This is Only The Beginning

This blog has been birthed out of a nudging from the Lord. A nudging that has come from the creative heart of God and one that has proven His ability to give of Himself in greater ways. When I told Him I didn't know what I would say, He told me He would give me the words. When I told Him I didn't think I had the strength, He told me He had enough to spare. When I told Him I didn't think I could do it, He told me He can do more than I could ask or imagine. Immeasurably more. 

Let me dive into the process of what brought this blog about and what I feel God is calling this blog to be. Over the last few months when I have felt a revelation come from the Lord, there has been a strong desire prompting me to want to share what the Lord has just revealed. The things I feel the Lord showing me end up filling my journal and the ears of the people closest to me, but lately, I have felt the Lord directing me to share with a broader community. Starting a blog was one of the first seeds God planted in me as an avenue for this purpose. I believe it is His heart to encourage others through personal revelation as well as shared ones among brothers and sisters too! Imagine if we all shared some of the small yet miraculous truths the Lord was teaching us, what a beautiful reflection of God's family that would be! 

The idea of the blog was confirmed in my heart by Him again more recently. I was listening to The Real Life Podcast with Jefferson and Alyssa Bethke (guys, take a listen!! So good!), and Jeff was talking about how he and his wife were taking a break from serving at the church they attend. They shared how they were using this time to focus on raising their three small children up as disciples in the Kingdom. They admitted this particular choice was not right for every family in their position, yet, after the podcast ended I was left thinking about what it would look like if every family with small children did this. Who would be there to step up to serve? I began thinking about the minimal ways I was serving the church as a whole and guys, I was convicted! Because of my inconsistent work/life/sleep schedule, having to work every third weekend, and not yet being a member at the church I attend, it has been difficult to find ways to serve. However, I didn't want this to be an excuse but rather an invitation to creatively think about ways to serve the body. I have been consistently loved, encouraged, and challenged by the Church as a whole and I want to be obedient to the Lord in serving and encouraging His family in any way I can. The idea of the blog was reintroduced again by the Lord and I felt His prompting for me to start the process. I felt Him showing me how this could be used as a way to spur others on in their relationship with the Lord and also give me a place to share the many ways He is shifting my earthly perspective to a heavenly one. 

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds..." Hebrews 10:24

And the Lord in His wisdom knew this type of ministry would fit perfectly into my weird night shift schedule as a blog can be written at any time of day or night, including the wee hours of the morning as I stay up to prep for a shift. Don't get me wrong, there have been a lot of hesitations in starting this blog. But I press on with peace from the Lord knowing this is something He is challenging me to do even if it is out of my comfort zone.

The title for this blog comes from a verse that has encouraged me in many exciting and challenging seasons of my life. It has been one of my favorites for a long time and one I have had to recite back to myself over and over again. 

 I love the idea that Christ can do in and through my life more than I could ever ask or imagine with my small, finite mind. I can create the most grand vision of my life and His vision is still bigger and grander. He has been teaching me to dream and proving to me He is consistently better than my wildest dreams. I also love that this verse talks about bringing glory to Him in the church because that is exactly what my heart is in this blog. I want to bring glory to Him in the body of believers by writing about the ways He is awakening me to His plans and purposes in my life. This blog is a way for me to express and release some of the love and fire of the Lord I can feel burning inside of me. This blog may look a lot like my journal and some of the thoughts that have come from spending time with the Lord. I’m honestly not fully sure what this blog is going to look like, but I’m ready to take another step of faith with the Lord and see where things go! I pray this blog will be an encouragement to those who read it to discover more of the immeasurable wonder of life with God and chase after the immeasurably more that the Lord wants to do in and through your life. 

♥️ Melissa