Week 3

January 17, 2019

It’s Friday! If this is your first Friday with me since the new year, let me introduce you to the four questions that are guiding me in reflecting on what happened this week.

❶ What am I TRUSTING?
❷ For whom or what am I GRATEFUL?
❸ What is INSPIRING me?
❹ How am I practicing FAITH?

You now see I interpret TGIF a little differently.

What I’ve noticed, in three weeks is this: it’s causing me to slow down – to pay attention to what’s going on around me and inside me. And that’s a good thing for me and the people I spend the most time with each week. Well, at least I think it is! ?

Trust

❶ What am I TRUSTING?
Myself and Jesus. If at first glance, that seems self-centered, hang on a minute. I learned something about myself this week that made me pause and ask, “Why don’t you trust yourself?” I do. And the coach in me said, “Start acting like it.” Sometimes the best kick in the a** comes from me, myself, and I.

Maybe it had something to do with this quote from Rob Bell:

If you’re thinking what does the universal searching for the particular have to do with trust? Here’s the question: Do you trust the story you are writing with God? Said differently, “Does the story your living and the story you’re telling yourself & others have integrity?”

Your story is particular. In the grand drama of creation, fall, redemption, and resurrection, you are one, infinitely important and particular story. Claim it. Live it. Deal with it.

Gratitude

❷ For whom or what am I GRATEFUL?
The next generation. Middle and high school students, specifically.  I had the opportunity to spend a Sunday evening with 25+ youth exploring their CliftonStrengths and how God has gifted each of them with unique talents. Their questions, their joy, and their willingness to explore with one another was a breath of fresh air.

Inspiration

❸ What is INSPIRING me? You mean, WHO is INSPIRING me? That’s the question I’m answering this week. The women with whom I have the privilege to serve in ministry. Over the course of the next few weeks, we’re doing some pretty cool things together. And most of it involves claiming our stories, sharing our stories and leading other women to do the same. I’m inspired by their vision, by their willingness to step out in faith, and for new adventures together.

Faith

❹ How am I practicing FAITH?

100 Days to Brave. Day 1-3.

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I’m only 3 days into this new devotional. Because of what I’ve said in #3 and everything I’m doing around women and leadership, I’m making a conscious effort to listen to women’s voices in leadership, specifically Christian leadership. Annie Downs has written a 100-day devotional that feels a bit “light” at the moment. The topic of being brave captured my attention. There is nothing about being brave that is light!

We’ll see if I make it to Day 100. That’s why it’s called PRACTICING faith.

TGIF

What a week. In some ways, it feels like it was all over the place. In other ways, it feels like God is weaving together a new chapter that I don’t yet know the title of the book. And I’m perfectly OK with that! How about you? How would you respond to the four questions above?