Thursday, March 19, 2015

How God Brought Ladies to My Living Room....6 Months in Charleston

This week saw the completion of something I didn't think possible only a few months ago. To be honest, something I didn't want to be possible at times.  But praise God that He works through our stubbornness and weak faith, and takes us to new heights  in ways that only He can.

If you read my previous post about the book "Interrupted", then you know how God was using it in my life. If you didn't read that post, just know that God was using this book to literally blow my mind. In a good way.  When I finished the book, I literally sat in the floor of our guest room and wept. God has used His Word and this book to literally break me in ways I didn't know existed. This was, and continues to be, a good thing. A good, and very hard thing.

When I finished the book back in January, I felt God asking me to share this book. Not just on my blog or calling my mom and telling her about it, but like share it with the current group of people I knew, in a way that would allow the scriptures and ideas presented to be studied, discussed. Basically like a Bible study (of course the first thing I did was check to see if there even was a Bible study to go along with the book....there was. Dang it. Couldn't get out of it that way :)  So the question in my mind was...how God? How do you share something like this with people you really don't know too well....honestly really don't know at all? This book was not a shallow, happy go lucky type of read that makes you just feel warm and fuzzy and all over.  So, I did all I knew to do and basically told God this: Lord, if you want me to share this book in the way that I think you want me to, you are going to have to make the way, because I just don't know how.

Well, cut to a few days later, when I got a Facebook message from one of the first ladies I met at Summerville Baptist. Her name is Nancy, and she was one of Emmie's mission friends teachers, among other things. She wanted to know if I wanted to come over to her home with some other ladies from church (a couple of them were newbies too :) and make a Valentine craft and chat and have some snacks. My first reaction was to say "No," because anyone who knows me knows I am not crafty. At all. I can visualize how I want things to look , but beyond that, I am at the mercy of someone else to bring my "vision" into fruition. And that someone else has always been my mom :) Sorry mom, big letdown in that area.  So, to me, this evening sounded like a chance to show some sweet ladies at SBC just how terrible I was when it comes to crafting and Pinterest activities. Oh, and UK was playing that night. Let's just say the odds were stacked against me going.

 At the same time, intellectually I knew that if I was ever going to make friends here in Charleston, I was going to have to make some kind of an effort. Sigh. So, against all odds (I am being dramatic here, I know) I decided to go. And boy am I glad I did. First off, Nancy is someone who can make anyone feel comfortable with her easy going and caring personality. And she is a great conversationalist, so I almost instantly felt pretty comfortable. Plus, she has a very warm and inviting home, and two other new ladies I had met from church were there as well. So, it wasn't as bad as I had made it out to be. Also, no one else brought their craft supplies, so I was off the hook on that one too....God was definitely in my corner that night (joking, joking). We chatted about a myriad of different things.....kids, adoption, our hometowns, etc. We went into the living room and got comfy on the couch. I honestly have no idea what the conversation was like that led up to this next point, but all I remember is Nancy asking me and another lady if we had ever heard of Jenn Hatmaker. I remember literally sitting up straight on her comfy couch and enthusiastically saying "Yes! I have! I just finished her book 'Interrupted' and it is soooo good". Then I immediately wondered if I had come off "too strong" with my enthusiasm. You won't believe what came out of Nancy's mouth next. She looked at me and said, "Wow, I just downloaded that book today".

What??!!! You mean the very book that God had just told me to share with others was just downloaded by the lady who invited me to her house to make Valentine's Day crafts the same night that the undefeated Kentucky Wildcats were playing??? Coincidence.....I THINK NOT. Well, I was at least able to not completely go crazy and freak everyone out by telling them how God had totally wrecked my life with this book and how He had asked me to share it with a group of ladies. I just remember saying over and over how good it was. (FYI: Nancy later told me that she did notice my jumping off of the couch when she mentioned that she had downloaded the book...guess I didn't curb my enthusiasm as well as I thought :)

I stayed for a few minutes longer because Zack was giving me text updates of the game and we were way ahead....so no hurry. Hehe. When I got home, I told Zack what had happened. I was kind of still in awe. He asked me what I was going to do about it. I told him I thought I would email Nancy in the morning and explain to her what God had revealed to me. So that is what I did. And to my delight and joy, she responded and said she would definitely pray about co-leading a study of the book with me. I was thrilled. And very nervous and scared.

