a remarkable concurrence of events~ Coincidence

She is late and apologizes. She tells us that she wasn't going to come but last minute she decided she needed to. She brings zuchinni bread for us to break over coffee. As she starts to share a piece of her story, my heart begins to race. She reminds the other ladies how long she said no. They all shake their heads remembering. She reiterates how after she came to terms with it and said "YES!!" Others said NO. She questioned herself. The Holy Spirit and God. She thought maybe she had made it up. That it really wasn't laid on her heart . She wrestled for a time. She laid it at God's feet and He changed hearts. There is some humming... I realize it had come from me.  {sounded a little too familiar}.

As I share a bit of my past we realize there is someone else in the room with a very similar story...

Our sweetest hostess recommends writing a verse, a book or thought that is on our mind. Then we are to stick it in a bowl. When we leave we just grab one out of the bowl. I left with the one pictured above. John 15:16

Shit!! That's all that runs through my mind when things like his happen. {I hope I don't grieve the Holy Spirit}

#GodSizedDreams

This piece of the Word is exactly what I had been studying the other night. The other night after a crying out to God. "Don't make me. I can't do it. I am not equipped." The same night I was sent this in my instant message from a dear friend. She said she felt she needed to send this to me.

So, I took a deep breath and said yes. I open the Word and continue to plan the women's study. I am told there are no coincidences only God laying plans. Things coming together. God using community, people to be Him.

I am told that "if people want to know what God is like, they can look at Jesus.If they want to know what Jesus is like, they should be able to look at his followers"~ Max Lucado

Philippians 2:1-18 shows me what this should look like. I am reminded of not so long ago my epiphany of a Titus 2 woman {that should be me}

No coincidences. Just a foundation being laid. A plot being twisted. The author writing His story on our hearts. A story that needs to be shared. Because that is how He is shared.

My God is relentless. No.He is faithful to answering prayer. A caring Father. He doesn't leave me hanging. He takes me through His word to show the importance of Community and then reminds me again the following Sunday in Church.



His answer to prayer makes my jaw drop, drool left dripping of my lips.

There are no coincidences only Angel's working in our mist. God building on a foundation. Weaving thoughts, words, people, experiences into a beautiful story. All to His glory.

Don't hit back...

Sometimes when I am struggling the best thing for me to do is write. This is usually a quick jot in my journals. This morning I have been writing. Here are somethings that I am chewing on and I thought "maybe they could help someone out there too"

 

Relationship is hard work. People will hurt you, it's inevitable. The choice is who you give the key to your heart.

Relationship is supposed to give you a connection that makes you a better person.

You can LOVE without trusting. Work just as hard on yourself as you expect the other person to be working. Trust is a two way street.

How do you know if a past hurtful relationship is worth working on 1) is there confession 2) Is there ownership of the hurt that has been caused 3) Is there remorse. Not a guilty conscious but real remorse. 4) Is there change? OR does the same problem keep happening over and over again?

Does that other person surround themselves with other healthy people? Who are their other friends?

There is no rush back into a relationship that has been hurtful in the past.

As far as it lies with me I will conduct my life and relationships under God's rules for health and success in life.

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18

Reference: Beyond Boundaries By Dr. John Townsend

Currently... {The UNdone edition}

Currently… June was a whirlwind and now July is coming to an end.  

 I started #UNdone after having a major melt down. My weight was out of control. My emotions were out of control. My heart was out of control. I had to stop and listen and come #UNdone in a lot of areas of my life. I had to say NO to many things; relationships, commitments, foods, habits and arguments. 

I had to say YES to some brave new things; traveling with my two MountainBoys and the dog {without MountainMan} as well as traveling all by myself to Los Angles to meet the Mountainman for a couple of days. I drove and strolled the LA streets by MYSELF. This was huge for me.

Saying YES to the MountainMan leaving the country for an extended period of time. YES to the MountainBoys goingto Bible Camp for 3 weeks.  

And YES to my nephew going back to Salt Lake, after planning on adopting him. That heartbreak seems so far away and yet it feels so fresh in my chest. He said good bye and took a piece of my heart with him. Ultimately it was his choice.  

Currently Pondering... Neighboring and Community

Currently Reading… Just Courage ~Gary A Haugen, He Chose the Nails ~Max Lucado , Dr. A's Habits of Health, Beyond Boundaries ~ Dr John Townsend, Speak ~Nish Weiseth

Currently loving… This season of parenting. Our boys are growing. Physically {mustaches, muscles and height} In skills { hunting, driving, shopping for the best deals, budgeting their own money} Spiritually {they talk of God. Each conversation seasoned in salt. They have had 3 weeks of Bible Camp. One week for Leadership, One week with their peers and One week where they were Camp Counselors; our boys... camp counselors} Character {they talk about the under dog, the hopeless and how they can help. They talk about respecting women and marriage. I see them put their thoughts and words into action as I watch them interact with their peers and leaders.}  

Currently waiting for... {This is the same as last time I wrote. However, while chewing on the Word it hit me a little different. Maybe God is waiting on me to say YES} God. Waiting has taught me that just because I have not moved yet. Or the prayers I utter every night have not been answered… yet. Does not mean that God doesn't like me. OR that he doesn't answer my prayers like he does everybody else. It doesn't mean that I don’t have enough faith or that I waver too much. He is not waiting to pounce on me and make me pay for all my past sins. He is just waiting, probably on me. I am biting my nails trying to be patient, knowing that what he has in store is more than what I could ask for. 

