Even if you’re not following along in the Nehemiah study I encourage you to read this post.  I am sharing what new plans are in store for me for the next couple of months.

The Story

The Israelites gathered together for a worship service.  Unlike the comfortable seats, air conditioning, and wrap it up in an hour culture of our day they stood for the entire reading of the Law followed by corporate prayer… outside… the entire morning.  

 

During this time together they remembered and praised God for what He had done through the Jews in the past and then made a covenant with God to “walk in God’s Law” (Nehemiah 10:29).  They also promised God to give him the first fruits of everything that was theirs.

 

Above is a very concise summary of Nehemiah chapters 9-10 which we covered this week in Kelly Minter’s Nehemiah: A Heart That Can Break study.

I’ve struggled with what to write for this week.  What did God want me to take away from it.  I feel like every week I just want say, “Let prayer be your first response“.  And while that is true and something I have been reminding myself lately there is so much more to take away from this scripture.

I love it when I am able to look back at my life and see how God was working through bits and pieces here and there but at the same time weaving it all together.  For instance one of my favorites in my life is how God provided work outside the home for me up until Noah arrived.  As I was preparing to graduate college Michael Luke was still waiting to find out which physical therapy school he would be attending.  This meant we had no clue which city for me to focus on for job applications or if we would even end up in the same city.

At first it looked bleak because I went to interview after interview all over the place; Memphis, Atlanta, Birmingham, and Chicago.  One trip to Chicago in the frigid Spring and I knew that place wasn’t for me.  Anyway time moved on I still didn’t have an offer.  Finally we found out ML was accepted to PT school at UAB in Birmingham.  With a city nailed down I started focusing my applications on Birmingham.  I interned close to home for the Summer and then out of the blue (according to God’s plan) found an architecture firm that was hiring… and wanted to interview me!

The interview went well and I really felt like “they were the ones” when I left.  A few days later I got a call offering me a job.  A job as in interior designer with an architecture firm that specialized in healthcare.  Healthcare was where I felt like God had been leading me my last semester in college so I was thrilled to get the opportunity to try my hand at healthcare design.

The job wasn’t a piece cake.  In fact it was harder than I could have ever imagined but I stuck with it and finally felt like I knew what I was doing.  Isn’t that a good feeling to have.  Anyway a little thing called the “Great Recession” hit.  ML was still in school at this point so we didn’t know any different.  Except for the fact that architecture firms were laying off people left and right and many just closed their doors completely.  Being the only bread winner in the family at that time I tried not to stress and instead trust that God was in control and that He would provide.

 

And provide He did.   Our firm survived the recession and never had to lay off anyone.  I’ll admit there were days where we all just sat around wondering who would be the first let go because there was no work but we made it!  That in itself is a praise!

Slowly work started to pick up again and everything returned to somewhat normal.  We paid off ML’s student loans and started preparing for a little one.  The news of my pregnancy was shocking to most at the office. Mainly because I had never shared that I didn’t plan to come back to work if we ever had children.  That’s not exactly a good thing to advertise if you are ever in the middle of a recession.  So I promised to work up until Noah was born and then in a sense put my career on hold until our children are older… or possibly never return.

Work until Noah was born was exactly what I did.  Right until and past when my water broke.  I left that day knowing it was my last.  ML and I felt peace knowing this and have been very thankful that He provided me the opportunity to stay home and invest in our little girl.

So, that sounds like a good ending, right?

Girl needs job.  Girl gets job.  Girl keeps job.

 

I thought it was the ending too, but it’s not.  You know how God is.  He sees the bigger picture and comes up with things we would never dream.  Like for instance, the opportunity for me to work part time from home as an interior design consultant.  I mean who would have thought?  Not me.  I especially never would have dreamed that I would get a call out of nowhere one day offering me this job.  Besides a few meetings here and there it won’t interrupt my schedule with Noah.  I will be able to do everything for the most part during her naps and at night time.  I’m a little nervous about diving back into the healthcare world but I really have a passion for it and trust that God will provide.  I’m amazed at everything He has done and would have never dreamed this is what He had in store for me.  And if it doesn’t work out this initial project will only last around five months and then things can go back to normal.

This is just one example of God’s work and provision in my life.  There are many others but I am always amazed at this one and continue to praise Him for it.

Looking back at the past is exactly what the Israelites did with their prayer.  They hit every high point and low point of their history and praised God for his continued leadership and mercy despite all their faults.

My story isn’t without faults.  There were plenty of days when I felt helpless and frantic and instead of turning to God in prayer I quickly mailed out resumes to whoever and whatever… hoping for an interview.  I stressed more times than I should have during the recession.  Job or no job God would have been in control.  Despite all my many failures and faults along the way God continues to show His mercy and continues to unfold His plans for me.

Discussion

• Do you ever take time to look back at your life and see God at work through it?
• Looking back is it easier to see how He has weaved everything together?
• Have you taken time lately to “confess” your praise to God?  To confess how great and marvelous He is.

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Want to catch up or start from the beginning?  It’s never too late to join the study.  Below are the links to the previous weeks or just check out the Transformed Deeper tab at the top of the page.  I would love for you to join the study!

Kick Off of Nehemiah Study

Week One Discussion

Week Two Discussion

Week Three Discussion

Week Four Discussion

Linking Up At:

Imparting Grace, New Life Steward, Red Oak Road, Denise In Bloom, On Your Heart, Finding Heaven, Mercy Ink

 

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