Thoughts from our July interim session

What a crazy wonderful and wonder-filled meeting last night! Thank you, Helen, for hosting our gathering in your sweet welcoming home and sheltering us through the torrential storms last night! It was SO nice to see everyone who could come and join us...and share in the yummies that, once again, overflowed the tables and counters, and more than overfilled our tummies!! Thank you, Red Tent Sisters!!

So, I loved the diversity of responses to the book--from a definitive thumbs down to quite a few ecstatic both hands up! We were reminded that, in contrast to our usual "bible/scripture" study gatherings, this was a "book club" gathering, where differing opinions and feedback (both positive and negative) to the author's style, presentation, choice of words and phrasing (and liberal use of HUGE font!! lol) are great jumping off points for debate and agreement-to-disagree without judgment or condemnation.  I absolutely loved listening to everyone's perspective of the writing so that I could try to grasp why I did (or didn't!) feel the same way! It was an awesome exercise in self-awareness and perspective adjustment!

I also loved how some of us were impacted from the very beginning, some took a little while to warm up to it and then got totally engrossed, some kinda just held on with mild curiosity maybe ending with more of the same questions unanswered until the very end, while some maybe took a second read-through to get past whatever was bothering or blocking the first time around (ok ok that was me, I admit it!).

But, even better, I loved how, despite our potential differences in opinion about how much we loved (or didn't love) the writing, the presentation, the font! (lol) we all pretty much landed in the same arena when it came to hearing/finding/uncovering his bottomline message: the rippling and deeply effectual impact that occurs when we CHOOSE to WILLINGLY and FULLY (100%) partner WITH and IN God to make the most of every moment (however small), every breath (however quick), every thought (however fleeting), every act/word/step (however seemingly mundane or routine or un-special!)...even when it's hard or uncomfortable...or boring. Or scary.  Or not so timely. Or downright impinging upon the mediocrity in which I am wallowing right now!! (HAH!) 

Now THAT was HolySpirit stuff, yes?  

I also REALLY loved how each and every one tried really hard to hear what the message could bring into our own lives, to change something in our own perspective, to transform something within our own heart...and so be better able to live whatever part of the "bottomline message" the HOLY SPIRT desired to impress upon us! And that is where we fell nicely back into our usual "bible/scripture study fashion"...and THAT, ladies, was beautiful!!

Of course, I am still thinking about how the book impacted me--and how the HolySpirit might still be trying to work some of the MANY in-between or "lead-up" or "follow-up" messages into my heart.  And that is where I would love to hear from everyone in this thread or in a new post.  Write in and share what part of the message or the book impacted/spoke into you the most.

For me, it was the usual "relationship building" pearl.  When the author asked "How available ARE you to God at this moment? 20 percent? 50 percent? 80 percent? 96.4 percent? What prevents you from being 100% available to Him 100% of the time?" I was flabbergasted.  And I realized that even in my smallest most "mundane" moments, it only takes a millisecond--a mere "interruption" in thought--to literally lift my soul and my mind, my heart and my spirit into HIS hands...and make myself "available".  To hear.  To listen.  To desire.  To do...or sometimes, it's not so much "to do" as it is just merely..."to be".  And so, begin to turn every moment of "ordinary" into God-infused "extra-ordinary"!

How can I learn to differentiate HIS voice from the cacophony of voices around me and in my own head (mainly MINE!!) unless I learn to willingly step into HIS room and HIS heart 100% of the time...!

Anyway, when I awoke this morning, THIS was in my inbox! (of course!) So I thought I would share.

Comment away--or start a new post and share what is in your heart from this book!!

love

maggie

Our Extra-Ordinary Calling

by Alexandra Hoover

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 (CSB) I walked in through the door, exhausted from a long day of work. Traffic added to the stress of my day, as well as a handful of letdowns and hard conversations. It seemed as if disappointment was following me from one meeting to the next.  The day not only reminded me of all my unmet expectations in my career and dreams, but also poured salt over an open and hurting wound. I thought to myself, Alex, is this what life is all about? Is this it? Discouraged, I continued to press on through my day.  Putting my things down at the door, I hurried to let our babysitter leave for the day. I was grateful for her — how she loved on my kids and stepped into her job so well with our family. My babies ran up to me, excited and eager to tell me all about the ups and downs of their day. I waved goodbye to our sitter and commenced what I like to call, “the afternoon shuffle.” Then I made my way to the kitchen to prep for dinner. Deep breaths, I said to my weary soul.  I was quickly met with a resounding yet subtle conviction, an alerting from the Holy Spirit about my current heart posture.  I was so angry with my day, with dreams that seemed so far away, and I wanted God to tell me that my ordinary life was going to get better somehow. I wanted a whisper of, “Your dreams are coming.” Instead, He quieted my soul by giving me something I needed, a refreshing of His heart for me. I heard Him whisper, “That’s where I do My best work — in the ordinary.” It’s in the mundane, in the calling of your day-to-day. The Scripture of the Great Commission came to mind instantly. Matthew 28:19-20 says, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” I began to understand that my calling wasn’t what I thought it was. I wanted God to tell me which job I needed to be working and which dream of mine He would bless so I could be “walking in my calling.” Yet in reality, whatever I choose to do with my life, whatever job I am blessed with, is right where God wants me and where He uses me and my gifts to make disciples and grow His Kingdom. It’s His greatest dream for all of us. My desire to be in my calling started to make sense, and my job and mothering suddenly began to look different to me. They were ministry, and God had called me to it.  And what better teacher to follow and learn from than Jesus? His greatest ministry was in the day-to-day, where He met the most ordinary people in the most ordinary places, offering them all an extraordinary life, simply because He’s a good and loving God. And He’s still in the business of doing that with us today. It’s the greatest calling of all — to live in our “everyday-ness” of life as a light, as a conduit to God’s bigger and more beautiful story. Just like my babysitter uses her gifts to bless our family, I use my gifts to bless God, to glorify Him. This is our most beautiful call. Let's answer it and steward it well. Heavenly Father, thank You for inviting us in and calling us to be part of Your family and story. Remind our hearts while we’re living in the mundane day-to-day that we’re right where You want us, living on mission to build Your Kingdom. Give us endurance and strength as we steward our gifts well for Your glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. TRUTH FOR TODAY Proverbs 19:21, “Many plans are in a person’s heart, but the LORD’s decree will prevail.” (CSB) Proverbs 21:21, “The one who pursues righteousness and faithful love will find life, righteousness, and honor.” (CSB) Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” (CSB)

