I am..STILL EXPECTING EASTER

It’s been over five months since I last blogged. Thought about it many times, started writing just as many. But didn’t. It wasn’t time. I wasn’t ready. I was chicken.

Let me explain. I started blogging several years ago with a prayer that somehow my words would inspire. The gift was confirmed by others who had read my ramblings. I simply wanted to be a blessing.

I chose the blog name Expecting Easter because it reflected what had been happening in my heart. A realization of a yearning within me to live a life that expected “Easters”.  A choosing, in the day to day moments, to live as if I expected God to not only speak to me, but also to show up-"with the same power that raised Christ from the dead".

I retold our adoption journey, where God’s hand was clearly working- the details of that story could never have come together as they did, were it not for Him.  I blogged about daily living with our two newest kids. I wrote openly about joys and struggles…good times and bad. But the theme always remained the same. Even in the low times there was expectation. An anticipation that God was up to something. The purpose of my blog was simply to retell it as it happened.

In March of 2013, we walked through the unexpected valley of unemployment. I still wrote. Even with the hurt, fear and shame, I still felt safe enough to be real.

Sometime during the following autumn months we felt a leading to ask a group of our trusted friends to get together with us for a time of focused prayer. We asked people that knew our story and knew our hearts. We spent an evening sitting out behind our house, pouring our hearts out to the Lord for direction and provision. Of course we had been praying these same prayers as a family and as a couple, but there was something powerful in that gathering. We prayed Scripture, we pleaded. We prayed big, crazy, audacious prayers. We asked for things beyond just the provision for the next week, which we were desperately needing. We asked for daily bread but also came boldly asking for more. We wanted “God obvious”. After all, our personal resources were spent. What did we have to lose? Broken, humble, but still expecting.

Months went by and we waited. The last time I blogged was December 3^rd.  Just a few weeks before Christmas. It was one of my lowest points. Facing December with three birthdays and Christmas…trying to make family feel special after dividing up what little was left. Still, my last blog spoke of Hope.

 Job 6:8 “Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant what I hope for.”

The calendar turned with the ending of December and I stopped writing. Not because I had nothing to say but because we had entered a new season and I was afraid to say it. We had begun a season of favor and blessing. Just like that, the tide had turned. Our prayers, the big, crazy, audacious ones, were being answered….above and beyond what we had even asked or imagined. We thanked Him often here at home and as a family, but on this blog I remained silent.

Here is why. I have learned that it is easier for me to be transparent when I am in a place of need, rather than a place of blessing. I have experienced the Body of Christ rally around us in our struggles, more than our victory. It's normal, I suppose. But is it as it should be?

I acknowledge that some of this may simply be my perception. I also realize that the way this blessing has come to us has been a bit “unconventional”.  We have heard comments, said directly to us, or about us, that make me realize we are having to overcome some preconceived ideas and experiences that may or may not have anything to do with us. It’s really alright…we would choose this again in a heartbeat.

We have been challenged in our thinking to embrace an opportunity where our market and our mission fuel each other.  This can happen…just as it can for anyone, regardless of career path.  But never before have we experienced an opportunity where we have such direct, open avenues into people’s lives, while at the same time being generously compensated. We are part of a team of like-minded people that are truly impacting the world. To us, this vehicle is a treasure. We will value it as such and will speak of it accordingly. We will strive for excellence and take full advantage of the opportunities to speak of His faithfulness and grace in our lives as we rise in prominence. Why? Because this is the plan He has for us.  

Here are the facts of our journey:

1. We love what we do!  Our mission statement is to “Engage the market place with the intentional impartation of Hope”.  In every conversation about this business we are offering physical health or a business opportunity to those looking for a change in their financial picture, and, always, offering spiritual hope to those looking.
2. Our mental and physical health is the best it has been in years, the same can be said for our kids! While I would like to say that we researched and studied until we found a company and products with scientific backing that was taking the globe by storm, we didn’t. It found us.
3. The time freedom this opportunity is giving us is the direct answer to a specific prayer we began to pray years ago- that God would make a way for us to do 20% “work” and 80% “kingdom building”. This is allowing us to do this. Most beautiful is that fact that while in the building stages of this business, we ARE kingdom building as well.
4. The income from this generous compensation plan is far more than we over dared to ask for. For those that know the specifics of where I have fallen lowest, the Grace alone of this blessing speaks for itself.
5. The way this opportunity has linked our “work” with orphan care, discipleship and serving people is truly more creative and far reaching than anything we could have developed on our own.  We see how His plan is perfect. We are being blessed to bless others.

I mention all these things to make a point. God’s direction, timing and leading in all this still makes us “pinch ourselves” on occasion.  After all the times of crying out to Him and asking, I am still stunned that He is doing it.

I love reading declarations of God’s people when He would intervene for them in Scripture, but have been fearful to make a public declaration of my own.  We cheer when He parts the rivers, walks on water, calms the sea- but seem to think such celebrations are for another time-only for another people.

For fear of somehow taking a Scripture that speaks of a promise “out of context”  we error on the “safe side” and claim none of them for ourselves.

I AM DONE BEING HALF SILENT HERE.  I WILL SPEAK OF HIS FAITHFULNESS, EVEN IF IT COMES TO US IN A WAY THAT WE, OR YOU, MAY NOT HAVE ANTICIPATED. AND I WILL CONTINUE TO SHARE THE OPPORTUNITY WITH OTHERS.

Here is why.

This is the direction He first gave me to start writing. He never told me to stop. I was simply to retell it as it happened.

I believe, with all my being that God is raising up an army of people for the task ahead. What is coming and what He asks of us now requires resources…physical, financial and spiritual.

We are created for ABUNDANCE…yes, that is Scriptural. That abundance is to overflow in our service to others.

CELEBRATIONS ARE STILL IN ORDER.

He is still moving mountains.

Still healing the sick.

Storms are still silenced.

Battles are still won.

HOPE still walks hand in hand with FAITH.

I am…STILL EXPECTING EASTER.

“They did not conquer by their own strength and skill, but by your mighty power and because you smiled upon them and favored them.” Psalm 44:3