Thanksgiving

this is long, but so worth reading! :) this is a story from my friend jeannette from 2 yrs ago about her friend overseas....

okay, so this is a little more from her e-mail, i thought this part was neat about thanksgiving. It motivates me to approach God with thanksgiving even if i can't see a way. I should thank him because I know he will be faithful. :) --jeannette.

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...I now started praying and asking God more seriously to open this door for me to travel as I could not seem to keep it away despite how hard I tried. I started applying the word I was hearing. I realized that thanksgiving and praise were things I needed to work on. When God provided a car for me last year, one instruction He gave me was give thanks for all things…this was before I saw the car. So I figured that God probably has this worked out already but I needed to connect with it all through praise and thanksgiving. This was heavily impressed on my heart that one day I decided to share with the International Christian Fellowship at Uconn about what God was doing and thanking God ahead of time for making a way for me even though I do not know how He was going to do it. So on a Friday in July I stood up and shared with them about a big issue I was believing God for (could not tell them the details) and wanted to thank God ahead of time for it. The following week just before fellowship started one of the ladies at the fellowship she was in the congregation the week before when I shared about my expectation. She pulled out an envelop from her bag and pointed it to me saying” here have this the Lord says I should give it to you, it is for your ticket home, I know it may not be enough but at least it will help, take” I was speechless. Words ceased. I tried to explain to her that actually it was not a money issue but something bigger, she was already walking away. She did not really want to know all she wanted was to deliver the money to me. I walked to my car still speechless. After fellowship I got into my room opened the envelop and counted the money - $2,000! I let out my first long laughter, a practice that I will repeat many more times in this journey. I was not laughing at God but out of excitement and bewilderment. I smiled and I shook my head I was like wow God so how? I mean how? Money for ticket but no visa how come? I got no response...

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2nd email; followup from the above.....

Just in case you were curious how the story ended~she's going to travel home :) --jeannette

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... I was now even more determined to trust God and see Him answer this prayer. I told Him several times Lord I trust you and if nobody stands with me, I trust you regardless on this issue. “I will trust you even when everyone says there is no need to. I will trust you in a case that seems hopeless; because that is when it is most logical to trust you. This is when it makes sense to trust you.

My prayer and talk changed. I started asking many more questions why would God bring me this far just for fun? Why would He not answer this request? Yes I have said that I have nothing to loose if the Lord did not open this door but I realized I had something to loose. I informed God that I will loose an experience with Him, I will loose another opportunity to see Him display His power magnificently in my life. I began to rehearse the many miracles He has brought me through many of them happened at the 11^th hr:

- My admission into secondary school at the last minute the year I had lost hope of going to sec school

- His deliverance and intervention at the last minute when I needed to get my results for my youth service

- The miracles he wrought regarding my trip to the US

- My last minute admission in CCSU

- My free Honda accord

- etc

...

Today, I woke with this song on my lips. God will make a way where there seems to be no way. He works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me. He will be my guide walk me closely to His side with love and faith for each new day He will make a way. He will make a way...

So how come all the words the Lord has spoken to me starting from last year, I have kept aside and have been waiting to hear from a mere man? How come the words the Lord has spoken are not enough? If I wanted to use the words from the embassy as confirmation of God leading that would have been a different thing altogether. No I was banking on their word. Infact in error in my email to Osweileir I wrote, my coming depends on what you say, if you say I should come I will”. Thank God he did not reply. God cannot answer prayers that are contrary to His work. I wanted an assurance from man God made sure I did not get it. All I have to lean on now is what He has said. Faith indeed remains a substance of things hoped for…the evidence of things not seen!

I feel I am standing between the red sea and something else huge may be Pharaoh and his men? and that the decision I make now either way will have an impact on my life as long as live. Should I take the high mountain and advance to the red sea and watch God perform a miracle I have never experienced before or should I back off and return? It appears I am in a tight place. Turning from the red sea and returning appears to be the easy way out, the “safe thing to do” but how will I live with all those clear words of assurance I have received through prophecy? What story will I tell for the rest of my life? That God spoke all these words and assurances, pretty much gave me a check and I never cashed it? Too many things have happened, too many words spoken that I refuse to believe it is all coincidence. Faith after all remains a choice!

LOTS has happened since my last post.....

