I can think back to 8 weeks ago. We were comfortable, settled and had NO idea that change was coming for us. Let alone that it was coming so fast. My blog, twitter, and facebook has been silent for the majority of the past two months for the sole reason that I have been so busy just trying to stay on top of everything life has handed me there has legitimately been time for NOTHING else.
8 weeks ago... on a Wednesday, we submitted James's resume to a church that is located within 20 miles of where my mom grew up and a lot of that side of my family resides. (James has gone to school to be a youth minister in case I haven't mentioned that before or you didn't already know). The very next day, we got a call from one of the search committee members. He and James talked for quite some time and he let us know that the committee would like to invite us to come into town for a visit.. Yep, one day folks, God works that way...
2 weeks later, we headed to this wonderfully small town to meet with the committee. I can remember every moment of that evening and I have this odd feeling that even with the terrible memory I have, I will never forget it.
It was completely and totally a fit for us. We felt at ease, joyful, excited, scared out of our minds, but so at peace it was unreal. We cried the entire way home that night after meeting with everyone. That very night we received an unofficial invitation to come in view of a call. Which is where you, as a minister, are invited by the church to come and be a part of a Sunday's service, meet the church, answer questions and then receive a vote from the church congregation on whether or not they are calling you to full time ministry at their church. After many more phone calls and talks, the date was set. June 5 would be the Sunday we were to come in view of a call and we were going to need to be prepared, should everything go well with the vote, to be moved to our new town within a week. June 5 was 3 weeks from our initial in-person interview. So... then the madness began.
Preparing your heart much less your home for a move like this is an unbelievable process. I went through this as a child with having my father in the ministry but I can officially say now that this process is entirely different when you are the adult. Again, God works in mysterious ways so within the 3 week span, we had to line up potential renters for our house in Waco, box up our house of 2 years, box up my office that I shamefully hadn't cleaned out in about 4 years, and get all the info on switching utilities, etc. all the while knowing that there is always the possibility that the church as a whole would feel that you weren't the perfect fit and all the prep work would just have to be unpacked and re-settled. Friends, we were living on faith and Cherios. And I mean that quite literally.
The weekend of June 5 came and James and I headed into central Texas for the big weekend we had been notsopatiently waiting for. Our first night was a cookout with some of the kids in the youth group. It was just like our meeting with the committee: comfortable, fitting and so much fun. The next day, James gave his testimony, sang, and gave the children's sermon during church. I have to say that I had no idea that I could be so proud of my husband or that my love for him could grow any deeper than it already has been but that morning, I promise, my love reached new depths for him. This is his element, what he has been called to do and there's just something about watching the person you love do something that makes them feel alive that can't help but make love bubble up in your sole a bit. Bloggie friends, if I could have had you all in that church with me Sunday morning, I would have. Then I probably still would have talked your ears off about how incredible my husband was... whew... ok...I digress. After the service that morning, we had a potluck lunch. If you have never gotten a chance to experience a good 'ole Baptist potluck lunch, I can't tell you how much you are missing out. There were 5 different types of mac n' cheese that day. And that, friends, is my personal version of heaven.
After eating as much as we possibly could on nervous stomachs (I was so nervous I skipped dessert. Yea... serious business), it was question & answer time. The church was so kind and I actually really enjoyed that time of conversation with them. It is so important to see how interested people of all different life stages are in the youth group. And, let me tell you, this church LOVES it's youth.
We had a little down time after lunch & q/a time so we snuck away to my granny's house to relax a bit. The only thing left for the day was a vote.
The evening service was incredible. And as we sat in the parlor and prayed for God's direction to be evident to both the church and us during the vote, I knew that we were right where we were supposed to be. They came in and got us and let us know that the church had extended the call to James unanimously.
Joy. Pure, thankful, relieved, never-ending joy.
That was two Sundays ago. In the past three weeks, we have : painted the new house so graciously provided by the church, packed up our house in Waco, unloaded it all into our new house, unpacked, decorated, had Wednesday night church with the youth group, set up, prepped and packed for Community Rehab Project which we were gone to all last week, and eaten more chicken fried steak, been given more hugs, and experienced feeling at home more than I ever knew possible.
We are exhausted but so so excited. I can't believe that this has all happened in 8 weeks but I don't doubt for one second that God's time table is much more fulfilling than any I ever could have created. I appreciate all of you being so gracious with me as I've been absent during this transition.
