One door closes....and another one opens

Two years full of fear, hard work, much prayer and tremendous blessings came to an end for me last night as I coordinated my last MOPS meeting for our church. What a wonderful evening it was, full of great food, fun and a wonderful message of how God does extra ordinary things in the lives of ordinary people. How those words rang true for me last night. My wonderful friends that I have led with put together a fun video and scrapbook for me to remember all our hard work and lots of laugher these last two years. When I began this journey, I knew in my heart that God wanted me to do this, and yet I kept questioning his choice in me. My conversations with him then went something like this: Me: I can't do this God, the task is too big. God: You can't do it, but I can. Me: Why God? Why me? Surely there is someone else more suited for this position. God: I have chosen you. Me: Why me? Why did you choose me? Here are some other people you should consider....... God: I chose you because I want you to grow. Me: How does putting me into a position I feel so ill-equipped for going to "grow" me? I feel even less of a person now than I ever did before. God: You're going to grow through this because you will have to trust me. You cannot do this on your own - only with my help will you be successful. Your trusting in me more is all I am interested in. Me: I'd rather just stay in my little safety zone. God: It takes zero faith to stay there. Trust me. And trust him I did. He also sent a lot of wonderful sisters my way that have changed my life. Nancy, Sarah, Camille, Debbie, Dawn, Christy, Jen, Leslie, Ally, Karen, Erin...so many wonderful people. I have learned so much from each of them - I could never put into words how much I love them. Two years ago God pruned me like a vineyard. I felt helpless and was so afraid of the tasks he had put before me; I felt totally bare. Today, as I have handed those tasks over to friends whom I completely trust with it, I know much fruit has been born of that pruning. Not in the activities I did or the tasks I completed, but in the work that God has completed in me. My heart is full of joy over the changes he has made in me and I feel much like an azalea bush that has come to life - full of deep green leaves and bright vibrant flowers. I don't know what the Lord will ask me to do next, but I do know one thing. The next time I tell him I can't - he's going to say "remember MOPS". Thank you God for your unfailing faithfulness. Thank you God for wonderful friends who have enriched my life more than I ever could have imagined. Thank you God, for You.