Mary In Bloom

I did not recognize it as a calling as I was reading Running with the Buffaloes by Chris Lear and "sports massage therapy" was mentioned, but something within me stirred and I thought, "hmmmm..."  I did not run right out and register at the local massage therapy school or even request information on a program, instead I continued attending classes with the intention of majoring in dietetics (until I realized how much chemistry would be involved).  I did, however, continue to stumble across it in my thought processes from time to time -- turning it over in my mind and wondering, "what if?".
 I enrolled at the National Massage Therapy Institute in Falls Church, Virginia approximately three years after Lear's book lit the smallest of sparks in me and I had never actually received a massage myself.  Truth be told, up until seeing the word "sports" in front of massage therapy, I had always pictured massage as a luxury that bored housewives indulged in after a day of lounging on the couch and eating bon-bons.  I have always had an interest in the human body and if you had asked me as a senior in high school what I wanted to do, I would have told you athletic training or sports medicine.  I got side-tracked and I lost my way and tried on many different hats, but the point of all of this is that even while I was very, very far away from God, He was designing His destiny for me.  He was speaking into my soul and aligning me and my talents for Him and His glory.  I will never stop being grateful or stop tearing up when I think about His patience with me or how it must have broken His heart to see me do the things I did to myself.
I try to bring God's light with me into the massage room every day and I pray for His healing for all of those on my table and I will always love being a vessel for Him in this way, but I know He is calling me to do other things for His Kingdom.  I am seeking His will and listening for His voice, but until I see what direction He is pointing me in, I will take small faithful steps of obedience because I know they are building blocks that will eventually position me where He can use me the most. 
Recently Brandon and I were approached by our pastor and his wife about taking on a small role in the church.  If it had been just about anything else in the world, we would have immediately said yes, but this involves getting up in front of the whole congregation every Sunday if only for a few minutes at a time.  Really?  The one thing in this world that absolutely terrifies me???  But I trust the Graingers and know this was something that they had prayed about before they brought it to us.  I also believe that God calls us to be better versions of ourselves for Him.  This is one of the reasons I love my church so very much; Pastor Lucas challenges us to step up and live out our faith instead of passively listening to sermons Sunday after Sunday.  He is equipping us to equip others to share the Good News of Jesus Christ, have deeper intimacy with our Heavenly Father, and walk in harmony with the Holy Spirit.  While I was seeking a new church a little over a year ago, I had one major requirement - that it meet the standard set in Ephesians 4:11-13

This will be the third year I have chosen "my one word" to help me focus on how I want my life to change in the coming year.  In the past two years the words I chose ("Bloom" in 2011 and "Stride" in 2012) were broad in their scope and did indeed reach into all the corners of my life.  There was a blossoming that took place in '11 and I can assure you that change really picked up momentum in '12.  And how grateful I am. 

It is truly supernatural - driven by the Spirit - how much different life looks today than it did a year ago. I met a woman who attends Port City Community Church (the church that "my one word" originated from) and we had a conversation about how God really does work through your "one word".  I know this to be true which is why I think I will always have a "one word", not just for a daily reminder of where my focus should be, but to ask God to join me. 
My one verse last year was Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

My year started with that verse, but it seems have come to a close with another - Romans 5:3-4
And that is the rock that I stand on today.  Who could ask for anything more?  Well, I am going to keep on asking (Matthew 7:7).  I know Jesus is my rock, but I want to know Him more.  I want to spend this year resting on that rock.

My one word for 2013 is:
com·mun·ion
I spent the early part of 2012 spending time with God every morning -- something I was encouraged to do in a class at Barefoot Church with Pastor Jonathan Lawson where I truly felt I was being discipled.  As my year progressed in a whirlwind and the class came to an end, I slowly let this special time alone with God fall by the wayside.  Having experienced the richness of what that kind of intimacy with God can be like, I certainly have felt that my days are missing something.  Don't get me wrong, I still talk to God ALL the time and I do hear Him, but I am thirsty for more.  I need our alone time back.  I want Him to speak into my heart through His presence and His Word.  I desire both rest and revelation.  I am ready to slow down, take a deep breath, and commune with Him every morning.  I will come to Him in worship, with thanksgiving, with longing, in supplication, and without expectation because He is my heart's desire.