an ordinary woman... God's extraordinary call

Hi ladies. Today, I just can't seem to focus on what I had originally planned to share. You see, in the last few weeks, God has introduced many personal changes and spiritual challenges within my own life, and I feel it is time to start sharing some of them with you. The biggest change is that the Holy Spirit has made it abundantly clear to both my husband and myself that God is calling me to press on with this small women's ministry. Overall, I don't really know what DW will look like, but I do know that I am supposed to write and speak through this medium. So, in about a month, I have decided to step down from my position as officer and business operations manager at my day job, and devote more of myself to ministry. As you can imagine, this is both exciting and daunting for both me and Chuck for many, many reasons. However, we have prayerfully decided to trust the Lord in every step as we know He oversees our future.

Since the conception of The Devoted Woman, I have been praying for God to put in front of me exactly what He wants me to be focused on in this capacity and exactly who I should meet in order to best share His message of love in action. Without going into so many details it will make your head spin, God has definitely done just that. However, the closer I have sought after the will of my King, the more Satan has tried his best to hijack my sanity. But amidst these storms, God has always proven faithful and has continually offered me His peace.

OK, so fast forwarding to today...

One of the projects God has recently put on my radar is something that will lead this ordinary woman to help a place in which I never thought God would lead... Haiti! Yes, Haiti!!! I am, at present, helping to generate silent auction items for some dear friends at the ApParent Project for a fundraiser intended to help buy land, build homes and aid the poor, the orphaned, and the widowed who lost everything in Haiti's last massive earthquake.

Resulting from this project, I've been invited to visit Haiti to meet it's people and see the devastation first hand while investigating fair trade opportunities and networking with other ministries/charities on location. This, in and of itself, has spiritually challenged my own sense of security and trust in God's promise never to leave me, and never to forsake me, and I am in heavy prayer over the decision.

To prepare for the trip, I would have to undergo several preventative measures in advance so that I may avoid contracting diseases such as hepatitis, malaria, cholera, or whatever. You see, life in Haiti is not like life in the United States. They don't have the things we do to feel safe. No, they are soooo very poor... without clean water, without shelter, without many of the necessities we foolishly take for granted each day. So, the prospect of heading directly to a place that most of us generally overlook in our comfortable commonplace of Christian life has led me to feel spiritually stripped down in pure nakedness before God's throne. But I am still prayerfully deciding to trust the Lord in every step as I am certain He oversees my future.

DW's goal has always been to educate, empower, and engage our worldwide audience of Christian women to take a more active role within our communities by personally reflecting the love of God to all the world, and by continually seeking and loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. As I now advance forward in spearheading DW's ministry full-time, to remain true to our objective, I am certain that I will be further challenging you to boldly follow Christ out of every earthly comfort zone. He calls His followers to leave everything for His sake and to step up and love in places we may never have thought He'd lead.

I hope you will answer His call and join me in obedience to the Master as we enter into His new season of change. Let's spiritually strip ourselves naked before the King of kings and trust that He will clothe us, feed us, protect us, and empower us to do the extraordinary will of Almighty God each and every day! He will never leave... He will never forsake. So, this is the day to rejoice and be glad in Him!!! Amen, precious Lord. Amen.

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. (Deuteronomy 31:8)

Use us, Lord. We have everything because of Jesus... let us give everything because of Jesus!

Blessings, Ladies!

XOXOX

~Victoria

Blog Posting Written By Victoria Anderson