A year and a half ago I became a “Yes Girl” for God. It started when He asked me if I was done running from Him, and I said, “Yes, Lord. I am.” Little did I know that those four little words would radically change my life forever. The next yes was easy; He just wanted me to go to church. So I did. And I was amazed as I listened to the worship music and the message from the pastor and knew with all of my heart that God was speaking to me and telling me that this was where I belonged. My next yes was not so easy! Quit your job. What did you say God? Are you kidding me? Now you have to understand, I have always been very independent and able to take care of myself, especially financially. And God knew that this yes would not be easy for me. He knew my insecurities. So, he worked it out where I ended up at a weekend seminar to learn how to flip houses. That made sense. Yes, I would quit my job because God was giving me another one. One where I could do something I enjoyed, be my own boss and, most importantly, replace my income pronto! Yes, God. I will do that! So I quit my job and set out to be the next real estate tycoon, fully expecting to be amazed at my success! Ha! God is so clever. He knew that I wasn’t at the point where my faith was strong enough that I would quit my job without having another one. Needless to say, the real estate venture didn’t go quite like I had planned. For starters, it took quite a bit longer than I anticipated to find a house to flip, then it went over budget, and we ultimately ended up leasing it instead of selling it! Our next venture wasn’t much better. It too went way over budget. And while I am thankful that we made money, I must confess that we didn’t make nearly enough to justify the hassle of it! Do I even need to tell you that I was not even close to being amazed! On the other hand, not having a full time job allowed me to spend the entire summer repairing my relationship with my 14 year old daughter, who had been living with her dad since we divorced when she was 7. God did what only God could do, and, over a year later i am still amazed that He brought her here to live with me!
Once school started, my insecurity about not being able to take care of myself financially really began to take its’ toll on me, and I began to look for other money making opportunities in my real estate business, but I heard God say, not now. So my search began for another job, and I was lucky enough, or so I thought, to stumble upon a recruiting position that offered a flexible schedule where I could work from home after my training period. It was a commission only position, but that was fine with me; I had been very successful in sales. This must be what God wanted me to do. After 6 months of working and not making a single penny, I ended my recruiting career. But instead of immediately looking for another job, I really prayed and asked God to lead me where he wanted me. He was calling me to the ministry.
I was volunteering with a ministry that helps post abortive women find healing and restoration through God’s amazing mercy and grace, but He was asking me to fully commit to this ministry. And I gladly said, “Yes, Lord. I will.” He is now opening doors to take our ministry into the prison system, and I know that he is calling me there. Yes, Amazed.
As I look back over the last year and a half of my life, I would have to write a book to tell you all of the amazing things that God has done and how he has blessed me time and time again. So I will leave you with this. Isn’t it just like God to give me just the gentle nudge that I needed to let go of my insecurity and place my trust completely in Him so that he could amaze me? Amazed indeed.