To those of you that I ran into last month in Milwaukee who said you have missed Seriously, Girl,  thank you for the motivation to come back.  It’s been 11 months since I last posted, and for the longest time, I just felt like I’d run out of things to say.  In retrospect, I think I was feeling like my son always did at the end of football season: a bit let down.  Last year, The Dig: Searching for Authentic Faith and the successful implementation of it with 7 women from 5 states was a definite high point that completely absorbed my thoughts and energy. I feel a little embarrassed that it’s taken me this long to realize the connection between The Dig and the end of blogging, but in complete transparency, here it is. 

But God forbid that transparency should be the end of any self-reflection.  I’m reading a book called Sick of Me (by Whitney Capps), which states (and I agree) that transparency should always lead to transformation. This is how we get past being stuck in our own heads – by recognizing what is holding us back, allowing God to help us identify it, and then moving forward.  Figuring out what is going on is a good first step, but submitting to God’s purification and the ensuing renovation process must always be the end goal. This is the transformation part.

At church, our pastor just finished a 6-week sermon series on spiritual rhythms.  A lot of it mirrored what we did in The Dig, and I’ve been pondering these deep and thought provoking messages week after week. Several quotes that are rattling around in my head and heart:

• 2 Peter 1:10 (see below) was the theme verse of the series.  I am reminded that while salvation is a free gift, given without regard to works, walking with Jesus takes effort – in fact every effort.  It takes intentionality.  God has given us the tools: prayer, study, spiritual practices and rhythms. It’s our job to use them.
• “Spiritual disciplines are the main way we offer our bodies up to God as a living sacrifice.” (Richard Foster)
• “You are what you do, not what you say you’ll do.”  (Carl Jung) O God, that I might live this challenge, and follow through.
• “It is the Word of God that reveals to us our true selves.”  (John Piper)  I want to be real with God, discovering more about myself through His Word. This reminds me of a quote we discussed in The Dig, by John Calvin: “There is no deep knowing of God without a deep knowing of self and no deep knowing of self without a deep knowing of God.”  This quote deserves a post all its own.

Looking ahead, Lent begins on February 22 and lasts 40 days, ending April 6. I am planning to work my way through the book “Show Me the Way: Daily Lenten Readings,” by Henri Nouwen.  If you’d like to join me, I’d love to hear how God speaks to you along the way. 

Love,
Gigi

P.S.  As I have pulled back from social media, your help in rebuilding my subscription base would be appreciated.  If you enjoy Seriously, Girl, would you share it with a friend and ask them to pass it on?  Thank you! And if you’ve not subscribed, scroll down to the bottom of the page to do so. Your email address is safe with me and will only be used to let you know when a new post has been uploaded. One more thing…if you are subscriber and you have received this, please say hi in the comment section so I will know this function is operational.  Thanks!

“Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble.”  —2 Peter 1:10 (NIV)