Job worshiped the Lord...

So, about these books I’ve been writing, they are no way near ready for publication, but I need to share a little bit of my heart with you today because it’s so cool how the Lord uses things like this to remind me of his faithfulness.

Book 1 is called “Walk On - A Story of Fear, Faith, & Freedom in Christ.”  Today I’ve been hit with some of the hardest news I could possibly imagine.  I will stand strong and grow from the pain and tears.  And from today forward, I’ve been charged to “Now Run – Grab the Baton and RUN to Christ.”  (Book 2).

Aug 12^th, 2022.  That was the last day at my part-time job, working outside the home.  I had quit my job with COMPLETE faith and put my FULL trust in the Lord.  I began working from home as a Real Estate Agent and also working more diligently on my Medical Bag Tag launch.

I didn’t just wake up one day and decide this, I prayed and prayed; sought counsel; wrestled; prayed more, and ultimately chose the path less traveled.  I took the leap of faith and put my FULL TRUST IN THE LORD. 

The Lord had begun stirring in my heart in March of last year that my trust, although good, wasn’t FULLY IN HIM.  That was probably one of the hardest things to do as a human, but also the easiest to do as a child of God.  To be able to put my whole reliance on HIM as my provider brings so much peace during trials. 

In human terms, you might say I’ve had a year from hell.  I lost my Food Stamps 3 times and ultimately the final time, Medicaid at least once, and the delay of child support payments getting to me between two states has set me back numerous times resulting in nearly $1000 in late fees and banking overdraft fees.  Every month I cry and struggle and my faith is tested.  BUT GOD.  He is so good and always HIS TIMING IS PERFECT.  I will always believe that.  NO MATTER WHAT…GOD’S TIMING IS PERFECT.  He knows our heart's desires, needs, wants, and even the things that we don’t see.  He sees our tears, our longings, etc.  He is ULTIMATLY in control and I WILL SUBMIT to HIM in everything.  Even when it is hard.

I was reading Job Chapters 1-5 this morning.  In Chapter 1:20, even after losing his worldly possessions and then all his children, “Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head.  Then he fell to the ground in worship.”  Job worshiped the Lord after losing everything.

Little did I know that the very act of following God and quitting my job in August 2022 would come back full circle and “bite me in the butt” as the world would say almost exactly 1 year later.  I’ve been hit with some of the hardest news I could possibly imagine.  But I will not sway.  I will stand strong and grow from the pain and tears from this morning’s news.  Choosing Self-Employment over working outside the home has been such a blessing for our family.  I’m not saying it’s easy at all but it does come with some perks.  However, when getting a mortgage on a home, self-employment income can only be counted if it is on a Tax Return. So, now we wait…until December when I file my taxes.  Self-employment income MUST be on a Tax Return.  Even if I made all the $ in the world and could make over and above all the required house payments, getting a loan still requires that.  The expectations of moving into our brand new home have been delayed until the beginning of next year.

As much as it hurts, I’m not blaming myself, or anyone else.  I simply followed my GOD.  HE IS BIGGER.  HE IS STILL FAITHFUL.  I STILL FULLY TRUST HIM.  GOD IS STILL GOOD.  This is not the news I was hoping to hear, but HIS TIMING IS PERFECT.  Maybe there is more learning and growing I need to endure.  Maybe He wants us to rid of more stuff weighing down our lives and our family.  Maybe there are more people I need to share my story with.  More lives to touch.  More experiences with trials and pain allow me to be a better friend to others going through similar experiences.  Or maybe I’ll never know this side of heaven and that’s okay.  I will hold my head high, take deep breaths, and Walk On.  But during the next 6 months, you might find me in the season of Now Run.

Please remember to pray for our family as we RUN TO CHRIST during this next season.  If you want to pray for specifics… then by all means:

In 6 months I will still have to pay $9000 in rent, need to pay off about $7000 in debt, need to buy a 2^nd car (or somehow fix two non-running ones), and still show a net income of $3153.17 per month oh yeah, and also feed, clothe, and pay for electricity for our family too! 

When I’ve been in a very long season of walking and now, I’m being required to run, please pray that I remember to run to Christ when I’m weary and want to give up.

As far as any financial gifts you have given towards our new home build/purchase via GoFundMe, they will be set aside in a special savings account to be held for closing at the beginning of next year.

My prayer and scripture for the next 6 months is found in Ephesians 3:14-21

“For this reason, I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.  I pray that out of his glorious riches, he may strengthen US with power through his Spirit in OUR inner beings so that Christ may dwell in OUR hearts through faith.  And I pray that I, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and how long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that WE may be filled to the measure of all the fulness of God.

“Now to HIM who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to HIS power that is at work within us, to HIM be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen!”