To say that I am excited is an under statement. My tent, Pack, Laptop, external hard drive,and teva sandals came in. This is very big for me, not only because I need these and they are very important for the Race but it is another sign of Gods provision and pulling me out of a “Job season”. I generally don’t like to talk about this season but with this Journey God has been making me become more transparent and to share about life,struggles and what He has been bring me through. back in 2009, 2010 most people wold call me a workaholic! Why you may ask? Well I worked a full time job as a Deli manager which my work week was anywhere between 44hrs-60hrs depending on if people would call out or if I was sent somewhere for training for meetings. I also worked a part time job as a photographer at Jc Penney’s portrait studio which was normally 2 half days after I worked the one job and one full day which was my day off from the one job. On top of that I would schedule portrait sessions in any free time. I would also attend Church every Sunday. In 2010 I heard the Lord that I need to quit one job so I did, I quit my part time job at the studio right after the Christmas season. I started 2011 off thinking that I was going to slow down a bit and focus more on my own photography but in February God called me to start going to another churche and to a ministry called the cave, so basically I was trading a job for ministry which to me was not hard to keep up that pace since I had been doing it for so long. In October of 2011 my Job season began but I didn’t realize it until it started to get really bad. It started with one of my cameras being stolen, then one of my Aunts died, then in January 2012 I lost my full time Job. a month Later my Suburban broke down, then I got a new vehicle and that broke down 3 weeks after I got it on the road. Another Aunt died, Another Camera vanished, My laptop was stepped on and the screen broke. My step-mom died, and many other friends and family members passed. end of 2012 I began babysitting and I was not making a lot but it at least helped a little. by August of 2013 I lost my babysitting gig to really strange circumstances, but then God really stepped in and started turning things around in my life. All the while during this season I continued to praise God and continued to believe that God would pull me out of it. God laid it on my heart to read the Bible all the way through during this season, to not settle for just any job but the one He wanted me in, that He would restore everything back to me and he would help me through the loss of 15 people in my life in such a short period of time. In September of 2013 was the beginning of me coming out of this season. God told someone who has become very dear to me to sow into my life and ministry, as she began to count the $100 bills back to me all I could do is cry when she handed me $1,000 I couldn’t believe what was happening. There was two things that popped in my head first before all the worldly things could pop in and that was tithe, and buy a passport. I wouldn’t spend any of it until I could tithe and so after i put that tithe in the offering basket it was like clockwork God really started opening doors. Within 3 days I was called in for an interview, I went through the whole interview and as I am sitting there they began by telling me you way over qualified for the job and we can not pay you what you are worth. The manager and the Hiring manager step out for a few minutes and I pray “God if you want me here at this job no matter how little I have to take please open the door.” Next thing I know they come back and say we love your personality and we don’t want to lose you so we can hire you at $7.50 hr and put you in the fuel station and if a management opportunity comes up we will let you know so you can apply. God told me take, I did and in the back of my mind I was thinking this will only be temporary till I can find something better. So then my church started to plan to go to India in 2014 and I knew God wanted me to go. As I was funding for India a met Michelle who was getting ready to leave in January for the World Race. I had no idea that later on God would call me to do the same thing. I went to in India in march of 2014 and when I came back The world race quiz was on my facebook wall. So as I am in the blessings part of the Job season I am enjoying all that God is doing. The Laptop that I just got for this race Just adds to all God is restoring to me. The blessings that out-way all the bad in this Job season. so let me list the blessings and the things God has already restored.
*I got back on track to my true calling and was able to go to India and will be leaving soon for the World Race.
*My Mom moved back to Maryland and God has made our relationship better then it ever was.
*One of my best friends came back to the Lord, met her husband and is happily married now.
*I was able to purchase a Camera 10 times better then either of the cameras stolen
*I was able to purchase a nice new laptop and an external hard drive
*I am learning to be healthier and more active by doing things I actually enjoy.
* I gained some amazing friendships with those that have sown into me and this ministry.
*I gained some amazing friends that I will be doing life with on this World Race.
*I gained a better understanding of those that have so much less, how to live with less
* I actually enjoy my current job, and how God has used it for me to speak into others lives, pray for people and to receive some amazing and odd blessings like boxes and boxes of soaps
*learning to receive when in the past I would give and I had a hard time receiving and realized I blocked others from the blessing of giving
so yes my Job season where everything was being stripped away it was hard, it was hard to keep the Joy but not impossible, it was hard living without but not impossible, it was sad and hard losing so many people at once but it made me realize how it is important to live every moment to the fullest, that there are so many out there that need to hear the truth of God’s Word and need to receive His Love. I would not trade what I went through for anything, Sure it would be nice not to go through it but if you don’t go through the fire you can’t be refined, if you don’t go through the potter’s wheel you will just be a lump of clay, If you don’t go through the wilderness you won’t get to the promise land.
So I say all this to say if you are going through a hard time, take it to God and lay it at his feet in the mists of storm trust God. He will surprise you, you may not see it in the moment but when you come out of it, man you will be surprised. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”-Romans 8:28
Philippians 2:”13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”[c] Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky”
