Tuesday, April 24, 2007
breakfast with a friend (part I)
Many of you have asked so I figure it is time to share how we got to Austin.
It's amazing what a little time away can do. This afternoon, I got to have some "me" time. I have not had time alone in quite a while. Actually, it's been about three weeks and that's entirely too long for a mother of three! Or any mother for that matter! My mind has been full of so many things and my heart has been heavy. I figured there was no better place to spend my two hours away than Starbucks. I arrived at Starbucks, anxious to sit alone and breathe, think and reflect. At that moment I wished for a laptop but pen and paper was all I had. It was then I decided to take advantage of those items and write the old fashion way. Yes, I used my hand writing skills and wrote out our story with pen and paper! And here's what came out at Starbucks.
It seems that I am in shock mode right now. I still can't believe I am here. While waiting on my grande, extra hot coffee, it hit me once again that I'm not in "Kansas" anymore. I mean Dallas! Standing at the counter, I survey the Starbucks. I look around at all the coffee mugs for sale. Every single time I go into a Starbucks, I am tempted to buy a new mug. Today was no different, except this time I refrained. I did not buy a new coffee mug! But I decided to go ahead and "window shop" and look. Suddenly I notice one in particular. It said, "STARBUCKS AUSTIN." Something about seeing that coffee cup made this new journey so real.
Just a few months ago, things were different. This, I did not see coming. You might say I was drinking from another cup. Ha!
We had just filed bankruptcy, chapter seven to be exact. Things seem to be looking up and we were on the road to a fresh start. The time had come where we began to feel that going back to a corporate worship service might be a good idea. Really we felt that we needed to do it for the kids. So we decided to go but not get involved for at least a year and maybe never. It's funny to think back to this chain of events because I can now see what God was doing. One Saturday night, we went to church. After it was over, we got in the car and Jeremy said, "We aren't going there. I mean I guess we can if you really want to but I don't think we are supposed to. I just think that God is going to bring the church to us." And then I begin to freak out! "Babe, what do you mean God is going to bring the church to us? We have got to get back into church! We have to try at least! We can't sit out forever and we need PEOPLE!" And he says, "Okay. We can go there if you want but I don't think we are supposed to be there. God has something for us, I know He does." I remember wanting him SO BADLY to say, "Okay let's go there. That is where God wants us." But, he didn't. I started questioning him and thinking, "Is he really praying about this? How does he know what we are supposed to do?" Clear as day, I heard the spirit of the Lord say to me, "Trust Jeremy."
About three weeks later, Jeremy found out he had a vacation. He knew it was in March but he thought it was the last week in March. Instead it was the first week in March. Prior to me knowing he was on vacation that week, I made plans with a friend of mine who lived out of town. Her and her husband would be in Dallas and she wanted to meet me for breakfast so she could see me and the kids. This was a couple we had served with at our old church. The husband was on staff as the Associate/Executive Pastor. While we were attending the same church, we were not close but one day I got an email from my friend telling me she had been reading my blog and that it had been a blessing to her. First of all, i was shocked to receive the email because I had not talked to anyone from our old church in a long time and second of all, I had no idea she was reading my blog. From that moment on, we began chatting on email and sometimes on Gmail instant messaging, eventually we talked on the phone. I really enjoyed our conversations because they were easy, light and fun. Sometimes we talked about recipes, decorating, our kids and even reality TV. I knew they had moved to Austin to plant a church so she often shared with me the fun stuff they were doing and all the people they were meeting. I will never forget hanging up the phone one day after talking to her and thinking to myself, "I wish we could be a part of what they are doing." But that was it! It was just a thought. And I think I thought how cool it would be to find something like that in our neck of the woods.
Okay so back to the breakfast. Jeremy was supposed to be working, so we thought but found out at the last minute (it was on a Friday) that he would be on vacation the next week. We made plans to do stuff as a family and we took care of everything regarding our bankruptcy. It was a fun week and also a week where I could go get my hair done since Jeremy was home. Without thinking, I accidentally scheduled my appointment for the morning I had planned to meet our friends for breakfast. Two different times I thought about canceling and explaining to my friend that Jeremy was on vacation and that I had to get my hair done. In fact, I emailed her to let her know that our breakfast would have to be fast because of my appointment. I really thought she would say, "Don't worry about it. We will do it another time." Instead, she said they would drive closer to me and meet earlier so we could have more time. And she said it would be nice to see Jeremy too since her husband would be with her. Honestly, I was not looking forward to getting all three kids dressed and ready to meet for breakfast at 8am. That's early in our house!
