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Welcome to the Wild in the Hollow book club! Today we are going to cover chapters 10-12.
Chapter 10: Sustain
More and more, younger ones joined us to sing and know the joy of Christian community. Even some who didn’t believe, or didn’t want to be associated with Christians, came to be a part of it.”
In chapter 10 we read about the homemade community Amber and Seth unintentionally created. She shares of the beautiful gift of serving and being served and how it all happened organically. Nothing rigged, no barriers allowed. One minute they could be celebrating a birthday and the next a baptism. What a beautiful picture of family, of kingdom come.
After moving from the apartment building and back into the Rock House, we soon get to meet baby Titus. The fourth boy of the Haines’ family.
Titus gets sick and then sicker and there is no medical reason why. And we get to see community once again in all it’s glory as it rallies around Amber and Seth, sustaining them in their time of need.
Chapter 11: Muscle Memory
When a loved one is sick we give them our all. But soon though, we have to take time for ourselves. In those moments we steal away it’s good to be vulnerable and admit how hard life has been. Let the tears flow. Rest in the peace of God.
The words on page 122 really got me: “I don’t want to break. I don’t want to break. After telling a friend about my weariness, she said, “Maybe that’s exactly what you’re supposed to do-let yourself break.”
How often have I gone through a trial and had to tell myself, be strong, be strong!
We don’t want to break, we don’t want the “what-if’s” of life to be a reality. Can we handle them? Can we still hold onto faith if the thing we dread the most happens? Will we still believe God is good?
These are all real questions that at some point in our lives we will come face to face with. We can move away from God and shake our fists at Him or lean into Him and trust.
Our trials will refine us. We will be able to look back on them and say because my “what-if” happened I trust God more than ever!
Once you’ve walked through the fire with God you will never be the same. (<====Click to Tweet)
Chapter 12: Seed of Desire
This is what I know of desire. Desire affects the whole person, mind, body, and soul. Desire is a drive. It is a hunger that opens its mouth. It is dissatisfaction, a longing, a wintered beast of prey. It is the hand of Potiphar’s wife for Joseph’s coat. It is the madness for the harp of David.”
When we lose hope we lose our way. This is what Amber discovers after months and months of Titus being sick. They had to back out of community because their souls were tired and in despair. They didn’t know how to do anything else but put one foot in front of the other.
This season they were in was draining.
We all have these season where it seems as if life just throws one thing after another at us. And we slip into survival mode without even realizing it.
We cut ourselves off from God, the church, even community because we are trying to get through the day not needing anyone, and yet not realizing how broken we have become.
As we see from Amber and Seth, they were broken and walking around in pieces of themselves. Instead of trusting in their community and God they sought refuge in alcohol, shopping, a new home.
Any time we seek refuge in anything other than God the fruits of our lives will tell on us.
Amber had her embers reignited by someone reminding her who lives in her…the Holy Spirit. This was her wake up call.
She realized she had gifts given to her! She believed it for others but never once for herself. It’s almost as if we, the readers, can see the stars align in her life. All the mistakes, the doubts, the fears, they were because Amber never believed God had good plans for her and desired her!
How our lives are changed when we believe God loves us, accepts us, and wants good things for our lives!
Questions:
We all long for community. Has community come easy to you?
What are some ways you build community?
How have trials made you into the person you are today? Would you say your faith is stronger or weaker?
Have you ever found yourself in survival mode? How did you break free from it?
Do you believe God has good plans for your life?
Shared by: Alecia Simersky
Mandy says
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Amber’s experience of community in these chapters stood out to me as one of the most beautiful parts of the book. I’ve had varying degrees of experiences with community, and hers is one I’d love to find–local friends who do life together through all the hard and messy.
Yes, I have been in survival mode! in addition to lots of prayer, I had to ask for help. After my fourth baby, my health was very poor, I was still trying to homeschool, and I felt like life at home was just chaotic and very overwhelming.I needed help just getting food on the table and basic housekeeping. I had to admit I couldn’t do it all, and I actually hired a tutor to help me keep school on track. It humbling, and it taught me a lot.
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Alecia Simersky says
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I want the community she described too! It’s such a rare thing she experienced and one I hope to experience in my life. I slipped into survival mode a couple of years ago when we moved twice in 2 years. Life was a whirlwind and a part of me shut down and I had to start putting one foot in front of the other, I definitely backed out of community and my church, 2 things that energize me. These chapters really resonated with me.
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pdhemphill says
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I didn’t respond at all last week…not because I didn’t have anything to say…just the opposite.
I have finished the book and I’ve just spent time pondering on some things. All I can say is that her take on church life is so accurate. She has written the nuance of my heart. It’s as if she’s written about the ebb and flow of the different stages we journey through here on earth.
Community can be lovely. I can be soul draining too. I can understand why they stepped back…I only wish they’d not fallen prey to filling the space with bad choices. I am a loner by nature…this whole everyone in my business isn’t something I handle well. I didn’t have a very stable family as a kid and learned to be totally independant. Good? Bad?
I don’t think it’s a bad thing to step back from people as long as it doesn’t spill over into pushing God away. I will say that their “home church” sounds inviting!!
My trials have definitely made me stronger and increased my faith.
Survival mode comes in many forms doesn’t it? But yes, oh yes I’ve been there. I’m not sure we do break free of it. With all that’s happening in our world today I think we’ll be in some form of survival mode until we go home or Christ returns. It’s learning how to tap into the survival kit of joy that runs alongside our sorrows that will see us through.
I’m in a holding pattern even as I type. I do believe God has good plans for my life but I’m not sure I agree with what they are…awful isn’t it? He is teaching me ever so patiently to get over myself and let Him work.
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Alecia Simersky says
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I get it, sometimes we have so many opinions it’s easier to stay quiet. So glad you joined us back this week. You said,”It’s as if she’s written about the ebb and flow of the different stages we journey through here on earth.” So true. I used to be very naive in my view of the church and being an adult. I thought when I became an adult life would be easier and make sense :). (see what I mean)
I couldn’t have been more wrong. Life is hard as a kid and as an adult. I think you’re right we may always be in some form of survival mode until we go home to Heaven. I need to do a better job of tapping into our survival kit, as you put it.
I don’t always like the plans He has for me because they push me out of my comfort zone and can be scary! What if I fail?! I have to get on my own way too. I think most of us do!
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Marianne says
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Ah yes I also believe that God has plans for my life. But I have really not seen the way. I also must be still and let Him work. That in itself is hard. Praying for a clear path. Love my God!!
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Alecia Simersky says
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Hi Marianne! I recently just heard a quote about not praying for clarity but for faith. Oh how I needed that quote, I am the woman that wants clarity, I want all the details before I move forward. But that’s not faith. Faith is trusting in the unknown, big AHA moment for me.
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Marianne says
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Thank you, Faith is hard, when you make a misstep you hope God gives second chances. Then you have to look hard to make sure you do not miss it. So that is where I need to trust.
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