Community for us has been about intentionally building relationships for the purpose of growth and oneness with Jesus and each other. When we met both of our hearts were to fully know Jesus and serve Him. Yet, that seemed to dim shortly after our wedding as we soon realized we had SO many issues. Graciously the Lord brought us here through a treasure hunt, a homegroup reaching out in public for people with needs or prayer requests. We checked out CCK and knew this is where the Lord had us after meeting with Pastor Norm. Michael was dead set on fully giving himself here but, for me, it was a much slower process. In time though, I learned, that I was not going to do all I desired in the Lord by keeping to myself, as much change was not happening. We were newlyweds that had done our own rendition of courtship, including a really short engagement and extremely fast wedding, and then, shortly after that we were pregnant. So with all that and a bunch more, we were a big mess, probably more me than Michael, but we needed help. As we began to press into relationships, including discipleship and seeking counsel, we just continued to become more vulnerable as well as trusting of the Lord. At one point, a friend, sat with me at lunch and told me she was concerned with how I was being disrespectful to Michael. She stated that she knows it isn’t my intention or heart to be that way, but felt she needed to share, thankfully. So I asked for specific examples, at first she couldn’t think of any, but as the conversation went on, the remembrance started surfacing. They were small ways in which I could show more respect through my words, facial expressions, and reactions. Which only people in friendship and time spent with us would have seen. Through counsel and discipleship the foundation of our marriage, which is Christ, was being reset, but these situations showed me what respect was in reality, I had no idea! It was so honoring as well as humbling to be able to get correction to show me what it means to be a respectful wife. Most that had known me prior to CCK or even in my beginning months or years at CCK, would have known I would have run the other way in fear because of a rebuke. Instead this time, I was so grateful, it was exciting having tools and an actual picture of what respect is to help train myself to become an honoring wife. So community to us is definitely a place for growth, but also a place full of grace, mercy and love to help pull you out of your own junk and into Christ’s image, saving our marriage. Jesus is Lord of relationships and works through them completely!