Well, we all made it to the breakfast and had a great visit. We mainly talked about our kids and the TV show, Heroes and laughed over some good times at our old church. I was having such a good time that I lost track of time and realized I was going to be late for my hair appointment. We wrapped things up and all walked out together. As we were leaving they told us to come visit them and if we wanted to go to Sea World, it would only be an hour and a half from their house. I can't explain it but as we walked away to go our separate ways, I felt kind of sad. I thought how nice it would be if they really were friends that we could spend more time with but I knew that with them living in Austin, that would not be possible. Still to this day I remember driving away and feeling connected to them. I did not understand it but I felt it. Before we could even get out of the parking lot, I looked at Jeremy and said these words. "Wouldn't it be cool if we could move to Austin and help them plant the church?" And the words that came out of my husband's mouth STILL shock me to this day. "Maybe that's what we are supposed to do. I could finally leave UPS and we could be a part of something that we believe in and understand." Then I say. "Our families would FREAK OUT!" And Jeremy said, "Yeah. It would be hard. It would be really hard to not have grandparents to help us with the kids but what if, just what if this is what God wants us to do?"
Shock! Pure shock ran through my body. Anyone that knows Jeremy KNOWS how crazy that conversation is. I could not believe what I was hearing. I knew that God was leading Jeremy to quit his job, I just wondered when in the heck he would do it or how. Instantly, INSTANTLY, I KNEW, I mean I KNEW that God was leading us to move. But I remained skeptical with Jeremy. I wanted it to be his idea, not mine. I did not want to play salesman to him. For the FIRST time EVER in our marriage, I kept my mouth shut so he could figure this out with God. I had played Holy Spirit way too many times in the past and I was not about to do it again.
to be continued...
It's amazing what a little time away can do. This afternoon, I got to have some "me" time. I have not had time alone in quite a while. Actually, it's been about three weeks and that's entirely too long for a mother of three! Or any mother for that matter! My mind has been full of so many things and my heart has been heavy. I figured there was no better place to spend my two hours away than Starbucks. I arrived at Starbucks, anxious to sit alone and breathe, think and reflect. At that moment I wished for a laptop but pen and paper was all I had. It was then I decided to take advantage of those items and write the old fashion way. Yes, I used my hand writing skills and wrote out our story with pen and paper! And here's what came out at Starbucks.
It seems that I am in shock mode right now. I still can't believe I am here. While waiting on my grande, extra hot coffee, it hit me once again that I'm not in "Kansas" anymore. I mean Dallas! Standing at the counter, I survey the Starbucks. I look around at all the coffee mugs for sale. Every single time I go into a Starbucks, I am tempted to buy a new mug. Today was no different, except this time I refrained. I did not buy a new coffee mug! But I decided to go ahead and "window shop" and look. Suddenly I notice one in particular. It said, "STARBUCKS AUSTIN." Something about seeing that coffee cup made this new journey so real.
Just a few months ago, things were different. This, I did not see coming. You might say I was drinking from another cup. Ha!
We had just filed bankruptcy, chapter seven to be exact. Things seem to be looking up and we were on the road to a fresh start. The time had come where we began to feel that going back to a corporate worship service might be a good idea. Really we felt that we needed to do it for the kids. So we decided to go but not get involved for at least a year and maybe never. It's funny to think back to this chain of events because I can now see what God was doing. One Saturday night, we went to church. After it was over, we got in the car and Jeremy said, "We aren't going there. I mean I guess we can if you really want to but I don't think we are supposed to. I just think that God is going to bring the church to us." And then I begin to freak out! "Babe, what do you mean God is going to bring the church to us? We have got to get back into church! We have to try at least! We can't sit out forever and we need PEOPLE!" And he says, "Okay. We can go there if you want but I don't think we are supposed to be there. God has something for us, I know He does." I remember wanting him SO BADLY to say, "Okay let's go there. That is where God wants us." But, he didn't. I started questioning him and thinking, "Is he really praying about this? How does he know what we are supposed to do?" Clear as day, I heard the spirit of the Lord say to me, "Trust Jeremy."
