Yesterday our team gathered together for discipleship and to go over the next chapter in the book we're studying. God had other plans though and thankfully, we have a leader who is more than open to the leadings of the Holy Spirit.

During this time each team member laid out how they were doing, where their heart was at and essentially, gave the team a chance to be completely vulnerable with each other. Do you know how good it feels to have a safe place where you can be completely vulnearble? If you don't, let me tell you: it feels really good! :) For me, I had been struggling with some of my passion. It felt diminished in some way. Another great thing about being open with others is that you see you're not the only one struggling. A couple of my teammates were struggling with their passion as well. Whew, I'm not an abnormal Christian. Just good to be reminded at times. :) There were some hard things to be heard as well. I realized I'm not pulling my weight around the team as well. I'm not fulfilling my call to lift up and encourage continually...somehow, I'm getting stuck in my own world. Sometimes that proves easy to do with a big number of people but still unacceptable. Thankfully, the Lord is changing my heart and my actions. He's given me a chance to see where I'm slacking and an opportunity (countless opportunities really) to turn my heart towards Him and His people. What a great God we serve!

I have to continually thank Him for Dave, our leader, because what if Dave was so set in his ways that he was going to do discipleship his way, just like he had planned? Isn't that how we get about the things that matter most to us? I plan something a certain way, whether it's my day, my life, or even my relationships, and then when God wants to mix it up a bit I refuse. "No God, I got it. I know the best way for this to work out." Yeah....right. Thankfully, the Lord has placed in our team's midst a leader who is not afraid to let go of his control and allow God to lead. Thankfully, we have a leader who will follow the Spirit's direction even if it doesn't necessarily make sense or is the harder path to take because honestly a lot of issues, a lot of hearts, would have gone untouched, unheard if the Lord had not intervened. Praise God for His sovereignty!!