from all sides

Have I mentioned yet that intentional community is intensely powerful? Knowing it again this week as an Esther study with a women's small group and a great friend, church this evening, and e-mails with a distant beloved friend all find such sweetness settling on my soul. These are not necessarily comfortable reminders but truth-setting/life-giving/centering reminders.

Esther study - truth touching my core, challenging me to regularly hand over my power to Christ.

• "Anger is insecurity rooted in pride."
• "Anger is power for people who don't believe they have any other power."

Church this evening - Sustaining the Mission of our lives

• Knowing Christ as the Center, not me. (nothing new, just a very important reminder)
• Relying on God's provision - His Victory in overcoming the world (John 16:33), His Word planted in our hearts (James 1:21), His Spirit to carry on His Kingdom (John 17:4)
• Walking with the people of God for emotional support, encouragement, and following Jesus.

Friend over e-mail - reminding me of God's presence and the verses He has placed over me for the year: Why these are not plastered on my wall, I don't know. Charlotte, want a painting job? :0)

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2. to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3. to grant to those who mourn in Zion - to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified. 4. They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. Isaiah 61:1-4 (ESV)

This all feels fairly huge. I'm not planning to open any literal prison doors or to proclaim the day of vengeance of our God or to repair any ruined cities. In the same breath, I am planning to be available, to be centered on what God has for my every day, to pray reparation over women's lives, to pray comfort over brokenhearted women, to proclaim His victory over those who have found themselves in the path of destruction and are mourning - wherever God would have me do that, whenever He sets it in my path. For my family, for my friends, for acquaintances, for those I have not yet met.

So, tomorrow K&E and I get to know God more and Him in our lives by reading stories of the Bible at breakfast, listening and sharing life as we stop by church to pick up used coffee grounds for our compost bins, walk through the park near church noticing new and old growth, share lunch together, know the stillness of the afternoon, plant seeds in the garden. To know. To be. To be known. Life.

May you know the garment of praise, the oil of gladness, beauty for ashes, peace over despair, perfect love over fear, all in His fabulously perfect time. Prayers of grace over your moments.