I Admit It. I'm a Groupie!
Yep. It's true. I'm a groupie. I have been for a long time. The older I get, the more of a groupie I become. Course, my definition of being a groupie might not be what you are imagining right now.
As a kid I could not wait to become a teenager. Those big kids were so cool. And once I was a teenager I couldn't wait to become an adult. I would think about all the freedoms adults had that teens didn't have. I would think about the amazing life adults had. Somewhere intermixed with the desire to be older was the desire to be a wife and a mom. I couldn't wait. Course, when you are a kid or a teen, you do not have the slightest idea of how hard adulting is! Successful adulting is not for the faint of heart. And this is why I became a groupie.
You see after I became an adult, I realized that I need people. I need different groups around me. I need support, encouragement, wisdom, laughter, counsel and even the occasional smack upside the head. Those things do not happen by myself. (Well, except when I think of something funny. I might crack myself up a bit. 😄) I need people to walk life with and I love to do the same for others so, that's what I have - many groups - because each one helps me live a life where I am thriving.
The first group we are thrust into is our own family. I was born into a large family that I am incredibly grateful for! God has blessed me with amazing people on both my parent's sides and also on Tim's side of the family. We don't see each other as much as I'd like and these relationships are not always perfect but when push comes to shove, we are there for one another. I need this group.
My Facebook family is a pretty broad group. We keep up with what others post. We ask for advice or recommendations. We share life's joys. Sometimes we share the hard parts of life so that we can pray for one another. We might share health info or beauty in pictures. I love this group. It's a great way to keep up with and encourage the masses, people we don't always have time to get together with.
Then there is my church group. I think of them as my church family. Because we see one another often, we tend to walk more of the day to day life together. We celebrate new marriages and new life. We cheer on one another's accomplishments. We weep together during the hard times of loss or sickness. This group tends to be a bit closer and more intimate. Many of our beliefs and life goals align. The bond we have in Christ is like no other. I need this group and am so incredibly blessed to walk life with these amazing people.
I also have smaller groups such as a small group at church, a group that kept me accountable with life goals, and another group of ladies that pray for one another and meet for Bible study. Yet another that is very personal that will give me counsel and pray for our family for the long haul when life challenges arise. These groups are even closer and more intimate than the large church family. We know a lot more of the detailed struggles that each person is walking through. We cry together, laugh together, challenge one another when needed, and celebrate victories together. I would not have survived life's hardest times without these groups. They are my lifeline. They keep life, truth, and hope in front of me when the road ahead seems impossible and I pray I will always do the same for them.
Then there are the really, really tiny groups. These are reserved for the absolute closest of friends. The ones that you can unload on in the most frustrating of times. The ones that are allowed to see your home at any time, in any state. The ones that you can glance at, see a slight twinkle in their eye, and bust out laughing because you know just what they are thinking. The ones who have seen you at your worst yet still stay faithful friends. The ones who are not afraid to take your shoulders in their hands, look in your eyes, and speak truth to you when you need it. I need these people. When I think of these precious people, my eyes fill up with tears because I am so grateful to God for them.
One of my favorite stories in the Bible is the time when the Amalekites, the bad guys, attacked the Israelites, the good guys. God told Moses to fight back and gave him specific things to do. Moses had Joshua pick men to fight. Meanwhile, Moses obeyed God and took a specific stick to the top of the hill and raised it high in his hands. When he did, the Israelites would win. When Moses started to put his arms down, Israel would start to lose. That's when one of Moses' groups came along. Exodus 17:12-13 says, "When Moses' arms grew tired, Aaron and Hur brought a stone for him to sit on, while they stood beside him and held up his arms, holding them steady until the sun went down. In this way Joshua totally defeated the Amalekites."
Oh man do I love that! This is exactly why I am a groupie. This is what I need and this is what I love to do. When someone is tired because life is pummeling them at every turn, we can be there to support them, to help them take another step, to direct them to safety. We can remind them of truth and keep hope in front of them. We hold them up when they are exhausted and we pray protection over their family in the battle. I am convinced that these groups help marriages and families survive. At times I believe that groups even save lives.
This is why I am so grateful for my groups. As I continue to walk life, I know that some groups will change. They will get bigger or smaller. New groups will form. Good. It's healthy and God given for that time of life.
Friend, are you a groupie? I hope so. Look around. I am sure there are others who need to know they are loved and supported. I know you need it as do I. It helps us walk life well and successfully. If you don't have groups, ask God to help you find the ones you need. Do not stay silent. We all struggle. We all have times that we feel we are going under water for good. We need one another. Reach out.
Wondering what the Bible has to say about all this? Well, God seems to think a lot about it.
Acts 2:44-46 - Believers were together, ate together, shared, and helped one another
Romans 1:12 - They mutually encouraged one another
Romans 12:5- They were dependent on one another
1 Corinthians 12:7 - Gifts were given to help one another
1 Corinthians 14:26 - Build one another up spiritually
Galatians 6:2 - Bear one another's burdens
Philippians 2:2 - Work together in purpose
Colossians 3:16 Help one another
1 Thessalonians 5:11 - Encourage one another and build each other up
Hebrews 3:13 - Encourage one another so hardness of heart does not come
1 Peter 1:22 - Love on another intensely
Be a groupie!
