Good morning…
This spring, I told you earlier I Feel Pregnant With Quadruplets, holding, nurturing, expanding opportunities conceived by God’s Spirit. Three weeks ago, our Northside Writers’ Group birthed the Women’s Lenten Communion Service; a special, sacred evening was enjoyed by all. Two weeks ago, we birthed a second, powerful With God Weather Life Retreat in Ellijay, Georgia; the ripples set in motion by the Holy Spirit are continuing to enlarge. One year ago this week, our friend Julie Harlan was diagnosed with stomach cancer and after battling boldly for 37 days she went to heaven last April 2nd, at age 42; so this week was the perfect week to birth into our church newsletter the “Julie’s Dream” article, an article collaboratively created to highlight the nonprofit formed in Julie’s honor (see http://northsideumc.org/nsnewsletters/march_2018/#p=12).
Three spring babies birthed, one more to go.
On March 23rd and 24th, we will birth our Awake To Wellness Women’s Retreat, a two day collaboration between our Northside Church and our friends at The Cathedral of St. Philip. Authors I love, Dr. Cathy Snapp and Kitty Crenshaw, have released an updated version of their beloved book, The Hidden Life Awakened, and these Spirit-filled women will empower us to transform our world from within, aligning our body, mind, and spirit with the healing purposes of God. Visit stphilipscathedral.org/awake for more information and registration link.
Together we are learning that “significant doers for the LORD” need both action and contemplation, rocking rhythmically between sacrificial giving and soul-filling rest with God. I am growing to believe that “significant doers for the LORD” also need creative collaboration with others to birth the babies God conceives. “This journey is a process… The Spirit of Love is moving us in Christ toward the Father, into the arms of His loving Abba. He wants us to share in the beautiful, intimate relationship that is going on all the time between the Father and the Son. As we move with Him, we are moving toward oneness with God in and through everything. Eventually we begin to understand that nothing is separated. God created everything and He loves it all. If we can see all people and all things in this light, we can begin to love unconditionally and bring healing and reconciliation to the world.” (Crenshaw and Snapp’s The Hidden Life Awakened, 170-171).
Spirit-led action. Restorative contemplation. Creative collaboration. These three ingredients wake up well the babies conceived in us by God’s Holy Spirit. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God (Revelation 3:2, NIV).
…Sue…
