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How Searching for My Nephew Gave New Meaning to Psalm 139

by Jennifer Schmidt

In and through the Darkness of Depression

by Alia Joy

I Dare You: Buy the Flowers

by Kaitlyn Bouchillon

May He Put You Together

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A Love Story: the Legacy of My Grandmother

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What You Just Can’t Do on Social Media

by Holley Gerth

High-waisted Jeans and
Emotional Muffin Tops

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My Early Morning Sisterhood

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Three Ways to Foster Community at Work

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Walking Arm in Arm

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What’s Your Word?

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Praying for All of Us

by Patricia Raybon

I Dare You: Buy the Flowers

by Kaitlyn Bouchillon

When You Feel Rejected and Unseen

by Jennifer Dukes Lee

A Word for Those Who Feel Unseen

by Karina Allen

In and through the Darkness of Depression

by Alia Joy

When You’re in the Presence of Grief

by Grace P. Cho

A Call to Courage!
(and a Community Survey)

by Becky Keife

Ride with Your Hands Up

by Brenda Koinis

Learning a Little Courage from Our Kids

by Patricia Raybon

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Our So-Crazy-They-Just-Might-Work Ideas

by Leslie Verner Jan 6, 2018 in:Convicition

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Sun sliced through the window of our third-story vintage (aka old and falling apart) Chicago apartment and I thought again about this idea I had entertained over the past several months. I missed living overseas, teaching, and interacting with other cultures. What if I emailed the nearby college and asked about volunteering in one of their ESL classes? I cocked my head to listen for the sleeping baby and tiptoed to the computer.

Flipping open the laptop and searching the school’s website, I scanned the list of ESL instructors. I smiled. One of them was an alumnus of my college. Searching for the right email, my ringing phone pierced the silence. I jumped up, but it was too late. The baby wailed from the other room.

Months later, I finally sent that email and got a prompt reply. Yes, there is a need for volunteers. Yes, you can bring your baby. That’s great that you lived in China and speak Mandarin, but the need is in a class of Saudi Arabian students. Can you come on Monday?

My eight-month-old on my hip, I met the instructor at the door to her classroom. The room was full of shy Saudi men and women. Some girls wore western clothing, but one donned a full burka and all the women wore the traditional hijab, a head covering of a scarf or hat over their shiny black hair.

I visited the class just four times before the teacher approached me after class with a strange question. A student had asked if she could live with us.

“Why not?” said my unpredictable husband.

Four months morphed into a year, which culminated in five of her family members sleeping on our living room floor the following summer.

Since that time, we moved to Colorado, and Shirin, who my children call “Auntie Boo,” followed a year after to complete her masters just an hour away from us. She has been home in Saudi Arabia for a year, but was back this summer for a visit, nearly four years after she first moved in with us.

On her visit (which turned in to her brother and friend also staying with us at the last minute), we drove up into the Rocky Mountains. Since Shirin first moved in with us, our family has grown from one to three children, our transport from a small sedan to a minivan. Quiet Mohammed sat in the passenger seat, Reham played peek-a-boo with the baby, and Shirin, our Auntie Boo, squeezed between two car seats in the back, showing my kids their distorted faces on Snap chat and responding to endless chattering, whining ,and questions from my three- and four-year-old.

Winding over Trail Ridge Road, the sun painted the tops of the mountains with gold and I marveled at the twists and turns of a God who transforms the small seed of a thought into a tree that casts a longer shadow than we ever could have imagined.

When I was 16 years old, I sensed a call to the nations. A speaker preached from Habakkuk 1:5:

Look at the nations and watch and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.

As a single woman, I traveled and lived in over ten different countries, finally settling in a Muslim area of China for five years before getting married and moving back to the U.S. Now, we live an unremarkable life in the suburbs of Colorado. But the Holy Spirit still whispers spontaneous interruptions into our normal lives if we strain to hear.

When we are alert — looking and watching — God shifts us onto unknown, unforeseen paths. In my case, God sent the nations to me.

