Friday, August 26, 2011

Did you say celebration? I'm all there.

Celebrating is one of my favorites things in life. I figure there's a lot of mundane, pain, and just plain mystery to our days that when it comes to celebrating, I want to kick off my heels and boogie! Not that I wear heels. I admire those who are able to sustain stilettos. Anyway, back to celebrating even if it means kicking off my flats.

Recently I was talking with a group of women about a chapter in the book of John and we all went around to share ways we were going to apply what we learned. There's just something to saying it out loud that makes it more real. When it came to my turn, I mentioned that my lease was expiring soon and I would go through the ritual of signing for another year. I lamented how it can feel like a defeat to sign the lease because I am reminded that my life is the same in some areas.

Although I know God is constantly changing my heart. I just wish He would change my season of life. So after I sign the lease I usually go back to my apartment and lay on the couch, trying to recover. As I was processing with this group of lovely ladies, I vowed that this year would be different. I would not lament the lease but instead celebrate the signing of the lease. I created a "sign the lease" celebration in the midst of processing this new vision.

I would celebrate something that normally felt like a sting. I wanted to affirm that God's presence, His ways and timing are worth celebrating and that He was going to come through for me. I grew more excited about turning something that might cause me to doubt the goodness of God in to something that would be an opportunity to exercise faith. Take that, enemy.

My dear sister in Christ who was with me at the group said she was "in" on being part of the party. Celebrations are so much better with kindred friends. She came over to my space, bearing decorations, sweet stuff and prayers that we would be bubbling over with the joy of the Holy Spirit.

We ended the time of sweet fellowship by pouring out our hearts in prayer and acknowledging to the Lord that He is a "Abba, Father", Daddy, who cares deeply about His daughters. What a precious time with a faith filled sister in Christ! My faith was strengthened and my anticipation for God's activity, however He continues to give me His "lease" on life, is ignited.