About three weeks later, Jeremy found out he had a vacation. He knew it was in March but he thought it was the last week in March. Instead it was the first week in March. Prior to me knowing he was on vacation that week, I made plans with a friend of mine who lived out of town. Her and her husband would be in Dallas and she wanted to meet me for breakfast so she could see me and the kids. This was a couple we had served with at our old church. The husband was on staff as the Associate/Executive Pastor. While we were attending the same church, we were not close but one day I got an email from my friend telling me she had been reading my blog and that it had been a blessing to her. First of all, i was shocked to receive the email because I had not talked to anyone from our old church in a long time and second of all, I had no idea she was reading my blog. From that moment on, we began chatting on email and sometimes on Gmail instant messaging, eventually we talked on the phone. I really enjoyed our conversations because they were easy, light and fun. Sometimes we talked about recipes, decorating, our kids and even reality TV. I knew they had moved to Austin to plant a church so she often shared with me the fun stuff they were doing and all the people they were meeting. I will never forget hanging up the phone one day after talking to her and thinking to myself, "I wish we could be a part of what they are doing." But that was it! It was just a thought. And I think I thought how cool it would be to find something like that in our neck of the woods.
Okay so back to the breakfast. Jeremy was supposed to be working, so we thought but found out at the last minute (it was on a Friday) that he would be on vacation the next week. We made plans to do stuff as a family and we took care of everything regarding our bankruptcy. It was a fun week and also a week where I could go get my hair done since Jeremy was home. Without thinking, I accidentally scheduled my appointment for the morning I had planned to meet our friends for breakfast. Two different times I thought about canceling and explaining to my friend that Jeremy was on vacation and that I had to get my hair done. In fact, I emailed her to let her know that our breakfast would have to be fast because of my appointment. I really thought she would say, "Don't worry about it. We will do it another time." Instead, she said they would drive closer to me and meet earlier so we could have more time. And she said it would be nice to see Jeremy too since her husband would be with her. Honestly, I was not looking forward to getting all three kids dressed and ready to meet for breakfast at 8am. That's early in our house!
Well, we all made it to the breakfast and had a great visit. We mainly talked about our kids and the TV show, Heroes and laughed over some good times at our old church. I was having such a good time that I lost track of time and realized I was going to be late for my hair appointment. We wrapped things up and all walked out together. As we were leaving they told us to come visit them and if we wanted to go to Sea World, it would only be an hour and a half from their house. I can't explain it but as we walked away to go our separate ways, I felt kind of sad. I thought how nice it would be if they really were friends that we could spend more time with but I knew that with them living in Austin, that would not be possible. Still to this day I remember driving away and feeling connected to them. I did not understand it but I felt it. Before we could even get out of the parking lot, I looked at Jeremy and said these words. "Wouldn't it be cool if we could move to Austin and help them plant the church?" And the words that came out of my husband's mouth STILL shock me to this day. "Maybe that's what we are supposed to do. I could finally leave UPS and we could be a part of something that we believe in and understand." Then I say. "Our families would FREAK OUT!" And Jeremy said, "Yeah. It would be hard. It would be really hard to not have grandparents to help us with the kids but what if, just what if this is what God wants us to do?"
Shock! Pure shock ran through my body. Anyone that knows Jeremy KNOWS how crazy that conversation is. I could not believe what I was hearing. I knew that God was leading Jeremy to quit his job, I just wondered when in the heck he would do it or how. Instantly, INSTANTLY, I KNEW, I mean I KNEW that God was leading us to move. But I remained skeptical with Jeremy. I wanted it to be his idea, not mine. I did not want to play salesman to him. For the FIRST time EVER in our marriage, I kept my mouth shut so he could figure this out with God. I had played Holy Spirit way too many times in the past and I was not about to do it again.
to be continued...
