So much to be Thankful for today!

I am joining Rebecca Jo today for Thankful Thursday.  I thought this would be a perfect day to announce our good news!  If you are friends with me on FB then you have already heard but....

We have a job!

A year ago, the elders of our church let my husband go as they decided to go in a different direction than he was leading.  It was a very hard, hurtful and difficult time for us.  However, we felt God's hand on our lives, directing us through it.  We trusted that He had a plan for us and was calling us to wait on Him.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.  Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.  Jermiah 29:11

We were in God's waiting room for a year, almost to the day.  I won't say it was easy, because many parts of it were hard..... but in placing all my trust in Him, knowing He had a place for us, I had so much peace and very little worry.  Oh, there were times when my heart cried out to God in fear and doubt!  But those were honestly few and EVERY.single.time He met me gently and returned my focus to Him.....restoring that peace in my heart that only He can give.

Be assured that if God waits longer than you could wish, it is only to make the blessing doubly precious. --Andrew Murray

So today I am thankful for being without a job for a year and the amazing things that came from it.....

I'm thankful for:

*the opportunity to draw closer to God and see Him work in ways I had never experienced before
*discovering the difference between waiting on an answer and waiting on God

*the opportunity to display what trusting God in hard times looks like
*finding God always has some one/place for us to serve where we are..no matter our circumstances

*being available to serve and take care of Steve's mom this summer when she fell

*being available to take care of our daughter during her illness
*the opportunity to see my children step up and minister to us
*the amazing friends I knew I had, but had no idea just how amazing they were
*truly feeling the covering of prayer my friends/family provided us
*seeing God meet every.single.need we had, sometimes miraculously
*being able to find joy and contentment in the middle of hard times
*God's Word, that carried me through
*our new church family He has led us to
*the answers to multiple prayers that clearly showed this was the place for us

But most importantly, I am so grateful for my relationship with God.  And grateful that though He is so big, He cares for me and the details of my life.

And you will make a new start, 

listening obediently to God, 

keeping all his commandments 

that I’m commanding you today. 

God, your God, 

will outdo himself in making things 

go well for you...

(Deuteronomy 30:8-9a, the Message)