So that I’m no longer holding onto anything, except the hand that is leading me."
Breaking Free by Beth Moore ~ every Monday night, for ten weeks, there are five women who gather here to find God, not only in this study that we are bravely committing ourselves to, but in and through each other. Through our pain and brokeness, and in our joy!
The Guest list was God's. The whole idea of this gathering was His. "Let us have eyes to see, and ears to hear."
I came across a blog one night, called www.{in}courage.me , while I was visiting Ann Voskamp's blogsite (author of One Thousand Gifts), and there was a public invitation to join other Christ-following women for a global, two-day, online event. Women in Community, lifting each other up to God, in spirit and in prayer.
Friday night, a live webcast, for women around the world to join in and see what the Lord is doing in and through those who were given a vision and went for it! Saturday, was the day for meeting the other women in your own, real community who were "watching", just like you, the night before. Saturday was for joining together, in {rl} Real Life. In Holland, there were 16 from the area who met together and are still meeting. I was unable to go because...
Behind the scenes, God was at work. He was bringing together a group of women, who didn't even know this global community outreach dream, and had never even met each other, YET!
One week before this global event, I signed up to go to a one day retreat ,called Sacred Journey, based on a book written by Sharon Garlough Brown, entitled "Sensible Shoes" (a must read if you're hungering for a spiritual journey that will bring you closer to the Lord through learning how to pray and read the Scriptures) The book is fictional, but based on actual events from the author's own life and personal spiritual journey.
So, I'm at the coffee pot at this retreat and a woman, named Sue, approaches. She kindly says "good morning, how are you?" In reality, I was a mess, but I politely responded, and she continued to make conversation, asking if I attended church there, and so on. A couple more questions and answers later and we both realized this meeting at the coffee pot was no accident!
Instead of sitting by myself, I was being invited to sit with a beautiful, godly woman who grew up best friends with one of my dearest friend's sister. For those of you who know me, I'm speaking of Dawn and Phylis. And...Sue currently lives about 1/2 mile from Dawn, in the town where we raised our families! Her folks attended our small church; her mom, the organist...and on and on. And her grandchildren attend Hopkins, and...we both have broken previous marriages, love the Lord with our whole hearts, have been given the gift of creativity through art, have a boy and girl, and we love PINK! lol , and so much more!
Back to the guest list ~ God began putting a burden on my heart to somehow reach out and connect with other hurting women. I had no idea what it was supposed to look like, or how it was supposed to happen, or when? So I prayed. And I talked with Sue, my friend at the coffee pot! I asked her to pray with me, because somehow, I was convinced she was going to be a part of it, and our reason for meeting.
So we prayed. And meer acquaintances, some women I had never met, were beginning to come out of the woodwork, so to speak. Oh Lord, what are you up to?! I taught Sunday school (1st & 2nd graders) and GEMS, this is not my gift! He didn't care ;) And reminded me that this life of mine isn't about me! REallY?
In praying, He led me to consider several Bible studies, and brought together an amazing group of women.
(I invited two very special friends from my family group at church, for support! And thankfully, they agreed)
Not surprising, in just 3 weeks together, God has knit together our messy, broken lives into something so incredibly beautiful, it leaves me speechless. One of us even joins by Skype due to physical limitations. She is bonding with the rest of us just as though she is right here.
Through our study, through each other, with the Holy Spirit leading us, we are healing. The stuff of life that wants to keep us in bondage to the enemy is being exposed by Truth. It's hard. Ugly hard. But God is restoring and redeeming, just as He promises, as only He can. Sometimes more than we want to see, or face, but always for our good and His Glory.
He has not left us to ourselves to drown in it, but has given us God~sisters to keep us afloat when we feel like we've been pushed off into the deep-end and don't have our swimmies! God help us all.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your undeniable Presence in our lives. You are Sovereign. You are Truth. And we love You.
