ALL AT ONCE

We've been involved in small groups at church for many years together.  Late last year, hubby returned to meeting with guys he had known for years who met weekly 20 years ago.  He was invited and chose to go.  I was feeling a little left out and it occurred to me that I should find a group of women that I could engage with, laugh, share, pray.  I was already leading a sewing group with monthly meetings, projects, instructions to prepare, teaching how to make this or that.  I NEEDED a place where I did not have to lead, be in charge of, just be one of the girls.

Each year our church has a church-wide Fast.  This may be our 6th year and it began on the first Sunday of January for three weeks.  The Daniel Fast is recommended (which we did the first year for two weeks), but we are given the option to choose what we feel God wants us to abstain from for that time.  I chose to give up meat, sweets, Tuesday Senior Citizen shopping at Ross & Savers, facebook, Candy Crush Soda (only one set of 5 per day).  We are to focus on God and what he wants to say to us during that time.  I had been journaling more frequently in November & December of last year and written down many good goals that I wanted to set for myself with affirmative words. 11/18/15 entry:
When the news around me is awful and hopeless, stop and ask God for peace, clarity and direction.  Seek Balance=limit:Korean, games, sitting around.
Find peace & comfort in His Word
Call, text, write words of encouragement, thanks, peace as people are brought to mind.

12/11/15
10:52 am  Watched youtube video Daily Diary/(bullet journaling) or what helps me stay sane, organized and happy by Becky Roode.
Liked the way she organized her life-interests-important things
Will start today.  Love the Washi tape.
Need to make a Key Symbols chart  Woo Hoo!
Devotional read:Psalm 143:7-12
Daily Bread PARADOGS
Let me see your kindness to me in the morning for I am trusting you... Show me where to walk, for my prayer is sincere.
10  Help me to do your will, for you are my God.  Lead me in good paths, for your Spirit is good.
We may not be instinctively generous or forgiving or patient with those who annoy us.  Yet Jesus commands us to trust Him enough to do things that may be difficult but that will advance His Kingdom.
My prayer--Thank you Lord for giving me this new beginning to journal & keep my many thoughts together.  Help me to eliminate the unnecessary & clutter of my mind and space.  I seek order & clarity and purposefulness.
Then I made my check boxes and the tasks for the day and added pretty washi tape at the end :)

Got my new prayer/praise/scripture/sermon notes book put together in a composition book with a stretchy cover for the new year.  Decided to attend Joy Shackles Connect group.  First meeting of the season was January 7.  Of course I was a little anxious about meeting new ladies though I knew two.  It was great and I loved them all right away.  There was a confirmation that I had done the right thing, yay!  This is where I belong.  A lovely mix of ages and situations.  I could see the bonds that they had made before and jumped right in.  They were welcoming, I was home.  

February was the Arise Conference month with Lisa Bevere, Janine Kubala, Dawn Chere Wilkerson & my Pastor Lisa Kai.  At the Servants meeting, Lynnette Garces told us that there would be something extraordinary taking place at this conference, that we should empty ourselves completely to prepare for that.  It was a visual that has stayed with me.  I had been to all the Arise Conferences which began in 2011.  Expectation, anticipation... every moment was filled with God confirmations, illumination, words from the speakers, sisters that I hadn't seen, daughters at my side.  I savored each conversation, and was saturated by the presence of God.  Emmanuel God is with us.

All at once--but not really.  I learned that my little step of obedience--joining the group brought many of my scattered fragments of my life like puzzle pieces together.  Things are slowly fitting together in a way that I can only credit to God and his patience with me.  I've loved him for a long time and he is showing me that He knows the way, I have nothing to fear and I have a lot of work to do--all with his help.  Empowered.  NOW!