the Wind and the Rain

One of my favorite memories of a Christmas Eve spent with family was of a little cousin singing He's got the Whole World in His Hands. It was so precious ... and growing up with that song in Sunday School - I never really thought about it as I have over the past months.

6 months.... if you had asked me 6 months ago #1 if I would be where I am right now, I have to tell you - I would have NEVER guessed it.


#1 - I wasn't sure where I would be in my marriage. We have made some big changes - positive changes, necessary changes. In a world where people tell you to give up - we said "no". We'll sweat, we'll cry, we'll tough it out ... NO. We won't give up. We don't give up.

#2 - I had no idea that we would still be facing unemployment. God is GOOD - and we know that. He has a plan -- and we know that. Getting the HEAD around it with the HEART at the same time -- that's a little more of a struggle. He has given Tommy an opportunity. Not in the traditional bringing home a salary type of job - but, something that he can do -- he can do this - and he knows it. It's just different ... but God knew that - He has a plan. Who knows what is in store here for him ... but we are ready.

I cannot tell you how many times I prayed this prayer:

"Lord! IF YOU WILL JUST GIVE TOMMY A JOB - I PROMISE I WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE GLORY! I PROMISE I WILL SHOUT IT FROM THE MOUNTAIN TOPS!"

So, is it the traditional job we were hoping for? Nope.

Is it a job that has the opportunity to provide for our family? Yep.

Does it get Tommy back out there? In the marketplace? Doing what he does best? Yep.

So, we are thankful. And, it is all because of the Lord. He doesn't deserve to be offered this position anymore than we deserve to be walking around this earth everyday. He never promised victories without fighting. He never promised the cross would not get heavy. He only promised he would show up -- and take us thru the fire again. (these ideas from an awesome song that Tommy has sung ... and I love the words)

If you look at a hand .. it's not SMOOTH. It has cracks, crevices ... and if He truly has the whole world IN HIS HAND ... there are going to be valleys. There are going to be bends in the road. There are going to be bad times. But, the only way to make it to the top of a mountain ... is to climb it.

So, here we go. One step at a time. One foot in front of the other. There is going to be sweat. There is going to be hard work. We are ready - Tommy is ready.

We have started the climb in our personal lives ... and now in the professional arena - we are ready to start. Did the Lord tell us to 'wait' so that we could begin the climb personally before we started professionally? I may never know -- but, I'm thankful regardless.

And, it's all because of HIM - we know that. We are thankful. We are encouraged.

We are ready.