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| Let God Surprise You |
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Let God Surprise You
by Heather Whitestone McCallum & Angela Hunt
So I started reading this book today and already I'm in love. It's really speaking to my heart, and I realized there was a reason I found this book on my last trip to El Paso, TX, in the small "Religion" section of a little second-hand bookstore. It caught me at the Introduction, and has kept me since. It's an easy read, full of good stories from the author's personal life, and classic stories from the Bible. The book so far is all about trusting God's plan in our lives, and knowing that God will bring to life the dreams He's planted in our spirits. It's about hope and triumph and receiving God's endless - and I like the word she uses: outrageous - gifts.
This is an important message for me right now because I'm in a time of transition, but more than that I'm in a time where I see God's hand in my life more than ever. I'm trusting Him with major decisions in my life and really trying to let Him use me and mold me into the person I was meant to be. I've already seen HUGE blessings and outrageous answers to prayer. So I already know that God answers prayer and makes dreams reality, but it's never bad to read about how He's worked in so many others' lives too.
So what are some of my dreams, and what are some ways God has surprised me?
Well I'll start with the latter...
I just recently moved to Tucson. I've been making the back-and-forth drive (150 miles one-way) to and from Phoenix for several months. I kept feeling the nudge to move to Tucson. Finally I gave in and decided to listen to God, pack up my things, leave my job and friends, and come to Tucson. I love my church here and knew it was what God wanted. But I just didn't know WHY He wanted it. Last week some of it was realized.
I knew part of my purpose was involvement in this church, in one capacity or another. I also knew it would bring healing to different areas of my own life. What I didn't know was that God would surprise me with EXACTLY what I'd been praying for (This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. - 1 John 5: 14-15) ... AND MORE.
I asked for an opportunity to serve God in a real, tangible way, and also asked that He help me find a good Christian support network to help me stay grounded in my own faith and health. I'm finding all kinds of ways to help where I can around the church, and am excited to get involved more with the youth programs there. I'm also excited about another possible opportunity to share what God's healing has done for my life with people who have not-so-ordinary struggles, like me. I'll leave it at that for now. But that opportunity came after God revealed how awesome He is by opening doors for EXACTLY the kind of support I was seeking. Through a series of twists and "Godincidences" (not coincidences) God was able to show off. I now have a wonderful (as only God could've orchestrated) Christian community, and may even be able to use it to help others see the hope, peace, and healing that God provides. It's pretty amazing.
As for some of my dreams?
Well... I want to work with all youth, but I think God's calling is for me to work with adolescent/teen girls. My dream is to finish my degree in Psychology (and I'm looking into adding Christian counseling or Theology) and become a therapist. My even bigger - more outrageous - dream is to open up my own Christian-based treatment center for Eating Disorders, Addictions, and Sexual Trauma. I want to open a Christ-centered place which is affordable and accessible. I know it's an enormous dream, but that's my dream nonetheless.
In the meatime, I'd be happy finding a job! :-p This has proven quite the task, and I'm not sure why. I know it's been a part of God's plan for me to be out of work this last month, but come on already! haha! Well, I found out this week that my resume was sent on by AZ Teen Challenge to the Springboard Home for Youth here in Tucson. I'm praying over this opportunity and would love it if any of you could do the same! I really feel it's a good fit, but I haven't even been called for the interview yet, so who knows what will come of it, if anything. I'm hoping this one's in God's plan! We'll see. |
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| To add a comment to "Let God Surprise You" |
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| October 10, 2007 |
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Kyleen,
I'll stand in faith with you. Believing God has ordered your steps.
Pastor Aminata |
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| October 10, 2007 |
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| I'll be happy to liftt you up in prayer. Thanks for sharing. |
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| October 10, 2007 |
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I'll pray for your job situation. How wonderful to be walking where God is leading. It's amazing how even if you step in one direction and head down a path, God takes charge and redirects things if we're faithful (personal experience). Thanks for sharing.
