Yes, we are on the road again. So far we have made it to Mississippi. We had a great evening with my aunt and uncle and a great meal too! The kids loved running in the yard and playing and simply being out of their seats!
We did have to load up in the pouring rain, and we packed much more info our vehicle than we thought we were taking or than would fit. But we finally had it all in the car, the kids too and we headed out. I was expecting a feeling of relief after driving away from the house and I did! It was great to know the house looks great, the kids will not make any more messes (at least there) and that we did not have to do anything else besides visit friends and family and savor our time off.
We are still excited and feeling a great deal of peace through all of this. We are still not sure where God is leading us but we are feeling that we have plenty of time to figure it all out. We plan to enjoy some time in NC with the Lewis family before completing out trek to Maine.
Well, we need to get some good sleep before our long day tomorrow - many thanks to all who are praying for us! We are feeling very safe and secure in the arms of our Lord!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
Our Sabbatical
My mother-in-law coined the phrase shortly after we started this journey, and I think we like it.
I have been calling this our Big Adventure, but thought that was really a rather boring description of something much more exciting! And with sabbatical there is a spiritual connotation.
Sabbatical: (n) any extended period of leave from one's customary work, esp. for rest, to acquire new skills or training, etc.
(adj) 1.of or pertaining or appropriate to the Sabbath. 2. of or pertaining to a sabbatical year. 3. bringing a period of rest.
So yes, we are on sabbatical or this time- hopefully not for a full year. But we are trying to enjoy this "extended period of leave from one's customary work" and see it as a "period of rest" for us as a family before we begin the next part of Robert's career!
The long and short : God is working - very quickly, very audibly, and wonderfully!
Robert began his sabbatical on April 7th. I came home from an Easter party to find him working the garage. He was amazingly calm and has been since. When you are let go and you have 5 mouths to feed "you" are not calm, but when you trust in an amazing God, you feel a peace that you cannot explain. Little did I know that he told God the day before "if God wanted him somewhere else he was going to have to fire him, he was not going to leave his present employer." God did just that in less than 24 hours.
God is like that - when you give up control and yield to his leading, he works fast and well and with it comes a peace - "like a river".
So we are starting our sabbatical and rest time in Maine - does it get any better than that? Well, in May maybe, but by June it will be perfect! On the way, we will hang out in NC with my dearest and best friend and her family (all together) and play! Then we are going to sight see in DC for a little while (1/2 day) and the same thing at our Alma Mater - West Point for 1/2 a day. Then onward and upward to Maine.
Robert will continue to look for a job via the Internet while we are nestled away in solitude - thank you to current technology! I expect that the perfect job is going to fall right in our lap. Yes, I do believe that - why? Well, so far every time we needed something like that God did just that. A wonderful family for our little dog who needed new family - I mean WONDERFUL!! fell into our laps (after prayers over this family with a mutual friend) We have sold stuff at a rate that makes my head spin - and in this economy that stuff does not usually happen. And jobs are already falling out of the sky for us - not the job we feel like God is leading Robert toward, but jobs none the less, and I feel like it is just a confirmation from God that there are jobs, don't fret, and be patient.
So I will be sharing how God is doing great things in our lives, really always has been, but we finally are seeing it every day! So stay tuned and join us in prayer as we sell our house and move to where ever God is leading us - could be OR, NC, MI, ME, TX or ????
God is amazing, and he loves us so much! He is waiting patiently on us to stop trying to control things that are out of our control, to yield to his gentle, loving touch and to follow him to numerous blessings! May you be blessed by our journey - I mean Sabbatical!
I have been calling this our Big Adventure, but thought that was really a rather boring description of something much more exciting! And with sabbatical there is a spiritual connotation.
Sabbatical: (n) any extended period of leave from one's customary work, esp. for rest, to acquire new skills or training, etc.
(adj) 1.of or pertaining or appropriate to the Sabbath. 2. of or pertaining to a sabbatical year. 3. bringing a period of rest.
So yes, we are on sabbatical or this time- hopefully not for a full year. But we are trying to enjoy this "extended period of leave from one's customary work" and see it as a "period of rest" for us as a family before we begin the next part of Robert's career!
The long and short : God is working - very quickly, very audibly, and wonderfully!
Robert began his sabbatical on April 7th. I came home from an Easter party to find him working the garage. He was amazingly calm and has been since. When you are let go and you have 5 mouths to feed "you" are not calm, but when you trust in an amazing God, you feel a peace that you cannot explain. Little did I know that he told God the day before "if God wanted him somewhere else he was going to have to fire him, he was not going to leave his present employer." God did just that in less than 24 hours.
God is like that - when you give up control and yield to his leading, he works fast and well and with it comes a peace - "like a river".
So we are starting our sabbatical and rest time in Maine - does it get any better than that? Well, in May maybe, but by June it will be perfect! On the way, we will hang out in NC with my dearest and best friend and her family (all together) and play! Then we are going to sight see in DC for a little while (1/2 day) and the same thing at our Alma Mater - West Point for 1/2 a day. Then onward and upward to Maine.
