“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.”-Jeremiah 15:16
May the Word of the Lord, His holy scripture, be life and joy for you. God’s Word allows us to know Him and see into His heart. It establishes and develops the relationship between us. Don’t miss out on all God provides in His Word.
Live in God’s love, grace, peace and mercy.
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:”-Ecclesiastes 3:1
Today is a new season in our year, fall. Fall is my favorite! Everything is crisp, things get crunchy and the colors are amazing. God’s beautiful earth shines the brightest for me during fall. And yet, fall is a time of ending. Flowers cease blooming, leaves die and fall off and animals get ready to migrate. Everything starts to slow down so it can survive the winter and shine bright again next spring.
I’m moving into a”fall” season personally. Starting in less than 2 weeks, my corporate world of 25 years will change into a ministry world. Instead of being dependent on me, my family will be dependent on and dedicated to God as I embark on a new journey of writing/speaking and my Mary Kay business. Just like fall, God’s desire for this change in my life is crisp in my heart, things are a little crunchy as I take new steps into new places and the amazing beauty of watching this new season unfold is….awe.
And just as new seasons in our year have no choice but to end and start, new seasons in our lives have that requirement if we are fully dedicated to living in faith on God. Summer doesn’t just decide to end, it is required. As a follower of Jesus, I have no say in where God leads, His plan trumps mine every single day. Oh sure, I could act in defiance and say no, we all can, but that’s sin and rebellion and for me, those days are done. I may have moments of fear, just as hot days in late September show that summer isn’t changing easily, but in the end I must choose to change and go with God.
God is faithful. God has an amazing plan for each season. I’m excited for this fall on so many levels! I’m praying that as I move into a season of falling into God with complete and reckless abandon, you also hear His call for your life and let new seasons start at His leading.
Live in God’s love, grace, peace and mercy.
KA
Please come and spend an evening with me on 10/10/14 starting at 7p. A friend has graciously opened her yarn shop to me for a time of sharing my story and then signing books. If you already have a copy, I’ll happily sign it then. If you want a copy, I’ll have some there and you can also order them from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble or http://www.crossbooks.com. Hope to see you!!
When: Friday, 10/10/14 @ 7p
Where: Mad Cow Yarn, Bothell WA
“Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.” – Matthew 14:29
Two summers ago at my church’s summer Family Camp, one of the leaders spoke about getting out of the boat. I felt God calling me out of the security of my blog into a new world of writing a book. I was nervous and excited at the same time. I’d never written a book and I had NO idea what to expect. I was, however, very clear about what I was hearing so I embarked on this new process. Ten months later my devotional book, “Reliant” was released. Can you say WOW??
In January, God impressed upon my heart to be prepared for something big taking place in August of 2014. I had no idea what that might be. My initial thought was that it would be the book but that released in May. I’ve been praying about August 2014 all year wondering what was coming, knowing that it would be ALL God and another opportunity to step out of the boat.
As August started, I began to feel God speaking to my heart that my time at my current employer was coming to an end. At first I was fully excited! I’ve been praying that God would release me from this position for the past 2 years. I have had a very successful and blessed career where I currently am and I am ridiculously thankful. However, it is not my passion and my heart is longing for ministry.
As I was praying about God moving me away from my job, I began to ask the next logical question, “Where are you leading me God?” At first I didn’t really get a sense of anything in particular except just leaving. Then I got assigned a publicist for my book and a publicity campaign began to emerge. As this was happening, I felt God telling me that it was time for me to leave my secure career, trust Him fully, and pursue speaking and writing as well as building my Mary Kay business. I was completely certain I was hearing Him wrong so I immediately called in the prayer warriors in my life. Through much prayer, much consideration and much faith, I decided that yes I was hearing God correctly and He was asking me to step out in faith. My time of ministry was starting now.
On September 2nd, I went to my boss. My boss is awesome and I thoroughly enjoy working for him. Trying to figure out how to tell him what I was doing felt overwhelming. Yet, I trusted God that I was doing His will and I just simply explained that it was the time for me to pursue my dreams and step out in faith not being sure of what would happen. His reaction was not what I expected. He told me that he fully supported what I was doing. That he was happy for me and that he wished he had a dream for more like I had. Talk about humbling!! (Let me just say that so far, only 1 or 2 people have expressed any doubt in this decision, most of the people who know me have been overwhelmingly supportive. Thank you Jesus!) We agreed that for the next few months at least I would work part time in some capacity until he could figure out a plan. My resignation caught him completely off guard. (me too!!)
So where does that leave me now?? Out on the water! Believing fully that God has got me and this is what He is doing in my life right now, I’m moving forward in pursuing a new career in ministry through speaking and writing as well as my Mary Kay business. I’m so ridiculously excited and humbled and just….just, that I get emotional when I think about this new season. I know lots of people won’t and don’t really understand what I’m doing and so I say that’s ok, just pray for me. Pray that I hear God clearly. Pray that I don’t let anything stop me from doing His will. Pray that I make an impact in people’s lives. I love people so much and I want them to see that God loves them so much more! I want to impact this world for Christ through love, service and prayer. I want to share my story at any opportunity God presents. My dreams are HUGE and there is much work to do. I believe they are from God because without Him, they will never happen. I’ll keep you all posted!!!
Step out of the boat when He calls. Live in God’s love, grace, peace and mercy.
KA 😀
Just a Kid from Akron 