Perhaps your wild idea is a seed you are meant to bury in the ground and start watering. Yes, life is mainly lived in the ordinary, but what if God wants you to toss off your fear and take one awkward, uncomfortable, or terrifying step into something new and unconventional?

Do you have a niggling idea? A persistent thought? Do that thing. If your idea is Spirit-born, it will be Spirit-powered.

Never underestimate the potential of planting a tiny, God-inspired idea in the soil of your life. You never know how it will grow.

by Leslie Verner
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Never underestimate the potential of planting a tiny, God-inspired idea in the soil of your life. // @leslie_verner at @incourage: https://www.incourage.me/?p=189736

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Leslie Verner

Leslie Verner is a goer learning how to stay. Other cultures, spicy food, deep conversations, running, and sunshine feed her soul. She lives in Colorado with her husband and three kids. Her first book, Invited: The Power of Hospitality in an Age of Loneliness, releases August 2019.
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Comments

  1. Debra says

    January 6, 2018 at 7:17 am

    Thank you for your ‘sharing’ – I have been blessed a thousand times over by the gentle whispers of the Holy Spirit – so many seeds planted and growing in the garden of my life…

    • Leslie Verner says

      January 6, 2018 at 7:37 am

      yes!

  2. Bev @ Walking Well With God says

    January 6, 2018 at 7:21 am

    Leslie,
    I LOVE this…oh what God can do if we simply make ourselves open and available and dare to hold His righteous right hand and jump. I never would have believed that I’d be starting a Christian school in the Middle East in my middle age. I have to admit my first response was a little Jonahesque, but God kept nudging. After getting with the program, I too thought this is so crazy it just might work. And it has. God has blessed this ministry to orphans. He’s serious about looking after the widows and the orphans. Many of them do not have a place to lay their heads down. How wonderful that you took those children in and gave them family and a place called Home. Isn’t that what we all long for….Home? God bless your ministry and for daring to say, “Here I am Lord, use me.”
    Blessings,
    Bev xx

    • Leslie Verner says

      January 6, 2018 at 7:40 am

      I’ve read so many of your comments, but I didn’t realize that’s what you did! I think we so often forget God likes to use ordinary people. Thanks for sharing a bit of your story. So glad you finally followed through and listened to the gentle nudges of the Spirit;-)

  3. Beth Williams says

    January 6, 2018 at 7:25 am

    Leslie,

    I’m glad you listened to God. I have a niece who also listened to God. She got her BA in special education at Boston University. Then decided that she wanted to get her masters in China. She was hoping to teach English to Chinese & try to be a missionary there. Fast forward many years. She met a nice Chinese man in her class. They eventually got married moved back to Boston so he could get his masters. Now live in Beijing China with two children (Seth & Silas). The children speak both Chinese & English. They know by looking at you which language to speak.

    I wish I could be that adventurous. The craziest God thing I ever did was go to a maximum security prison with others on a weekend mission trip. We all got to go inside the prison to the main meeting hall & meet the men on the “Kairos” Walk-think Emmaus walk for prisoners. Even talked my new husband to go for a weekend years ago.

    Blessings 🙂

    • Leslie Verner says

      January 6, 2018 at 8:16 am

      Thanks for sharing!

  4. Liz says

    January 6, 2018 at 7:35 am

    We’ve lived overseas and moved around a LOT, too. I love seeing how God positions us to serve Him wherever we go, especially if it’s somewhere we never would have dreamed of going on our own! May He bless you as you follow His lead in your life!

    • Leslie Verner says

      January 6, 2018 at 8:17 am

      Yes, so true. I feel like it is USUALLY not where I would have dreamed;-)

  5. Andrea says

    January 6, 2018 at 8:26 am

    This is something else!!! And timely! After a very rough year I decided to make the next about my relationship with God, and listening more to His direction. And doing less of what I say is right. I am working on being completely open to Him and see where is takes me. And allowing Him to lead me to what he sees best for me. Oh yes, there is backstory here and I am very well aware that it seems a bit cliché as it is the New Year. But the moment and the New Year just happen to bump into each other. Anyhow, you have reassured me that I am continuing on the right path. Thank you for this!

