The End of Small Groups
Our last small group time was intended to be a time when we would each give something to the others in the group, leaders included—a word of encouragement, something we found in the forest, etc., but no flowers. I had noticed how some of the spruce trees had a brighter, lighter green on the tips of their branches—new growth from this year. I thought that was very symbolic of what happened for each of us over the week and so I gave each group member a piece of a branch (showing both old and new) plus a note I wrote for each about the things I saw in them, appreciated in them and hoped for them. I want to share some of the things written for me.
“When I asked the Lord for a scripture for you, it was as if the Christian radio station came on, volume LOUD, playing
They that wait on the Lord will renew their strength
Run and not be weary, Walk and not faint….” From Isaiah 40:3
It was played with unleashed joy and lots of colour! Over the next few months, may the Lord’s joy in you and the colour of His love and life in you continue to transform and make whole your love for Him and your relationships.” I seem to recall hearing a song with those words—a new song—but I can barely call the melody to mind.
“You are precious in his sight and He has beautiful healing and plans for you as you surrender your will and your desires. Expect Him to complete the work He has begun in You.” This was the woman who had welcomed me as a newborn and given me that healing hug. During one of the group sessions she had sung a song based on Philippians 1:6 to me, “And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.” She gave us each a spruce cone and pointed out how its arms are pointed up in praise. We were to remember to praise God whenever we looked at it.
Another woman shared several Bible verses she had originally the day I was struggling with believing God really loves me. Hosea 2:1 “Say of your brothers, ‘My people,” and of your sisters, “My loved one.” Zephaniah 3:17, “The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he wil quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. Isaiah 54:5, “For your Maker is your husband—the LORD Almighty is his name—the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.” She also gave us a spruce cone as a reminder that like the cone, we are a part of something greater.
The assistant leader wrote, “I saw an expansive meadow, filled with tiny intricate, delicate flowers. There was a small pond on the top of a little hill and a big tree for shade. There was Bright sunshine and the meadow was full of life and immense variety. I believe He is bringing you into an expansive place. He is saying to you that He took great care to intricately detail every tiny part of the earth for His and our pleasure and it delights Him when we appreciate it. There is incredible beauty and uniqueness in you and you delight Him even more than all the beauty on the earth. He is saying, ‘Come visit and rest with me often in this place; I have made it just for you.’ Maggie, I am excited by the great freedom you are walking into. God bless you on your walk."
The leader had come prepared. She knew we were going to do this and had prayed at home for God to show her what to bring as gifts. She brought us each a little box she had made from calendar pictures. The picture on each person’s box had some significance to what had happened to them through the week though of course, when she was making the boxes, she had no idea what would transpire. Inside each box was a little gift. A couple women were given earrings, one was given a pin. My gift was a little wee brass flask with intricate detail work and coloured stones around the open mouth. It looks like the sort of thing a rich young woman in Jesus’ day might have carried over her shoulder for a ready supply of water. But this flask is empty and the cap is lost. Why? It’s the bottle of perfume which Mary Magdaleine emptied over the feet of Jesus. It’s a precious memento of my week.
She also included a slip of paper with several verses written on it. I love this one, “Because I love Zion, because my heart yearns for Jerusalem, I cannot remain silent. I will not stop praying for her until her righteousness shines like the dawn, and her salvation blazes like a burning torch. The nations will see your righteousness. Kings will be blinded by your glory. And the LORD will give you a new name. The LORD will hold you in his hands for all to see – a splendid crown in the hands of God. Never again will you be called the Godforsaken City or the Desolate Land. Your new name will be the City of God's Delight and the Bride of God, for the LORD delights in you and will claim you as his own.” Isaiah 62:1-4. I know God’s talking about Jerusalem but she wanted me to apply it to myself. What a beautiful picture!
“When I asked the Lord for a scripture for you, it was as if the Christian radio station came on, volume LOUD, playing
They that wait on the Lord will renew their strength
Run and not be weary, Walk and not faint….” From Isaiah 40:3
It was played with unleashed joy and lots of colour! Over the next few months, may the Lord’s joy in you and the colour of His love and life in you continue to transform and make whole your love for Him and your relationships.” I seem to recall hearing a song with those words—a new song—but I can barely call the melody to mind.
“You are precious in his sight and He has beautiful healing and plans for you as you surrender your will and your desires. Expect Him to complete the work He has begun in You.” This was the woman who had welcomed me as a newborn and given me that healing hug. During one of the group sessions she had sung a song based on Philippians 1:6 to me, “And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.” She gave us each a spruce cone and pointed out how its arms are pointed up in praise. We were to remember to praise God whenever we looked at it.
Another woman shared several Bible verses she had originally the day I was struggling with believing God really loves me. Hosea 2:1 “Say of your brothers, ‘My people,” and of your sisters, “My loved one.” Zephaniah 3:17, “The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he wil quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. Isaiah 54:5, “For your Maker is your husband—the LORD Almighty is his name—the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.” She also gave us a spruce cone as a reminder that like the cone, we are a part of something greater.
The assistant leader wrote, “I saw an expansive meadow, filled with tiny intricate, delicate flowers. There was a small pond on the top of a little hill and a big tree for shade. There was Bright sunshine and the meadow was full of life and immense variety. I believe He is bringing you into an expansive place. He is saying to you that He took great care to intricately detail every tiny part of the earth for His and our pleasure and it delights Him when we appreciate it. There is incredible beauty and uniqueness in you and you delight Him even more than all the beauty on the earth. He is saying, ‘Come visit and rest with me often in this place; I have made it just for you.’ Maggie, I am excited by the great freedom you are walking into. God bless you on your walk."
The leader had come prepared. She knew we were going to do this and had prayed at home for God to show her what to bring as gifts. She brought us each a little box she had made from calendar pictures. The picture on each person’s box had some significance to what had happened to them through the week though of course, when she was making the boxes, she had no idea what would transpire. Inside each box was a little gift. A couple women were given earrings, one was given a pin. My gift was a little wee brass flask with intricate detail work and coloured stones around the open mouth. It looks like the sort of thing a rich young woman in Jesus’ day might have carried over her shoulder for a ready supply of water. But this flask is empty and the cap is lost. Why? It’s the bottle of perfume which Mary Magdaleine emptied over the feet of Jesus. It’s a precious memento of my week.
She also included a slip of paper with several verses written on it. I love this one, “Because I love Zion, because my heart yearns for Jerusalem, I cannot remain silent. I will not stop praying for her until her righteousness shines like the dawn, and her salvation blazes like a burning torch. The nations will see your righteousness. Kings will be blinded by your glory. And the LORD will give you a new name. The LORD will hold you in his hands for all to see – a splendid crown in the hands of God. Never again will you be called the Godforsaken City or the Desolate Land. Your new name will be the City of God's Delight and the Bride of God, for the LORD delights in you and will claim you as his own.” Isaiah 62:1-4. I know God’s talking about Jerusalem but she wanted me to apply it to myself. What a beautiful picture!
posted by Magdaleine at 8:02 PM
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