I find a lot to celebrate in this "one thing." I am just watching this video on monday night, but didn't know that I was already doing this assignment yesterday. You know I am in Tennessee, mostly kicking and screaming - and while I've found blessings here, and can clearly see God working in me and through me, have resisted being here on every front. I'm homesick - I miss my family, I miss my Godchildren, I miss their mother, I miss my friends, I miss my Pastor, I miss my peeps. Poor me. But yesterday, as a "favor" (still laughing at that) I went to a really wonderful pentecostal church where one of my oldest and dearest girlfriends happens to attend - she is the person who set Jason and I up on our first date more than 13 years ago, and she has remained very vital in our lives. It was a wonderful service, and I know that God was speaking directly to me in some of the material covered, but the most meaningful interaction came after. My friend BJ and I talked after church, and again last night, and again this morning . . . our conversations were very directly related to this "one thing."

I was bouncing things off BJ that are particularly burdensome for me, both immediate needs and fears, as well as internal questions about my own ability to walk in faith. And asking her to give me real feedback about her observations. It's late here, but I intend to talk to her again tomorrow to discuss this "one thing" assignment and to ask her to specifically consider the challenge - I know I can count on her to be forthright, so I'm equal parts dreading and hopeful about her input on this. I'll share whatever comes of it, and consider others who might lend to the endeavor.

I love you guys so much - and I'm thankful to have you around me on this journey -

TB

Hey Tamee... so cool to hear what's happening for you down there. Thanks for having the courage to take the challenge! I didn't know if anyone would this week. It's a scary one!

My question before I start this week's one thing... by the way... I did the others but just didn't make myself sit down to comment.
Anywho... how can I tell if the people in my life are "true mirrors" or mirrors who will distort the image?

Thanks Marc! And good question Candi - and one not to be taken lightly - we can get our relationships really tied up in ways that could prevent this from working, don't we?

Candi, that is such a good question. Wish I had the exact great answer.

In my experience, the one or two people in my life who I know without a doubt would reflect truth to me are also ones who vibrate with the same Spirit. The things they say and do in their lives reflect God to me. Our trust in each other has built over time and "doing" life together. And when they reflect truth that is hard to hear, God often surrounds those reflected truths with an experience or Bible words and Spirit whispers that give credence to those truths.

However, there are a few friends who just "click." I haven't had extended time and contact with them, but the Spirit vibrates when we are together. Those are the ones I want to have this conversation with, to let them know I am counting on them to reflect truthfully and honestly back to me what I need to hear. That will be like jumping into the deeper water, which, for me, is much preferable to kicking around in the shallow stuff!

On the flip side....I am also very wary of "friends" who just tell me what they think I am doing wrong without having gained the permission and respect to be that reflection in my life.

Can we get together soon?

I would love that!

I am looking forward to having that conversation soon, with a new friend. However, my closest sister-of-my-heart and I had one of those reflection conversations on Sunday. We have been mirrors for each other for more than a decade and have weathered some really difficult things. Over the past couple of years things have really been flowing along great, we've been "on the same page" spiritually and are a great sense of comfort and strength to each other. However, the last three conversations have been surface and quick. In my gut I knew something wasn't right and prayed quite a bit about our up-coming conversation on Sunday. Yes, it was surface and sweet, but just before hanging up I just got up the courage to say that I felt like I was talking to her through a thick piece of glass. Her response was a quick defense to her busy schedule. But I restated that it felt like I was being held at arms length for some reason. Thank you, God, she paused...took a deep breath... and said, "You are right. I have been keeping you out, but I don't know why. Let me be still with myself and meditate for a while and see what I'm feeling. I love you and will call you soon. Thank you for speaking up." Whew!!! This Circle Two Accountability stuff really does work!!! It isn't easy and I'm not sleeping well until I can talk with her again. But I am using this anxious, waiting time to surround her and her family with prayer for strength, courage, healing, honesty and love. God is faithful to hear and answer. We, the people of His body, are God-with-skin to each other. God is mightily invested in those relationships.

