James asked me to put together a bio…a little something about myself. I could bore you with tales about growing up in Worthington and the devastation that divorce has wreaked upon my family, and about my college education and my career achievements, but I think it is more helpful to tell you about what’s happened in the last couple of months. Most of you have heard my family’s story…Jeremiah (my husband) and I gave live testimonies at Sanctuary and were on video for Christmas last year. God’s been busy with us and it’s been awesome!
You can contact Lisa at lisamadams@qwest.net or by clicking here.
While Jeremiah and I were at the Holy Spirit retreat for the Alpha course, I prayed this dangerous little prayer…”Lord, fill my sails. Fill my sails with your Spirit and point me in the direction you want me to go. I am yours, take me and use me.” My life changed and it will never be the same.
About 4 months ago, James gave me a book called “Chazown” and asked me to read it and give him some feedback. Our Meal Group was on a summer break so it was the perfect time to read something new!
As I dug into “Chazown”, it struck me that all of the areas that were in the spoke were areas that Jeremiah and I needed to give some attention to. I kept coming back to this line “And when God gives you His vision, He also gives you the ability to get it done.”
So, Jeremiah and I made some changes and used our God-given abilities.
We purged out our house of unnecessary clutter and took inventory of the things that we wasted time and money on that we no longer needed. We cleaned out our kitchen and made a lifestyle change. We took out the bad and brought in healthy food. We renewed our commitment to working on our marriage and dating each other. We hold each other accountable for spending time with God and in His word.
In the midst of making those changes (one area at a time) James asked me to help him with the service part of Meal Groups. He knew that I was passionate about doing service and trying to help others feel the same kind of passion. I was happy to help.
And then I was asked to go to Willow Creek for the Groups Conference. I wasn’t so sure that I should be going…after all, I was only volunteering and I had never been away from my son Nickolaus for that long. Jeremiah and I prayed and asked for guidance and help with making this decision…and we both really felt like I should go.
The Chicago trip was amazing. I got the opportunity to get to know some wonderful people, listen to amazing speakers, and just spend time being still (that doesn’t happen very often being married and having 2 boys). And in that stillness, I realized that God was laying His vision for me on my heart. Each session that I attended had the same underlying message. Each person I spoke with fueled my passion about what changes I need to make in my own life and what changes could make Meal Groups transformational in their communities. What I didn’t know was how to make these things happen. How could I possibly get this done volunteering 10 hours per week??
The answer was strikingly clear. I couldn’t. And then that line came back at me “And when God gives you His vision, He also gives you the ability to get it done.”
At first, I thought it meant that I should volunteer more time (about 30 hours per week) but then my family was suffering and I knew that this was not part of the vision that God had for me. So, Jeremiah and I (as well as many good friends and family) began to pray for clarity for me and my work. We asked God to just be crystal clear about where I was supposed to go and what I was supposed to be doing. And He was.
After many meetings, prayers, discussions, and negotiating, I was offered a full time job working alongside James as the Groups Coordinator for Crossroads.
I have been so blessed in the last 2 years…I have an amazing family, a saved and sober husband, many new friends, and a clarity about my life that I have never had before. I have found my sweet spot with this new job and it is because God gave me His vision for my life and the ability to get it done.
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