The 30 Day Plan
How this craziness all went down, and how we are finding the Oasis in the middle of the chaos.
Welp, I'm still not completely sure of every single detail because, whirlwind.... but I DO know when ya let GOD take over the whole game, things get cray. So here are the facts:
how the story goes:
-"Husband and I get a call from a church in Colorado Springs. Husband and I don't give the possibility of moving two states away much of a chance, but are always open to what God is asking of us.
-Husband and I go to to Colorado to interview with the church. By the end of a full week at the church, husband and I feel we're supposed to accept and go.
-Husband and I come home, spend a week at Disneyland with the four offspring, spend about two weeks packing (with the help of amazing friends and family), say goodbye to a church that has become family, load up the U-haul and Honda Odyssey, and hit the road.
-Husband and I, Rachel and four littles (I counted many times during the trip so I am sure) arrived in Colorado Springs three days later. On the day of said arrival, one of the worship leaders is in an accident (she is ok) and so husband goes to support worship team thirty minutes after arriving in town.
-One and a half weeks later, husband and I are working with our realtor and find a home to buy, our first home. Husband and I sign MANY papers.
- Husband needs a car to get back and forth from church. Husband and I are offered a car from a staff member to use as needed until we find a car. Husband and I aren't in a rush to find a car(just bought a house, soooo....) Husband gets a call from Uncle David, he knows of a car that is being sold - it is in mint condition. It is a 2000 Mazda 626 with a cassette player(must explain what this is to kids). It is perfect. We buy the car.
-Grandma and Grandpa offer to let us stay with them while newly bought new home is being built (blessings and peace be on Nana and Papa forever and ever). "
SO HOW DID WE MANAGE THIS LEVEL OF CRAZY?
here is the "how to " guide to moving two states away (depending on the route...) , getting a new job, buying our first home (and buying a new old car) in 30 days or less.
Step 1: pray:
So, praying is more than just asking for stuff! There are whole books on praying because its not just one thing - its all the things! Its asking, its telling, it's being thankful and being vulnerable. Its our lifeline to becoming more in line with the ONE BEING who literally kick started everything and is keeping it all going. Pray to be thankful in your current place. Pray to give and tell of all your dreams and desires. Pray in order to align your motives, your spirit, your entire being, with the One who made you.
step 2: trust
If your point of view is that there is a Creator of the universe and that you can know Him and have a relationship with Him, then trusting that He actually is big enough to direct and guide and correct and challenge would be the logical next step. I, because I believe in the Creator and who he says He is, would then trust that He is going to follow through on who He says He is. Linked to trusting Him is the action of faith in Him
Faith is more than a whimsical fairy or beautiful name. Faith is the acting on the faithfulness of God. If we believe that God does what He says He"s gonna do ( be faithful), then we can act knowing that HE is going to act according to His character.
step 3: GO
"God cannot use what we don't give"
-joseph rangel
It's true that sometimes after praying and looking to the Bible for advice, we feel like God is asking us to "WAIT".
But more often than not, I've also found that He can't use what we don't give.
So practically speaking, when our priorities are aligned and our motives are in tune with Him, holding onto gifts, skills, and talents robs the people around us of blessing. We also rob ourselves of blessing. God can't use the nothingness we bring, He can only use the something.
God also is in the business of bringing value and worth to people through our relationship with Him - He isn't ONLY in one state, one church, one country, or one home. So wherever we are, He will be working - and when we are in line with Him, He is working through us. So maybe we can worry a little less about whether or not we're physically in the "right" place, and focus more one who He is in us, and being able to see what He is doing around us, wherever you happen to be.
Now, this in all seriousness isn't a "if you do things this way you'll always get exactly what you pray for whenever you want it right away all the time" guide. My point here is that no matter where you are, God is ALWAYS working, always moving, and always ready to use YOU.
