Life Group Leader

My husband and I are undertaking some scary stuff right now.  First up, we're hosting our very first "life group."  "Life Group is what our church calls small gatherings of people who get together once a week in someone's home to either do a bible study, pray or just get together for support.

Even though we've been part of this church for almost five years (give or take a  year or two in between), we just joined our first group in the fall.  And since there are so many eager people wanting to do a life group, our other one was bursting at the seams...like almost 30 kids and 13 adults strong.  That's a  LOT of people!

In passing I said to my pastor, "if you ever need anyone to.." and a few days later I got an email.  "Is that offer still on the table?"  And just like that we're now running a life group, nine people strong.  Except that when I think "life group leader" I think of someone wise, good, disciplined and not at all prone to laugh at fart jokes.  I am precisely the opposite of those things.  And Hal is even worse :)

I'm not going to fall into the trap of thinking that because I don't feel wise or good or disciplined, that I'm not worthy of hosting a group.  Those are lies. The truth is that I'm equipped despite those perceived shortcomings.  And who knows...maybe God likes fart jokes.

A few years ago we tried to get rid of our house because it's big and expensive and we thought we should "sell all we have and give it to the poor."  So we searched for ways to do just that and God kept closing every door and pointing us in another direction and one of those directions was in opening this big home to others in a way that pleases him.

We housed a homeless man in it for a summer.  Then I hosted a women's event.  Then I started a bible study and now this...life group.  And there is more to come.  In doing these things this home becomes less our home and more his and that's really the way it should be.

Our group starts this coming Friday and I'm equal parts excited and nervous. 

My goal is to stand in that honest place where I show all my holes and broken pieces, all the things that make me human and fleshy but with my arms stretched and reaching upwards towards something bigger. 

I suppose the thing I'm most worried about is that I've tried (in vain) to find a babysitter to look after all of our kids while our group is together.  The kids are all old enough to not need a babysitter while we're close by but definitely young enough to fight to the death in a dispute over a lego if not supervised.  Lets hope that either the kids will be able to handle themselves or we're able to find someone to keep an eye on them!

Besides that, the only thing we can do is prepare and then pray, pray, pray...that everyone is healthy and able to attend, that we are able to provide a comfortable and inviting place for everyone, that we all make long lasting connections and relationships, that we can support and uplift each other, that God may teach us things through both our study and through each other and yes...that our kids can keep quiet enough to make it all possible :)