step off the porch
“And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14 NIV
There have been stand out, bold-capital-letter defining moments in my life. Some I have recognized, even as they happened. But most were realized only by looking back years later.
Like one chilly night, sitting between my two older sisters, in the student lounge of Long Beach City College. At the ripe old age of 14, I heard the gospel for the first time. Do you want to give your life to Christ?
What did that even mean? What could it mean to a Junior High girl who just wanted to get the cute guy in history class to notice me? What did I know? But God was speaking through that preacher dude, calling me to follow Jesus Christ.
Definitely a world-shaking, life-changing, revolutionary moment. And I knew it. God. Loves. Me.
Another defining moment comes to mind. This one arrived without fanfare on an ordinary summer afternoon.
I was sweeping leaves off the porch of my old Victorian farmhouse while Christopher was napping. A tiny bird hopping across the lawn caught my eye. I know what you’re thinking. Really … a defining moment, Cathe? I know—but keep reading.
I leaned the broom against the screen door, stepped off the porch onto freshly mowed grass and inched my way toward the bird. He didn’t fly off…he cocked his head at me and hopped toward the sidewalk. Hop, hop—stop. As if he was enticing me to follow.
I looked up and saw a young woman with dark brown hair and deep-set eyes the color of violets, looking right at me. She pushed a tiny elf of a child in a stroller. A beautiful little girl about the same age as my son was by her side.
“Hi!” she said. “Hi,” I said.
No epiphany. No sign in the sky. No still small voice whispering your life is about to turn a big corner. Just an ordinary day, with a napping baby, a porch to sweep, a sparrow, and a simple encounter that started with a hello.
“Hey, aren’t you the pastor’s wife?”
“Yea, I am.” I walked over and peeked in the stroller. “She’s adorable. My name is Cathe, what’s yours?”
“I’m Karen, this is Ericka, and the baby is Lindsay. I thought I recognized you. We live up the street, on Pachappa Hill.”
We chatted a minute more and then she asked, “Would you like to come to my house for lunch sometime?”
“Uh…sure.” She seemed nice enough and I didn’t know any young moms in this old neighborhood.
A few days later, we had lunch. Her house was pretty, not fancy, but she had a gift for arranging simple things in a way that elevated everything in the room. Lunch was served on an old tea trolley. As I recall, it was Campbell’s Tomato Soup (she wasn’t the greatest cook) but the white porcelain tureen she served it in was gorgeous. She made it special.
But the bickering in the back yard between our kids the entire time was hard to ignore. We did our best to make some connection, but honestly, it left me exhausted. I left thinking she’s nice but this friendship won’t go anywhere…our kids can’t stand each other.
She was persistent. Those afternoon walks by my house developed into deeper conversations. Our Jesus stories had some similarities. One thing I knew pretty quickly, she loved Jesus and had a deep passion to grow spiritually. It made up for the ongoing feud between our kids. Then came the defining moment.
“Hey Cathe,” she said one day, “There’s nothing much going on for ladies in the church. You have a platform, so let’s use it to reach moms like you and me. You speak, and I’ll help you.”
I was terrified. Speak at an event? Hold a prayer meeting? Teach a Bible study? Me?
Someone has said that doing uncomfortable things is good; it’s weight training for the soul. I was uncomfortable to say the least. It felt like stepping out on a fragile limb. But it held.
Some defining moments come when we aren’t looking.
We were simple and available. Dependent on God and gutsy enough to step out and say, okay God, here I am. Send me.
When I think back, it’s pretty amazing. It all began with one step off the porch. One step just led to another and quietly, gradually, almost imperceptibly my life changed. Dramatically.
Along this journey into ministry, I’ve often wondered, how did I get here? Do I really belong? Have you ever felt that way? Can I just assure you, from this vantage point forty years later, that you won’t see the entire picture. None of us do. But we have light enough to take the next few steps, don’t we? Start right where you are and do the next thing. God knows how it will all unfold for you.
Recently a young friend and I were puzzling over how God can lead us, in spite of the missteps and mistakes of our lives. Something she said stuck with me. “If you think you’ve blown God’s plan for your life, rest in this: you, my darling girl, are not that powerful.” God’s good plan for you is not thwarted and He is still working in you!
Like Esther’s story, there may be no miracle, no vision, no prophetic word. Just an ordinary day, with an ordinary girl, doing ordinary things.
