Ministry seems slow in this gap period. Perhaps I should clarify. Our fullest dreams and hopes in ministry seem slow in reaching. The ideas are all a’brewin’ but not realized yet. I am happy to have this movement, though, however slow. I am reminded of some mewithoutYou lyrics: “And if they ask you for a sign of the Father, tell them it’s movement, movement, movement and…repose.” I keep getting inspired here and there, a nice ebb and flow. I feel I am meeting the right people. I feel and know deep within my soul that this my calling. I know He is speaking…

Wednesday, after having been to a Bible Study in which we briefly studied Ephesians 5: 8-9 and 15-18, I felt I stepped directly under the Light mentioned there, and that Light produced a marvelous idea.

I have been struggling with where to hold a launching event for the girls “community” I plan to develop this year called TMA, short for Take Me Away. (I’m not sure if I should call it a ministry, a community, an outreach, a club, a group, a sorority of sorts…any ideas?) Anyway, I want it to be a public place rather than someone’s home for the initial event, because my plan is to make it much more broad, general, secular in nature at first and then filter down to a more intimate, relational, spiritual in nature level when I do sleepovers and the like. This event should be more social and promotional rather than personal. So, my friend Lori, at the Bible study, mentioned a local coffee shop. That’s the first time I thought about local businesses. I started thinking about some girly boutiques that might be fun. And there is one called Theophilus in our uptown. They sale higher end clothes and jewelery and little things all ladies love. It would be perfect for an after hours event with little sandwiches and tea. I want to make the girls feel special and sophisticated but definitely still fun-loving and youthful.

It’s so exciting having ideas and pursuing them. I believe with all my heart that going after something with definite of purpose makes it yours.

Last night, I had another idea, too. If girl’s and women’s ministry is my calling, then teaching on beauty would be a soapbox of sorts. Unfortunately, that sounds so cliche, but it’s still such a topic that we need clarification on in the Christian/ministry world. (That’s why I’m currently writing a book about it.) Anyway, my idea was inspired by my husband illuminating the word beauty itself. He said, “It’s got ‘Be You’ in it. That’s when you’re beautiful; when you know how to be you.” And that is true. So I think it would be awesome to have a part of the girls ministry to be called BU - short for Beauty University (and “Be You”). Very clever, I thought. My Dad would be proud. He loves little things like that.

So, however slow realizing my goals might be, there is still movement. And for that I am grateful, inspired, hopeful, and ever resilient.