This past weekend I had the opportunity to spend time with friends in one of my favorite places ever. Per usual I crammed my visit with brunches, lunches, dinners, coffee meetings, walks and anything else I could get fit in a day or night in order to at least attempt to spend time with as many people as possible. Even with only seven hours of sleep in three nights total I still didn't get to see everyone that I wanted too. I set off for my visit thinking it would simply be a time of celebrating all things festive and Christmas-y.
 |
| One of My Favorite Cities - Chattanooga |
 |
| Rock City Christmas Lights |
Thinking only of myself and the refreshing I might get from being with close friends. I've been so thirsty for true fellowship I could think of nothing else in planning my visit. I had no idea that God had an appointment for me. In these few days I was reminded that my heart was made for ministry. The ministry of His people. My mind and mouth have been made to flow His words to His workers in love and encouragement. My ears have been made to hear the burden of His people and the victories that have only come from His fighting on our behalf. My life was made for better or worse to represent and speak of what He has done. How He has made me and how I have to fight daily and at times hourly against my sin nature. In being honest about these flaws in me I was able to shine light on some wounds in others that needed a "band aid". In sharing where I have been, I was able to help others from falling into the same "pot holes" I have had to crawl out of. In fighting my selfish pride I was able to hopefully begin the mending of a dear friendship. Now, there is a lot of I in this writing. By no means was it really me. It was God. I came back home poured out and exhausted, but amazingly energized at the thought that He indeed has plans for me. He WANTS to use me. I have been so focused on my thirst I haven't thought He may be just waiting to quench it. It is not a privilege to Him for me to be used it is a privilege for me to be chosen for use. I cried more in these few days then I have in the last months. I felt His hand on me closer than I had since the summer. I'm reminded that when it seems He is far away, He isn't. When it seems He isn't listening, He is. When it seems He is done with us, it couldn't be further from the truth. Our cups weren't made to overflow. We are meant for receiving and pouring out all that is His goodness and truth. Isn't it funny ? We go into something intending to bless someone or be an encouragement and we walk away feeling we have been blessed and encouraged. I beg of Him that in whatever path He leads me down that I would always be clearly His daughter. As I look back on my oh so fun weekend I am thankful for so much. To name a few....... friends that love and even like me in spite of myself, always having a place to stay if I need to get away, people who make me laugh and smile till it hurts, people who remind me I am of worth to someone, people who let me share what God has and is doing, sleepless nights that come from fun days....and too much cotton candy, water proof mascara :-) , and His ever surprising extravagance of love poured out on me. What a wonderful way to go into the weekend of celebrating His birth.
These are a few sentences He has used to speak to me as of late.
Hope they encourage and speak to you as well.
"I will never leave you alone in the midst of any affliction. You cannot escape the crisis experiences if you desire to grow and mature." "And this is the will of God, that ye be about the Father's business." "I have a ministry for you. You have not found it yet because you have been earnestly and in sincerity and with humble heart trying to conform to the patterns of others." - All excerpts from Come Away My Beloved Daily Devotional by Frances J. Roberts
"Nothing can give you quite the same thrill as the feeling that you are in harmony with the great God of the universe who created all things. " Dr. James Dobson
