Wednesday, Mar 31
Vulnerable
I had an experience this week that left me feeling so vulnerable.
I walked away thinking to myself, “Why do I put myself out there? It sure would be easier to sit in my house and watch the mice dart across my kitchen.”
Which by the way, they continue to mock us though we have tried many a ‘rid your house of the mouse’ solutions. They even chewed my favorite kitchen rug. I’ve officially declared war. You can mess with my food but don’t you dare chew my pretties.
And I know many of you suggested getting a cat which would be a great suggestion if I wasn’t so highly emotionally allergic to the creature called feline.
I am also emotionally allergic to the vulnerability of rejection. But that’s exactly where I ventured this week. I think most Jesus girls feel this way. And I think His mercies towards us are especially tender because He knows what we feel.
Which leads me to a fear I have with the She Speaks Scholarship winners that will be announced tomorrow. We will all cheer and clap and be genuinely excited for the winners.
But, there were close to 200 blog entries and 100 more e-mail entries. That’s 300 applicants vying for 4 scholarships.
So, I know there will be many of you who eagerly rush to your computer on Friday morning with every finger and toe crossed having prayed and prayed and prayed… and your name won’t be there. Your heart will sink. And some part of not seeing your name will sting.
And I hate that.
I wish with every fiber of my being I could give away a scholarship to every single entry. But just as I start doing mental math and thinking of crazy possibilities, Jesus reminds me and reassures me He’s got this all under control.
“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us,” (1 John4:16).
Those who are supposed to come will be provided for by Him. And in that provision will be a miraculous experience of God. Getting the She Speaks scholarship would be an incredible disservice to that person because God wants to show up and show off in much bigger ways.
“Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help,” (Hebrews 4:16).
There are also those who are not supposed to be at She Speaks this year. God is answering some prayers with, “No, sweetheart. Please trust me with this.” ‘No’ is so stinkin’ hard to hear but we can rest in the reality that God’s no’s are always wrapped in protection and redirected purpose.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose,” (Romans 8:28).
As I ran this morning with Holly, we prayed so fervently over all this. We prayed for the judges to have divine wisdom and discernment. We prayed for hearts to be protected. And we prayed for dreams to be realized in the exact way God desires.
Rest in this today my sisters.
And like my friend Samantha said on the Proverbs Facebook page yesterday- let your soul soak in each one of these words {My} {Redeemer} {Lives}.
Yes, He does.
I need to press this into my heart and mind today. What about you? Whether you entered the scholarship contest or not, how do these truths soothe your heart today?
See you in the morning sweet friends…
Lysa 48 Comments
















April 8th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
Lysa I heard if you get some tennis balls and soak them in amonia and leave them inthe area where they love to enter it should keep the mice away… I
April 3rd, 2010 at 9:08 pm
Thank you so much for the opportunity. I think just applying opened a door because it opened my mind. I have admired Proverbs 31 Ministries over 8 years. Continue doing the wonderful job you do! You are a blessing, a laborer of God encouraging and pointing a path that we never realized existed until recently.
April 2nd, 2010 at 6:34 pm
Have you tried the "Rat zapper"? It worked for us!!
April 2nd, 2010 at 12:43 pm
I entered the scholarship contest via e-mail, and of course, there was a tinge of disappointment that I didn't win. But I am so happy for those who did, and I know with all assurance that the four women who won are meant to be there and God's will is being worked out. Thanks so much, Lysa, for the heart that you have and for your thoughtful post. It meant so much to know how you and Holly were praying for all of us. And, I do believe, with all my heart, that God will provide for those he wants there (including me, if he wants me there.) Thanks again!
April 2nd, 2010 at 10:02 am
Lysa –
Thank you for the prayer your team saturated this blessing give-a-way with. I believe that most of the 300 entered with the same perspective that I did: Its all in God's hand! If we get a scholarship it is God provided in the sense that he directed the selection. Remember in the OT they drew lots; but God was in the lots.
Thank you for your tender heart; I know its because you've "been there".
We serve a LIVING God who is more than able in all situations.
P.S. — I'm reading this before I read Friday's post — just as you directed
April 2nd, 2010 at 9:43 am
Lysa,
As I think of your heart and the Ministry God has so divinly placed before you I thank God for his equipping you to speak to women. Loved your post… Verse that comes to my heart as I think of you Lysa and the beautiful sisters work so diligently in serving our Lord for the Kingdom; 4I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. I pray that you may continue to be active in sharing your faith, so that you will continue to share a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. Your love has given me [many women] great joy and encouragement, because you, [blessed sisters], have refreshed the hearts of the saints. Philemon 1:4-7 Godly wisdom that I wrote today in my Praying through the Proverbs…For the LORD gives wisdom,and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2 Thank you Lysa…The Lord Bless you! Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance, Love in Christ, Jennifer Pettiford
7 He holds victory in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
8 for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones.
April 2nd, 2010 at 12:00 am
Lysa, I don't get the opportunity to read here as much as I'd like. But I am always amazed when I sense that tug to stop by.
Vulnerability. I'm not sure this sounds very comforting or encouraging, but so often I've stopped by here over the past two years and read posts where you so willingly shared moments of vulnerability or rejection. I'm so grateful that you are willing to be vulnerable all over again and share these moments with us.
Would you believe I'm dealing with a mouse/rat situation as well? I think. Well, I'm pretty sure what I've been finding on my master bathroom floor directly under the air vent (directly under the smaller attic section of our house) is probably mouse droppings. It's driving me mad. I'm not quite certain I've convinced my husband although he did buy some sort of poison and plan to venture up the small attic entrance in our master closet to investigate. And then his back went out but that's another story. (Prayer would be so appreciated there.) Now I wait and try not be overly compulsive about this situation. It's just gross. The very thought of it. I fear they are being fruitful and multiplying in my attic.
And a cat? NO! Uh-uh! I do believe I am also emotionally allergic. I just might prefer the mice. Rats. Whatever. But not really.
Again, thank you for sharing your life with us. I will most assuredly approach the Throne of Grace for you regarding this awful situation. I meant the rats, of course. But also for the many contestants as well.
April 1st, 2010 at 11:46 pm
I needed to read this today for so many reasons! Thank you for thinking of everyone who applied! I just know that God has picked the four women who HE wants to win, and He'll let you know!
There are other areas of my life where I feel like God is saying "not your will, but mine" and I'm praying that I'll have patience and be open to hearing His voice and recognize his leading.