There was one week, Feb 2nd-9th that was one of the worst weeks I've had in my life, even harder than moving across the country. I won't go into detail, but lets just say I was really questioning why I was following Jesus...hadn't done that in quite a while. I've been following Christ for almost nine years, and don't regret that decision, but there's certain situations that God may allow in life to test that. Anyway, during that week, I had to go through a huge heart check. Then things turned around so fast...God works FAST! Within less than a week, I had a job and a place to call my own (my 1st one-bedroom apartment)! So, let me fill you in a bit on how this came about...

On Feb 1st, I had an interview for a job I hadn't even applied for! I had applied for a grocery store that these two brothers also own (two locally owned grocery stores), but they didn't have anything available...however, they DID have a position available for the restaurant that they co-own! NEVER in my life would I have applied for a waitress position, considering I'm not the most coordinated person in the world. But they really wanted me to give it a try, so I told them I would. So, my 1st night on Feb 4th was apparently one of the busiest nights they've ever had; talk about initiation! CRAZY night and I almost walked out...in fact I was going to tell them that I wasn't coming back the next day even though they already had me scheduled for that day, but they asked if I would come back and then if I still didn't like it, I could quit. The only time I've ever quit a job is when God led me to go back to school, so you know it was bad for me to want to do that. I went back the next day, and then a couple days later, and it's kept getting better and better and now I love it! I'm so excited and thankful that God knows us better than we know ourselves!! :) I'm still there and hope to be there for a long time.

Now, to the housing situation...when I first moved here, I moved in with a couple, the only couple I knew. It's been a huge blessing, getting to settle into an area I didn't know anyone else in, having moved away from everyone I knew, across the country, everything I own packed in my car, driving halfway by myself, when the furthest I had ever gone was about 6 hrs to East Carolina. Also, starting back to college full-time, when I hadn't been in school full-time since 2000. So, it's been great getting to stay there, but I knew it wouldn't be forever b/c I knew God would call me to be on my own; I didn't know it at the time I moved there that it would really be me in a one bedroom, but that was confirmed over and over, starting at the end of last semester. At 1st I was thinking I'd move out in May this year, but then it was March, but God wanted to give me an amazing Birthday present!!

On Feb 9th, I called one of the many numbers I had been calling to get a headway on the move...I had called the number the week before, when I was having a really hard week and they said they had people lined up and to call back the next week in case something opened up. So, I did and an apt was set up. I take a look at the 1st room, a basement room that hardly had any light coming in the windows; very dreary. I'm thinking, "No way." He said it was actually the apt on the 2nd floor that was available, but he forgot the key. So, I came back that afternoon, and after looking at it, I was definitely more interested. Rachel was a huge help in convincing me that it was a definite possibility. So, we step outside and he asked when I could move in! I hear myself saying, "In a couple days." He said it was too small a place for the people living there, so they wanted out within a couple days. I found myself in the office, signing papers the very next day! I picked up my key on Wednesday, Feb 16th. Packed everything in a couple days and moved everything this past Sunday Feb 20th! Not only that, but a friends from church and school have been so generous, it blows me away....I have a whole bed-set with dresser, headboard, nightstand...plus couch, desk, and chair for living room...plus microwave, coffee maker, and most of my other kitchen necessities!! :) Words can't begin to express my gratitude!!

Oh, if that isn't enough, I just switched my license plates over to Idaho, and will be switching my drivers license over to Idaho as soon as study the book to take the written test; it's a bummer I have to re-take that, but at least I don't have to do the driver's test again. Did you know that cows get the right away here, and if you hit one, YOU are responsible?! What's this world coming to? heehee Oh, well. So....I'll be here for awhile, and very excited that God changed my heart on that; I really was planning on moving back to NC in May 2012 after graduation, but God's not done with me here :)

More exciting news: I'll be starting to volunteer at the Pregnancy Crisis Center, starting next week, every Thursday, and more often in the future after school. There's a lot of exciting stuff happening within the college; many new students signing up to come next year, even ones from other parts of the world! Such a blessing having a church family here too :)

Blessings to you all, especially those of you who actually made it to the end of my typically long updates ;) Each one of you is such a blessing and praying for you; you're all so special to me and a pray that you all are doing well. If there's anything specific I can be praying for you, please let me know.

Praises:

1) God's amazing grace, patience, perfect timing, and so much more!!

2) Apartment; great location; near school, church, work, etc. and right around the corner from friends from church.

3) Job; the people I get to work with, the customers who come in; the understanding managers; loving it!

4) Pregnancy Crisis Center; having the opportunity to volunteer there :)

5) Church; such sweet families; such a blessing!

6) School; getting to learn more about the Lord and His blessings to us than I ever imagined; being challenged in what I believe and why!! Such amazing people to teach us and fellow students to learn with!!