Labels: a new beginning, a new chapter, the journey to RC
Saturday, April 14, 2007
random
Well, I spent most of the afternoon at something called "CPD", also known as Church Planter Development. I have been to a couple of them before. One was with our old church that was also a church plant and the other was when we came here for our initial visit to Austin. There is a lot of information to take in and a lot of processing to go through once you leave and for me I would say a lot of wrestling as well. But this is why we are here, this is the stuff we love and to be a part of it is amazing. I know there will be many more blogs I write just about this journey we are on as we help plant a church. Our leader is awesome! We trust him, we love his vision and we appreciate his heart. Today was fun! Even though it was filled with a lot of information, it was enjoyable. These people are our family. It's a family we have chosen and that makes it even more incredible. We all live down the road from one another and I have already learned that we are all here to help one another since none of us have family here. I can't even begin to tell you how cool it is to be a part of something brand new, to be present for the actual birth! The bond we will share during this process will be unbelievable.
Everyone asks, "Where do y'all meet?" Well, we don't have a Sunday service yet. Jeremy and I are so glad that our Church Planter/Leader/Pastor is not spending all of his time trying to get a building, trying to find a school to have service, trying to buy a sound system (which this is usually the first thing a new church does). Instead, we are reaching out to the community first. So since we don't have Sunday service, everyone usually goes to service twice a month. One Sunday is spent at Mitch's church (Kyle's coach and our CPD trainer) and another Sunday is spent at a local sponsor church which happens to be in our neighborhood. The other Sundays are spent with one another. Tomorrow was not a scheduled church day but now it is.
During CPD today, Mitch asked if I would be available to sing at his church tomorrow. For some reason all of the female singers are not able to be there tomorrow. I was kind of shocked when he asked. First of all, he has never heard me sing! Second of all, I have not sang in a corporate worship setting in almost two years! As soon as he asked me, my heart started pounding and I did not know what to say but I saw my friend Erika's head turn quickly towards me to see what I was going to say. When I looked at her she had a HUGE smile on her face and at that moment I felt like saying yes! And I did. I said yes.
So Resonate Community will all be going to church tomorrow! I am so glad they will be there. They are my family and I need them.
God is pretty cool, He really is. And that's all I've got to say tonight folks. I am singing six songs, all but two I do not know. But thank goodness I can hide behind harmonizing and an add lib here and there! Also, there is a TELEPROMPTER!!! :)
Tonight I am going to bed with a big smile on my face. It's great to have friends and it's great to be in the CENTER of God's will and KNOW IT! Does that make sense? Well, most of you know what I mean!
It's been a long process to get to this place. I am so excited to finally be through a lot of the crap we have gone through to get here!
Everyone asks, "Where do y'all meet?" Well, we don't have a Sunday service yet. Jeremy and I are so glad that our Church Planter/Leader/Pastor is not spending all of his time trying to get a building, trying to find a school to have service, trying to buy a sound system (which this is usually the first thing a new church does). Instead, we are reaching out to the community first. So since we don't have Sunday service, everyone usually goes to service twice a month. One Sunday is spent at Mitch's church (Kyle's coach and our CPD trainer) and another Sunday is spent at a local sponsor church which happens to be in our neighborhood. The other Sundays are spent with one another. Tomorrow was not a scheduled church day but now it is.
During CPD today, Mitch asked if I would be available to sing at his church tomorrow. For some reason all of the female singers are not able to be there tomorrow. I was kind of shocked when he asked. First of all, he has never heard me sing! Second of all, I have not sang in a corporate worship setting in almost two years! As soon as he asked me, my heart started pounding and I did not know what to say but I saw my friend Erika's head turn quickly towards me to see what I was going to say. When I looked at her she had a HUGE smile on her face and at that moment I felt like saying yes! And I did. I said yes.
So Resonate Community will all be going to church tomorrow! I am so glad they will be there. They are my family and I need them.
God is pretty cool, He really is. And that's all I've got to say tonight folks. I am singing six songs, all but two I do not know. But thank goodness I can hide behind harmonizing and an add lib here and there! Also, there is a TELEPROMPTER!!! :)
Tonight I am going to bed with a big smile on my face. It's great to have friends and it's great to be in the CENTER of God's will and KNOW IT! Does that make sense? Well, most of you know what I mean!
