Pick up your shield!

Wow, the winds of change are blowing. (Did you feel it Kristin?) We've sensed for a while that the winds were about to shift directions, and they really have. It wasn't even subtle - it was like all the weathervanes were pointing west and then a gust of wind blew through and now they're all pointing east.
I don't know about you, but a lot of "stuff" has gone down in the last week or so - big things, little things and really extraordinary things.
David's search for a new job has really begun. Resume complete - applications submitted, and the search continues. In the middle of all that - there's a big change. I guess it's a priority shift and a recognition of our place in what God's doing around here. I can't imagine him searching for a job at any other time - and he is finally a BSU grad, so his degree will make pursuing a job that much easier.
As for what God is doing, well - he's shaking things up. Not in a little way. In a really big way. (so, Cassidy, you might want to get ready to 'sing opera'!) From the things I've been reading, God is calling things out all over the country. Things that need to be repented and ways that need to change - right now! My sis-in-law just wrote to me and said that they had a similar wind change at their youth camp last week. She said the alter was surrounded with young people repenting and releasing deep dark sins that they had been bound to. That there was so much freedom gained in one week.
The stuff in my head is so big, I'm having trouble tying it all together, but here are a few words that have been spoken that I think are really relevant.

*Kristin's vision of gathering tulips - and realizing that the harvest season is short*
*Erica's dream of the storm gathering, the flood waters rising - and the people standing around talking about how they should plan for it, instead of moving to higher ground.*
*My picture of the tsunami - the turning on a heel and running fast, warning all who will listen*
* Carly's picture of someone choking, and standing up to help them - then getting distracted before she reaches them*
*a picture of blueprints of the church - and realizing that somewhere in our history the blueprint was misinterpreted, so we've built the church over and over again, but part of it is out of spec. Now after all these years of church, we have recognized that error and are afraid to fix it because it's going to be really messy. It will take some major demolition to get to that error and fix it - but it's GOT to be done*

Some kind of conclusion? No, not this time - this is just the beginning of some really big things. Let's say this is the launch pad. I say, gather your weapons, and don't forget your shield - 'cause it's time for taking this next ridge! Anybody with me?
jenn

Feel the Burn?!

I am feeling stretched... it's getting painful. I think something's got to give. There's a time for perseverence and a time to change things up. At this point, I really don't know what the answer is. Do we persevere ... again... some more? Do we just accept things the way they are? - I doubt it. I guess it's just time for some real deep pressing in. Asking, pleading - "God, where do You want us, and what do You want us to do? We are Yours! Do with us as You wish!" I know that He will supply the wisdom we need.
James 1:5 "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."
What's this all about?
Life. Well, yeah... life - but more specifically, "are we supposed to be here right now, still?"
I mean, David's night shift, well, it sucks. I don't know what it's really accomplishing other than making him tired and upsetting the balance of his "real" life. Seriously, your quality hours should not be spent at work, right? Well, when you are working 12 hour shifts - through the night, and have a family, etc. you end up spending your only "awake" hours at work - far away from your family and home.
The solution? We don't know. The shifts are the nature of his job, at his company. There's really no way around it. I mean, when he's on day shift, it all seems pretty peachy, but then come the 4 months of night shift and it always gets to the point where it is painful again.
With any other job at any other company, if he felt like this, we would just move on - get another job somewhere else, across town - but his job is such that "any other company" is not across town, it's in a different state. Or any number of different states.
Then that brings up a delicate question - are we supposed to be somewhere else? It is painful to even think of moving from here. We love it here - and we love our group of friends. Then again, whether we're comfortable with something or not is not the "answer" to whether we're supposed to be doing something or not.
So here we are.
Asking for direction. Knowing that God will give it to us liberally, because he is an abundantly good God.
Bring it on, Jesus. We are ready to hear your way - if that's here, then give us more strength, more wisdom with how to deal with this stuff... or give David favor where he works, so that he can do something different there. We know something has to change, so Lord - I pray that you will orchestrate that change. Open our eyes to the "big picture" of what's going on - and don't let us miss out on what You're doing! Give us patience and strength... and David rest.