Listening

The thing I love most about teaching is asking the students questions or when they ask questions!  I wish I could sit down with each of them and talk.  Get to know them better, learn more about their lives, their struggles, their triumphs, and really take the time to listen to go beyond the surface.  Too often, I think we default to conversations where we don’t delve into the gritty parts of life and we barely scratch the surface of understanding.  Yet, even those surface-y conversations show love, value, and that someone is listening.  Not only do I want to teach the curriculum, but I want to share life.  Each week, I’m trying to share more about myself and ask more pointed questions to give them an opportunity to share with me.   I love that many of the students I teach ask questions and answer them when I ask questions.  For that I’m thankful since unfortunately I can’t take 40 kids out to coffee.  Maybe someday! 🙂  

Teaching 🙂

Small groups!

Bursting at the Seams

“if we were given all we want here, our hearts would settle for this world rather than the next” -Elisabeth Elliot

Earlier this week this post that included the quote above greatly encouraged me.  I have asked and planned for a lot of things in my life.  If my plan had gone accordingly, I would be honeymooning right now.  Instead, I got to go to an engaging discussion about prayer tonight.  I struggle with prayer.  I struggle with how to pray, when to pray, how to not “program” prayer.  I get nervous.  I don’t speak because I’m afraid.  Yet, after I’ve spoken to the Lord, I come away with an overwhelming sense of relief and awe.  Not only do I get to speak to Him, but He listens!  Even to the minute, petty details of my life.  I want to be a prayer warrior and infuse my life with prayer that it bursts at the seams.  I want to ask and receive as well as rejoice when I see the amazing things that happen.  I can’t wait to see the awesomely cool things that are going to come about due to the changes in my plans.  So here goes.

p.s. I won’t be typical and ask everyone to comment with a prayer request, but if you would like to leave one, know that I will be praying for you!  If you have something you don’t want to publicize (I definitely know how that goes!) feel free to e-mail me at kigkat@gmail.com 

 

What It’s All About

Loving these quotes from this post:

“I think we focus too much energy on church growth. I think it’s all about personal growth. It’s not about growing a big church. It’s about growing big people–people who serve sacrificially, give generously, dream ridiculously, and love gracefully.”

“The way to grow larger is to grow smaller via small groups. I honestly don’t think God will grow us beyond our ability to disciple people. And if small groups are our primary context for discipleship, then the number of small groups we have will determine our growth potential as a church.”

—-

One of the things we have been talking a lot about at Community Group and Core Team Training has been how to multiply and keep our core values.  How do you emphasize evangelism, discipleship and community while expanding?  In part, the community groups serve as a way to relationally provide accountability, encouragement, and discipleship.  They can be one venue that spurs on personal growth.  Mentorship serves as another way to enable people to grow. Being involved in a community group and in Core Team Training, I have really started to realize the importance of these values and relationships even more than before.  Being able to share prayer request, praises, struggles, and fun with a group of people heading toward the same goal definitely has begun to create relationships and unity.

p.s. Lately, I’ve been reading through the New Testament and am struck again and again by how many times “unity” of the body is emphasized.  I’m on the verge of a blog delving into unity–so watch out!  

 

Best Friends

I remember as a little girl going the whole nine yards with the “best friend” frenzy. From necklaces, to bracelets to matching things, we flaunted the “best friend” status. Unfortunately, in those years sometimes people get left out and hurt by the whole “best friend” mania. Plus, the manufacturing companies never made life easy by only allowing a girl one best friend. Although, if we want to go technical, there should only be one “best”, right? Maybe we just need different types of “best” because that’s what the distinction comes down to sometimes. A best friend to talk with, a best friend to do sports with, a best friend to go dancing with, ect.

Last night, I really needed one of my “best friends.” I tried some of the other “bests” and they filled their spots wonderfully, but not quite what I wanted/needed. I needed that person to talk some sense into my negative, messed up head and to speak light and truth into the darkness with all encompassing love. I fell asleep with tear stained cheeks feeling a bit defeated. Yet come morning, my “best friend” spoke the healing words I needed. I am so thankful to have such amazing people in life. I am so glad that I have all sorts of “bests” to walk with me through the different struggles and triumphs. I am so thankful to have enough relationships that go beyond the proximity and affinity type (those are important too, but in a different way!). So, here’s to all the “bests” in life who let us lay it all down, drop anything to get there for us, and help us rise into the light at the end of the fight 🙂

Just lay it all down, put your face into my neck and let it fall out

I know, I know, I know, I knew before you got home

This world you’re in now, it doesn’t have to be alone

I’ll get there somehow

Cause I know, I know, I know

When even springtime feels cold

But I will learn to breathe this ugliness you see

So we can both be there and we can both share the dark

And in our honesty, together we will rise out of our nightminds

And into the light at the end of the fight…

You were blessed by a different kind of inner view: it’s all magnified

The highs will make you fly but the lows make you want to die

And I was once there, hanging from that very ledge where you are standing

So I know I know I know, it’s easier to let go

But I will learn to breathe this ugliness you see,

So we can both be there and we can both share the dark

And in our honesty, together we will rise out of our nightminds

And into the light at the end of the fight…

…and in our honesty, together we will rise out of our nightminds

and into the light…at the end of the fight

“Nightminds” by Missy Higgins

Messy Relationships

Ephesians 4:15

but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,

The balance between truth and love in relationships makes a BIG difference.

Here are some thoughts from group discussion on the varying levels of truth and love:

All Truth

• Cactus Christian–always poking and pointing out wrong things or “truth”
• Chameleon

All Love

• Minnesota Nice
• Shallow
• No Vulnerability
• Passive Aggressive
• Two-Faced (in instances where someone is nice to the person and then talks about them behind their back)
• We shy away from conflict

Other thoughts

• Anger doesn’t have a place at the table even if it’s just–“If I take anger to the table, I will sin”
• Healthy balance
• Getting so intensely angry that we shut down and refuse to let relationships and conversations happen
• Mercy included
• Making mentoring and relationships a priority–addressing conflict or issues
• Matthew 7
• Power of prayer!

Finally, we went through a sheet on confronting sin.  The examples happened to be 3 situations regarding sexual sin.  After the examples, I was thankful that one of the people in the class made a point to address the fact that the church so often obsesses and focuses so much on sexual sin without addressing other issues like pride or greed.

Also, something that I found interesting was how in classes like that we really DON’T know where a lot of the people are coming from and the experiences they have.  This is beneficial to the class because then we can learn so much more.  A couple people shared about their experiences dating non-believers and one even was currently dating someone.  Then there’s also the question of who in the room has dealt with sexual sin.  Plus, this isn’t even counting the day to day struggles each person deals with.