It's been a long process to get to this place. I am so excited to finally be through a lot of the crap we have gone through to get here!
Labels: a new beginning, a new chapter, music, prayers answered, the journey to RC
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
unplugged
Well, I am officially unplugging from the blogging world until sometime this weekend. Too much moving going on to sit on my butt and blog! Oh but I wish I could!!
Instead I will be packing and taking care of so many little things. Our friends will be here tomorrow night and we will leave Thursday! This means I will have two extra, much needed helpers, staying in this house tomorrow night and I just noticed that my husband PACKED the TOILET PAPER in the guest bathroom! He also packed the towels, the extra sheets, pillows, etc! Now HE has some unpacking to do! So wives of the husbands who will be helping, I know you are reading. Please make sure your men shower before they come! :) And thank you for going without them one night so they can help us! :) I promise to stop in West and bring you back some yummy kaloches!
I have been feeling a little stressed out and I couldn't figure out why and then I remembered something. I HAVE THREE KIDS AND ONE OF THEM IS A NEWBORN AND I AM MOVING! You know all the things on that list of "Most stressful life events"? Well, I think I am experiencing about three of them and Jeremy is experiencing about four he will be starting a new job. Oh and that reminds me! Today is Jeremy's last day at UPS!! No more brown! I think after wearing brown for thirteen years, he will officially be done with that color! I am so proud of him. I have never known him without UPS so I am excited about this new husband of mine!
Talk to y'all in a few days! I can't wait! Miss me, okay?
Instead I will be packing and taking care of so many little things. Our friends will be here tomorrow night and we will leave Thursday! This means I will have two extra, much needed helpers, staying in this house tomorrow night and I just noticed that my husband PACKED the TOILET PAPER in the guest bathroom! He also packed the towels, the extra sheets, pillows, etc! Now HE has some unpacking to do! So wives of the husbands who will be helping, I know you are reading. Please make sure your men shower before they come! :) And thank you for going without them one night so they can help us! :) I promise to stop in West and bring you back some yummy kaloches!
I have been feeling a little stressed out and I couldn't figure out why and then I remembered something. I HAVE THREE KIDS AND ONE OF THEM IS A NEWBORN AND I AM MOVING! You know all the things on that list of "Most stressful life events"? Well, I think I am experiencing about three of them and Jeremy is experiencing about four he will be starting a new job. Oh and that reminds me! Today is Jeremy's last day at UPS!! No more brown! I think after wearing brown for thirteen years, he will officially be done with that color! I am so proud of him. I have never known him without UPS so I am excited about this new husband of mine!
Talk to y'all in a few days! I can't wait! Miss me, okay?
Labels: the journey to RC
Saturday, March 31, 2007
An iPod story by Amanda
Lord, I pray that every single person that reads this post, friend, family member and lurker, will experience your incredible power exactly like we have. I have never experienced you in this incredible way until now. I now know for the first time in my life when I am forcing something and when I am sitting back and allowing you to do it all. For this is truly the first time ever, I have sat back and allowed you to work out every single detail of my life without me trying to get in the way. Thank you Lord, you really do make All Things New. (Stephen Curtis Chapman)
I knew my husband was serious when he said, "Babe, I am selling the boat." I could not believe it. "You mean the boat we paid off? The boat we have caught hundreds of fish on? The boat Josiah and Ava Beth love? The boat we have spent many, many dates on? The boat Zeke has yet to go on? The boat we have tubed behind, skied behind and attempted wake boarding behind? You want to sell that boat?" No one knows more than me and maybe a few men that have had the honor of fishing with my sweet husband, how much he adores his boat. In a few days, the boat will be gone. I have watched my husband do some extremely radical things over the last few weeks. He has resigned a job after thirteen years and now he is selling his boat. Wow! I sure love that man! I just Can't Help Loving That Man. (Showboat)
