Not sure where this is going to land...

You know those weeks when you reach Friday only you're not even sure what day it is? That was me today...this week...yesterday...tomorrow...

What are we talking about?

Exactly.

This is my brain currently as I reflect on this past week and look ahead to what is in store for this coming week.

This past week was our annual District Council with the Illinois District of the Assemblies of God. It is one of my favorite events of the year. I get to reconnect with my #teamillinois family and be refreshed. I also have the privilege to hear from other leaders and be challenged by God through them. This year, we heard from two Texans, Dr. Melissa Alfaro and General Treasurer Rick DuBose. I have to say that both had powerful messages that brought, dare I say, a little conviction to my heart. Having the Holy Spirit use someone you've never met before to speak a message straight to your inner spirit and heart that steps all up into your face and call out your doubt, and still another being used to speak a message reminding you of what God spoke to you two years ago about seasons...well, I will just say that I was wrecked.

Let me go back, if you will, to 2017. July of 2017 I was only 2 months in to a position in ministry that was very different than what I was used to. I loved it and simultaneously knew that while God opened the door for me to be right where I was, I was not going to be there long. And I wrestled with that. For weeks. I remember praying and being very confused by what I felt God was doing in me. I even argued with God, "I know you opened this door and that I walked in full obedience to be here so why am I so unsatisfied? Why can't I stop thinking about how much I missed local church ministry?" I could probably pull out the notebook where I wrote this prayer and show you how God began to move right then. Very clearly in my spirit I felt God speak to me, "I have created you with a pastoral heart and I have something else planned for you. I had to bring you hear to get you open to what I have for you. And you do not know what a season is, I do. A season is however long it takes you to learn what I am teaching you. A season could be a week, a day, a year, a couple of months...only I know."

He was right...I didn't know what a season was because instead of doing what I should have done, I prayed, "Then show me, Lord, how I can be pastoral right where I am." All the while God was actually stirring in my heart a new ministry focus and changing my mind about what I thought I would do in ministry for the rest of my life.

Okay, so flash forward to August of 2018 when God dropped some words in my heart that became a four day devotional (short I know...I've tried to add to it but, I got nothing!). Also, around that same time, I felt impressed in my spirit to start a website. I didn't even have a clue what it would be about just that I needed to start a website, this website. So I did. Then I began looking at taking things a step further and actually upgrading my site to a premium subscription...I drug my feet on that one. Even after months of my husband and my mother telling me to just do it, I couldn't leap. Finally, I did it. I upgraded the site just a couple months ago.

The thing is, while I do believe I have taken the correct steps of obedience, I have allowed doubt to shape my thinking about it all. And that is where I guess I am landing. I don't want to box God in, to set parameters that keep Him locked into what I think can and should happen. I want Him, His will, His purposes. So, this week I shared my hopes and dreams and goals for The Preacher Chick with my friends and while I am not going to share them here, yet, I would so appreciate your support in a few ways. Are you game?

1. Pray Pray for wisdom and direction as I do some research and take necessary steps towards getting things in line.

2. Don't Just Read

It would mean so much and help me greatly if you would sign up and subscribe to The Preacher Chick. There are two places to do this-one at the top of the blog list on the home page and the other is found at the bottom of the home page.

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Also, when you do read a post, be sure to sign-in so you can like and comment on the post itself, not just where you see it shared. All of those things help bring attention to The Preacher Chick in online analytics.

Oh! For all first time subscribers and those who sign up, I will send my four day devotional via email as a thank you!

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3. SHARE

Sharing what I write that encourages you, well, I am not sure it gets much better than that. But don't just share the FB, Twitter or LinkedIn posts with the link, share it directly from the post here to your favorite outlet, even in a text or email to your friends. You can share from the home page by clicking on the three dots to the right of the title OR in the post itself by doing the same.

If you have any questions on how to do any of this, just let me know. I will be more than happy to help you help me :)

Believe me, this makes me very uncomfortable to do but honestly, that's my problem. If I am really being obedient then I can't doubt. I write about finding community around faith and family so, we're in this together! Help a sister out! If you have ever been encouraged or blessed by the stuff I put here, subscribe, sign up, and share. Help me be that same encouragement and blessing to someone else.

I really do appreciate you!