Communication is Key.

The Lord is so good, and His timing is perfect. Sometimes He will allow me to see or realize something about myself, about others, about life--at the exact time I am supposed to learn it. This week, He talked to me about communication. Now, communication is what I studied in college (and by no means am I an expert in it at all), but it is definitely something I like to get better at, to work on, to spot in others, and in my opinion one of the most important tools in life. It is not just a tool of ourselves, but also a tool the enemy likes to twist and manipulate in order to reek havoc in situations which essentially breaks up friendships, families, churches, and relationships of all kinds.

A few days ago, within a situation, the Lord showed me a lie of the enemy that I was unaware I was even believing until He showed me. I blogged last year about life decisions--and how every choice we make is in response to whose story we are going to believe. The Lord's. Or the Enemy's. Everyday I am hit harder with the realization that this is actually not only true but true almost ALL of the time, in ALL situations. Including, yes, you've got it, communication. 

So I was telling someone a story the other day. It was a brief "in passing" thing that was describing something going on in my life. She asked briefly about a house I did not move into. So I answered briefly with a giant run-on sentence with examples that would've explained the situation better had I not sped through them so quickly. The conversation looked something like this:

Me-And I am moving into my new apartment this week.

Her-Oh is it that one place you showed me?

Me-No i couldnt commit to that place since it was in such a bad part of town and then I told that guy I was going to move in with that i couldn't live with a stinky boy so I am at an apartment of Paige

She politely smiled, having zero idea probably what I was talking about. The reason she didn't know was because I did not take the time to fully develop any of the story. Later that night I thought about why I didn't and the Lord sure as heck told me. I do not feel that others value what I have to say (sometimes it's because they don't, and other times it's more of the stigma I have caused by believing lies of the enemy about my worth). Because I don't feel valued, I assume that people don't want to hear my long stories, or bad jokes, or hear me talking at all for an extended length of time--so I hasten the pace, I skip important details, and even when I know that what I am saying is interesting, I always attempt to make it as less painful for the listener as possible. WOW! Poor communication skills Meg! 

When God showed me this about myself I laughed of course. Because I never realized it at all! But I do it-OFTEN! It's that choice too, every time, of whether I am going to believe the story of the Lord or the story of the enemy. Do I believe I am worthy and something to be valued? Or do I believe that the person on the receiving end doesn't give a flip about what I have to say and I'm wasting my breath? The conversation with whom the Lord chose to use as an example to show me all of this, was the PERFECT person to use. Because I KNOW that she loves me (and I her) SO much, and I KNOW that she values what I have to say. We have invested into each other's lives so there is no doubt about her care and her love for me and my silly stories.

Multiple times this week, God used what He had shown me. I teach drama classes at a non profit organization called the Foundation of Arts. In several situations with my kiddos this week, I had to pause and remind them that what they say and do matter. To slow down their pace. To take a deep breath. And to take the time to engage their audience (because good delivery is everything right?)

I was also shown the affects of poor (or non) communication in a not so fun way at all this week as well. And in times where communication affects your friendships, where you attend church, a job, a relationship etc...those are times you can be sure the enemy is hard at work. 

This I'm sure was not a teaching blog, so much as a, hey blog readers-I am still alive and barely kickin'. Still learning God's lessons in this very challenging season of my life. And hopefully passing on encouragement when I can.

In Him,

Meg

Encounters

There are times in my life, when I pray more genuinely than other times. So often I find myself writing a verbal letter out loud to God. "Dear God, Thank you for this, this and this. I need this, this and this. And would like for this. Thank you for Jesus. Thank you for loving me. The end. Amen. That's a wrap." There is little room for the Lord to speak back or move in my heart during moments of prayer that are like this. But for those times, when my prayer is worship and is true genuine communication with the Lord--I find that immediately He is moving. Prayer in the Spirit makes things happen, of this I am certain. The last time I freely prayed in the Spirit I saw angels riding Harley's down the road. This time, some more awesome things happened!

After an intimate and genuine time with the Lord this morning, I felt something stir within me. I could feel instantly something change. The rest of the day, the weirdest most wonderful things happened. If today had a theme it would be called, "Encounters with People the Lord wants you to Meet, Day."

My day after time with the Lord started by getting to rock a sweet, very sick little baby to sleep while singing songs of praise over her to Jesus. There was such a peace in that moment it was as if the Lord was rocking us both. The house where I nanny has a house keeper who comes every Tuesday, and the past few Tuesdays we have chatted briefly about church and about her relationship with the Lord. She told me last week that she wants what I have--the Joy that was inside of me. I knew the Lord was doing something in her heart, but would have never imagined that today she would ask me "What makes you believe in God? What's your story?" It's not too often Christians take the opportunity to invite conversation about God--but after asking Him to move in my life and to use me where I am, He plops a fearless woman into my life who boldly asks Me about the God I serve. AMAZING.

The day went on in the same way--where the Lord was landing me in situations where I felt like people needed encouragement or loved on or just a presence with them. And in SO many of these situations I felt like Meg wasn't there at all but that it was the Lord talking through me. After nannying I went to visit my friend Kate who's been struggling with some extreme life changes she's had since moving to Jonesboro. After that I got to teach some amazing kiddos some really cool things about drama and characterization.

After teaching I had plans to meet one of my students/friends out to eat and on the way there I saw a blind man walking down the street!! YES! A Blind man. At night, On a busy street. With his little cane, walking along the side of the road like it was nothing. And he was probably a good 70 plus years old! I KNEW I was supposed to stop and help him or love on him---I am going to be honest with you, I was very scared to do that. BUTTTTTTTTTTTT I picked up my phone (which I had assumed died hours before that because it had for REAL 3% battery) and it had just enough battery for me to call Police and Fire dispatch to get an officer out that way to find and help the man then DING my phone dies as soon as I tell the operator bye.

At the restaurant Clay (the student/friend) and I had the most wonderful conversation about spiritual gifts and using those to advance the kingdom and love on the world. We also had the SWEETEST little waitress (who also commented on my joy haha) and I KNEW she needed a pick me up---I could just feel it in my spirit. I was so happy that Clay and I were there to love on her.

On the drive home, I replayed the events of the day and how amazingly faithful God is to put us in situations where we are used by Him. But more importantly I thought to myself "does this happen everyday and I just....miss it?" Yes. The answer is yes. We encounter people and situations every single day that require us to be the light of the world. But our busy-ness gets in the way! Today, God gave me the eyes to see and notice things that I would normally miss....and WOW, my cup runneth OVER with joy. It is so wonderful to feel so intimately connected to the Lord in the small ways of just knowing He is there guiding and using you in your everyday life. A life that may seem busy or chaotic or boring or what have you. He is still there, still using us. We just have to open our hearts and open our minds, and we will find him.

Seek me with your whole heart and you will find me says the Lord. I will be found by you.

I hope you feel the joy through this blog because it is pouring out of my face right now! Sleep well. Be encouraged Beloved.
In Him,
Meg