,
Megan

Habits That Hurt, Habits That Heal {MUMC Sermon Series on Marriage}

Here's week 4, only two more left!

Habits That Hurt, Habits That Heal

Blessings,
Megan