BIG things...no HUGE things
are happening in my life right now.
I'm excited, nervous, a little bit terrified, but welcoming it
all with big ol' open arms.
For the last 2 months my small group has been embarking on a journey through a book called, Lioness Arising by Lisa Bevere. It's phenomenal. It's challenging. It's exciting. It's a wake up. At least for me. The moment I started reading the book, something inside of me started to stir. I'm not sure how to describe it really. It was this physical & emotional feeling inside me. My stomach would get that nervous, fluttery feeling every single time I started to read her words. I got excited!! I wanted to jump out of my skin and figure out what was being stirred up. (We are still reading the book, and it still happens EVERY single time). I also prayed, and asked for prayer from my group--that this wouldn't be a selfish desire. That this would be a "GOD desire."
Lisa challenges us throughout the book to "RISE UP" and become lionesses (women who are fierce, passionate, gentle, protective, nurturing...--you get the gist-- who love & live for the Lord). I have been praying for that opportunity. To Rise UP. To take a stand. To make a difference. To be a part of something bigger than myself. To get out of my comfort zone and shake things up. To make it completely about Him and others (and put myself on the back burner completely---that can be hard for a girl who doesn't mind being in the "spotlight").
About 6 or so months ago, I started following this movement called
The A21 Campaign (click the link for info!)
It's incredible.
It's moving.
It's heartbreaking.
It's real. And, it's happening today.
In the 21st century.
Not just overseas.
On our own soil.
I had been researching ways to get involved, but kept running into 2 pretty big problems:
(1) I live in SC
(2) the closest office is in LA or the UK.
Oh, and I'm definitely not a college student,
so internships and some of the college type rally's were out too!
So, I've been stuck. Well, limited by what I could actually DO besides praying for the girls & the people involved in the campaign.
---->Insert a girlfriend of mine---a WORLD changing girlfriend--who has been working on the same cause. Right here. In SC. In Charleston, SC. At my church. (Somehow I missed the memo until recently!!...all in God's time right!?) The doors were starting to crack, but they weren't open yet!
I'm thinking I had to grow more. To learn more about the issues. To educate myself and ready my heart. To let God work on me to take on such a heavy issue. To get to a place where I could step outside of myself and focus on a cause bigger than me. Bigger than "my world." To humble myself and my desires and align them with His.
Gods timing is good. No, it's perfect.
Fast forward a little bit--->I took a leap of faith & contacted my girlfriend about getting involved. And, she took me in with open arms. The timing of it couldn't have been more perfect. We are going through some "interesting" growing moments. Not necessarily "pains". Just trying to figure out how it all will look from here on out. The A21 Campaign is a huge, growing, amazing organization and we are blessed to be a part of it. No matter how big, or small, that may look. My involvement/role is still a work in progress. We are completely volunteer based at this point. However, I do know that my schooling (BBA/Marketing) has already come into play---pretty sure I just heard my parents jump for joy :). [Haven't used, nor had the desire to use, my degree in a very long time. It's hard to work doing something you are not passionate about...something you find unfulfilling-->could write a whole other blog on that!] Any who--I'm blessed and thankful that my schedule is allowing me to do this. Being a nanny, my time is pretty flexible. I have days that I can take the munchkin, and days that I can fully devote to this adventure. I just have to trust and pray that it stays this way for the season I'm intended on being there.
The three ladies that have been devoting the majority of their time and energy to this are like the "Charlies Angels" of the cause! I'm blessed that they have taken me in & believe that I could be a beneficial addition to their team. I think God has some big things in store for us. Last night at First Wednesday (a once a month worship service at Seacoast), this feeling was confirmed.
Our pastor talked about the different names of God and what they mean. Two resonated with me in a major way for the season that I am in...and that this new adventure is in.
Jehovah Jireh- God is our Provider.
Yes, indeed He is.
I fully believe and trust that during this season He will provide for our needs. He already has in abundance!!
El Shaddai- Almighty God
That He is!!
He can do anything. He is all powerful. He is all knowing. He isn't just our Father, our Provider, our Peace---HE IS EVERYTHING. HE is ALMIGHTY!
I will be clinging tight to both of these, especially during prayer. To take those names close to my heart. To apply them to my life daily. To TRUST that He is all He says is He is and more. To apply them to this season of life and claim this as my truth as I walk through this new doorway into A21. With the faith, hope, and beliefs that He will be our Jehovah Jireh, our El Shaddai.
If you can't tell, I am excited beyond belief!! I feel like all that energy that was wanting to burst at the seams, has begun to leak out...in a good way. It's still there, (trust me-->it's like this non stop energy in the pit of my stomach) it just feels like I can exhale a little bit. That the doors are open, and I just have to continue to walk through them. To trust that He will be there waiting on the other side.
I know He will be.
So, there it is. My news. My Big, HUGE, exciting news.
(to me anyways!)
Please continue to pray for me. To pray for us as a team.
To keep listening. To hear His voice. To trust in His timing and His will.
To walk through doors. To Glorify Him.
To put selfish desires behind and work only for Him.
To use us, and this A21 adventure to Glorify Him.
To allow His light to SHINE through each of us.
That we keep our eyes on Him and His purpose.
To be a LIGHT in the lives of these women.
To allow us to be a VOICE for the voiceLESS.