Robert will continue to look for a job via the Internet while we are nestled away in solitude - thank you to current technology! I expect that the perfect job is going to fall right in our lap. Yes, I do believe that - why? Well, so far every time we needed something like that God did just that. A wonderful family for our little dog who needed new family - I mean WONDERFUL!! fell into our laps (after prayers over this family with a mutual friend) We have sold stuff at a rate that makes my head spin - and in this economy that stuff does not usually happen. And jobs are already falling out of the sky for us - not the job we feel like God is leading Robert toward, but jobs none the less, and I feel like it is just a confirmation from God that there are jobs, don't fret, and be patient.
So I will be sharing how God is doing great things in our lives, really always has been, but we finally are seeing it every day! So stay tuned and join us in prayer as we sell our house and move to where ever God is leading us - could be OR, NC, MI, ME, TX or ????
God is amazing, and he loves us so much! He is waiting patiently on us to stop trying to control things that are out of our control, to yield to his gentle, loving touch and to follow him to numerous blessings! May you be blessed by our journey - I mean Sabbatical!
Sunday, April 19, 2009
I stand in awe these days.
I know that God is working in our lives before we are even aware, leading us down a path or setting things in motion for a bigger picture, but when you get down that path and you look back it is amazing to see all the things he WAS doing.
My friend went back and read some old posts and reminded me of this one in respect to what is going on today in our lives. And I woke up early this morning, and while I should be preparing for Sunday School, I instead chose to read some of my past posts to look back and see God's hand in where I am today. It is amazing to see me blog about what was going on then and how it directly relates to today.
Okay, so it is now Sunday evening as I finish this up and God moved big again today - I should say I saw him move big today - I think he moves big all the time & every day - but so often we miss it.
This morning I prayed (while making cupcakes for my youngest boy's party) that God would speak to Robert at church this morning. That our pastor would say something that Robert really needed to hear. Well, he did that and more. The sermon was "Three things God wants you to know when you are going through a tough time" - okay that was like Adam saying - Hey Robert let me share something with you! The verses he used were ones that I have written on my note cards that I am keeping close by. The same verses are ones that I have been studying for several weeks with an online E-Bible study that I am part of. Okay - I have to say - I love when God speaks in many ways the same thing! LOVE IT!! And today the songs, the sermon, the verses were all so perfectly chosen for such a time as this! I felt like we were once again resting in God's palm. So peaceful and secure!
Of course I have had my moments of doubt even after that great morning. But after talking with my mom, I am once again refocused, re-energized and inspired. She just reminded me that there will be down times and that when we focus on those we lose sight of the big stuff God is doing in front of our face. So I am going to stop letting those thoughts linger, and look to him to lift me up.
God is good no matter what happens. He always is. He is good when times are bad, when we are lost and confused, he is always good. But right now he is good because he continues to encourage and inspire my heart with TONS of little things, verses, friends & family, so many things. I am not going to stop smiling and feeling full of joy despite the crazy turn our lives have taken. I know that he loves all of us, and we are willing to follow and serve him 100% to the ends of the Earth and I mean literally. So how can this not be an amazing journey? I can't wait to see our destination!!
PS - Keep praying for Stellan he should have surgery on Tuesday. Pray for mom and family back home too. Prayer is amazing!
I know that God is working in our lives before we are even aware, leading us down a path or setting things in motion for a bigger picture, but when you get down that path and you look back it is amazing to see all the things he WAS doing.
My friend went back and read some old posts and reminded me of this one in respect to what is going on today in our lives. And I woke up early this morning, and while I should be preparing for Sunday School, I instead chose to read some of my past posts to look back and see God's hand in where I am today. It is amazing to see me blog about what was going on then and how it directly relates to today.
Okay, so it is now Sunday evening as I finish this up and God moved big again today - I should say I saw him move big today - I think he moves big all the time & every day - but so often we miss it.
This morning I prayed (while making cupcakes for my youngest boy's party) that God would speak to Robert at church this morning. That our pastor would say something that Robert really needed to hear. Well, he did that and more. The sermon was "Three things God wants you to know when you are going through a tough time" - okay that was like Adam saying - Hey Robert let me share something with you! The verses he used were ones that I have written on my note cards that I am keeping close by. The same verses are ones that I have been studying for several weeks with an online E-Bible study that I am part of. Okay - I have to say - I love when God speaks in many ways the same thing! LOVE IT!! And today the songs, the sermon, the verses were all so perfectly chosen for such a time as this! I felt like we were once again resting in God's palm. So peaceful and secure!
Of course I have had my moments of doubt even after that great morning. But after talking with my mom, I am once again refocused, re-energized and inspired. She just reminded me that there will be down times and that when we focus on those we lose sight of the big stuff God is doing in front of our face. So I am going to stop letting those thoughts linger, and look to him to lift me up.
