In early February 2019, our Gather hearts were so full and humbled as we came off our 2nd annual Gather Mom night. Our event in January brought over 1,000 moms together to worship, be encouraged, and find community. It was a night of confirmation that moms DO need each other, and that God had called us to this ministry to do just that.
I took our Gather booth to exhibit at the If: Local Gathering of women in Rockwall, Texas. I was prayerful that God would speak and pour into me through the teaching and worship that weekend and give me vision for the future of Gather. Little did I know, God had plans to speak, but the specific word he had for me was not in a teaching session with an acclaimed author; it was in a conversation with a ministry leader at the booth next to me. Her name is Ashley Potts, and she is the director of Selah Creek, a home for unwed mothers. God had already gone ahead of me to open up this conversation, as I had been given tickets to a fundraising dinner for this organization a year before, so I was already familiar with the incredible work they were doing. Ashley began to tell me how God had called her to this as her job, and that God had told her not to look too far ahead, but to simply do the NEXT RIGHT THING. This phrase hit me like a lightning bolt from heaven. I knew that THIS was what God was calling me to in leading Gather.
God was so sweet to confirm these words to me, as a new book was published by the same name, “The Next Right Thing: A simple, soulful practice for making life decisions” by Emily P. Freeman. Our leadership team read this book together and I learned a lot from the simplicity the author brings to life in her peaceful voice on her Next Right Thing podcast, and from truths in her book reminding us to live simply and walk through the doors God opens.
Then before we knew it, Frozen 2 was released, and Anna was singing these words to us in our households on repeat (if you have a little girl like I do):
Take a step, step again
It is all that I can to do
The next right thing
I won’t look too far ahead
It’s too much for me to take
But break it down to this next breath, this next step
This next choice is one that I can make
So I’ll walk through this night
Stumbling blindly toward the light
And do the next right thing
And, with it done, what comes then?
When it’s clear that everything will never be the same again
Then I’ll make the choice to hear that voice
And do the next right thing
Over the last year, God has been faithful to give our Gather leadership big vision for what He can do, and we have taken the next steps to obey. We don’t know fully what the outcome will be, but we trust that He who called us to it, will be faithful to work in it.
So I ask you, Mama, what is your NEXT RIGHT THING? What is God putting on your heart to do? During these weeks of social distancing, are you allowing the slowness and calm to become a space where God can speak to your heart about what is next for you? Maybe God is calling you to be more intentional with your children, or to step out and lead a Gather group for moms in your season/neighborhood. Those are things we can help you with, so please reach out to us. Open wide your heart, and let God speak to you. For me, He speaks to me most often in the shower, or late at night when the house is quiet. Whatever it is, we pray that you just take the next step, and do the next right thing.