Hopeful Hearts Ministry

It might have been Neal’s birthday but I felt like I was the one given the gifts this morning.  I woke up to receive a text from a young woman I’d met a few months back.  She is an abuse survivor and we had the opportunity to talk and I worked with her on a few areas in learning to overcome some triggers and strongholds.  This young woman has impressed me by far because a) she is 17 (or 18??) and has already progressed in healing by leaps and bounds considering what she has lived through and b) she knows what she wants and she actively seeks to go to God for guidance and direction.

So this morning I received this text: (yes…ALL of this was via text. ;))

Hi Shannon! The most unbelievable amazing thing happened to me last night and I want to share it with you.   I have been doing so good  with everything that has gone on in my life lately.  But last night I hit a bump on my road.  A guy texted me and basically wants me to date him behind my boyfriend’s back.  This boy is very cruel and makes me feel bad if I don’t agree with him.  But I struggled anyway with this and it was 3am in the morning.  I was lying in bed and decided to turn it all over to God. I put it in His hands.  Only He can decide where my life goes.  And right when I did that, no joke, I get a text from another guy from my school telling me I am a daughter of Christ and I am a wonderful girl no matter what anyone says.  And that God loves me with all He is.  And so on and so on.  And he tells me to listen to the song “Beautiful Things” by Gungor.  When I started to play the song I busted into tears.  But tears of joy.  In that moment I felt Christ grasping onto me.  My heart was warm and full of joy.  Shannon I literally felt God. It was beautiful.  I have finally experienced my first God moment!

(The song is BEAUTIFUL, a link to the youtube video is at the bottom of this post along with the lyrics.)

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What a way to start the day!  And what a gift for me to hear how God SHOWED UP for her in such a way and for that young man, whomever he was, to reach out to her at 3am with such life-giving words.  I encouraged her to write this down and go back to it on days she felt like He wasn’t listening to be reminded that He is always listening and with us.  When I asked her if I could share her text she didn’t hesitate.  This young woman is a beautiful soul. 🙂

A few hours later I had an appointment and the person working with me was new.  We were doing the typical ‘get to know you’ chit-chat and I asked if she had any children.  Her face beamed and she said, “Well actually I’m expecting my first.”  I looked at her and was both shocked and secretly envious. 😉  She went on to say that she’d been married for ten years and they’d been having difficulties conceiving.  She had suffered a tubal pregnancy this summer that took a very hard emotional toll on her as well.  So I talked to her more about this and about her feelings towards the loss of this child.  By the end of my appointment she was beaming and said, “I’m so glad you were my first client today! I needed to talk to you, you’ve really helped me and have made my day.”

🙂

Now I feel a bit selfish because it was Neal’s birthday yet I feel like I’ve received all these gifts.  Don’t worry, I’ve made sure I put a lot of love into making that chicken pot pie!

As we continue on this journey of God Showing Up 365 Days…I’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU on how God has shown up in YOUR life.  It is a true gift to me to hear your experiences and share in your joys.  So please, feel free to comment or if you’d rather share privately email me!  I won’t publish anything without your permission.

Blessings

Shannon

Click HERE to hear ‘Beautiful Things’ by Gungor

“Beautiful Things”