Welcome to the boarding room kitchen in my 1875 historic bank building...
In this time of uncertainty and for many, hopelessness...I wish I could sit across from you in this amazing kitchen my dad and I created in this 1875 bank building in Walnut, Iowa, and take your hands in mine and tell you face to face…how many times and how absolutely powerfully I’ve seen God work. I would give you a cup of steaming hot tea and share with you the many, many seasons God has rewarded my super...super...super...tiny (very tiny) mustard seeds of faith by moving huge impossible mountains. I would personally share with you many testimonies of His timing which can take years...because He is always preparing us for His plans and purposes. Honestly, this was my dream kitchen...nothing fancy, but it was a true gift from the Father and my father. God took YEARS to bring His plan, and a dream I didn’t even really know I had...together in this very space.
I never knew that warm July afternoon in 2004 when I did my simple pencil sketch on the wall not too far from where we’re sitting...that God’s plans in this vacant one hundred and forty eight year old bank building were SO much bigger then my simplistic kitchen drawings. His plans would include over 1,800 sisters in faith visiting this kitchen since 2017, when ‘The Cafe’ was formed as part of The Notebook Cafe. Wow!!!! Just, Wow, God!!! Did I ever dream that afternoon in 2004...that God would bring 1,800 of His daughters to this kitchen? No way! I think if He would have given me even a slight hint...I mean really 1,800 women...in this kitchen for six?? Who knew...well, God did. He just didn’t share His plan...He let it unfold through the most minuscule steps of my (sometimes unwilling) obedience.
Have you felt like that...unwilling to be obedient? Perhaps, God’s plans and yours don’t seem the same, or He’s taking way too long...in your humble opinion...to bring your sketch you’ve drawn, to life. I’ve lived long enough, sisters, to know that God definitely doesn’t show His hand...until the appointed time. His timing is so amazingly perfect. We can’t see what He’s doing...but I can promise you He’s always busy.
The Bible gives us so many references to God’s perfect timing. We can see passages where in His perfect timing...He prepared army’s, developed strategic battle plans, directed people to lands He would show them, sent angels to instruct and warn, stars to guide, used human means like a census to get everyone where they needed to be...for a birth. A birth...that seemed so simplistic at the appointed time. But nobody knew all the things behind the scenes were being orchestrated for a miracle.
At this point, I’d lean across that old wooden kitchen table, look directly into your eyes and ask you if you needed a miracle right now. Sweet friend...do you?
As you slowly sipped your tea in this sweet kitchen, I’d say I don’t know what step of obedience He’s calling you to...but you do. I don’t know what small seed of hope He’s asking you to hold tightly to...but you do. I don’t know what desperate pleas you’ve taken to the throne, wearing a bathrobe with a tear streaked face...but you do. And...so does He, beloved. So...does...He. Don’t think for one minute...He’s not working out His battle plan for your life, even as you read this.
As we finished our tea, and you complimented my store bought cookies (thank you) I would share how God took my dreams as a very young girl...in an alley digging up discarded ‘treasures’ and put them on a wall in this very room...my simplistic kitchen drawings not too far from where we are sitting with our now empty tea cups. He made my dreams so much bigger and better in His plans...in a land He would eventually show me...with so many twists and turns to His story line for my life...it’s an unbelievable adventure. He has an adventure for you too.
He has this. He sees your dream. He sees those who are hopeless. He knows despair...remember John 3:16. He knows the next step of your journey...and His strategic battle plan will guide you to victory...at the appointed time. Be patient. He’s working. Sweet friend, as heaven prepares a ‘place for you’ at the most amazing banquet feast...yes, dear friend, even better then my beautiful kitchen we’re in...God is still working right here. Right now. In ways that are too powerful and too wonderful for us to see. It’s what He promises in the Bible. Hold on to that.
As we depart, I’d most likely give you something I wrote for you to read...and, as we part virtually, there’s a link below to our January/February issue of ‘For your Heart and Home’.
Thank you for visiting my kitchen in this 1875 bank building filled with joy...it's a special gift from the Father...it’s truly one-of-a-kind, and so are you, my sister in Christ...so are you.
