Discovering the Obvious...

     So last night, like every night, I was lying there on the floor, (yes, I sleep on the floor. The lack of a bed in the room leaves more floor space for other things) trying to go to sleep, but all the thoughts in my head kept me up. So I started to ask God some questions. I asked about some of the things I've posted here; about my work with CEF, what I'm going to do over the summer, how I'm going to pay for CMI, which is coming up in the fall, and what I'm going to do after that. You see, I live my life by a simple set of rules, but I never really refined them until recently, when people started asking me what I would do in any given situation. It was then that I came up with one simple saying that defined it all. "Pray about it, and go on with life. When God wants to show you the answer, He'll show you, and you'll know." That was why I was asking God all these questions. Asking Him to show me what I needed to be shown, at His time and place.
     Of course, I didn't expect Him to answer so quickly. If you have been following my blog for awhile, or if you've gone back and read posts that you missed, you know that I've had this vision of a stained glass door of sorts that has been following me around. I've mentioned that I had some suspicions as to what was behind it, and some possible hints from God about what it led to, but now I'm convinced I know exactly what is behind it, I just don't know when I'll get to open the door. It was almost like God said, "What do you want Me to do? Put up a big neon sign with the answer!?!" God had already showed me, but I wasn't trusting what my brain was telling me. I couldn't bring myself to believe that the little hint was really God, and not just me twisting something to fit what I wanted. So like I said, when God wants to show you, He'll show you. Just ask Him and wait for His reply.
     So you could say, I discovered the obvious today. But however you want to put, I know I'm right where God wants me to be, and I'm really excited to see what He is going to do next!

Changes: The "Old", "New" and "Where the heck did that come from?" type...

     So...changes. Things changing from what they currently are into something else. A transformation of sorts. Well, that's what has been happening with me...

     My work with CEF continues on. 4 different groups of children call me teacher: the Kindergarten & 1st grade class at my church, The Released-Time classes at Philomath Middle School and Kings Valley Charter school, and the Good News Club at Franklin Elementary. Franklin's club was going to transition to meeting at a local church, but God came through with the money to pay for the rental fees of the school gym through the end of the year. So...almost a change, but then not. My funding has not changed, which is sad, not for me, but for Benton County CEF. For every dollar that doesn't come in to support me...a dollar comes out of their budget to make sure that I have a paycheck every month, while the Director and Assistant Director take cuts or late paychecks. So, pray that that would change.

     A group of CEF staff and friends have joined together to start a weekly prayer e-mail and monthly prayer meeting for CEF's various classes, clubs, training and funding. Though they don't know it yet, I'll be posting the prayer updates on a new, "CEF of Benton County" page on facebook. Hopefully that will be updated Mondays. The prayer meetings, e-mails and this facebook page are all a major change form the way things were last year...so pray that it all goes smoothly.

     Meanwhile, one of my close friends is experiencing heavy difficulties at a local community college. She continues to press forward, but the trials keep coming. So much so that it seems as if they are a direct attack from the Enemy. I'm doing the best I can to try and help her see God in all of this, but I'm going into unfamiliar territory with a lot of the things she's going through. God continues to show me where to go and what to say, but the whole situation is still a major element of change for me.

     In my own life, my tax returns have been accepted and the money from them (Since I pretty much got all of it back) went towards funding my new laptop (from which I write this new post), and some accessories to go with it. However, this weekend held the surprise that the Xbox 360 I had fixed last summer is once again experiencing the Red Ring of Death (Basically...it doesn't do anything) and the back-up motherboard will only let the console read DVD's...no games. So, my brother and I are stuck without a game system for at least two months, until we can save up the funds for a new Xbox 360 S. This is probably for the best for Justin, as a local band has lost their previous drummer and it looks as if Justin will be his replacement. Of course, he doesn't have his driver's license yet, so I get to drive him to practices...good thing I got this laptop!

     All in all, these changes and not so changes are good, but as always, they can be a little rough getting through. God continues to support and guide me though...so I guess it's kind of like diving out of an airplane in the dark of night: you really have no idea what's down there, but you know you have your 'chute and instructor to help you make a smooth landing.

*EDIT*

     So, that facebook page for CEF of Benton County is not going to be up and running this week. I got sick Monday, so no work. And no work means no prayer letter update which means nothing to post on the page. Hopefully next week will be more open...