Intentional, Available, and Vulnerable ~ Are You In? ~(in)courager Community Groups~ {Meditation of My Heart Mondays}

We all know what it is like to move into a new community.

It's not always comfortable, safe and secure. Cause where there is community there are people. And unknown people are scary! Right!?

We convince ourselves a woman doesn't like us before we've even shared one word.

We are sure the other woman has it all together even when we don't know how she's falling to pieces on the inside.

We are scared to let ourselves truly be known, because the rejection we fully expect will hurt too much.

And all the while, we are women crying out for community. 

A place to let down our hair and breath a little lighter;  to be real and laugh out loud and cry big ugly tears; and ask hard questions and not have the all answers.

A place that takes us just as we are, but spurs us on to become more like Christ; and get down on our knees together and pray continually with thanksgiving.

But, this doesn't just happen. You have to be intentional and available and vulnerable.

Are you interested?

The last time we moved, I was three months pregnant with our third child.

We had moved further from family, friends and found ourselves in a new neighbourhood and church where we knew no one.

I was incredibly lonely.

We were busy with settling in, home educating, home renovations, and with all the other obligations of life. I was ill a good chunk of the pregnancy, and had a good healthy dose of pregnancy hormones followed up with some post partum depression, so when I look back I wonder how I made it apart from the grace of God.

The crazy thing is, I didn't realize how lonely I was until I had finally made some connections with some other women.

I isolated myself—a natural thing to do as an introverted Mama—but I needed to be intentional.

I was never really alone, but I was lonely, and I needed to be available.

I didn't really want to share my pain, but I needed to be vulnerable.

Are we willing to be vulnerable and open the door in a new community to welcome others into out lives?

We need one another, whether we realize it or not.

Only Adam knew what it was to be alone and His Creator said it was not good for him so he fashioned a helper who was perfect for him.

We are not alone, but we are lonely.

We are women living behind closed doors, scared to make connections, making critical comments when we really don't know one another, and desperately desiring to be in a loving community.

We have to open our doors.



Start connecting. And listen to the hearts of other women.

Stay in the conversation. And Love one another.

We are doing this thing called life together. It's not a game. This is real life.

We are not competing with one another. We are completing one another.

We don't need to be lonely. We need to love and be loved.

We need to encourage and edify one another up in the Lord; to consider how to stir up one another to love and good works; to rejoice with one another and weep with one another; to build up and strengthen one another with our words.

We need to hold one another's arms up

with acts of kindness

with joy, patience, goodness, self-control, faithfulness

with truth

and prayer.

In all this we need grace. Lots of grace.

Passing it on from one to another as we reach out in trust and build community.

Are you in?



I dare you to be intentional, available, and vulnerable.

There's a place at the table for you.

Open your door and be (in)couraged.

What are (in)courager community groups?

"Groups of like-minded women doing life together in small online communities began in the fall of 2012 with great excitement. And we continue to be amazed at the remarkable women who connect, encourage and champion one another in so many walks of life."

Come on over here and find a community of women where you can encourage and be encouraged. There are over 70 groups—you will be sure to find one for the walk of life you are in right now.

We will meet for the six weeks this spring/summer session on secret Facebook pages where we share and encourage one another in safe online communities.

If you have questions, you can find the answers here.

***

This session, I am privileged and excited to be co-leading an (in)courager group that we've named "Inklings (in) Christ".

Here is the description for our group:

"Whether you’ve just dipped your pen in ink or have ink stains up to your elbows this group is about connecting writers in the Word. It will be a safe place for all writers to grow in the craft of writing and build one another up in the Lord all to the glory of God. 

Once a week, you will have an opportunity to share your Christ centered writing (by linking to your blog post) and receive and give encouragement and loving, honest critiques of the posts shared through the Facebook page. You will have the option to read “Bird by Bird” by Anne Lammot as we will discuss Part One of this book on the craft of writing. We will welcome you to share your thoughts, tips on writing, pose your questions and pray for one another as we (in)courage one another in this community of women who dabble in ink. 

So, put on the kettle, grab your favorite teacup for a large cup of tea, find a cozy seat, and connect with other Inklings, grow in Christ, and learn to better communicate with written words the Good News of Jesus Christ. We’ll share our stories and say, along with C.S. Lewis, “What? You too? I thought I was the only one.”

If this is an area where you would like to be encouraged, I would love to connect with you. You can sign up here.

But, remember, there are over 70 other groups, so take a peak around and find a cozy spot and lots of encouragement.