The unexpected
20 Apr 2011 4 Comments
As many of you know Gerald has been interviewing with Roland over the last few months. Maybe you didn’t know he has been waiting and watching for this opportunity as a recovering musician working for them would be a dream job. So for three years he faithfully checked their website weekly for this position to come open when it finally did he applied and here we are.
Last Wednesday he flew out to L.A. He spent the entire day and into the evening with the staff, president ,and vice president of the company . After praying endlessly all day and waiting anxiously Gerald finally called and said “I could not have done any better.”
We went into all this carefully praying to God daily on our knees Lord whatever your will is in this that is what we want . All our human emotions aside our relationship with you is far more valuable than any job or circumstance you would have us go through.
So the not so final answer from Roland ….Not yet
When Gerald called me yesterday I had been “patiently” waiting all week ! He told me “Well they are confident that he was the person for this position, but…after much discussion due to the economy and pressure to keep expenses down they have made the decision to not fill the position yet.” They are looking forward into filling it in July maybe.
It’s funny as a couple we had prepped for a “NO” as well as anyone can in this kind of situation. We had even thought about and discussed what it would be like to get a “YES”, but neither one us even had even thought about a
“NOT YET” !?!?
Not having any idea how to respond to this unexpected answer, we immediately fell back on the only thing that never fails God’s word and his truth. We are a living testimony to that .
I can honestly say we are fine ,not one tear has been shed, not one “Why God why”…Just praise and thanks for all he has done and all he will do. Lord we trust you. Our Hope, Confidence, Peace , Trust and Faith are in him and not in our current circumstance, not in a job ,not in the actions of other people. They are safely stored in God in his son Jesus Christ. Which after the many trials and tribulations we have gone through we have finally learned is the only safe place to keep them.
Thanks again for your prayers they are considered precious by us ,and if you feel led to continue to praying for this situation we sure would appreciate it. So here we are back to “wait and see” and a few more ”are we there yet’s?”
Can’t wait to see what God has in store !
Last week all of our bible studies revolved around these scriptures ,at the time I was frustrated with them because I thought they were pointing to a “NO”. Little did I know they were strengthening us for a “Not Yet”
So is there a circumstance in your life you have no control over ,but need emotional freedom from ? Hoping and praying that the above scriptures can help you as much as they have helped us.
These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation,but take courage; I have overcome the world.
John 16:33
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you at the proper time,
1 Peter 5:6
But as for me , behold I am in your hands; do with me as is good in your sight.
Jeremiah 26:14
For I know the plans I have for you, “declares the Lord” plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will come to me and and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
Jeremiah 29:11-12
Until then patiently waiting in the back seat asking God every so often
“Are we there YET ?”
Painting in the Dark
08 Apr 2011 8 Comments
Worship painting.
A couple Sunday’s ago I painted during the worship service at the Crosspoint downtown campus, at Rocketown. All in all I have about 20 minutes to complete a painting from beginning to end as the musicians lead us in worship.
This time I had planned on painting “Spring”
Before I do a worship painting it has been planned in my head to completion. All the decisions have been what I am going to paint, the colors chosen the canvas prepped . Everything was ready ,once they began to play I began to paint. Then something unexpected happened this time the lights that are programmed to go with the music kept leaving me in that dark !
The lights went out again and again I couldn’t see !
I had the picture in my head .So I just did what I would have done in the light and painted on instinct hoping for the best.
Then the lights would come up just for a moment. Just long enough for me to see. The painting was nothing like what I had pictured or intended ! Then as quickly as the lights would come on they would shut right back off . I felt like I was messing the whole thing up all the while 250 people watched . I got frustrated things were not turning out the way I had planned, with an audience for my failure.
Turns out our plans are not always the best…when the music finished I grabbed the painting then took off towards that back. My friend Brittany she took the pictures above, she is an amazing photographer. Met me behind the scenes what she surprised me .
“I love it it is beautiful!”
Huh what no it isn’t ! I messed it up, it’s not at all what I had intended. It ‘s terrible. I don’t even want to look at it .
How often during our lives are we in the dark never really seeing the entire picture that God is painting, where God is leading us for his glory. The ultimate beauty that awaits us in his light . Just going on our instincts, feeling like we are messing up everything not really seeing the beauty of God’s plan because it is not our plan.
Once I had a chance to sit down and get over myself. Looking at the painting with a fresh pair of eyes for what it was ,instead of seeing it as something that didn’t turn out the way I had wanted . Taking the painting in from the perspective of it being what God had wanted ,and that made it all the more beautiful. Had I not been in the dark it would not have been the same painting.
Everyone loved it even me.
God reminded me that night he often does his best work in the dark.
and maybe I should paint in the dark more often ?
“And if you give yourself to the hungry And satisfy the desire of the afflicted Then your light will rise in the darkness And your gloom will become like midday.”
Isaiah 58:10
Feeling like you are in the dark ? This scripture reminds us to give ourselves to God completely and spend what he has given us to help others in need. To those that area also in the dark ,and he will turn your darkness into light.. it is a promise.
I love that promise.
Is there an area in your life that feels like you are getting it all wrong, and maybe you need let God in to start painting your picture ? Making it even more beautiful than you ever thought possible ?
