Brady Bunch reference. Just pulled into St. Thomas and flipped to Luke. What a perfect reminder to follow Jesus’ instruction before all else. 
Pride
Interesting. I wil have to go through my photos to figure out which day it was in the past ten, but I flipped to the same Jeremiah chapter today on the ship.
Pride is a terrible sin, no doubt. It is also human to navigate life in such a way that at some point we feel “we shouldn’t ask God for help today.” Lord, thank you for reminding me that the need you every single day.
Breathe
This past week was so filled with the Holy Spirit; it still takes my breath. Rachel and Molly echoed so much of what Jesus has kept on my heart. Vicki and the “crying over Hindu” and the girls with the birds. That’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Irritation until Isaiah
Lord, please give me strength to deflect agitation today. I will not complain of the actual situation. You have assigned me the task at hand and I will do my best. Still, Father God, this situation feels as if someone offered to clean my entire home… after denying the simplest of needed tasks. There is simply no basis for trust. Why point a finger at dust on a top shelf if not willing to dust the one at eye level? Let me see what you put in front of me, Lord. Let me really see and really love in action and deed. In Jesus name, I pray.
Promise Experiment
We have been enjoying a series called The Promise Experiment at our church. It’s been interesting and inspiring in many ways; too many to detail today. This morning, I flipped to a new book for me, Hosea.
Praying it encourages our pastor to be reminded he is heard.
Love & Lead Like Jesus
The Holy Spirit got me out of bed at 5:45 this morning to look up 2 Timothy 2:22. I spent about 45 minutes in the Book of Timothy before going downstairs to turn on the coffee. For the third time in three months, I flipped to Amos 1:1. These two things deserve several pages of thought processing, but that is going to have to wait. Amos reminds us God can do extraordinary things through ordinary people. I have never once considered my husband “ordinary” as a human being, but today I want to share the extraordinary work I believe God is doing through him.
The other day, God put a need in front of me that resulted in an inspired action of committing to give a precise amount of money. I didn’t know why that was put on my heart so strongly, but there was no denying that it was to be done, in that exact amount, exactly as it happened. Things are questionable at our business right now, the margins are becoming smaller and for us, it was a substantial action. I would typically never commit to any amount over $100 without first talking with my husband. Still, I was committed. Just now, I am realizing there is a Biblical reference tied to the amount, but, I digress. When my husband came home, we discussed it and his response was excitement. He was so excited that we were called to be used and that we could be used by Him. The look that kids get when they see gifts at their birthday? Yes, that was the look in Mark’s face. We have such joy in the giving. That is just a part of my sweet husband.
Mark has given me a copious amount of time off work to dedicate myself and the gifts He has given me to a God-directed service project. We share Bible flips, Godversations, details and observations, life, business and everything else. On top of all of it, we have had three very emotionally exhausting weeks with my teenagers due to something that had nothing to do with us. Mark needs and deserves a chance to breathe, rest and just sleep in one day.
Bearing that in mind, we have talked and prayed for quite some time about how to best use what God has given us to be of service. Mark was lead to open our home for a Men’s Group at our church. Two nights ago, he had two Godly men in our home for about three hours. This was immediately after the emotionally and spiritually charged conversation with me about the giving. What a Thursday! Last night, a second men’s group started. Being who we are in our marriage, we have been discussing what it means to be a leader and put love into action. My husband has a huge heart; I love watching God at work through him right now. Despite being exhausted beyond measure; my sweet husband went to the other man’s group last night. He went because he felt called to go. He went because the man, Bryan, had told him no one else had committed to attend. He went because that is how you show love to a brother. Despite a woman and her daughter being present, he stayed for two hours.
When he finally made it home, we had another two hours of God-filled conversation. Knowing my husband, I had bought him a very funny card. Something to break any tension for a moment and allow laughter to come to life. The punch line to the joke was “there is no greater love.” My note in the card was that “well, there is ONE,” and went on to tell him just how much I appreciate being married to a man who invites Jesus into our lives on a daily basis. During our Godversation, he shared one of the questions Bryan had asked him was, “who leads you to Jesus.”
In this moment, I am floored, again. Mark told me his response was to share our Bible flips with Bryan. He shared how this service project has impacted us. In short, he shared how God has been moving in our lives and told Bryan, “honestly, God has been using Carol to lead me to Jesus.” My husband has told me many kind words through the years. He has told me I was beautiful when I was surely not feeling it, he has acknowledged my heart when I was hurting and he married me when I was about fifty pounds heavier. Of all the kind, wonderful and amazing things my husband has said to me through the years, this is the compliment which means the most. My husband loves and leads me just like Jesus. He sees Jesus in me.
We digested our Godversation further and watched the last half hour of show we had started the night before. We concluded our evening by watching a video on the Book of Daniel. Another men’s group is having their first meeting this morning. The topic is Daniel. Although my husband really needed to sleep until 9, he was planning to be up at 7 to attend the meeting. Why? Because that is what a true brother in Christ does for another brother. He just called and told me, once again, he was the only one who showed up, aside from our pastor. So, Brothers Kent, Mark and Dustin had a wonderful morning together in the word. Hearing the joy in his voice, I immediately knew the Holy Spirit was with them.
Our hearts are on fire and in sync with the word, the spirit and the way. It’s exhilarating! God is so good! Thank you, Lord, for giving me a husband who chases your heart with me. The only key that matters is the one which opens up your Kingdom to us. We love you.
Yes, Sir!
