New Beginnings

Before getting engaged, Chris and I talked about where we wanted to end up once we were married. So many people have been asking us what our plans are going to be once we are married and our answer has been, "We don't know yet." Well, in my last post I talked about how I surrendered Chris and I's relationship to the Lord and had a lot of peace that He would reveal to us where He wanted us, in His timing. -- That time has finally come! The last month and a half has been absolutely crazy for Chris and I. I want to share the story with everyone because it is such a testimony to who God is and how when we give up control, He shows us His plan and it is always better than what we would have planned. So, here we go.... :)

Chris got an email about a month and a half ago from a church in Florissant, MO requesting a resume for him. We found this really comical. I know that may sounds odd, but let me explain. Chris really wants to live anywhere, except Missouri and all of his contacts are outside of Missouri so he figured he would get his way. I on the other hand, really really really wanted to stay in Missouri. Both of our families live here and I am certified to teach here. I kind of gave up on the hope of living in MO since we really had no contacts in MO. God had other plans. Weirdly enough the preacher from Florissant found Chris' resume over Google while looking for a friend's contact information. That same friend was a reference on Chris' online resume. After finding this out, I was humbled by how the Lord used something as simple as Google to get us a contact in Missouri. This whole time I figured Missouri would be counted out and I totally discredited the work the Lord could do.

After an interview, things just really started falling into place. Everyday we were finding out new information that was just odd. We figured out how the church was the same church that one of my aunts attends. We also found out that our youth minister from high school grew up in that church. The pastors son-in-law had worked at Harvester, our home church, under Chris' dad. It felt like everyday there was a new connection we had to the church. As the weeks went by, we continued to pray and just trust that if this is what God had for us, that it would continue to work out.

Further along in the interview process, we had a few things we were trying to figure out, such as, where Chris would live if he worked at the church and if he would be able to meet all of his financial needs, and finish his schooling. It was incredible because we did nothing and things just fell into place. His financial needs were met, the church offered him a house to live in during his time there, and his classes fell perfectly on Tuesdays and Thursdays. He originally had class everyday of the week, but the class on M-W-F got cancelled and moved to T-TH. He also found out that a conference he went to this semester could count as an Independent Study and would get him 3 credits. All of these things happened so quickly and we did nothing for them to work.

This past month and a half has grown my faith tremendously. We did not do a thing and everything fell perfectly into place. I always freaked out about figuring out God's will for my life and wanting to make sure I was doing the right thing. I have learned over the past few months, when we surrender and truly let God work, He will place us exactly where He wants us. This overwhelms me with peace. We never imagined not being long distance before we were married and now in December we finally will get to be together long term. Chris will be starting his position with the youth group beginning in the New Year and will be living in Florissant and traveling to Lincoln twice a week for classes. We will finally get to experience being in the same town (or state for that matter) and doing ministry together. It is such an exciting time for us and such a blessing from the Lord. :)

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.He makes me lie down in green pastures,
 he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.
 He guides me along the right paths
 for his name’s sake. Even though I walk
 through the darkest valley, 
I will fear no evil,
 for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
 they comfort me. You prepare a table before me
 in the presence of my enemies. 
You anoint my head with oil;
 my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
  forever. 
- Psalm 23 

This has been the verse that has been on my heart for the past few weeks. Anyone who knows me well, knows that I am a control freak and a planner. This is a very exciting time in my life because it is my last semester at Missouri State and then I move home, student teach, and then get married! This semester I decided to really really try to keep a heavenly perspective. This is something that I have found is easy to say you're doing, but is an entirely different thing to actually do. I surrendered so many things to the Lord. My schoolwork, my stress, and my worries. The three biggest things were probably my student teacher placement, Chris' and I's future, and my stress load this semester. I have to say, giving up control is one of the best things I have ever done. I honestly don't know why I didn't do it earlier. The Lord has been working in so many amazing ways. It's incredible. I'm excited to share some of those things in future posts :) This verse just reminds me that He is leading me, He is refreshing me, and He is guiding me. If I choose to be obedient and look to Him for direction, everything will work out. As many of my classmates are freaking out this semester about the amount of work and the amount of stress, I find myself dwelling in the presence of the Lord. Finding joy, peace, and happiness.