Revoked, Gathering, Restoring, Enjoying aaaaaannnd WORKING!

This picture has absolutely nothing to do with anything! I just found it while doing my last post, and just loved it!

Just want to drop my friends a few lines. It's busy right now. But, aren't we all? :) Yay! The very last Sunday in November, during a really powerful praise and worship time in service, I felt impressed with the word revoked. It was a strong impression as in the following, which I have turned into a prayer and confession, because I felt led to come into agreement with The Lord on this season we had entered into, and I feel, still are in. "I Thank You so much Lord, that You have revoked any permission the enemy thought he had at this time to trial and to test Your people. I Thank You that this is a season You have appointed for gathering and for restoration!"

I was reminded of it today, and felt I should share it with you all. As I look back I can see places in motion and already realized which reflect this in my life and the lives of those around me. As your faith leads.

Other than that, we are real busy walking out somethings that we have believed for ,for quite a while, and more things ahead, and trying to navigate the whole thing with our bearings straight and focus maintained. Answers often don't come looking like we think they should! Of course, how would we know what they should look like, when we often pray for what we don't have or haven't seen!

Some updates on our "Gathering" - Two great women, friends of mine from church started a cleaning company Dec 2008. I was so happy for them and prayed for their success. They really were successful. I started working for them a week before this past Christmas and my son the week after Christmas. It has been different but, good, and very much a blessing and the right thing at the right time for all of us. Then Friday night, those same two women have realized they have different visions. They've split the company, which makes me sad. But, it is a peaceful split and we at this time, work for both of them. I see some things on the horizon which I am keeping in prayer. Any prayers you feel like throwing our way is also greatly appreciated!

My husband is in the last stages of a VERY intensive Captains (like Gilligin's Island!) course, test Sunday. This is something he has wanted and been scheduled for at various times over the last almost 3 years! The enemy thought he could rob us, but he couldn't! God said different! ;)

AND, our two sons....the oldest is coming here to live for a few weeks. He wants to concentrate on getting his math skills up in prep for a critical test for getting into the military. We will probably be getting some tutoring for him and having a few family gatherings as he expects to get his skills down, and pass the test and enlist and leave. In pretty short order. And getting married in there some place before leaving. More prayers. The youngest is absolutely pining to get his skills in order, so he can enlist. Yes, it is entirely possible that sometime next year, both our sons will be so far I can't see them, visit them or touch them. But, I remember praying things for them over the years that I believe this is a possible manifestation of. Who knows? God does! He keeps us, and I am so grateful! Ours is to pray, believe work and grow and eventually we begin to end up where He has appointed us all along!

Sometime next week Jerry's schedule will go back to normal and I will be able to write more than this rambling post! By the way, I get so much comfort from my friends in Christ on here, you have no idea! God bless and much love!

Steps, Steps, Waiting and Mysteries!

So many things to share, but the Lord orders our steps, Amen? For quite a while it was looking pretty obvious something needed to change in our finances, and to change in a successful manner...that's the tricky part because there were a lot of almost successes that just never got off the ground. AND even more intriguing (in retrospect, not during the torment of waiting) was the waiting, the delays, the TORMENT of celebration, and thinking we had attained the goal of our faith, only to find out...nope...not yet. DELAYS.

God knows us best, and He knew we were all very comfortable and use to me being at home much of the time. He KNEW we weren't use to or ready for the invasion of employment, where you surrender your plans to the work schedule. So He prepared us over a period of time, and circumstances. From July until the week before Christmas it was a dance of finding the right job for me and for our family and for our unique transportation circumstances. It was: "I have one, no I don't, I have one, no I don't, I have one, no I don't". (don't ask - not worth going into, and was OOOOOOOHHH so VERY trying!) Not to be lost in all this was a similar dance with my husband's situation in his career. A special position was being crafted to fill a need for our community, that he was uniquely qualified and favored to fill. A true blessing of God. The path this blessing took paralleled my part time employment path, along with waiting, celebrations, delays, and MORE WAITING! :)

It was so obviously spiritual in nature -this path we were on. And I was one UNgracious waiter, let me tell you. I was by turns happy, distraught, ready to fight, but not knowing who, quietly waiting and then over time I turned more dociley into the arms of the Lord and as I did I was encouraged that though I didn't understand, my job was to be thankful, praise Him, and BELIEVE, ONLY BELIEVE, and always in every way DELIGHT myself in Him. Waiting from July to December wouldn't seem like so long, but you can go back to April, in 2008 when Hubs broke his arm, and see the path we were on, which led us to this very trying time. Really, everything was in the making and in progress for this crazy waiting period, and just culminated in the past 6 months. Chinese Water Torture...that's the phrase that comes to mind.

What I left out of my yo-yo emotions was cynicism, bitterness, and just a general wonder at who I was feeling and sounding like at times. Did I mention this WAS during the time of my youngest son being out of church for 1 year and 2 weeks? Did I mention that this was during the time of...well you get the picture...we all have our circumstances that we live through and by the Gentle and Merciful Grace of God we Overcome, We are Refined, We are made to shine, because there is now much more of Him in us!

In every dilemma we faced, The Lord FAITHFULLY provided. We never went under, we might have struggled to believe we would make it. Sure. Was it always pleasant? Heck no. Did I have to learn to be assertive to the little nagging voice in my head? Yes I did. Come worrisome thoughts, then would come a song out my mouth praising God. I didn't have to feel it, ONLY BELIEVE. Believe in Him, Believe in Jesus as my covering, as my sufficiency, our Champion, KNOW that He was up to and is ALWAYS up to good on our behalf!

As my focus improved, my outlook (imagine that) improved. When I spent more time looking at Jesus, thinking on Him, and less time making lists of things we needed to do, and possible solutions, day by day the answers came. Not in my time. But, in His time! And guess what? His timing really WAS perfect! :)

Today as I write this, I am aware that He taught me things I couldn't have LEARNED, truly LEARNED any other way than in the mystery of waiting. NO ONE can take away what He has taught me, and my family during this time. We actually lived through a brief period of my husband and son having more hope and sunnier faith than me! It was good for us all, and prepared us for this season. I pray that I won't forget these things. Some treasures I learned I am more adept at walking out than others, but I also know that I am weak and He is strong and I might yet need reminding.

Today, all the things we were waiting for have come to fulfillment, plus more besides, and there is a growing sense that this is only the smaller half of it!

Somethings I know today: 1) The Lord IS my Shepherd and most importantly to my mother's heart - my sons' Shepherd. He will NOT fail to Shepherd my sons. 2) The Lord is our Provider. Not our employers. Not overtime. Not anything or anyone. Just Him. 3) Our employment is about where He needs us to be for a purpose and a period of time. 4) FOCUS on Jesus! Remember Peter? His desire wasn't to walk on water - it was to be with Jesus! 5) Praise Him! Thank Him! Always! Every day!

I just wanted to testify a little about my absences over the past year, so you could see into our lives a little, and I hope, be encouraged. He will never, never fail you!