Uncharted Waters
A few years ago, my friend Mary Geisen wrote a devotional called “Brave Faith: A 31 Day Devotional Journey.” She said, “God has so much more for us than we can imagine.” And then I won her giveaway of the devotional and the cup in this picture.
At the time, I never imagined what things God had in store for me that would take me beyond my natural abilities or strength. I guess there was a reason I won that mug! This new website, featured here and the writing project He has given me are part of the brave adventures this year. But putting my toes into new waters started a few years back.
Three years ago, God had me lead a small women’s Bible Study group through Bible Study Fellowship. The prep took me into a realm of study that went beyond my knowledge level. It was a growing experience and yet a time of sweet fellowship with the other leaders as well as my small band of ladies. The only thing I don’t miss is getting up with the chickens to meet on Saturday mornings. But even there, God equipped me to make it to those early meetings, by the skin of my teeth.
Then two years ago, God surprised me with a project that far exceeded my abilities and strength. I wonder to this day how my husband and I made it through. God provided much help from more than 50 dedicated members of church as we worked side by side for five months, ripping off paneling, scraping off popcorn ceilings, hanging new doors, laying tile, painting, replacing counter tops, and sorting, discarding, selling, giving away, and packing up a widow’s lifetime of memories so that she would be able to sell her home and move into an affordable dwelling. God did infinitely more than all we could ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).
Last year, I was invited to share my baking talents for a friend’s daughter’s wedding. Baking, yes, I could do that. I could even frost cupcakes. But swirling rosettes on cupcakes–that was outside my collection of talents. I agreed but had no idea how I was going to pull it off. I quickly turned to “Google” and scoured the internet for a Wilton class that taught how to make rosettes on cupcakes. Once again, the Lord intervened to my surprise. By then, I should have expected His expert supervisory abilities to lead me where I needed to go. The screen popped open with the name of a former Wilton teacher who worked independently. And she was a Christian. Best of all, she made house calls. When she arrived, my kitchen counter was whipped into a frothy frosting-making class complete with icing, tips, decorating bags, coloring, and cupcakes. One pair of steady designer hands lead the pair of shaky hands. When she left I had three completed samples which I had decorated with the cautious speed of one carrying china plates.
For the next few months preceding the wedding, I made two batches of rosette-frosted cupcakes a week and offered them to the first hand raised on Facebook. My pursuit became to sculpt rosettes fit for a special bride. Towards that end, I watched numerous “You Tube” videos on “How to Make Buttercream Frosting.” Also, I enlisted the help of a dear artistic friend who possesses a flare for cake decorating. A godsend!
Two days before the wedding, the bride’s mother, a friend of hers, and myself made cupcakes topped with rosettes methodically squeezed from decorator bags. The group project added laughter as well as ease in producing 150 cupcakes. The bride was radiant and the wedding spectacular with vows written by the bride and groom and a love centered in God.
With each year, God’s hand-picked project for me brimmed with respite in His creation. From mountain peaks stretching skyward to rolling ocean waves, from trekking the lands of the Bible in Israel to the dense green forests of Oregon, God provided rest for my husband and I to recuperate.
When the ball dropped on 2020, I wondered what project God had planned for this year. In my mind, I thought it would be prudent to finish my sons’ photo albums. I was quite behind. Before I could dive into that craft, a writing project slipped in during a viral pandemic the world had not anticipated. As I wrap up this year’s endeavor, I see no vacations in God’s creation yet, but I trust Him to provide a respite of His own making suited just for my husband and me in a world that is unpredictable.
In what ways has God called you to be braver than you ever imagined? I would love to hear them.
From My Heart to Yours,
Janis
Linking with: Inspire Me Monday
Janis, I love how God didn’t just open doors for you; he sent people through your door! You are speaking my love language – baking. Not only are your rosettes beautiful, but the joy on the faces of your friends is just blessing and love!!! I love your new blog site – Heather did a lovely job! So excited to come hang out here! I also love your God memories!
Maryleigh, it’s so good to have you visit!!! I’m thrilled! We have a mutual love language in baking. At Christmas I have large cake pans filled with biscotti, pizzelles, peanut butter bars, Reese’s peanut butter cookies, and Hershey peppermint sugar cookies piled across my kitchen counter. I hope I can do the same this year! Such sweet thoughts about the joy on my friends’ faces over the rosette-topped cupcakes. Thank you, Maryleigh, for hanging out here with me. We were blessed to have Heather design our websites. Look forward to seeing more of you!
