New Chapter In My Life

Tomorrow begins a new chapter in my life.  After 14 years of being a full time mom at home with my kids, I am thrilled to enter the work force again.  I am starting a part-time position at my church, West Ridge Church, working as an assistant to Kevin Dunlap, the Director of Missions and Mobilization.

Some of my tasks will be to help coordinate local and global mission projects, trip planning and event coordination.  Last year as I was volunteering at one of our church planting events, I thought to myself, I sure would like to be more involved in organizing this event and this year (actually next week) I get to do just that.

After Kevin approached me to see if I was interested in talking about the position, I immediately began to pray Isaiah 48:17 daily over the decision.  “This is what the Lord says…I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.”  It was such an important decision and one that I didn’t want to mess up.  I knew that I needed God’s clear direction.  I felt such a peace about moving forward and I started getting very excited about it.  A couple of weeks later, I went through the interview process and was offered the job. 

After Allie was born, I took maternity leave from my job for 12 weeks.  I wanted to be a stay at home mom so badly but we just couldn’t make it work.  At the end of my leave before starting back to work again, I cried for 4 days solid.  Eventually I got used to leaving her every day and it got easier but I still longed to stay home with her.  In January 2000, when she was 4, I got that wish. Then Emma was born in June 2000 and I have loved every minute of being home with them.  They are older now and I find myself desperately trying to fill up my days while they are at school.  So now… I am fulfilling a new dream. 

My church values families and knows that working mom’s priorities are always going to be their kids.  This will be a flexible work environment in order for me to achieve that goal.   My new hours will be Mon-Thurs from 9:00 to 3:00 - just enough time to drop Emma off at school and be back to pick her up.  It is a perfect schedule for me and I’m extremely excited to see what the future holds. Ecclesiastes 3:1- There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens.

Plotting to betray

Devotion written for my church

Plotting to betray

Mark 14:10-11 Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray Him to them. And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him.

My family is a huge fan of reality shows.  The Biggest Loser and Survivor are two of our favorites.  In both shows, the whole point is to vote the other contestants out and be the last one standing in order to win.  Of course to do so takes much plotting and strategizing.  Often times the contestants align themselves with others and “promise” to never vote for the other.  But usually, at some point those promises are broken and there is often a hurtful betrayal.  Sometimes they decide at the last minute to betray their friends, but often it is fully thought out and pondered upon. 

The Bible says that Judas sought an opportunity to betray Jesus.  Even though he was in Jesus’ inner circle, in his closest set of friends, Judas chose to live for himself rather than live for Jesus.  Judas’ heart was not protected.  He looked for a way to betray Jesus. It didn’t just happen by chance. It began with a plot.

Granted, I don’t plot or plan to betray Jesus but isn’t that exactly what I do each and every time I sin? I betray Jesus when I don’t protect my heart, when I let my flesh lead me instead of following Jesus. I abandon His ways when I think that I can handle a situation on my own instead of following him.  James 4:17 tells me I even betray Him when I know the right thing to do but don’t do it.

One of my favorite Bible stories is about Daniel and how faithful he remained when he was in captivity and forced to follow the Babylonian ways. The Bible says Daniel had resolved beforehand that he would remain faithful to God and not adopt the foreign ways.  It takes a resolve to do the right thing.  It doesn’t happen by chance.  I want to do just the opposite of Judas, I want to plot, plan and seek opportunities to stay committed and to not betray my faithful Savior.

Lord Jesus, Thank you for your loving ways. For your grace and forgiveness every time we seek it.  Help us to stay fully committed and devoted to you.  Protect our hearts when our flesh seeks to betray you.  In your name, Amen