Friday, June 13, 2008

Day Twelve: Teamwork Makes the Dream Work :)

Sorry for the delayed post. I was in Princeton, New Jersey last night, speaking to a super-fun group of women. We talked some about life and love and spirituality—all my favorite subjects. But the focus was actually on bigger questions, along the lines of, “Does God want us to dream big dreams?”

Here’s what we came up with, in a nutshell: Yes.

What strikes me about last night was how much the women in that gathering supported each other. You could almost feel the energy and excitement in the room when I asked, “Have you ever noticed that sometimes it’s easier to have faith for other people then for ourselves?” These ladies didn’t just nod, they shot each other knowing glances, the ones you give your friends that say, “Don’t you DARE give up hope!” And some of them had never met before that night.

Powerful stuff, this. As I rode back on the train this morning, I was wondering how we could leverage this on our Forty Days Blog. Here’s what I came up with:

Someone, somewhere, said that 90% of life is showing up. Let’s start by showing up. If you come by the blog, if you have something you’re asking God to do in your life, leave a comment. Say, “I’m here.” This isn’t an attendance sort of thing. Rather, it’s a way to give us all a sense of how NOT alone we are—how we’re all hoping and praying that God will come through. That’s POWERFUL. We don’t know how our presence might change things for someone else. But we know for sure that it won’t change anything at all if we don’t show up.

So for the record, I'm here :)

Today’s wise words from my favorite how-to book: Psalm 119.

Today’s song: You Found Me by Kelly Clarkson.

33 comments:

kolls said...

I'm here!

himmiefan said...

I'm here! So glad I found this blog. I came across it while looking at your website after reading He Love Me, He Loves Me Not (loved it!). I'm just now starting my 40 days, though. Oh well...

Patti said...

even struggling...i'm here.

Gretchen said...

I'm here!

Kwana said...

I'm here too struggling with you Patti and all of you, but still here!

Aimee said...

I am here too! And glad to have the company!

mslizalou said...

I'm here! Thanks for starting this blog. This is what I needed to stay here.

Unknown said...

I'm here! I support everyone being here and thank you for supporting each other. You all definitely helped when I asked for guidance about listening to God. He spoke to me in a big way that night and it is because of you guys. So THANK YOU for being here for me :)

Tara Ryan said...

I'm here too! And just another update. I attended a singles worship service last night. I've known about the group for some time, but didn't lend much credence to it being worth my time, but during these days of focused prayer, the Lord has told me to get out of my comfort zone. Wow. Let me just tell you how great it was! And my dating pool is now like the fishes and loaves. :-)

heiress said...

I'm here, too!

Stephanie Kartalopoulos said...

I'm here.
And I struggle like crazy.
Wednesday night, as the clock was striking its way towards midnight (and towards my 31st birthday, which was yesterday), I was crying and crying and crying. There is a huge chasm between what I know I want--an amazing love and the peace and trust that are part of that--and the very little belief I have that it will ever *happen* for me. I don't know how the hell to build that bridge, and I know as all get-go that I can't do it on my own.

I can't build the bridge towards having faith in anything on my own.

The other thought that sent me into tears: that it is possible for a man to love me as me--Stephanie--instead of that person he loves even though she has had major crises, the girl he loves even though she has been raped and even though she struggles with depression and anxiety, that force in this world he loves even though she has this strange independent streak in her.

The thought that there is something beyond these fears (that seem to me, in my rational mind, like defense strategies against getting hurt) was almost too much for me to handle and almost too overwhelming.

I need help and have no clue where to go, what to do, how to trust that the God I have been struggling with so overwhelmingly profoundly could possibly be the driving force and the one in charge.

Unknown said...

here I am, too.

Clare2e said...

Present! And I know a good friend of mine- who won't let me give up- is in, too.

Kimberley Troutte said...

I am here!!! I love being here and believe God brought us all to this place together.

Sarakastic said...

I'm here!

suzanneelizabeths.com said...

I'm here. I'm so excited to see what will happen to each of us as we show up each day and share our journey and our struggles. This has been such a God-send for me, it has awakened my desire to know Jesus more intimately.

I'm going to remember this group in my prayers, I hope all of you will do the same so that we can strengthen our prayers by knowing that others are praying for us and with us.

God bless all of us.

Larramie said...

I'm here...back again.

Breeza said...

I'm here. Today has been a rough day and I'm not happy with God, but I'm trying to hang in there.

blessedsubstance said...

I'm here. I am in a bad place right now, but as Job said to God Though you slay me Yet will I trust you.

TV Fan said...

I'm here!

Unknown said...

I'm here and I know GOD will provide me with a fabulous future which includes a super fabulous husband. I am going to WORSHIP GOD as I wait.

Thanks Trish for posting this blog.. I really enjoyed hearing you at the Ithaca Vineyard Church a couple months ago.. the blog and your talkit were very inspirational

Unknown said...

I'm here & lovin it! Thanks for the 40 days encouragement.

Jess said...

I'm here!

Katie said...

I'm here!!

Unknown said...

I'm here too. Hanging in though it isn't a daily stop as I'd like for it to be but I know God is honoring my efforts even if I play catch up every few days instead of doing it in bite size pieces every day.

My last assignment for work though only temporary has been extended - Thurs was the week mark they had originally requested but they asked for ongoing help for an undetermined length of time and the agency called with two other opportunities that I had to pass up because of this one extending but I am trusting that God will orchestrate this assignment lasting long enough to cover whatever bases it needs to financially and when the next assignment or job comes along it will be at just the right time to fill in the gaps it is needed for.

Oh and on my number two prayer that I was debating whether to ask God for a two-fer, I have been focused on the immediate needs of a job and finances this 40days but God has given me the desires that are entrenched in my heart as His desires for me and He is showing me that He will honor those dreams in His time. I had emailed a few times with someone from another town about an hour away that wanted to meet in person. When that first came up a few months ago I panicked and turned tail quick as a flash and things sort of languished then - when I did mention oh how about this - I think I am ready to give it a try, he was up for meeting still and we settled the plans for a church service Saturday night the 14th.

I enjoyed our discussion/conversation afterward and had a good time. I was terribly nervous and going through my usual routine of I can't do this I don't know what to talk about or what to say .... even as far as partway into the evening but none of that really became a problem. Anyway God showed me that I need to, as a friend told me when I talked to her about stressing over it, just relax and be me. And enjoy getting to know someone new. Whatever comes I met someone new and enjoyed visiting with them for the time we were together and I experienced the fact that there are actually people out there that I can connect with and have reciprocal relationship with outside my small circle of friends. And that its not such a big deal to meet people if I just take that little bit of risk to try and get to know them with no expectations for where things are going to go.

The outcomes are up to God and He knows best and instilled those desires in the first place so will be the most able to truly design the best fulfillment as well.

On my first prayer for steady work or enough freelancing to make a living, I decided to throw out that I am looking for freelance editing work to an online acquaintance that announced they are starting a new publishing biz. It is still in early stages and not needing people yet which I knew but figured it wouldn't hurt to at least let them know I'm here. They replied that when the time comes they do need people they will keep me in mind just on my word that I am looking and capable. And the response also reminded me that I need to be letting people know because this person also said - oh I didn't know you were an editor. They won't know if I don't let them know.

Melissa

Natasha said...

I am so Here!!

Lisa Bakewell said...

I'm here!

ramblin' girl said...

I'm here, at least I'm trying to be...

rae said...

I'm here, and I LOVE that song!!!

Unknown said...

I'm here, several days behind

piglet said...

im here..though many days behind...thanks for this blog. just started my 40 days last 16june....

Anonymous said...

I am here

Anonymous said...

i am here