With all the busyness of trips
and holidays, I really haven't shared some major things going on in our
lives. Yep, all those swirly things I've been sharing the last couple
of entries aren't even the major things! We don't know yet what God is
up to, but we know something is coming. We don't know how big or small
it may be, we just know He's working; some changes have come, and more
are to come.
The biggest change so far is
that James has been out of work for almost 4 months. I know~that's
something pretty big to have not shared. James has an accounting
degree, but hated working in it, so he left that after just a few
years. He went into real estate, which eventually led into us owning a
chalet rental business. After a few years of him literally working
15-18 hours a day, we decided to sell it. (Immediately afterward is
when the Lord called us to homeschool.) He had always wanted to build,
so he set out to learn building from the ground up. He worked for other
people and did just that for a year or 2, then went out on his own. He
started as a self employed trim carpenter, specializing in fancy,
tricky staircases, and later got his contractor's license and began
building homes. This is what he has done for the last 10 years. He is
very meticulous about his houses, and builds very high quality homes,
but at middle income prices. Our county is very blessed to have had a
booming building business and economy even though other areas have
struggled for a while. It finally caught up to us this fall. Everyone
in the building and real estate businesses has been hit hard.
Thankfully, we only have one house left to sell. And, though it didn't
seem like a blessing at the time, we are now thankful that suddenly the
bank would not give him any more loans to build as long as he had a
house on the market.
After a couple of days,
and the initial shock of being stuck wore off, we really have been at
great peace about this. (I'll keep you updated as the money runs
out!!!) Interestingly, one day back in Oct., James was walking across a
parking lot, not thinking at all about work, or the lack thereof, when
he felt very strongly impressed that God was telling him that he was
finished building. He prayed and asked God if that was Him speaking.
He submitted to God that if that was what He wanted that he was willing
to give it up, but he needed to know what he was supposed to do to
support his family. Every time he prayed over the next couple of weeks,
his "answer" always seemed to be "Work on 'the business'". "The
business", which I won't explain unless it happens, is a business idea
that James has had for quite a long time, but never had the time
for. So, as James works on this, his prayer is that God will continue
to lead him, directing him, stopping this if it's not the right
direction for us, and that if He wants James to build or do any projects
for some income that He would bring those to us. God knows our limited
amount of resources~how long they will last~ and we fully trust Him to
provide what we need. Two different possible building opportunities
have come along in the last four months, but neither have worked out.
During this same time, the
Lord has spoken to both of us in amazing ways. On several occasions, I
would come to James after my Bible and prayer time, and say, "Listen to
what I read today. This really stood out to me, and I think......"
James would stand, almost with his mouth hanging open, and would say,
"That's the same thing the Lord said to me during my study time." It
got to where it happened so often, we'd get goose bumps. It was a very
exciting time!
James has been working hard
on his project, and I've been helping him out, testing ideas and giving
input. He's been able to spend wonderful time with Marissa and
Daniella. I've mentioned how much more science he's been doing with
them lately, among other things. He's been able to spend at least once a
month going on hikes in the mountains photographing, which is a passion
that he has had but not had time to pursue. He's even done a
little work on our house~anything that can be done without spending
money. : ) As we've tried to be obedient and wait on the Lord, He has
continued to draw us to scriptures and plant them in our hearts. There
are a couple in particular that I feel so drawn to and know that the
Lord has plans, but I have no idea what they will look like. (Well,
okay, I've made guesses, but knowing God, it won't be anything I've
thought of!) We don't know if this new project is something long term
(it has some possibility) or if it's just a one time deal. If it's
short term, we don't know what's next. Will the building pick back up
then, or has God really ended that for Him? We even know that this
project may not work out at all. Perhaps God just wants obedience like
the story of the man who pushed on the boulder for 10 years without it
ever budging. God wanted to strengthen his muscles, not really have him
move the stone. Maybe He's strengthening our spiritual muscles.
Our church has been praying for revival. Real revival. God may be
preparing us for something in that. We really just don't know. We do
know that it's all exciting and scary. We can't wait to see what will
happen, but, yes, sometimes there are those fears of "Lord, what's going
to happen next?"
James made the comment to me a
couple of weeks ago that building seems like another life time ago. As
much as he's always loved it, it seems like someone else's life now.
How we would love it if the Lord brought him something more home based
where he could continue spending more time with the children. We'll
see. Maybe it's something more ministry based. Lots of maybes that all
just require waiting on the Lord.
Other changes and possible
changes going on around us are~ the possibility of moving my grandmother
here as I talked about last post, Ashley's best friend and someone dear
to all of our family having to move out of the country this Thursday,
and we don't know when we'll be able to see her again (We are all
grieving, most especially Ashley~please pray for her), Briana getting
ready to leave for college this fall and hassling with scholarships and
forms, one or more mission trips to Guatemala this year, needing to
fulfill the need in Marissa to be around more people of her nationality,
and some things that have been on my heart for our family that I just
don't know yet if they are what the Lord is calling us to.
Please pray for us as we go
through this waiting and transition. We only want to do the will of the
Lord in all things. We trust Him to reveal that to us at the right
time. We trust Him to sustain us and protect us. Pray for James to
have wisdom as he leads our family, and that he won't fret about
providing for us. God knows his heart and that he's ready to work at
whatever He calls him to. God is the one who provides. "It is vain for
you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful
labors; for He gives to His beloved even in his sleep." (Psalm 127:2)
I thought to close with a
scripture that speaks to our situation or that encourages, but honestly,
I just couldn't figure out which one~there are so many. So, this one
just sums it up:
"For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised" Psalm 96:4
Letitia
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