It’s been months since I’ve written anything personal on my blog, so I think I’m overdue to share some reflections and life updates from this last year.
Here are just a few highlights — plus some insights to ponder and resources/recommendations for you!
Grab a coffee, get cozy, and let’s have a heart to heart.
January 2021
I started working with Renee Fisher, author and life coach. She’s incredible … and it’s crazy how we first connected. I “randomly” bought one of her books back in 2010 (Faithbook of Jesus).
Long story short, the Lord used one verse, Matthew 16:26, and her words in that book to speak to me, confront me, and convict me. It was the first time my faith became personal. It was the first time God’s Word became flesh in me.
Somehow we stayed in touch all these years. I’m always in awe of how God connects us with the right people at the right time.
Also in January, I traveled to Dallas with my friend Lauren to attend a Jeremiah Johnson conference at a church I love (Storehouse). We had a blast, ate tacos, and met fun friends from Kansas City. God did some deep things at that event that are still unfolding.
On the flight to Dallas, I was reading Teach Us to Pray by Corey Russell. (It’s a POWERFUL book, by the way.) God was wrecking me on the plane with a revelation of His romance. Yes. You read that right.
Romance.
God is a Bridegroom. The Church is the Bride of Christ. Wedding imagery fills the pages of scripture. God’s extravagant, intimate love for His people is central to the story He’s writing.
Anyway, right as I’m reading p. 142 and circling the word “love” and scribbling notes in the margins about God’s romance … the pilot gets on the intercom, announcing our descent into Dallas LOVEfield.
It was such a sweet moment. I knew He was speaking to me. He was pouring out his love in such a tangible, personal way.
Corey writes this about the revelation of God as a Bridegroom:
“It’s not a side issue, a weird issue, or an extra issue, but it is a central paradigm that leaders must come into so as to partner with God’s heart and plan in these last days.”
Corey Russell, Teach Us to Pray
By the way, Corey Russell ministered at the conference and also has an online school with dozens of courses on topics such as prayer, Revelation, fasting, abiding, and more. I joined this year. It’s full of deep, Spirit-filled teaching/ministering that will hit you in a new way.
February 2021
We visited a new church at the end of February and, well, we never left. It’s such a special community that truly feels like home and family. Thank you, Jesus!
June 2021
I decided to re-join my CrossFit gym. (I took a couple breaks between 2018-2020. You can read more about that here.) It’s soooo good to be back.
Psst: The gym is moving to a brand new location soon, called Big Omaha Fitness, and adding several new group classes. Come work out with me!
In June I also had the opportunity to teach a workshop on prayer from 1 Samuel 1. (You can watch that message here.)
July – September 2021
What happened in July was probably the most unexpected event of the year. I got hired to teach dance. (Gasp!)
A little backstory … I grew up dancing and cheerleading. I got to travel, perform, compete, move my body, learn, and have fun with my friends. It was a dream.
In high school, my goal was to work for UCA teaching summer camps, which I achieved but then quit out of fear. It’s still something I regret. (Read more about that story here.)
In college, I was fortunate to continue some semblance of creativity through a dance team and sorority activities. Eventually, I knew I needed to get a “real job.”
Then in grad school (still putting off that “real job”), I found out I loved to teach. I even received an award for it, to my surprise.
As an adult, I’ve mostly worked as a writer. But sometimes I’d get a little stir crazy sitting at my desk. I’d often daydream about dancing and even looked into dance classes a time or two. Sadly, there are few options for adults.
So I never made a move, figuring I’m too old now and that ship has sailed.
BUT GOD. He opened this door.
I started assisting and training in July and August and then started teaching at the studio in September. Some days I’m like, Is this real life?
It’s a reminder that the Lord does indeed plant desires in our hearts and then bring them to fruition at just the right time. He can also redeem anything. Last fall He gave me the word “plant” as a picture of what he was doing in my life. Several months later, I’m now working at … Bloom. Crazy, huh?
October 2021
I launched two of my own projects in October, a digital devotional and an email course!
I got to collaborate with the lovely Jenae Haman, a freelance writer and designer who did the layout for my devotional and created some custom stickers to accompany the email course, called 10:10 Life.
Do yourself a favor and visit Jenae’s Etsy shop, especially if you’re looking for unique gift ideas.
November – December 2021
I’ll wrap up the Bible Recap chronological reading plan this month. It’s the first time I’ve read through the entire Bible in one year. I highly recommend it!
Lately, I’ve been focusing on dance and resting from all the writing I did this summer and fall. My brain is tired. Some days, so is my 30-something-year-old body.
Most of all, I believe God is working in some areas where I’ve been carrying deep pain. Healing takes time. At this point, I’m well-acquainted with waiting.
We’re all waiting, really. Sitting in the tension of the already-but-not-yet that is God’s Kingdom.
Isn’t that what Advent is all about? Christ has come and He is coming.
There’s an open invitation from the Lord for you and me to rest, recuperate, and separate from the world’s chaos.
Instead of asking, “What’s next?” (as I so often do), I’m trying to reframe my question to, “What’s now?” — to be more present in the moment and better able to partner with what He’s doing and saying today.
These days are intense. The battle has been fierce. But He’s already proved His love and promised us overwhelming victory.
Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? … No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
Romans 8:35,37 NLT
Amen.
May you be refreshed this Christmas.
How was your year? What are you looking forward to in 2022? I’d love to hear from you in the comments.
❤