Bible Verse Challenge...

I had an "aha" moment with God today and usually a verse comes to mind, or I see it on a license plate or I turn right to it in the bible, but today nothing came. I know it will, he teaches me that way, but I thought rather than wait for the verse why not share my story with you while I wait for his voice. Perhaps he wants the verse to come to me from you. Someone will find this blog, and know the exact verse that applies to me and the lesson. But if not now, I know it will come.

I have so often agonized over my job, I wake thinking about it, I argue it out in my head, I anticipate problems before they happen and even though they usually do and I am always prepared when they come, I find that its not the most healthy place to be. First it takes me away from quiet time with God, Second, it gets me all riled up about the job and I become obsessed with the job and forget about all that surrounds me.

Today God told me that work is to take 8 hours. After that, its my time. Time with my family, my friends, my husband. I devote 8 hours of strong, hard steady work to my job, and then that is it. The rest of the time is time spent on me, my relationship with God, my relationship with my family. Work will have to wait.

For me, this was a jolt to my daily routine of waking up, thinking about what lies ahead, feeling miserable and not wanting to go in, blah, blah, blah. Today I approached it differently. I owe them 8 focused hours. That is it. So on the way home, my husband and I talked about other things, made plans for our vacation, cooked dinner together.

I came home and didn't check my emails, and it is a little difficult breaking the habit, but I turned off the blackberry, we ate dinner on time, I was able to sort through some mail, make my husband's lunch. I had more energy, more time for me, more time for us. I was even friendlier.

I seem to have lost track of what was important. The job pays the bills. The title, the pay, the status means nothing to the Lord all he wants is a relationship with me. He wants me to put my priorities in other places. Places I have neglected. Its going to be an interesting journey over the next few weeks. I know its all part of his plan. It's so exciting to have someone so focused on me as his child. And we all can have that relationship with him. We can all let it go and let him do his work in us.

You know some might shy away from or ignore the lessons that God has for us, or even his plans. But lately I have found that by sitting still, listening to him, doing my best to hear and follow his direction is well worth the investment. Less stress, more time, more peace. A restful place to land.

Hebrews 11:1

I saw this on a license plate yesterday and came home to read it and was so amazed. God reaches me in such subtle, yet in your face ways. Putting my faith in that which I can't see. I turn 50 in less than a year and I feel being led to quit my job and go back to school. I believe my call from God is to teach and do that I have to go back to school and finish what I started a very long time ago. All of it sounds so scary and yet he asks us to give ourselves to him for his plan. Me, I just want to know for sure. I am uncomfortable being led blindly and it seems that God and I deal with that often. He has never, ever led me wrong, he had never misled me yet, I still doubt, still struggle.

Heavenly Father help me to change my disbelief. What you have done in my life in just one year is a miracle of its own. I have no reason to doubt your plans for me. I have no reason to ignore what you are telling me, and yet I do. Is it fear, denial? I will follow you. I commit myself to you to do your will. I know you can make what seems impossible, possible and I know that it can only be done if I let go and give it all to you.

Show me the next step you wnat me to take Lord. Show me the next step. While you are on your time schedule, I will do my best to be obedient. I know there are some things that I have to correct in order to reap the full benefit of your plans for me. There is no doubt in my mind, that all your plans for me are plans of hope, a future, love and a joy that can't be felt without you in the middle of it.

If school is part of the plan, then school it is. Show me Lord how. Show me the next step. What is it you desire of me?

Lord hear my prayers. Bless those that I have trouble with, bless them ten fold and if they are not Christians, I pray that they begin to seek you. Help them in their work, in their personal life, and in their relationship with you. Bless my family Lord and keep them all safe and healthy. I pray for my friend Linda. Lord, if the house is part of your plan for her, let her have the ability to buy it without having to rely on others. Thank you Lord for the beautiful day you gave us to day for our church picnic. It was a glorious day and one that allowed me to meet a wonderful new friend. Thank you.

Forgive me for getting involved in the gossip. I want so badly to find a way to remove myself from these types of conversations and not participate in conversations meant to drag others down. There just isn't enough time for that kind of behaviour. I participated by simply listening. I want to get better at walking away.