T-Minus One Day!!!

I am so excited that tomorrow is my last day of work... Forever!!! I've had a home keeping journal/binder for awhile now, but never fully used it since my work schedule was so wonky. Now, I've been able to sit down and start planning my days and really working on implementing a schedule that can help me in my new home keeping job!

The closer the time has come for me to be at home, the better I feel about my decision. I should be a nervous wreck that things won't work out and we'll lose our home, but I'm not! Both my husband and I are at peace about this decision and we are both so excited to see what God has in store for us. My main prayer now is that if anything does happen, our faith won't waiver and we won't start doubting this decision. I am also praying that both Eric and I can grasp on to our Lord and really learn how to hear his voice so that we know what the next step is.

Thank you for those of you that are reading this and praying for us during this time. We are so blessed by having many people in our lives that support this decision, no matter how crazy it seems!

Getting Back on the Right Path

I just wanted to first of all say "hello!" to anyone who is coming over from Jennifer's blog. Thanks for stopping by!

I guess I should update what is going on, so you guys can understand what's going on in our lives right now.

Back in October, but my husband and I got laid off from our jobs. We worked in for a small engineering firm, and since business was very slow, we both lost our jobs. I talked about it in this post and a little bit in this post. Right after we got laid off, God was pressing in my heart that this was the time for me to stay at home. Sure, I didn't expect it to happen that way, but God was telling me that I was where He wanted me.

Fear then took over and questions were raised. Questions like "How are our bills going to get paid?" and "Are you sure you really want me to stay home right now? This doesn't make sense." When the flesh took over and fear crept in, I decided to take a job that seemed perfect at the time. Both my husband and I over analyzed the situation (well, he over analyzed and I did what I thought was right at the time) and stepped out in our flesh instead of stepping out in faith and doing what God was telling me to do. Because of course, we know more than God does right?

Fast forward 6 months. This job that seemed perfect at the time is not so perfect any more. Sure this job is WAY less stressful than my last job, but my heart is not at peace. I am unhappy and bitterness started to creep in. I found little things to be annoyed at and my attitude really changes. Seriously, I am a different person at work than I am when I'm home.

This past weekend we had a wake up call. God totally spoke to us through some fantastic spiritual mentors and we spent the weekend searching His word and praying about some big decisions that needed to be made. The biggest decision was that I am quitting my job. Today I am giving my two weeks notice. Here is the comment that I left on Jennifer's blog to summarize what is going on in my heart:

I just wanted to comment on what you said about being called to the home. I have been called to my home as a stay at home wife for awhile now and I had the chance back in October, but my flesh caused so much fear, I decided to take a job that now I realize, I should not have taken.

This weekend God pressed it into my heart so much that I NEED To be at home, that I am giving my two weeks notice today.

Here's the rub; my husband is unemployed and we were really relying on my paycheck to help pay bills and buy food. Does it make sense for me to quit my job? Absolutely not. On paper, it looks impossible for us to make our bills, but that's not the issue. The issue was that for the past 6 months, I have been in direct disobedience for God's command for me to be home and now is the time for me to step up and take that step of faith and trust God to meet our needs. Am I scared? I'm totally scared, but I serve a righteous God that will take care of us and will bless us for taking this step of faith.

I'm sorry I posted this huge saga of what is going on, but when God is calling you home, you may want to sit and listen and take those steps to be home, no matter how scary it seems because God knows what's best for you and He WILL provide.

So there you have it. This is where my new journey begins. I am back on track and yes, I'm scared, but I am so thrilled to see what God will do. I just want Him to be glorified in this time.

Where has the time gone?

I can't believe the new year is here already. I realize, as I get older, every year flies by quicker than the last. I remember a time when it would seem like for.ev.er for Christmas to get here. Now it just seems like I blink and Christmas is over and it's time to put my Christmas stuff away.