    • Leslie Verner says

      January 6, 2018 at 8:28 am

      Oh good! I love when God puts sign posts in our path to assure us we are walking in the right direction!

  6. Kelly R Smith says

    January 6, 2018 at 9:10 am

    Leslie, thank you for sharing your experiences abroad, but more importantly, how the world came to you. It’s easy to feel too small to do big things for God. Isn’t that right where he wants us–too small so he can be so big? I will sit in my smallness and watch for God’s bigness all around me!

    • Leslie Verner says

      January 6, 2018 at 1:15 pm

      Yes, so true!

  7. Eunice B says

    January 6, 2018 at 9:27 am

    Thanks for sharing, and yes! So true!! We’ve moved 5 times in our 15 yrs of marriage from AL to ME, and it’s been humbling to see God’s fingerprints the entire journey…and it continues. Thank you for sharing a glimpse of your journey with God!

    • Leslie Verner says

      January 6, 2018 at 1:15 pm

      Thanks for reading:-)

  8. Michele Morin says

    January 6, 2018 at 9:35 am

    So great, Leslie, to find this encouraging message here. The truth is we never know where the wind of the Spirit is blowing us. The idea we thought was going to be “the next big thing” shrivels and disappears, while the small act of obedience grows into a mighty oak tree for the glory of God.

    • Leslie Verner says

      January 6, 2018 at 1:16 pm

      Hi Michele! Yes, you’re so right. I love how God continues to confound us!

  9. Lynne Hartke says

    January 6, 2018 at 9:41 am

    I love what you wrote: “Yes, life is mainly lived in the ordinary, but what if God wants you to toss off your fear and take one awkward, uncomfortable, or terrifying step into something new and unconventional?”

    I love the reminder that life is lived out in the ordinary but to be open to the uncomfortable and new. God has been pushing me to new boundaries this year as my husband runs for mayor of our community. Never envisioned politics in my arena.

    • Leslie Verner says

      January 6, 2018 at 1:17 pm

      Oh wow, yes that sounds terrifying on many levels! God certainly likes to keep us on our toes;-)

  10. Olivia says

    January 6, 2018 at 9:45 am

    Thank you for speaking to my spirit. Our God is an awesome God.

    • Leslie Verner says

      January 6, 2018 at 1:18 pm

      Glad this resonated with you. And yes, He is!

  11. Lora says

    January 6, 2018 at 9:46 am

    Loved this! And love your writing style!

    • Leslie Verner says

      January 6, 2018 at 1:18 pm

      Thanks, Lora!

  12. Carolyn says

    January 6, 2018 at 10:22 am

    Thank you for sharing your story. This timely message is just what I needed to hear today!
    God is Good!

  13. Ruthie says

    January 6, 2018 at 10:41 am

    After my husband passed away i wondered where God would lead me…through a series of events i realized my mission field was my home….to young women coming from Germany to serve at our local Youth for Christ ….for a term…what an incredible time it has been …I am now awaiting girl 9,10 and 11 to arrive end of January …my daughter and family just moved to Germany as missionaries and guess what… all the girls live less than 2 hrs away from her….God is so good…

    • Leslie Verner says

      January 6, 2018 at 3:32 pm

      That is so cool! Thanks for sharing some of your story.

  14. Christi Wildman says

    January 6, 2018 at 10:49 am

    at 58, I’m just stepping into the prompting of the Lord, though those who know me say I’ve been doing wild and crazy things for Jesus since I was 9. I have to tell my story… and you are another voice of God’s telling me to “go”… not to somewhere, but into his purpose for my life. thank you!

    • Leslie Verner says

      January 6, 2018 at 3:33 pm

      Yay! Glad you’re getting more confirmation on what you should do next!

  15. Jessica says

    January 6, 2018 at 10:55 am

    Those Spirit nudgings are usually soooooooo uncomfortable for me – and ONLY thru historic (tho not steady!) following have I realized it’s always better to go with the celestially humored discomfort from Father- ALWAYS!

