To every woman who feels like a failure by March, I’ve got some news for you. It’s your birthday! It’s your birthday! Sure is. So Happy Birthday to you, to me, and to ALL Women at the Well. Because today this site is “officially born.”
And to put a dollop of icing on the cake, it was birthed from failure. Yep. Like every other New Year’s “resolutionist,” I promised and double-dog dared myself to get the site up and running even before the New Year. But I opened up the year like a worn out basset hound instead.
I started. Stumbled. Stalled. Started again. Then I sat down at the Well. And then I got down. Down on myself and down on my dreams until it sent me once more down on my knees.
Remembering why I desired to have this sweet space of grace—in the first place. Where women can gather—failures, flaws, falls, faults and all, at the Well of His Word. Linking arms and touching hearts—together. Loving. Believing. Living. Serving. At the Well.
So I missed the mark, and my January and February plans were a complete and total failure. But then came March, when The SONshine Box was to be featured in Guideposts Magazine with a link to THIS new blog and not my personal one.
Why on earth would I do that? Oh yeah, because God said to. Be to others what you desire for yourself. But “do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Phill. 2:3-4)
March loomed and I nearly threw my hands up and gave up. Until women came to the rescue—and to the Well, led by Merri Dennis, my right hand woman at the Well, who installed the figurative curtains here and all the pretties, and everything else.
When I thought I blew it and before I even knew it, precious women trailed in to lend their stories, as warm and as welcoming to me as a counter full of rich casserole dishes and a table laid out with a rainbow spread of sweet savory treats.
And just in time. When I finally held my Guideposts issue that held the inspiration for the SONshine Box and the faith for this blog—I wondered why God had me in the March issue. This Easter month. I sure didn’t plan it.
Then my eyes locked in on the date and the answer, as my mind sang out the first verse I’d memorized as a kid and clung to as an adult. The date read: March 2016, or 3/16. But to me, it read as a life-saving verse straight from God, found in John 3:16. “For God so LOVED the world that he GAVE his one and only Son, that whoever BELIEVES in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
And today is a save-the-date straight from Heaven. 3/16/16. Our birthday at The Well. When we remember God already has a plan in place when we miss the mark.
Reminding us that even when His creation was a complete and total failure in the beginning of time, He came to the rescue with a redeeming plan. Just in time. The salvation plan of Jesus, and He never gave up on us.
He didn’t throw His hands up and give up. Jesus threw His hands out, took the marks, and gave up His life so that we could have ours back. He came through for us so that through Him we can spend eternity in Heaven.
Now that’s worth a new birth celebration. So WELLcome and come on in. I’ll pour the water, warm the casseroles, no wait, let’s eat cake first. After all, it’s our birthday.
And to continue the celebration of Women at the Well’s official launch, I’d love for you to share the birthday love on social media and subscribe to our weekly blog posts, if you haven’t already.
One of our readers will also win a birthday gift bundle, including a turquoise Jesus Calling devotional, a coordinating 2016 planner (because it’s never too late to begin AGAIN), and an “It is Well” print. All you have to do to enter is follow the prompts on the giveaway link below. *This giveaway is open to our readers in the U.S. only. Women at the Well Birthday Gift
I like to write. Why do I write? Kind of hard to say, but I’ll go straight from the hard part and hit straight to the heart part. It’s about that daughter part. What this daughter misses most about her mama are the encouraging words. So I’m just here leaving a legacy of love and words to mine. For them, for me, and for anyone else who could use the same. Sitting at the well. As I simply write out life and fight out fears in the light of His Word.
- YOUR WORDS MATTER—Sharing the POWER OF WORDS and the GIFT OF FRIENDSHIP - August 11, 2016
- The ABC’s and 123’s of God’s Love - August 5, 2016
- THE RETELLING: FACING THE FEAR OF SHARING JESUS IN WORDS - July 29, 2016
Congratulations, Christie! I can’t wait to see what God does with this new space.
Now, pass me some cake, please!
Giiiirl, He sure is “doing a new thing!” And thanks to you, I was up at 5:30 for that link up. Now THAT’S a new thing for me. 🙂 And your cake is coming!!!
What a great article. Thank you. This was very timely.
Thank you for your encouragement Sheila! His timing IS so perfect and so much better than mine. 🙂
Love this timely reminder that it’s never too late!! God is always on time and things happen in His timing even when we don’t realize it 🙂
Put in wrong e- mail-should be @gmail.com not AOL.com 🙂 need more coffee!!
Give me a re-fill too. 😉
Amen, my fellow woman at the Well–and beside me at the coffee station! 🙂 Thank you for the encouragement!
Just want to say congratulations on the new site! It looks amazing and is already pouring our so much love and encouragement! I read the Sonshine Box story as well and it is so touching! I love how He reveals His plan so beautifully and timely.
Thank you for pouring out your encouragement on IT! It is SO timely and beautiful to me too! 🙂
I’m excited to see a new Christian blog and look forward to seeing you grow and prosper!
Thank you for such encouraging words!
I sure could use a slice of that cake! May God bless you and this space you’ve created for women to gather and share and grow and realize “It is WELL!” xo
AMEN 100 times! And my cake goes good with your heart-warming and house-warming words you offered up here. I smile when I see your face at the Well. 🙂
I can’t wait to be apart of this blog and watch God move. Thank you for going thru with it. I am the Samaritan women at the well in a group more times than not. Thank you for letting is be the women at the well.
Thank YOU for sharing this sweet space with me. We are definitely in it TOGETHER!:)
Great article! You are always so encouraging and real. And now I want some coffee and cake!
ME TOO! Let’s do it! Love you, friend! 🙂
How lovely! I’m intrigued by your story and by the offer of cake! ♥ Happy {blog} Birthday!!!
