Draw the Circle

Draw the Circle

2018 was a pivotal year in my life. It was the year that I was ordained as a pastor and started working as bivocational youth pastor. It was also the year of my suicide attempt. Timeline is as follows:

• Feb '17 - licensed as minister

• Feb '18 - ordained as pastor

• July '18 - started youth group

• September '18 - hospitalization

• October '18 - new job at a mental health center

Sounds a bit off kilter, doesn't it? Inside of the situation, it was a bit strange that on the Sunday that my kids had their first Sunday Takeover, I was watching them live from a hospital bed. Looking back, I can see God's hand and protection. There's obviously much more to it than the 1 year timeline that I've shown you, but '18 was a YEAR for me. 2018, for me, was Romans 8:28 personified. All of those things truly worked together for my good.

After being released from the hospital, working as a pastor and also as a therapist, I had to find a way to keep myself centered when it felt as though everything around me was floating into orbit.

Enter Draw the Circle!

I read this book in 2019 and I truly believe that this book changed the trajectory of my life. It gave me the boost that I needed to pray with faith and with audacity. I committed to 40 days of nitty gritty Bible study and prayer, sprinkled in some fasting and journaling and here we are 3 years later living in (some of) the prayers that I prayed. Here's a small glimpse of things that changed for me:

• In 2019 I was working a job that I absolutely hated. I was overworked and grossly underpaid. The job was so bad, it made me physically ill. December 2020, I became a full-time entrepreneur where I am the boss, I love what I do, I can provide quality care to my clients and I am paid enough to be able to provide job opportunities and give financial funding to other clinicians and budding entrepreneurs.

• I have not been hospitalized nor attempted suicide since 2018. I am also no longer taking medication for depression (this is through years of therapy [&still in therapy], working with my psychiatrist [who approved discontinuing meds], getting on Jesus's nerves [major key!], taking care of my health and my body [water, sleep & -30 lbs] and utilizing natural supplements).

• I used to drive a beat up Altima that would shake when I reached a certain speed, the hood latch was broken and was likely to pop up at ANY MOMENT and the air didn't work. Whew, chillay! I couldn't afford anything else and my credit score, at the time told me to stay in that Altima and be happy. In May 21, I bought a foreign car that I love and do not fear anything falling off while I'm en route.

I drew circles and I did my part. I am a firm believer of us doing our natural work. As we do our part, God adds His super razzle dazzle to our natural to produce miracles.

I'm a Circle Maker!

I'm revisiting Draw the Circle in 2023! Many things in my life have changed and I want to focus on praying audaciously and specifically. Want to join me and several other Brave Women as we take a 40 day journey together?

We will begin reading Draw the Circle as a community on 1/8/2023. There's a just a few steps to join us!

1. Respond "I'm a circle maker!" to this email, so we'll know that you're with us!

2. If you would like to join our book discussion, use this link to request membership to our private (intimate) Facebook community and we'll add you to the Draw the Circle chat!

3. Order your book from Amazon (Prime don't be priming like it used to) or find it in store at your favorite retailer.

4. Get a journal! I always co-sign purchasing a new journal. If you're tech saavy, I have started to use the GoodNotes app on my iPad for journaling.

5. Pray!

I look forward to being on this journey with you, Brave Woman!

<3,

TJ