Craving Connection and Community
When I received this month’s Craving Connection kit from Dayspring, I was instantly in love. The colors were beautiful and cheery. I loved the stickers but more importantly, I loved the message. It is one that deeply resonated with my heart. I am a girl who loves authentic connection and community. While I’ve always enjoyed being around others, the kit this month finally helped me to put that desire into words. Connection is something that I CRAVED.
Connection and community make us stronger. It’s something that we desire but sometimes it is difficult for us to determine what that will look like in our lives. Are we too busy? Do others want to connect with us? Do we have what it takes to maintain those connections? Well friend, I am here to tell you – yes you do! It will take some work but you can do it.
This kit was a beautiful reminder about the IMPORTANCE of the community that I craved. It didn’t have to be a certain way. Reading about the gift of imperfection was so freeing for me. The gift of imperfection allows us to embrace community in a deeper, more significant way. Share on X As wives, mothers, sisters, and friends, we put so much pressure on ourselves to be (fill in the blank what with whatever you like) and it often makes our days difficult. Yes, God outlines standards for us in our lives. But this relentless pursuit of perfection is taking us away from so much more. Instead of trying to be perfect, I want to focus on being present. I want to focus on being available. I want to focus on embracing community.
Genuine connection will never happen if we don’t make time for it. New lifestyle habits will have to form. Sacrifices of convenience and of giving up private spaces and personal preferences will have to be made. Getting that connection that we all crave will involve being intentional. As I turned page after page, I felt the Lord speaking to me so personally about the connections I have and how to develop them even more. The Craving Connection kit allowed me to really take some time to examine my heart as I went through each one. I was challenged but also encouraged.
Since I started Bible journaling,I’ve been blessed me in ways that I never imagined. Not only am I enjoying the authentic connection that I have found with others (in day to day life and online), I am also enjoying the intimate time that I am getting to spend with the Lord. It is during this time that I get to spend those quiet moments and just soak in His presence and receive those oh so personal downloads of what He has for me. Bible journaling has turned into so much more than just coloring in my Bible and journal. It’s turned into my time away from the busyness of everything else and allowed me to enjoy connection with my Savior as well.
It is my heart's desire to see women walk in their true power and authority in Jesus Christ. I get the honor of walking that out in my writing, speaking and everyday life.
With a cold latte in hand and my latest read under my arm, I'm usually seen going over math facts, checking out a new STEM project and studying God's Word. In my spare time, you will catch me spending time with family and friends, at live music festivals and on the hunt for a new favorite dessert.
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You talk about the “relentless pursuit of perfection” and for me, I fight that be remembering that COMPLETE is better than perfect. So many times I’ll aim for perfection to the point that the goal/task/whatever doesn’t actually get done. But a last-minute date with a girlfriend is better than a perfectly planned-ahead-of-time date that never happens.
Yes Ivanna!! Complete is better than perfect! I love that. We can miss out on so much by trying to create something special rather than just enjoying the special in every day.
The Craving Connection Kit looks so neat! That’s cool that it helps one foster desire to intentionally serve others during one’s everyday Bible journaling.