Blessings, Shelly
I never knew that warm July afternoon in 2004 when I did my simple pencil sketch on the wall not too far from where we’re sitting...that God’s plans in this vacant one hundred and forty eight year old bank building were SO much bigger then my simplistic kitchen drawings. His plans would include over 1,800 sisters in faith visiting this kitchen since 2017, when ‘The Cafe’ was formed as part of The Notebook Cafe. Wow!!!! Just, Wow, God!!! Did I ever dream that afternoon in 2004...that God would bring 1,800 of His daughters to this kitchen? No way! I think if He would have given me even a slight hint...I mean really 1,800 women...in this kitchen for six?? Who knew...well, God did. He just didn’t share His plan...He let it unfold through the most minuscule steps of my (sometimes unwilling) obedience.
Have you felt like that...unwilling to be obedient? Perhaps, God’s plans and yours don’t seem the same, or He’s taking way too long...in your humble opinion...to bring your sketch you’ve drawn, to life. I’ve lived long enough, sisters, to know that God definitely doesn’t show His hand...until the appointed time. His timing is so amazingly perfect. We can’t see what He’s doing...but I can promise you He’s always busy.
The Bible gives us so many references to God’s perfect timing. We can see passages where in His perfect timing...He prepared army’s, developed strategic battle plans, directed people to lands He would show them, sent angels to instruct and warn, stars to guide, used human means like a census to get everyone where they needed to be...for a birth. A birth...that seemed so simplistic at the appointed time. But nobody knew all the things behind the scenes were being orchestrated for a miracle.
At this point, I’d lean across that old wooden kitchen table, look directly into your eyes and ask you if you needed a miracle right now. Sweet friend...do you?
As you slowly sipped your tea in this sweet kitchen, I’d say I don’t know what step of obedience He’s calling you to...but you do. I don’t know what small seed of hope He’s asking you to hold tightly to...but you do. I don’t know what desperate pleas you’ve taken to the throne, wearing a bathrobe with a tear streaked face...but you do. And...so does He, beloved. So...does...He. Don’t think for one minute...He’s not working out His battle plan for your life, even as you read this.
As we finished our tea, and you complimented my store bought cookies (thank you) I would share how God took my dreams as a very young girl...in an alley digging up discarded ‘treasures’ and put them on a wall in this very room...my simplistic kitchen drawings not too far from where we are sitting with our now empty tea cups. He made my dreams so much bigger and better in His plans...in a land He would eventually show me...with so many twists and turns to His story line for my life...it’s an unbelievable adventure. He has an adventure for you too.
He has this. He sees your dream. He sees those who are hopeless. He knows despair...remember John 3:16. He knows the next step of your journey...and His strategic battle plan will guide you to victory...at the appointed time. Be patient. He’s working. Sweet friend, as heaven prepares a ‘place for you’ at the most amazing banquet feast...yes, dear friend, even better then my beautiful kitchen we’re in...God is still working right here. Right now. In ways that are too powerful and too wonderful for us to see. It’s what He promises in the Bible. Hold on to that.
As we depart, I’d most likely give you something I wrote for you to read...and, as we part virtually, there’s a link below to our January/February issue of ‘For your Heart and Home’.
Thank you for visiting my kitchen in this 1875 bank building filled with joy...it's a special gift from the Father...it’s truly one-of-a-kind, and so are you, my sister in Christ...so are you.
Blessings, Shelly
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Our complimentary January/February issue of ‘For your Heart and Home’ is available. offering decorating ideas and tips, alongside faith based inspirational and encouraging articles and stories. Make your favorite coffee, or brew a cup of tea, find a corner…relax and enjoy the January/February issue of ‘For your Heart and Home’. Published by Millie McKeever’s Vintage & Home Decor and The Notebook Cafe - Inspired Words for the Journey. Click here to begin reading.
To learn more about 'Heart of a Warrior' A Legacy of Faith, by Shelly Thompson, now in its sixth printing, please click here! Free shipping is currently being offered.
We have again partnered with Allied Travel to assist us in arranging our women's retreat...A November to Remember - Christmas in Branson for November 2023. Our group size is limited, so you'll want to register early. Click here if you would like to be notified when registration is open and receive more information.