Five days. I have five days until we move from this house to a new one in Austin. There have been a few times when I have gotten a little scared. When the phone rang and the realtor called to say the house we had originally found to rent was not going to work, I panicked. For a moment I panicked and then I remembered, "There is something better." Somewhere along the way, during all the years of growing up in church, I began to believe a lie. I began to believe that God was going to call me to do something I hated. Why would he call me to do something I truly loved? Surely if it is from God, I must suffer. Right? Well, that is the biggest lie we could ever believe. To be honest, I hated the original house we had chosen to rent. There were so many things I really did not like but this was a huge step for me. Jeremy felt it was a good choice so I said, "Okay babe, whatever you think." And I meant it. Thursday we will drive to a new house. A house that I love. Actually it's a house that my friend Erika picked for me. I wasn't even there to see it but I trust her and I trust the pictures from her digital camera! :) A house that is more than I ever could have imagined living in. A house that is in our price range. A house that is way cheaper than what we have now, but nicer, bigger and brand new. No one has ever lived there before. That big bathtub is waiting for me and that incredible covered patio in the backyard will be the greatest gift while we experience the hot, hot, Texas heat. The game room will be perfect for Bible Studies and that kitchen will be my delight. Thank you Lord for giving me more than I EVER could have imagined. When the realtor called today and said, "It's yours", I screamed! Thank you Lord, thank you! Once again I am reminded to TRUST! For HE will carry me through. (Sixpence None The Richer)
A few minutes ago I was talking to one of my very best friends, Tiffany. I love Tiffany so much. Our daughters are nine days apart. Tiffany just gave me a scripture that meant so much. She reminded me of the past and then told me of my future. The scripture said it all. Philippians 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. She always, always, always points me to God's word. We have such a connection that early last week when I was hurting, Tiffany's Mom from California called to encourage me. I have never met her mom in person since she lives so far away but she knows how special my friendship is with her daughter that she felt like she needed to call and love on me for a while. I was so blessed. Tiffany had filled her in on what I was going through and I did too. Her mom listened and then told me the Lord gave her a scripture for me. Zechariah 2:8 For this is what the LORD Almighty says: "After he has honored me and has sent me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye. As she read the scripture to me, she cried a little and I knew the Holy Spirit had led her to remind me of how special I am to HIM. I must be a pretty amazing child of God. My Song is Love Unknown, My Savior's love to me. Love to the loveless shown,That they might lovely be. O who am I, that for my sake My Lord should take, frail flesh and die? (Choir of King's college)
I am having trouble sleeping. There are so many boxes to pack and I have no idea what it's like to move with three children. The lack of sleep isn't bad because I am full of excitement! I can't wait to be on the road, with our friends behind us. We'll have the kids, the dog, a gigantic Uhaul and our friends leading the way. We will pack the boxes and then our friends in Austin show up to help us load up and take us home! Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead. One thing I know for sure, you give God ONE inch and He will go miles and miles and miles to meet you where you are at and show you the way to go! I will never forget a song I sang several years ago at church. Actually it was pretty close to my 21st birthday and since I will be thirty- one on Monday, it was ten years ago! Anyway, it was a special service because it was the very last weekend this church would be meeting in a high school. The next weekend, we were in a big, huge building. It was a huge thing to celebrate so they decided to fill the stage with boxes to symbolize the packing up and the moving to a new place, a new chapter and so much more. The song I sang was a part of the message and it was so symbolic for what this church was about to do. Looking back, I know I got to be a part of something pretty amazing. And now I get to be a part of something pretty amazing AGAIN! There's just one thing I've got to do as I search for what to pursue, is for me I choose to be Near To You. (Ashton, Becker & Dente)
So as I pack the boxes and begin a new journey, a journey I NEVER in a million years saw coming, I know it is undeniable. It's Undeniable how brilliant you are! (Mat Kearney)
I knew my husband was serious when he said, "Babe, I am selling the boat." I could not believe it. "You mean the boat we paid off? The boat we have caught hundreds of fish on? The boat Josiah and Ava Beth love? The boat we have spent many, many dates on? The boat Zeke has yet to go on? The boat we have tubed behind, skied behind and attempted wake boarding behind? You want to sell that boat?" No one knows more than me and maybe a few men that have had the honor of fishing with my sweet husband, how much he adores his boat. In a few days, the boat will be gone. I have watched my husband do some extremely radical things over the last few weeks. He has resigned a job after thirteen years and now he is selling his boat. Wow! I sure love that man! I just Can't Help Loving That Man. (Showboat)
