Decision made

First, I just want to thank those of you that have been praying for us during this time of decision making. We were praying for a clear answer to our question, and what we got was something somewhat different. We got a non-answer. The other party, who started this whole process, suddenly dropped off the face of the planet. After two more emails from me, with no response, Lance and I had some real heart to hearts about what it all meant. We sought some counsel with our decision and were affirmed in our belief. So, for now, I continue to bloom where God has planted me. I will be staying in my current job and trying to "lead where I am at." This principal has been ingrained in my head this past year and is only getting stronger. We have some new paths that we will be following and I am not sure where they will lead, but I do know that God sees the big picture and I feel confident that this is the path I am supposed to follow.

I have one biblical counseling class left. It will be a celebration of an academic year shared together. It will be bittersweet as my dear friend is going to follow a new path and will not be a part of this new ministry God has for me. But I am also so excited to start volunteering in the counseling ministry. During our role-playing, I really feel so natural and God has given me so many affirmations that this is where he wants me right now.

In tandem with the biblical counseling, I will be starting a new Master's program through Capella University in Mental Health Counseling. It is a 92 credit course, so it will be like doing my undergrad all over again. I start my first class on June 9. I am so looking forward to learning all I can and applying my new knowledge to my volunteer work, as well as my work as a teacher. My original intention in my undergrad was to minor in counseling, but I got scared away from that in PSY 101 when Pavlov's dogs brought up my particular conditioned response. (That moment sent me on a journey of healing from my childhood abuse.) God works in funny ways - 12 years later, I am back to step one in pursuing counseling, but with much more knowledge and more importantly, knowing who I am in God. When God decides to pursue you, he does not let go. When God decides his purpose for you, he guides you back to it and gives you a passion that will not let you go. That is what I love about God. He pursues me relentlessly, but I never feel pushed or shoved. I just feel overwhelming love.

So, this non-answer has led my husband and I to settle in our lives here a little bit more. And a new path has been opened up for me to follow. As I start this new journey, please pray that I will follow God's ways fully in counseling as I learn from a secular viewpoint and that I would lead where I am at in my workplace. I have an idea that God has planted regarding work and it is getting stronger as the days go on. Perhaps I can use my holy discontent to do something about the spiritual condition I find myself surrounded in through this new idea.

Again, to my faithful friends, your prayers mean so much. I love you.