Rich Gifts: 2010

January of 2009 marked one year since God led me to quit a job that I had held for 11 years. I had been asking Him for several years if He would allow me a way to stay home and the the time came when I felt Him impressing on me that it was time. As a matter of fact, He impressed in my heart that it was His perfect time. He had prevented it one month earlier, and then would not allow me to hold off even one more week when it was time. Somehow I felt that if I did not take this step on my own, trusting in Him, that He would bring it about anyway in a manner that would not be as pleasant for me. So without any other income lined up, I stepped out into His unseen hand. I emphasize that I only did this because I was fully confident that He was telling me to.

He has provided a variety of ways for me to earn an income in the last two years and has shown me what He designed me to do, the thing I love the most, Graphic Design. I found that I kept looking for and waiting on the big miracle as Terri Tiffany said in her post "A Special Kind of Miracle", but I have learned that the miracle is in His day to day provision like the Israelites experienced when He provided manna in the wilderness. I have experienced so much more freedom as I have learned to become more dependent on Him. I am learning to trust that He is still holding me in His hand and will not let go. My part is to move forward when He says "Go" and stay put when He says "Stop" in the same way that He led the Israelites out of their bondage in Egypt, He has led me and is still leading me to the land that flows with milk and honey.

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In April of 2009 God led me to form the Arlington Tea Party to protest the taxation and oppression that was forming in this nation. This was not something I had ever done before and I didn't have a clue how to get started. I was amazed when over 2000 people came out to the protest. Even though this was a political event, my heart was to encourage God's People to rise up our of complacency and apathy and begin to take a stand for Christ and His ways in this nation.

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In July I had the opportunity to create a float with the team members of the Arlington Tea Party for the 4th of July Parade here in Arlington, and we won 1st place in the amature catagory. This was another first for me and something that I found I greatly enjoyed.

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I have been seeking God's will for the last three years about whether I should look for a different church home and God led me to make a move in November. Everything about this church is perfect for the girls and me and I didn't have to go church hopping to find it. God arranged for me to find this church through their website which provides detailed information about everything including, beliefs, event and class details, and sermon videos. I was able to visit the church during the week and get a tour and the children's ministry director spent two hours with me telling me all about the programs and lessons offered for the kids.

The girls are able to be more involved in church activities now and they are growing more in the knowledge of Christ. It is only ten minutes from my home and located exactly halfway between my house and the girls, and on the route I take to get to their house. This is the first time I have ever felt led to formally place membership at any church which I did after my 4th visit.

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This has been a year of new experiences, and of gaining knowledge and skill in areas that I have never been involved in before. In the last few months God has given me a stronger desire to encourage Christians to "come out from among unbelievers, and separate yourselves from them" as it says in 2 Corinthians 6:17. I can no longer sit idly by while unbelievers turn this nation into a secular nation. I don't know exactly what God has in store for me in 2010 but I have a strong sense that all of the events of this year have been to prepare me for the next step.

Is God calling you to step out into unknown territory for His Kingdom, for His Purpose, for His Glory? I encourage you to step off the cliff into His unseen hand in 2010.

Rich Blessings on you and yours for the new year!