I am overwhelmed with the response of all of you who have come alongside me on this AMAZING journey the Lord is taking me on! The many prayers, encouraging words, support, and cheering for me has left me speechless...and we ALL know how I do like to talk!!! Thank you Thank you Thank you for all that you mean to me and how each of you have listened to the Lord and given generously to help me be the hands and feet of Jesus in the Dominican Republic.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
THANK YOU!
I am overwhelmed with the response of all of you who have come alongside me on this AMAZING journey the Lord is taking me on! The many prayers, encouraging words, support, and cheering for me has left me speechless...and we ALL know how I do like to talk!!! Thank you Thank you Thank you for all that you mean to me and how each of you have listened to the Lord and given generously to help me be the hands and feet of Jesus in the Dominican Republic.
Provision
I will try to keep this short.... (WARNING - I rarely am able to do so even when I try)
OK...to summarize, the Lord has just blown me away with His provision. And I'm surprised why? Well not really surprised that He provided, but surprised in the ways He has chosen to provide. I had made the decision to pursue going to the DR for 3 months all the while knowing that I would be risking a lot by this choice. After A LOT of prayer...time in the Word...Seeking wise counsel (and to be honest this process was repeated a ton) I moved forward with pursuing going because every time doubt would settle in, the Lord would reaffirm what He was leading me to do.
So basically I made the decision knowing that I would be losing a job that has been a HUGE blessing to me. I would have no guarantee of work when I return back to the states and financially have been trying to plan for not working when I get back. (I don't know how you men do it....providing for a family and all....it's sooo stressful knowing that I have to take care of myself in that way. I am responsible for myself...yes, trusting the Lord to provide for my needs, but needing to do all He asks me to do in order for my needs to be taken care of. ) I had decided to tell my job a month before leaving in order to give them ample time to find a replacement. I knew that I didn't have anything to lose by asking them if my job would be possible to have when I return, but I honestly thought they would be crazy to do that. I fully expected to not have a job after May 14th...
I told my supervisor over a week ago...she mentioned that it could be a possibilty for me to have my job when I get back before I said anything about it. (the LORD was totally working in her heart before she even knew I was leaving!!!!!) BUT she told me that it was really up to the executive director. That's when i knew that it most likely wasn't going to happen. No disrespect intended but they are a "business" and have to make decisions in that manner...who can blame them for that? I prayed and prayed and prayed about this...trusting the whole time that He would provide in some way...
The executive director was out of the office all last week so there was nothing more mentioned to me about my position. This was a time the Lord worked on my heart and asked me to fully trust Him. Last night I prayed something similar to this: "Lord, help me to trust in You, help me to know that I know that I know that You provide for those You call. You are not surprised that I am going to the DR, You are not surprised that I will be in need of an income when I return. You have asked me to go and I know that You will provide for every need I have...from the support to go, the support for health insurance, the income to save for while I am there, the items needed to take with me, an income when I get back. Lord I know that this decision is for one man to make, but Lord help me to see that You are in control and that Your will will be done and not the plans of man. Help me to rest in Your plan. I trust that if I am able to have my job when I get back that is Your plan for me and if not then You have something even better for me."
After praying those things I just had this peace flow over and through me. I knew that no matter what my boss decided that He was in control. My supervisor told me today that the final decision was made and that they will be saving my job for me and I can start back to work when I get back to the states in August. I was blown away...I wasn't expecting the Lord to provide that as the answer...AND the most awesome thing about this is that I would be praising His name and giving Him all the glory even if they would have come to me with another response...I just knew that whatever they said was the Lord's plan and that it would be the thing that He would receive the most glory from! It was awesome last night to be in a place where I fully trusted Him no matter what the outcome was...
Its times like these that I keep near and dear to my heart...it's moments like these that I never want to forget, I never want to miss out on the joy He lavishes on us when He moves in such a way that you know it was Him. I love that He protects from things that we think are good and best, I love that He provides lavishly, I love that cares for us, for every detail of our lives, and I love that I can look at His Word...praise His name....be on my knees in His prescence...that I can trust Him with my life! It times like this that I have to cling to when I struggle with believing Him for other things in my life: waiting for the man I pray He has for me, wanting sooo desperately for some thorns to be gone and having no hope they ever will be, laying down my desire to be a mom, etc etc. If He cares that I have an income, he most definitely cares for the deep deep longings of my heart!
He Provides!!!!
