Day 33
Women all over the United States and in other parts of the country came together yesterday for IF:Gathering. Women gathered in living rooms, women gathered in large churches, women gathered in small churches, all were focusing on this one question that demands an answer: If God is real then what? Many of who gathered are sisters because of Jesus, part of a spiritual family. We had no idea that our particular gathering would explode into 90 women. No idea.
Technology being used for the good of the kingdom is what IF:Gathering does really well. Many of the women following the IF:Gathering have been studying Joshua and the taking of the land through visiting the blog/facebook page. So, our hearts were already prepared for the messages we were to hear yesterday afternoon and into the evening.
The Spirit of God is moving amongst women. For us, at St. James parish of RCC, it was evident as all of this pulled together with little to no effort - 90 women out of the wood work. God is stirring up women out of their complacency. He is asking us to look beyond ourselves and seek the adventure of running with Jesus. This looks different for every woman. God reigns in and over diversity.
Jennie Allen began with Numbers 13:4-7, she is one of the women God has used to bring about this IF:Gathering. She is humbled. "Am I enough? Am I going to be safe? What is the cost?" these are the questions that many times occupy our minds. She says that God calls us beyond those questions. Joshua and Caleb saw and what the other 10 men saw, no disagreeing with that. But as Jennie pointed out, Joshua and Caleb chose a different story line. They choose the story of faith not sight. Her phrase, "we are at war and the prize is faith," will not leave my mind. It is unpacking slowly.
God is calling women. This might be refuted by those who have "figured it all out" in all aspects of Christian life. But the question is, can we truly understand God's ways or are we willing to humbly recognize before our Maker that we will never have it completely understood. We are drawn by love into a fuller understanding but maybe we should just let God be God? God is calling women.
The God of the universe always stoops down and breathes the breath of life into obscurity, into simple dust. Oh, to be a part of this story! Church, He is calling us to a higher purpose; to love more deeply.
In a few short minutes I am heading off again to be with women. If God is real then what?
Thanks for sharing this. I hope you'll share more.
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