Good morning, friends! It’s Rae (well, Raechel, but my friends call me Rae…), checking in on some people I like quite a lot.
How are you all? Really?
Like, how about spiritually? Are you feeling fed? Are you finding time to read His Truth?
We all have aspirations for quiet time: time that we set aside to draw nearer to our Maker. We find ourselves hungry for the Bread of Life (isn’t that a phenomenal feeling after a season of dryness? I love to feel hungry – like I can’t get enough of Him!). But we also find ourselves with full time jobs and/or little people and/or big people and/or fill in the blank. It’s just the truth.
We have intentions. And plans. And sometimes they work out, and sometimes you wake up at 2am to kids puking or super storms knocking out your power and, well, our good intentions for quiet time with the Lord can get squashed. It happens.
So, how are you? Were you able to join us in Philippians? (Jessi’s “whoosh” cracked me up yesterday. So her. So true. I love her.) Are things getting in the way of your good intentions lately? Are you feeling well-fed or dry today?
Today we get kind of a bonus day! We just wrapped up Philippians, and we don’t begin Colossians until Monday. Saturday is a SheShares day, and Sunday is Weekly Truth. Today? I want today to be about two things:
1. Tell us how you’re doing. Read how your sisters are doing. Pray for each other. Encourage one another. Do more today of what you already do so beautifully as a community. We love to be right in there with y’all!
2. No matter where you are today, whether you’ve been keeping up with us flawlessly or just grabbing quiet time here and there when you can, we just want to love on you with GRACE. We want you to always feel welcome – with us, yes. But more importantly, with the Father. His grace is always there. Always.
I asked Kacia, and – as nervy as this makes her – she gave me permission to do something just a little bit different today. Several weeks ago she shared a very vulnerable, very beautiful part of herself on her blog. It blessed me and so many others so much, and it seems like a sweet, appropriate way to close out our week as a She Reads Truth community – and our time in Philippians.
It’s a video of her playing and singing a song called “Brokenness Aside”. It’s an opportunity for worship. It’s something a little bit different than we’ve done here before, but oh how our Lord loves to hear us sing to Him! I’m including the lyrics beneath the video. Sing along if you want. Close your eyes and sing it in your heart along with Kacia if you like.
Whatever you do, really hear the lyrics, loves. And know with confidence the answer to the question: will his grace run out?
/ / Brokenness Aside / /
Will your grace run out
If I let you down
‘Cause all I know
Is how to run
‘Cause I am a sinner
If its not one thing its another
Caught up in words
Tangled in lies
You are the Savior
And you take brokenness aside
And make it beautiful
Beautiful
Will you call me child
When I tell you lies
Cause all I know
Is how to cry
I am a sinner
If its not one thing its another
Caught up in words
Tangled in lies
You are the Savior
And you take brokenness aside
And make it beautiful
Beautiful
Bridge:
You make it beautiful
You make it beautiful
[2011, Leslie Jordan + David Leonard, Brokenness Aside,
by All Sons and Daughters]
//
Blessings, sweet, grace-covered sisters.
Take today to worship and to draw near.
He makes you beautiful!
I found SRT in July and I have grown and been soooo so encouraged by the Word and by you lovely ladies and this community. You are all helping get through tough times and I feel like I start climbing out of the valley when something else hit. I just recently became injured at work with a cervical strain and it has been very disabling. It has kept me from reading and doing most of my activities as I was in so much pain. Despite this I kept up with Philippeans and have grown even more. Despite all the blessings that have been coming, I feel the bad times are just weighting me down. I can't help to think God has turn his back on me and is not listening to my prayers, or anyone else's. I am tired of asking for prayer as now I believe that it does matter if I pray or not, the same result will come. I know this kind of thinking is exactly what the evil one wants of me. So I am trying to keep bitterness out of my heart. And fear of the "what next".
I love this community. Today's devo brought me to tears and truely softened my heart- so needed. I love you all.
I am, unfortunately, intermittent at best. But I want that to change and making that known to God. That I don't just want to have time for His word, but want His word to be buried into my heart, where it can't escape. To be filled with His goodness, and to feel close to Him.
Also, it was amazing that my first study with SRT was the book of Philippians. My favorite bible quote (which is written on a stick note taped to my desk) is Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." I've learned over the past year that God's timing is so perfect. There's no need to worry about anything. God's got this!
Thanks to the SRT community! I've enjoyed reading your commentary and I've shared SRT with a co worker of mines. Can't wait to begin the next study!
I discovered She Reads Truth last week, with a goal of beginning and ending my day reading, studying and meditating on the word. So far, I've only been able to follow along with the Philippians readings while at my desk at work. Thank God for biblegateway.com.
This week, I've been really working on controlling by attitude and releasing stress/removing myself from stressful situations and people. I've been tested by various "friends" and sorority sisters this week. I am led by the spirit of God within me BUT sometimes that spirit waivers when I'm faced with attitudes and stressful personalities. I'm constantly reminding myself that I live for Christ, not man. Christ teachers us to express and share love with our fellow man……I have to remember to love everyone despite their flaws and love one another unconditionally.
Recently discovered this beautiful community and am currently reading Ephesians.. but am going to add Colossians with you all on Monday. I have to admit, I had not read the word in years and had let my relationship with God take the back burner. I felt empty for a long time although I had so many blessings in my life (recently got married!). But, She Reads Truth has brought back my fire for the Lord. And I am so excited to have a group of women to share that with. I know that everything that was missing in my life was actually my own stubbornness to bring my problems to Him.
A sincere thank you for that.
CiAnne-
Welcome to the SRT community! So glad you are here! Congratulations on your marriage!
Thank you for sharing.
I'm so glad I found this wonderful little community back in June. It's helped me get through some tough times lately, but hopefully there's some light coming. I have a job interview next week, and an orchestra audition in 2 weeks (I'm a classically trained violinist) that could use some prayers. I'm hoping that I may finally be coming to some financial stuggles because of where I currently teach. I need to quit my job. It's not a healthy place anymore. Usually running is a source of freedom for me, but I've been dealing with some hip/leg issues, so even that's gone at the moment. I'm hoping I can still run the marathon I've spent 4 months training for on December 8th. Lots of what ifs at the moment, but trying to stay grounded in my faith with my eyes on God.
Waking up each day to She Reads Truth these past 11 days has been wonderful. I've loved it and cannot wait until the new study starts! These in-between days are going to be wonderful too though – I feel it. :)
Could you please be praying with me about my family? I have always had a difficult relationship with my parents, and every year as the holidays get closer, I am increasingly reminded of the tension and the need for prayer. As well, I am fasting and praying for my boyfriend's salvation and would love if you would pray with me about that too. Apart from my wanting him to have the life that Jesus gives, I have faced some tension in good friendships because of our relationship, which is making this semester all-around difficult.
Thank you so much. Praying for you, ladies!
What a great encouragement this morning – to be real with where we are in life – and to extend grace to each other – which welcomes truth and vulnerability!! Was speaking to a friend yesterday about the importance of being real with each other – in sharing the truth of what we are experiencing whether it's positive or negative. God's grace will always extend to us – it will always extend to our beautiful mess. I pray that each women here will find a place – a group – where they can share their lives with each other. Doesn't if fell much better when we can open up with each other?
Today, I am thankful for She Reads Truth!!