New Every Morning

When I was in college, I learned to do counted cross-stitch. I loved it! I especially loved to design my own patterns for friends. These designs were usually a favorite Bible verse for the person. One of the first things I ever made for someone was for my pastor when I was in college and was the verse from Lamentations 3 describing how God's mercies are new every morning! (He then wanted me to cross-stitch Psalm 119!! all 150 verses! I did it but in four parts: Psalm 119, verses 1-50, verses 51-100, amd verses 101-150!! they all were in little 2 inch frams that hooked together!! He hung it up in his office!!) Memories like these remind me of the special people in my life and how much I appreciate the time they invested in my ministry today. I'll always remember Bro. Tom or "Dr. Daddy" as I called him. He encouraged me to press on and find my calling and purpose in life. I remember the talks my friend, Barb, and I would have on his front porch swing and how he always seemed to know what they were about! We thought he had a microphone out there on the porch recording us!!

All this to say, he was just one of the many people who God has placed in my life to help me along the way discover all that God has for me to do. Every morning, He sends reminders to me of His new mercies and great love for me. Music camp was my reminder last week. I made some new friends who are praying for me now as I search for where God wants me to serve next. God sent me lots of sticky notes last week through the kids and the message in the music we learned. "Sticky Notes and Bible Quote" helped me realize that I need to spend more time memorizing the Word so that when faced with some sticky situtations of my own, I will have God's reminders with me at all times! The kids did a great job of leading us in worship Saturday night. I was sitting at the front of the stage helping adjust the mics and prompt the kids if they needed any help with their verses. As the end of the program was getting close, I soon realized that I did have tears in my eyes! I was so excited for the kids and the great job they did, but I was also reminded at how much God loves me and how much that love cost! God used those 56 smiling faces to show me that last week. I hope and pray that I was that encourager to one of those kids last week, just as Dr. Daddy was to me many years ago!

I am so grateful that God sends me sticky notes everyday from His word. I often find notes in my bible written next to specific verses that remind me of the people in my life as well just as that verse in Lamentations reminds me of Dr. Daddy. As I have been searching for a new place of ministry over the past few months, God has allowed me to meet many new people to be a prayer warrior and encourager to me in my search. I am so humbled at how He has taken care of my needs and answered my prayers. Recently, I had interviewed with two churches and things looked very positive with both places. I really didn't know how I was going to make a decision between the two. I prayed for God to show me very clearly what path He wanted me to take. He did that the very next day when I got an e-mail from one church saying they had decided to go in another direction and not continue with my application. I was very disappointed and a little discourage to say the least! Then it hit me!! God had very clearly answered my prayer and closed that door for my protection! He knows me and where I am most needed and that was not the place! I waited to hear from the other church and was excited that door still remained open. I continued to pray for God's guidance and direction, trusting that He knows best. Two weeks later, the door at the second church also closed. I know it is for my protection and in His time, He will open the door He has for me. In the mean time, I know I am where I need to be. After this door closed, another church contacted me that they had my resume and were in the process of praying for the person God has for their children's minister. God's sticky note reminder that He knows best and is still working! Several other new opportunities have opened up as well. As a friend reminds me often "All in His time!"

Well I need to end this post! Lots of thoughts still roaming around in my head but they will have to wait till another time!

Becky