Do it!

    I have always enjoying writing. I remember writing stories for fun as a kid. I believe I started my first journal/diary in 3rd or 4th grade and have kept a rather consistent journal since the 8th grade. Writing just always came easy and naturally to me. I've never thought much about it; it's really just always been an extension of myself, my form of communication, and therapeutic. That has deepened in the past few years since my relationship with Jesus has begun to grow and deepen. My journaling/writing evolved into prayer, a form of worship, a way to connect; a way to process and think and discover truth.   
   
    For the past year or so, I've lost my habit of journaling, of writing anything really, save weekly sermon notes and to-do lists. This change has coincided with my getting married. I certainly lay no blame on my marriage for this. However, as those of you who are married can probably attest to, priorities simply change  and rearrange upon getting married. I now have someone around all the time, with whom I can (and do!) share all my thoughts and feelings with, therefore I don't write them down anymore-I speak them. But as much as I do share with my husband (everything), there has still been a lack of...processing, of going deeper, in my mind and soul, as it seems only happens when I write.
   
    Thus, I have struggled countless times to reform the habit over the last several months. And I have failed countless times. I have heard the Lord calling me to write again and I have been utterly frustrated with my journal, because I just don't know what to write anymore. "There's nothing to write about," I argue, with God and myself. Still, I hear that gentle prodding, "Write."
  
    Now, I will pause to disclaim: in spite of what I have thus far written, I honestly don't consider myself a great writer. I was never an English major. As I am typing how much I write, I am thinking of those friends with whom I have failed to uphold my end of the pen-pal relationship. If that applies to you-I sincerely apologize! (Particularly in this past year, when my writer's block has been thickest and I have been hard pressed to write anything at all.)
  

   I have read two ladies' thoughts (on Facebook) in the past week who shared my sentiment, "I need to start writing again." And that, along with some revelations from the Lord this week, has pushed me to dive back in. When I read those, especially after reading the second, I had that moment that I referenced in my first post-that ME TOO!! moment. It's strengthening and powerful. So, thanks to those ladies.
   
    And that brings me here, to this blog. Perhaps I just needed a new outlet for my thoughts-a blog. But even more than that, I think I needed a purpose to write again. And that purpose is you, whoever you may be. I pray that in the posts to come, that the Lord's words and truth would outshine anything that comes from me. I pray that what He is teaching me will echo with you, that you may draw nearer to Him, that He will draw nearer to you, and that He will be glorified in it all.

   
    So I leave you with this question: What is the Lord asking you to do? Even if it seems silly, insignificant, small, worthless, mundane, whatever. What is it? Know that He can use anything for His glory and His good will. Even if it makes zero sense, submit. Dive in. You may be in for a great surprise at what He will do. Then again, you may never see the effects or purpose. No matter. Trust Him. Listen. And follow.

This is the day the Lord has made, let us REJOICE and be GLAD in it! :)
Psalm 118:24

First Post!

    One of the most powerful aspects of community and relationships is that moment when a piece of someone else's soul is revealed and that piece is a mirror image of yours; that moment when you want to scream, "Me too!! I thought I was the only one!" That moment when you realize you're not as alone as you think and feel...there's peace and hope in that moment.
    That moment is why I am starting this blog. I long to see women connected with one another, as we help one another connect with our God. And there's nothing like a shared feeling, thought, experience, view, or laugh to help us connect with one another.
    There are so many things I struggle with and more often than not, I feel completely alone in those struggles. They seem absurd and far out and like nothing else anyone else has ever experienced. What a lie! The enemy indeed prowls around like a lion, waiting for any opportunity to impart lies in our minds, lies that convince us that we're alone, beyond hope, and beyond grace. I repeat: What a lie!
   I want to use this blog to be open about my struggles, my lessons learned, my revelations, my reflections, my life. But I don't want it to be about me. I want it to be an open space to unveil lies, to impart truth...lies and truth that wrestle in all of our minds. I want this blog to be a place where we can encourage one another and have those moments in which we want to scream, "me too!!"

    The title of my blog, "This is a Day of Good News," comes from 2 Kings 7:9a, which reads: "Then they said to each other, 'We're not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves." Now, the context of this goes something like this: There was a great famine going on in the city of Israel, while outside the city was the camp of the Arameans (who were at war with Israel). There were 4 lepers outside the city gate who were contemplating their fate; everyone in the city were starving and if they were to go in, they would surely share the same fate. So they weighed the risks and decided to venture out to the camp of the Arameans, reasoning, "If they spare us, we live; if they kill us, we die."
    However, when the men arrived, they found the camp deserted. Miraculously, the Lord had caused the entire army to "hear the sound of chariots and horses and a great army," so they fled, abandoning their camp! The lepers began to feast and plunder the camp, upon realizing it was abandoned. Then comes verse 9, quoted above, in which they realize it is not right to not share the good news with the rest of the people.

   Likewise, we who know of the good news, the hope, the way, the truth, and the life...Jesus...we cannot plunder the riches for ourselves. We all, whether we acknowledge it or not, have a desire, a need, to tell our brothers and sisters about the hope that we have found. In the sermon in which I heard this story from 2 Kings a few weeks ago, it was also quoted, "Evangelism is simply one beggar telling another beggar where to get a piece of bread."
 
   This is the day the Lord has made, a day of good news! For, among all the lies and doubts and fears and loneliness and busyness and darkness that cloud our every day...there is fellowship and hope and life and peace when we simply reach out for it. Reach out today.