"I was so Blessed..."

Since following God into this world of "speaking", I've come to learn a thrilling aspect of the Christian Life that had eluded me before. Of course I didn't know that it had eluded me. For I had heard people say "it's such a blessing..." or "I was so blessed by..." and I assumed that I knew what their Christian-ese meant.

But I had no idea the depth of it's meaning until I partnered with the Women's Ministry Team at Horizon Christian Fellowship in Rancho Santa Fe, CA. At every turn during their Christmas Tea last month, as well as the young mom's ministry I spoke at last week, I received blessing after blessing in their midst. Their collective joy in the Lord is contagious; and the transparency among them reveals that that joy has been hard won through testimonies of perseverance, prayer, and God's faithfulness. I left their midst Spiritually dripping with oil. I had come to serve, but I left having grown in turn. Their care for my own personal growth, as I follow God's call on my life, feels like a Mission of Mothers, cheering on a Daughter. The only way to explain it: "It has been such a Blessing!"

Memories of high school mission trips to Mexico, building churches and homes for Pastors, leading VBS camps, and simply worshipping with Christ's body across the Border, now flood back to me. How could I have forgotten the love and the joy, the absolute out-pouring of gratitude that shone from their faces, the humility that melted our pride... how could I have forgotten the Blessing we teenagers received in turn?

I pray I don't forget again. I want to live life serving God, not for the gift of the Blessing, but for the confirmation it brings. We were made for this. Serving. Doing our part in God's Great Plan. Doing the Work He prepared for each one of us to do, from the beginning of time. We are, after all, His Poema... created in Christ Jesus for good works.

Living in step with His Spirit, leads us from one such good work, and one such Blessing to the next. That is what I'm learning most as I ponder these recent "Blessings."

Praying for the soil

I hope you don't grow weary of praying for me, "for (I have no doubt that) in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."

This Friday I have another opportunity to share encouragement as well as the Gospel with another group of women. This time they are moms of young children. "Becoming Supermom" is a talk I have given before, but this time I sensed that revisions were coming. After all, God never stops refining and teaching us new "Super-Powers" as we seek Him. At last tonight, less than two days before the talk, I finally felt clarity on what additions needed to be made.

I've just printed it up and am sitting here joyfully realizing once again, that He is the One who brings the goods. All He asks of me is that I am a willing vessel.

Please pray with me that hearts are soft and needs are high - the perfect soil for seeds.

Please also pray for my children's health, both physical and mental. Asher and Caleb are both fighting colds and Brody is struggling with deep heart issues and insecurities. I'm always taken off-guard when opposition comes against my family. Please do partner with me, and hedge us in with your prayers.

Serving the King of the Harvest with you,

Wen

Discernment has been the word of the New Year. Over and over again I feel led to be discerning in what to study and write, in which talks to give and how many each year, in which school to send our children to and where to live and, and, and... Yes, the call to be discerning has been like an anthem in my thought life. And yet, I confess, I haven't felt quite up to the challenge.

And so I found myself praying, simply this: "Dear God, I know that you want me to be wise and discerning, to know your will and to make the right choices, but I don't think I'm able to yet. I really do want what you would have for us and not what I want, so I was hoping, Lord, that you might make it all abundantly clear for us. Shut doors, open doors and make it real easy to know what to do and where to go, if you would."

Within 24 hours two speaking engagements I'd committed to let me know they suddenly felt God leading them in another direction, Matt's job description suddenly changed into something very exciting, and many other questions miraculously seemed quite clear.

So today I boast that God doesn't mind speaking clearly and plainly to this handmaid. He's not a sneaky or elusive God for the sake of being so. He desires to grow our faith as we often are called to follow Him blindly. But above all He desires a heart that longs for His way and His will. Maybe one day I'll have Spiritual eyes to see and discern in more esoteric ways, but for now I'll simply call out with the faith of a child. And joyfully celebrate the answers He gives.

Another way He's been guiding me in this first month of 2011, has been with inspiration. Instead of taking on lots of speaking engagements, I just want to write, write, write! It's thrilling to be learning as I pen each page. I've loved the time I've spent in the Scriptures and in prayer, as well as the jaunts from my bed to the computer when inspiration comes upon me at night. It's been a lot of fun to say the least.

I imagine there is always a deep sense of joy when we are doing the work God laid out for us to do. Now the work may not always been fun, and there will likely be opposition along the road, but the deep sense of joy that comes from being in His will and doing what we were created for... this I pray remains.