God reigns over the frequently ordinary days of our rarely extraordinary lives.
That’s been my experience. We are ordinary…and exceptional. Not because of who we are but because we’ve been lovingly chosen in Christ by an extraordinary God.
God has given you this one precious life. How will you spend it? He already knows what He has chosen to do through you. So, step off the porch into your beautiful and significant life.
25 comments
Caitlin | March 12, 2018
This is incredible. It’s mind blowing how God can take even the simplest conversation and turn something ordinary into life-changing.
I wonder how many of my conversations with people-friends, family, or even strangers-have changed my life. It’s so easy to miss sometimes, but I need to keep my eyes wide open to whatever God has in store for me.
Thank you, Cathe, for this word. Such a blessing, a reminder, and an eye-opener.
Dolores Brigham | March 19, 2018
Exactly how I feel Caitlin!
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Jeanne Hollar | March 19, 2018
That was great.
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Caroline Ramirez | March 13, 2018
Thank you for sharing your story to encourage us to seek God, be still, rest in & be obediant to His word, then trust Him by walking in faith each day... step off the porch!
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Sipho Ibeakanma | March 19, 2018
Thank you Cathe. You have put this profound truth in very simple, understandable, bite size terms. Very much appreciated.
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Lauren | March 19, 2018
This is a lovely vision of exactly what you experienced. Just yesterday, I parlayed with a Robin in much the same way...a special moment with God's nature. The metaphor to step off the porch is beautifully intertwined with walking out into faith. Just the reinforcement I needed to hear. Thank you for your sweet mind.
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Rebecca | March 19, 2018
The older I get, the more and more I realize the tapestry that God has made of my life!!! We have such an amazing Father!!!
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Rohma B. Silbanuz | March 19, 2018
Good morning Cathe and thank you for these words of encouragements. It is so wonderful and a peaceful feeling reading how God can do mysterious things in our lives. I am a Sunday School teacher at our church here at Pacific Mission Fellowship and I really enjoy reading what you continue to share. Again thank you for this step up, stop out and move forward message.
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Beth Williams | March 19, 2018
Cathe,
God doesn't call the qualified. He qualifies the called. Thank you for taking the next step. I'm sure the women you minister to are blessed by you. I know I'm blessed by my pastor's wife. You are amazing women. Let's all keep taking the next step. Having that conversation & doing the next thing.
Blessings :)
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Dolores Brigham | March 19, 2018
Beautiful story, thank you for sharing. I wish I had the gift to remember and articulate simple times in my life that may have been a God moment. I'm going to start praying that God will reveal, more often, that I see His hands in my daily life. I have really been enjoying your words in devotionals and blog.
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Laura | March 19, 2018
Thank you, Cathe, for sharing this story! I definitely needed to hear that no matter how badly I fail, God is still in control. I am not powerful enough to wreck His plan for me!
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Megan Ritter | March 19, 2018
Love this! Thank you so much for sharing.
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Mary Ann | March 19, 2018
Just beautiful, thanks for sharing. Even if we never stand and speak before a group, God will still use us. He really does use the ordinary to do His will that all may come to know Him.
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Rita Starkey | March 19, 2018
Love the new look of your blog. I also loved the content of your most recent post. I love your stories.
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Pam | March 19, 2018
Thank you so much for this - I really needed it. So true.....we do not have that much power to thwart His amazing plan for us!
susan | March 20, 2018
My sentiments exactly, Pam!
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Teresa Hall | March 19, 2018
Love how God takes our ordinary...and turns it into extraordinary. Ordinary days are my favorite...on an ordinary day I seem to be at my best...the expectations may not be there, but somehow I find something to praise God for...and something to thank Him for...and just the people He gave me to love...now they are extraordinary. God Bless.
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Ginny | March 19, 2018
Thank you for sharing this story. I have for most of my life felt out of place and try very hard to hide how insignificant I feel. I alway try to work in the background. I had one pastor's wife who pushed me; she put me over the women fellowship for one year. It was the hardest year of my life at church! To plan the women's tea and other events, to speak in front of the women in the church, wow. I never cried so much and when this sweet beautiful woman and her husband were called to go to another church and the former pastor and his wife returned, I was so glad to sink back into my shell. Problem was I learned so much in that year about what God could do with someone like me that I questioned everything and though I am still more comfortable in the background, I trust God in a way that I never could have before that experience.
