All I can think, or actually hear, right now is Stephen Curtis Chapman's song, "Dive." Dive into what, I'm sure you're asking… this whole blogosphere thing. As the song goes "I'm diving in, I'm going deep, in over my head I want to be," well that's where you'll find me right now, feeling way over my head! For quite some time I've wanted to do this, write a blog, and been encouraged to do this, even have felt led by the Lord at times. However, it just never seemed to be the "right time." Of course there are my procrastination antics, the schedules of four kids between the ages of 10 1/2 years and 15 years, laundry, Sunday school lessons to write, or even the guise that I don't even know how to set up a blogspot. Actually, I'm not sure why today is the day. Except for the fact that as I was looking on Lysa TerKeurst's website for information about an upcoming conference I'm helping to put together at our church, I saw that she would be giving away scholarships to Proverbs 31 She Speaks Conference. Understand, this is a conference I've looked at going to for a while now, but would come up with excuses as to why I couldn't or shouldn't go. So this time, while one of my excuses had been overridden by the fact that you could enter a contest for a scholarship, another excuse surfaced as to why I couldn’t enter the contest...the hitch this time...you had to have a blogspot! And then it hit me, just do it! I know what God has called me to, and NOW is the time to step up even more and take on some greater challenges and risks! All those things I've been teaching to the women in my Bible Studies and my Sunday school class came crashing in on me...."you start by starting(yeah, but how and with what), develop self-discipline(so much more fun to teach about it than do it), embrace change(but that was for them to take back into their world), find your purpose and passion and go pursue it(but what if I fail?). These words and lessons sounded good, even convincing coming out of mouth to those listening, but God has been chiseling away at my heart and purpose as well, and yes, I've been listening too. So, today of all days, the words I've spoken, the scriptures I've read, the encouragement and coaching my husband has given, and my passion to share God with others came together, thus the start of trophyofgraceministry.blogspot.
Going back to the Stephen Curtis Song, yes I know I'm dating myself, nevertheless, the lyrics go "My heart is racing and my knees are weak, As I walk to the edge I know there is no turning back, Once my feet have left the ledge, And in the rush I hear a voice, That's telling me it' time to take the leap of faith...So here I go....I'm diving in, I'm going deep in over my head, I want to be, Caught in the rush, lost in the flow, in over my head I want to go. The river's deep, the river's wide, the river's water is alive, So sink or swim I'm diving in!" It's time for me to take this leap of faith in to a ministry that God has been leading me to for almost 20 years now! Now, as I mentioned before I'm good at procrastinating, but not all of those 20 years have been procrastination. During these years there's been lots of refining, disciplining, timing, training, learning, having babies, developing, growing in my relationship with the Lord, healing, mauturing, and serving. At times God has sped up my journey with Him into this ministry, whether it was speaking engagements, leadership positions, just time to know Him more, or even dropping a casual friend out of the sky who came to me, almost reluctantly, to share that God had spoken to her months ago about helping me with my ministry, only problem was she didn't know what ministry I had besides being on our Women's Team at church and teaching! So once again I sense God beginning to mash a little harder on the Trophy Of Grace acceleration pedal. Hopefully, I won't decide to hit the brakes! Honestly, that would be easier and safer. Which is probably one of the biggest reasons I’ve been putting all of this off? Taking this dive into the deep, rushing waters is more risky than sticking my toes in stagnant, shallow water. But I want to go all the way, in over my head with the Lord on this one, risks and all! The only way I can do this is because I know that "apart from Him I can do nothing"...but "with Him and His strength all things are possible!
The grace God has given me, I want to share with others, as Hebrews 4:16 says, "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." I've taken the plunge, how about you? Is it time for you as well to take a leap of faith? "But we will never know the awesome power of the grace of God until we let ourselves get swept away into this holy flood. So if you'll take my hand we'll close our eyes and count to three and take the leap of faith, come on let's go!"
