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“God is constantly finding new ways to bless His daughters.” Lisa-Jo Baker, Community Manager of (in)courage

This weekend I attended a conference with thousands of women from all over the world. I laughed. I cried. I learned so much from the stories of women just like me. {Women, they tell the best stories, right?}  The whole weekend was focused on staying in community even when it is hard.  It was such a blessing. It all happened online through the ministry of (in)courage and looked something like this:

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Saturday, I walked out my front door, and met some of the sweetest new friends who live in or around my little red pen in Central Florida.  They look like this:

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{Jen, Shelsy, Chris, Brittany, Val, Kimberly, and Erica}

We laughed. We listened. We talked about how God made us to be in real live community and why it is a blessing and sometimes so hard. I also ate the most amazing brownie in real life. Yes, I did.

As it turns out, we all have a story about community, staying or not staying, the blessings, and the challenges attached to the people we let in and out of our lives. Each of us could talk about this topic for hours because God made us to fit with other people in one way or another. He made us to need it. He also made us to learn from it.

“The choice to stay has been the choice to pursue even when it’s hard.” –Annie Downs

Yes it is hard. Sometimes. Yes it is beautiful, most of the time. But guess what we get when we pursue it?

“God will meet you, and when He asks you to stay in the hard times, He will be your ever present help and strength.” -Terilynne Underwood

To be sure we don’t miss it, He gave us this promise:

“For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” Matthew 18:20

Girls, not only do we get community, we get His presence in the midst of it and that is so precious. 

I saw it this weekend. Online. Locally. And globally. See, Jesus isn’t limited by time, zip codes, computers, or distance. When we seek connection with His daughters, He is the thread that binds us.

:::

So, I’m wondering, did you attend the (in)courage (in)RL meet up this year? What grabbed your heart?

If you didn’t have a chance to attend, what have you learned in your own life about staying in community even when it is hard? I’d love to hear from you because you girl, are amazing.

xo,

Stacey

P.S. What else is amazing? This image frozen in time forever by Kaitlyn who said I was not old:

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Myself and Lisa-Jo Baker making it proud into the (in)RL blooper reel doing our warm ups, aka High School Musical.