Oh my goodness you are busy! I am so excited at all the opportunities and open doors God is giving you, friend. I am confident that He'll supply all that you need to minister super well.
And thank you for this whole concept of wonder. Yes, yes, let's take gratitude to the next level where it belongs. He is worthy of all our praise.
Happiest Thanksgiving to you and your beautiful tribe, friend. I am deeply grateful you are in my life.
Now, I'm off to catch your conversation with Sue. I know it's going to be a rich feast.
I’m always grateful for every opportunity to open my Bible in a room full of women! Now if we can avoid having snowstorms wipe out the first week of December…😬😆
I think mission trips help us wonder down. “Why do I get to have hot water with the turn of a faucet when so many do not?—or stocked grocery stores etc.” Happy Thanksgiving, Michele! I appreciate you.
I am apparently still being challenged by Substack to know when the "Also share to Notes" shows up, when it needs to be marked, and otherwise challenged!
Take two...Loved this post and idea of "wondering down to gratitude". What a great Thanksgiving post! ~ Rosie
Thank you so much! I was doing that some and then commenting some, sounds like your way is the best so I don’t get confused on where I’m at! Thank you for responding!
Here's just my opinion - you chose to live your life in stewardship. Regardless the stages, raising kids, helping with grands, speaking God's word into others. Stewardship is a concept that has been whispering in my ear of late. What is true stewardship? I conclude it's not something that can be efficiently categorized. Maybe it's just listening, obeying and trusting. You have done that well, good and faithful servant. :-)
I’m glad to hear your opinion. I’ve been thinking about stewardship too because often the things we were asked to steward are not things we would’ve chosen. Nobody minds stewarding assets, but being asked to steward our suffering is another thing altogether.
You know how God speaks to us in the way we can hear - so, just as I was pondering the concept of stewardship this popped up in a T. Austin-Sparks devotional.
How much have you to dispense? Are you sure that you are dispensing what you have? The Lord did not lead you through that trial, through that darkness, through that strange experience, just for your own sake. The Lord has not dealt with you as He has, in order that you should be shut up to yourself, to enjoy the result alone. He has done that to constitute you a steward. If you and I will only allow that fact to govern us in the days of difficulty and trial, it will help us through. We should hold fast to the fact that the trial is to mean enrichment for the Lord's people, and an increase of equipment and qualification for stewardship.... Ask the Lord to release you into your stewardship within your measure.
The words that pieced me - within your measure. Humans think in terms of volume, height, width. We forget that God does not use our system of measuring. it's not about how much or how little we have to give- sort of like the parable of the talents. The servant who only got one talent didn't think of it as enough so he buried it instead of multiplying it. We just have to give what we have and that is enough.
Gratitude and wondering down. What a beautiful reminder for us all today. Thank you also for the reminder that there are women gathering with open bibles in many places. It reminds me of so many rich memories of my life. It also makes me yearn to find my own group again. Yet I cannot find the will to begin again after hurtful experiences and the word of God being twisted to batter and hurt others in our culture today. How do you process experiences like these? I do not know how to get back in but I yearn for a safe community to share the love of God with in my life again. Just wistful thoughts brought on my your lovely reminder of women joined in harmony. Thank you
That’s a tough one because we don’t expect the body of Christ to attack itself. Sadly, it happens.
I’ve heard one woman say that the best remedy for church hurt is actually the church. We have to believe that there is a healthy community out there and ask God to help us find it. Without you that body is not complete.
I’m so sorry this is part of your story, but I hear the wistfulness in your voice, and I’m trusting that you will be led to a safe place
Thank you for your thpughtful response and kind words. I continue to search and pray for the Lord's will through this season. Thank you for your messages of hope and reminders of the goodness of the Lord for all those who call him Lord.
Oh my goodness you are busy! I am so excited at all the opportunities and open doors God is giving you, friend. I am confident that He'll supply all that you need to minister super well.
And thank you for this whole concept of wonder. Yes, yes, let's take gratitude to the next level where it belongs. He is worthy of all our praise.
Happiest Thanksgiving to you and your beautiful tribe, friend. I am deeply grateful you are in my life.
Now, I'm off to catch your conversation with Sue. I know it's going to be a rich feast.