Every year, around this time, I just randomly think of things that I want to see happen in the new year, and every year without fail, I never see any of it happen. This year I want it to be different. Instead of randomly selecting things I want to see happen, I decided to pray about it first. I thought that since God knows what it best for my life, I should seek Him first and see if He brings anything to my mind that I should work on. Ask and ye shall receive, right? Well, I asked and I received!

One of the things that came up was the use of my time. I tend to fill up my time with things that can be good, but also take away from more important things. Things like cleaning my house, reading my Bible or spending quality time with my husband. For instance, blogging can be one of these things. As other bloggers have noted in the past, blogs can be great. I can glean information in things like cooking, home organization and even great spiritual insights. The bad things about blogs, however, is that they are a real time sucker. It's amazing how time flies when I get online and start reading some of my favorite blogs. I just need to scale back on my reading time and make sure my home life doesn't suffer because of it.

Another thing that came to my mind was that I do need to spend more quality time with Eric. We both (more often, it's me) get so busy with other things that nearly a whole day goes by and we rarely said two words to eachother. I want to end that crazy cycle and begin to just turn distractions off and sit and talk, play games or hang out with Eric.

A great way that I can spend time with him, and something else that God brought to me, was that we really needed to spend some time in family worship. Eric and I have batted the idea back and forth for a couple of months now, but this is something that's stirring more in my heart now. I'm not sure how that is going to look for us at this time, but Eric and I are planning spending time together, each evening, praying, worshiping and spending time in the Word. We may even listen to a sermon once and awhile. All I know is that it is imparitive to our spiritual growth and our marriage that we spend more time in God's word as a unit.

I also realized that I needed to have a more structured quiet time. I know that a quiet time is not demanded of us as Christians, but I do know that I do better if I have read the Bible and spend some time in prayer. It's amazing how just spending 15 to 30 minutes each morning can really effect my day. So in saying this, I am planning on getting up early each morning so that I can spend some quality time with God. I've had sporadic quiet times my whole life, but I am now wanting something steady. None of this once every couple of weeks thing.

Since I am wanting to get up early each morning, I will need to get to bed earlier in the evening. I know this is easier said than done, but this is something that I really need to work on. Not only because I will be waking up a little earlier, but simply because I just need the sleep. I am hoping to get to bed no later than 10, but even earlier would be great, if possible.

The last thing that God brought to my mind is the biggie for me. It may seem small to others, but for me, it's something I really do struggle with. Organization and structure in my daily life. I am not a structured person. I know I have mentioned orginazation in the past, but I haven't really grasped the concept yet. Sure my house is clean (most of the time), but you don't know what's crammed in my drawers and closets. Actually, I don't know what's crammed in my drawers and closets. The big problem with this is that I'm married to a man who thrives on orginazation, structure and lists and my way of life drives him crazy. Instead of making him an unorginazed slob like me, I realized that I needed to make some changes. I don't know how I'm going to do it, but I am going to work on some sort of schedule for us that will work for us. This is something else I will be praying for because I don't know the first thing about schedules. I am hoping to read some books on orginazation when I have the chance and hopefully I can learn some stuff.

The last thing I want to mention in this huge post of mine, is the verse that God has put in my heart to be my verse for the year. I am hoping to make a yearly tradition from now on, to have a piece of scripture that can define how I see the up and coming new season in my life. This year's verse is 2nd Chronicles 7:14:

"if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

I am praying that this year I can remember to pray and seek His face at all times. I know my sin is already forgiven, but I'm looking forward to see what "healing" God has in store for me.

Words of Peace

I thought I would post some scriptures that I have been meditating on since last week. They have brought great comfort and peace in a time of uncertainty. All I can say is that I regret not being this enamored with God before the layoff. If the layoff was God getting our attention, it certainly worked and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Isaiah 12:2- Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

Romans 8:28- And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Jeremiah 29:11-13- For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Isaiah 49:13- Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones.

Philippians 4:6-7- Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

James 1:2-4- Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.