OK...to summarize, the Lord has just blown me away with His provision. And I'm surprised why? Well not really surprised that He provided, but surprised in the ways He has chosen to provide. I had made the decision to pursue going to the DR for 3 months all the while knowing that I would be risking a lot by this choice. After A LOT of prayer...time in the Word...Seeking wise counsel (and to be honest this process was repeated a ton) I moved forward with pursuing going because every time doubt would settle in, the Lord would reaffirm what He was leading me to do.
So basically I made the decision knowing that I would be losing a job that has been a HUGE blessing to me. I would have no guarantee of work when I return back to the states and financially have been trying to plan for not working when I get back. (I don't know how you men do it....providing for a family and all....it's sooo stressful knowing that I have to take care of myself in that way. I am responsible for myself...yes, trusting the Lord to provide for my needs, but needing to do all He asks me to do in order for my needs to be taken care of. ) I had decided to tell my job a month before leaving in order to give them ample time to find a replacement. I knew that I didn't have anything to lose by asking them if my job would be possible to have when I return, but I honestly thought they would be crazy to do that. I fully expected to not have a job after May 14th...
I told my supervisor over a week ago...she mentioned that it could be a possibilty for me to have my job when I get back before I said anything about it. (the LORD was totally working in her heart before she even knew I was leaving!!!!!) BUT she told me that it was really up to the executive director. That's when i knew that it most likely wasn't going to happen. No disrespect intended but they are a "business" and have to make decisions in that manner...who can blame them for that? I prayed and prayed and prayed about this...trusting the whole time that He would provide in some way...
The executive director was out of the office all last week so there was nothing more mentioned to me about my position. This was a time the Lord worked on my heart and asked me to fully trust Him. Last night I prayed something similar to this: "Lord, help me to trust in You, help me to know that I know that I know that You provide for those You call. You are not surprised that I am going to the DR, You are not surprised that I will be in need of an income when I return. You have asked me to go and I know that You will provide for every need I have...from the support to go, the support for health insurance, the income to save for while I am there, the items needed to take with me, an income when I get back. Lord I know that this decision is for one man to make, but Lord help me to see that You are in control and that Your will will be done and not the plans of man. Help me to rest in Your plan. I trust that if I am able to have my job when I get back that is Your plan for me and if not then You have something even better for me."
After praying those things I just had this peace flow over and through me. I knew that no matter what my boss decided that He was in control. My supervisor told me today that the final decision was made and that they will be saving my job for me and I can start back to work when I get back to the states in August. I was blown away...I wasn't expecting the Lord to provide that as the answer...AND the most awesome thing about this is that I would be praising His name and giving Him all the glory even if they would have come to me with another response...I just knew that whatever they said was the Lord's plan and that it would be the thing that He would receive the most glory from! It was awesome last night to be in a place where I fully trusted Him no matter what the outcome was...
Its times like these that I keep near and dear to my heart...it's moments like these that I never want to forget, I never want to miss out on the joy He lavishes on us when He moves in such a way that you know it was Him. I love that He protects from things that we think are good and best, I love that He provides lavishly, I love that cares for us, for every detail of our lives, and I love that I can look at His Word...praise His name....be on my knees in His prescence...that I can trust Him with my life! It times like this that I have to cling to when I struggle with believing Him for other things in my life: waiting for the man I pray He has for me, wanting sooo desperately for some thorns to be gone and having no hope they ever will be, laying down my desire to be a mom, etc etc. If He cares that I have an income, he most definitely cares for the deep deep longings of my heart!
He Provides!!!!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
wisdom teeth
welp, biggest news in my world (sad but true) is I got my wisdom teeth taken out last week. So far the foods that I have been able to enjoy are:
AND......
sad....
Hoping that one day soon I can sink my remaining teeth in a nice slice of pizza!!!!!
More news to come next week...
Friday, March 12, 2010
i'm a nut.....
but a likeable nut. much like:
One of my co-workers said that to me awhile back and i was reminded of that today. i kinda like that i am a nut. makes life interesting yes, no?
Thursday, March 11, 2010
My life as of late....in 25 bullet points
in no particular order...
*enjoying my favorite time of year...MARCH MADNESSSSSSSSS baby!!!!!! Let's Goooooo 'EEEEERS!
*realized that seasonal depression is really real. for real.
*is feeling dizzy. i think it is due to me delaying the extraction of my wisdom teeth. jury's still out on my self diagnosis though.
*held lil Logan Gingerich for like 4 hours while he snuggled and cuddled. i love new borns!
