small group question

Lately I've been considering the dynamics of a small group.  I'm looking to join one at church and think that its important to have a vision of where the group is going.  Previously I was a small group leader so I understand maybe a little more about the importance of having a vision and getting others to see that vision for the group.   There is a college and career Bible study that occurs during Wednesday night church.  Last semester this group, also known as Revolution, met Sunday nights.  It was mostly college aged people, both single and married, along with a few older adult leaders.  Since then things have changed and they are now meeting on Wednesday nights.  I feel that there is no vision in this group.  I feel like meeting is just another thing to check off my list of things to attend during the week.   I guess i'm stuck inbetween a rock and a hard place because I know the importance of meeting together with other believers but are small groups any profit if they exist without a clear vision?

I think not

Someone on Twitter tweeted the following statement, "Change usually requires bending, especially backwards."

I just feel that this statement isn't right. I agree with the first portion that change requires bending but not the backwards part of the statement.

Sure, there are good and bad changes.. and when change occurs in life or a circumstance it will require those involved to adapt and adjust to those changes.   So I get the point that change requires bending but why backwards?  Change prompts for a better tomorrow. Think of any modern invention..when it first was invented it was different and it created a change in lifestyle to those who first didn't have the invention but then became accustomed to the new change in lifestyle.   No bending backwards was required to adjust to a new invention. Changes have happened in my life..some good and some bad yet I would say have never bent over backwards just to allow change to have its way in my life.  God showed me areas that weren't aligning with His word and called me to a deeper surrender of my life.  That was a hard change. Total surrender. But if I did a backwards bend as stated by this tweet I wouldn't have surrendered.  Instead I would of held on to those things which I shouldn't of.
But, bending backwards is more difficult than bending forwards so maybe that's what the author of this means.

I think I would say that "Change requires adjustments and sacrifices, but if you can't accept change then it will require the bending backwards that will destroy you."

(I just felt like disputing this tweet..and I needed to do so in more than 140 characters so that's why I blogged instead of tweeting my thoughts...because that would of taken quite a few tweets just to vent on this topic.)
~AmberLeigh~

background change and rambling

I just changed my background to this blog to a fall theme...and that makes me happy.  I love the fact that fall is almost here. My favorite things of fall include but are not limited to cooler weather, the colors of the leaves right before they fall, pumpkin pie (and other pumpkin baked goods), and football. Just thought I'd share that although many people complain about the cooler weather and that it gets dark earlier, I actually like it a lot.  The end.

schedule change.

today, i did something different which made my day much better.

i got up early.

that's right. i'm not much a morning person but i decided that it was time that i put first things first, even if that means getting up early to do so.

so this morning...i got up early, had breakfast, and then spent time in the Word. Lately, i've been waiting until later in the day before i spend time with God but I decided that if spending time with God was first on Jesus' priority list, then it should also be first on mine.

and that single change in my day allowed me to begin correctly with God and man.

but now, I must say , its time for me to go to bed so that i can get up when my alarm blasts in the morning.

River Watching 2011

went for a ride tonight up to falls to see  the river.

some of the homes closer to the river were flooeded.

the area smelled like gasoline. 

we stood on the bridge and just stood amazed at the river. it was a lot bigger than i've ever seen it.

branches, porches, a red lunch cooler, trees, were just some of the things i saw floating down the river. 

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Untitled

via TweetDeck

Untitled

via TweetDeck

behind the smiles

I guess its been a while since I just blogged. lately I've taken the easy way out and posted pictures with some brief story behind them...and that's mainly because my brother is away at school and I prefer to blog my pictures instead of posting them all over facebook.
speaking of facebook, its really not good for me. sure its nice to stay "connected" with people but i've come to the conclusion that facebook is not good for me. its not that i'm on facebook for hours a day but after going on it even for a few minutes I feel discontent.  so many of my friends that are my age are either in a relationship, married, or already beginning a family. i know its wrong to be jealous but that's what happens when i get on facebook and see their happy lives.  i know that God has plans for my life and I know that I just have to continue to trust Him for my future. But its hard to wait when i'm bombarded with facebook newsfeeds of relationship status and all the other social updates.   And so my solution to this problem of mine is to go on facebook less and to pray more.
Anyway, i think i've come to like twitter better anyway.

better late then never...pictures from Irene..mainly puddle pictures of Dayzee

Here are the pictures I took Sunday, August 28, 2011..a snapshot of the impact of Hurricane Irene on our backyard.  Church was canceled Sunday due to a lack of power. So we played out in the rain puddle in the backyard with Dayzee..and then we lost power also.  I promised my brother that  I would post these as soon as we got power restored..but I'm a few days late. (Sorry Sean).  So i'm taking a little break to upload them right now...as Dayzee sleeps beside me.

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and a random side note..i'm really glad my camera is waterproof.
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also, even though we did have to go without power for almost 36hours, that is small in comparison to what other people suffered because of this storm. our house didn't flood. no one in my family was injured from it. we lost power which at the time was a major "problem" to us because of the food in the freezer and other minor issues that come from no power.  but the loss of power was a "major" minor problem, for that i am grateful.  Now I am so thankful that when i turn on the light switch the room lights up.
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I am also thankful for the rainbows that we saw in the backyard late Sunday afternoon.  God's visible promise never to flood the earth again. He is faithful.
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have to go for now, but hope you enjoyed these pictures

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