#ANewThing by: Julie Wicker
I had an aha moment reading the Marth 30th Jesus Calling titled “I am taking care of you”. About a year ago God revealed to me I am on a long path. Since then I have made several long path decisions. One of those decisions, was to go back to school.

Another long path decision was to change careers. After working in the medical field for the last 16 years, I have started over as a secretary for Georgetown County School District and I couldn’t be happier or more humbled.
This year my children are turning 14 & entering high school. I felt it was time to draw near to them. Some may think this is a time to take a step back, but I feel this is when our kids need me the most. We need to be involved in what they are watching, listening to, the choices they are making. We need to be present and attentive in their everyday lives.
We all sin and fall short of the glory of God. My sin just happens to be my finances, my husband and I have not been good at managing our money over the years. Nor have we been good at tithing 10%. On this career move journey, I am taking a pay cut which is crazy considering my husband just changed jobs last year and took a pay cut. I can’t explain the over whelming feeling that God is going to take care of it.
In this Jesus calling devotion, one of the scriptures referenced is Jeremiah 29:13-14 “If you look for me wholeheartedly you will find me. I will be found by you, says the Lord, I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and I will bring you home again to your own land”
I can’t help but ponder… In our humbleness and faithfulness during this season, God is going to end our financial captivity as we surrender all to him. And at that point, he is going to redeem and restore our fortunes.
In this scripture it also says, “I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you”. I’ve also felt lead to enlarge my territory. I feel God is wanting me to stretch beyond my zip code. Before God brings me home, where is he going to send me? Will I be in tune with the Holy Spirit and say, “Yes Lord”.
Well……. God sent me a little God wink the same week I accepted the GCSD job. My Origami Owl Jewelry Designer, Erin contacted me about joining her team as a designer. Previously in December I had expressed interest in their Owlette program which gives kids ages, 11 – 17 the opportunity to become designers. After talking with my family, we agreed this was perfect timing. So…. my daughter Kendal and I are now business partners. I feel this is an opportunity to not only teach my children entrepreneurship, but also build relationships with woman beyond my zip code. The OO mission statement is to love, inspire, and motivate people of all ages. By sharing our story, may we inspire other woman to live life on purpose, to get involved in their children lives and within their community.
Recently in church I was reminded of our mission statement as Christians, Eph 4:12 we are to serve and build each other up in the body of Christ.

The backstory to my Journey;
In 2015 Deborah sent me a scripture, Isaiah 43:19 “See, I am doing a new thing. Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness & streams in the wasteland”. Ever since then God has been using the word “New” to grab my attention.

From my blog post, Flaws Stitched with Grace, I talked about the story of Ruth and Boaz. During that time, I had an opportunity at GCSD present itself that I did not feel qualified for. I covered this opportunity in prayer. Over a weeks’ time God turned my feelings of inadequacy into knowing I am the heir to God’s throne through His son Jesus Christ, therefore I am a favored daughter of the one true king. And a little God wink from Mark Batterson; God doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies the called.
In that opportunity at GCSD, I didn’t get the job after the first interview. In fact, I had to keep humbly coming back for a second and a third interview. After three rejection letters, I finally got a yes! During this time, I was reading Mark’s book, Chase the Lion. His words helped me get through my season of rejection. The words that picked me up and equipped me to try again; “Most of us give up after two or three rejections. But to achieve the highest level of success in any field, you need a high pain threshold when it comes to failure.”
At that time, I faced a lot of doubt in myself and doubt in what I thought God’s plan was for my life. As I mentioned earlier, I am taking classes at HGTC, so I currently don’t have that degree everyone is looking for. The message from Mark’s book that spoke to me; “You may doubt yourself because of your lack of education or lack of experience. But if God has called you, you aren’t really doubting yourself. You’re doubting God.”
I continue to stand on my life promise Phil 1:6 “He who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus”.
I leave you with the questions, what adventure has God placed on your heart? Are you pursuing God and the plan he has for you? Are you pursuing God’s plan but have faced rejection? As Walt Disney says, Keep Moving Forward!

#Prayer #Pursuit by: Deborah Ard

Dear Heavenly Father,
Open our eyes, ears, heart, and mind to the new seasons you are leading us into. May we be ever ready for the direction you are leading and the paths you are leading us down. When we face rejection, may we get back up again, over and over, as we hold onto the promise that you are always with us and will never leave or forsake us. May we pursue you and your dreams for us with open minds and may we always trust your path. Give us strength and courage to enlarge our territory and may we keep moving forward in the way you would have us. We ask this all in the name of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen

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