7) Family and friends who support me 100% :)

8) Being content with where God has me and not dreading it anymore.

Prayer Requests:

1) Catching up on school work, with all that's going on.

2) Ministry among the people God brings along the way.

In His Love,

Cathy

"He who has more truth, should also have more grace." ~ Gordon Olson

Journeying with my Lord and Savior

It's hard to know where to start with this new life that the Lord has blessed me with...God is so AMAZING; can't even begin to tell you how much, but I'll try... :-)

As I'm currently listening to a song by Leeland called "Yes You Have," they're singing "You've stolen my heart..." That's how I feel right now...God's stolen my heart...so AWESOME!!

It was so refreshing going home over Christmas break. I've been in Twin Falls, ID since August last year. It's been the hardest thing I've ever done. I left my whole family and group of friends, some of which I've known since I was nine years old (that is, my friends; my family I've known since birth heehee). Everything I've ever known was left there in NC. I know I was suppose to move here, but I didn't really know why. I mean, I've been going to college, after having been out for 10 years! I had accepted that as much as possible, and was enduring getting through the semester, but that was about it. I wasn't feeling settled and was just wanted to finish, at the same time, wondering if I should just give up and go back home to NC (although that would have been hard to, having to start over w/o a job and still w/o a degree). So, either way was hard. It was especially hard after having been home for c-mas. How was I going to endure going back and going for another year and four months?

Don't get me wrong. God has blessed me with a church family here, as well as the two people I knew before moving here, and their family, who have all helped me in getting settled and learning the area, etc. But I still couldn't let go of what I longed for back home...familiar people who I had grown up with.

So, I come back here to Idaho, with an ache in my heart for home. Then, Sunday morning on January 9th, the Holy Spirit changed all that within me. I had gotten up early, to spend time with the Lord before the service, which I hadn't really done for awhile, sadly to say. Anyway, I'm talking with God and He's telling me something important (not audibly, but through His Word, etc.). I'm crying out to God and He simply says, "Praise Me, no matter what. No matter the uncertainties about job, apartment to move into, school work, etc. Praise Me. (period). " Seems simple enough, but wasn't something I had been doing. I was laying stuff at His feet, and then going back later, trying to pick it up again for myself to carry or figure out on my own....something I've struggled with for awhile. Finally, I was like, "You're right Lord. You're absolutely right." I started praising Him, despite the uncertainties. He's in CONTROL and His timing is PERFECT!! :-)

My entire perspective and attitude changed. I'm believing that my God is a BIG God and knows what He's doing!! Thank You LORD, for who You are!! The rest of the day was so AMAZING, as if I had just gotten saved. The service at church was rich with His presence; not that it wasn't before, but I was ready this time to receive whatever the Lord had to give. I wasn't going there without already having been fed that morning. Not saying this to boast, but just to relay how much better church is when I spend time with the Lord beforehand. I really felt like I connected with the people there more than I had in the past few months of being there.

My roommates Rachel and her husband Nathanael, and I had lunch together, discussing the new semester and I was much more interested and excited than last semester. Then, we went over to a family's house from church and hung out that evening, discussing various topics, drinking coffee, and had a time of worship together. Was sooo refreshing; hadn't done that in while. Just like Home Fellowship days from NC :-)

Not only that, but then job opportunities started looking more promising. And also, a place to move to as a one bedroom apt to call my own. Those two things are not definite, but more in grasp than before.

There's so much excitement in this new year!! There's more I could expand on, but I better bring this to a close before it becomes another novel...or maybe it's already surpassed that....? Thank you for reading this. God bless you on your journey! Love and miss you all! If you have anything that needs prayer or you have a praise to share, let me know; love hearing from you all! :-) I'll probably only get a blog out at the end or beginning of each semester; too busy with school work to do much more than that. Plus you probably don't have time to read much more than that... hahaha

Praise: God's goodness no matter what the circumstances; a chance to journey WITH HIM!! :-)

Prayer requests:

1) Job -- part-time, about 10 hrs a week

2) One bed room apt at reasonable cost

3) School work

4) Especially to fall more in love with Jesus!

Courses for Spring Semester 2011:

1) Greek 2

2) American Education and Government

3) College Algebra 2

4) Language and Society (not an English class, btw; this is going to be one of my favorites) :-)

5) Pentateuch (1st 5 books of the OT)

6) Martial Arts, self defense class

In His Amazing Love,

Cathy