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Archives for December 2019

Expecting the Unexpected: from fear to anticipation

12.24.2019 by Maricela Martinez //

Our team is excited to introduce you to our friend, Maricela. Once we experienced her friendship and her beautiful heart—well, you’ll understand why we love her so much! She’s a wife, mom, and deeply-caring friend who shows up for ladies in her church’s coffee house ministry. She loves her ladies well, and they love her back. We were thrilled she accepted our invitation to write on expecting the unexpected (the series began with Tracy’s, Jennifer’s, and Megan’s posts). I (Jennifer) have been anticipating this post since the invitation. And now, here it is!

Please welcome Mari to Facets, friends, and leave comments below or at the Facebook Page!

Expecting the Unexpected (Guest 1)

Hello, ladies!

When I was invited to write for Facets of Faith I was honored, excited, and very nervous. I’m not a writer. I do a few scribbles here and there in my journal but not anything I’ve ever shared. I decided early in the year that I would say yes to any opportunity that God gave me to share how He has worked in my life. It may bring hope to others. I’m excited to share how my feelings on expecting the unexpected went from fear to anticipation. When I used to think of the unexpected, I always expected the worst, but our God is a good, faithful Father, and He uses the unexpected for our good.

Christmas 2005 was a sad and dark one for me. It was the end of a 10-year relationship I expected to last forever. I don’t believe I have ever fought so hard at anything. The kind of fighting that leaves one drained, empty, and defeated. I didn’t believe in divorce. I couldn’t stand the thought of my son having to go between two homes. I prayed for a loving husband and a loving father for my son, but there I was, a divorced single mother. I felt like a failure and slipped into a severe depression. I was disappointed with God for not answering my prayers the way I expected Him to. I wondered why I wasn’t loved enough by God to let me keep my family together. Why did everything fall apart for me? I tortured myself with questions. Did I not pray enough? Did I not pray the right prayers? Scripture says that if I have enough faith, I could move mountains. Did I not have enough faith?

From a very young age I believed in God. I believed Him to be all mighty and powerful. I knew about His son, Jesus, who died for me, but I was not in relationship with Him. I prayed only to make requests and to give thanks for the good things. Feeling hurt, defeated, and unworthy of God, I turned to other things to fill the void I was carrying. That didn’t turn out well for me.

Without going into deep details, my life just kept spiraling out of control. I had become a victim of my situation. I blamed my bad choices on my life situation. I had an excuse for everything. I had become bitter and full of sarcasm. I went through my days expecting the worst.

It took some time, but slowly I started to feel better and started to seek God again. God healed my wounds. He revealed to me that my identity was not in that broken relationship but in HIM as HIS beloved daughter. He allowed me to revisit my past without the bitterness and anger; thus allowing me to see that He was always present. Although I couldn’t see it back then, He provided me with wonderful friendships, a loving family, and a son that would be my strength and reason to move forward.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3:5-6

There are times in our life when we can’t understand why things fall apart for us. The unexpected can leave us heartbroken, but the Lord asks us to trust Him in everything, to acknowledge Him always, and to refrain from trying to make sense out of situations. His ways are greater than ours. He will restore our peace and joy in ways that only He can do. Our Father will always replace what we lost with something greater than we ever expected, when we seek Him first.

In 2008 I met Jose on an online dating site. I didn’t expect I would marry him the following year. He became that loving and caring father I had been praying for my son, Tony. In 2011 we were blessed with another son, Gabriel. I wish I could say that Jose and I fell in love, got married, and everything has been great ever since, but that isn’t our story. Jose and I went through a very difficult season in our marriage. Almost defeated and tired of fighting, I surrendered my marriage to God. Instead of fighting, I prayed. Oh, did HE answer my prayers in unexpected ways!

In the spring of 2014, Jose met Jesus and fell in love. I was no longer on this faith journey alone; God provided a companion for me, my husband. We promised each other that we would work on putting Christ at the center of our marriage. We began to seek God’s direction for our family. We got baptized together in March of 2019. It was such a special day for us. In June we celebrated 10 years of marriage. The relationship that I expected to die was given life by Jesus.

Today life is far from perfect, but I know my Father has led me exactly to where I’m supposed to be. I no longer fear the unexpected because I look for God’s sweet blessings in it.

Signature: Maricela Martinez

Categories // Expecting the Unexpected, Faith, Guest Perspectives Tags // Faith and fear, Fear and anticipation, Maricela Martinez, Proverbs 3:5-6

The One Who Expects the Unexpected

12.17.2019 by Megan Abbott //

Merry (almost) Christmas!  I am so excited to join the team here at Facets of Faith, and am thankful to have been welcomed warmly by all of you that already know Jen and Tracy.  I look forward to meeting you here each month. Check out what Jen had to say last week about Expecting the Unexpected here, and Tracy’s thoughts here. I pray that our words will find you wherever you may be this Christmas season, and that God will show himself to be just a step away.

Expecting the Unexpected (Megan Abbott)

‘TIS THE SEASON

It is the season of mesmerizing Christmas lights, cheesy movies with all the happy endings, gatherings with friends and family, gifts, and lots of Christmas cookies.  This is the time of year when I love sitting in my apartment, surrounded by warm Christmas lights, covered in blankets, and drinking tea. There is something about it that just feels homey.  It may also be that it is typically so cold I dread going outside, but we can ignore that.

