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Monday, March 2, 2009

A Women's Movement

I just have to start off by saying how completely amazing God's faithfulness is!


So a few years ago the Lord started igniting passion and vision in me for women, and more specifically the women at the Stirring. My heart was alive with love for them and my mind was dreaming dreams for them. The Lord had so clearly spoken vision to me regarding His heart for us and purpose for us as a community of His daughters.


Well, as I was just beginning to walk it out, the Lord stripped it all away from me. He didn't do it because I was bad or did something wrong, He just had to take me through a wilderness in which He could heal me, teach me, and make me more like Him. I had always wondered why He would give me all these desires for the future just to take them away so quickly, but now I know He is preparing me and molding me into the kind of servant that can actually do the great things He has shown me! But even better than that, He is still carrying out the vision for the Stirring women regardless if I'm apart of it or not! So again, I reiterate, God is faithful!


He showed this to me one day recently while praying for our upcoming women's retreat. After revealing His bigger plan for this retreat to me, I found a faded bookmark in an old purse that I decided to start using again that had on it the words that described the vision for the Women's Movement from a few years ago; the very words God had shown me and stirred my heart with before my trek in the wilderness. As I read the words and remembered the heart He had once given me it started to blend with what He was currently doing with our retreat. I got so excited because I realized that although I hadn't really been involved in any women's ministry prior to this retreat that God was still working on His plan; that these dreams (really His dreams) didn't die with me, but dreams He was still unfolding regardless of whether I was the conduit or not! I love it! Although it is very humbling, it does take all the pressure off. Plus, I can look back and realize that through all my ups and downs with this He was still in control of my heart the entire time...that it wasn't me going crazy or something...strong passions one minute and then complete desolation the next.


Anyways, with all that said, here are the words from long ago that are still alive and making there way back into my heart's desire for us women at the Stirring:

Rest: It all must start with us entering God's rest. It is from that place only that we can move
forward.

Heal: While in God's rest He wants to bring healing to us...to our hurts, our wounds, our pasts.

Unveil: Once we begin the healing process He will begin to unveil our beauty...our image of God
that us as women bear.

Reveal: As we are becoming more secure in our identity in Christ He will start to show us how
we are each individually wired and gifted...our specific purpose He has created us for.

Inspire: By living out this process, especially if we are transparent through it, other
women/sisters will be drawn to this freedom they see us experiencing and will
therefore draw closer to their Father in heaven.

Meaningful: Although all things are possible with God, He usually doesn't take women through
this process alone. Therefore, our relationships with other women will become
deeper, closer and more meaningful because of this shared vulnerability.

Captivate: Women either bring life or death to the world. If we are willing to be taken
through this process we will bring life. The world will see our amazing Lord Jesus
alive in us. This is our evangelism.

So those are the words, the dream I believe God has for our community. It is what I see Him doing already, through life groups, other small groups, and one on one mentorship...and I see it only getting better!

What are your thoughts?

6 comments:

Emily Faulknor said...

Oh Sarah, I just love you and miss you so much! I miss hearing the Lord speak through you, I miss our long talks into the night about life. I just miss you. :) Thanks for this reminder and I think I still have that bookmark somewhere and remember when we all put it together. You are a blessing my friend and precious blessing. Thanks for obeying the Lord. Great things always come of it. Love you dearly!

Juliette said...

You are a beautiful woman Sarah and a wonderful example of all those qualities you wrote of. I love God's timing in letting you pull out that purse just in time to share that bookmark with us. I loved each of those qualities but what I loved more was the journey you shared about being led through a wilderness and letting God shape you. Just like Nate spoke about on Sunday - we have to go through dark or difficult times sometimes so that God can shape our character. That is so encouraging because I often think of it as time lost when really its time gain, all to make us more prepared and effective at the calling that we have on our lives. Thanks for sharing!

Rachael said...

I love seeing in your heart Sarah, and seeing how God speaks to you. Your an awesome example of a friend of God.

Sarah said...

Sarah...first off I am so blessed to have you in my life..really. I thank the Lord for you all the time because you are such an answer to prayer.
I love these words..I love your heart for women and I love how faithful the Lord has proven to be in your life and in this whole "women's movement". It is humbling to realize the Lord is still working with or with out us..but your right-so much less pressure!:)
Thank you for sharing.

Pearcia LaPointe said...

Do you ever read something and are so deeply touched by it that you have no words to describe it or to give back to the author who sent you on such a powerful trip through your own inner workings? Yeah. That just happened.

Lizzie said...

thank you for always sharing what the Lord asks you to share :)

How have you been girly?? Miss our little comment conversations in various social networking sites.

God Bless