An Unknown Romancing
Each of us has a geography where the Romance first spoke to us. It is usually the place we both long to see again and fear returning to for fear our memories will be stolen from us. (14)
My childhood backyard was a real special place for me. I was the youngest of three girls....and my sisters were 8 and 10 years older than me. Because of the age difference, I spent a lot of time in my backyard playing by myself. It was my imaginary "whatever". However, I also remember it was my place of solitude as well. I often spent time in the corner of the backyard just sitting, listening, watching the sky, and thinking. To this day, I couldn't tell you what exactly I thought about....but I knew God was there and He loved me.
My parents still live in that same house I grew up in. The backyard....well, it doesn't seem the same. Apparently, the 'magic' is lost after many years. But...I never give up an opportunity to be back there alone just in case.
Indeed, if we reflect back on the journey of our heart, the Romance has most often come to us in the form of two deep desires: the longing for adventure that requires something of us, and the desire for intimacy--to have someone truly know us for ourselves, while at the same time inviting us to know them in the naked and discovering way lovers come to know each other on the marriage bed. (19)
What does the Romance mean to you?
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Chapter 1
The Lost Life of the Heart
"The voice often comes in the middle of the night or the early hours of the morning, when our hearts are most unedited and vulnerable. At first, we mistake the source of this voice and assume it is just our imagination. We fluff up our pillow, roll over, and go back to sleep. Days, weeks, even months go by and the voice speaks to us again: Aren't you thirsty? Listen to your heart. There is something missing." (1)
Have you ever woke in the middle of the night....when you know you should be exhausted....and could not get back to sleep? This happened to me about three weeks ago....around the time I started this book. It was really interesting to me because, for probably the first time in my life, I didn't just think it was insomnia. I listened. I have been busy for weeks....for months. And I was sleeping sound....then all of a sudden I was awake. Jesus had made a date with my heart at 3am.
It is true...a life without heart is not worth living. However, we often have our heart broke, we lose heart, and when we grow tired our heart is just not in it any more.
For what shall we do when we wake one day to find we have lost touch with our heart and with it the very refuge where God's presence resides? (5)
The Christian life is a love affair of the heart. It cannot be lived primarily as a set of principles or ethics. It cannot be managed with steps and programs. It cannot be lived exclusively as a moral code leaading to righteousness. (8)
The truth of the gospel is intended to free us to love God and others with our whole heart. (8)
**Have you lost touch with your heart?
"The voice often comes in the middle of the night or the early hours of the morning, when our hearts are most unedited and vulnerable. At first, we mistake the source of this voice and assume it is just our imagination. We fluff up our pillow, roll over, and go back to sleep. Days, weeks, even months go by and the voice speaks to us again: Aren't you thirsty? Listen to your heart. There is something missing." (1)
Have you ever woke in the middle of the night....when you know you should be exhausted....and could not get back to sleep? This happened to me about three weeks ago....around the time I started this book. It was really interesting to me because, for probably the first time in my life, I didn't just think it was insomnia. I listened. I have been busy for weeks....for months. And I was sleeping sound....then all of a sudden I was awake. Jesus had made a date with my heart at 3am.
It is true...a life without heart is not worth living. However, we often have our heart broke, we lose heart, and when we grow tired our heart is just not in it any more.
For what shall we do when we wake one day to find we have lost touch with our heart and with it the very refuge where God's presence resides? (5)
The Christian life is a love affair of the heart. It cannot be lived primarily as a set of principles or ethics. It cannot be managed with steps and programs. It cannot be lived exclusively as a moral code leaading to righteousness. (8)
The truth of the gospel is intended to free us to love God and others with our whole heart. (8)
**Have you lost touch with your heart?
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Starbucks - September 17th
Sunday night...September 17th is our first gathering! Mark the date! We will meet at the Starbucks at 135th & Blackbob at 7pm for some great fellowship, fantastic coffee and a lot of laughs!
See you there!
Monday, September 11, 2006
Fall 2006 Get Togethers
Sunday, September 17th @ 7pm
Kick-off Fellowship
Starbucks @ 135th & Blackbob
Saturday, October 14th @10am
Brunch
Sonta Wilburn's House
Friday, November 17th @ 6:30pm
Girls' Night Out
Location to be Determined
Kick-off Fellowship
Starbucks @ 135th & Blackbob
Saturday, October 14th @10am
Brunch
Sonta Wilburn's House
Friday, November 17th @ 6:30pm
Girls' Night Out
Location to be Determined
Fall 2006 Reading Schedule
Week of....
September 17th.........................Chapters 1 & 2
September 24th.........................Chapters 3 & 4
October 1st.................................Chapter 5
October 8th................................Chapters 6 & 7
October 15th..............................Chapter 8
October 22nd.............................Chapter 9
October 29th..............................Chapters 10 & 11
November 5th............................Chapter 12 & Epilogue
Fall 2006 Book Selection
"The Sacred Romance: Drawing Closer to the Heart of God" By Brent Curtis & John Eldredge
"From childhood on, something or Someone has called us on a journey of the heart. It is a journey full of intimacy, adventure, and beauty—but like any fairy tale it is also fraught with more than a little danger. To ignore this whispered call is to become one of the living dead who carry on their lives divorced from their most intimate selves, their heart. The Sacred Romance calls to us in our fondest memories, our greatest loves, our noblest achievements, even our deepest hurts. The reward is worth the risk. God Himself longs for us, if we are but willing…"
Sunday, September 10, 2006
What We Are
Welcome to Olathe Life Fellowship Women's Career Life! We are a book club for working women!
Do you desire to be part of a women's ministry but can't find the time in your schedule to devote to a weekly meeting? WCL is for you! Our book club is a web based format with a few "get togethers" in between!
Do you desire to be part of a women's ministry but can't find the time in your schedule to devote to a weekly meeting? WCL is for you! Our book club is a web based format with a few "get togethers" in between!
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