(This is part 2 in my journey to the Mid-West. Read part 1 here.)
Last Wednesday I had to turn in the keys to my apartment. On Monday I still didn't know where I was going to go. But I took the step of faith and started packing. For those of you who struggle with anxiety and depression, I know you'll understand the complete mess I was. There were moments all I could do was sit on the floor and stare at the wall, not moving for 10 minutes or half an hour. Then a wave of energy would blow over me and I would move and pack. I could not have done it without the help of my co-workers. We've walked through just about everything together and I don't think they really know how much I appreciate them.
I moved. Into a hotel. By the grace of God, there was a special going on across the street for storage units. Any size for $20. I called or texted almost everyone I knew in the area about a place to stay, and nothing. Even though I didn't know where I was going to live for 6 weeks, there was just an unspeakable peace over me. I trusted the Lord. On Saturday I started to worry. The Super Bowl was coming to Phoenix the following weekend and prices were going to sky rocket. So I kept praying for a place to live within my budget. And I prayed for a family. More like demanded. I'm pretty sure that God just laughs at me more often than not. I think I know exactly what I need. Most of the time, I have absolutely no clue!
As I share with you this incredible journey the Lord has me on, I also have to share the part where I surrender time to spend in His word. Reading the Bible isn't something that has ever come natural to me. It also isn't something I've always practiced. I know some people that have. They've been having consistent quiet time since they were 10. Praise the Lord if you are in that group! If you're not, allow me to impart what I've learned. It takes practice. To practice, you have to set aside time. Sometimes I just listen to whatever I'm reading that day in the car on the way to work. And I'll listen to it 4 or 5 times throughout the day. Sometimes I read it on my iPad. Sometimes I actually open my Bible and read the Words of God on a page. I don't think that any of those three are less than the other. It's all about being involved with God.
Having steady quiet time is one of the things I committed to when I stepped out in faith on this journey to Wisconsin. It's not easy. Some days I totally screw it up. But it's okay. His mercies are NEW every morning. Not just Sundays and Tuesdays, all the days! So pick up your Bible and read. Spend time in prayer, really. A set aside time. It doesn't have to be long. It can literally be 3 minutes. Amazing things will happen as you spend time in communion with God.
... Back to the timeline:
Sunday I didn't go to church because I was on call and spent most of the day dealing with work stuff. At 6:57pm on Sunday night I got a text that Julie wanted to meet me. At 7:06pm Sunday night, one of the guys (my incredible brother James!) called to say that Jana and Julie wanted to have coffee with me the next day. I said yes!
I went to coffee and sat down with them (rewind to the part where I went to the WRONG Starbucks... I even had the address....) and we just talked for half an hour. I shared, they shared, and it was perfect. At the end Jana told me about how they have family dinner on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday and that I am welcome anytime. I about started crying. Jesus cares about the details. You know what's even crazier about this whole thing? I met Gilly (the girl who was the connection to the family) the weekend before I went to Wisconsin and the Lord planted the seed. I almost didn't go into the event that night. I sat in the car and Hannah prayed with me over WhatsApp and then we met because I opened my mouth and YWAM came out and everyone knows someone in YWAM it seems like now-a-days. Isn't God incredible? He orchestrated ALL of this before I even met the girl that would introduce us!
I cannot paint a picture beautiful enough to really tell the story of the last 6 weeks with the Cs. It has been family. It has been kindred spirits. It has been slowing down and living life with other people. It has been God-ordained. It has been amazing.
Sunday, March 15, 2015
Miracles are Just the Small Things.
(This is part 1 of a series on my journey to the Mid-West)
I have so much to share with you guys. First and foremost I must give all of the glory, honor, and praise to the King of the universe! His love for me has completely blown me away. The beginning of this story starts shortly after Christmas. I had applied for dozens of jobs and was not getting any response from anyone. All attempts to find a place to live simply didn't pan out. One of my very best girls came to see me and we got to just sit and talk in Panera for hours. Hours, people! It was fantastic! I walked away encouraged beyond belief and with a new clean gust of air in my lungs.