Five days. I have five days until we move from this house to a new one in Austin. There have been a few times when I have gotten a little scared. When the phone rang and the realtor called to say the house we had originally found to rent was not going to work, I panicked. For a moment I panicked and then I remembered, "There is something better." Somewhere along the way, during all the years of growing up in church, I began to believe a lie. I began to believe that God was going to call me to do something I hated. Why would he call me to do something I truly loved? Surely if it is from God, I must suffer. Right? Well, that is the biggest lie we could ever believe. To be honest, I hated the original house we had chosen to rent. There were so many things I really did not like but this was a huge step for me. Jeremy felt it was a good choice so I said, "Okay babe, whatever you think." And I meant it. Thursday we will drive to a new house. A house that I love. Actually it's a house that my friend Erika picked for me. I wasn't even there to see it but I trust her and I trust the pictures from her digital camera! :) A house that is more than I ever could have imagined living in. A house that is in our price range. A house that is way cheaper than what we have now, but nicer, bigger and brand new. No one has ever lived there before. That big bathtub is waiting for me and that incredible covered patio in the backyard will be the greatest gift while we experience the hot, hot, Texas heat. The game room will be perfect for Bible Studies and that kitchen will be my delight. Thank you Lord for giving me more than I EVER could have imagined. When the realtor called today and said, "It's yours", I screamed! Thank you Lord, thank you! Once again I am reminded to TRUST! For HE will carry me through. (Sixpence None The Richer)
A few minutes ago I was talking to one of my very best friends, Tiffany. I love Tiffany so much. Our daughters are nine days apart. Tiffany just gave me a scripture that meant so much. She reminded me of the past and then told me of my future. The scripture said it all. Philippians 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. She always, always, always points me to God's word. We have such a connection that early last week when I was hurting, Tiffany's Mom from California called to encourage me. I have never met her mom in person since she lives so far away but she knows how special my friendship is with her daughter that she felt like she needed to call and love on me for a while. I was so blessed. Tiffany had filled her in on what I was going through and I did too. Her mom listened and then told me the Lord gave her a scripture for me. Zechariah 2:8 For this is what the LORD Almighty says: "After he has honored me and has sent me against the nations that have plundered you—for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye. As she read the scripture to me, she cried a little and I knew the Holy Spirit had led her to remind me of how special I am to HIM. I must be a pretty amazing child of God. My Song is Love Unknown, My Savior's love to me. Love to the loveless shown,That they might lovely be. O who am I, that for my sake My Lord should take, frail flesh and die? (Choir of King's college)
I am having trouble sleeping. There are so many boxes to pack and I have no idea what it's like to move with three children. The lack of sleep isn't bad because I am full of excitement! I can't wait to be on the road, with our friends behind us. We'll have the kids, the dog, a gigantic Uhaul and our friends leading the way. We will pack the boxes and then our friends in Austin show up to help us load up and take us home! Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead. One thing I know for sure, you give God ONE inch and He will go miles and miles and miles to meet you where you are at and show you the way to go! I will never forget a song I sang several years ago at church. Actually it was pretty close to my 21st birthday and since I will be thirty- one on Monday, it was ten years ago! Anyway, it was a special service because it was the very last weekend this church would be meeting in a high school. The next weekend, we were in a big, huge building. It was a huge thing to celebrate so they decided to fill the stage with boxes to symbolize the packing up and the moving to a new place, a new chapter and so much more. The song I sang was a part of the message and it was so symbolic for what this church was about to do. Looking back, I know I got to be a part of something pretty amazing. And now I get to be a part of something pretty amazing AGAIN! There's just one thing I've got to do as I search for what to pursue, is for me I choose to be Near To You. (Ashton, Becker & Dente)
So as I pack the boxes and begin a new journey, a journey I NEVER in a million years saw coming, I know it is undeniable. It's Undeniable how brilliant you are! (Mat Kearney)
Labels: the journey to RC