 Currently excited about... This new page that seems to be turning for MountainMan

Currently missing... MountainMan. I am really excited for this new chapter for him. He is able to use his God given skills. It is paying off for him. He is getting recognition and new opportunities. He is traveling to amazing places and meeting incredible people. It also means he is gone 2-3 weeks out of a month. I miss him.  

Currently trying... to embrace this new chapter for me as well. MountainMan being gone. MountainBoys new found freedom's has me thinking... what do I do with this time. 

Currently working at... relationship and boundaries again...

Currently enjoying... the sunshine. It feels like the days are already getting shorter

Currently using... all the new samples I get each month in my Birchbox!! I love all of the face exfoliates and fragrances. I am even trying new trends like "bright lips" 

Currently wearing... some new perfume I purchased. Kenneth Cole WHITE. It reminds me of a perfume I use to wear called MACKIE. Except this is a bit lighter. 

Currently planning... our next home. I don't know where it will be. It doesn't stop me from planning. By planning I mean Pinning...

Currently needing... Community. We all need it. We were made for community. It's how we grow. When we let others reach inside of us and change us. When others allow us to reach inside of them and change them. God is glorified. God is seen in tangible ways. We are healed, encouraged, called out and metamorphosis takes place. Community is our cocoon.  

Currently learning... that EVERYTHING I do effects someone. That decisions that people around me make effects me as well. Do they understand that? Do they care? Am I using this knowledge to encourage or discourage? What about those around me? Are they intentionally encouraging me or discouraging me? 

Currently listening to... the hush of a box fan

Currently wishing... for too much to put on paper. It's time to put one foot in front of the other instead of just wishing 

Currently doing... a Women's Bible study curriculum. I  am putting it together for this fall. I am hoping to launch a women's discipleship program at our current church. 

Currently praying for... the MountainMan and his safe return. MountainMan boys and their continued growth. Grace Women's Ministry. Marriages that are hurting and being torn apart. Sick to be healed. Eye's to be opened. 

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 What are you currently up to?

Sisters in Christ

Sitting at a baby shower she pulls me close. I want to be her when I am 80 and so I lean in and listen. She said she was reading a few years back some statistics about the Christian Bride. She says "there are three main reasons that young people from the ages of 18-39 are leaving the church in groves. That means large quantities" she says.

"They are leaving because 1. Hypocrisy. Christians don't DO what they say the believe. They tell everyone else to do it, they hold everyone else to the standards. 2. Exclusivity. We say everyone belongs. Then we scoff when someone different walks through the doors. 3. Relationships. We are missing real relationships. Do we really care? Why do we offer our opinions and rebuke people when we don't have a relationship with them?"

" Misty" she says "what can you and I do about that today?"

I ask myself this every morning since.

It's those people God places in our lives.

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Folks. What can you and I do about this?

You're Loved {Coffee For Your Heart}

You're Loved. That's all she had to say. I sit in the kitchen window, with my tin hat on trying to get reception, silently ugly crying {I promise it's possible}.

I miss this girl more then she will ever know. Living out in the middle of nowhere has really taken a toll on me mentally. spiritually. emotionally. Yet, these people God has placed in my life pour into me. They are HIS hands. HIS feet. HIS voice. HIS body.

We laugh about our "diet's". Talk about anxiety and doctors and just what is the right pill and just what isn't the right pill. We promise to see each other on Wednesday 10:30 for coffee. My heart leaps a little. Our coffee dates are always filling.

Before I leave our coffee date, she prays for me. The word's are so perfect it could only be the Holy Spirit.

It whispers into my soul again. You are loved.

She calls me from a distant land to see how I am doing. Have I heard from lobster? The phone call costs on average $80. I get off the phone praying for her and her family. For the children that will be set free.She reminds me You're Loved. I miss her. She is HIS hands. She is HIS feet. She is HIS voice. She is HIS body.

She texts me asking how I am. She doesn't want to hear the shallow "I am fine". She wants to know my heart. Our conversation is a reminder that we share a common heart break. Addiction, that runs deep in the family. We end the conversation with confirmation that I am always family no matter how far away I may wander. She reminds me of HIS hands. She reminds me of HIS feet. She reminds me of HIS voice. She is HIS body.

They write. They comment. They email. They text. They share encouragement. They share their hurt. They are HIS hands. They are HIS feet. They are HIS voice. They are HIS body.

Community. A gift from God. To show us tangibly that You. Are. LOVED.

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Do you embrace the community God has placed around you? When asked how you are doing , are you honest? OR do you give the PC "I am fine"? I challenge you this week to give a little bit of your heart and dare to see that YOU ARE LOVED!!

Linking up with at holleygerth.com for some extra encouragement.