 Later that afternoon, I received another message from Nancy. She was getting her hair done and brought her tablet along. She had only read the first few chapters, but that's all it took for her. She was in. Wow. From that point, everything moved very quickly. Nancy had led studies in the past, so again, God was already at work, as she knew who to contact at the church to get the materials ordered and get the study promoted And, the other ladies were comfortable with her and coming to her home. What we didn't know was what an overwhelming response we would have to the study. Over 20 women had signed up to participate. Wow God! Great to have so many ladies, but too many for one group. So Nancy and I met again to plan and discuss. We decided the best solution was to offer the study on two separate nights. That way the group wouldn't be too large and it would give more flexibility- If you couldn't make it on Monday night, you could come on Tuesday. She would facilitate one night at her house, I would facilitate the other night at mine.

I was truly in awe of God's provision. But I shouldn't have been. After all, He has all authority on heaven and earth (Matthew 28). He can move in hearts in ways that only He can. Nothing is impossible for Him (Genesis 18:14). Why did I ever doubt that He wouldn't provide a way for something that He had called me to do? Learned that lesson for like the billionth time. Sorry God.

So, we started the study mid-February. I was nervous, I admit.  I wondered if anyone would come to my home. Even though we offered the study on two nights, we didn't do any type of official sign up, so for all I knew only a couple people might have show up. Thankfully my mom just happened to be in town, and I was glad to have the extra moral support. My mom rocks, by the way.

I hadn't had anyone into my home in a group type setting except for the kids bday party, so I wanted everything to be just perfect (glad I have my priorities straight, aren't you?).  That first night we had 6 ladies, counting me. It was a small, but sweet and authentic group. We had great conversations and discussion. All I could think was "Thank you Lord for this opportunity. You are truly awesome and do awesome things".  During the next few weeks sometimes ten ladies came, sometimes just 5 or 6. But it didn't matter. We were talking, reading, discussing, and listening to things that were truly God's heart. Thing like  how He desires His followers to love, serve, and reach the world. How to go to the "bottom" (not the top where the world says we should be) where God is (Matthew 25) and where He resides with the least. That nothing else matters but faith in action (James 2) and the newness that Christ brings (Galatians 6).  It was awesome. And, I got to know some really great ladies in a way that I probably wouldn't have otherwise. God really is too good to me.

I still have so much to process, to learn, and God still has MUCH, MUCH work to do in my heart. For me, this study has opened my eyes to a way of life that is so freeing, but it will take much work in my heart to let go of all that I have allowed to bind me to this world-  caring so much about status, possessions, the pride that comes with these things, comfort, security. Basically everything we as Americans strive to have as a part of the "American Dream".  At the same time, I hear Jesus asking me, "Rebecca, are you willing to lose your life to find out and know what it truly means to live?" (Matthew 16: 24-26).  It all comes down to this question: Will I give my life to Him? Not just a day or two here or there, for an event every now and then, but the very essence of who I am, all of me. Will I value and love the things that He did? The hurting, broken, poor and weary people of this world. Will I go to the places these people are? Whether it be in my own subdivision, the "poor" part of town, or across the ocean?


A quick update on the family.....Everyone is doing great! We were a little bitter that the one winter we don't live in Kentucky we got some awesome snow! We all wanted to be in that mess so badly, sleigh riding and building snowmen, and being frozen from the waist up :) But, the nice weather here is making up for it. The kids continue to love their schools and are learning so much and doing very well. The boys both recently had some pretty cool field trips that I was able to be a part of.


Aquarium with Caleb's class (Emmie got to come too :) 




Uh oh Noah! At Charlestowne Landing....



The boys are beginning baseball season and Emmie is continuing in gymnastics. Emmie also tried to show her hair cutting ability....again.....but short hair in the hot weather is actually a pretty good idea...




