November 11-15

My CIC dinner was a fairly typical hotel banquet. I got complimented on my outfit in the ladies room by 3 women who were attending another event, always a nice little boost for my ego! I sat at a table with 2 ladies who were super nice and easy to talk to. It was overall enjoyable and the best part is I got my CIC pin.

Thursday night I met my friend for dinner before the Awakened (women's event) night at church. It was so good to catch up with her and hear what God is doing! Then the Awakened event itself, totally blown away!

This past year the Awakened events have been special but a lot of times I haven't felt super "connected" to what the message was. I appreciated it, knew that God was moving but it wasn't like in the 2011-2013 years when every time I went I was so touched by how God was right there. I survived my marriage because of church and Al-Anon. Thursday night's message was good but it was what happened as it was wrapping up that I wasn't prepared for. Pastor T said that God was calling people into full time ministry. She said and right now your heart has started beating really hard in your chest, and I thought I was having a heart attack. My heart was beating so hard it literally hurt. She went through and was praying with those who weren't right with God, then there were a list of areas that they prayed through and then she called those of us called into full time ministry to the front.

Now here's the truth, I have been in church my entire life and for most of my life I have absolutely refused to go front. Call it pride, rebellion, and fear but I wouldn't. It's only been in the past few years that I have willingly gone forward. Thursday night even if I had wanted to stay in my seat I don't think it would have been an option. I was prayed over and I'm surprised I was able to stand up because I've never felt the presence of the Spirit like that before.

This doesn't really fit with any of my plans, which is totally not a shocker since God's ways and my ways have never been similar. His timing has never been my timing. His ways are ALWAYS better than mine. It's taken me a long time to reach this place of being able to surrender but even from this place of surrender it's still overwhelming to think of accepting the call, although it's been accepted and there's no going back for me now.

The truth is I don't have to figure it out. In the same way that He has been leading all along I know that he has the details worked out for this part of my story as well. I don't know what it's going to look like or how He's going to open doors but I trust Him and I know that He is good, He is faithful and His word is truth and life.

Friday I left work at 12 and I was able to get a run in and my friend Margs came up and we went to dinner with my parents and it was awesome!

Saturday my friend Margs went with my Mom and our friend Carolyn to the school house Christmas craft fair. We had such a good time!

Saturday afternoon I took Jack for a walk and I was praying about the volunteer coordinator position that I'm in for the organization that I work with. We're in a growth season and I was praying about the best way to move forward. It came to me that we need to build a community so that's what I will be focusing on come January.

Sunday I had church and a baby shower and then my friend Chelsea came over to the house to hang out for a bit.

I originally started this post last week but life is so crazy busy at work that I'm going to have to write a different post for what's happened since I wrote this one.