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Good morning sweet girl.  How was your rest?  Did you find peace in your sleep or was it fit full, waking you early or often?

The stress of our lives seeps into our every moments, even those moments that we’re not conscious of what is happening in the world around us.  Often times, it keeps us from the very thing that our body needs to be restored, rejuvenated and to heal from the chaos that life brings.

We stay awake at night worrying and over analyzing every minute detail of the plans we have for our lives, or over the things said or left unsaid.  We stress and doubt that we have what it takes to make things happen when we should be trusting and relying on faith in the One who designed this path for us.

If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father.  He loves to help. {James 1:5}

This week we’ll be focusing on those feelings of doubt and worry as we explore steps that can make things happen.  Taking a leap of faith, relying on trust and focusing our attention on what matters most can be daunting.  It can make you want to head off in a different direction entirely, one with a safer and less challenging path to traverse.  But in this life as a follower of Jesus, we’re not called to take the easy road.  There will be trials and tests and even disappointments, but at the end of our journey, the only thing that will be found is joy, inexplicable joy.

What you can expect

• Weekly Schedule – Bree will share the weekly schedule which will be pinned to the top of the Facebook Group page for easy access.  This post will be updated daily with links to the most relevant information and where they can be located in the group.  This will be a great way for you to catch up at the end of the day on information you may have missed, all at a centralized and easy-to-locate location.You can also download the full Spring 2015 Study Schedule to use as a reference for all seven weeks of the study!
• Prayer & Praise – Becky will be sharing a post in the Facebook group where any and all of you are welcome to share prayer requests or praise reports throughout the week.  This post will be easy to find by accessing the Group Photos (found in the top toolbar of the group page), in case you need to share or want to go back and spend some time in prayer over what others have shared.
• Photo Challenge – Amy will be sharing a video of this week’s photo challenge.  This challenge is OPTIONAL, but a fun way to connect with fellow community members in sharing what you’re learning through the weekly reading.  Share more than once throughout the week using the hashtags included in her video.
• Study Buddies – Now that the Facebook group has settled on an even number of members, Study Buddy assignments have been finalized.  Be sure to check in with your buddy periodically throughout the week to provide encouragement as we begin this journey in making things happen!  If you need a reminder of who your buddy is, visit the Group Photos (found in the top toolbar of the group page).  New buddies will be assigned tomorrow, May 4th.
• Verse Mapping – As a way to be intentional in focusing on growing our faith, we want to provide you ample time to work on your verse mapping.  This week’s scripture is James 1:5.  Bree will be sharing a video tutorial as a reminder with tips of how to break down this particular verse on Thursday.
• Facebook Discussion – What a blessing it was to gather with sixteen of you this past Thursday!  This time together, sharing and learning from one another is really the heart of the Intentional Filling and I pray that it will continue to be a blessing to you in the weeks to come.  We’ll be gathering again this Thursday at 9 p.m. EST for a more in-depth look into our reading assignments (hopefully everyone will have their books soon), how we can apply what we’ve learned and a fun giveaway!
• Fill Me Up Friday – At the end of the week, we sometimes feel depleted of energy that has been used up in our various responsibilities of life.  Fill Me Up Friday is a great way to restore some of that fire inside of you through sharing of inspirational images, scripture, YouTube videos, blog posts, etc. This is also a great time to catch up on what you may have missed earlier in the week.

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Remember: you will NEVER be judged or made to feel unwelcome to participate in activities or our weekly discussions if you have not completed the readings.  Though the book is valuable, your time spent with community and learning from others can be just as valuable, if not more.

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This week our journey in surrendering fear will continue.  We will learn more about what a life surrendered to Christ looks like and what power there is in making the decision to accept the title of being a child of God.

Before we head out on the next leg of this journey, take a few minutes and listen to the words of the amazing Ann Voskamp as she discusses trust and being thankful in all circumstances.

[divider type=”dashed” color=”grey”] [row-start] [three-fourths]Bree Blum is a 32 year old cardigan-wearing blogger who loves Jesus.  She lives in Wheeling, WV where she serves in her church as a sign language interpreter and works full time as an Administrative Assistant for a technology firm.  She has a passion for women’s ministry and speaking life into others despite her own introverted tendencies.

You can connect with her on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.[/three-fourths] [one-fourth][/one-fourth] [row-end]