Walking in Love...Walking Together

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For the past several weeks, I have been abundantly blessed by the beauty of the body of Christ serving together, lifting one another up in prayer, giving of their abilities to further God's kingdom, to reach out in love and support to those who are hurting. As I read your stories...the stories of courageous mothers and families who have said good-bye to their precious babies. Beautiful, loved, wanted babies. My heart has broken for each of you. For each of you, I have prayed, and even some, my children have prayed for. Beautiful blog friends have reached out in love and support. We have continued to reach out through the ministry God has given us. And...I have had it on my heart to do more. So taken with your journeys...your stories, there has been a tugging at my heart to walk with you a little more.

Having said all of this, my heart is so broken over some recent happenings in the blog world...some ugliness that I cannot even imagine. I want to be free to reach out in the love of Jesus to those who are hurting. To show love to those in need. That is what we are called to do. As I have shared...I have seen this done beautifully, recently. But, I have also recoiled in the face of some of the ugliness out there. And, part of me wants to pull back...to not put myself out there. To walk away instead of walking with others even more closely. Part of me wants to put up walls of protection against those who are not honest...those who would deceive or take advantage...and those who would lash out in hate.

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ~ Ephesians 4:1-3

How I long that we would bear with one another in love...how I long for that unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace...

What does it look like to "walk worthy of His calling"?

...you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have giving themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. ~ Ephesians 4:17-19

...that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head - Christ- from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does it's share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. ~ Ephesians 4:14-16

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. ~ Ephesians 5:1-2

So...in the spirit of walking in love, I'm stepping out, despite the part of me that wants to hunker down and shelter in. For all of those who are grieving or hurting and feeling alone on your journey...I would like to walk with you...to offer a little hope and encouragement. And, while it is hard to visit everyone at varying times, I have been thinking of a way to encourage one another as we gather in one spot.

Although I never attended a support group, I have been considering hosting something on this blog that would be a way to support those who are grieving. I want to offer a place that lifts up, a place that points toward hope. It would be biblically-based, of course. Maybe like a bible study with the purpose of offering comfort for those who grieve? I'm still praying about the details...but thinking I would maybe put up a post with scripture, a message, and some interactive questions, and put up Mister Linky for others to post on the same subject. You could post in the comments if you don't have a blog. It may be helpful even for those who don't wish to publicly participate, but can take comfort in reading along with us that they are not alone on this journey. Even if you are not in the days of new grief, you could offer your wisdom and support on the subject. I would love if some of my blog friends who have been carried through their grief by our loving God, experiencing the beauty from the ashes would join us as well, sharing their wisdom. So, we could come together from varying places in our journey and support one another.

Thinking of maybe doing this on the 15th of each month? But, I'd love to hear your input...or to hear if anyone is interested in Walking Together. For those of you who have allowed me, it has been a great privilege to walk with you. And, I pray that we may continue to walk together, to build up and encourage one another in love.