Slowly I am getting back into the groove of more things to do than time to do it. You would have thought in my extra free time I could have blogged more but I find the busier I am the more I NEED to blog.
It has been and still is a crazy season for our family. Life tends to bring the unexpected and so it has on our home. Many of you know back in July we found out my husbands position at work was being eliminated. Not easy to hear but not horrible when you know God is directing the paths before you.
First thought...is to PANIC! We have 8 kids, house mortgage, cars falling apart, parents we are helping care for, and life in full swing. What do you mean THAT will all change? How will we do it? Where will we go? Can we pay our bills? What do we tell the kids? Are we okay?
THE ANSWER? Yes! we are okay. We still have 8 kids, we still have a home, cars are holding on, parents are patiently waiting for what may come, life...still in full swing!
HOW WILL WE DO IT? One day at a time. God's word says, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Cor. 12:9 This explains my absence from blogging as I needed to just SIT with God. My weakness was moments of panic while He whispered TRUTH in my ear.
WHERE WILL WE GO? Where He leads. At the moment we are still waiting for that reveal...OR...are we? Being that we as humans seem to look for final destination. Yet, I think God is more concerned about the walk. Where will my next step land? For us...it has been walking in His presence as we are busy about what He put before us. We live for today and let God worry about tomorrow. NOT always easy to do in that I continually had to capture every thought. As a mom of 8, I tend to need some organization to make things happen. Let's just say I have not quite been on my 'A' game. It hasn't been pretty as I grab for what I am supposed to do and then find I am asked to WAIT! The kids have been patient, my husband has been patient, God has been patient. I look back and think I should have been doing more...but then God reminds me..."Nope...you needed to move slow and sit with me more during this season."
CAN WE PAY OUR BILLS? So far yes. I will admit I get more anxious as the time approaches of no job and not sure where that next job will be. But we have been here before and God has never let us not pay a bill. So we are trusting He will provide one way or another in the coming days.
WHAT DO WE TELL THE KIDS? God is a God who we can trust. THIS is when our FAITH plays out. Walking when you cannot see the next step, trusting God will be there today and tomorrow, knowing He will provide that next step when it is time. Our job is to wait in FAITH and follow as it is revealed. More importantly than what we tell the kids is what we 'live out' in front of the kids. Will they see parents who are scrambling in insecurity or will they see parents living out the faith they have taught for so many years? Our world is changing and we don't know what it will be like for our children one day. But this we do know...this earth is not our heaven. This means there will be struggles, pain, and uncertainty. I want my children to know that no matter what comes your way there is a constant...that constant is God's unwavering love and grace to bring you peace when by all accounts you should fall apart in fear. Let God comfort you in the uncertainty and live it out for a world dying to know what real peace is all about!
We aren't going to do this waiting thing perfectly. It is okay for our children to see us wrestle this out. My prayer is they see parents with eyes on God even in the missteps...because one day...they may find themselves in a similar position. Whether it is a loss of a job, loss of a house, loss of a child, loss of a vision...they need to know there is someone you can turn to, trust, and rely upon...His name is Jesus, Yahweh (Lord, Jehovah), Jehovah-Raah (The Lord My Shepherd), Elohim (God), Jehovah Jireh (The Lord will Provide), Jehovah Shalom (The Lord of Peace), Jehovah Shammah (The Lord Is There), El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty).
We have PEACE for today and HOPE for tomorrow.
Kent preached on the life of Abram/Abraham yesterday. I was reminded of the way he trusted in the Lord as he waited on His promises, all while following Him step by step, even when it was incredibly difficult! God was pleased and as always, was faithful. You are such an example to your family and pleasing to the Lord as you follow Him during this time of waiting. He is faithful! I love you, my friend and continue to pray!
ReplyDeleteShawnah
Praying for you! The waiting is HARD! I completely understand the need to just SIT with God. Sometimes we need to just listen and be reassured of His love.
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