As all of you know... Before moving to Sydney I had given it a lot of thought and prayer!
I had prayed in specific for God to be ...
'Jehovah Jireh' "THE LORD WHO PROVIDES" and he has been so faithful to that! I prayed for:
1-A house where I can be of use for God's glory
2-A part time job (working with kids/youth) or ideally a job in ministry
3-A home church
4-An older mentor
5-An opportunity to go overseas (whether this be to Africa or somewhere else)
6- For God to make it clear if he wanted Josh and me to be serving him together (at the same church) or individually.
And God has been so faithful to my move to Sydney and provided all of these! (Sorry if I've repeated a bit of stuff you've already heard...)
1- I had a place to board that was $150 a week, however when I went their to meet the family (before I moved up) I felt God telling me that he had bigger plans, and I was so unsettled by the idea of living their. 2 days after I had decided to decline living with the family (and had no where else to live, no friends up here and no connections to find somewhere) I went on a church camp with Josh. Josh had invited his mate from work who was not a Christian and his mates girlfriend came along to. They ended up giving their lives to Jesus on the same day and that evening they asked me to live with them to help disciple, pray with them and keep them accountable to their decision to follow Christ! So God provided me with too new Christian flat mates to disciple and grow with, a lovely house and a cheap as $50 rent a week!
2- Last week I got offered a job as the 'Youth & Childrens Minister' of Engadine Community Church! The crazy part is, that I hadn't even applied for the job!
My mentor from Melbourne is an intercessor for their church's growth and ministry. She suggested me for the job and before me even meeting me the minister, his prayer team had felt God reveal to them that I was the one for the job! How crazy is God! I accepted the job a couple of days ago and have felt this excitement and peace wash over me since.
3- The church is exactly my kind of church. They all move in the spirit, however the church and it's people are so humble and real and they are passionate about mission too (sponsoring past members of their congregation to work in Uganda and reaching out to the wider community). As well as this, the majority of the people their (including the minister) have all studied at Tabor in Sydney and their teaching's and sermons are so deep and help me to think deeper and grow in my knowledge of the bible.
4- As well as this, an older woman at the church has offered to mentor me... She see's in the spiritual realm (like me) and hears from God through visions! So I am excited to spend more time learning from her.
5- I have a friend who lives in Thailand and is a 'house mum' for a dorm of girls at an orphanage. My friend referred me to the the boss and so... I am going to Chang Mai in April to do 10 days mission work with these children and missionaries! I still feel God calling me to Africa to learn more about mission. However I feel that he is putting me on hold for the year to finish my Diploma and work at this church. I think Thailand is God's way of giving me an opportunity to do some short term mission, yet get the qualifications and experience I need before Africa or maybe even longer term mission.
6- Josh and I had been praying since I took the job, that God would make it clear if he wanted Josh to attend Engadine Community Church with me or not.
4 days after I accepted the job and had been praying about this the minister of my new church offered Josh a job in the same position as me, working along side each other and with the kids and youth of the church! God is sooo good!
So now begins a new journey with God! Studying his word 2 days a week (at Tabor college) and working 3 days a week with Josh as the Youth/Childrens ministers!- running youth group, youth church, youth band, bible studies, prayer groups, kids club and after school kid's activities... And I am sooo excited!
May this be an encouragement to all of you... that not only is God...
'Jehovah Jireh' "THE LORD WHO PROVIDES"but that...
"GOD DOESN'T CALL THE EQUIPPED...
BUT HE EQUIPS THE CALLED!"
BUT HE EQUIPS THE CALLED!"
May God pour out his blessings on all your lifes this year!