This is what it looks like to be known since you were 5 years old.⠀
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It means being able to look back and know all the ways that I have messed up, fallen short, forgotten to call, or jaunted off to live in another state and loving me still.⠀
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It looks like stealing fries without asking. Loving through our differences and knowing that no matter how much time as passed that we can pick right up where we left off.⠀
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No expectations. No judgement. No agenda. ⠀
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This past weekend I had the immense privilege of heading back to my home town to speak to the women of Christ the King Church in Naugatuck, a church humbly led by Bob and Mary Butkus.⠀
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I was struck with how peaceful it felt to be back to my roots (even when my roots weren’t always so pretty).⠀
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I visited with people who have known me since I was little and it was amazing to see the story God has weaved in our lives over the past 10 years. Though the miles and time (and 5 children) separate us, God connects us all still.⠀
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On Sunday my mom and I attended @kevindbutterfield church called Wellspring. Him and his wife @kerriebutterfield mentored Dave and I in our faith. They taught us what it looks like to fall in love with Jesus and embrace His love for us too.⠀
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This Sunday Kevin spoke on humility. Philippians 2:3-4 says this, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."⠀
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And it is here that it all links together.⠀
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We might now always have the gift to feel fully known, but we can always offer that gift to those around us. Even when we might not feel heard, or comfortable, or accepted instead of focusing on trying to fill that need in ourselves may we somehow muster up the faith to pass it out to those around us.
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My it be about “them” not “us” and trust God will provide the rest.
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If I didn't get the chance to see you up north, I am sorry. It was too fast (less than 48 hour trip).
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To those we did get to see, thank you! We love you and our time with you was hugely precious to us.⠀
#layingitdown #faithoverfear #friendsforlife
Do you ever get distracted by the nagging thought that its all meaningless? Like only one time in history God arbitrarily assigned a purposeless life and that one person is you?
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Must be. Why else would we constantly grappling through our days searching and never finding?
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I recently heard a talk by Proverbs 31 speaker @Ljallen20 and she said this (my paraphrase), "Its just when you think that your dream is completely dead that you are in fact in God's 'dream school' for your life. "
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She also shared a quote from @LeviLuskow , "When you follow Jesus your dreams will follow you."
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What I want is for my "moment" for which I was created to be right now. Right this very instant! Instead, may we sit in 'dream school,' waiting patiently (or impatiently) as God prepares us for our calling.
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There is something about that word "perhaps” in this verse from the book of Esther. It gives a glimmer of hope, an acknowledgement of truth without fully being willing to dive all the way in. "Perhaps," God is doing a work in us today. Perhaps our full dream moment won't manifest for months or years, can we be content in dream school?
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I'll try if you will.
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#dreamschool #Esther414 #patienceinthewaiting #orimpatientwaiting #godsdream
