Choosing to Trust God

I know I haven't updated everyone on the status of Roger's unemployment and its continued effects. But that doesn't mean nothing is going on. In fact, there is a lot going on. Just not a permanent job opportunity . . . yet. Next week marks 7 months of unemployment for him. 

This summer has been an interesting one on many fronts. We are continuing to grow closer together as a couple as well as spiritually, both individually and as a couple. More and more we have the opportunity to depend on God alone for strength and wisdom to handle each situation as it comes up.  

After six months of nonstop editing/proofreading jobs, July dried up. Several known factors play into that, not the least being the International Christian Retailers Show earlier in July. Every publisher focuses on what to bring out in time for the show, and then publishing comes to a near halt in order for everyone to catch their breath before heading into the final push for the Christmas season. 

In my "freer" time I've been working on a couple of story ideas, fleshing them out into proposal form. One of those ideas I was getting ready to pitch to Heartsong Presents, a mass market Christian romance bookclub imprint under Barbour Publishing. Yesterday, Barbour announced that at the end of the year they will be discontinuing this line. Sort of a double blow for me, as I have done most of my copy editing for them over the last two or three years. I've enjoyed working for the various editors over the past eleven years, and I'm very sorry to see them close down this line. 

Economically it makes sense. And the publishing world is changing across the board, with many people going the e-reader route as it is cheaper to produce. Even I have jumped on the e-book bandwagon with the Kindle my family gave me for my last birthday. Oh, don't worry. I still have stacks and stacks of print books waiting for me to review them. And we have overflowing bookshelves in nearly every room in the house. But I do love the convenience of carrying my Kindle loaded with books of nearly every genre when I travel or know I'll be waiting for an appointment. 

All summer, I've sensed the Lord preparing me to do more writing and the possibility of cutting back on the amount of editing and proofreading I do. And just within this past week, He's given me many verses and devotional readings that confirm and encourage me in this junction in the path He is guiding me on.

Our faith has been stretched, and it is continuing to get stretched even further, with our sporadic income. Right now, we're waiting on a large check for work I did last month so we can pay July's house payment . . . hopefully before August. With Randy's wedding coming up next week, we have some extra expenses related to that, which we had planned on. What we didn't plan on was the car problems we've had (both Randy's and ours), which thankfully Roger was able to fix at a fraction of the cost. Nor did we plan on our air-conditioning going out during the hottest and most humid weather Denver has experienced in a few years. And of course in the middle of this, our sewer line backed up . . . once again. But none of these things came as a surprise to the Lord.

So I'm ending this post with a few of the verses and devotional thoughts the Lord has blessed us with in the last week. We are still choosing to trust God with everything. It hasn't been easy, but we can still praise Him for His goodness and His faithfulness. Truly all we have needed He has provided.

July 21, 2011

“My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9–10

But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the lovingkindness [mercy] of God forever and ever. I will give You thanks forever, because You have done it, and I will wait on Your name, for it is good, in the presence of Your godly ones. Psalm 52:8–9

The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously. James 4:5

“J. B. Mayer’s translation of this phrase . . . ‘jealously yearns for the entire devotion of the heart.’ How grand to be so loved; how unworthy to squander any part of our love elsewhere than on Him. Away, then, with worldliness.” (Guy King, James: A Belief that Behaves)

In their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.” Hosea 5:15

“Lean hard upon Me, for I bring you through to new victories, and restoration shall follow what seems now to be a wind of destruction. Draw upon the resources of My grace. Heaven rejoices when you go through trials with a singing spirit.” (Francis J. Roberts, Come Away My Beloved)

 

July 25, 2011

When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, in God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. Psalm 56:3–4

You make known to me the path of life. Psalm 16:11

“I will instruct you in the good and right way.” 1 Samuel 12:23

July 26, 2011

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to you for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until this violent storm is past. I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me. . . . My heart is confident in you, O God; no wonder I can sing your praises! . . . I will thank you, Lord, in front of all the people. I will sing your praises among the nations. For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens. May your glory shine over all the earth. Psalm 57:1–2, 7, 9–11 nlt

Give thanks to His holy name! Psalm 97:12

“I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go.” Isaiah 48:17

Jesus said unto him, “Follow Me.” Matthew 8:22

“The time is now. Run after Me as I move, because I am moving rapidly and am doing a quick work. Pay no attention to any voice except the voice of the Spirit. Let no one use you except the Father. Believe no one except the Son. Live in expectancy and move in absolute obedience.

            “Break out of old patterns and make no provision for your own personal wishes. Purify your desires so that you do not stand in Your own way.” (Frances J. Roberts, Progress of Another Pilgrim)