The Humor, the Hard, and the Holy…God is in it all
Hey friend,
I hope this finds you doing well. It’s a lovely Saturday night here and I’ve got a story for you. It begins with this first pic. I told it on social earlier, and then I decided that I really wanted to tell you, too.
I had a blast with the women of Swartz Baptist Church last night. It was my first meeting of the 2023 season and my first time sharing from Seizing the Good Life, (releasing June 13th). That said, it wasn’t without opposition, but to quote Paul, I’m not ignorant of the enemy’s devices, so there. (Paul didn’t say the so there part.)
Shall skip most of the day’s challenges and get to what happened right before go-time…
I had just knelt in prayer with the event’s prayer team before taking the podium. When I stood and took a step, the sole of my boot separated from the boot and tried to trip me.
Whatever.
I texted my prayer team girls, (Love you Jessica, Carey, and Red) now fully aware I should’ve already done that. Then I did a hasty repair with some desk tape- would’ve gone with duct tape had it been available, and it was full steam ahead.
You can see my handiwork in this pic with the evening’s coordinator, sweet Ashley Long Simms. (Taking that young woman with me in my heart!) Y’all, that tape held while I spoke, and broke when I stepped down, but in between, well, there was another first.
Yes, yes, I did shoot “Seizing the Good Life” rubber bracelets into the crowd during a bit of storytelling fun before we opened the Word. (Slide 3) No one was hurt there either.
I don’t know what Father God did in the hearts of those who attended but I know what He did in mine. I know He was with me in the hard, the humor, and the holy.
I knew all of that last night when this weary body fell into bed but He reminded me again this morning when I found the Scripture cards Ashley had made and slipped in my gift basket.
I took a screen shot for you of some of the opening words of Seizing the Good Life. Notice their repetition in Ashley’s beautifully designed card.
Ashley and I had not communicated about the message. She told me the theme was Rooted and to speak however the Lord led. I spoke on “How to Stay Rooted in a Post Christian Reality TV World.” Some might see that card as coincidence. I see it as heavenly confirmation.
I’ll leave you with a few more words from the first chapter of Seizing the Good Life.
You and I were purposed to live in these days, and we’ve been given the opportunity to do so indwelt by the power and presence of Almighty God. What privilege! He is with us to strengthen us, comfort us, support us, guide us. When we rush through our lives without seeking Him, we live at the mercy of stress-inducing news that’s always building and breaking. But, praise God, the opposite is also true!
If we live asking Jesus to help us trust Him and make Him our everything, He’ll do that and more. He’ll establish us and root us, through His Spirit in us. He’ll make Himself the cornerstone of our lives, and then He’ll reach through us to the world around us, through His empowering Spirit in us.
This is our inheritance. We can access the wisdom and power of God while we’re still here on Earth, and our souls can know peace where the world says there is none, all because of the Holy Spirit’s presence.
Blessings, friend!
Hugs, Shellie
You can preorder Seizing the Good Life here. Many thanks!
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Dee Frappier
Dear Shellie…I want to let you know we have masking tape at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church! I hope you won’t need it when we see you in April. This is a wonderful article, you are an amazing person and we can’t wait to meet you.
With love in Christ,
Dee Frappier, ECW
shellie
LOLOLOLOL! Yay! Keep it handy. One never knows. 🙂 SO looking forward to being with y’all at St. Martin’s! I’m gonna squeeze you right.
shellie
That was supposed to be “Squeeze you tight!” Thanks for nothing, Siri. 🙂 Hugs, Shellie