The above group of images represent the past 17 years, promises to me and encouragement for me to persevere as the Lord walked me through His plans to understand my call, being led by His Spirit and trusting His care and kindness. 

Luke 22:26 TPT

But this is not your calling. You will lead by a different model. The greatest one among you will live as one called to serve others without honor. The greatest honor and authority is reserved for the one who has a servant heart.

Stop and listen, close your eyes, open your hands to the need of the moment...My calling is Not to open a thousand homes...but be present in this one. My calling is NOT to be known by everyone....but to know and see the ones in front of me. My calling is NOT to fix or hold back ...but to unbind and declare. My calling is NOT a cause but individuals. 

Do you know what your calling is? It has taken me a long time to know my calling and a long time to find out what is NOT mine.  The last few years have made very clear that though my heart has many passions and that I desire to be part of "great things" I have to follow the still small voice leading me on a path that is less traveled.  I have chased after causes and done my part but each road led me back to the individuals in my life. I had a season of teaching and training, a season of leading, a season of building and networking, and recently a season of being led back to the purposes and calling I was made for...my heart is knit to my husband and our call together is to create homes of healing, places of rest and reason to hope. 

I was asked recently to share what has brought me out of the dark places in my life...the low places, the lost places, the wounds from friends and ministry partners, the stopped endeavors, the health set backs and the Not now and Not Yet...I looked back at past blogs and it seems I circle back to the same theme often. Being content in who I am and how I was made. Taking off any hindrances to loving and serving. Engaging fully.  

I realize I shut down or cut myself off from others when the way to FULLY serving and FULLY loving seems blocked or rejected. I have had to grow in wisdom and confidence that the shame and hurt I have taken on can be walked through and overcome. I have had to learn that it is never about imposing my will on others but being willing and obedient to serve and to love. It is never my responsibility for how another will receive or what they will do with what I offer. If I want to fully enter in to finding the treasures hidden in the dark...then I must be okay knowing the way to them is not glorious or without hindrances. So, I have to keep choosing to refocus my eyes, to realign my thoughts, to rest and return...

I have had to be honest with myself about how I see myself, the lenses from others that have added to my call, distracted from my call or led me away from my call.  I have had to stop searching and learn to say no when I am focused on anything other than where the Holy Spirit is leading.  I have had to grow in discerning the cautions and protections I utilize from the still small voice saying "go this way."

I have to be firm in what is NOT my calling to fully enter into what is. I am called TO walk alongside of Hagar as Sarah and to fully live out a surrendered life to Jesus sitting at His feet, walking into hard places, fully trusting His plans an purposes and knowing that the Causes that are dear to me will be addressed in the Individuals I love. I have to know that the mistakes I make and the times I fall short He is faithful and will always extend mercy and grace. The more I learn this and accept it the more the oil of His love, grace, and mercy flow not just to me but through me.

May you know clearly what is NOT your calling. May you extend yourself and others the grace and kindness needed to FULLY Love and FULLY engage.  May you LEAD as you SERVE and be content in WHAT IS YOUR CALLING.

11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. 12 We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12