Our Inspired Journey

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I don't have words for how much the YouAreLoved Series we're in the middle of right now has impacted me.  If you missed the past two posts, Being Single or Being Divorced written by dear friends who have opened their hearts so that other in similar circumstances may find HOPE, you really must read them.  I was moved to tears outwardly...and inwardly - my heart both hurt and hoped with them as I read their words.  I hurt over the pain they've endured in living through circumstances they didn't expect to endure...and then {the best part}...Christ.  I am absolutely overwhelmed by the way God is using these two beautiful women for His glory, right in the middle of circumstances neither one signed up for.  He is such a redeeming God.  Always has been, always will be.  And I'm so humbled that He'd choose to use this place as a stage for His work to take place.  One more post will be posted next week...the story of a redeemed marriage.

If you remember THIS post, and then THIS one the next day...you'll remember that I've wrestled with how much space to give this blog in the plans of my day.  The interesting part, is that usually when I go through this kind of "recalibration" time, and I ask the God who formed me to place His priorites at the top of my list and let the others trickle down from there, I end up making some big moves.  I usually end up quitting something, and then taking up some new discipline that my life up to that point had been lacking.  But this time it's different.  As I prayed about the direction He asked me to go with my blogging I felt Him give me the picture of my blog as an alter.  One just like Abraham stood before when he was called to place his son before the Lord as a sacrifice....Do you love me this much?...He whispered.

Now, in no way am I comparing my blog to the life of one of my children...I'll set that straight right now.  But in the same way that Abraham was called to give something up, I felt called to that as well.  In my time of sifting with the Spirit where I prayed for the Lord's purpose to be made clear...for God to give this space an identity and purpose that is anointed by Him and soley for His glory...it happened.  I sensed Him calling me to envision this place as an alter...one where every word is a sacrifice of praise to the One who is worthy of it ALL.  At the same moment, I knew He had a new story to tell...the one of my friends who you've been reading about all week.  To reach the hurting, bring HOPE to those emotionally dying in their circumstance this Valentine season.  The result has been two of the most widely read posts in the history of this place.  Why?  Because God knows His church and where they need to hear from Him...He spoke, I humbly asked them, they courageously said yes, and the result has been tremendous.  People who don't know me or them, coming to know that there is HOPE for them in Jesus.  Praise Him!!!  {I'm yelling right now, in case you missed it...yes..He's THAT good.}

This is a fun story...


When I started blogging almost 4 years ago, it was just to keep my family up to date with our cross country move to Illinois.  It was there I found THIS.  Rachel and I met our freshman year of college singing in choir together.  We hit it off then, and meeting back up in blogosphere was no different.  I was so thankful to be reacquainted with a sweet friend after all this time.  God recently inspired she and her friend Heather to start a new place where women can gather over posts on so many topics women love today...a place void of competition, and where women can share their gifts and give God the glory for it all.  A place to hear real journeys, strengthened by a REAL God. 
That's pretty much my life's mantra.  I'm ecstatic to be a part.  I'll be posted there next Wednesday, and weekly after that...
Would you join me in praying for this place?  Pray for those involved, that God would be their breath, their voice.Pray for those who read, that they would experience Christ there, right in the middle of their circumstance.And while you're at it, would you pray the same for this place?It's my alter.A place where sacrifice, obedience and steadfast devotion is alive...for the glory of a WORTHY God.