New Year -- Grace

This has been a big year for us. In February we made the big decision that we could no longer stay at the church Bryan was working at, but didn't actually leave or resign till June. We wanted to wait till the end of the school year, wanted to give the church sometime to get ready, and Bryan wanted to finish the work on the youth room that he had started a couple of years ago. Those were some hard months, knowing we had to leave but since we were asked not to make it known till we resigned, we had to make it normal. The months that followed our resignation were the hardest as many rumors and things/conversations got twisted, causing my heart to harden, become bitter, and question lots of relationships. 

Also, June was when Bryan went into business for himself. He had started a business about two years ago and had it just as a side business to help make ends meet, but after we resigned he went full time doing Residential Remodeling, pretty much he can do everything. You can find his work on Facebook here. If you want my opinion, He IS the best at what he does!! It has been tough to transition, I think more mentally for me, but I have really seen God providing the work! 

Also in June we started looking for a place to live cuz we had/needed/wanted to move out of the parsonage. It was quite frustrating trying to find a rental place, seeing as we had no proof of income. There were MANY times I got discouraged. I will put a plug in for our friends and family. Those close to us and who know us the best, we could not of done it with out you all!! We felt very loved and supported by you and we really leaned on it! Thank you!! But in August, God proved Himself once again in our lives, He does take care of us!! A place opened up that we heard about thru my Aunt, it really is perfect for our family!! God saw us thru the rest of the year, providing work, the things we needed to transition, and even little extras!! Also my parents came back on furlough in July and it has been a HUGE blessing to see them and spend time with them thru this all. It has been medicine to my heart.

So that was a really quick sum-up of this past year and lots of big things I missed, I know, but I'm trying to give background to why I wanted to write this blog. I don't want to keep bringing up or going back to what happened in June, life is bigger than that, but it is the point of reference that I have for when God really started to grow me and work on my heart. It was probably about 8ish months before June that my eyes were being opened to the freedom that comes with living under God's grace. 

I grew up in a Christian home, I was a missionary kid, and my parents did an awesome job teaching me Bible, principles, how to live, God's grace, personal relationship, everything really. But it wasn't until I've been married, had kids, and been thru ministry that it all was tested and I had to make it all mine. I was put to the test and I failed miserably! But that is the really cool thing about what I'm still learning, I can't, EVER! I can't be better, I can't do better, I can't live better. That is God's grace at work in my life.  So when everything happened, when bitterness and hatred crept into my heart, when I couldn't even get on Facebook without getting mad at the world, it was then that God brought me down. This is not new to most of you, how God works, but God had to really get me out of the legalistic mind set that says its all about me and what I'm doing. It has been a painful road, a lot of crying, a lot of reading, and long talks with my husband. And I don't think it is over, as there are times when I have to hash it all over again. Stay tuned as I work thru this new found freedom in Christ. I have been saved since I was 5 but I have never had an understanding of God's grace the way I am as of late. Something new everyday. God is at work in my life and heart and I would like this blog to be a record of that.

My sister, Jessica, who is much better and way more consistent on blogging then me, started this thing a couple, or maybe one, year ago and I think I'm going to do it, at least this year. She picks a word to concentrate on for a year and her blog, life, and perspective is focused on that. Last year her word was Enjoy and she concentrated on enjoying her new life in Fort Collins. This year she has picked Serve and I think thats a great word for her, especially in where she is at in her life now.  

So now that I have given you background, told you my struggle and where my heart is, and how God has started to work on me (stay tuned), I would like to pick a word to concentrate on this New Year -- Grace!!!