Dear sisters –
Jana isn’t ignoring anyone; her computer just went on the fritz today. She’ll be back tomorrow.
Much love!
Laura for the Women Getting Real Team
Author: laurajones
Who’s Got Your Back? By Guest Blogger, Beth Hungerford
Jana is preparing for a marriage retreat. But she will be back on Monday with a special blog about Wrinkle Release!! Some of Jana’s recent posts are available here.
Enjoy this great story from Beth.
I was on a walk with the Lord when I started seeing snails. Every few steps I was passing a little snail on the ground. I didn’t really think anything of it until I was almost to the end of the greenway and there was a much bigger snail on the ground. It caught my attention because the shell was spotted just like the back of those giant slugs you see every now and then.
The last time I was out at the rock when I had stopped fighting and was only pulling on the really loose rocks, I had accidently grabbed one of those huge slugs thinking it was a piece of the rock because it was underneath it. I don’t get grossed out very easily but that did it for me.
At the time I had heard God telling me to pay attention but I didn’t know what a slug had to do with anything and I had pretty much forgotten about it until I saw this snail. I was looking at it and basically commenting to the Lord about how it looks just like that slug and He said, “Except that it carries that big heavy shell with it everywhere it goes. Wouldn’t it be easier if it didn’t have one like the slug?”
I said “Yeah but the shell is how it protects itself,” and the Lord responded, “Yes, but the slug was protected too…it just has to rely on an outside source of protection and was using the rock.”
WOW…I’ve been thinking a lot about that and He’s showing me that’s why I’m fighting so much. I think I’m protecting myself, but really I’m just making it harder and heavier than it needs to be.
Stop Fighting Part II – by Guest Blogger, Beth Hungerford
Jana is preparing for a marriage retreat. But she will be back on Monday with a special blog about Wrinkle Release!! Some of Jana’s recent posts are available here.
Enjoy this great story from Beth.
So you would think that after my encounter with the ocean waves I would have learned my lesson about fighting against the Lord. Apparently I am a really slow learner.
About a month later, I went to one of my favorite places to spend time with the Lord…a large rock that hangs out over the river. I have many conversations with Him while out there picking pieces and sometimes large chunks off of the rock.
This time I was working particularly hard at trying to get off a large piece that was just loose enough to make me think I could get it. I heard Him again telling me that I was still fighting.
“But I really want to get this piece off.”
“Stop fighting. You don’t have to work that hard. Just worry about the really loose ones.”
I wouldn’t listen. He kept gently repeating Himself and even told me exactly where to go on the rock but I still insisted on trying to get the pieces that just weren’t ready to come off.
I think He finally got tired of me not listening and insisting on fighting so He let me suffer the consequences.
I was looking down at a lot of small cuts and nicks on my hands from where the rock kept breaking off (instead of coming off in chunks like it usually did). The Lord said, “Those hurt didn’t they?”
“Yes,” I said as I went back to pulling on a large piece of stubborn rock.
Then He said, “You know, you’re only getting hurt when you’re fighting. Just stop fighting.”
“I will just as soon as I get this…”
Right at that moment it gave way or at least part of it did…my hand slipped and my finger got cut deep enough that I now have a scar.
Now fast forward about a week. I went back to the rock this time fully committed to working where the Lord told me and only pulling on the pieces He gave me permission to pull on. At one point He said “look where you are.” I looked down to see that I was stretched out as far as I could over the water and that’s when it clicked. I had been upset and angry about cutting my finger because I really was going to obey once I had gotten that piece off. But… had the Lord not stopped me and allowed me to continue while I was still fighting and not listening, I would have been in the river. He had protected me until I was ready to handle what He had for me.
Correction from the Proofreader
Hi, ladies!
Just wanted to clarify that the last post was from Jana, not me. I proofed it and forgot to change the “author” when I posted it to the site. Sorry for any confusion.
Blessings,
Laura
A Note from Laura Jones: New Year’s Revelation
For most of my life, I’ve avoided New Year’s Resolutions. I hate them. Who needs one more hampster wheel to burn out on, right? I certainly don’t need another way to fail.
However, the Lord’s been up to something new in me. Since I’ve been in Jana’s class and John Dee’s class, they’ve taught me to ask for New Year’s Revelation: to ask the Lord to reveal Himself to me more, to show me the desires He put my heart, to give me His word over the coming year.
You know what’s amazing? He’ll actually answer.
For example, in 2008, I asked the Lord to give me a new song (Psalm 40:3). I meant metaphorically. All I wanted was a fresh start. But He took me literally! He gave me lyrics to six songs that year, each one verbalizing some of His love He’d been teaching me about. Love that gave me the fresh start I longed for.
In 2009, He pressed on my heart, “Be ready.” Didn’t even have a verse for that one. I had no idea what I was getting ready for. Just a sense that I was to prepare and be watching for what He had next, whatever that was. Sure enough, 2009 has been about weeding out. Setting boundaries. Learning about how He wired me. All things that have prepared me to walk through new doors that He’s opening like working with Women Getting Real and going back to school – things I was not ready for last year!
The fabulous thing about asking for New Year’s Revelation is it takes all the pressure off. It’s not about performance. It’s looking at Jesus and listening for His answer. It’s reaching up to put my hand in His as He leads me through the New Year.
Why don’t we ask Him together? Ask Him to give you more of Himself. Ask Him to show you the desires He put in your heart and His desires for you. Ask Him to give you a word for the year. And as we have this dialog together, post back here when you hear His answer!
In His Love,
Laura