You know what amazes me?
God.
Sounds like a pat answer from a Christian blogger, doesn’t it? But, really, I’m serious.
In the past two weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to celebrate the coming birth of two girls: a ministry by that very name, and a little granddaughter named Lilli.
At a North Carolina strategy meeting with a group of women’s ministry leaders, Mary and I shared the development of gIRL™, which has involved us hanging on to God for dear life as He’s gone about her formation.
At a beautiful baby shower I celebrated a slower-paced journey that has involved Him holding my hand as He’s deliberately, and sometimes very painfully, walked me through each step of forming our Lilli.
As I sit on the other side of these celebrations, I’m struck by the “dance” of it all. With gIRL™, it’s been a fast and furious, “crack the whip” sort of dance; a “conga line” if you will, with an ever-joyous Holy Spirit in the lead. He’s looked back at us, smiling and laughing, saying, “Hold on!! Just keeping following and holding on; it’s going to be a BLAST!” So we have, and IT HAS BEEN!
With Lilli, it started with no small amount of heartbreak; not about Lilli herself (she is a LIFE, a GIFT BEYOND MEASURE) but at the circumstances surrounding her conception. The revelation came as a shock, and the dance began with a tender and compassionate Holy Spirit slowly teaching me the steps to a delicate waltz with which I was not familiar. I stumbled a lot at first, stepping on His toes and tripping in frustration. It was a dance I hadn’t planned on learning in this way, and it showed. However, with great patience on His part, He stuck with me and I with Him. I have learned the steps and found that, as long as I kept my focus on my Partner, the dance became a thing of beauty…of joy.
I smiled this morning when I read this scripture:
Galatians 5:25 NIV
You can take it on good authority when I tell you that if you “keep in step” with the Spirit, it will be a dance that will leave you filled with a joy you’ve never known…a dance that will leave you amazed.
What a joy it is to see you emerging into a beautiful butterfly through the process of Lilli. Keep allowing Him to be the Lead and you simply follow with your dance Partner. 🙂
Love YOU!
amen and amen!! dancing with you from from georgia desr friend!
Could not have been said better
Dance away….ITs a celebration.
That was such a beautiful retelling of all that God has been doing in your life over the past few months! Such a great reminder of keeping our focus' where they need to be!
Thank you dear friend!!
Love you lots and lots!
Nikki
Privileged to be on the edge taking all of this in. What an awesome thing it is to be bulls eye in the middle of God's will. Praying for you, my friend.
Leah
Once again your gift for writing shines and I especially love the analogy of the dance…
Can't WAIT to see you soon!
Gran Jan
PS: What's your "grandma name" going to be??? It's VERY important you know…let me know!
Love you much!
The dance… I love it. And I've loved partnering with you in gIRL and standing by you with precious sweet grandgirl Lilli.
It is such a joy to watch the Lord work in you and through you.
You can't go wrong when your partner is Jesus! Love the post.
love and hugs~Tammy
Melinda! I think our God is so very neat. That one time you blogged about "Behind the Scenes" I was just about to have my girls retreat called "Behind the Scenes". Today you quoted Galatians 5:25. Well, the past 3 weeks I've been teaching in our High School service (yes, it's stretched me beyond measure) and my last Sunday was yesterday. Guess what my main verse was? Galatians 5:25. Yes ma'am it was. I love Him so! I love you and I can't wait to huge you neck in ATL. Like for real!
Hugs to you, my friend!
I love the way you're loving your daughter and Lilli. And I love the way God is loving you through each step of the journey. Continued blessings, my friend!
Melinda,as I have watched you these past months, I can truly say that you have become a beautiful dancer full of grace. What a dance team you and the Father make!!
I love you!!
Mom
God is doing a big work in your heart, Melinda. I'm so glad for the joy you have found and the dancing shoes as well. This is the perfect season for celebrating everything that is right and good about this life!
Life.
Live it.
Love it.
Live Him.
Love Him.
A good road to walk with you, friend.
peace~elaine