A long day but a great day...

Today Ian and I spent 6.5 hours at church in a workshop (called Life Tracks) about Common Care Counseling. I admit that I had been dreading it all week because after a long work-week I wasn't all that excited about sitting in a chair on a semi-sunny day (it is Oregon) having to listen to someone talk.

But after a stop at Starbucks for breakfast sandwiches (reduced fat turkey bacon of course) and a grande, soy, no water chai... and of course God doing his thing :) I really enjoyed the day!

Here are some things I learned/re-learned and though they may challenge me (and you)...if you stop and think about it, it's good stuff.

1-In any situation whether you are the "offended" or the "offender," you sin if you can't apologize or forgive. Even if you were sinned against, you still need to forgive that person in order to allow for yourself to be whole.

2- Everyone knows this but it's worth repeating: "We need to be quick to hear and slow to speak."

3-When counseling someone else you should always apply the principles and advice to yourself.

4-There's not a lot you can do if someone doesn't want to change (except pray).

5- "If you want to kill the weed you have to get rid of the root."

6- And one last thing..."our personal experience is always going to trump someone else's truth-filled explanation" (you might have to read that twice).

It was a great day because Ian and I have been struggling with how to deal with a difficult situation. Our time today brought to light a lot of things for me. A lot is still to come, I am sure, but God is revealing to us slowly but surely how to go about working through it, and I need to continue having faith that God will work it out.

God knows!

Before Ian and I got married we talked about starting a small group of "young married" couples so that we could find other couples from church to "do life" with. We prayed about it and decided that in January 2010 we would start looking for the couples that would want to be a part of it.

We started with one couple and quickly grew to have 4 couples. There are now 8 of us and yesterday we had a "breakthrough" small group (I'm calling it). We just reached another level with each other on issues that we are dealing with and things that we need prayer for. We have the amazing ability to socialize together, but we found out yesterday that it's so much more than that.

I just wanted to thank God that He answered our prayer and knit together a wonderful group of people that have so much to offer and that He is faithful to answer our prayers if we will believe!! :)