    • Leslie Verner says

      January 6, 2018 at 3:34 pm

      “Celestial humored discomfort”–love that!

  16. Brenda says

    January 6, 2018 at 11:14 am

    Leslie, what a gifted story-teller you are. “Spirit-born,” and “Spirit-powered” ideas are the ones we live for, aren’t they? I pray His plans are born in my heart this year, and that I have ears to hear them. — Love how He “sent the nations to (you).” Such a sweet testimony. Thanks for sharing. Happy New Year!

    • Leslie Verner says

      January 6, 2018 at 3:35 pm

      Thanks, Brenda. Happy New Year to you, too!

  17. Priscilla Njuguna says

    January 6, 2018 at 12:24 pm

    Thank you for this confirmation that if I am listening to and obeying the holy spirit then God will order my steps. Much as I have previously planted God inspired tiny seeds in my life last year I took the biggest leap and steped out on faith. I have not forgotten that the same holy spirit two years ago prompted me to move to the bay area. The move turned out to be perfect for my cousin who got into a college here and has family support close by which is important for a young adult moving across the globe from Kenya to the US. Thank you for reminding me that God’s ways are not our ways and its a good thing otherwise the best connections in life would never be made. God bless.

    • Leslie Verner says

      January 6, 2018 at 3:37 pm

      Priscilla, thanks for your comment. I love when we catch a glimpse of God at work in our ordinary lives. Thanks for reading, commenting and reflecting.

  18. Jaime says

    January 6, 2018 at 2:18 pm

    This post hits right on the mark for me right now! I have been obedient to God’s prompt to ‘wait and water’ for a long time, and things are sprouting exactly as He promised they would! (As if there was ever any doubt!) I also struggled to settle back into my everyday ordinary after doing missions (also to China) – to ‘just’ being a wife and a mom. Then God started to show me how He intended to use me here. And it is honestly more than I could ever have imagined! Thank you for the encouragement today!
    Also, the verse you use in the title of your website is one of my absolute favourites!

    • Leslie Verner says

      January 6, 2018 at 3:39 pm

      Hey Jamie! It sounds like we have parallel stories in some ways–love that. Thanks for sharing some of your story and experience. God likes to keep us guessing, doesn’t He?

  19. Sarah says

    January 6, 2018 at 2:54 pm

    Leslie,
    Thanks for your story. Like you I have traveled many places and was born and raised in West Africa. I now teach ESL at a Denver Public High School. Thank you for sharing the different paths and ways how God can have be in our stories and use us in our paths. Perhaps one day we can meet as we both live in Colorado

    • Leslie Verner says

      January 6, 2018 at 3:41 pm

      Hey Sarah! Thanks for reading and commenting. Our stories are rarely predictable–even the ordinary ones;-) Maybe I’ll see you in Colorado sometime;-)

  20. Jin Ai @ Mama Hear Me Roar says

    January 7, 2018 at 12:19 pm

    Thanks, Leslie! This is a challenge that’s particularly relevant for me at the beginning of this new year. We live in a community and country that constantly requires us to step out of our comfort zones, but it’s amazing how God empowers us to keep doing the things He places in our hearts.

  21. Lara says

    January 9, 2018 at 1:04 pm

    Leslie, your post really resonated with me. God is teaching me about obedience, and your experience is inspiring. I pray that I will be obedient to Him in ALL things … big and small. And I also pray that I pay attention to those longings the Holy Spirit places in my heart.

    Many thanks!

    Have a blessed day!
    Lara <

  22. mrsbiedy says

    January 13, 2018 at 2:11 pm

    This post stirred something powerful in my heart. I have big dreams and hopes for the things God will do in my life and my family. We are a military family, stuck in a period of waiting. It is so hard to be patient during the wait, but I anticipate that God is using this time to bring about his purposes.

  23. Jen F. says

    February 28, 2018 at 10:32 am

    When I finally surrendered to the things God was calling me to, life became an adventure and I’m grateful for it everyday! He takes the ordinary and makes it extraordinary, but we have to be brave enough to step out. It’s amazing what he has done in your life with your gifts!!

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