Dreaming Amidst the Shattered Glass

HI Ladies!

Woohoo!! It's been SUCH a long time since we've posted anything! Now that I have had some respite from (minor) medical issues and (major) travel, I am truly wondering: How is everyone doing? Where has everyone been wandering lately? Warm soul-healing places? I hope so! I am truly looking forward to meeting up with anyone who can come this week--I am literally PARCHED for some thirst-quenching fellowship in Red Tent Sister-hood!!

So, here's hoping that everyone has been able to get through the reading for this week's book club gathering (Matthew Kelly's book: The Biggest Lie in the History of Christianity). I have certainly been thinking hard about what spoke to me...and what didn't! But, after having mused over, mulled over, seriously considered and reconsidered my thoughts, this popped up in my inbox. And I was thinking that what I really took from the book can be summed up by this little commentary. Loved the verses it brought to me throughout the article and especially in the end.

Anyway, thought I would share! Enjoy and let me know what you think about the book--especially if you can't make it to our gathering this week!

love

maggie

Dreaming Amidst the Shattered Glass

by Meredith Houston Carr

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)  It had been a particularly exhausting day. My special needs son was driving me a special kind of crazy. My daughters couldn’t share a single toy without erupting into ear-piercing shrieks. The to-do list multiplied. So in an effort to preserve my unraveling sanity and restore order, I called a time-out for each child. But my son didn’t see this time-out as a good thing. Emotion overwhelmed him, and he struggled to regulate the storm in his unique, autistic mind. In a flash, he grabbed a framed baby picture and hurled it onto the bathroom floor. Hard tile met fragile glass in a clash with no winner — only hundreds of jagged shards. After ensuring his safety and cleaning up the mess, I stared at that picture. Shattered glass lay in random bits and pieces across the image of my husband and me, gazing at our son’s newborn perfection. Hot tears bubbled up and spilled over, with liquid pain pouring down my face. This broken picture symbolized a deeper brokenness permeating my heart, for glass wasn’t the only thing to shatter in that moment. My dreams of what it would be like to mother this sweet boy shattered, too. The new mom in that picture never imagined autism becoming a part of her story. In agony, I cried out to my heavenly Father, and in His unceasing kindness, He brought to mind today’s key verse: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21). Those words, “immeasurably more,” pierced my aching heart. I was gently convicted of the small box I’d put God into — how I’d inadvertently transferred my own narrow vision of motherhood to Him.  In my pain, God opened my eyes to the reality that His plans reach far beyond what my fallible eyes can see. He overwhelmed my heart with love for moms and dads who, like me, face shattered dreams of their own. He infused me with hope that perhaps my pain could be the very thing that draws me into a deeper, sweeter fellowship with Him and with others facing a similar heartache. And He graciously reminded me that even when I’m staring down circumstances that likely will not change, He can always change me. His joy and hope stand freely available, even as I tiptoe along the broken path. When our dreams fall apart, it’s hard to imagine something better is possible. But the truth in today’s key verse gives us a powerful promise we can cling to in the face of disintegrating plans. Shattered dreams are no reason to stop dreaming. Because of His great power at work within us, we can keep on dreaming. For where we see brokenness, God sees “immeasurably more” than even our wildest dreams! Dear one, God is bigger than your greatest heartache and most shattering disappointment. He is undoubtedly good — even when your path is littered with broken glass. Broken glass is not the end of your story. Indeed, it may very well be the beginning. Today, may we humbly, and with hearts full of hope, bring God our broken pieces. And may we trust Him enough to keep on dreaming. Heavenly Father, thank You for dreaming bigger than we could ever dream for ourselves. Take our shattered glass, and turn it into something beautiful, for our good and Your glory. Help us trust in Your heart of goodness toward us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. TRUTH FOR TODAY Isaiah 43:19, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (NIV) Proverbs 19:21, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” (NIV)