From My Heart to Yours,
Janis
God is so amazing by not only expanding our horizons but gifting us with abilities and joy in the midst of what we might not have done in our own strength. We are blessed to see these things as we learn to walk closer with Him.
Linda, it is so exciting to see you here! I’m so glad you found me. I’m still working on getting my email provider, Mail Chimp, up and running with the help of my “techy” son.
The Lord certainly gifted us with unknown abilities and joy and rest in the midst of His projects. Definitely beyond our own strength. Seeing Him work and stretch us does draw us closer to Him as we rely on His abilities, provision, and direction. A beautiful journey!
From My Heart to Yours,
Janis
I love how God is calling you to step out in brave faith. The blessing is when He does call us out of our comfort zone He is always right there by our sides.
Oh, Mary, I thought of you so often especially when we headed up the project to help a widow-friend from our church get her house in shape to sell. I thought of your “Brave Faith” Devotional and the book “Kisses from Katie.” I remember how Katie would talk about dropping into bed at night, thoroughly exhausted. Because God called her there and supplied her needs, when I flopped in bed at night, I could trust God would supply my need of rest to where he had called us. God was so gracious in gathering 50 people from our church to come alongside of us, offering talents and abilities beyond ours! I looked back in that devotional of yours and the first reflections I wrote had to do with leading a small BSF group–and learning homiletics. Yikes! Thanks, Mary, for answering God’s faithful call in your life to bless others.
From My Heart to Yours,
Janis
This post was such an encouragement to me. I tremble to step outside of my comfort zone. I have in the past and even long for God to open new doors…but am so nervous that He will:) Thank you for sharing your courage – and His blessings because you did!
Hi Jennifer, I’m so glad you stepped out and visited here, sharing your thoughts and reaching out. I know I felt the same way about what and where God would lead me. But He did it in such a gracious way, I never realized it was a task beyond my abilities until I was in it. He provided all I needed, including the energy, to follow His gracious invitation. And the joy on the journey, even with difficulties, far outweighed my fears.
I hope you will come back and share more of your journey and stories with us.
From My Heart to Yours,
Janis
I totally relate to your journey. God has been doing that to me for about 30 years (or more). By using us in ways that are out of our comfort zone and abilities, we must rely on God instead of ourselves to accomplish His purposes for us.
Hi Julia,
It’s so good to have you here and to realize we both have been stepping out into unknown areas and relying on God to provide the strength and direction for wherever He calls us. Even if it’s out of our ability or talent range. Hope to see you here again. God bless you as you work for Him.
From My Heart to Yours,
Janis Van Keuren
Jennifer, when God pulls us out of our comfort zone it gives us the opportunity to trust Him and follow Him in ways that we cannot do when we are “comfortable.” It’s also the times when we grow the most.
When it’s timw for me to get up in front of an audience to speak, I spend time with the Lord in prayer and worship (dancing & singing) and let Him be in control. I take my binder of notes with me, but rarely if ever look at them. I have prayed through, studied and written. I am prepared. And when I walk on stage it isn’t me teaching, it is Holy Spirit giving me the words to speak. Sometimes they are in a different order than ive written. Sometimes there are some things left out and other things, including verses, added on the fly. We do what we can do, and God doea the rest through us.
As I’ve looked back over my life starting in childhood, I see how God has been preparing me for a public speaking and writing ministry by being in things like choir and a ballet company that required me being on stage. I also loved English and creative writing classes. I have always been creative in many ways.
All this to say, don’t let fear keep you from following the purpose-filled dreams God has given you. You may feel ill-equipped, BUT GOD (my 2 favorite words) knows you, He created you for this purpose and has been preparing you and continues to prepare you as you move forward. Faith and trust are always essential components to everything we do in Him. If we feel completely competent, we don’t need faith or trust to complete it. It’s simply the paradigm of kingdom living.
I always say, in the world as we gros and mature we are expected to become more and more independent, but in God’s kingdom, the more we grow and mature the more and more dependent upon Him we must become.
Blessings pf hope & Joy to you!
Julia, I loved your explanation of how the Lord leads you to speak before crowds! Amazing! And I also like how you contrasted growth in the world and growth with God. Thank you for stopping by and leaving additional thoughts. You’d make a great guest poster!
From My Heart to Yours
Janis