"Close- Up and Candid"

Normally in my writings, I have a nice attention getter, a testimony and something to leave you to think about. Don’t worry, I will go back to that style. However, today, I thought I would be as “straight up” and raw as I possibly could. I am choosing to write just like I would in a journal or diary before all the edits and pretty changes were made. An entry like this is needed because this week I was shaken up by God’s spirit in a good way that left me literally speechless.

Back in June, I went to a work related training that many teachers in the district needed to attend. That day I was the only one there from my school, and I suddenly became shy as I didn’t know where to sit. If I know you, I am very talkative. If I do not know you, I am slow to warm up. Three teachers were sitting at a table with an open seat and invited me to sit with them. Moments later, I find out that these teachers are from the school that is just down the street from me. We joked around how I see their school every day and wondered what it was like inside. The day moved along and these people invited me to lunch. Ordinarily, I would have felt a bit quiet around people I didn’t know. However, God was telling me that I needed to get to know these people. Inside I felt like this was something I had to do, and I had no idea why it was so important. We all rode in the same car, and somehow I was being very social around these “strangers.” I felt like I was connecting with them and they began to feel like friends.

Throughout the month of June, I was feeling fine about my part time teaching job. I was just lucky to have a job and did not think about switching. However, for some reason in July, I began searching and looking for postings. Ironically, there was a posting for a position at the school right down the road. The school with the teachers I connected with in June. God’s spirit nudged me so strongly, that I could not leave my computer screen. I knew I had to try for this position. I had initial thoughts that battled my mind in regards to fear of change. Although, I knew this was about taking a risk. I felt I had to be at that school at this time in life, with those teachers. I was shaken up because I knew God was speaking to me in June. He is omniscient all the time even when we least expect it. This Monday I found out I would have the pleasure of working at this nice school. This journal entry is not about work, it is not about money, it is about God’s presence in our lives. He is better than the talented artist, the master architect or complex builder. He is the creator of each day of our lives. He is using circumstances and people around us to create His plans for us. Father in Heaven, you never cease to amaze me of your wonderful works. Every piece of our lives is woven into the greater good to bring us closer to you and to further your coming kingdom.

"From Dust"

On July 5th, 2011 myself as well as the rest of Arizona experienced a huge dust storm. I have lived here my whole life and have never seen one quite that bad. My husband and I looked out the window at the huge winds and swarms of dust that were making its way through the air. It was as if we were watching a significant event take place. My first thought after the storm was centered around how much of an inconvenience this was to us. It created a mess in front of everyone’s home and would probably be a lingering problem until enough rain would hit us to clear it all out. It has been several days since this storm, and you can still see remnants of the dust. Ironically, it has been a reminder to me about the many times that “dust” is used throughout the word of God. To begin with, I try to remember that all of us were first formed from dust. Genesis Chapter 2 explains, “The LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into the nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being (v.7).”

Dust is so temporary. It dances in the wind and settles in the ground. It comes and goes and is only here for a moment. This is the reality for all of us too. We have a short amount of time here to make a difference in our own lives and in the lives of others. The dust has been symbolic for me and a motivation to seize every moment I can. God has given me a responsible nature. Most people would say I am dependable and that I can be trusted to get things done. I am a planner, organizer and “go getter.” However, God has taught me that he reveals the power of His spirit to me when I am in the most unorganized and haphazard moments in life. I am learning to branch out and take risks that bring me closer to God. With His help, I am sharing my faith with strangers, caring less what people think, being more generous, and trusting more fully. Remembering that we are only here for a moment makes it a bit easier to take advantage of every opportunity given to us. “He knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field, the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear Him (Psalm 103:14).”