It came the time to give my two weeks notice at work. I cannot tell you how terrified I was. I had prayed and prayed and worried and worried some more. Every conceivable outcome of this monumental decision had played through my mind again and again. I also kept remembering the signs the Lord had shown me. I decided to let faith win the battle of my mind. I chose to step out in faith and say yes. Going into the office that day I had no future job, no future place to live, and a death sentence for a car. I serve a God who loves to give abundantly and take care of His children, so I took the first step of faith. Before I went in I prayed and journaled and asked God to soften the heart of my boss. I couldn't handle the thought of no support. I walked into my boss' office and laid it all out on the table. I explained my plans, the lack of concrete answers at the immediate moment, and why I was leaving.
His answer blew me away. He understood. We made a deal. He offered to help me find a car and sell my furniture if I would stay until the beginning of March to train some new employees. Everything inside of me was screaming to say, "NO!". I sat there and thought about it and realized that this was an answer to my prayer. So I said, "Yes." It was a questions, a softly spoken word, with only some heart behind it. Immediately I felt immeasurable peace. Even though January was always my plan, I agreed to wait.
It's been three weeks since that conversation. It's been a wild ride, my friends. It's been full of tiny moments of doubt and wondering if I really am walking in the right direction, but then I remember that all the Lord has asked of me is discipleship. Discipleship is simply walking one step at a time in His plan. So that's what I've been doing: walking one. step. at. a time. Of course, I am constantly reigning in my errant brain waves from their tumultuous race to the future and all the possible things that can go wrong. It's been an emotional, physical, and spiritual battle! But at the end of the day? God is GOOD. He gives good gifts and He loves us. Remember that.
I have so much to share with you guys. First and foremost I must give all of the glory, honor, and praise to the King of the universe! His love for me has completely blown me away. The beginning of this story starts shortly after Christmas. I had applied for dozens of jobs and was not getting any response from anyone. All attempts to find a place to live simply didn't pan out. One of my very best girls came to see me and we got to just sit and talk in Panera for hours. Hours, people! It was fantastic! I walked away encouraged beyond belief and with a new clean gust of air in my lungs.
It came the time to give my two weeks notice at work. I cannot tell you how terrified I was. I had prayed and prayed and worried and worried some more. Every conceivable outcome of this monumental decision had played through my mind again and again. I also kept remembering the signs the Lord had shown me. I decided to let faith win the battle of my mind. I chose to step out in faith and say yes. Going into the office that day I had no future job, no future place to live, and a death sentence for a car. I serve a God who loves to give abundantly and take care of His children, so I took the first step of faith. Before I went in I prayed and journaled and asked God to soften the heart of my boss. I couldn't handle the thought of no support. I walked into my boss' office and laid it all out on the table. I explained my plans, the lack of concrete answers at the immediate moment, and why I was leaving.
His answer blew me away. He understood. We made a deal. He offered to help me find a car and sell my furniture if I would stay until the beginning of March to train some new employees. Everything inside of me was screaming to say, "NO!". I sat there and thought about it and realized that this was an answer to my prayer. So I said, "Yes." It was a questions, a softly spoken word, with only some heart behind it. Immediately I felt immeasurable peace. Even though January was always my plan, I agreed to wait.
It's been three weeks since that conversation. It's been a wild ride, my friends. It's been full of tiny moments of doubt and wondering if I really am walking in the right direction, but then I remember that all the Lord has asked of me is discipleship. Discipleship is simply walking one step at a time in His plan. So that's what I've been doing: walking one. step. at. a time. Of course, I am constantly reigning in my errant brain waves from their tumultuous race to the future and all the possible things that can go wrong. It's been an emotional, physical, and spiritual battle! But at the end of the day? God is GOOD. He gives good gifts and He loves us. Remember that.
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