Revelation

I've come to a bit of a revelation this weekend.

I teach Sunday School at my church and this is something that I love to do. I'm good at it and I always feel confident when I'm teaching. I feel a sense of accomplishment when I'm teaching and working with my kids.

"So become a teacher," you say. To which I say, "I don't think so." You see, it's not the teaching that I enjoy, it's getting into the Word of God that I enjoy and sharing that knowledge with others.

I made a New Year's Decision--I don't make Resolutions because they're too easily broken. When I make a decision, I stick with it. And my decision was to spend every day in prayer. Even if it's only for a minute or two before I go to bed or before I get up in the morning, or if I spend half an hour or more talking with God, I do it every day. I pray for co-workers, for friends, for family, for people I've met on-line who need prayer. I may not pray for the exact same people every day, but I pray. And I pray for myself.

I've never asked God for guidance regarding my work, but I've prayed about work and co-workers. I don't blog about my work because I'm very aware of the fact that what goes on the internet can be seen by the world, and I wouldn't want to blog anything about my job that could come back to haunt me. Anyway, I think God is starting to finally guide me where He wants me to go. What I mean by that is not that God is finally guiding me, it's that I'm finally opening myself up fully to Him and listening to Him. I think God wants me to go into ministry.

Wow...when I type that I'm not sure what to think. I don't know if He wants me to be a pastor. That's not the feeling I get. It's more like He wants me to study the Word deeply, to become enmeshed in the Bible and find work that follows Him, that honors Him.

Where I am right now in my life, that isn't possible. I have to work to pay the mortgage on a house that, admittedly, I no longer want. With the market the way it is though, selling is a difficult proposition. I'm still working on my writing course, even though I haven't blogged much about it lately--I should get my latest assignment back any day now and I have to start writing Chapter 3. I'd love to make a living as a writer, but that's very difficult. Most new writers have "day jobs" to pay the bills. That's what I have to do.

I don't know where this revelation is going to lead me. Right now, it feels like Step One in a Thousand Step journey and there's a huge fog bank in my way so I can't see where the path goes. And it may only be one step, but for the first time in a very, very long time, it feels like the right step.

I guess there's only one thing I can do right now...well, two. One, see if there are any theology programs in nearby or on-line colleges that I can get into, and two, pray.

Maybe I'll pray first.

Ha Ha Ha Ha

Another Family In Need

My heart just breaks when I read of situations like these. Take a look here to read a story of injustice to children. Chris and Melody Byrne are in a vicious custody battle with her ex--a man so concerned with winning, he doesn't care about the cost, and I'm not talking financial.

I've never been in their situation, but I've sent a little help their way, and they're on my prayer list. See if you can help a little too.

Latest on Sophie

I can't believe I forgot to post this update...How could I forget to let my loyal readers--all two of you--know the latest on Sophie?

Monday, Dec 24, Sheynah went to the hospital to feed Sophie and she did so much better holding down breast milk. About an hour after Sheynah went home, the hospital called her. "We're getting ready to release your daughter...come and get her."

Sheynah was so flustered, she didn't know what to do! She called Mike and he was like, "Um, honey, go get her?" So of course she did, and little Sophie was home on Christmas Eve!

I would have been thrilled for Sheynah if she had been able to hold Sophie by Christmas...I never would have guessed she would be home by Christmas.

My sister and her husband (Oma and Grandpa--my sister is now Oma since she's Sheyna's step-mom) flew down to see her this past weekend and all Oma could talk about was how tiny Sophie is...of course, Oma's three children were all over 8lbs, so naturally a 5-pounder looks tiny.

So if anyone doubts the power of prayer, have them come talk to me. So many prayers went up through various prayer groups I'm connected with, God just had to let this precious child go home to her family in time for His own Son's birthday.

Had I posted this when it happened, I'd close by wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, so now I can only wish you a happy January!