 Zack's work is keeping him busy, and he really enjoys it. I recently applied for and received my guidance counseling certification in South Carolina, just in case the opportunity arises for me to use it this fall (when all the kiddos will be in school full time). I attended a county wide education recruitment day this past weekend. It was a little overwhelming, but I feel like it went well and that good contacts were made (this school district serves about 25,000 students!). We are getting more plugged into church, and getting to know more people as well, which is a very good thing for us. Another good, but hard thing.





Spring Break is coming up in a week and a half, and guess where we are going... Kentucky! Can't wait to see home, sweet home. Unfortunately Zack can't come with us, as he is saving up vacation for the summer.  I should also add that it is also very fun and cool to represent Kentucky Basketball here....especially right now....we wear our UK gear loud and proud :) GO CATS!

We have now been in Charleston for over six months. After being here for over 6 months, it doesn't feel like at all like home yet, but it is becoming more normal, if that makes sense at all. Some days I still can't believe we live here.  Other days it feels like a very long extended trip. It's a different feeling.  That's the best way I can describe it. Some days my heart aches for home, for the familiarity of home, for my friends, and for my family. For the little things I took for granted that comes with living in a small town. But I believe now, more than I ever have, that Charleston is where God wants us. Will that be the case a year or two from now? Maybe. I don't know.

But what I do know (and this is still very raw for me) is that life is more than the things I love (and I do mean love) about my small hometown and the great state of Kentucky (I love you KY Wildcats and the wonderful four seasons of Kentucky). Life is more than my precious, precious friends back home and my family that I love more than life itself. That is so hard to type. And don't think for one second that the previous mentioned things aren't wonderful, beautiful, and good gifts from the Father, who gives us good, good gifts (James 1:17).

 But this is life: Life is about Jesus, and bringing Him glory and honor. Life is about serving others, loving  others, and giving of ourselves for the Kingdom. Great joy and contentment await this type of life. But also great sacrifice and pain, at times. Through it all, He promises to be there, even to the end of the age. Praise Him for that.

I have always been a HUGE Toby Mac fan...even all the way back when they were still DC Talk. His newest single kind of sums up where I want to be living my life- beyond myself, with God sized dreams. In a place where He has to show up. Living by faith. Let's live that way. Can't you just imagine how a broken and hurting world could be transformed if believers began to live like this? Relying on Him to do amazing things. For His Kingdom. Let's do it!!


Call it a reason to retreat
I got some dreams that are bigger than me
I might be outmatched, outsized, the underdog in the fight of my life
Is it so crazy to believe

That You gave me the stars, put them out of my reach
Called me to waters a little too deep
Oh, I've never been so aware of my need
You keep on making me see
It's way beyond me
It's way beyond me
Yeah, it's out of my league
It's way beyond me
It's way beyond me
It's way beyond

Anything that I got the strength to do
In over my head keeps me countin' on You
I'm leaving the sweet spot, sure shot
Tradin' it all for the plans You got
Is it so crazy to believe

That You gave me the stars, put them out of my reach
Called me to waters a little too deep
Oh, I've never been so aware of my need
Yeah, you keep on making me see
It's way beyond me
It's way beyond me
Yeah, it's out of my league
It's way beyond me
It's way beyond me

You take me to the place where I know I need You
Straight to the depths that I can't handle on my own
And Lord I know, I know I need You
So take me to Your great
Take me to Your great unknown

It's way beyond me, w-way beyond me
It-it's way beyond me, w-w-way beyond me

Yeah, You gave me the stars, put them out of my reach
Called me to waters a little too deep
Oh, I've never been so aware of my need
Yeah, you keep on making me see
It's way beyond me (it's way beyond me)
It's way beyond me (it's way beyond me)
Yeah, it's out of my league (it's way beyond me)
It's way beyond me (it's way beyond me)
It's way beyond me (it's way beyond me)
It's way beyond me

You take me to the place where I know I need You
Straight to the depths that I can't handle on my own (it's way beyond me)
You take me to the place where I know I need You
Oh take me to Your place
Take me to Your great unknown







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