As a kid I could not wait to become a teenager. Those big kids were so cool. And once I was a teenager I couldn't wait to become an adult. I would think about all the freedoms adults had that teens didn't have. I would think about the amazing life adults had. Somewhere intermixed with the desire to be older was the desire to be a wife and a mom. I couldn't wait. Course, when you are a kid or a teen, you do not have the slightest idea of how hard adulting is! Successful adulting is not for the faint of heart. And this is why I became a groupie.
You see after I became an adult, I realized that I need people. I need different groups around me. I need support, encouragement, wisdom, laughter, counsel and even the occasional smack upside the head. Those things do not happen by myself. (Well, except when I think of something funny. I might crack myself up a bit. 😄) I need people to walk life with and I love to do the same for others so, that's what I have - many groups - because each one helps me live a life where I am thriving.
The first group we are thrust into is our own family. I was born into a large family that I am incredibly grateful for! God has blessed me with amazing people on both my parent's sides and also on Tim's side of the family. We don't see each other as much as I'd like and these relationships are not always perfect but when push comes to shove, we are there for one another. I need this group.
My Facebook family is a pretty broad group. We keep up with what others post. We ask for advice or recommendations. We share life's joys. Sometimes we share the hard parts of life so that we can pray for one another. We might share health info or beauty in pictures. I love this group. It's a great way to keep up with and encourage the masses, people we don't always have time to get together with.
Then there is my church group. I think of them as my church family. Because we see one another often, we tend to walk more of the day to day life together. We celebrate new marriages and new life. We cheer on one another's accomplishments. We weep together during the hard times of loss or sickness. This group tends to be a bit closer and more intimate. Many of our beliefs and life goals align. The bond we have in Christ is like no other. I need this group and am so incredibly blessed to walk life with these amazing people.
I also have smaller groups such as a small group at church, a group that kept me accountable with life goals, and another group of ladies that pray for one another and meet for Bible study. Yet another that is very personal that will give me counsel and pray for our family for the long haul when life challenges arise. These groups are even closer and more intimate than the large church family. We know a lot more of the detailed struggles that each person is walking through. We cry together, laugh together, challenge one another when needed, and celebrate victories together. I would not have survived life's hardest times without these groups. They are my lifeline. They keep life, truth, and hope in front of me when the road ahead seems impossible and I pray I will always do the same for them.
Then there are the really, really tiny groups. These are reserved for the absolute closest of friends. The ones that you can unload on in the most frustrating of times. The ones that are allowed to see your home at any time, in any state. The ones that you can glance at, see a slight twinkle in their eye, and bust out laughing because you know just what they are thinking. The ones who have seen you at your worst yet still stay faithful friends. The ones who are not afraid to take your shoulders in their hands, look in your eyes, and speak truth to you when you need it. I need these people. When I think of these precious people, my eyes fill up with tears because I am so grateful to God for them.
One of my favorite stories in the Bible is the time when the Amalekites, the bad guys, attacked the Israelites, the good guys. God told Moses to fight back and gave him specific things to do. Moses had Joshua pick men to fight. Meanwhile, Moses obeyed God and took a specific stick to the top of the hill and raised it high in his hands. When he did, the Israelites would win. When Moses started to put his arms down, Israel would start to lose. That's when one of Moses' groups came along. Exodus 17:12-13 says, "When Moses' arms grew tired, Aaron and Hur brought a stone for him to sit on, while they stood beside him and held up his arms, holding them steady until the sun went down. In this way Joshua totally defeated the Amalekites."
Oh man do I love that! This is exactly why I am a groupie. This is what I need and this is what I love to do. When someone is tired because life is pummeling them at every turn, we can be there to support them, to help them take another step, to direct them to safety. We can remind them of truth and keep hope in front of them. We hold them up when they are exhausted and we pray protection over their family in the battle. I am convinced that these groups help marriages and families survive. At times I believe that groups even save lives.
This is why I am so grateful for my groups. As I continue to walk life, I know that some groups will change. They will get bigger or smaller. New groups will form. Good. It's healthy and God given for that time of life.
Friend, are you a groupie? I hope so. Look around. I am sure there are others who need to know they are loved and supported. I know you need it as do I. It helps us walk life well and successfully. If you don't have groups, ask God to help you find the ones you need. Do not stay silent. We all struggle. We all have times that we feel we are going under water for good. We need one another. Reach out.
Wondering what the Bible has to say about all this? Well, God seems to think a lot about it.
Acts 2:44-46 - Believers were together, ate together, shared, and helped one another
Romans 1:12 - They mutually encouraged one another
Romans 12:5- They were dependent on one another
1 Corinthians 12:7 - Gifts were given to help one another
1 Corinthians 14:26 - Build one another up spiritually
Galatians 6:2 - Bear one another's burdens
Philippians 2:2 - Work together in purpose
Colossians 3:16 Help one another
1 Thessalonians 5:11 - Encourage one another and build each other up
Hebrews 3:13 - Encourage one another so hardness of heart does not come
1 Peter 1:22 - Love on another intensely
Be a groupie!
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