Only Through His Presence

I know it has been a good while since I have updated, and I apologize for that. I am now a teacher at Jefferson Davis Academy. I have stayed true to God, and He has given me the desires of my heart.

I have always wanted to teach; however, after college I had to get the first job I came to and, since I was already working in the medical field, I accepted a job with an eye doctor. Then, off to Resurgent working in bankruptcy. None of these jobs were my "dream job" but they were each a blessing. I met many great people I still keep in contact with today, and I got some experience opening up to people and working with software that required training.

God then moved my husband and I to this small little town in which we now live. I love the small town pace after living in Greenville, SC for so long. The worst traffic is right after a football or softball game! We moved back in October 2008. I applied to be a substitute teacher. I was accepted to the list, but never called in because the teachers did not know me that well. Then, a man at my church offered me a job with his company as an office manager. I worked there from Nov 2008 until March 2008. Then his wife retired and started working for him. I helped fill-in every now and then when they went on vacation or had an appointment. His wife went back to work the first of July. I was offered my teaching position the end of June!

God has been so wonderful to me and my husband. On paper, we should not have been able to pay our bills. We SHOULD be ten or fifteen thousand dollars in debt! But God has provided every minute! This wonderful church family filled our pantry with tons of items! We have yet to have to buy paper towels or laundry detergent because of these wonderful people we have come to see as our family! Back in February, we had our marriage retreat for the church. Ryan and I were going to be forced to eat in our room every night. And the gasoline money was going to be put on a credit card. But the Sunday before Ryan and I received a card from a church member with enough money for gasoline and one meal (not expensive meal but not the dollar menu either) out to eat.

God has provided for us every step of the way. Even when I would sometimes get frantic over how things were going to get paid, etc.

I am doing a 40 day Bible study and the lesson on day one was short but so intense. It was talking about how so many people use Phil. 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" as their life verse. The reason Susan Sealy claims is because "we understand from the very beginning that it is by God's strength, his very presence in our lives, that we accomplish anything."

I would not be where I am today or who I am today without God's very presence in my life. He is the only reason I am where I am today. His call on my husband and I to serve at this church far away from family and old friends we came to rely on so well. It was not until this move away from all that we knew and held familiar that we truly had to rely on only Him for our every need.