Shelly A. Faust

God Doesn’t Wait to Meet Us in the Sanctuary on Sunday Mornings

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I was walking home from the river with the boys and was suddenly caught off guard by the beauty of my everyday ordinary. As they ran ahead, majesty unfolded right there in front of me on the dirt trail covered in layers of pine straw. The sun made its way through the tall trees and I felt a brush of holy across my heart.

I stood still and could feel the beating of my chest. There was no mistaking His presence. You see, God doesn’t wait to meet us in the sanctuary on Sunday mornings, He builds a sanctuary within us and meets us wherever we are. We are His temple (1 Corinthians 3:16).

He desires to walk with us in the exciting miraculous and carry us when our load feels heavy but He also wants to linger with us on these dirt trails of the routine and familiar. And sometimes our greatest miracles lay hidden in our most traveled paths, stepped over and missed in the rush rush of the day to day.

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And just like that, our October theme was born. This month we’ll pause to discover the holy in our simple ordinary. I hope you’ll join in the conversation.

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September is my birthday month; however, October reminds me of another reason to celebrate. This month marks eleven years cancer free, but it also reminds me of the new work God began doing in the deepest parts of me during some of my hardest days.

An inner transformation. A drawing nearer. An awakening. A newness of vision. A greater awareness of His presence.

In our most pressing days, we are sometimes broken. And in our brokenness, in the place of vast emotion where our hearts and souls are wide open, laid bare and vulnerable, we are also in the midst of a great discovery if we dare.

If we dare to see God in the suffocating sorrow. If we dare to trust Him when it doesn’t make sense. If we dare to look for Him as hidden treasure in a dry and blistering land. If we dare to pause to hear His voice in the center of busy and loud and bad news.

If we dare to look for Him in all places, our eyes will open in wonder at His ever-present holiness.

Because when we seek Him with our whole heart, we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13, Deuteronomy 4:29).

When we pause to see Him through the aching and the crushing, our soul can find refuge in His presence.

During this hard season in my life in 2004, my eyes began to open anew. My heart became tender at even a hint of His nearness. My survival depended on being with Him. The more I looked for Him, the more I saw Him. And the more I saw Him, the more I wanted to look for Him.

My heart expanded in gratitude at the smallest of things. I woke up with joy at the gift of another day with my family. I began to celebrate the little moments and look for Him in every moment.

Our perspective is shaped by the object of our focus. We get to choose what we see. What we see determines how we see and how we live.

Seeing Him changed me.

I’m still looking and I’m still discovering.

I’m still being changed.

I hope you’ll join me.

 

 

September Wrap-up & October Invitation

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Happy Friday from my favorite tree in South Texas! It’s opening bow season here and all my boys are deer hunters so we are at the ranch this weekend trying to get some groceries.

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All last month, we discussed the topic of seasons.

As sort of a wrap up, I thought I’d list a few things (based on our discussion, and certainly not an exhaustive list) that keep us stuck in old seasons (with corresponding links to past posts in case you want to review).

For the month of October, I’m excited to talk about being purposeful and intentional in discovering, recognizing, and abiding in the presence of God. We can find the holy even in our simple, ordinary, every day moments. When we slow down, give room for pause, we can learn to be thankful in the present. Because sometimes the greatest miracles lay hidden in our most traveled paths, stepped over and missed in the rush rush of every day.

Open our eyes, Lord that we may see Your extraordinary power and grace in these ordinary moments. Let our hearts respond with a resounding yes to Your invitation to pause where even the simple becomes holy.

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I would love for you to join me here again starting Monday, October 5. You add so much value to the conversation (plus, this is all so much more fun with friends and being alone stinks).

Speaking of fun with friends, here are some pics from yesterday’s adventure I wanted to share.

Round Top, Texas Semi-annual Antique Show (including the awesome Junk Gypsy Company!)

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Happy weekend, y’all! 😉

An Update From the Airport (Texas–>Canada–>Texas)

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So, it’s Monday and time for another installment of #anewseason right here in my little corner of cyberspace. But since I didn’t write and schedule today’s post before I left for Canada, this little update will have to do for now.

God has a way of going before us and arranging things without us even knowing what’s happening. I suppose that’s why He is God, and we are not. He’s sees the big picture, the whole story. I’m usually trying to make sure I’m on the right page.

When I planned this series a couple of months ago, I knew I would be traveling to my first international speaking event but I didn’t really consider the impact or timing of what God would speak here to ME through these words. I know, I know, I thought all this was for you, too, but turns out, it’s for me. You just happen to be here 😉

I do hope, of course, that somehow you have discovered some nuggets of truth or heard the Holy Spirit whisper some words to your heart as you joined the conversation this month. (And if you have, I would love to hear about it!)

