Where am I???

Man! I feel like I've been around the world and not quite back.
Though my sphere of influence has always been right here, I haven't moved anywhere, I find myself in a completely new, but old at the same time, community.
Still I consider the apostle Paul. He was converted, spent years away from his hometown learning and growing the the Lord Jesus Christ. Then he eventually came back to his hometown and preached the Lord Jesus there. Yes, that is what I feel has happened here. To some degree...certainly not the apostle Paul and have certainly not been through the hardships he endured.
Leading church in our home was a really neat time. Wow. Had no clue the spiritual level that it takes you to. The target on your back becomes like a red hot, flashing light for a bulls eye. Dang! Wow. Seriously. Did not quite expect the level of spiritual warfare that goes down.
Also during this time though, God taught us so much. Trust Him, rely on Him for everything. Everything. He never left us. It felt like a hot, hotter than hot and dry desert. During this time we realized that if we were to go into ministry we best make our calling sure. This stuff isn't for sissy's. And its probably a good idea to go about it the right way. A core of believers surrounding you is very important for encouragement and just simply praying for the needs from within. Still such a season of learning and growth.
Its been amazing and humbling to sit still, rest in Him, and be completely subject to His guidance. The awesome thing is when you come to a place of running out of yourself, being so completely alone, He takes over. He will NOT take second place even to our best efforts of what we think is the good and right thing. Not every good thing is His thing.
Now we find ourselves at a very unconventional place of worship. We would have never tried it before having gone through this season. I know its sad to say, for so many reasons. Its neat to see God guide us, and really comfort us as a faithful Father. This church is young, many exciting things going on in the lives of those who come there. I pray that the Lord is exalted among these people that they would see God for all of His magnificence and that they would know He desires great, great things for them. I pray that God would use us to help shine His presence, to be His vessel for all that I know He desires to do there. I pray that my husband and I would remain still, and sit awhile as we wait for Him to move. That our mouths wouldn't speak unless He would have it. I pray that anytime our mouths do open that it would bring ministry, comfort, healing, wisdom, His presence to those who earnestly seek Him.
We don't know what tomorrow holds. We wait, we pray, we seek Him. Will my husband further his medical career as planned a year ago once he has his bachelors by the fall? Will he feel called, assuredly, to ministry? We won't move until He makes it clear. Until then we will be who He has called us to be where He has called us to. We hope you pray for us as well as our oikos...

Why hello blog world

Been such awhile but thought I'd catch ya up really quick on some amazing things.
First God is as always so good so good.
I was able to see a woman get baptized yesterday who a week prior was so messed, wanting to die, fogged by vodka, pain killers, and antidepressants. So malnourished, and her body so wrecked that clumps of hair were falling out. I first met her about two years ago when the Lord put her on my heart and had me pray for her. My pastor had always taught to be sensitive to the Spirit and if God lays someone on your heart to pray for you'd better be bold and ask them if you can pray for them. to let God be glorified. At that time she hadn't yet found herself in the circumstances God just rescued her from. I didn't know her, had never seen her but felt compelled to tell her that Jesus loved her, He was there for her and she had a story to tell, His story. I could see that she was of the world and didn't yet know Jesus but He was calling for her.
Time passed, we connected through her good friend who brought her to church that day. Spent some time trying to show her how to read her bible, that Jesus was beckoning her but she needed to let go of the love for the world. She wasn't ready. Fast forward two years, much pain, much of the story was yet to be written. I watched it play out, her heart turned hard towards Christians, God, and she only wanted the pleasures of this life. She left for another town, same scene and through much pain God rescued her. He sent His ambassadors to pull her from the muck, the mire, the mud. Guided by the Holy Spirit they took the three hour trip to find her and pull her out of this mess. She surrendered. To Christ she came. She sobered up, began to hunger for Christ, laid it all down and was baptized yesterday afternoon. HALLELUJAH!!!
She still remembers our time in prayer, she remembers how the timing was right for then, how these other women played such a critical role in her life and coming to know Jesus. She knows just how desperate she became for Christ and hopes to never forget what life is like without her Savior. Watching her be baptized, her understanding that Jesus washed all her sins away, watching the Son shine on her yesterday afternoon in that pool as we sang Amazing Grace was simply an amazing testimony to the power of Christ. Simply amazing.
I wish I could really convey what an amazing sight the past two years with her has been. There is a time for everything. Trust God, hear His voice, trust Him and His timing. He hears your prayers and reconciles those who are His. Praise Him.