December of 2023 was the first time I came to Shine. It was the Shine Christmas party! It was all a mystery to me how I arrived upon this party. I saw a post on Facebook but I’m not certain how because I was not part of the private Shine group. I messaged Jodi and asked her if I could attend but I was coming alone. She welcomed me with open arms and assured me coming alone would be just fine. Needless to say I was nervous, is an understatement! Walking into a room filled with women I didn’t know was definitely out of my comfort zone.
I remember coming home and my husband asked me if I was going to go back in January and I told him probably not. January came and I just felt the need to go again. I attended Shine night. Again, I came home and told my husband I’m not returning. February came and my amazing husband said give it one more try this month and then make your decision. As the story goes, I continued to attend Shine. I knew wonderful, amazing, Godly, things were happening there. I had to walk through the uncomfortable to see what God had in store for me. Shine as well as Jodi, have profoundly changed my life. Shine helped me to be able to share one of the most painful experiences of my life out loud! The women of Shine have held my hand, dried my tears, prayed for and over me numerous times! If you want to feel the Love of Jesus come meet the women of Shine. Shine has encouraged me to pray intentionally, to pray out loud, to be bold in my faith and to Trust God and in HIS will.
Now my life is centered around Shine. Shine nights, Bible study and Shine events are all scheduled first before anything else. I know God led me to Shine 1000%. I was obedient to his promptings and boy I am so glad I was. Fear is a powerful tool that the evil one uses to hold us in place, but it’s got nothing on the power of God when HE moves!
