We have now lived in St. Louis for a month, well a month tomorrow. So much has changed in the past month and yet so much has not changed. Some things that Jacob and I have not changed in our life is family worship, attending church, fellowship with family, and cheering for our football teams. Although there are aspects of our life that have stayed the same, many have changed. Jacob is now a full time student at Covenant Theological Seminary (classes start this week), a new job for me in an actual company, a new area to navigate, church searching and learning a new routine. These have been changes that we anticipated for and were excited to happen. Now that these changes are happening, we are very thankful for them and what God has given us.
I have been very blessed to have a job that I LOVE. When I started applying for jobs in St. Louis, I half-heartly applied knowing I would KNOW the job I wanted when I saw it and hoped I would get it. I prayed that this would happen, but also knew that I needed to be applying to jobs I really didn't want as well. The goal was to obtain a job ASAP, and then if wanted I could continue searching for THAT ONE job. Through all my job searching I was only called in for 1 interview. I went to this interview and really liked the company and hoped to be hired. Two weeks later I called back to inquire about my first interview and was granted a second interview. This time I would be spending time in 3 different classrooms and meeting the teachers I would possibly work beside. Again, after this interview I knew that this was the job for me. I could envision myself working in 2 of these classrooms. I could picture me parking there and becoming a part of this community. At one point I was telling my mom "if you turn this way you will get to my work." Throughout the entire process I was praying that this would be the job God wanted me to have and if not that I would find work soon. I prayed CONSTANTLY that I would receive this position and that this was where God wanted me to be for the next 3 years. About a week later, I received a call from the company saying they would like to hire me and have me start in 2 days. I was thrilled!!!! I was hired to be the assistant teacher in the infant classroom at this daycare. I get to work with babies (under 14 months) every day ALL day long!! This was definitively an answered prayer.
This week I began my 3rd week of work at this job and I still LOVE it. I get to spend the day caring for babies, and watching them grow. I have been given the gift of feeding, nurturing and teaching infants. In 3 weeks I have already seen so many accomplishments of these children; one has started rolling over, another put himself to sleep, and another has almost rolled over. I am so thankful that I am able to see these accomplishments everyday and praise God for them. I am so thankful for this job!
I just wanted to take some time to share with all of you our journey of finding a job and trusting God. We trusted God to provide employment and did not stress or worry about our future. We know that God is in control and will provide as needed, and he provided in HIS time exactly when we needed it most.
Jeremiah 29:11
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Jacob's Sermon on Luke 1
Jacob recently had the wonderful opportunity to preach at the Church where he served as pastoral intern. It was a wonderful, blessed sabbath day, filled with encouragement. Both of us felt extremely supported by our families, friends, and Brothers and Sisters who were there that day. For anyone who is interested in listening to the audio of the Sermon, please click on the following link.
The Sermon was on Luke 1:5-25
5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.
8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”
21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.
23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
The Sermon was on Luke 1:5-25
5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.
8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”
21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.
23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
Jacob's Site
http://tomanstome.blogspot.com/Hey Everyone! I know I haven't been around much and will probably go down to posting about once a week (hopefully) but I wanted to let you know about Jacob's website if you do not already know. He writes on his website more frequently, hopefully at least twice a week, about issues relevant to us and seminary. If you are interested in reading some about our convictions, and what is being learned check out his site!
http://tomanstome.blogspot.com/
http://tomanstome.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
December Newsletter
We have finally sent our our newsletter for December. This month we made a video instead of the standard newsletter. If you are interested in seeing the video, please let us know and we can email it to you. Thanks to all our supporters!!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Praise God!
Praise God! I (amy) now have a full time job! I start work this week and will be an associate teacher in the infant classroom at a daycare. I am so excited to have a job working with babies. I enjoyed meeting the teacher in the classroom and can't wait to share all about my new job.
Since I am working in a daycare there are a few requirements/test that I must get done in the next few weeks. I need to have a physical, tb test, and Hep. A vaccine. Fun Fun (not really) I'm not thrilled with having to get a Hep. A vaccine. I thought I was all done getting vaccines and shots for the most part, but I guess not. oh well just a small price to pay. But I am very thankful to have employment!!
Have a great night everyone! I will post more about my job sometime later this week.
Since I am working in a daycare there are a few requirements/test that I must get done in the next few weeks. I need to have a physical, tb test, and Hep. A vaccine. Fun Fun (not really) I'm not thrilled with having to get a Hep. A vaccine. I thought I was all done getting vaccines and shots for the most part, but I guess not. oh well just a small price to pay. But I am very thankful to have employment!!
Have a great night everyone! I will post more about my job sometime later this week.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Gradtitudes Are Back!
My Thankfulness posts have not gone away, they have just been postponed. I have been trying to keep track of God's blessings in our lives but it has gotten away from me during our move. Now that we are settled, I am back into tracking our blessings and still have the goal of recording 1,000! I'm not sure how long it will take, but it is still my goal. It may take me years but I can't wait to get a record of One thousand blessings in my life.
42. Our Supporters
43. Warm Showers
44. Microwave
45. Cuddles w/ a toddle (i do miss "my boys" a lot)
46. safe travels
42. Our Supporters
43. Warm Showers
44. Microwave
45. Cuddles w/ a toddle (i do miss "my boys" a lot)
46. safe travels
47. Sofa! –soft place to sit
48. sister’s nearby
49. Sunshine!
54. Connecting w/ new friends
55. Connecting with old friends
58. take a walk in the sunshine to the mailbox
59. 2nd interview at a daycare
60. a sleeping Wallace (tired from all our walks)
61. Unexpected Blessings
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Moved!
Yay! We have moved! Jacob and I are so thrilled to finally be in our new town and preparing to start seminary in 2 weeks. We drove into the city on Christmas night and it was so beautiful! The first few weeks living here have been/will be spent on making our new apartment our home. We are very much looking forward to feeling like we have a home again.
Over the past 3 months, Michigan started to feel like a messy hotel room, not home. Ask anyone who came over after late September...the apartment looked like we felt, displaced and ready to move!
Our entire apartment was taken apart, things we needed were packed and it was a MESS! I hated just "waiting" to move, but learned to make the best of it and enjoy the time we had with our friends and family.
Now that we are in our house, we are again adjusting to a new schedule. Jacob is working at a Hobby Lobby here and works about 30 hours a week. I am still looking for a job, but do have a second interview this Friday for a job I would LOVE to have. Meanwhile, I have been unpacking and truly making our house a home. We dearly miss all our friends and family in Michigan but are looking forward to the lifelong friendships we hope to make here.
Over the past 3 months, Michigan started to feel like a messy hotel room, not home. Ask anyone who came over after late September...the apartment looked like we felt, displaced and ready to move!
Our entire apartment was taken apart, things we needed were packed and it was a MESS! I hated just "waiting" to move, but learned to make the best of it and enjoy the time we had with our friends and family.
Now that we are in our house, we are again adjusting to a new schedule. Jacob is working at a Hobby Lobby here and works about 30 hours a week. I am still looking for a job, but do have a second interview this Friday for a job I would LOVE to have. Meanwhile, I have been unpacking and truly making our house a home. We dearly miss all our friends and family in Michigan but are looking forward to the lifelong friendships we hope to make here.
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