Sunday, February 5, 2012

Why what seems like the worst thing is actually the best thing

5 months ago, I left my job at GEICO and started a job with another company. The night I accepted the job offer I had 2 other offers with comparable or higher salaries that I turned down to go to this company. Why? Because in my heart of hearts I knew that I was supposed to. My husband confirmed it, my heart confirmed it- so I did it. I took a recruiting job in an industry I knew little about on a leap of faith. A few weeks in, I knew I was in way over my head. I didn't understand the terminology, the industry or what my role in all of it really was. I felt sad, frustrated and confused...why had the Lord lead me here when I was putting in 100% effort and literally failing completely?

But I pressed on. 'It will get better,' I told myself. 'Pull yourself up by your bootstraps and get your head out of the clouds!' So on I worked. With up to an hour commute each way, I worked from 8am to 6pm, usually through lunch, then drove home another hour. I was exhausted. But I was doing my best and giving 100% and then some. I started to feel a stirring in my heart- the job didn't sit quite right with me and everything I loved (photography, cooking, spending time with my husband/friends/family, etc) was being shoved into a corner. 'I'm no quitter!' I told myself. 'March on!' So I shoved the nagging feeling that the Lord had something different in mind and kept pushing on.

Then I lost my job...and I felt so relieved. So grateful. So fully of joy....and ready for what the Lord had next for me.

...and I'm still waiting. I'm working until February 15th and then after that have no plans to find another corporate position. After a lot of seeking and praying and asking those close to me to pray and seek God's will with me, I feel really affirmed that this is to be a season where I'm at home. Of course I will not be lying around eating bon bons and watching soaps all day. :) I'm going to be focusing on my photography, continuing my novel (2 chapters down, 50 to go!), blogging and working on getting items together for a craft booth in Canton. I really believe that God has made me uniquely different in the sense that my mind works completely differently then most people and He's given me a gift of creativity that would be a literal sin to waste. He has made me want to decorate and explore and create- and I am SO GRATEFUL.

I've always lamented that I have "frou frou" gifts that aren't practical and aren't useful. It couldn't be further from the truth! God Himself is the Grand Creator- if you don't believe me take a look around you! Look at colors and rainbows and oceans and stars and babies! God delights in creating beauty, and gave me the same heart for it. So where it will take me, I don't know...but I hope to look back in 6 months and be able to giggle at it all...to say so THIS is why the thing that felt like the worst thing is actually the best thing. He always gives exceedingly abundantly more then we can ask or imagine...so I am excited to see what He has for me. :)

So get ready....some cool things are about to happen for me. Hey God! :)

A Church- Planted.

I'm really honored to be a part of an AWESOME community of believers here in Dallas. We've been walking in community with them several years and really could have not asked God for a better group of friends who are real, kind, and genuine. :) We have been working towards opening a church for awhile- and finally this past weekend we had our first service!! It was AWESOME!! I had goosebumps almost the whole time. We met outdoors for our first service, but will be meeting at 10am at Criswell college downtown Dallas for the next 3 months at least. :) Come join us!! Here are a few pictures I took...nothing fancy.


My friend Sang, me and my sister.



This is where we met- it is in the Lake Highlands area. It was in the 30s but honestly I was hot by the end of it and had my jacket off. This is a big deal if you know my distaste for winter. :)


Scott and our friend Jason putting together the children's ministry area together...in a 12 person tent. :)


Beautiful ladies :)





We had 2 baptisms- a mother and her son. It was really awesome to be a part of and I was really proud of all 4 of these guys for being brave enough to be in the fountain!!

So why another church in Dallas? Isn't there a church on every corner? Good questions. DFW is projected to grow over 60% by 2040. People are pouring in to this area at a crazy fast pace and the people coming include people who are lost, lonely, hurt, broken and in need of the Gospel. Luckily it is not our job to save anyone- it's God's deal, but we get invited to be a part of it. So our job is to be obedient and do our part to make sure every person has a chance to encounter the love of God...trust me, you will never be the same. :)

For more info check out: http://www.m117.org