Defining Moments

Everyday I spend time in thought, wondering what I will blog about each night. Some nights I don't blog simply because I recognize I am in a bad mood and it's better that I don't communicate my thoughts on that particular night, or I simply am too tired to write. Today I had quite a few funny moments, quite a few tough moments, and quite a few "God I just need to hear you" moments. I knew homegroup was going to be REALLY good tonight because I was really tired and I could hear myself thinking, "you could skip and fall asleep on the couch." I am REALLY glad I ignored that inner voice saying stay home.

The thing I love about my homegroup is that we just talk and God moves in what is said and lives are touched. It's not anything super-spiritual or anything like that. It's just a group of people coming together to draw closer to God, and ultimately wind up growing closer in relationship with each other as well as with God. I. LOVE. THAT.

So tonight we opened up with a question...what is a defining moment? Is it something that happens to us, or is it something that happens as a result of what we do?

Tonight I was not shy, and shared my heart. Others did too, which was even cooler because God moved between all of us in what was said. I LOVE THAT TOO!

I stated that I think that a defining moment is when your eyes are opened to something you didn't see before, and most of the time it's something revealed by God. And, honestly, I think it's both, you can have it be something that happens to you and it can also be something that you choose to walk through.

I was amazed that defining moments was what the topic tonight, as I was driving to homegroup tonight and remembered that three years ago tonight was a defining moment for me. I was in a church that wasn't healthy, and the pastor got into a scriptural debate with someone in the congregation in front of everyone. It wasn't healthy, it wasn't right, and I knew it was time to move on. For me that was a defining moment because I stepped out into something new and unknown. I walked out of an unhealthy church into something more than I ever could have dreamed or imagined. Don't get me wrong, I know it's not perfect, and I need IHOP-KC to balance out my walk with God, but He put me in the place that fits me. Go figure, God knows what I need before I need it! :-)

My favorite part of tonight was when a couple of the ladies talked about some hard defining moments in their lives that they are still walking out the results of, and are in such tough places that they needed simple encouragement. I thought it was great how everyone encouraged one another. I also loved how God used me to speak into their lives.

I ABSOLUTELY love it when I get to encourage others in their walk with God. I have always been an encourager and have a deep heart for people. And tonight was really cool because I could feel God's presence as I shared what He gave me. It has been A LONG time since I've experienced that! I love it when God moves, and chooses to use me in the process. It's not about me, don't get me wrong, but to get to be a part of what God is doing in other's lives is one of my favorite things to do! It was AWESOME!

I will probably share in the next few days some defining moments that have changed my life, but for tonight I am just thankful that He used me to bless His kids!

Life.
Is.
Good.