I’m always grateful for every opportunity to open my Bible in a room full of women! Now if we can avoid having snowstorms wipe out the first week of December…😬😆
Beautiful reflections!
Thank you for reading!
I think mission trips help us wonder down. “Why do I get to have hot water with the turn of a faucet when so many do not?—or stocked grocery stores etc.” Happy Thanksgiving, Michele! I appreciate you.
That’s such a great point!
I love Chesterton's quote you shared! I'm going to be paying more attention to "wondering" thoughts!
Chesterton had such a gift for framing a thought in a way that provokes me. I definitely want to improve my own wondering, too!
I am apparently still being challenged by Substack to know when the "Also share to Notes" shows up, when it needs to be marked, and otherwise challenged!
Take two...Loved this post and idea of "wondering down to gratitude". What a great Thanksgiving post! ~ Rosie
I always love hearing from you so THANK YOU for persevering!
Just press the circular wheel and restack. More exposure and more people that can be blessed.
Thank you so much! I was doing that some and then commenting some, sounds like your way is the best so I don’t get confused on where I’m at! Thank you for responding!
What a wonderful Thanksgiving post - I really like this wondering down to gratitude!
Strength for this busy enjoyable season!
Take care to another friend, ~ Rosie
This season is always a bracing reset button for my gratitude muscles. They definitely need to be stronger!
Thank you for your encouraging words with Sue.
Thanks for listening!
Here's just my opinion - you chose to live your life in stewardship. Regardless the stages, raising kids, helping with grands, speaking God's word into others. Stewardship is a concept that has been whispering in my ear of late. What is true stewardship? I conclude it's not something that can be efficiently categorized. Maybe it's just listening, obeying and trusting. You have done that well, good and faithful servant. :-)
I’m glad to hear your opinion. I’ve been thinking about stewardship too because often the things we were asked to steward are not things we would’ve chosen. Nobody minds stewarding assets, but being asked to steward our suffering is another thing altogether.
You know how God speaks to us in the way we can hear - so, just as I was pondering the concept of stewardship this popped up in a T. Austin-Sparks devotional.
How much have you to dispense? Are you sure that you are dispensing what you have? The Lord did not lead you through that trial, through that darkness, through that strange experience, just for your own sake. The Lord has not dealt with you as He has, in order that you should be shut up to yourself, to enjoy the result alone. He has done that to constitute you a steward. If you and I will only allow that fact to govern us in the days of difficulty and trial, it will help us through. We should hold fast to the fact that the trial is to mean enrichment for the Lord's people, and an increase of equipment and qualification for stewardship.... Ask the Lord to release you into your stewardship within your measure.
WOW! That is a word in season!
The words that pieced me - within your measure. Humans think in terms of volume, height, width. We forget that God does not use our system of measuring. it's not about how much or how little we have to give- sort of like the parable of the talents. The servant who only got one talent didn't think of it as enough so he buried it instead of multiplying it. We just have to give what we have and that is enough.
Love and appreciate these stewardship words, friends.
hugs
Gratitude and wondering down. What a beautiful reminder for us all today. Thank you also for the reminder that there are women gathering with open bibles in many places. It reminds me of so many rich memories of my life. It also makes me yearn to find my own group again. Yet I cannot find the will to begin again after hurtful experiences and the word of God being twisted to batter and hurt others in our culture today. How do you process experiences like these? I do not know how to get back in but I yearn for a safe community to share the love of God with in my life again. Just wistful thoughts brought on my your lovely reminder of women joined in harmony. Thank you
How to process church hurt?
That’s a tough one because we don’t expect the body of Christ to attack itself. Sadly, it happens.
I’ve heard one woman say that the best remedy for church hurt is actually the church. We have to believe that there is a healthy community out there and ask God to help us find it. Without you that body is not complete.
I’m so sorry this is part of your story, but I hear the wistfulness in your voice, and I’m trusting that you will be led to a safe place
Thank you for your thpughtful response and kind words. I continue to search and pray for the Lord's will through this season. Thank you for your messages of hope and reminders of the goodness of the Lord for all those who call him Lord.
He is the only safe place to rest our hope. I’m really glad you know that!