I sign the papers and send them out this week. I will do that tomorrow or Tues. I want to read through them one more time to ensure I haven't missed anything (that's the fact-checking/verification side of my personality). But the day is here that I take another step out of the world and closer to Christ.
This morning, our Pastor delivered a message that spoke directly to my heart (as well as Rusty's). The main passage of Scripture came from Genesis 32:9-12:
Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, LORD, you who said to me, ‘Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,’ I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two camps. Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children. But you have said, ‘I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.’”
Jacob was praying for God's protection as he prepared to meet with his brother whom he'd had a major falling out with (to put it mildly) and truly expected would still be angry enough to kill him and his children. And a part of that prayer that really stood out to me today, was the reminder of the promises of God made in the past, and applicable to the future. Jacob was remembering those promises made to him and his forefathers as long as they walked in obedience and faith. Our Pastor this morning then encouraged us to bow our heads and remember the promises that God has made to us and remember a time, or times when God had proved faithful in our lives personally in the past, and remember that His promises endure forever. He is not fickle and can be counted on to do His part in keeping those promises.
As I meditated on this, I specifically remembered 3 other times in my life that I walked out in faith, fully relying on the Holy Spirit to lead and sustain me. And in each and every circumstance, He exceeded every expectation and grew me even stronger in faith and reliance on God and His Word. I wanted to share those 3 other times here.
1) In 2000, when I had submitted to Christ only 2 years prior and Rusty had only a few months prior, God asked us to give up our jobs, trust Him and move from the state of Texas, and move to IL where we knew no one. We'd never lived in IL. Never had a desire to live in IL---actually avoided it with all our might while in the Air Force :-) It's one of those places we'd determined in our mind that we'd "never" live. We've since learned to quit using the word "never" :-) We put our home up for sale (our dream home we'd only been in for 13 months) and within 2 months, were moving to IL. God provided a way for that to happen fully funded and jobs intact!
2) In 2004, the job that I'd transferred to in IL was being moved back to Texas or to CA. I had to make a choice of moving to Texas or CA (another state we'd determined we'd never live in ;-)), or take a severance and stay in IL. That was really a tougher call. In spite of our desires, God had put us in a very large house with a large mortgage and even larger property taxes and jobs there did not pay what I was making--especially someone with no degree. Plus, the opportunity to move back to Texas where we'd met, had our daughter, and lots of friends, was VERY tempting. So tempting in fact, we first opted to take the move to Texas and keep employment. But after making that decision, we were convicted that it wasn't what God deemed best for us. So, we changed our mind and opted to take the severance and stay in IL. Well, that step of faith resulted in a better job with the same company and the opportunity to work full time from home! So now we were free to live ANYWHERE God so chose and still keep the job.
3) In 2007, in a very unexpected turn of events, Rusty and I found ourselves buying a house in Brown County IN. Our vision was to buy land, or a small "weekender" cabin for retirement in the very distant future. So, now with 2 mortgages and property in two states that needed full-time maintenance, we had to make a decision about moving. With a plethora of existing homes on the market in the small IL community we lived in, we knew it would have to be God's hand to move us when/if it were His will. Three months later, the day after we completed teaching a 6-week discipleship class, our house in IL sold and we had only 30 days to move out! God's hand had moved, His will for our next step revealed and we've been blessed beyond measure with a Christian bookstore business, wonderful Church home, and intimate friendships in a small group not felt since our days with friends in Texas.
All 3 of these examples of God's faithfulness to us flooded my thoughts and heart as I remembered how He's always kept His promises. All I need to do is obey His leading and trust that He will meet our every need. Every time I've put my faith and trust in His promises and His character, I grow even more amazed and humbled by His care, love, provision, guidance, holiness and power. Who am I that He is mindful of me indeed! Earlier this morning (3:00 am actually), I awoke with the encouragement from Matthew 6:24-26 on my mind and heart. A little anxiety had crept into my mind and He quickly replaced it with that Word and reaffirmed it as I worshiped corporately with the Body today.
So now I have even more excitement about what He has in store next for us! I know it will amaze and delight us and we'll again go to our knees in total gratitude and faith in our Mighty God, Savior, Deliverer, Strong Tower, Friend, Lord, and Father!
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