Sometimes He Compells You To Obey...

In the spirit of this blog, pun intended, a story of being completely over taken by The Spirit is wholly appropriate, so here goes...

I am a member of a large church here where we have two opportunities for women's Bible Study, Tuesday evenings and Thursday mornings.  On the third session of this study, I met a woman in our small group who was going through a very tough time.  That was Thursday morning.  On Saturday evening during the church service, I saw that she was sitting with some of her friends right behind me.  We both smiled and said hello during the greeting and  contnued to worship.  During this service we have a time for people to go to the front and pray with a prayer partner.  I am part of the prayer team and noticed that she and one of her friends came down for prayer.  I was so glad to see her down there.  After returning to my seat, two of our praise team began to sing My Adonai.  Immediately I felt compelled to turn my body around, reach over the back of my seat and hold her hand.  So I start argueing with God saying it would be awkward, I would be contorted and besides she was sitting with friends and we just met!  I can't explain it any other way, but that the Holy Spirit welled up in me and basically said we are doing this!  Without looking back, I turned half way around in my seat, reached my arm over the back of my chair and grabbed her hand.  She squeezed my hand in recognition and we stayed that way until the song was near its' end.
The whole message that night seemed to be written for her exact situation and I knew she was being blessed by it.  After the service, when we were all filing out of our rows, she did not look at me and I thought oh no I overstepped.  I tapped her on the shoulder and told her I would see her Thursday.
All week I dreaded seeing her because of what a fool I had been.
Thursday morning as we got to our small group, she said I want to thank you for last Saturday.  Then she said; I was sitting there falling apart and telling God that I just needed a hug, or someone to hold my hand and then you turned around and grabbed my hand.  I so needed that at that moment.
You just never know why God wants you to do a thing.  I was in at least three cages that night before He set me free to help Him bless a hurting woman.
My advice, don't argue, just do it.

Failure Can Be A Stepping Stone...

For all my Woodlands Church Journey friends, PLEASE MAKE NOTE, this is no longer a private blog.  While my intentions were good, they have proved fruitless, and the privacy seems silly and pointless.  Not that anyone else will read this, but my intention is to have a place where women can share their Wild Goose Chase.  It is an amazing journey, that has personally rocked my world.  The fabulous women I am privileged to meet with weekly, have layed their hearts out on the table many times during this process.  We have laughed, cried, prayed and hugged our way into each other's lives.  We come from all different backgrounds, ages, walks, etc...  Our strories intertwine in ways ONLY God could manage. He has blessed us through each other and we are amazed weekly.  If you join us online please read the first post for the guidelines remembering that this in NO LONGER PRIVATE!  What you share here is available for anyone on the internet to see.
With all this being said....

WEEK 5 THE CAGE OF FAILURE:

As a self-professed control freak, the worst part of having a control complex is that I have to take the blame when things fall apart.  And they always fall apart when I try to take control.  The difference between my failure and a God planned failure is the outcome.  My failure takes me out of God's will.  While I can return to His will, the consequences of my failures can be huge and lasting.  God planned failures prepare us for His purposes.  They test our faith and our obedience.  They also provide the framework to showcase His glory in our situations.
Where are you most at risk of taking control?
What can you do today to let it go?

Be Blessed!
TerriMike

Guilt? Not Me!

So here it is Friday night and I am just sitting down to write this weeks blog post.  I realize no one is really  reading it, but I said I would do it, so I will keep it up until the study is over.  This week is the cage of guilt.  Do you think maybe this cage pertains to me?  I feel guilty for not getting this up two days ago.  I feel guilty for not having my homework done.  I realize this is a huge cage for me and my message today from the "God's message to you today" said it was time I forgave myself.  Tonight we had a lively discussion in our small group and I feel guilty for upsetting one of my friends.  This is going to be a challenging and hopefully freeing week.  I pray for you as we go forward that God will use this week to give you freedom from your past so that you can experience God's absolute best for you!

Be Brave and Be Blessed!
Terri