For me, the holidays tend to have this cloud of expectation around them.  I travel to see my family each Christmas, so there is always this building of anticipation leading up to the day I leave.  So many expectations for family time, traditions, friends, friends’ super adorable children, home cooked meals with my family, and everything that goes along with seeing people you miss most of the year.  

UNMET EXPECTATIONS

Not every year goes to plan, though.  If nothing else, it seems inevitable that the 8 hour drive turns into 9.  I feel like this year especially there are so many of us are in the midst of something that wouldn’t make that list of hopeful expectations.  What about the first Christmas after we have lost someone we love? The Christmas where we aren’t able to be with those we love? The Christmas where we are aching for family healing, a spouse, children, financial provision, or healing of sickness?  Contrary to how we may feel while watching all the movies with perfect endings, this can be a really, really hard time of year.

SHIFTING PERSPECTIVES

As I have been working through the thoughts and scripture God put on my heart for this month, I was encouraged by a friend to consider the shape of a V.  As I am standing at the bottom point of the V, looking up to God with all my expectations, I may feel muddled that they don’t look like where I actually am, but what if we consider God’s perspective from the top of the V and look back at where we are from His view?

You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭139:16‬ ‭NLT

God expects the unexpected.  He sees us. It doesn’t take away the hurt, disappointment, or tears, but it feels good to know that the Creator of the earth, and everything in it, isn’t surprised.  He isn’t surprised by the point where we stand today, or where we will be a year from now. He sees our refinement. He sees us learning to love through hard situations. He sees us leaning on him through our unmet expectations.  He sees us.

LAUGHING AT GOD

I really relate to Sarah in Genesis 18.  Talk about unexpected, she literally laughed at God when she heard where her life was going.  

I will return to you about this time next year, and your wife, Sarah, will have a son!” Sarah was listening to this conversation from the tent. Abraham and Sarah were both very old by this time, and Sarah was long past the age of having children. So she laughed silently to herself and said, “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my husband is also so old?’

Then the Lord said to Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, ‘Can an old woman like me have a baby?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.’ Sarah was afraid, so she denied it, saying, ‘I didn’t laugh.’ But the Lord said, ‘No, you did laugh.’”  Genesis 18:10-15 NLT

A couple chapters later, we see that Sarah had a baby, exactly when God said she would.  She laughed again. This I can relate to. Not the having a baby part, but the laughing because God did the unexpected thing I had laughed at in the first place.

FINDING REST WITH THE ONE WHO KNOWS

We aren’t promised we get everything we pray for, or that the pain will go away this Christmas, but we are promised God knows where we are. He hasn’t forgotten, and He is Immanuel (God with us).  Whether it is big, scary, painful, joyous, or somewhere in between, we can expect the unexpected knowing nothing surprises God. We can find rest with Him.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:28‬ ‭NLT‬‬

A little closing consideration for the Facets family:  Why don’t we as the church reach out to those around us and show them we see where they are too?  If someone around you needs family this Christmas, can you be the unexpected family for them?

Thanks for stopping by.  Take a minute to comment below, share us with a friend, or find us on Facebook! Subscribe and we will happily meet you in your inbox each week.

Signature: Megan Abbott

Categories // Expecting the Unexpected, Megan Abbott's Perspective Tags // Christmas, Expecting the unexpected, Genesis 18:10-15, Holidays, Matthew 11:28, Megan Abbott, Psalm 139:16, Unmet Expectations

A Cord of Three Strands: Welcome Megan

12.13.2019 by Tracy Stella //

Welcome Megan

We (Tracy and Jen) know a cord of three strands is really important. It keeps us from unraveling and going off course. We have more laughter, accountability, and encouragement. Three perspectives offer richness and diversity.  There’s just this beautiful thing that happens. Three brings life, vitality, and provides a tie breaker when necessary!

A New Season

When Jennifer and Tracy realized God was bringing a new season, we began to pray about whom He would be calling to join us on this journey.  We reviewed people in our circle of friends and past guest writers. We both landed on Megan’s name.

What we love about Megan is her heart for Jesus and for women! She’s funny and super smart … and Jen remains the middle child, so there’s that. We’ll start a collection for Jen’s counseling.  Ha ha!

I (Tracy) met Megan at a church plant we were both involved in. Through that interaction, we engaged in a Bible study of a friend’s book together. I was so blessed by Megan’s authenticity, appropriate vulnerability, spiritual maturity, and her ability to challenge me to think more deeply.

I (Jen) met Megan for the first time through a local writing group, and I fell in love with Megan’s heart when she guest-wrote for FACETS. God nudged me to re-read her post, and I felt settled she was the person we should ask to join us.

God is Up to Something

We’re super-excited to have Megan as part of the FACETS team and looking forward to growing our friendships as we gather, collaborate, dream, encourage, and write.

We know God is up to something when hearts are aligned during change. We can’t wait to see how God continues to unfold His vision for FACETS. And we hope you will join us!

Read more about Megan here. If you’d like to welcome her, drop a note in the comments below or on our Facebook site.

Bio Pic: Tracy Stella Bio Pic: Jennifer Howe Bio Pic: Megan Abbott

Categories // The FACETS Team Tags // Announcements, Facets of Faith, Jennifer Howe, Megan Abbott, Tracy Stella

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