Finding Joy in the Midst of Change

It has been 6 weeks since James lost his job. What a crazy 6 weeks it has been. Truly has been a roller coaster of emotions. We are just now starting to see some activity in the job search arena. James had his first interview today and it went very well. We are continuing to seek the Lord for HIS perfect plan for our lives and are waiting expectantly for it!!!

I have come to realize something VERY strange this last week. I am truly glad and very grateful that this all happened. We still don't know the outcome or how long it will take to receive the Lord's answer for James' next position, but I am glad we are walking through this. I never thought I'd be saying that!!!

The positive and wonderful changes I have seen in my husband are just awesome! Instead of becoming less confident because of the situation, he has gained confidence. My shy and quiet husband is becoming more talkative and outgoing. He is stepping up to the plate and stepping out in faith. What joy that brings to my heart.

I hate that it took something like this to get me to press into the Lord more, seeking Him out daily in my quiet times. But that is what has happened. I have never been one to want to pray too much, but now I find myself yearning to pray and talk with the Lord. He is showing me things daily and taking me to a deeper level of understanding as I read His Word and seek Him out. My prayer is that even when this is all settled, my walk with the Lord will not diminish, but increase even more!

The grace and the mercies the Lord has shown us has been incredible. We have been blessed so much by our family and friends (I know I have said this before, but WOW what a blessing you all are to me!). The Lord continues to give us so much grace each day. There is much peace in our home in spite of the turmoil - much more peace and grace than there was before this happened.

This verse has been on my heart the last couple of days:
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4
What is really crazy is that I never ever got this verse before. I couldn't understand how trials could be considered pure joy. I also wanted to think that I could have the faith I needed without walking through the trials. I am sure that might be possible for some, but I know for me, my faith has deepened through this time.

There is still a ways to go. My salary and state benefits will be cut starting in September (as I begin my new adventure of teaching at the kid's private school instead of the public school where I had been teaching.) We know God put me there before all this happened and we are confident He is working it out. He doesn't ever work in our time, but HIS time is perfect.

I wrote this blog two days before James lost his job. It is amazing to me how God prepares our hearts for things that are about to happen. Gratefully, we are now embracing the change!

Being at Peace

One day you see sunshine and rainbows, the next day you see storm clouds and hailstones. At least this is the life James and I are walking through right now. I won't go into all the details at this point, but surfice it to say, we are walking through a storm right now. A big, scary storm with a very unknown outcome...

But even in the midst of the unknown outcome, I have peace, because I know whom I serve and I know HE loves me and will take care of me. In THIS moment I have peace. Sure, in the last few hours I've shed a lot of tears. But in THIS moment I have peace. And it is only in THIS moment that I need peace. My Abba Father will meet me in the next moments and give me the peace I need just for THAT moment too.

The Bible says: Do not worry about tomorrow, each day has enough trouble of its own. I never really got this verse until today. I am a planner and I like to be in control. So worrying about tomorrow is one of my main job descriptions!!! If I don't worry about tomorrow, who will??? But God is only giving me peace for THIS moment. Not for tomorrow. Tomorrow will receive its own portion of peace from the Lord.

So when I let my mind wander through the "what ifs", I am not following the Lord's commands at all. I am sinning. The "what ifs" get me no where but down a road fraught with fear over the tomorrows, that I honestly have absolutely NO control over. The Lord never intends for us to have fear for tomorrow (I have not given you a spirit of fear!!). That's why He instructs us to NOT worry about tomorrow. He's handling it!

Interesting the preceding part of that verse - God IS taking care of ALL of it. Not just a bit or a portion or just the really big stuff. He is our Abba Father, our Daddy, and He loves me and loves you SO much that HE is taking care of the Big stuff and the Little things too - ALL of it!!!!!!

Matthew 6:25 - 34
25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[a]?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

So I am so very thankful for the peace of THIS moment. Knowing that my Abba Father will give me the peace I need for the next moment and the moment after that. And with that peace I look expectantly for the very good gifts my Daddy is preparing for us!!!