The first thing I did was to get together with two close spiritual friends. While they both quickly said, "Yes, I would definitely feel I could tell you if I heard God wanted me to say something to you" In both conversations we realized that this will open a new door so that we are listening for that word with more intention. Nothing really new surfaced exept that possibility in the future. My third interaction was with someone who I see really often, but who is not really an evangelical Christian. She does know me well. I do know she has a connection with God so I thought-lets just see. She had amazing insight. Dead on. She hadn't even heard of my recent experiences with my sermon or cell group. I really felt God speak through her. The fourth person is my daughter. She has had some amazing honesty moments with me lately and I really value them. So my prayer now is that these mirrors will hear more from God,feel safe in sharing it with me, and that I can take it into my heart.

Sorry friends, I just spend around 45 minutes sharing my recent experience then I lost it AGAIN! It would not post so I tried to copy and paste and it dissapeared in the process. My IExplorer is still goofed up. Dang, ",",",".

It was a wonderful experience going through all the things that this assignment brought up. First event was looking back at my past and seeing that most of my friends would not have qualified for this kind of interaction, co-workers, fishing buddies, friendly nieghbors, party pals, aqaintences, and so on.

I have never been satisfied to interact at a superficial level with people who qualify as true friends so I have few and then only after the slow process of sharing over a long time.

The one person I was able to reach gave me a response in the same spirit of the question. He said he had never felt the need to try and change me. Even if we differed in opinions or beliefs, he KNEW that I was always honest, genuine, and sinceree and he respected and valued who I am, as I am. He indicated that if I were to go through a difficult time of challenge or change, he would still be there and go through it with me. I think I and my friends have come to believe that we will all be changed over time by God's own nudges eveb if we resist at times and those things will come at exactly the right time and in the right way at God's direction. As long as we are willing to let that happen in us. Am I blessed or what? Thats most of what I wrote earlier, I hope.

Whew! It got through this time, thank you Lord.

Cheryl & Gregg - what a great place to have such people in your life! Your are specially blessed in a way that most people aren't.

Julie - what a cool opportunity! I'm so excited to hear how this develops for you.

Thanks all of you for taking the risk this week!

First of all my relationships with the two people I asked if they were not strong already I felt became stronger, at least for me. Both were appreciative of the opportunity and did not see it as a chore, which made me feel good knowing that I have friends that are willing to invest into my life. Maybe what surprised me the most is that how pen point accurate they both were and the things that were mentioned were things that I have felt the Holy Spirit deal with me about before throughout my life. It seems at my core there are certain things that I have grown up believing and I have so tightly wrapped myself around those things I have allowed them to shape who I am. I may very well spend the rest of my life unfolding these things but I know one day I will become who God has made me to be. First and foremost because of His grace and mercy and love for me and in no small part by the way I allow Him to have His way in my life. I am intrigued by the ways He speaks truth to me. First of all through spending time with Him. In this way I recognize His voice and feel the gentle nudges He places in my life – Circle One. Secondly, through friends who are willing to speak truth in love and reflect both the good and the ugly in my life so that true growth might happen – Circle Two. Lastly, through giving away what God has so graciously given to me, it is more blessed to give than to receive (I am beginning to understand what that really means) this is – Circle Three.

Marc: where do you get all of these "one Things?" today is 9 days after theone thing challenge I am going to ask my husbnd Gregg to be y my honest mirror. He saved your video so I could listen to it, because he says he couldn't explain the idea as well or as you do. I will respond later with more. By the way, I am now keeping up wih the Bible readings and doing the acts prayer method often. I find I am able tobe more loving with and tolerant with Gregg, and maybe this is the reason..I love Jesus, anyway. I just became a member of Julie's cell group. I need this, this is good. Love to all. MS

Welcome to the mix, Mary! Have Gregg help you get your own account, so we can see your pretty face! You don't want people mistaking Gregg for you! (Not that he's not pretty...)

I'm glad you're joining us.