*sent chocolate and coffee thoughts to my big sis. she is suffering from sleep deprivation due to a certain bundle of joy that does not enjoy the sleep.
*had a crisis moment in my leap of faith. amazing what happens when the Word penetrates a stubborn heart. crisis no longer.
*been surprised numerous times by visiting the local post office. the Lord sure does provide.
*laughed A LOT at work. what's new?
*gained weight. motivation who? motivation what?
*been on my knees on behalf of the people of Haiti and G.O. and other ministries being Jesus to numerous hurting people.
*located a DREAM dress that just might be the lil motivation I am searching for. It's super cute!
*been battling the whole church thing....amazing what sin can do.
*being in a funk does equal cancelling scheduled gal nights....boooooo. guilty. sigh.
*miss talking to my gal pal Ginny...she just had Caleb and I'm sure is exhausted. i miss my friend.
*need to send thank you notes galore. too lazy to do it. but my heart overflows with thanksgiving. this makes no sense to me.
*made chocolate chip cookies. yumm.
*kept my phone minutes under 250 for a whole month. who says i talk too much?
*been reading some blogs written by people who are dealing with some heavy heavy hurts. life and death hurts. been amazed at how clear they can see God's truth in the midst of such suffering. My life will never be the same after reading their thoughts.
*started watching American Idol again after a 5 year hiatus. wise move. wise move indeed.
*went to Red Robin. Yuuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
*trusting. praying. not understanding. still praying.
*realized i have a slight hatred for winter. it's pretty and all, but after 30 some inches, yeah that pretty much equals hatred.
*my level of wanting a dog has increased. have i mentioned that my plan has been to get one when i get married. yet another thing that i may have to do without the hubby. still thinking of a name, but a LAB she will be.
*I cried when Sandra Bullock won an Oscar. Is that weird?
*decided that this blogging thing is AWESOME once again....need to do it even more regularly.
*enjoying my favorite time of year...MARCH MADNESSSSSSSSS baby!!!!!! Let's Goooooo 'EEEEERS!
*realized that seasonal depression is really real. for real.
*is feeling dizzy. i think it is due to me delaying the extraction of my wisdom teeth. jury's still out on my self diagnosis though.
*held lil Logan Gingerich for like 4 hours while he snuggled and cuddled. i love new borns!
*sent chocolate and coffee thoughts to my big sis. she is suffering from sleep deprivation due to a certain bundle of joy that does not enjoy the sleep.
*had a crisis moment in my leap of faith. amazing what happens when the Word penetrates a stubborn heart. crisis no longer.
*been surprised numerous times by visiting the local post office. the Lord sure does provide.
*laughed A LOT at work. what's new?
*gained weight. motivation who? motivation what?
*been on my knees on behalf of the people of Haiti and G.O. and other ministries being Jesus to numerous hurting people.
*located a DREAM dress that just might be the lil motivation I am searching for. It's super cute!
*been battling the whole church thing....amazing what sin can do.
*being in a funk does equal cancelling scheduled gal nights....boooooo. guilty. sigh.
*miss talking to my gal pal Ginny...she just had Caleb and I'm sure is exhausted. i miss my friend.
*need to send thank you notes galore. too lazy to do it. but my heart overflows with thanksgiving. this makes no sense to me.
*made chocolate chip cookies. yumm.
*kept my phone minutes under 250 for a whole month. who says i talk too much?
*been reading some blogs written by people who are dealing with some heavy heavy hurts. life and death hurts. been amazed at how clear they can see God's truth in the midst of such suffering. My life will never be the same after reading their thoughts.
*started watching American Idol again after a 5 year hiatus. wise move. wise move indeed.
*went to Red Robin. Yuuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
*trusting. praying. not understanding. still praying.
*realized i have a slight hatred for winter. it's pretty and all, but after 30 some inches, yeah that pretty much equals hatred.
*my level of wanting a dog has increased. have i mentioned that my plan has been to get one when i get married. yet another thing that i may have to do without the hubby. still thinking of a name, but a LAB she will be.
*I cried when Sandra Bullock won an Oscar. Is that weird?
*decided that this blogging thing is AWESOME once again....need to do it even more regularly.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Land of Confusion
wisdom versus faith....
big leap versus security...
fear versus peace...
certaininty versus uncertainty...
right versus wrong...
what i want versus what i have...
what i hope for versus what i have been given...
safe versus unsafe...
question upon question upon question.
big leap versus security...
fear versus peace...
certaininty versus uncertainty...
right versus wrong...
what i want versus what i have...
what i hope for versus what i have been given...
safe versus unsafe...
question upon question upon question.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Godmother Plug - has a very nice ring to it!
