Running for Office!

I’ve just completed one of the most amazing ‘seasons’ of my journey so far. And I wouldn't be me if I didn't share more of God's goodness with His timing with the One Year Bible. Today's reading has a couple scriptures I love and should share as you read. John 6:47 says, "I tell you the truth, anyone who Believes has eternal life." And then Psalm 107:2 says, "Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies." This time last year, I began pleading with God for me to get busy. Basically with the exceptions of a couple things like getting re-married in 2008, (which yes this was a change) the vision God gave me in 2007 was still not moving in the direction that seemed to be making a difference in people’s lives. I worked from home which was good, but I kept thinking I’m not busy enough and I really needed some people interaction in order to do what I’ve felt God was calling me too. Honestly, between you and me, I really didn’t understand most of the vision He gave me and because I’ve spent most of my life ‘making it happen,’ I’ve really struggled because I’ve known this one is God’s and I have to wait for him...oh so not easy. However, I have noticed what I think might have been going on is God has been doing ‘that’ character building/testing in me quite possibly like he did in Joseph before he went out to publicly serve/lead the way God had created and intended for him to do. So-to bring you up to date, God has been up to much! This time last year my husband and I had been living in ‘the new place’ I spoke about so often in my blogs in 2010. Again, I don’t believe in coincidences as the name of the place was called The Dominion. I had the most amazing time with my middle daughter living with us as it was her senior year of high school. Again-the healing the Lord was doing with my daughter’s and I was so sweet. My ultimate hope during this time was to equip her for what was next. She would soon be heading off to college to earn her degree as well as use the gift of soccer God had given her and play for the school as well. By the end of May, her oldest sister had graduated with her Under Grad as she had planned to head to Law School to use the gift God had given her with knowledge and that could only be from him! (wow-we’re still amazed at her accomplishments with graduating Cum Lade as well as many honors)She was accepted by several Law Schools. She had researched the Law program at the school her middle sister planned to attend and made the decision to attend the same school with her! She said the idea of going to school with her sister would be an amazing opportunity. (YES-for me-a Mother’s dream as the one thing I prayed for with my 3 daughter’s was for them to see their sister’s as their best friends and then any other friend was an added bonus.) At the beginning of June, I felt the Lord ‘tapping me on the shoulder’ as He had done so many times in my life with the "this might not make sense type tapping, but trust in me." I was led to put on a suit and take my resume to an apartment community that was positioned right in the middle of my ‘home’ and my youngest Daughter’s high school. I was also led to explore the job of Chaplain I spoke about before. I really thought this position was ‘IT!’ ‘THIS’ would be the job that took me ‘THERE” to get the vision God gave me going! ~Ready-set-let’s go! By the end of June, I ended up getting hired with both positions. They were both part time. Well-odd enough, I felt I was more effective as a Chaplain at the Apartment community than in the Chaplain job where I would walk into businesses with the hopes of being there for anyone with a spiritual type need. The problem was those with a need, really opened up and shared. I soon was running out of the allotted time for each individual company and my efforts were not working with the intended model of the company. July came and went, tearfully my middle daughter left to begin her soccer/college career as well as the need for the ‘new place’ at the Dominion was ending and we moved back to our ‘home.’ By August, both daughter’s were getting settled in what they were doing and I was getting re-settled with what God was doing. I also re-claimed the role of ‘Mom’s taxi’ with the youngest daughter as she was a sophomore in High school. Oh my heavens, the Lord was showing me much and doing much in me. My position with the Apt. Community was Part Time Leasing Agent. This was the Industry I had worked in since 1991 where I’ve worked in almost every facet of the Industry. As I started hearing/reading in the One Year Bible, those who are the greatest will be the weakest, and those who are the weakest will be the greatest, I felt this was my ‘training program’ to teach me what a true Jesus like servant was. In kind of an akqueward situation, it was mentioned how a Manager doesn’t share with the staff (me) their business when I was introduced to one of the Manager’s from one our other communities. At this point I was hearing I would be ‘washing feet’ as Jesus did for His disciples. No long after, I was asked to help out the community where this particular Manager was and essentially be ‘washing her feet’ as well as the other’s. This was tough, I knew I was to be Jesus like and even though I worked for the company, I was working for God knowing he was watching my every move. Time passed and I began feeling comfortable enough ‘to come out of the closet’ with my Faith. It was so sweet. People would open up with the reason they were moving or considering a move and when I shared a little bit of who I am, it seemed they ‘lit up’ with a comfort knowing ‘something’ led them to our community. Over and over, as this would happen, I began bringing some of my One Year Bible’s I still had from my car getting stolen to give, if the person wanted to receive it. January 2012 began. I always have a phrase-motto from God and this year is very simple, but really big if you think about it: “2012-The Year to~Believe!” This year was different. God had been teaching me how to use the fruits of the spirit in the work place as well as true humility and most important what it meant to ‘serve’ people. I felt like I did my job well, but as I thought about it, I kept hearing above and beyond to be a better servant to both the company and the people who called our community-home. Honestly, I had to start spending some extra time with God asking for His will each day and not mine as I went to work which meant me taking off any ‘me’ and being the vessel here in the workplace he called me to be. Wow. So many real Relationships with people began happening and our community was looking GREAT on paper! For me, so much clarity was beginning to set in as I began to sense God was stirring something in me quite simple but possibly ‘world changing’ and that was doing things different. Really experiencing what it was to live and work in the world, but not be like the world. I’ve been walking with a new peace, love and confidence that can only be from God. Life at home and work had settled down not because life wasn’t