Speaking of Leaving a Well...

Leaving a Well...in the Valley you've been through! I was able to be a part of an event, last night, that had been planned specifically for women of the area, offered at the McLeansboro First General Baptist Church.

"Leave a Well in the Valley" was the theme for the evening. While we wait for the blessed hope...Titus 2:13a was the scripture basis they used.

Digging a well in our lives to leave for others to 'draw from' while we are living and watching and waiting for the Lord. The things He has planned for our lives...and the battles we face that the enemy uses to 'side track' us with along the way. Remembering that the 'well' needs to have the source of Living Water in Jesus and God's Word to be a healthy source...not contaminated by worldy thinking or actions...or reactions!

The evening was literally packed with opportunities for women to participate in worship, glorify God and just enjoy His presence! From songs to skits, dance to testimonies and then me, at the end!

I love any opportunity offered to talk about God and His word--and what He's done and IS doing in my life. I could feel God's presence from the time I got there!--Just calm, but building anticipation! The team had done an excellent job of bathing the evening in prayer. My hope & prayer is that all those who attended were blessed.

For me, personally, last night turned into a mini-family reunion and 'old home week' as two of my cousins drove over from the St. Louis area to share with those gathered, in song, (...thanks, Jill & Vicki, it sounded amazing!) and because they were there, my aunt got to attend! My sister came to be with us. (thanks, LaDonna, my 'book table' will never be the same:D) And, because this is the church where Mom & Jim attend, not only were they there, but Jim got to hear me talk--plus, mom and the planning team had been meeting for 8 weeks or so...they did a great job!

It was so much fun to worship together, and listen as many shared their stories...laughing and crying with them. It was also humbling, when it was over, for a few of those precious women to come up and tell me their 'stories'. I won't invade their privacy by sharing them here, or any place else.

But, it is a holy and sacred moment, when God binds us together as sisters because of similar 'valley experiences' in our lives. It is good to be able to openly, even for a few moments, encourage one another because 'we've been there'... Praising God for Who He is and What He's Done!

Praise be to the God and Gather of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.--2 Corinthians 1: 3 & 4