Every year Internet Café Devotions hosts Blessed Aroma, a call out to blog readers to nominate their favorite blogs, in specific categories, written by Christian Women. What an honor to have been chosen one of The Most Joyful among the Top 100 Blogs!!! Thank you! I’m blown away.
Last Tuesday evening totally rocked. It was the beginning of our online Bible study of I’m a Fixer-Upper. (more information here)
There are 65 on the roster and girls from all over the US and Canada showed up for our first gathering. It was unbelievable – God was surely raising up His girls! We had a great time studying and being encouraged by one another. When our time was up I wanted to end us in prayer. As I switched to my last screen layout – unbeknownst to me I lost my attendees — I asked for prayer requests and waited … and waited … and waited …
No one was acknowledging me, so I thought maybe my group had gone shy – even though they had chatted up a storm all evening. So I began the most precious prayer for them, our studies and where God was leading us thinking they weren’t ready to share since it was our first time meeting.
When I said Amen and looked up there were only 11 gals left in our online group. I was taken back. My mind first went to “Oh my lands – this isn’t touching anyone. They were so ready to get off and get on with their life. Lord, what have I done? They surely will not come back net week. blah, blah, blah . . .”
About an hour later, I received the recorded transcript of the chat and as I read through it for the first time these gals had me laughing, crying and amening their comments they had posted all through the night. I kept wondering “Lord, they chatted like they were touched and yet they all bolted.”
Then all the sudden they start writing, “Where did Alene go? Can anyone hear her? Is she coming back?”
I lost it. I have laughed for days. Here it was my mistake. I left the class in a lurch and yet my crazy mind was wondering where they went and what I did.
I’m so thankful for the replay of the chat, otherwise I’d still be sitting here beating myself up!
I can not wait for our second class this next Tuesday. These gals rock!!!
Alene, it was so funny!! We were all like "where did she go?!" We all really did have an amazing time!! Thank you!!
Oh how funny!! I love it when we at least know the reason!! :) Glad your study is going well! Still working through Dirty Laundry! Love it so far. :)
Congratulation!
That's funny. Oh, how our mind will play tricks on us.
Congratulations!!
I just received my book today.
Looking forward to studying it.
Thank you so much.
You are a blessing.
Friend, you are so precious. No one would intentionally abandon you!!!
Congrats on the Cafe award. You are a blessing to me.
leah
Congratulations on the Blessed Aroma award! That's awesome!
Hope you have a great weekend!
Karen
That IS funny.
Praying to be able to join you all next week:)
Blessings
Hello Alene,
My name is Sue, and I have come by to congratulate you on winning your Blessed Aroma Award, and I have so enjoyed this post.
Blessings,
Sue
I am glad for your website to be given such an honor. You bless so many women, with your blog , and with your beautiful countenance.. I am blessed to know your heart, via online , but know in person it would be just as big, if not bigger.. You are a blessing, thank you for showing me the way to what beauty in Christ, is all about, dear friend.
Too funny. I work with people all over the world on the phone everyday and oh my, the stories I could tell.
Technology is a real love/hate thing, isn't it?
There is so much we do that we have no idea how it has influenced another. It is awesome when we actually get a glimpse though. Nice post.
I'm not part of the study, but enjoyed reading about your experience. It's a perfect example of how we can misinterpret or misunderstand the actions of others.
Thanks for an excellent post.
Blessings,
Susan :)
great story of how we react to what we don't even know. keep going! Blessings, B