I hope each and every one of you has lived at least a little on faith recently. Stripping away the promises we so often cling to for security reveals so much about what holds priority in our lives. Faith is a lot sturdier than we believe sometimes. Trust it and step out. I promise the reward overshadows the fear.
xoxo,
Lauren
8 weeks ago... on a Wednesday, we submitted James's resume to a church that is located within 20 miles of where my mom grew up and a lot of that side of my family resides. (James has gone to school to be a youth minister in case I haven't mentioned that before or you didn't already know). The very next day, we got a call from one of the search committee members. He and James talked for quite some time and he let us know that the committee would like to invite us to come into town for a visit.
2 weeks later, we headed to this wonderfully small town to meet with the committee. I can remember every moment of that evening and I have this odd feeling that even with the terrible memory I have, I will never forget it.
It was completely and totally a fit for us. We felt at ease, joyful, excited, scared out of our minds, but so at peace it was unreal. We cried the entire way home that night after meeting with everyone. That very night we received an unofficial invitation to come in view of a call. Which is where you, as a minister, are invited by the church to come and be a part of a Sunday's service, meet the church, answer questions and then receive a vote from the church congregation on whether or not they are calling you to full time ministry at their church. After many more phone calls and talks, the date was set. June 5 would be the Sunday we were to come in view of a call and we were going to need to be prepared, should everything go well with the vote, to be moved to our new town within a week. June 5 was 3 weeks from our initial in-person interview. So... then the madness began.
Preparing your heart much less your home for a move like this is an unbelievable process. I went through this as a child with having my father in the ministry but I can officially say now that this process is entirely different when you are the adult. Again, God works in mysterious ways so within the 3 week span, we had to line up potential renters for our house in Waco, box up our house of 2 years, box up my office that I shamefully hadn't cleaned out in about 4 years, and get all the info on switching utilities, etc. all the while knowing that there is always the possibility that the church as a whole would feel that you weren't the perfect fit and all the prep work would just have to be unpacked and re-settled. Friends, we were living on faith and Cherios. And I mean that quite literally.
The weekend of June 5 came and James and I headed into central Texas for the big weekend we had been notsopatiently waiting for. Our first night was a cookout with some of the kids in the youth group. It was just like our meeting with the committee: comfortable, fitting and so much fun. The next day, James gave his testimony, sang, and gave the children's sermon during church. I have to say that I had no idea that I could be so proud of my husband or that my love for him could grow any deeper than it already has been but that morning, I promise, my love reached new depths for him. This is his element, what he has been called to do and there's just something about watching the person you love do something that makes them feel alive that can't help but make love bubble up in your sole a bit. Bloggie friends, if I could have had you all in that church with me Sunday morning, I would have. Then I probably still would have talked your ears off about how incredible my husband was... whew... ok...I digress. After the service that morning, we had a potluck lunch. If you have never gotten a chance to experience a good 'ole Baptist potluck lunch, I can't tell you how much you are missing out. There were 5 different types of mac n' cheese that day. And that, friends, is my personal version of heaven.
After eating as much as we possibly could on nervous stomachs (I was so nervous I skipped dessert. Yea... serious business), it was question & answer time. The church was so kind and I actually really enjoyed that time of conversation with them. It is so important to see how interested people of all different life stages are in the youth group. And, let me tell you, this church LOVES it's youth.
We had a little down time after lunch & q/a time so we snuck away to my granny's house to relax a bit. The only thing left for the day was a vote.
The evening service was incredible. And as we sat in the parlor and prayed for God's direction to be evident to both the church and us during the vote, I knew that we were right where we were supposed to be. They came in and got us and let us know that the church had extended the call to James unanimously.
Joy. Pure, thankful, relieved, never-ending joy.
That was two Sundays ago. In the past three weeks, we have : painted the new house so graciously provided by the church, packed up our house in Waco, unloaded it all into our new house, unpacked, decorated, had Wednesday night church with the youth group, set up, prepped and packed for Community Rehab Project which we were gone to all last week, and eaten more chicken fried steak, been given more hugs, and experienced feeling at home more than I ever knew possible.
We are exhausted but so so excited. I can't believe that this has all happened in 8 weeks but I don't doubt for one second that God's time table is much more fulfilling than any I ever could have created. I appreciate all of you being so gracious with me as I've been absent during this transition.
I hope each and every one of you has lived at least a little on faith recently. Stripping away the promises we so often cling to for security reveals so much about what holds priority in our lives. Faith is a lot sturdier than we believe sometimes. Trust it and step out. I promise the reward overshadows the fear.
xoxo,
Lauren
