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

Big day tomorrow....

Wow, can't believe I'm starting classes tomorrow! Woot, woot! I'm excited to learn new things; going to be a full load, but going to be good!! :-) Let's see...taking the following classes....

Greek

Apologetics

Music Theory

Piano Lessons

American Gov't.

Math

Praises: 1) Found a good church fellowship here; such a blessing! 2) The Davis family has helped me so much! God is GOOD!!! :-)

Prayer requests: 1) To be hired for a job soon, 2) to keep up with classes, 3) for the people running the school; they have a lot of work to do for sure; they're doing amazing!

Hope you all have a fabulous week!

In His love,

~Cathy

PS. will hopefully get some pics up soon....

First Week In Idaho

Adventurous? Try moving across the United States, to go to college when you haven't studied in 10 years, in a town where all the roads are being torn up....to replace the water lines b/c there's too much arsenic in the water, and have to get yourself around to get a job within less than 2 weeks.

Thank you mom and dad for the gps (it just doesn't know that's there construction).

I live with a young married couple who the husband reads the whole Harry Potter series in less than 2 weeks and the ballerina wife does home repairs as a hobby (she wants a set of socket wrenches for c-mas). They tell me it'll probably snow in September. And being from NC, I've never owned a heavy coat in my life (that's what I'll be requesting for c-mas, but please send before c-mas so I don't freeze). I am now accepting regular monthly donations b/c I think I'm one of about 20 believers in the area and my neighbors are Nepali; therefore I am claiming foreign missionary status. Please make checks payable to "Cathy Welch" with "suffering for the Lord" on the memo line.

Please check back frequently for further updates. Love you all. Miss you lots.

Cathy

PS. I am pleased to report that they do understand what a real cup of coffee is. If you ask for cream, they'll go milk Bessie. I haven't gotten sick yet. I believe this is a positive sign. Maybe life isn't so bad after-all.

**for those of you who have read this; there's different prayer requests and praises that i've added at the end.... :-)

CRAZY God story!! Here's how I came to the decision to move to Idaho...

This is the short version :-) I've been praying for direction for a long time...

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” ~ Matthew 7:7-8

On Wednesday, July 21^st, I was praying, frustrated with researching what my next step might be. I was asking the Lord for something so clear, beyond my imagination, and would stretch my faith. Right then, I got a phone call from my friend Rachel. She was asking if I'd consider moving to Idaho, and going to Aletheia Christian College http://www.aletheiachristian.com/ I immediately knew that this was God's direction and answer to my prayer!

“And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.” ~ Isaiah30:21

As soon as I hung up, I started feeling overwhelmed, wondering if I was making the biggest mistake of my life, but then I started praying and I heard a song with the lyrics, “I won't abandon you.” Not only that, but I opened the Bible and the first verse I see...

“'Leave your country and your people,' God said, 'and go to the land I will show you.” ~ Acts 7:3

Okay, God...I get it :-) Even though I went up and down about the decision, by the end of the day, through many confirmations with people praying over me and reading all the same verses the Lord had given me earlier, I knew by the end of the day, that I was moving to Idaho.

So, the date was set: August 19^th. I'm very excited about this college and having the opportunity to serve along my good friends Rachel and Nathanael Davis.

The Lord has blessed me with each of you dear friends and family, and I thank each one of you for speaking life over me, for your prayers, love, encouragement, support, etc.!! I'm going to miss you all TONS and will be praying for you. The Lord desires to give you more than you could ever imagine!!! Seek Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

In Christ's amazing love,

Cathy Welch

cathywelch@hotmail.com

“The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers.” ~ M. Scott Peck

Praise Reports:

1. Actually survived the trip here to Idaho; wow! whoever said driving cross country was fun...? hmm....maybe it's different if it's a joy trip and not a big move like this; thankfully my friend Rachel was able to ride with me from Nebraska to here; otherwise I might have turned around :-)

2. The family here is very welcoming and have helped me a lot!!

3. Found a church family nearby :-)

Prayer Requests:

1. To not neglect spending time with the Lord among all the business.

2. For spiritual, physical, and emotional strength to keep up with school, work (once I get it) and being a light to people here in Idaho and the surrounding areas.

3. A job for me there to pay for rent and schooling, etc; will be looking for one when I arrive in Idaho. School starts September 7^th. God's in control, so I'm excited for this new journey!! :-)