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Sandra Farley | March 19, 2018
Thank you so much for your beautiful article. Life gets busy hectic and when I catch my breath for me time, all of a sudden the Holy Spirit has brought my spirit back into composure, how it should be all the time. And reading your article, I can relate. It's beautiful how our Lord operates, absolutely amazing. We may not always know what the next step will bring, we may get weary, we may a lot of things, but simply obeying our Lord and blessed Holy Spirit, as He is never late and always on time. Thank you for this article, God bless you! Love Sandra
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Melissa Nichols | March 20, 2018
Nice to realize everybody has the same thought, I have messed up too much, I can’t make a difference. I often feel my life is the same ole routine, then I realize I come in contact with a lot of people at the office where I work. Maybe something I allow God to say through words or actions can make a difference. Our entire life is a story of unfolding actions we don’t know. My sister changed my thought process about people and our differences. Sadly it was in her death at age 35 that I realized the significance of loving unconditionally because we all have broken pieces. Thank you for the words and time you give.
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Claire | March 20, 2018
Still struggling to find my path! Thank you for your much-needed encouragement...
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Donna | March 20, 2018
Thank you Cathe. This was a heart grabbing devotional for me! God is always calling me to step into the uncomfortable and difficult places to reach others and to please Him. I am hesitant often and have to remind myself that God is the One who is strong and able to use my willingness for His glory. I loved the picture of stepping off the porch!
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Nancy | March 20, 2018
Thank you so much for your encouragements! They have truly blessed me. One line from this week's devotion really hits home with me: "You, my darling girl, are not that powerful.” What an awesome reminder that no matter how much I mess up, I cannot mess up God's plans. This reminder calms me and reassures me that God is in control and He will get His way, despite my shortcomings. It also makes me laugh at myself - to have thought that I actually have that kind of "power", pretty silly! Thank you for being a willing vessel to encourage women in God. May God richly bless you as you have been a blessing to others.
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Debbie Zamora | March 20, 2018
Hi Cathe,
Thank you so much for sending, this really helped me. I currently serve at my church on the Decision Team, and on Sunday I messed up really bad... They are doing spiritual gifts tests, and I do not agree with that. I think whatever God says to do, do. I thought, are they going to rid of me? Do they want someone younger? I thought do I belong here? It felt like trying on a shoe that does not fit. When I read this, when you said "do I really belong" this is how I feel. When I read, "start where you are and do the next thing. God knows how it will unfold for you. If you think you have blown God's plans for your life, rest in this I'm not powerful He is still working in me." :0) "God has given you this one precious life. How will you spend it? He already knows what He has chosen to do through you." God's will for me...I will keep going. Thank you, Cathe. I appreciate you sending this, it helped me today. Have a wonderful day! Love, Debbie.
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Shelley | March 20, 2018
That was excellent, Cathe!
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Tammy Herrera | March 25, 2018
This is a beautiful story Cathe. I’ve recently moved to Idaho and although I’ve found a great church, I can’t help but miss Harvest and the Virtue studies. However this story really lined up to the woman’s study we are currently doing. Thank you for staying true to God’s calling. Women everywhere are receiving the blessings.
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claire | April 9, 2018
My second comment, apologies for not putting it all in one - I wonder if you would consider writing a reflection on a woman's menopause time of life? I'm struggling to come to terms with it and I know many Christian women who feel the same...
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Karen Poor | July 9, 2018
Cathe, thank you for sharing our story. I will never forget the day we met. It was life-changing for me as well. Oh, I have to laugh when I think of our humble beginnings. It was crazy, packing up our living room furniture in my station wagon every month hauling it down to the church and up a flight of stairs just so we could decorate the stage.
We wanted everyone to feel like we were having them over for brunch. So young and so in love with Jesus. We wanted everyone to grow in their walks with God. The greatest treasure I hold dear from our prayer meetings was our fervent desire to get closer and closer to God. The foundation of the Women's Brunch was laid at our little prayer meetings on Thursday nights. We prayed about everything. God must have been smiling to see all of us young inexperienced women willing to do whatever He asked of us. All He was looking for was a willing heart. You are right, Cathe the Holy Spirit gave us the rest. It is a blessing and great joy to see the fruit of our labor four decades later. Thank you, my precious sister, for the privilege of serving side by side in ministry with you in our humble beginnings. God is good! He is so good!
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