Something phenomenal happened Friday night and it has taken me this long to process it. Actually, I’m sure I’ll be processing it for some time to come. We have a husband-wife team leading our church. It has been wonderful to watch Pastor Heather growing into a strong leader for the women of our region. A little over three years ago, God planted a seed in her to lead a Women’s Ministry. She gathered her friends together, told them her ideas for this movement, and asked them to start feeding her possible names. When she heard “Vibrant Women”, she was moved. Vigorous. Energetic. Lively. Vital. All words that resonated with where she wanted to go with this movement….words that described women of strong faith.
This was the third Vibrant Women event held at our church…the second I have attended. It’s come a long way since the beginning. I think there might have been two-hundred women at the first one. Friday night saw almost SEVEN HUNDRED women packed into our church. There wasn’t a seat in the house. The sound booth said at one point the decibel scale peaked out at the same level as a jet engine. It was crazy fun. The energy level in that room was amazing.
We had a guest pastor…Pastor April Carter of the Together Church in Yakima, Washington. Pastor April spoke about Living Beyond Fear. Oh….she touched every single one of us. At the end of her message, she told a personal story. Someone who works in her church called her…panic stricken. Then he arrived home, his house was surrounded by police, fire, and ambulance crews. They would not let him in the house. The only thing he knew was, something happened that involved his son. Pastor April and Pastor Micahn headed to the hospital to meet them.
As they sat there, waiting for word of what was going on, she absentmindedly fingered a necklace she was wearing that a friend gave her. It is engraved…”I Can Do Hard Things”. The time dragged slowly by. They prayed together. They held each other up. And, finally…the doctor came out. Their friends’ son had gotten his hands on a gun and somehow accidentally shot himself. And they could not save him. Pastor April closed her eyes and repeated to herself…
“I can do hard things. I can do hard things. I can do hard things.”
Since Mr. Virgo died, I haven’t been so good in medical emergencies. There have been times I haven’t been able to show up for people who need me to do hard things. Pastor April challenged us to put on our boxing gloves and get in the ring of life and fight. Listening to her, I felt empowered. I felt stronger. I felt like trying harder and being the best version of myself I can be. I mean, isn’t that what faith does for us?
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Even the hard things.
We were doubly blessed in that Pastor April delivered our message at church yesterday too so we got to hear her twice this weekend. I googled her name on YouTube last night and there was a message called “Hard Reset”. You should give it a listen if you are interested. She is very good.
❤️
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:13 NIV
Would you share what church you attend? Vibrant Women is something I would like to be a part of!!
I am up very early this morning… my internal clock seems to do this every year when April comes around. I always wish it would pass me by. Twenty years ago this month (April 9th) I gave birth to my oldest son… and gave him back to God. All within two weeks. (April 23) Still to this day, it is a profound pain that hits me hardest when spring rolls around.
As I said, this morning I woke early, with my sweet boy on my mind and heart. And this morning your message was one of the first things I saw. It reminded me that, though I doubt my strength as a women and a mother many times throughout the year , by the time April is over I am always reassured that I can face anything . In the midst of all my pain so long ago, I “gave it to God” as they say. I never questioned why this horrible thing was happening, and I never blamed God. Long story short, I came away with the His assurance that although this Earthly world may tear me down, and may take every material thing I own, those “things” mean nothing. I can STAND because He is there.
I don’t write this as a “sympathy getter” or to steal thunder from this wonderful message, but rather to witness to the strength we can find within ourself. “I can do hard things”. Bring on it on April!
Thank you so much for sharing with us here, Kimi. We never know what we can get through until we have no other choice but to walk forward. Sending love and light this month, dear one. ?
Ginny, I live about an hour from Yakima, I will check this out and thank you for sharing. <3
❤️