I have been blessed over the past little while to have followed through with something that is waay out of my comfort zone. You see i am a very shy, quiet and introverted type personality. I like to stay in the background and help out in many ways that nobody would even notice. Recently I have been prompted by many different events to do something I normally wouldnt do. I kept getting little hints and "confirmations" here and there and finally decided to just jump in and do what i felt prompted to do.
Over and over upon many conversations with women of different ages, lifestyles and even religious convictions I kept seeing this "need for supportive community and friendship" everywhere I turned even if in a grocery store, women kept telling me their stories and how they felt ALONE, and DISCONNECTED in their lives. I agreed. In my season of life, it can be so hard to even find time to meet with a friend for coffee (in my case Tea!) due to a very busy household and just keeping up with being a wife, mother and homemaker. Sometimes days can go by without much adult conversation. Sometimes you just want to have someone to share your struggles with and have someone pray for you!
anyhow..back to the need for community part...I ended up having a few women's events in my home that I hosted and it was then that I realized that this was something even I craved. I so enjoyed my time with these ladies just connecting, getting real and sharing scriptures and prayers with!
That was like the first seed in this journey that has recently come to fruition.
One night I finally just surrendered and decided to "Try" what i felt the Lord prompting me to do, and i did it hesitantly. So many questions came...what if this is dumb? what if im the only one participating?! I pushed those selfish thoughts aside, breathed a quick prayer and said "ok, here goes" and I did it. I formed a Group on Facebook for Christian women. I felt more peace about it in that at least I did it at a good time- it just so happends that a blog i was following mentioned that there was a Ladies Bible study about to happen and it was an ONLINE one! Great. thats Perfect! So I then formed it to coincide with that module in mind.
So now I have this "Good Morning Girls-Moments for the Soul" Facebook group and sure enough people start joining and the word spreads. sounds simple enough right? so what its a facebook group, but for me this was HUGE. It doesnt stop there.
Just so happens I have this amazing friend that i really feel complements me in that when we are together she is so organized and is so has a heart to serve the Lord and her enthusiasm for the things of God inspires and encourages me whenever we hang out. See I am opposite in that I am not very organized, am scatterbrained (its true) and she has helped me tons, even coming over to help me clean and organize a playroom...and giving me tons of tips. I felt a prompting again for a few days to ask her to help me lead this group ..(at this point i kept getting notifications for women wanting to Join!) and after taking another deep breath I asked her. She actually said Yes!
That alone made me weep! I was so excited that I shared with my husband and he thought it was pretty cool that we would be working together. I was simply so happy that she was willing to do this. I breathed a sigh of relief in that I wouldnt be alone in this. She is someone I respect and her life is a testimony to the goodness of the Lord and the sacrifices she makes to serve her family and I adore her family!
Fast forward a few days and here I am feeling another prompting about another friend of mine. She is a lovely lady who was actually one of my church boys and girls club (like AWANA) Teachers when i was a younger girl and tween. She and I have reconnected and she has been an example to me and is very sweet , genuine, and "real" and has inspired me with her amazing sewing, quilting and crafting abilities. She has a way of leading her life that she shines inner beauty and a zeal for things of the Lord and that to me is worth striving for. I try ignoring this prompting and i cant shake it...so here I am asking her if she would help mentor me in this role of leading ladies through a study in the facebook group. She is happy and honoured that i have asked and right away was so organized and even planned a "conference call". That first meeting with her via telephone call was amazing as we shared our hearts, prayed together and even decided on how we would organize our roles and details about the study.
So here we are 4 days into the study and I am in awe of how the Lord works and moves. His timing is perfect and the way He brought the three of us ladies together in unity is amazing. We are having such sweet fellowship together and God is using them both to challenge me in my walk with Him and in practical ways too. Leading a Group that I started with these 2 amazing Ladies alongside me is such an honour and I am so thankful I listened to the promptings to follow through. Our Good Morning Girls group has 107 women in it and even that is so cool. "7" is my favorite number, always has been. Also we have been able to divide all the ladies up as co-leaders and make sure they are all prayed for on a daily basis, and not just the ladies in our group but the household they represent. Its been amazing to study our verses and glean so much from them and sharing them online has been such a motivator and encouragment to me. I just think its so amazing how clearly the Lord orchestrated this and how much of a blessing it has been to lead these Ladies through God's Word and share prayer requests, discussions, testimonies, Worship links and even Family Photos. I am still somewhat unsure how to lead and how to be more vulnerable in sharing whats on my heart but it has been getting easier! I have such amazing Ladies to co-lead with who are so inspiring and encouraging.
It may be out of my comfort zone but I am growing and being soo Blessed by all the Ladies I have met and been able to interact with who all have a heart to serve the Lord!
I have enjoyed reading Angie Smith's blog ever since I accidentally came across her story of baby Audrey Caroline. I weeped as I read their blog and even though I dont know this beautiful couple in real life felt so much sorrow for them.
Their story has ministered to so many people , including me and watching their song "I will carry you" on Youtube is so touching.
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