I have been asked by my dear dear friends Liz and Nathaniel aka Moonlight and Roses to be the God Mother of their lil nija Toby and I couldn't be more excited. What a blessing!!! When asking my big sis what a God Mother's duties entail this was her response: "Well you give them lil things everytime u see them for no apparent reason." and if i want to be cool like her then I could be considered his FAIRY GODMOTHER. ummmmmm, thanks Reba. I think I'll just google it instead! ;)
Thanks Liz and Moonlight for this privilege...can't wait to meet my lil ninja!
Hey Lil Man....I know u r in there!!!!!!!
Told ya I'd be back with more...
Soooo about this whole earth shattering way that I view food and exercise...
This has been a long time coming actually. I believe that for the past year the Lord has been stripping lies and falsehoods from my heart and brain when it comes to how I view food. It's been a struggle to see the truth in the midst of such "logical" falsehoods...things like, you need to look after yourself first. you need to take care of you. you can and should be selfish and make changes for you. you should count calories. you should make sure that u monitor each and every thing u do for exercise and write down every morsel of food you consume. seem logical right?
well, i have been hammered with some truths that definitely counteract all those things. and please if you disagree show me some verses in the Bible where it tells you to be selfish, to put yourself above others, etc etc. You won't find any.
SO basically I have been reading a Biblically based book along with praying and reading the Word to see what the good Lord says about food and exercise. I HAVE BEEN BLOWN AWAY!!!
Basically I have learned that my body was made in such an intricate way that the Lord designed my body to know how much it needs for food and exercise. Stay with me. I need to trust Him to have my body communicate with me so that I know when I am hungry and when I am satisfied. Because He is perfect in all He does I can trust in Him to use the very thing He created to guage what and how much I eat. So what that means is I don't write anything down, I don't count points *gasp*, I don't weigh anything, and i most certainly do not get CONTROLLED by any longer to the very thing I need to live and exist.
See when I was doing WW, yes, He used that to teach me things about eating, but when it all said and done, WW is not the Bible. I was still in control though using the parameters of WW, but I was placing my trust and hope in a program not my creator.
make sense?
it does to me.
This has been a long time coming actually. I believe that for the past year the Lord has been stripping lies and falsehoods from my heart and brain when it comes to how I view food. It's been a struggle to see the truth in the midst of such "logical" falsehoods...things like, you need to look after yourself first. you need to take care of you. you can and should be selfish and make changes for you. you should count calories. you should make sure that u monitor each and every thing u do for exercise and write down every morsel of food you consume. seem logical right?
well, i have been hammered with some truths that definitely counteract all those things. and please if you disagree show me some verses in the Bible where it tells you to be selfish, to put yourself above others, etc etc. You won't find any.
SO basically I have been reading a Biblically based book along with praying and reading the Word to see what the good Lord says about food and exercise. I HAVE BEEN BLOWN AWAY!!!
Basically I have learned that my body was made in such an intricate way that the Lord designed my body to know how much it needs for food and exercise. Stay with me. I need to trust Him to have my body communicate with me so that I know when I am hungry and when I am satisfied. Because He is perfect in all He does I can trust in Him to use the very thing He created to guage what and how much I eat. So what that means is I don't write anything down, I don't count points *gasp*, I don't weigh anything, and i most certainly do not get CONTROLLED by any longer to the very thing I need to live and exist.
See when I was doing WW, yes, He used that to teach me things about eating, but when it all said and done, WW is not the Bible. I was still in control though using the parameters of WW, but I was placing my trust and hope in a program not my creator.
make sense?
it does to me.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Shocking, I know!
i decided to do something completely earth shattering in my life regarding exercise and eating....R U READY?????...R U SURE....it's gonna BLOW YOUR MIND!!!!!!
ok, here goes nothing....
i have decided to exercise daily......i know, CRAZZZZZZY...and wait, it's about to get absolutley loooooony...I'm gonna eat when I'm hungry and stop when I am satisfied.
whew....have u had time to recover yet???
i'll give u time. more to come tomorrow...
:)
ok, here goes nothing....
i have decided to exercise daily......i know, CRAZZZZZZY...and wait, it's about to get absolutley loooooony...I'm gonna eat when I'm hungry and stop when I am satisfied.
whew....have u had time to recover yet???
i'll give u time. more to come tomorrow...
:)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)