Thank you SOOO much!:)
Congratulations Kristy. I am loving my print you gave me at the gathering day.
Just being blessed to be surrounded with women like you has me singing and believing it IS WELL WITH MY SOUL! 🙂
God’s timing is always perfect! Even when we don’t agree, even when we are experiencing the “long-suffering” of life. Excited to follow your new blog. Happy birthday, and of course I’ll have some cake too!
OK, first, you totally had me at stylinggrannymama. Best blog name ever. And I bet we could make it through several rounds of cake discussing that “long-suffering” part. 🙂 Thank you for your encouragement my friend!
Seriously. I want . . . No, I NEED that print for my music room! That’s my fav hymn of all time and forever! I’m excited about this . . .
Since you’re one of my fave people of ALL time, I’m thinking we’ll have to share a piece of cake and a print no matter what! 🙂
Hope it’s chocolate, but any cake will do! Great site! 🙂
I think Women at the Well should get to choose what cake goes with their living water. So for you, let it be chocolate! 🙂
Christie, it looks amazing and love the first blog post!! Happy Birthday!! and I would love to eat a piece of cake with y’all!
Girl, you know I’m already salivating for our cake date! 🙂
Congratulations Christie. Look forward to seeing what else you have to share at the well.
Thank you so much Rachel!! I’m visiting you right now! 🙂
Congrats on getting the site up and running! It’s always great when we can learn from our failures rather than let them burden us.
Thank you so much, and Amen and Amen!
Thank you for this ecouragement! I am looking forward to many more moments here at the well.
Thank you, YOU encourage me with your words! 🙂
Christie! It’s beautiful and we shall eat cake! the revelation God gave you is powerful. Thanks for sharing with us, your fellow drinkers from this well you’ve plumbed.
Hugs. Susan
Your words always leave me OVERFLOWING. 🙂
Congratulations, Christie! This looks like it’s going to be a beautiful spot on the web, friend! May the Lord use it to bless many women!
Thank you so much my prayer warrior friend! I think we are of one accord desiring our faith to spill over!! 🙂
What a great site and birthday bash blog christie! I’m honored to be on this journey with you and am always inspired by God’s Authentic Presence in you! May God be Glorified in all you do
I feel the same about you, my authentic woman of faith. So blessed to walk, no, RUN this race of faith with you! ‘Cause we both know that’s what we girlfriends do from the Well. 🙂 #evangelistsisters! 🙂
What a lovely faith-filled post. 🙂 The woman at the well is one of my favorite stories about the women who met with Jesus for so many reasons… so many ways I am like her and so many ways I want to be like her. To have that faith to drop all and run and share His words with all leading them back to the One who speaks truth right into my heart. Happy Birthday! Welcome to the ‘blog-o-sphere’ and what a precious faith tale to keep a reminder of just how God’s timing is always right on time and perfect.
Blessings!
Dawn
I am RIGHT THERE with you, friend. Seriously, what a blessing to be right there (and here;) together as we share our faith together. Love your words here and can’t wait to read more from you too! 🙂
Christie, I say…AMEN! The site is beautiful, but you are far more beautiful as I sense such excitement and joy that God has given you in this process. He does that…we think we are failing but He knows that He is making something out of that nothing, that mud pie. I am so excited that woman can gather at the well and know that Jesus is with us. He does not condemn us but loves us. I am so very grateful.
Caring through Christ, ~ linda
I seriously just filled up my bucket with tears reading this. God is SO good, and I thank YOU so much for your words of encouragement!
Christie, love love your blog. I am drawn to the name of it as first that is one of my favorite stories in the bible and second I use to be a part of a group that met once a month to share testimonies called “women at the well”. Love the Birthday Day bash idea. Think the date was NOT a coincidence. GOD is going to great things through your heart and this BLOG. I will be following along for the ride. LOVE LOVE MERRI. She helped me with my blog as well. BIG LOVE YOUR WAY.
I am SO blessed to be celebrating with YOU at the Well, and celebrating our love for our fellow Well Woman, Merri! She sure fills me to overflowing!! 🙂
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. This is my go to verse for failure, fear or fear of failure. Thanks Christie for not stopping but pushing through that wall of self recrimination into your “grace space.” We all need to fill our buckets of self esteem at your well of God’s grace. Happy Birthday!
I feel strength just reading this verse–Love Phill. 4:13! Thank you for joining me at this Grace-filling Well!! 🙂
Congratulations on your “arrival”. Meeting your site through Guidepost magazine was incredible. Love the ideas you share and the ministry encouragement.
My favorite encouraging verse is Psalm 139…. He KNOWS everything, everyday, all the time!
Encouraging you to continue the works HE placed in your heart.
It is absolutely incredible for me to meet YOU here at The Well too. I LOVE Psalm 139! And I love giving and receiving encouragement, so THANK YOU for gifting me with yours as well! 🙂
Thank you for starting this blog and your honesty & humility. So many times we strive for perfection, when we really should just be in the moment and listen. I recently joined a bible study about perfectionism and your experience really hit home. It’s okay to miss your mark…just keep going and everything will work out…in His time. I look forward to coming to the Well with you.
You are so right and blessing me with your words here. Thank you so much for being with me at The Well! 🙂
Congratulations on your launch! May God anoint your words with special grace to touch hearts for His glory. Thank you for joining the linkup at Grace & Truth!
Thank YOU so much for your awesome and encouraging words Jennifer!
Hey, Christie! So sorry I’m late to the well. (That’s usually how I roll, though–LATE–so I’m not surprised.) So proud of you, dearie! Keep drawing up that water and passing it down the line.