It’s not easy to know how to prepare for what you’ve never done. Especially when what you’re about to do is with a whole group of people that you’ve never met and no one you’re going to be with has ever worked with before.
The to do list really has no bearing on how you will be physically, mentally, and emotionally ready.
So what has God been doing about helping me?
Everything.
Lately everything that I’ve been going through in my “normal” everyday life has been kicking my butt into preparation for whatever I may encounter on the ministry year ahead.
All the sermons at church, and all my private fellowship conversations for the past five months have been nothing less than soul digging and mind prepping work. My current job situation has stripped me of all functional saviors and down time to relax and my current living situation has stripped away whatever self time I could have had to renew my energy to self sustain and independently make it thru the last month and the next two.
What was last week’s sermon on?
Cultivating longsuffering.
Before that? Dealing with your past (for becoming emotionally healthy).
And this week? Making wise, and spiritually healthy decisions.
Last night I was reading Joshua Gills worldrace blog about “What I learned on the world race” http://joshuagill.theworldrace.org/post/what-i-learned-on-the-world-race mostly about mindsets and expectations and about dealing with things in a healthy way.
….
And now, it’s story time. Time to tell you a few of the ways Gods been showing up for me to confirm His diligence in my life; how He is assuring me of His provision and presence.
Two weeks ago I woke up early and dug thru every purse and pocket I had in search of coins. I’d just switched jobs and was told to expect my last paycheck “sometime this month”.I counted out my coins down to the last penny. It was enough just to get me to work all the way to friday.
All week I ran to the ATM checking if my last paycheck had found its way to my account ….nope.
Friday I ran to the bus and dropped in my last coins in the teller on my way to work. “Alright God, You know I can walk home…but an hour? Nows your time to show up with the provision you promised.” I got off the bus and checked the atm. The money was there!!!! I could take the bus home after work!
The next week I encountered another issue. The pay I was expecting to be paid I was told not to expect; even though it was spelled out in my contract. This was quite frustrating for many reasons beside the fact that I felt like my contract wasnt being upheld and I was doing beyond the hours it stated I would be.
I talked with some of my friends at church and asked them to pray for favor and wisdom for me to confront my boss.
The next day i sat down with him and within a few minutes he agreed to change my contract and pay me even more than it stated! The Lord heard my cry and provided what I’d expected!
Then this week:
Yesterday I went and visited a friend in a city I’d never been to. Surprisingly she lived FOURTY minutes away from public transportation in the middle of nowhere in a new developing city. That evening after dinner I kind of expected her to drive me back where she’d picked me up but she wasn’t feeling too well and I realized with her two little kids it would be selfish of me to ask her.
Self sufficiently I told her I’d find my own way back and headed off in the direction of a bus stop she’d indicated might be able to take me back to the train station.
“oh Lord! What am I doing?! You see this right? If you’re with me can you take care of me and take me back? Can you show me that you’re with me and I have nothing to fear?” I sat at the empty glass bus stop and stared down the empty road. It was getting colder and colder. The curb was getting icy thru my jeans. I stared at the random seldom cars that sped by wondering if there was any way I could stick out my thumb. Was that even safe???
Did the bus (if there was one) even run on Saturday?!?!
There was nothing on the glass walls posted to tell anything about any busses; numbers or schedules or anything.
Amidst the nagging sense that I was being foolish there was a hand holding back the anxiety. ‘I’m going to show you that I’m going to take care of you.’ I felt Him say.
“Are you Lord? Are you?”
Almost two hours passed in the dark while I clung to my prayer for provision. It was getting later and later and as midnight drew near I knew even if I made it to the station the train would already be done for the night.
Then, in the very moment I’d decided that it looked like I had to find my way back to my friends house and beg to stay the night, the bus came around the corner – and sure enough, took me back to the train station.
God showed me that He WAS with me and He provided a way back for me as He’d told me. Not only that, I got home safely before the train stopped running!
….
God is being so intentional, as always, to lead, teach, stretch my faith, and prepare me for what He has for me next.
What is it taking for me to receive this?
More dependence, trust, and long suffering than I would like to endure.
What will the fruit of my dependence, trust, and patience be?
I hope and pray that it will be readiness to step into the ministry He has for me this next year!
Please come alongside me and pray for my continued trust and hope in what He has for me! Your prayers count! And make a big difference for how my next year turns out!
I can’t thank you enough!
