love

I don’t think I can even begin to type all the things that I am thankful for in the last year nevermind my entire life.  For the sake of the two of you that might read this, I’ll make it short haha.

A lot of things have changed since Thanksgiving last year.  Last year at this time I was in the middle of a depressing period of searching for a job with none in sight.  I spent most of my days on the couch or cleaning the house over and over just trying to feel useful while I waited for emails/calls that never came from many applications I sent out.  I think a lot of my discouragement was that I didn’t think it would take so long to find a job.  I trusted in God.  I always will, but it was definitely hard to feel defeat and uselessness.  Justin would come home from work all excited about his day and the things he was doing.  It was extremely hard for me to remain positive.  I knew there was a reason…a purpose for me to be in the state I was.  I tried…not always patiently to wait for the Lord’s guidance.

Then one day in January I got a phone call from a friend telling me about The Walking Company job.  I am forever grateful to her and to my coworkers there.  I was able to get out of the house and make friends and earn money and feel useful.  I stayed there full time for 8 months.  Then as many of you have read in a past post…I felt God calling me to “walk on water” and give up my position full time there.  Not long after that I found my current job at Bethel College Bookstore.  I love it, I love the schedule, the atmosphere, the people.  It is truly AWESOME how God works and molds me everyday.  I was also able to stay on at The Walking Company one night a week to help with shipping and damages.  That way I get to see my friends there.  I don’t know how long they will need me but I am thankful to have them as friends no matter what.

Today…I’m happy, we have a newly renovated kitchen that we were able to pay in cash (well check) thanks to Dave Ramsey’s teachings.  Our families are all happy and healthy.   Justin’s parents and sister are here now to enjoy Thanksgiving with us.  I have an amazing husband that shows me his love everyday.  Java and the boys are my sweet babies and I feel their love every time I walk in the door after a long day.  All is well and God is Awesome!

Thank you Lord for an amazing year of downs and now ups.  The view is great from the mountaintops.  I love you Lord.

(I know I said it would be short….but it could be longer right?)

Happy Thanksgiving all!

Ever been reading the Bible and thought “you stupid people why don’t you just do what God tells you to do?” or “If God says He is gonna do it, why don’t you believe He is gonna do it?” Well how bout…we are those “stupid people.” I know I am.  I’ve thought many times, “why don’t you cross the Jordan already!!!,” when in reality I’m the moron walking around in the desert for 40 years too scared to get my feet wet.

Well, I am now a “water walker.”  Yep, that’s me.  It only took a little pushing, shoving, screeching, crying, toe-dipping and breath-holding.  But once I did it man…I can’t tell you how glorious it felt to be walking across the water with Jesus instead of sinking deep into the water on my own.

I guess I should back up and fill you in on my adventure.  I have been working at The Walking Company for almost 8 months.  I LOVE the people I work with and the company is a great company to work for.  It just isn’t the job for me.  I had never tried sales before so I thought I’d give it a shot.  I guess I’m the kind of person that loves to always have something to do.  I’m more of an administrative person.  I like to organize and I love to help people.  So the helping people part was nice at The Walking Company but I just didn’t feel like it was the right place for me long term.

I began praying and reading.  I started to read “If You Want To Walk On Water, You’ve Got To Get Out Of The Boat” by John Ortberg.  It was a GREAT book.  It also made me think and even confused me a bit more.  Part of it talked about fully trusting in God and in essence “walking on water” and the other part talked about being patient and living in the moment you are in, all while trusting that God had you in the right place.  Imagine my struggle…do I stay or do I go (isn’t that a song?).  So I prayed and read some more (Bible too of course).  Then came a One Prayer service at GCC with Steven Furtick.  I blogged about this recently.  He spoke about how God doesn’t just want good things for you,  He wants bigger and better things for you.

So I struggled and prayed some more.  All while this feeling became stronger and stronger within me saying “walk on water,”  “trust me,” “JUMP already!” So after long deliberation and suffering within myself.  After the thoughts of not wanting to let Adam and Erin down.  I finally made the decision to put in my notice at The Walking Company.

That day was the longest and hardest for me.  But once I finally spit it out, I felt so much better.  I felt like it was the right thing.  I was thinking…wow, why didn’t I do that sooner.  So I pretty much just walked in circles in the desert for weeks when all I had to do was touch the water.  Isn’t it crazy what we humans,  in our human way of thinking, do to ourselves?

Wait…it gets better!  So I am at home a few days later, checking the usual job sites and nothing pops up.  Then that evening I pulled up Bethel College’s Human Resource site to show Justin that yet again nothing is available.  Then to my surprise,  there was a position posted for Assistant Manager of Bookstore at Bethel.  Now remember I checked this site earlier in the day.  I was shocked.  I leaned closer to the computer and began reading more.  This was the job I left in NC at Gardner-Webb.  This was my old job!  I immediately got Justin helping me adjust my resume and sent it in a little after midnight…on a weekend…knowing no one would check it until Monday but just couldn’t wait.

A few days later.  I received an email from the Manager at Bethel College.  He wanted to meet me for an interview.  I couldn’t believe it.  I went and had the interview and actually today, got back from a second interview for the position.  Now the job isn’t officially mine yet.  It seems like it will be from what I have heard but it’s not official.  It doesn’t have to be official for me to know that God had bigger and better things planned for me all along.  All I had to do was “walk on water” with Him.  Even if something happens and doesn’t work out with this job opportunity, I now know that I did the right thing and am SO excited to see what God has planned for lil ole me.

End of Novel