Monday, April 30, 2018
It has been quite the eventful week. Tuesday evening we were invited over for dinner to the house of one of the families that go to the school. I did not know them well, but it was such an encouraging evening. Before we left they prayed over us and spoke Truth into our weary hearts, and declared some blessings in our life. On Monday I applied at a Christian school that is located kind of far away. It is still in Chicago, but it it close to downtown. The principal emailed me right away with an application and I went Wednesday afternoon for an interview. I was there for a really long time. I was there so long because the principal wanted me to know of all the challenges that are involved with this school. The way the school is set up would be physically trying because it is a shared space and the position they are wanting me to take on would be more demanding since I have so much experience.I don't want to give too many details, but it would definitely be a ministry opportunity. The drive back and forth would also be quite the stress producing adventure. I got an email Sunday officially offering me the job. I had another interview at another Christian school a little closer and was offered a position before I left. There is one more school that I hope to interview with this week, but I definitely have two possibilities and I would appreciate your prayers. Each place has it's positives and negatives and I just want to be where God wants me.
Every year our church does a women's retreat in the Spring. I have gone the last two years and this year I decided that I would not go. I did not want to spend the money and I have been in such a funk that the idea of being away from home trying to be social was the last thing that I wanted to do. A few weeks ago when all crazy broke loose a sister from church texted me and asked if I would go to the retreat. Several other sisters felt like it was probably something I needed to go to. I left Friday afternoon and reluctantly headed to Wisconsin. It did not take me long to realize that God had ordained that I be there and listen to what the speaker had to say! The retreat focused on the life of Esther. I have to admit that at first I was a little upset. My mind went back to not very long ago that my husband was described as a type of an Esther and how those who had called him that quickly changed to view him in a different way. I believe the Lord did use him as an Esther, but not the way they thought. Friday night the message reached down and grabbed my heart and I was certain that someone had told the lady my story. The title of the message was "The Peril of Pain". She talked about how every revolution begins on the heels of resistance. Before God can truly use us to change this world we have to have some resistance. We must be crushed before we can truly shine. But then she said gave an illustration that went straight to me very soul. She had a vase full of roses. She took a hammer and broke the vase. But Jesus steps into our brokenness and scoops up the roses and transfers us to something beautiful. She said that flowers that survive for a little while without water. She says to us, "YOU JUST NEED TO SURVIVE!" Survive the trauma until you are transitioned to your new assignment. It was so powerful because that it where I have found myself. I feel like we have been violently uprooted and I have been those flowers out of water just trying to survive this crushing we have experienced. I just need to survive this and know that God is orchestrating something that will bring Him the glory and will bring the most people to know His love. I came home with a new perspective on where we have found ourselves. I don't know when the answer will come, but I have to trust this process. I am just so thankful that I am starting to feel like myself again. The last few weeks I have thought things and felt ways about people that are not like me and I just did not like the attitude that seemed to form a dark cloud around me. The storm clouds are still brewing but I finally see the light starting to push through. Thank you for loving us and praying for us!
Every year our church does a women's retreat in the Spring. I have gone the last two years and this year I decided that I would not go. I did not want to spend the money and I have been in such a funk that the idea of being away from home trying to be social was the last thing that I wanted to do. A few weeks ago when all crazy broke loose a sister from church texted me and asked if I would go to the retreat. Several other sisters felt like it was probably something I needed to go to. I left Friday afternoon and reluctantly headed to Wisconsin. It did not take me long to realize that God had ordained that I be there and listen to what the speaker had to say! The retreat focused on the life of Esther. I have to admit that at first I was a little upset. My mind went back to not very long ago that my husband was described as a type of an Esther and how those who had called him that quickly changed to view him in a different way. I believe the Lord did use him as an Esther, but not the way they thought. Friday night the message reached down and grabbed my heart and I was certain that someone had told the lady my story. The title of the message was "The Peril of Pain". She talked about how every revolution begins on the heels of resistance. Before God can truly use us to change this world we have to have some resistance. We must be crushed before we can truly shine. But then she said gave an illustration that went straight to me very soul. She had a vase full of roses. She took a hammer and broke the vase. But Jesus steps into our brokenness and scoops up the roses and transfers us to something beautiful. She said that flowers that survive for a little while without water. She says to us, "YOU JUST NEED TO SURVIVE!" Survive the trauma until you are transitioned to your new assignment. It was so powerful because that it where I have found myself. I feel like we have been violently uprooted and I have been those flowers out of water just trying to survive this crushing we have experienced. I just need to survive this and know that God is orchestrating something that will bring Him the glory and will bring the most people to know His love. I came home with a new perspective on where we have found ourselves. I don't know when the answer will come, but I have to trust this process. I am just so thankful that I am starting to feel like myself again. The last few weeks I have thought things and felt ways about people that are not like me and I just did not like the attitude that seemed to form a dark cloud around me. The storm clouds are still brewing but I finally see the light starting to push through. Thank you for loving us and praying for us!
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| In just a few weeks this baby boy will be finishing elementary school and preparing for high school. I am trying not to be too emotional and try to focus on how proud of the young man he is growing to be. I remember the day this picture was taken like it was yesterday, so it is hard to believe it was 10 years ago! |
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