This weekend we gathered...to learn, to dream, the share our stories. We began the day by sharing a little of our spirtual journey. We saw bits of a bigger picture coming together as we listened. We acknowledged God as the Master Artist, who unveils a bigger picture piece by individual piece. We discussed our adventure together as women who are choosing to be intentional about being connected for the good of the Kingdom. We did a bit of brainstorming about what it could look like. Our husbands follow somewhat of a format based on the acronym: LEAD: Learn-Encourage-Achieve-Dream. We agreed that was something we could commit to as well.
After a time of dreaming we moved to the dining table where we shared a wonderful meal - all "girl-food". (chicken salad, Panera bread, and salad with strawberries and mandarine oranges...mmmm) This was thanks to Diane Doty who also owns the lake house we met at. Thanks Diane! Thanks Linda for introducing us to Diane.
One way we are going to try to stay connected between gatherings is here- in BLOG WORLD. This is only for the truly dangerous! It may take a bit of time to get it working as well as it can but we're going to give it a try. If anyone has difficulty with it, email Juli. This will be fun! We can share prayer requests, answers to prayer, resources, news, lessons learned, funny stories...whatever. So, dangerous women - get blogging!
Around the table we read an excerpt from the book by Lynne Hybels, Nice Girls Don't Change the World. It was then we thought...that's what we want...to be dangerous women. Together. We prayed for one another and exchanged prayer requests for the time in between our gatherings.
"A dangerous woman delves deeply into the truth of who she is, grounds herself daily in the healing and empowering love of God, and radically engages with the needs of the world. ... Women mentoring one another aand sharpening skills. Women volunteering time. ... Thinking creatively. Taking risks. Following their God-given dreams. Dangerous women. World-changing women. All of us. Together." May we be dangerous women.
May we be women who acknowledgy our power to change, and grow, and be radically alive for God.
May we be healers of wounds and righters of wrongs.
May we weep with those who weep and speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.
May we cherish children, embrace the elderly, and empower the poor.
May we pray deeply and teach wisely.
May we be strong and gentle leaders.
May we sing songs of joy and talk down fear.
May we never hesitate to let passion push us, conviction compel us, and righteous anger energize us.
May we strike fear into all that is unjust and evil in the world.
May we dismantle abusive systems and silence lies with truth.
May we shine like stars in a darkened generation.
May we overflow with goodness in the name of God and by the power of Jesus. And in that name, and by that power, may we change the world.
Dear God, Please make us dangerous women.
Amen.
"A dangerous woman delves deeply into the truth of who she is, grounds herself daily in the healing and empowering love of God, and radically engages with the needs of the world. ... Women mentoring one another aand sharpening skills. Women volunteering time. ... Thinking creatively. Taking risks. Following their God-given dreams.
Dangerous women. World-changing women. All of us. Together." (Lynne Hybels)
