PWOC

How many of my military spouse readers take part in your PWOC (Protestant Women of the Chapel) on post? If you don't know what I'm talking about, or you just haven't quite gotten around to trying it out yet, I strongly suggest you do.

For those that don't have any idea of what PWOC is, here is a link that can tell you all about it. It's a chance to have some fellowship once a week with other Christian military wives. We socialize, eat and drink coffee, do some worship, and break into smaller groups for different Bible studies. If you're into that sort of thing, please go and check your local group out. Fort Bliss's group means the world to me and I can feel the changes it's making in me.

My faith is always something I have struggled on and off with. There have been times where I so strongly believed in everything the Bible says, but other times, when I was filled with doubt. I had too many questions. The devil has worked wonders in my life and I'd have to say, has taken precedence more times than he should have been able to.
Over the past year, my strength has been unshakable. God's done some awesome things in my life lately and I've finally been able to just let go of any doubt I had. Now, my faith in God and His word is something I can't imagine doubting or questioning. But that doesn't mean I don't still struggle. I have so much to learn. I have stories to learn in the Bible that have been ingrained in most people's minds their whole lives. I want to have scriptures memorized and have them get myself or others through tough times. Or use them to praise God in the good times. I need to be able to live His words out more in day to day life. I could go on and on, but I see myself getting very side tracked here. I attribute these changes that I've seen in myself to going to PWOC. Well, to God of course, but He put me here.. at this post.. with this group.

When I started going to PWOC last year, I wasn't very committed. I would go here and there, but if something else came up, I had no problem skipping it. Now, it's probably my absolute favorite morning of the week. We get so busy during the week with day-to-day activities. With household chores and taking care of our babies. Things can get so.. routine. And busy. Wednesday mornings, my soul has a chance to regroup. It means SO MUCH to me that my baby is taken care of while I recharge. While I spend the morning in prayer, praising God, and focusing on the things that really matter. To quite myself. To remind myself that no matter what is going on in our lives this week, not only is God looking out for us, loving us and standing by our side... so are about 150 other women. There is something so powerful about hearing all of those women singing together. Praying together. Lifting each other up in hard times, like deployments (imagine going through a deployment....not alone but with this huge group of unfailing support.. wow!) and celebrating the good times.
It's hard for me to stop in the midst of our daily craziness to appreciate what God has given me and my family. To remember to go to Him with my problems... because He's right there waiting. So not only does PWOC refresh my mind and soul and remind me of these things, but the study that I've gotten into this year provides me with a little bit of quite time each day (yes, I have to physically schedule it into my daily organizer, but it does get done and that's what matters) to redirect myself as well.
There were so many wonderful choices.. two others that I wanted to do (Power of a Praying Wife and Shepherding a Child's Heart), but in the end, felt powerfully led to do Hope for the Homefront. I'm so glad I chose that one. The others would be great to read on my own time anyways, but this is great for me right now. We've been focusing on fear so far (which I struggle with A LOT) and how instead of letting it cripple us, we need to trust in God's word more. I love the way it flows. How it makes me think without spelling things out completely. It's pretty awesome. I've heard from multiple others that have read it and loved it as well! (Just came to me.. but I could possibly see a give away coming up when we're through with it!)

So..that's all. I just felt overwhelmed with these feelings of gratitude towards this group today and wanted to share. From those that have known me the longest, this post may catch you off guard a little. I've never been very open with my faith. I'm not sure why. It's always made me feel a little awkward talking about it, but I know it shouldn't be that way. I'm a little uneasy with even putting something as personal as this out, but I shouldn't be. I should be anxious (in a good way) to hit that publish button. Ready to share my faith with anyone who may benefit from hearing about it. I know that's what we're supposed to do. I'm working on fixing that... just another area I need to grow in.