Thursday, May 27, 2010

God was at my bank this morning!!

You know when you are going about "your" day and God decides to step in and completely MAKE your whole day!? Well, that was this morning at, of all places- the bank. I had walked in expecting to spend 2 minutes with the teller, when God redirected me to the Customer Service Lady for an hour! During the "bankish" talk, South Africa came up when she saw International Fees on my account, one thing led to another and I was sharing with her about my time in South Africa. Tears began to well up in her eyes as she began to tell me about her 18 year old daughter who is going down a very dangerous path because of anger from events in her childhood. I could hear a voice in my heart telling me to open up to her about my own past and issues that I had faced. She then began telling me even more, right there in the middle of the bank tears in her eyes about her own past. I was able to tell her that God had changed my life and was in the process of healing me, and that I had witnessed many youth experience God's restoration and that there was hope for her daughter too! What is even more crazy is that as she looked down to close my account on her computer she sees my address; we live in the same neighborhood! How funny is God!! Please be praying for "the bank lady and her daughter" and for God to open doors as she gave me her card and has asked that I call her to talk more. Please also be praying as her and her daughter look for treatment centers for her daughter. WARNING: Your next trip to the bank could take an hour and could have eternal results! Let's not get too busy in our own lives to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit.

Back in America and no where to go.....

Hello all!!
I have been back in America for about three and a half weeks. It has been very very busy at my house! During the past three weeks, my older brother has graduated from Samford University and has gotten married, my younger brother has had awards banquets and chorus concerts, and my sister has been to her Prom and is getting ready to graduate this weekend from high school. I have also had a very eventful time getting settled and trying to listen to God about where He is directing me. I had applied and been accepted to Seminary; however, I now do not feel this is where God wants me to continue my education. After much praying, crying, and seeking counsel, I will be taking the next few months to study, take the GRE and apply to Graduate schools in order to get my Masters degree in either Counseling or Social Work. I struggled with this decision, but knew this is what God wanted at 1am last Friday night. He gave me Isaiah 45 to confirm this decision.


Isaiah 45: 2-3 " I will go before you and make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I am Lord, who call you by name, Am the God of Israel."

Isaiah 45: 9 "Woe to Him who strives with His Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him who forms it, 'What are you making?' Or shall your handiwork say, 'he has no hands'?"

God has promised to go before me where ever He sends me, even if the path seems "crooked" to me or I see gates and bars ahead (studying for the GRE, applying to competitive schools, attending a secular university). He promises to see me through for HIS glory! I wanted to question, and say "Why, God?" "Why didn't I know this before I applied and was prepared to leave for Seminary", but God gave me verse 9 of Isaiah 45, and He reminded me of Isaiah 55:8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord." I have come to see that the classes offered at public universities will better equip me to handle the type of issues that have become routine and that I expect to be dealing with in South Africa working with at-risk youth and families in the future. I would ask for your continued prayer while I am making this transition and as I continue to seek God about exactly where He wants me to be for the next couple of years. Thank you all again for walking with me on this journey the past two years. I can't wait to see where God takes me next!! I will continue to update my blog if you would like to follow as I am continuing this journey with God.