Monthly Archives: March 2015
Keeping Faith
One of the biggest transitions into adulthood was owning my faith. After years of sunday school, church attendance, and godly upbringing, I could choose to stay or stray.
I quickly learned upon examination and stepping away from trusting what others have said/preached, that I was forming opinions of my own. I have the Holy Spirit and scriptures to lead me. The point was not to leave it up to my personal interpretation but to validate what scripture says. I realized I had taken many people’s words and opinions as truth, and some of the opinions I formed were NOT pleasing to God.
I don’t question my faith because I don’t trust, I question my faith to build on what I know and believe.
I left the church I attended in my youth knowing that I wasn’t growing (not to say it was a place that didn’t preach the gospel) and still don’t feel totally acclimated to my new church home, but I know that I’m not leaning on my own comforts and that moving forward requires effort – hard effort.
As a quarter-lifer, I look around the church and realize that I’m a dying breed and wonder why. What is the world or the church doing that leads people my age to leave? I feel alone sometimes. The last ladies event I attended had three people in a room of 100+ women that were under 30.
I also look around and realize that the closer I creep to 30, the less I see other unmarried ladies. It’s a given most people will marry at one point in their life. Many of my friends have gotten married and started families and the couples classes and family-based sunday school, Bible study, and small group crowds tend to welcome and plug in families better than single units. I just want to say to the world of single Christian ladies, I see you. I see you as an adult and your own person. Whether you attend church with your family, or sibling, or boyfriend or just attend by yourself. I also know what it’s like, and I think it’s awesome that you’re pressing on despite possible frustrations because our “group” grows smaller. I can’t promise we’ll all get married and have families or have single ladies group to hang out with through the church. But I can promise that we’re equally important to God and we are called to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together.
Paint Night Out!
Has anyone done a paint event? It’s usually paired with wine or spirits to make it…um…more “upbeat.” I went to my first one this week and LOVED IT! I like the relaxed environment and how people who wouldn’t necessarily be up to making art are open to these events because they are an activity, not a class. I’m all about sharing the love of creating things and having fun.
My friend and I had a blast. There were a few ladies in the group that had quite a bit to drink and were free entertainment! We heard everything from hearty belly laughs to one mother’s rendition of “Elmo’s World”, which got funnier when other people joined her. Lots of people joked that we were doing an emo painting or work for Tim Burton as the majority of the night, we worked in monochrome. My friend had a coke and a glass of wine (I like her style…why not both!) and I had a virgin blended margarita that was very yummy. I might try wine or something next time, but this event was not in town and I prefer a DD if I’ve had anything whatsoever to drink.
I’ll definitely sign up for another one soon. What other girls night out events do you like to do?
Stress Eating Happened
This last week was a detrimental one. It was full of stress and difficult dealings and I let it get the best of me. Not only was I a grump at times, I let my feelings get a grasp on my meal choices. A burger one night, pizza the other, a night of chocolate overloading…and my body definitely felt it. I’m surprised and motivated by that fact, even though it sounds horrible. My body let me know it did not like the compulsive unwholesome choices I made and for the first time in a long time, I had gastric distress, tossing and turning, and even horrible dreams! I honestly thought I was coming down with the flu one day.
I may not have much control of what goes on around me, but I do have control of my feelings and actions. While I let myself down, I know that it’s not the end of the world, and that I can change my outlook again on food choices. In fact, in retrospect, I am proud of myself for remaining rather collected in other aspects and not resorting to anger and attitude issues. If I have moved over that hump, I can hone in better on food choices next time life gives me a heaping load of crazy.
I spent more of my weekend at my parents than my own place to try to resolve some things. Two sale site ads and two trips later, one truck borrow, hauling, bringing chairs in while it rained cats and dogs, and some higher decibel dealings and we have a couch and dining set and basic moving plan for my aunt and uncle and a solidified wedding guest list for our side of the family for my brother’s wedding. PHEW!
I’m hoping this week will bring some TLC for me. I’ve decided to hold off on Bible study until after my brother’s wedding and reunion are done for sanity. Instead I’ll be focusing on personal devotions and reading through Systematic Theology. This means I won’t have three nights back to back of rushing to events and getting home around 9pm. Yes, you read that right! This Friday and Saturday I have a ladies conference that I hope will be encouraging and motivational. And tonight, I try my hand at a wine and painting event.
Quarter-Lifer Musings 