It is Tuesday again….I missed last week’s posting about fear. I honestly was tired and uninspired and maybe even a little lazy! 😉 But today I am jumping in again and sharing about the journey I am on with God.

For this week: “Sometimes we feel alone not because we need to be with others but because God wants to be with us. Our lives are busy–especially when we’re pursuing a dream–and God may want to pull us aside for a bit” {You’re Made for a God-sized Dream, Chapter Six}. The most important part of any God-sized dream is the Giver of it. Set aside a particular time this week to be with Him–to pray, journal, take a walk or simply sit quietly and listen. Write a post sharing what your heart hears or receives then link it up below.

We just got a new elliptical machine. I love it…and I despise it sometimes too, but mostly love it. This morning I was feeling a little more worn out than usual. This sinus infection I am fighting is making me weary. So I wanted to take my workout a little easy.

I jumped on and instead of watching tv I decided to just close my eyes and pray. I started praying for health in our family, and for our extended families, people I know who need prayers and some people who need lifting up from our church.

I prayed about this God sized dream of mine and asked for clarity…..

And then I opened my eyes and looked down and I was already 3 minutes into my cool down. How had 25 minutes gone so fast? Was I really that zen in my prayer time?

Unfortunately no.

A setting had been changed by accident and so the time clock was going about 2 times fast than it should have been going…so essentially I did a 25 minute workout in about 6 minutes. Bummer! 🙂

But the scenario got me thinking about my own life.

During those difficult seasons in my life, all I have wanted to do was close my eyes and have everything go away. I have wanted to rush through it and not see the situation for what it could mean in my life.

An opportunity for growth.

But a few times this week, I have been reminded that we need the rocky soil (thanks Christine), that sometimes it is where we grow the best. And GSD Lisa shared that life with God can be an adventure…we just have to be open to it.

Beautiful posts from God driven women.

Sometimes the path to our dreams is slower than we would like. But that doesn’t mean that we are doing anything wrong…maybe God just wants us to savor this time, grow from this adventure and seek Him in all of it.

Don’t be discouraged if you have opened your eyes and the “finish line” isn’t what you thought it would be….I am guessing there is something much better in store for you – so press on and enjoy the journey!

As for me….I am trying to be better about living and enjoy the now…and not worrying too much about the possible tomorrows!

Where do you find God leading you this week? Link up your stories with the rest of the dreamers here!

Friends you are in for a treat today. I will admit I have been tired and busy and a little uninspired this past week….I guess I needed a break. But my dear dreamer friend Christine, who is so much like me it is scary ;), has graciously written a gem of a piece, straight from her heart, to share here. I know that you will be blessed by her writing and hope that you hop on over to her blog Living Joel 2:25, and subscribe to her blog…you won’t regret it!

You know those moments when you hear something and it’s like an arrow has pierced your heart?  You know for certain it was meant for you?  A sort-of tunnel vision forms…and it’s as if God were whispering directly to you, “Listen closely sweet child, I’ve written this for you.”

The Bible study I attend went through an awesome book by Margaret Feinberg, called Scouting the Divine – Searching for God in Wine, Wool and Wild Honey.  In it, the author followed a modern-day beekeeper, shepherd, and vintner, all in an attempt to better understand the references made in the Bible.

It was incredible and my eyes will never fly quickly over those references again.  My favorite part was the weekly video that went along with it.  One in particular, which spoke of what it takes to actually grow a grape vine.

It takes time.  Lots of time.  It’s a good fifteen years after a vine is planted until it finally produces grapes of a decent quality.  In other words, winemakers know they won’t see a return on their investment for quite awhile.

And it takes the right soil.  No surprise there.  It’s not like every piece of ground can grow grapes. Until she mentioned what the right soil was… 

Hard, rocky soil.

Yes.  You heard correctly.  Rocky soil is the best.  The grapes grow best in what would seem to be the worst type of soil.  As a matter of fact, if it is too clear, people have been known to actually bury rocks in their vineyards, in order to create a proper soil for growth.

When I heard that, it was as if the large sanctuary that we were sitting in, suddenly faded away and it was only Margaret and I.  (That is, of course, if I had a friend named Margaret, who studied with vintners and published books and taped Bible studies and lived in my town and sat with me…but whatever…) 

Anyway, Margaret went on to explain it’s the same with us.  It’s the rocks in our soil that allow for the best growth. 

All those years I’ve been looking at the rocks in my life, some big, some small, some strewn across the surface, some buried down deep, and wondering, “What good could ever come from this horrible ground?”

I should have just been saying, “Thank you, God.”

“Thank you God for all the lessons my missteps have brought.”

“Thank you God for the beauty of brokenness.”

“Thank you God for the boulders, in every shape and size.”

“Thank you, Jesus, that even when I was so awash in grief, and unaware of your presence, you never left my side.  Not once.”

Little by little, I am seeing His plan revealed and I can’t believe my eyes.  All He can do with even the most rocky soil.  All that He can weave together for good.

There have been times my soil has felt more like unyielding bedrock, especially during the dark times I choose to take the direction of my life in my own hands. I have wasted so much time and energy struggling against the rocks – the rocks that make up my history.  I now know even the things that brought such crushing pain, I didn’t think I would survive, will be used by the Master Vintner in the creation of His fine vintage.

The vintage of my life.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.”  John 15:1 (NIV)

Christine has a heart for broken women who hide it well.  Women who find it impossible to believe God has a calling for them.  Personally touched by such things as divorce, miscarriage, sickness and alcoholism, she has walked a pain-filled road and believes the places her own heart has broken, are the places she can best help others.  Her life verse is Joel 2:25, “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten…”  Christine is married to Mr. Wright and has four children, ages 16, 14, 7 and 3, which means having a child in high school, middle, elementary and preschool, all at the same time!  She loves writing, pants with crazy prints, a really good nap, walking the beach at early morning, and donuts.  Lots of donuts.  Christine blogs at www.livingjoel225.com.

One of these reasons that I started this blog was to find Community. Find people that “get” me and love me for who I am.

Through blogging I have met some amazing women. I know that people that don’t blog….maybe don’t understand how that is possible – but I have and have been so blessed by it.

One of my favorite sites is (in)courage. Last year they held their first “conference” of sorts where women around the world gathered in homes and churches and met together to share community.

I, a little scared that no one would show, signed up as a host and hoped for the best.

3 beautiful women came…from my town and a surrounding one. Lovely women that I have now kept in contact with through Facebook….women who are all coming again this year.

This year’s “conference” is in just a few weeks – April 27th….and there is still time to enter!! Click over to their website to register for this free conference. And if you are in the Marshall area and want to join our little group – even better!! 🙂

We all need community…at least I do. I have found it in some unexpected places – but have been blessed by it. You will be too.

Below is a link to the trailer video if you want more info!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-6yMAUG32I&feature=youtu.be