happening and things weren’t going on but because, I know deep down in my core God’s love for me. No matter what is going on, regardless where I’m working, what I’m doing, God is with me, He is my provider, He will never leave me or forsake me. Also- if there is something someone does or happens that might cause pain, HE WILL heal me and make me whole. By the beginning of March, I sensed things were not far from changing. One day as I was driving home from work, God took me to the calendar visually. He showed me I was to give notice March 23 to end my time with the job of Part Time Leasing. This was not going to be easy for me as God had created something extremely special between my co-workers and the Residents who lived in the community. In fact, when people came to tour the community, I no longer needed to sell or point out the amenities as much as I shared there was something amazing happening in this community and if you are looking for a place to call ‘home’ where you experience true peace, this is it. As I’m typing this, I’m smiling now as I think of pens we purchased for marketing which was says, “I’m lost and need a new home.” Oh so true of so many of us. Mid March, our community reached 100% occupancy as well as received one of the company’s top honors of 5 Stars. This meant we achieved high Resident satisfaction as well as maintained the job expectation to the company’s highest standards! Yes, God was performing his miracles in the workplace just like His Word says. March 23rd came. I woke up with such a heavy heart. I had been praying God would open a new door for me to know I was to give notice to leave the job I had grown to love so much. My husband was so supportive of me moving on. During all this time, I’ve felt God was stirring in me to be part of the movement to bring Him and His Word back to our homes, jobs and Nation. Early January I felt I was supposed to take this blog and allow it to become an outline of the Chapters God had given me back in 2006 to become a book. No profit intended, however to be a tool to encourage many to see how God has worked in my life and he will do the same for you. As I spent the morning in the Word, I felt ‘that tapping’ again. My sister in law had given me the book, “The Resolution for Women” for Christmas. It had been sitting on my nightstand since then. I was now been asking God to put up a road block if I was not supposed to give my notice to the community today. I looked over and picked up the book. Opened and read the first couple of pages and it said, “All you need to know and care about is that in God’s impeccable timing and design, He has brought this book into your life for this particular season. “ Tears brimmed up pretty big and I knew I was to take one of the biggest steps of faith had taken so far. If this wasn’t enough, my Dad called. The past weekend, he had purchased a car for my oldest daughter and he wanted me to know why he did this. If you haven’t read my blog since the beginning, I will re-share quickly that it was 2005 I had become completely spiritless, started the year with a dui, had no job due to some very bad choices, needed to finalize my divorce that I had written and moved out of my home leaving my 3 daughter’s with their Dad in hopes I would regain my spirit. This was when I heard George W. Bush reads the Bible in a Year and ‘something’ stirred in me that I could and wanted to do this. This is when the One Year Bible stepped into my life and began the transformation process I pray could begin in many. Most kids who go thru this type divorce head on a downward path. Well-as I starting reading daily, I began giving the girls back to God. Everyone I came in contact with shunned me for leaving them, but I just kept doing what I knew I was supposed to be doing. If you will add up the years, it has now been 7 years. The girls didn’t head down, they began taking steps up. My relationship with their Dad is better than some married couples. We have been there every step of the way for them. So-back to my Dad and the car he bought. He bought the car for the oldest because he said he was so proud of the Girls and how their Dad and I have parented. Yes- again God get’s the glory as this has been my ultimate prayer for people to see something ‘different’ my life and the girls before I was walking daily in His Word and how ‘Life’ can be when you know God’s love and experience what Jesus died for completely surrendering ALL to him. As you know, a girl can’t hear her Dad tell her He’s proud of her enough! The days past and I spent as much time with God as I could and I continued with the Resolution book. So many of the resolutions were ‘that’ character building I spoke about earlier. It seemed these were the things God had been convicting me about mainly since I’ve been remarried. Many, many tests I didn’t do so well with, getting on my knee’s asking forgiveness and getting back up pleading with God to help me. He is faithful and as we are all a work in progress. Easter Sunday-2 weeks later, I finished the book again, with tears as I read the last chapter, “Leaving a Godly Legacy.” Again, remember, I’ve been feeling led to take my blog, which is basically, my journal to become a book to encourage people to read the Bible. It can be any Bible, but again, if they are like me, a new believer or not disciplined to read daily, I obviously think a One Year Bible is the best. So, the last paragraph reads, “ You are a woman whose story bears reading and repeating because your God is doing amazing things in you, whether or not you realize it. Things you don’t want to hide and downplay. Things others shouldn’t need to learn over again. Things that will help them launch into life with a spiritual boosts and a head start. My last day at the community was April 27. As I was headed in to celebrate this day, I heard the song that now sums up my life today, “Live Like That” by Sidewalk Prophets. So many of the Resident’s stopped in to wish me well. I kept telling them, “I’m not going anywhere, I’m just not going to be at this desk.” God was still doing what he does best! So~what office am I running for you might ask? In this election season, where it seems most of those running are more interested in saying and looking for ugly things in the lives of their opponents, I don’t plan to jump in with them. However, I know God wants me to help bring Him, our 10 Commandments, prayer, etc back to all parts of our Nation: our homes, schools, workplaces and DC! Again, knowing God is leading me and I’m not to be ‘in the world, but of the world’ and I’m to do things differently, I ‘Believe’ the position He wants me to run for could quite possibly be world changing. So-today I announce I am running for Peacemaker Of The United States of America to begin a movement of bringing peace and love back to our beautiful country the way God intended as WE ARE One Nation Under God! My 'platform' is my story and the Word of God and you want to know the best part? MANY can run for this office as well if you just Believe...as You know Trusting God for All!