Right at this very moment, I’m in the middle of my trek home. I flew from Ft Saint John to Calgary, where I am now waiting to board my flight to Houston.

I have so much to process when I get home.

I did want to share one thing, though, while I had a moment.

Since I promised to be transparent and embrace the scary place of vulnerability (because how else can God really use our stories, right?) I have a confession to make.

I was thinking just this morning about how it’s (mostly) easy to write about stepping into unknown territory and being brave and entering a new season. You feel brave and type these words and sometimes others are inspired and encouraged at the bold use of sentences and paragraphs formed and published with just a tap tap of the finger.

And how it’s a bit harder to step on the plane and cross international borders and sit alone in an airport lobby hoping you can find an empty place to charge your phone.

And how somewhere in the middle of it all and again at the end of this impossible-made-possible assignment you don’t really feel as brave and your courage feels all used up.

And you wonder if you could do it all again? If you could leave your family and risk vulnerability and face your fears and embrace impossible and hard.

Transparency, remember?

So this morning a two year old named Zane asked me to read him a story. Right there in the middle of my moment. The moment my courage felt all used up and I started wondering.

So I pulled him into my lap and we settled in for some reading.

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And God gently whispered for the ten thousandth time,

It will all be okay.

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Because even when I don’t want to go and my courage feels small, He sees me. And His plans are much better than mine could ever be.

And even when it feels scary (whatever it is), He takes good care of me.

And guess what? He takes good care of you, too.

And if you haven’t read this book? You should. It’s for kids, but it’s for grown-ups, too. Obviously.

Thank you, Lysa. For this and a million other things.

For those of you joining me in this month’s series, #anewseason, I’ll be back Wednesday with a wrap up and an announcement about what’s next. You have been good company.

I’m off to the friendly skies once again, next stop Houston.

Family, I’m coming home.

 

Breaking Up With Comfortable and Finally, A Stamp in My Passport

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First Passport stamp

Way back in January, I was invited to serve on the Hospitality Team for the Klove Cruise. One morning during our devotion time, Bob Goff threw a medal from the stage and it landed at my feet. God whispered to my heart that this year would require bravery and courage. Eight months later I’m waking up in Canada and getting read to speak at my first international women’s event.

The night before I left, my ten year old begged me not to leave because “you’re the glue that holds this family together” and “who’s going to remind me to brush my teeth?” and “while you’re gone my hair will probably look like Napoleon Dynamite.” (Just a tad dramatic)

So upon departure, yeah, my heart needed a little courage. But God is a God who is faithful and promises to go with us on these new adventures that often require bravery and are sure to stretch us outside of our comfortable places (like a stay at home mama from Texas flying to Canada to deliver a word, encourage some hearts, and offer freedom to others who might be tempted to resist an assignment outside of their natural abilities and strength).

Responding to and answering the call of God, wherever it may lead us (across the oceans, to the ends of the earth, to our neighbor’s house, or to the neglected corners of our own community) is costly. Not might be, not could be, IS. It requires a surrendering of the things you hold the tightest. And just when you think you’ve trusted Him in all places, He tugs at a part of you still connected to your own confidence, strength, or ability to control.

I boarded my plane, (medal securely attached to my backpack, Joshua 1:9 strategically tucked into my heart), and stepped further into this new season God has called me to.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified or dismayed (intimidated), for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

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Steps of obedience are very often followed by blessings of bravery. A bravery not in and of ourselves, but in the One true and living God. He makes us brave with a courage confident in a God who goes before us and has already prepared the way. A God who knows all things and makes all things possible.

So, good morning from Canada!

Yesterday was quite the adventure, as my time in the airport usually is for some strange reason. After being delayed in Houston, I missed two connecting flights but finally made it to Canada.

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From out of my uncomfortable places, I’m praying God will bring comfort and bravery to others. I’m praying He will be glorified and move among these women in this little camp hidden in the beautiful landscape of His own masterfully designed creation.

Because I think He has a way of calling us out to call others in. Calling us out of ourselves, out of this world, out of faithless living.

And into a realm of Kingdom living right here on this ground.

So, I’m breaking up with comfortable. It’s just not working anymore.

How about you? Are you hearing a call from deep within to step outside of the places you’ve been scared to move past? Those places that have kept your mouth shut? Those places that have prevented your feet from walking and your hands from being lifted in surrender?

I’m not just talking about getting on an airplane or speaking at a women’s retreat. There are more things inside of our comfortable zone holding us captive than we realize. Breaking up with comfortable could mean:

No matter what it is that’s stretching you outside of your comfortable place, God has already gone before you and prepared the way. Go ahead, break up with comfortable.

What is God is asking you to do that is outside of your comfortable place? 

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