Wonder with EdenMade
“May we never lose our wonder, wide-eyed and mystified, may we be just like a child, staring at the beauty of our King. You are beautiful in all your ways.”
As I drove to work a few days ago, these lyrics played and I was struck by the simplicity and beauty of them. This year my husband and I had our first baby, an incredible baby girl, who brings wild amounts of wonder into our lives every day. As the song played, I thought about the many times each day that our daughter is wide-eyed and mystified by the amazing new things she sees and comes across every day.
A toy ring that rattles.
Steamed and pureed pears.
A new-found ability to scoot across the floor.
The smiles, cuddles, and laughter of her parents who love her more than words can express.
As I reflected on the year, these wonder-inspiring impacts came to mind:
Connection with more than 23 women
Personal and/or spiritual engagement with 16 of those women
Meetings with women outside of the club where we were able to get to know each other more deeply
Prayer with 3 to 7 women during every outreach night this year - in the dressing room and on the dance floor of the club
After many months of planning and hard work, one woman has successfully stepped into a career she is passionate about
Beautiful moments of emotion, honesty, joy, and friendship
Women sharing vulnerably with us about their stories, their hardships, why they dance, and what they hope for their future
Speaking life-giving words over women who often ask for prayer for provision, protection, and health
This year has been full of moments to wonder at the ways God is on the move in EdenMade.
After a challenging few years of hardships in our city, country and world, I feel an invitation this Christmas season to engage with the wide-eyed, mystified, child-like wonder at the beauty of God. Alongside the weariness that many of us feel after all we’ve gone through, there is wonder and awe available to us.
As we step back and reflect upon this year, let’s ask ourselves “What has God done this year that I’ve been in awe of?”
May we take time to stare at the beauty of our God this season. Let us witness who he is and what he has done even amidst some of the more challenging seasons we’ve experienced.
And after we’ve done that, let us sing together,
“You are beautiful in all your ways.”
Then I thought,
“What has God done this year that I have been in awe of?”
Immediately our work in EdenMade came to mind. After years of the pandemic, we finally were able to re-enter the club at the end of last year. 2022 has been our first full year in the club since 2019, and it has been beautiful. Not only has God perserved many of the relationships we had there with women and staff, but He has also led us in building a deeper and stronger connection with many of the women.