Peace! |
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| October 11, 2007 |
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| Thanks Pastor Aminata, Dave, and Gene. Still no word on the job, but I'm trying to keep my eyes on God in it all. Just getting hard... trusting this much is tough stuff! :-p |
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| October 15, 2007 |
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What you want to do with your life is so much like what I want to do with my life! Almost exactly actually! That's really amazing! I will be praying for you and I pray that it's God's will to help teen girls with eating disorders and other problems!
~Alex~ |
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| October 15, 2007 |
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| Thanks so much Alex! The more people we have out there trying to reach and bring healing to youth, the better! I'll pray for you as well! |
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| October 16, 2007 |
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Hello Dear one,
How precious you are...
When I walk in Love God is present.. 1 John 4:12
So this is written with love, so God is present as I wrote this and, you read this.. Embrace him right now..
I am praying for God's will for prosperity in your life and you will wait for, and seek the Lord...
Be Blessed!
Your sister in Christ, Dora |
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| October 16, 2007 |
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| Thank you for the prayer and blessing, Dora! |
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| November 01, 2007 |
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| I see your heart is to work with adolescent/teen girls. I'm a Children's Pastor. We've adopted several children out of abuse/neglect situations. We adopted Brooke at the age of 12. (She's 17 now.) Well, a few weeks ago she told the doctor that she wanted to committ suicide. So he had her committed to a mental hospital. She told them out there that she had desires to hurt little children. (Broooke is so gentle,she wouldn't do that.) But because of the threat she went into longer term care. Please pray for Brooke. Thanks |
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| November 04, 2007 |
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| Pran - I will most definitely pray for Brooke. I already have, and will continue to do so. I know it had to have been a hard decision for you to send her to a longer-term facility. Things for you must be tough too, so you will be in my prayers as well. |
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| November 08, 2007 |
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Cheers up :) i'll pray for you |
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| November 09, 2007 |
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Thanks so much for sharing.... I came across it while checking my email.... I joined MyChurch a few weeks back. I'm going thru some major changes myself and I'm seeking God's Direction, Peace and Grace.
My thoughts and prayers are with you as you embark on ALL the our mighty God has for you.
May Gods Peace rest upon you always.
In Christ,
Tom Y
ty_emt
Hopatcong, NJ |
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| November 09, 2007 |
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PJ - thanks! :)
Tom - May God's peace be with you too. Seeking His direction will provide some of that for you, but I'll add my prayers along with it. I pray that He has his hand in your changes right now, and that you be blessed as a result of them. |
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| November 10, 2007 |
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Thanks for sharing your testimony of journey and trust. We seem to be in similar places, and its a blessing to witness the faith of a Sister who understands the power of trusting His plans, and the pain of letting go of our own. Touching and agreeing with you that His perfect will is perfectly manifested in your life.
Grace and Peace,
Loris Adams |
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| November 11, 2007 |
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| Thanks Loris... letting our own plans go and trusting in God's is certainly not easy. But man it's rewarding!! God bless! |
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| December 07, 2007 |
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How's the job search going? Hope you are doing well. I know where you are coming from and what it is like to step out in faith and start over. Really though, it's not so much starting over as it is beginning, is it? Merry Christmas--all my prayers go with you!
Love, Tonya |
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| December 07, 2007 |
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| Since God is leading you, you know it will all work out in the end. Praying for your job situation. |
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| December 08, 2007 |
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| Thanks Tonya and Deb! :) I actually got offered a job as a Christian Counselor at the Springboard Home for Youth in Crisis (which wasn't even the job position I'd applied for) within 2 weeks of posting this!! How crazy is that?! God certainly had it all worked out all along. I prayed over the opportunity with Springboard, and over the staff and girls there... prayed with others specifically about Teen Challenge, and within two weeks I'd interviewed and been offered the position as a counselor. It's been 6-7 weeks now, and even though it's tough, and taking some adjusting, I LOVE it. Helping adolescent girls has been my passion and now I'm living it. God is so good! |
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