A couple days prior to LDW I was asked to lead a breakout on something the Lord’s been teaching me or something I’ve been walking through this last month or so and the first two topics, that really happen to be linked together, to come to mind was staying present and hope. Throughout the last week or so I’d begun a downward spiral of thinking more hopeless thoughts about current circumstances and states of people’s lives in my family and here on the field. And about two weeks ago I finished a book called Ruthless Trust, which I highly recommend to any and all people struggling with trusting the Lord, which taught me a ton but specifically how to live in the present moment daily and not always be focused on the next thing or the last thing but the now. I found that after reading that book staying present kind of happened more naturally for me as I prayed to the Lord to walk me into it and actually a couple days ago, right before Emily told me about my opportunity to teach today, I was on the phone with Connor and we reached a breakthrough point in my hopelessness mindset and Truth overcame all those real but bleak feelings. So today I was filled with an amazing appreciation for the platform and opportunity I’d been given to share with others what I’d been walking in for a couple of weeks and only a couple of days. With help from Emily on better constructing all I had to say I was able to give the entirety of this space to teach to the Lord and the Holy Spirit moved in a way I hadn’t ever experienced before. I found myself more able to be vulnerable in where I was with these topics, as I taught others how to walk in them, and I was open to each small thing He was leading me to share-all of which were more than graciously accepted and taken to heart by the listeners!!! Usually I have a very hard time addressing more than two people, especially if I’m not close with everyone there, and today the Lord walked me gently into this uncomfortability and I was able to not just get through it but actually enjoy sharing my heart with them!! And afterwards Mason called out something so beautiful that I would have missed otherwise; he acknowledged how choked up I get when I’m sharing things about the Father out of passion for Him and I had naturally chalked all of my tears to being in the public speaking position I was in but as he said that I realized he was right. So today the Lord gave me so much through this opportunity He gave me that I thought was only to give to others. Even in serving and giving, I still find myself being given to from the Father in gorgeous ways, and constantly. I want to encourage you all to live in the present moment, ask the Lord what that looks like and takes. Also, live in Hope. And don’t undermine what the Lord is doing in and through and for you even as, especially as He has called you to serve and teach and give away to others!!!
