Hi guys, as I sit here in tears writing this, I wanted to share a little bit of what the Illustrated Faith Enough devotional is doing for me. I just finished reading the third section, days 9-11, and also returned from spending the weekend in Indianapolis at the Illustrated Faith workshop.
So much is running through my head and I’m still processing it all so I apologize if I totally don’t make any sense, OK? The combination of the workshop with what CD is sharing with us has hit me hard. I’ve realized I’ve put myself in a self-made box of expectations, trying to do it all and been so drained and overwhelmed.
I’m doing things I’m not gifted to be doing, that someone else is better gifted to be doing… all because I thought it was what a “good Christian mom and wife” is supposed to do. It felt so good to sit down in my Bible and write down my God-given gifts this afternoon. It also made me realize that I’m doing things (and poorly, I might add LOL) that I need to relinquish to someone else better gifted.
I’m not supposed to do it all! PHEW, I feel so much better now!
When CD asks what makes our heart absolutely come alive with joy that bubbles over… I totally went back to this weekend. I went back to when I used to have monthly scrapbook parties at my house. I never got any scrapbooking done on those nights and I was totally ok with that. My joy came from helping my friends, teaching them how to use a product or software or talking through design.
What does that have to do with the workshop? Well, in the first section of the devotions, days 1-4, CD reminds us to “Live out your God-created identity!” The workshop put me in that position. All I did was be myself and the gifts, teaching and encouraging, just flowed out of me naturally (without any anxiety attacks, EEK) and with so much JOY! Have I told you that my One Little Word® this year is JOY?
That JOY bubbled over when I got back and on Sunday morning had three separate totally random sharing opportunities. God cracks me up with his “random opportunities”! I got to share my testimony, my love for art worship in my Bible and about the workshop and what Illustrated Faith is all about. I seriously don’t know if I’ve ever been so crazy excited and it only confirmed the need do this locally, not just in the online community.
Yes, I’m in tears writing this, but they are totally tears of JOY! 41 years old and I’ve finally found JOY and realized that I AM ENOUGH! I can’t wait to see how God uses me not just here, but in my local community too.
I also can’t wait to see how God uses each of YOU and your gifts in your communities.
– Heather