God is good no matter what happens. He always is. He is good when times are bad, when we are lost and confused, he is always good. But right now he is good because he continues to encourage and inspire my heart with TONS of little things, verses, friends & family, so many things. I am not going to stop smiling and feeling full of joy despite the crazy turn our lives have taken. I know that he loves all of us, and we are willing to follow and serve him 100% to the ends of the Earth and I mean literally. So how can this not be an amazing journey? I can't wait to see our destination!!
PS - Keep praying for Stellan he should have surgery on Tuesday. Pray for mom and family back home too. Prayer is amazing!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Working Muscles
I have decided that Faith is like a muscle. If you use it a lot it gets stronger and you naturally rely on it. But if you are quite comfortable trusting in your flesh, that muscle gets stronger and it is more natural to go that route.
When you are re-training your body to rely on a new muscle and build it up it is HARD!! Your body really likes the old way, the old muscle and it just feels easier.
That is what my journey has been like these last few weeks. My flesh wants to rely on my flesh, it is pretty solid, confident and used to taking care of things. God, however, is saying let me carry that for you, trust me in this and I will surprise you (every time:)), etc. So I am trying to intentionally choose that path - the Faith one. I want to trust my fears, doubts, worried to HIM because he can handle it better than me, he knows the end, and I simply trust HIM! But when I am not looking, my flesh steps out and tries to retake control. And I am feeling so blessed by how God is drawing me closer to him. I am telling you, I can almost hear God audibly say to me, "are you trusting me? or are you worrying?" and the answer? Worrying. Not about the big stuff, but about things like rain. Silly!! can I control or influence the rain??? NO! But God can and he can make it so the rain does not matter.
So here I am stumbling along, trying desperately to trust him and not fret, worry or stress. And honestly I am doing amazingly well with His help, because none of this is my nature. I love the results. I love feeling peace when I should be anxious (well the world would say so) - I love seeing him working all around me!
This journey we are on is amazing, I am being blessed daily and sometimes multiple times a day by little confirmations I feel are from God. He is constantly confirming to me we are on the right path and just to keep going. Today when I called Kristen she said she is was just writing down a verse for me - timing! That was my confirmation today - his way of saying, "I have the rain thing under control" - so I immediately let go, and felt that peace come over me that I love to feel. And I am trusting. The verse today was from Psalms and here it is:
As for God, his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield
for all who take refuge in him.
31 For who is God besides the LORD ?
And who is the Rock except our God?
32 It is God who arms me with strength
and makes my way perfect.
33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he enables me to stand on the heights.
34 He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You give me your shield of victory,
and your right hand sustains me;
you stoop down to make me great.
36 You broaden the path beneath me,
so that my ankles do not turn. Psalm 18:30-36
The last part is the part Kristen had for me, but I love of these verses in this Psalm - and thought it very relevant to our current journey!
God is SOOOO good ALL the time! And I am hoping to see my muscle of Faith grow in the days, weeks and months to come! I hope that my muscle of flesh withers away in that time too!!
When you are re-training your body to rely on a new muscle and build it up it is HARD!! Your body really likes the old way, the old muscle and it just feels easier.
That is what my journey has been like these last few weeks. My flesh wants to rely on my flesh, it is pretty solid, confident and used to taking care of things. God, however, is saying let me carry that for you, trust me in this and I will surprise you (every time:)), etc. So I am trying to intentionally choose that path - the Faith one. I want to trust my fears, doubts, worried to HIM because he can handle it better than me, he knows the end, and I simply trust HIM! But when I am not looking, my flesh steps out and tries to retake control. And I am feeling so blessed by how God is drawing me closer to him. I am telling you, I can almost hear God audibly say to me, "are you trusting me? or are you worrying?" and the answer? Worrying. Not about the big stuff, but about things like rain. Silly!! can I control or influence the rain??? NO! But God can and he can make it so the rain does not matter.
So here I am stumbling along, trying desperately to trust him and not fret, worry or stress. And honestly I am doing amazingly well with His help, because none of this is my nature. I love the results. I love feeling peace when I should be anxious (well the world would say so) - I love seeing him working all around me!
This journey we are on is amazing, I am being blessed daily and sometimes multiple times a day by little confirmations I feel are from God. He is constantly confirming to me we are on the right path and just to keep going. Today when I called Kristen she said she is was just writing down a verse for me - timing! That was my confirmation today - his way of saying, "I have the rain thing under control" - so I immediately let go, and felt that peace come over me that I love to feel. And I am trusting. The verse today was from Psalms and here it is:
As for God, his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield
for all who take refuge in him.
31 For who is God besides the LORD ?
And who is the Rock except our God?
32 It is God who arms me with strength
and makes my way perfect.
33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he enables me to stand on the heights.
34 He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You give me your shield of victory,
and your right hand sustains me;
you stoop down to make me great.
36 You broaden the path beneath me,
so that my ankles do not turn. Psalm 18:30-36
The last part is the part Kristen had for me, but I love of these verses in this Psalm - and thought it very relevant to our current journey!
God is SOOOO good ALL the time! And I am hoping to see my muscle of Faith grow in the days, weeks and months to come! I hope that my muscle of flesh withers away in that time too!!
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