Listen

“Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be joyful.” Proverbs 16:20

We’ve all heard those stories – or maybe even told them ourselves.

“I felt a nudge to call her right then and she needed to hear from a friend.”

“I paid for the person behind me and found out they really needed someone to show they cared.”

Just love hearing these things! It warms my heart. Evidence that God is working even in the little details of our lives.

BUT…

What happens when we hear that still, small voice and brush it off as a fleeting thought?

We think “I don’t have time to make a meal for that family.” “I don’t have the energy to _________” “That’s too hard.” “I’m not qualified.”

What happens when we say, “No.”?

I suppose if God is a god that can do anything, He can whisper to someone else if that’s what He wants.

But if YOU are God’s first choice for that mission, shouldn’t you feel honored to be chosen out of all of the people He could possibly choose? Or He could just speak and make anything happen that He wants and not use any human.

BUT He didn’t.

He

chose

YOU.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 NIV

When God tells us to do something, we are to respond. Now. Willingly.

Trust me. I know it isn’t always easy. Sometimes it is downright scary.

When we obey, amazing things happen. Things so crazy that you can’t even dream about!

Going on four years ago, God asked me to do something that seemed too crazy to make sense. He asked me to stop trying to create a women’s ministry in my church and instead begin one for all women in the community – no matter where they attended church – or even if they didn’t attend a church at all.

Thankfully, He was also whispering to a few dear friends at the same time. Together, we prayed and prayed. We praised as God opened doors and gifts fell straight from heaven. And The Connection was born.

We continued to pray and praise. And then we dreamed of the future and where God might want to take this new thing. We had what seemed to be a wild, unattainable dream.

A home for The Connection.

Not just meeting at this place or that place. Working from our homes. Storing stuff in garages and basements. A home to call our own. A place for Jesus girls to gather, laugh, love and hug it out.

Well, ‘cause our God is a BIG god, a god with thoughts that are higher than our thoughts, this wild, unattainable dream has come true.

On November 1, we signed a lease on a property that is The Connection’s home. Many of us have worked hard to remodel, paint and polish this rental unit and turn it into Home!

God whispered to the founders of The Connection. We listened. That step of faith was the beginning of wonderful things for ALL women in our community.

When God nudges you, we encourage you to listen too. Yes, it takes time, energy and hard work sometimes. It can be scary and beyond what we on our own are capable of.

BUT

It is so worth it to watch God do wild and crazy things for those He loves!

Mandy Hood

Mandy is a board member and executive director of The Connection. She loves to facilitate women connecting with each other and helping them grow in their faith.

Mandy and her husband have been married for 39 years and have 2 adult children, 2 in-law children and 3 grandchildren.