Father God, I do not know why you put this on my heart to share at such a late hour last night. I do know I woke up with minor discomfort instead of the havoc-wreaking pain for the first time in five days. I know I woke praising you and feeling strong, after praying for strength the past two days. I thank you for Nancy and how what she shared was so meaningful to Deloris. I thank you for using me to convey love and comfort one of your daughters. I thank you for the conversation with Justin yesterday and everything else you are using to bust my heart wide open. I thank you for giving me a husband after your own heart, Lord; only your Son has ever loved me more on this earth. I am humbled greatly by how we are seeing more of you in my children. You are so present in our lives, Father God! I thank you for your word, direction and inspiration. The past three days have been a whirlwind, but what a beautiful one. I will share the half of the letter you want saved for Your Purpose and I pray in Jesus' name, it will glorify you. I love you so much.
It would mean a great deal to me if you would consider praying about being able to help them truly connect. ……. they aren’t connected, truly connected, to any of the younger parents with younger kids.
I know them well and know it is their hearts desire to grow real relationships within the church. They don’t like intruding when others are busy trying to leave, or when others who do know each other are gathered and having such fun. So, it has been nearly impossible for them to find one “open” young couple for introducing themselves.
(Paragraph of details about the families deleted)
These two families are two of several heavy on my heart. I know one church can’t be all things to everyone. I am also sensitive to the fact that (identifying details edited) So, I am sensitive to your busy-ness and obligations but it’s being pressed HARD that you may be the person God wants to use to help nurture the (Name) and (Name) families.
I do understand if the answer must be “no”. But please know that I’ve been in the most awkward and amazing state of obedience for close to three months. I no longer ask if anything makes sense on paper. I pray about everything and the Holy Spirit has been planting intense compulsions on my heart and ideas in my head that I know are not from my analytical brain. Every single one that didn’t make sense to me at first, made perfect sense within two weeks. Most within a week, some the next day. So, I don’t question His process with me anymore. I just say, “yes, sir” and do what He leads me to do. Only Jesus could make me write this mini novella to a virtual stranger.
Here is the latest, because it made me giggle. A few days ago, I was praying about how my heart was hurting for people feeling unloved (not the *redacted* or *redacted* families) and asking for guidance on how to love them in a way good for them and Him. Then, I was asking Him for strength (Nehemiah <3) because I am human and I was a wee bit frustrated with sending repetitive emails. The gist of what was revealed is that, yes, love is a repetitive action and it is very annoying to keep asking people do anything. Then He imparts to me that is exactly why the greatest COMMANDMENT is to love. We are called to love in action and deed. And He isn’t “asking.” Hence, the “yes, sir”.
Please forgive me if this seems “too much” on the surface. If it were me, I would say “hey, can you make it a point to meet these two families and pray about how to help nurture them in our church and in their lives? That just isn’t what He wanted. So, out on another limb, I trust Him. I pray it serves His purpose. I believe it does because my heart is now joyful in obedience at a ridiculous hour. With that, I bid you good night!
Prayer & Dedication
Although I have been quiet here, it hasn’t been for distance in my relationship with Jesus. If anything, my willingness to be obedient in whatever God calls me to do is in full force. I am hearing His voice and listening to every word. Because it is entirely too long and not meant to be included in full form in the Family Scrapbook, I am going to do as I am told and share every last word here. I trust He wants me to have this “on record with him” for His purposes, though I am struggling to understand. This is the complete prayer and dedication as He put it across my keyboard last night:
Father God, we thank you for Hope Fellowship Church, The Shingleton families and our entire ministry team. We love our church and our church family. What a blessing to worship you in Shingletown, in a school, with your blessing of such a phenomenal ministry team. Truly, you are a Good, Good Father and we love you. We are thankful for your leadership, Lord, as you directed us to create this Family Scrapbook as a gift for our church leadership. We could not have completed this project without your Holy Spirit on our team! We are beyond grateful you were with us each step of the way. Only you, Lord, could plant one seed and ensure it grows to yield so many different fruits! Thank you for helping us create this gift for our Ministry Team. We are overwhelmed by the veritable cornucopia of gifts you have given us throughout the process.
As Master Gardener, you tilled our hearts and prepared us to be obedient with Hebrews 10:24-25, ““Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another.” Fertile ground, indeed, for you to plant John 3:18 ,at the perfect depth. Thank you, Lord, for speaking slowly and clearly to your children! Father God, we so appreciate hearing your voice and being given the opportunity to be obedient! How wonderful you are, Heavenly Father, to show us your Almighty Grace in seeking to express our love for our ministry team. Thank you for using our truth, actions and deeds in such a way to reflect a Kingdom-focused purpose to honor You. Just as you showed us in Acts 2:42-47 , we have embraced fellowship, community and a true spirit of sharing in the body of Christ. We are eternally grateful for the joy you gave us in learning to love each other better and live out each of the Core Values of our church with greater conviction.
We pray for our Ministry Team, Father God, for their leadership, passion, purpose and spirits. We pray, too, they feel our love for them in this Family Scrapbook and feel your Holy Spirit on every page. We further pray each page bears witness to your Almighty Grace at work in the lives of our congregation. We know from 1Corinthians 3:7, it does not matter who is used to plant a seed or water it,. Only you, Lord God, can make it grow. Thank you for growing us and we pray this humble offering will be used for your glory and to further your kingdom. We are beyond grateful for how you have used The Shingleton’s and each of the ministry leaders to impact, bless and forever change our lives. Lord, we love you so very much. We could never thank you enough for your son, Jesus, and the price he paid on the cross for each of us. We pray to love you and each other better with each day you give us on this earth.
Flipped out
My kids were shaken by some realities over the past week. Twice now, I have shared the “flip of the day” with my son. Both times, they were exactly what he needed.
While my heart has hurt for them, it has also been an opportunity to bear witness to them and pray with them differently. If nothing else good comes from this situation, I believe these moments have been moments of pure Grace.
My God Room 