My heart is full this morning.
I am a woman who desperately needs God. I need Him in my life every day. The desire of my heart has been and IS to see Him in my life each day. I want to know that I am where He wants me to be. That I am doing what He would have me to do.
And so I question constantly. Perhaps it is not a questioning as much as it is a seeking. Even in joining into a small group, I seek for Him to tell me, to show me the “right” group. For my desire is to not miss what He would have for me.
And that is the beginning of my story…..
Desperate for more of Him in my life, a few weeks ago I took the plunge and joined into a small group online.
“Lord, how do I know it is Your leading?”
“How do I know this is where You would have me to be?
Yet each morning, I join them – to study His Word, share our thoughts, our needs and to pray for this small group of women that I have never seen, met or even heard their names before.
I am blessed before the activities of my day even begin. But then I wonder – how can I not when God’s Word is being broken open and shared amongst this little band of women who share with such transparency. Each morning I am awed by the way God is knitting our hearts together a little bit more and a little bit more.
The blessing of knowing I am remembered in prayer by women who know relatively little about me other than I show up each morning and am equally as desperate for God as they.
And then yesterday happens……
God lets me know that I am where I am to be. He lifts the veil to show me how He has been in it even when I was not aware of His activity. And He blows me away with His display……
On Facebook, I read a posting by my daughter about scrapbooking. She loves to do it and has been doing it for years now. No big deal there. Yet.
I little later in the day, again on Facebook, I see the same posting but by someone different. Curious, I click to read and discover that it is being posted by a newly made friend in my online Bible Study group.
Mmmmm, funny.
When Lisa comes that day, I tell her that someone else I “know” also does scrapbooking with the same kits as she. Now in curiosity she asks, “Who?”
I share the name.
She immediately recognizes the name as they both work on the same team for the kit designer.
Jaws drop. We share information. I connect my daughter and my new friend.
We do the happy dance.
We are amazed.
How many people are in the world today? How many women scrapbook? How many women join a small group online? And yet God, my God, displayed Himself by joining His people, MY PEOPLE, in a way to astound.
He joined a stay at home mom, a Wycliffe Bible translator, and a scrapbooking momma together. He knit us together before any of us even knew we were connected. He brings His people together because He loves us. He wants us together because He we are adopted and He desires for His children to be family.
He reminds me:
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; AND he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. (Acts 17: 26, NIV)
And it is then that He gently whispers….
“You are right where I would have you to be!”
Today I am linked with…. Hear It, Use It and Tell His Story and Blog Lovin’ and Thurs. Favorite Things and From House To Home and Reading Cozy Spot and Thankful Thurs. and Desire To Inspire and Thriving Thurs. .
What a sweet story!, I love that Scripture. Thanks for linking it up, today!
–Gena
I love this! It’s hard to be content where He’s placed us, sometimes. What an encouragement that must have been for you! Glad to visit you from Thankful Thursdays… have a blessed day!
Elizabeth, I just came back to your comment. This is what hit me…yes, it is hard to be content at times where we are. Truly. But perhaps as we remember that we are exactly where He would have us, we will open our eyes to see what He has provided in that very place. I am so glad that you stopped & commented as you made me think this morning:)
Oh Joanne!!! I have chills. Really and truly. And I feel the same way. I was not going to co-lead, I probably wasn’t even going to join a group this time around. But Helen asked me, so sweetly, and in her beautiful, affirming way, she assured me that I hadn’t let her down the way that I had imagined I did… and she offered me grace.
And as I have gotten to know our group more and more, I see His presence and His faithfulness and His LOVE.
Happy, happy dancing indeed!!
You bless, sweet friend… and may YOU be blessed. *hugs*
Oh Meredith, I am so glad that you returned. I would not have wanted to miss out on the blessing of getting to know you!
Oh Joanne–
I left a LONG comment, but it got lost somehow. š
1) Our God is amazing.
2) You are such a blessing.
3) He is always waiting for us to see how much He loves us. š
There was more, but my brain is still too cloudy!
*hugs*
Your comment did not get lost š I think it is all there. May you go through today amazed by Him & His love for us!!
I love stories like this one Joanne! God is so good and I imagine his movement right in the middle of your story, sort of like a kid smiling at a secret!
Lori – You are so right in imagining Him smiling. Exactly the same picture I had when I made all the connections yesterday. We have an amazing God for sure!
Wonderful post. Very inspirational. Thanks for sharing with us at our Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop.
Angel
This is a great story, thank you for sharing. š
Thank you for sharing. His grace, so endless…