Sheila Walsh

Beautiful Things Are Happening

by Sheila Walsh on 02/19/2010 04:02

I am at a place in my life where I am not looking for things to do.

I have a very smart, funny, athletic thirteen- year -old who keeps his father and I hopping. I have a full speaking schedule and a busting-at-the-seams writing schedule. So I've made peace with the fact that friends of mine have time to take trips to New York for the theater or movie nights every week, and those days will return for me some time, just not now.

So, when I heard that the entire speaking team at Women of Faith was heading to Nashville for a week to attend a conference aimed primarily at worship leaders, I wondered why and why now. I should have learned by now to simply trust God. He knew why and why now.

It is my passion in life to communicate the heart of God to his people. I get up every morning and pray the same prayer: "Father, I don't know where you are going today but wherever it is, I'm coming with you."

I pray that prayer because I know that the safest place to be is where Jesus is. It won't always look like it, but it is.

What I had forgotten was how God speaks first to those who lead in worship and as they usher us into the presence of God, He speaks to us all. What I experienced at Re:Create10 was life- changing.

As Audrey Assad and Matt Maher led in morning worship, I followed them right to the feet and broken heart of Christ for His people. When Leeland declared his unabashed passion for Christ, I wept and sang beside him. Then "The Gungor Band" offered an assault on us body and spirit as they lived out on stage their new project,"Beautiful Things." At times I wanted to cry out in pure joy and at moments barely breathe in silent wonder at the radical, redemptive love of Christ

I left, changed by the vision they presented. I came home to a schedule that was fuller than when I left but with a renewed passion and clarity of call. God is speaking.

Listen...
Lean in...
Love.

You will be changed.

Join the discussion! | 13 comments so far.

Comments:

Disclaimer: The following are comments from blog community members across the country. They are not necessarily the views of Sheila Walsh or her ministry. Please alert us if any inappropriate comments are made.

Comment by Caroline on 03/17/2010 04:09

Shelia I heard about you 2 days ago as I was in search of a book to do as a bible study for a friend of mine who is going through depression. As I pray with her everyday I am starting to see God reveal things about me and I kinda have a feeling where he is taking me which by the way may not be where I want to go to deal with myself in truth. God is working and doing the leading........he is drawing me nearer.........beautiful things do happen when a woman trusts God. I will blog when we start the study.

Comment by Anonymous on 02/19/2010 11:47

as a fellow recreate '10 attender I'm raising my hand to say that you forgot to mention the part where some crazy/amazing ladies from Women of Faith moved us all with laughter and honesty. Even the men. :) Thank you for taking the schedule risk to come to this unknown little gathering and adding your thread to the experience.

Comment by Anonymous on 02/19/2010 10:51

Your story makes me think of how God does not call the equipped, but equips the called. He knew how very much you would need that time at the worship conf. weekend, and by taking a little of your time, He ended up giving you so much more understanding of His desire and love for you. Sheila, you are and have been a blessing in my life for over 22 years now. Because you have given so much of yourself in His service, so many of us have been encouraged to reach out and grasp all that God wants for us. Thank you..you are always in my prayers.
~ Helene in CT

Comment by Anonymous on 02/19/2010 09:55

So nice meeting you at Re:Create10. Looking forward to reading your work.
Amy Lyles Wilson/Fresh Air Books

Comment by Anonymous on 02/19/2010 09:33

Awesome!

Comment by Anonymous on 02/19/2010 09:13

i attended re:create10 again this year and was blown away, once again, by the depth of my brothers and sisters in Christ around me. something supernatural happens at create. it just does. God grips each of us there, catches us when we are wholly focused on Him and speaks a powerful word.

randy was so very excited to have you precious ladies there. thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for choosing to come along and give us a special piece of you.

Comment by Anonymous on 02/19/2010 08:36

Thanks for your comments so far. We all seem to live such crazy lives that it is a discipline to lean in, to listen, to love. i just know I can't keep gong without his presence, so I am learning to stop.
Sheila xx

Comment by Anonymous on 02/19/2010 08:31

If I am totally honest I have to admit that I have mixed emotions ready this Sheila. Two weeks ago I probably would have been shouting "Hallelujah" and shouting it loud. The past two weeks it has been more of a questioning of "God, what are You doing right now and what are You asking me to do?" I feel like He is taking me to a new place, I just have no idea where and when. As I mentioned to you the other day I feel like I am on a diving board looking down into an empty pool and God is asking me to jump trusting that the water will be there before I hit the bottom of the pool. Your words of "listen...lean in..love" are exactly what I have been feeling the need to do; to crawl up onto Papa's lap and listen to Him whispering right into my ear.

Sometimes (like a few weeks ago) it's time for loud rejoicing. Right now I am really feeling the need to be quiet, to lean in, listen and trust. I can't say that I am doing so without a few butterflies in my stomach of what is to come. I told my best friends that the Lord is really stiring something inside of me and I don't know what yet. Do you feel it too? Do you feel God saying "Come right to Me and let Me speak right into your ear."?

I don't know what He's doing or what He has planned but I do know that just like your daily morning prayer is, wherever He is going I wanna go too. Just feeling like I'm in a "holding pattern" right now and He is preparing me for the flight of my life!!! The excitement is stirring and I can't wait to fly!!!

Love ya big sis. :)

Marlene

Comment by Anonymous on 02/19/2010 08:24

I had those very thoughts this week as there is just not enough hours in the day. As a Funeral Home owner I am busy 24/7 and always feel that others must come before myself because they are hurting and need me. Guess that is the "woman" in me but this remined me that I must be still and "listen", "lean in" and "love". Thank you for this blog.

Comment by Anonymous on 02/19/2010 08:19

It always amazes me when God pulls me to something I wasn't expecting, and thought I was not ready for! Thank you so much for being open to that, and for following Jesus where ever He leads you! It totally blesses us also!

Comment by Anonymous on 02/19/2010 08:01

Thank you!

Comment by Anonymous on 02/19/2010 07:32

that's how women of faith conferences are for me.

Comment by Anonymous on 02/19/2010 05:03

Thanks for always sharing from your heart what Christ is doing in and thru you! I don't have the 13 year old or the husband but I have the care for my 87 year old mother and leadership within my church and Bible Study that keep me "hopping". It's hard to take time out for me. I need to do it more. I needed to hear the "listen", "lean in", and "love". Thank you once again for being the voice of God in my ears.