Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Summer happenings....



August 3, 2010

I am in a new season of life. I love to see them come and go. It feels like the Springtime, my favorite time of the year, flew by. It was a beautiful time to get married, and now the Summer is almost at an end as I still linger in the newlywed world. It's been a fun and relaxing summer as I have decorated our new apartment, made new friends, vacationed with family and friends, enjoyed watching new claves grow, visited many churches, experimented with new recipes, ran many miles, and every day searching God's Word.
I'm still trying to find the perfect job out there for me to use my talents for God, but for now, I will keep loving on my students, friends and family, and studying His Word. Many questions have been asked of the future, and many prayers have been answered and are in the midst of being answered. It's always exciting to see God work in my life and in the life of my friends and family. Right now, I'm sitting in my freshly decorated apartment loving the sound of my new dryer! I love the fact that it doesn't use as much water, my clothes don't come out drenched, and both machines play a little song when they're done. Life feels about the same, things have been stirred up (deaths, hospital visits) but not so much as to where we can't come out of situations singing songs of praise. I know God's working, and he is always faithful.

This is a great song to sing to the Lord:

Psalm 30- David's Song:

You have turned my mourning
Into dancing
You have taken away
My clothes of mourning
And clothed me with joy

That I might sing praises
That I might sing and dance
That I might sing praises
To you, to you
And I will not be silent
Oh Lord my God
I will give you thanks
Oh Lord my God
Forever.
Oh Lord my God
I will give you thanks
Oh Lord my God
Forever.

God you have been faithful to me, bringing me a husband whom I have been waiting to start a life with, and then for my family to find peace amoung each other, which comes with its ups and downs. Just as David, the man after God's heart, wanted to fast forward a few years of life, he knew then and I know now that God will be faithful in His time.

Week 5 of my study of David from a Heart Like His (Beth Moore study), really relates this time in my life of settling down. I like to keep these steps that Beth showed us in mind while spiritually growing:

1) I acknowledge my specific need for direction.


2) I continue to pray daily and study His Word.

I am thankful for His Word, which has been an intrical part of my life every day this summer. It was not something I have to do, but I feel like I can't go on with my day without opening His Word. Opening up His Word has also been a big factor in looking for new churches with a pastor and congregation that use the Word to lead them into worship and through their ministries..not everyone does. I only pray that I can keep the routine when school starts, because that's when I really need God's hand in my life to keep me sane.

3) I ask Him to help me realize His answer.

I have asked many times to recognize His answer to my questions, because I feel like I am just floating through life, coming across things as they happen. This week, I felt the Holy Spirit prompting me many times throughout my study. He keeps showing me verses with the same subject content, so I believe He is directing me, which may seem scary now, but God has given me the tools to accomplish His Will. God is bigger than any fear.

Here was my prayer earlier this month, "Lord, please confirm your direction for me in a job. Are you teaching me to be patient and trust you? Or is there something else I should be doing like looking into another field? Are you wanting us to stay where we are or move and raise a family? I wasn't going to think about it but I keep reading/thinking about 'moving to Hebron'. Lord, send me a minister of encouragement or reveal that person to me. Show me scriptures that direct me. You are my Rock, Salvation, Fortress, Refuge, and I am coming to you as David always sought your direction."

This was the week God started showing me scripture and telling me I may not have a secure job here for a reason. He gave me verses that addressed my questions. God's answer is not always the easiest answer. I have had a problem with finding a balance between pouring out to friends and family and not to God. I started telling everything to God first this summer, and now I'm hearing Him. Amazing how it works.

4) I ask for a confirmation if I have any doubt.

When He gives me an answer to a big question, I often want it confirmed so I don't mess it up. When you're not used to acting on the Holy Spirit, you really second guess yourself and feel like you're going to mess up. I know that the Holy Spirit, His Word fellow believers are there to help me have faith and trust His answer.

Lord, your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations. You always keep your promises and you are gracious in all you do. I may feel incompetent and young like David may have felt when he was chosen as king, but I know he felt excitement as I do when new seasons come in life. I love how Psalm 119: 19, 54 encourages me to serve God wherever I go. I am new here in my apartment with a husband and new career coming my way, but wherever I go, I want You Lord to lead. I want to get to the throne, to a job, to a new church, to someday starting a family- God's way. Moses wouldn't leave his land without You, David couldn't lead without crying out to You, and I can't live, love, and teach without You. I will carry Your Spirit with me wherever you want me to go. Lord, let time and conflict in my life bring a change in me, yielding spiritual growth.

I am only in Week 5 and this is what I have been reminded of or have learned:

Have faith, follow and obey, forgive and love others, go to battle in God's name, talk to God and He will talk to you, be a sold out servant of God permanently, let God change you through time and conflict.

August 9, 2010
Well, Drew leaves for Mount Lebanon where they really work the boys hard but also do some team Bible studies and bonding. It's been a tough beginning of the season, so I'm really praying this weel they'll come back as a "team", cleaned up inside and out, and on fire for this year and for the Lord. I really don't like being at home alone, but I've got my "guard" dog.

So first thing this morning, yard people need me to take Max so he won't freak out, bark his head off, or run away. He has to stay outside, I end up giving him a bath, walking him in the middle of the heat, putting him on the porch with a fan, but he barks about that, so I fill up his water bowls while he decided to lay in the mud. By then, the yard is done and I had enough of Max and the heat, so back he goes into his shaded yard. Do I really want another dog???
Now I've got to concentrate on ordering wedding pictures for my album!


August 10, 2010

Today was crazy and I didn't eat lunch til 3pm because I was finishing up my picture order, trying to get passwords for school systems, finding out how much it's going to be to add Drew to my insurance, and applying for a job that my sister-in-law texted me about which is the same thing I'm doing but in a different school district for a little more pay (hmmmm....is this an answer?). By the time I go done, I had to just lie down and watch a movie. By the way, Taken is a good movie in the sense that it makes you aware of what goes on in drug/prostitution trafficing..downright awful. Anyway, I'm babysitting right now (it's really hard to babysit sleeping children.lol) so I'm going back to enjoying the quiet.