Last night was our last group night of BSF this year for Isaiah. It was bittersweet to meet with my group for the last night. I have LOVED getting to know them. They are all amazing women and are so gracious to put up with their "youngster" leader. Being a group leader this year was perhaps one of the greatest blessings along the journey of this year. Because no matter what was in upheaval, God's word and the amazing study of Isaiah was my constant.
And leaving that leadership circle might be one of the hardest things about leaving Russellville. 
But it's also one of the greatest lessons I have learned through being in leadership and BSF this year:


SERVING AND SOAKING:
*Just as Ecclesiastes says it so eloquently, everything has it's season. There are seasons in our lives where we are feasting and learning and soaking, and most likely He allows us to do this as we are serving because he is not going to allow us to STAY there. We are meant to have deep encounters in our prayer closets or on the mountaintop with the Lord (and actually have that access daily) but we aren't meant to stay in the closet. We are meant to stay on the mountaintop. We are meant to come down and share what we've encountered with others. 


And I'm also reminded of Gideon's army that was weeded out by whether they let their head down as they drank from the stream or if they kept a weathered eye on the horizon (ok, so they weren't pirates of the Caribbean, but stay with me) We are to drink, we are to be filled and nourished, but with an eye on the horizon for what is to come, or where God is taking us. Be revived, so that you are ready to go.


So for this season, I have had the privilege to serve Christ while also soaking in his truth. 


"I GOT THIS"
*My husband often says to me, "Meg...I got this." As in, I can handle this, chill out. And I saw, time after time, God saying this to his people in Isaiah, "I'm God, You are not. I got this. Watch me do it". And I've seen him instill this in me. A very Kyle-like chill, where I just trust my Jesus to work out his will. And I trust his will. So, I can hear him say to me, "Meg, I got this." and I know I need to get out of the way because he's working. And I'm in the way.


OAK:
*In Isaiah 61 He speaks about giving his children a new name. Just like he did with Abram, Jacob, Paul, Peter, etc. And these new names didn't identify who they were right then, at the crossroads...but who they would become. It signified a new relationship between them and God and it represented their new purpose and calling. 
Most of you know the story of my tattoo. (If you don't you can go back and read the post.)
Well, my anthem that stems from that story and my tattoo is Isaiah 61:3

"to bestow on them a crown of beauty 
   instead of ashes, 
the oil of joy 
   instead of mourning, 
and a garment of praise 
   instead of a spirit of despair. 
They will be called OAKS of righteousness, 
   a planting of the LORD 
   for the display of his splendor."

And I realized that he had given me a new name. I'd even tattooed it on myself, desiring to drive in that stake and become who I am supposed to become. In India, he called me by name but Jax was my crossroads where I accepted this new relationship with God and accepted my new calling and purpose.

And Oak, that does not display my own splendor, or chase my own imaginations but a planting that is for the display of his splendor.

I know it's a bit heavy for a Tuesday morning so, this concludes "deep thoughts by Meg"