One of the biggest blessings that have come out of the past year and 1/2 are these beautiful women. Women that have poured into me. Prayed for me and blessed me with laughter.
On Friday, really really early on Friday, I will be flying to Houston to spend the weekend with 10 of the 12 founding members of the God-sized Dream website. We are meeting to dream and plan together….to seek God’s vision for the site and of course to eat way too much and laugh. Oh how I need to laugh!
This trip, and my ability to go, is a blessing in so many ways.
The community that we build online is real. It matters, it changes us.
I wasn’t aware that I could be filled in this way. That I would have the opportunity to pour into others….these crazy ladies that I met online! 😉
But it has happened, and the chance to spend even just a weekend in real life together, well I am almost beside myself in anticipation.
You see on Saturday is Karlena’s birthday….
A birthday that I can’t celebrate with her in person. Her loss in my life is still there….
But God.
Oh how He has filled my life to overflowing with the presence of some amazing women. And that this weekend was THE weekend that worked for so many of us to gather?! That at a time I would be feeling extra lonely, I will be surrounded by friends that are doing the very things that Karlena did with me.
Praying for me, encouraging me, being that light….that example of faith.
Thank you God. Thank you.
While Karlena will never be replaced in my heart, I am so grateful that God has filled that need for friendship with some wonderful women.
Friendship, real life, true friendship is a gift.
My prayer for each person reading here is that you will have someone in your life that is filling your need for true friendship, and that you would be able to be that gift back.
Lord, Thank you. Thank you for the gift of friendship. Thank you for filling my life with wonderful women who love You and love me so well. I lift up anyone who is feeling lonely today, who is searching for that friendship but doesn’t have it now. May they feel your peace and love even more today. In Your Great Name, we praise you! Amen
Each Wednesday we meet to join Holley in her 2014 Encouragement Challenge. If you need a little uplifting for your day jump on over and join us won’t you?!
I’m just excited for you! Sounds like an amazing weekend ahead of you. I’m attending INRL on Saturday and super excited to meet some new people. I’ve been so blessed by the friends made in this blogging world. Blessed to meet many in real life (I’m meeting two more in the next couple weeks). And I’ve been so blessed by church friends and in particular some high school friends who have come along side of me to help me through this time apart from my husband. Community…it really is a beautiful thing. I look forward to hearing about your trip and maybe seeing a few pictures on Facebook!!
I literally have chills about Saturday being Karlena’s birthday and you being with this new community of friends. God is good. And y’all will be in my prayers. I’m excited to see what God will do with the website from here.
I’m so happy (and slightly jealous too!) that you get to spend time with these wonderful ladies. What a blessing the God Sized Dream Team has been – so much more than what I ever thought it would be. Praying for a safe journey for you and for a wonderful, God-inspired vision for the GSD site!!! 🙂 Love you guys!!!!
I love you, friend. You are a gift…and I can’t wait to hug you! Eeeek…TWO DAYS!!!
Oh so happy for you! How wonderful.:) Have a fantastic time in real life, dreaming and encouraging- thank you for encouraging others with your words Kristin!
EEEEKK! I can’t believe I get to meet you in real life in just TWO DAYS!!! I cannot wait!
I’m so glad we all get to be together on Karlena’s birthday, only God, you know.
How much do I love love LOVE this? I am so thrilled for you – and for them! Praying for you for this weekend! God is so good!
Kristin,
I am praying safe travel and an abundant infilling of the Holy Spirit as my tribe gathers for fellowship and prayer. I will miss seeing youall, but you ar never far from my heart.
Thank God for bringing us all together.
Love u
So excited for you, Kristin! It is so amazing how God uses us in each other’s lives to bring help when we’re hurting, to comfort when we are crying, to encourage when we are low, to rejoice when we are joyful and acknowledge God’s constant presence and work in our lives. Thankful for the friendship and encouragement given to you through Karlena’s life. I’m sure she was a friend to so many. Praying you have a wonderful time with your friends this weekend and that God will bless in sweet and precious ways.
Kristen-Your weekend sounds oh so fab!!! What a gift that the Lord was thinking of you when he orchestrated the dates for the trip, knowing that being surrounded by girlfriends would be just the thing you needed to continue to heal your heart. He care about the details of your life! Blessing!
Pingback: Laughter is Good for the Soul