Just Getting Started - But Not Really

I tried to start a Blog several, which in my world is like 5, years ago.  That was about the time that OUR little small-town world started shaking and was reduced to dust.  Hopefully, starting this Blog, does not produce the same affect on our little lives! 

I feel called to share my Faith in a BIG way, but am becoming more aware each day that the SMALL ways are when He works most effectively.  If I can give one half of one ounce of HOPE to one person, then my day can be check-marked a success, and if not, I will mark the box that says "try again tomorrow".  I feel called to be completely ordinary, completely broken, and completely available to share how perfectly imperfect our brief lives are. 

I have been on this journey for a little over three years now and everything that I have been studying, learning, and praying for is starting to reveal itself in many awesome ways.  A little over two years ago, I went to listen to a Missionary from Romania, Ronald Wolthius, and he prayed over me and asked "what are you going to do with it?" and said "give it time".  As someone who's Patience is the most over-ripe of the "Fruits-of-the Spirit", this was SOOOOO hard for me.  But when you find your life in God, waiting is an action verb! 

So this past couple of weeks, I have been reading, which probably scares my husband more than anything else I do.  I had been trying to simplify and down-size our belongings that where just renting space in our lives, closets, and garage - church thrift-sale (Score!).  I had saved Jen Hatmaker's book, 7, in my Kindle wish list about a year ago and it seemed appropriate to the current project that I was carrying out.  My awesome (just so you know, this is my word and you will see it ALOT), supportive, and loyal husband is shaking his head about now...because I have finished that book and gone on to start a prior book of hers, Interrupted.  And I may have introduced a new project at church because of these life-changing reads. 

Oh, and another minor detail - there was also a small read by Max Lucado, Live to Make A Difference, that got me to thinking and praying, even before my emersion into Jen.  I have been a devout reader of devotionals since "The Incident" - I will explain this in the future, but for now, know that it was the most mortifying, painful, and humbling experience of my LIFE.  Any-who...devout reader of devotionals.  I have been the liturgist at church, served on church committees, even filled in for 'sermons' (I prefer messages or inspirations - sermon is a TALL order), lead bible study, attended bible study and yet "Here I Am".  Here. I. Am. I can read all day long, be inspired all day long, be moved to tears at the thought of singing my favorite hymn "Here I Am" all day long, but how are those things advancing His kingdom?

So this is where I find myself today:  Why am I waiting for something to come to me?  What can I do to take God's word and go to them?  What does this look like?  How can I share it on a bigger platform than my small town, Population 3500 when school is in session?

Maybe this blog will help me sort it all out, at least be able to write my thoughts a little more publicly than the Word Documents I house on my flash-drive waiting to be turned into an "inspiration".  So even though I am simply getting started with this new avenue, I am really so far behind with all the scripture, witnessing, and exclamation points that have taken up residence in my brain. 

I may not be moved to write everyday.  I have learned that I do not want the pressure of that to guide what the Lord places on my heart.  But I do hope you will stick around and see what happens with me...

Psalm 139:2 "I know when you sit down and when you rise up".  Funny that this verse inspired me yesterday to have courage to rise up and get going on a blog and I am sitting down to do it!  The Lord knows when we are weary and when we are ready - His timing not mine, another over-ripe lesson that I have learned.

http://smile.amazon.com/7-Experimental-Mutiny-Against-Excess/dp/1433672960/ref=sr_1_1_twi_1_pap?ie=UTF8&qid=1429289086&sr=8-1&keywords=jen+hatmaker+7

http://smile.amazon.com/Interrupted-Jesus-Wrecks-Comfortable-Christianity/dp/1631463535/ref=sr_1_1_twi_1_pap?ie=UTF8&qid=1429289112&sr=8-1&keywords=jen+hatmaker+interrupted

http://smile.amazon.com/Live-Make-Difference-Max-Lucado/dp/0849946123/ref=sr_1_1_twi_1_pap?ie=UTF8&qid=1429289144&sr=8-1&keywords=max+lucado+live+to+make+a+difference