ANATOMY OF A GIRLS' WEEKEND

I {Mandy} watched Mia back out of my driveway today as she waved out her window long after she had driven down the road. My kids chased after her for a few yards, running along the grass that lined the street.

My eyes filled up with tears and I had a lump in my throat.

Even though we'd only known each other a few short months and had only just met in person the Friday prior (as in only 3 days ago!) I feel like I've always known her.

Mia, as you may know, is the newest member of Deliberate Women. She reached out to us in mid-March after stumbling onto our website. She expressed interest in joining our team and ministering to women by being authentic and deliberate.

We vetted her and vetted her some more. After much Googling, website sleauthing, Facebook creeping, YouTube scouring, phone conversations, emails, and a Skype session we were unanimous...she was absolutely perfect for us!

Fast forward to this weekend where we were all in the same room at the same time (except Annice who was sorely missed.) It was amazing and surreal.

As I looked around the table at five beautiful faces, I was overwhelmed more than once at the amazing people God has placed in my path.

As I looked at their beautiful faces and listened to their thoughtful perspectives on where Deliberate Women should go next, and felt the excitement of the possibilities of where God has us headed, I was filled to the brim with admiration and thankfulness that I have the honor of serving all of you shoulder to shoulder with all of them.  

All of that to say...look around yourself today.

Look at who is in your life.

Do you have women who back you? Who support you? Who make you want to be better? Who encourage you to serve the Lord with your whole heart and be intentional--deliberate--in doing so? 

If you do, embrace them. Be intentional with encouraging them, with building them up and with actively nurturing that/those relationship(s). 

If you don't, seek that out: Women's groups, MOPS meetings, women's ministry events...look for those who have a heart for Jesus. Cultivate those relationships with other like-minded women who will hold you accountable and be the iron sharpening iron that we all need. 

I am so blessed to have this team and others in my life who make me want to be a better person and a more intentional, deliberate servant of God. 

Pray with me today:

Father, we are blown away by how you minister to us in every area of our lives. There is no need too small for your careful, attentive, loving eye. You love us in untold ways and seek to surround us with others who love You. For those already in our lives, please don't allow us to get lazy in our nurturing of those relationships. Please keep our eyes on You as we work together to sharpen one another to serve You. If we don't have those women in our lives, please lead us to them. Please let us see others through Your eyes so that we don't lose sight of who we should be confiding in and holding fast to, and which relationships we should be actively pursuing.

Thank You for loving us, Father. Thank you for always being with us and for always wanting what's best for us. 

It's in Your Holy Son's name we pray, Amen.

If you haven't already, meet our team and get to know us better by clicking HERE.

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