New beginnings - rubies

By: Lizzie Williams

Welcome Rubies to Theta Alpha! We are so glad to have you as a part of our family, and we are so excited to see you grow! We hope you are excited too for this new beginning and for all that God has planned for you. However, I want to pause all of the excitement and get serious for a second. What does this new beginning mean for you? Well, it means whatever you want it to mean! If you want it to mean nothing, if you want to stay in your old ways of life, then that is exactly what it will be. But, if you want it to be spectacular and you want to grow in your faith, then that’s what will happen. How is this so? Because what you put in is what get out.

Well what the heck does that mean? It means that if you go to each Theta Alpha event with a heart seeking God and seeking growth, then you will grow. But if you go to an event just to check another box on your to-do list, then honey I’m sorry, but you’re not going to get much out of it. Now, don’t be mistaken, God can still use these events to change your heart, but most of the time, you will not be receptive to what He has to say. We can go to church or chapter or whatever all day long and let the words go in one ear and out the other. In other words, we can be super religious but have no relationship with God whatsoever. But what’s the benefit in that? Do we really want to be like the Pharisees, “ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding?” (Mark 4:12) I sure don’t!

So how do we make sure that doesn’t happen? Well for starters, we need to check our thoughts and motives. Why are we going to these events? If it’s not to grow closer to God or the community that he has blessed you with, then maybe you should reconsider why you’re doing this. Afterall, we are supposed to do everything to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Then, we need to posture our hearts towards God and be willing to get vulnerable with him and with our sisters. Maybe we need to pray something like Psalm 86:11 which says “Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.” We need to make sure our heart and our eyes are set on the Lord. Lastly, we need to recognize that our sisters are here to help us. In a group of 100 girls, I bet you that the enemy will try to stir up conflict, and he might be successful sometimes. But in those times, we need to remember that our battle is not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12). We’re called to love God and love people, and that includes the girl you might not like (Mark 12:30-31).

I love you all and I just want to make sure that your Theta Alpha experience is positive and fulfilling. I know that so many of you came here to find the Christian community that you were lacking and to grow in your faith. So, do not let anything hinder you! Rather, be intentional, know that you’re loved, and again, welcome home to Theta Alpha!