I have a lot to praise God for and just want to take a
second to recognize all He is doing in my life right now.
·
Work
is still as amazing as the first day I stepped foot into my building. Every day I wake up and have to realize, Yes, I really work here. I have amazing coworkers whom I already love
and adore—I feel like I’ve been there for years the relationships are so
synced. Today I spoke to a donor and she
let me into her life and I was able to hear her prayers and petitions, and she
reminded me that “we’re not only survivors, but God made us overcomers.” I am blown away by the people, by the
purpose, by the dream of Danny Thomas and its realization. I thank God every day for where He has me and
for the first time in my whole life I feel as if I’m not wondering where I’m
supposed to be.
·
Friendships
It was maybe last week that I prayed for sacrificial friendships. I love my friends and normally end up doing
what they want to do just to hang out, but have found very few people have time
to do Jamie stuff, and so I haven’t really felt loved in a long time. I promise you just this last week I had a
friend go with me to see Fast and the Furious 6, a friend accompany me to a
worship service, a friend eat Vietnamese with me—and people pouring into me has
recharged me almost and this has lightened my heart. They have been an answer to a prayer I never
thought would be answered. I know it may
not always be like this, but this last week has meant so much to me.
·
Discipleship
Slowly God is placing women into my life that I feel that nudge to pour into—almost
the same way my mentor felt the nudge to pour into me. I think back on that and wonder where I would
be right now if she hadn’t. If she hadn’t,
nobody would’ve. She sacrificed time,
energy—she really invested in me. She took a new believer and walked alongside
me—never judging, always answering my questions honestly, loving me so fully
and completely. If she hadn’t loved me,
I can’t say I’d be the same Christian I am today, because she helped build my
foundation. Where God is the architect,
mapping out the completed plans, He uses His children to do His work—and He
definitely used her to build in me a heart for Him. I’m excited to listen about these women’s
paths. I’m excited by their curiosity,
and I’m reminded of myself two years ago and smile. It is exciting to be a new believer, and it’s
crazy to be watching it now, on the other side.
·
Music I
absolutely love music. You can tell that
just by looking at my Twitter. Shazaam’s
errywhere. This morning I heard for the
first time Angie Miller’s You Set MeFree, and was blown away. I
absolutely love this song: When I was
haunted and alone / With this baggage on my back, dragging me down / You set me
free. It just hit home. God rescued me. Praise Him!
·
Leadership
Ever since I began going to church, somehow I’ve always ended up in some
kind of leadership position. Whether it
was by my own hand, a friend’s prompting, there I was. And here I am again. Leadership positions are always scary,
because it means, one, I’m responsible, and, two, I have to pull the extrovert
out of me to connect with people in order for our mission to succeed. For someone who was born an introvert, this
is a very weird role switch. It’s
comfortable now, and I think that’s the crazy part. It feels natural to reaching out to people,
talking, building a team. That’s one of
the ways I know God is real is that I look back at my life and see a totally
different Jamie. I loved that Jamie and
will always love her, but recognize the change that took place when I accepted
Christ. Something really changed in
me. Everything changed in me, by the power
of Christ! Amen.
·
Dating
Single women often face the dreaded, “So why aren’t you married?”
question. Believe us, if we knew, we’d
tell you. I’ve been reading this book
and have found comfort in Connally’s words.
To this question, her suggested answer is, “The reason I’m not dating
anyone is so that today the work of God might be displayed in my life,” AKA God
knows why I’m single and that’s all that matters. I have this feeling that one day my husband
will ask, “So you really didn’t date anyone for two—or three, or twenty—years?” And I’ll say, “Nope, I didn’t.” And instead of asking me why not, he’ll
simply nod, taking solace in that we both know God had our cards in His
hands. Who knows, my husband might be
out there praying protection over me and that could be the very reason I haven’t
been asked out. In that case, God, carry
on. It’ll come when it comes, and if it
doesn’t, it won’t. Either way, after
this week God has shown me that life can be very full, very satisfying, and
very sweet.
Thank You, God, for all Your many blessings. May I always appreciate them as I do in this
moment, returning to You to offer gratitude and all my love and adoration.
