DIVINE MEETINGS

Do you ever wonder if God will do something special in your life, more than you could ever ask or imagine? Truthfully, sometimes it’s hard to believe that can be true. I’ve experienced God’s faithfulness and over-the-top surprises many times over the years, but I still catch myself wondering if He will do something else special for me and or provide the answers to my prayers?

I have pondered if God will keep faithfully working and show His love to me in the details of my life. I find myself questioning if He really hears me and will answer. If you find yourself in a similar quandary, I want to assure you of the truth: He is faithful and true and is dying to love on you in special ways!

I was reminded once again of God’s unfailing love recently and was totally caught off guard with a glad surprise. I experienced the Lord loving on me in the details and am excited to share with you what happened when I least expected it.

I recently returned from a trip to Washington DC to attend a women’s conference at the Museum of the Bible. It was such a fun girls’ trip and an opportunity to spend a few days away to be encouraged and strengthened in my faith. It was a joy to celebrate with some old friends and connect with new ones as we shared this special time together.

The theme of the conference was “Flourishing in the Truth.” We heard from amazing speakers: Ruth Chou Simons, Jen Wilkin, and Jackie Green, just to name a few, and heard inspirational music from Maryanne J. George, lead singer for the group Maverick City. We experienced the museum in new ways on VIP tours and attended some informative workshops. The Museum of the Bible is extraordinary with the history and exhibits — the Bible truly comes alive! It was at a brand-new exhibit that God truly showed up in the details more than I could ask or imagine!

At the Elisabeth Elliot Grand Opening exhibit

I had the unique opportunity to attend the Grand Opening of the Elisabeth Elliot exhibit. As some of you may have read in my recent blog, she is one of the “all-star” mentors of my faith. I was in awe of the timing that I would be attending the conference when Elisabeth Elliot was featured in an exhibit. It was an honor to meet members of the Elliot family and several special guests including Ellen Vaughn, the author of Becoming Elisabeth Elliot. We were honored to have Ellen as our Anchor at Home speaker last November and we look forward to her speaking at our upcoming in-person Anchor gathering on May 4th! What really topped it off was meeting Elisabeth Elliot’s daughter, Valerie Elliot Shepard. What a surprise — I was blown away!

As I have shared before in my blog, my daughter Karina and I were in awe and inspired by Elisabeth Elliot and her story. It was the story of Elisabeth and her first husband Jim Elliot and their call to mission work in Ecuador with the Auca tribal people. It was in their early missionary years they had their daughter Valerie in 1955. Jim Elliot was killed in 1956 while attempting to make missionary contact with the tribal people. Elisabeth, along with her young daughter Valerie, would later return to Auca territory to live among and minister to the people who killed her husband. This story continues to inspire me to live in wholehearted devotion to the Lord. Through her life and writings, I have been mentored and come to know Jesus Christ more intimately.

I felt like a crazed fan as I asked for a picture with Valerie (my friend Kathleen kept sneaking pictures of us everywhere; I tried to be stoic and not seem too excited)! I just couldn’t believe I got to stand with her and talk as if she were a long-lost friend. I had the opportunity to share about my daughter Karina and how much their story of trust and obedience to the Lord helped give us strength for our journey. Suffering can be deep and incredibly debilitating, but the Lord proves His faithfulness again and again.

Familiar with suffering, Elisabeth wrote, “The deepest things that I have learned in my own life have come from the deepest suffering. And out of the deepest waters and hottest fires have come the deepest things I know about God.”

In conclusion, if any of you reading right now are in a season of life that you feel unsure, a little fearful, wondering if God sees or hears you and if you are questioning, “CAN and or WILL God do something special for me? More than I can ask or imagine?” I can say with ALL my heart YES! He loves you and is waiting for you to come to Him and trust Him with your life and He will love on you in the details — it’s a promise. Meeting Valerie was a true testament to God loving me once again and proving His faithfulness.

At the Museum of the Bible with Ellen Vaughn, Joy Zorn, Valerie Elliot Shepard, Katie Robertson and Kathleen Cummins

“Now to him who IS able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever!” Ephesians 3:20-21

“He WILL NOT forsake those who seek Him.” Psalm 9:10

With hope and light,