reading in between the lines

I am really excited that some of you want to work through all of 1 Samuel! It is so beneficial to study the Word of God, and having so many of our group members desiring to do that is FABULOUS =]. You guys have a copy of our weekly reading schedule for small group, and you can see that we don't cover every chapter. Personally, I don't want to miss any pieces of the story - so I am going to intentionally go through the in between chapters during the week. I am going to do this on Fridays at 10:00 am on campus, who is with me? Starting this week! You don't have to read ahead or prepare, we will do it together - and learn together! Comment on this post, or text me today, if you are planning on doing this. I will be at Einsteins at 10:00 tomorrow morning!

Holy wow...the Spirit lives in us!!!

Hey Girls! I was super encouraged by those of you at group last night. Sometimes it is hard to understand where God is (and who he is) in Old Testament stories - 1 Samuel is written in a time when the presence of God (the Holy Spirit) did not inhabit believers.  Instead, God revealed his presence when he willed to do so. I love seeing us as a group working through this story together, and seeking a better understanding of who God is, and why we are so blessed to live in the New Covenant  with the Holy Spirit inside of us.  Thankyou for being willing to ask questions, seek answers, and be vulnerable in prayer with eachother!

1 Corinthians 3:16
"Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?"

I hope that you find encouragement and rest in the fact that YOU are God's temple, and the Spirit lives within you! =]

Group Details 9-28

Jessica has volunteered her apartment for this week, and I think it would be fun to go away from our normal site (at Michelle's) to let Jessica host for a week! Jessica lives within walking distance of the campus house - so we will meet at the Campus House at 7:50 sharp to walk over together =].

We will be reading 1st Samuel ch. 4 this week, so feel free to get a head start!

Two weeks ago at group I handed out letters for you to write to God. Try to take some time today and tomorrow to think about where your heart is, and where you are in your walk with God. This will be a very cool thing to look back at in December at the end of the semester! I would like to get all of these back this week if possible!

here are a few questions to guide you:
-What are you passionate about, and is it helping you to grow towards God and glorify him? (Hannah was passionate about wanting a child)
-Is there something that you are holding from God, some area of your life or plan you want to be in control of? (Hannah could have held her son from God)
-What would you like to see yourself change this semester? (How you pray, spending time with God, acting on a conviction, fixing a relationship, ect.) 
* REMEMBER: You don't have to answer those questions, they just getcha thinkin :). This is a very personal letter between you and God, so literally - right your heart! I will not look at them, don't worry!

Announcements for the Week

1) Fall Retreat is this weekend! If you will be in town, you need to go! Seriously, it will be well worth your time! I am so pumped =].

2) The Bible Study reading schedule for the semester on 1st Samuel for small group does not include every chapter. It is set up this way on purpose, to encourage you to spend time outside of group during the week reading the in-between parts. I think it would be great if some of you wanted to go through these parts together during the week! I will be doing this on Fridays from 10:00 to 11:00 on campus, starting this week! Let me know if you want to join me!
***if you can't do friday, but have another time in mind, comment on this post and maybe someone else in group has that time available as well!

3) The Starved Rock trip is a-go for Sunday, October 9th! We will leave right after lunchtime (around 12:30) and stay until after dinner (getting back around 8:00). I will get more details, but request off work or work ahead in homework so you can go! It will be so much fun for our small group to do together =].

I am definitely not tech savvy but that's okay!

Hey Ladies! I am SO excited that this blog is finally up and running! (It is only week 3, right? =]).  I want this to be a place for us to not only get information about what is going on at Small Group and Encounter, but also to post our thoughts and prayer requests/updates througout the week!  If you were hit by something in the Word (or in life!) during the week, share it here - because I bet someone will find encouragement from it. We can post pictures, videos, and text - this will be fun!  I added you all as co-authors, and if you go to your settings you can post from your phone, which is pretty cool.  Anyways, look around, have fun, and let the blogging begin!!