Best Day Ever?

Today was one of the best days of my life.
And not because I won the lottery or Johnny came home or I got a puppy or got engaged or anything like that. But because today God spoke in tender ways, equipped me to be aware of His voice, and used my weaknesses to reveal His strength.
This morning, I woke up, got ready quickly as I’d slept in, and headed with Pastor Nat to Starbucks to meet a fellow youth leader, where we discussed our upcoming message series all about friendships, and what godly friendships look like. I’m preaching the talk on Influence, and God just filled my spirit with His word, Scripture, and stories as He put kids on my heart. Thank-you, Lord, for speaking when I look to You.
I also saw my dear friends Kevin and Kathryn’s brother, who is also a Starbucks barista, and who, in talking to, immediately put Kathryn on my heart to talk to and get in touch with. Thank-you, Lord, for putting people on our hearts even when I’m not always asking. 
From this meeting, I headed in abnormally cold, snowy, and windy weather to Cambridge, where I had my first ever meeting at LeadManaging, where I have just been hired as the staff writer and content curator. The property management software startup is designed and co-led by a beautiful, kind-hearted girl who I danced with many years ago, and it is thanks to this very blog that I have the opportunity to write for this incredibly innovative company.
I’ve been conversing with Dayna for over a week now, and one of my articles is being published this week! It was so wonderful to meet Dayna and the owner, Darren, and see their beautiful offices. I have prayed about this job, and felt such overwhelming peace and guidance from the Lord that I am meant to be here, and meeting with these genuine, professional people today only solidified that. It was such a pleasure, and truly one of the coolest experiences of my life of something coming together. Dayna also shared that she’d felt the decision to hire me was a no-brainer. Lord, use me for Your purposes at LeadManaging.
After the meeting, I headed outside and bumped right into my beautiful, co-bridesmaid-in-my-friend-Emily’s-upcoming wedding, friend Mariah’s dad. “You’re Mariah’s dad!” I exclaimed, and he put some really important things on my heart about Mariah, Emily’s wedding, and we talked and prayed. It was needed– and when I checked my phone, I had a text from Emily that affirmed my conversation with Mariah’s dad. Lord, thank-you for working in all of our hearts for a common purpose.
On my bus ride back from Cambridge, I was feeling so excited and grateful and just praising God for His ever faithfulness, when a heaviness fell over my heart, as I began to pray for others in my life that I knew were hurting. As that heaviness fell, I received a long text from my beautiful roommate Autumn, who called out exactly the heaviness I was feeling, reminded me that Jesus was in control, and that I was called only to love through Him. That she saw my heart. Lord, you give discernment to those who seek You. Thank-you for Your Spirit, and that it comes to us through amazing friends like Autumn.
I got home to my lovely little family of girls, and each one of us shared a little heaviness in our hearts. We were able to comfort and encourage each other in the Lord in the midst of stress. Thank-you, Lord, for the community and friendship You call us to.
I didn’t have much time at home before Youth, which I headed to next, where worshipping the Lord in song was exactly what I needed to be in. I also praised Him for the fact that my friend Jake’s little sister was at Youth for the second time! It seems both her and Jake are discovering God’s love, and this has been such an encouragement to me. Pastor Nat’s message was all about how being blind can be a part of our journeys, but THE part is Jesus giving us sight. We don’t need to know all the answers, but we CAN know what we experience, and no one can invalidate an experience. I had some amazing conversations, both in small group and one-on-one, with my youth girls. Jesus, thank-you for these girls; thank-you for churches; thank-you for SIGHT in You.
After Youth, Ani, Semara and I went for coffee, where Semara so vulnerably shared her heart with us. “I want to tell you I’ll pray for you, but sometimes I just don’t pray. I wish I remembered and cared more in the moment,” she said. Her vulnerability and honesty amazed me, and I praise God for that vulnerability that exposed her weakness to us. Lord, You are perfect in weakness– and certainly none of us are perfect in prayer. Help us to pray, to turn to You– and to be vulnerable in our struggles, like Semara’s example.
I got to Skype Johnny when I got home, and we talked about some really important things. Amazed as usual by the gifting and patience of my man, and proud of his vulnerability, we talked about this season of life and that very thing– God’s perfection made perfect in our weaknesses. He has taught me SO MUCH, and I cannot begin to explain how God has used him in my life. After talking with Johnny, I shared a bit with Maddie about our conversation, and my roommate Beth’s fiancee, Jared, overheard a bit from next door. He selflessly chatted with me for almost an hour about how he’d shared in such similar experiences to Johnny now– Jared felt really called to talk to and both learn from and help Johnny. Thank-you, Lord, for listening and vulnerable and wise friends like Maddie and Jared.

Finally, as it was 1am and I was exhausted, I was about to head to bed– but while still in the kitchen, my dear Autumn came out for a snack and a drink, and I sat with her and snacked in the kitchen whilst we laughed, cried, and talked about her amazing gift of discernment. Her recent levels of freedom. She poured such TRUTH over my life and wisdom that I needed. And shared some struggles with me.
And together, we prayed.
Just before talking to Autumn, I’d felt the urge to crawl into bed.
Like how earlier I’d felt the urge to ignore my prayers for wisdom. To pretend I didn’t see Mariah’s dad might have been more comfortable. Or to not stop and talk to Kathryn’s brother. Many times today I felt overwhelmed– why so many souls in one day God?
Wow. What a horrible question.
Lord, excuse my humanity that gets tired. THANK-YOU that I get to serve You and am called to ministry and to people. Thank-You that I DON’T “DO” any of the work on souls– that’s all You. But thank-you that You use me. Today was so, so amazing only because of You, and I pray that I would live each day only expectant of Your incredible, life changing Spirit to be poured and that You would use me, that You would glorify Your name, and that people would find joy in You.
Have questions about who this Jesus is? Always here to talk. I am always excited to talk.
And Jesus Himself is a billion times more!