Plans

I have lots of plans, I always have. I was going to move to New York and go to NYU and study interior design. Well, I did study interior design, but did so at Texas Tech. I was going to meet the man of my dreams in college and be married by the time I was 21 or 22. Well, I graduated and did not even have a boyfriend, so I definitely wasn't getting married any time soon. When I did get married we were going to wait three years before trying to have a baby; seven months later we were expecting our first miracle! My plans have always seemed so great, but it seems that God always has different plans. And I am SO GLAD!!! "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" (Jeremiah 29:11)

Last weekend we were in Austin (and you have been bombarded by pictures in the last two posts). We were on a high coming off of a great weekend when Trey walked in the door at 9:30 Monday morning after having gone to work for only a few short hours, and let me know he has been laid off. It was completely unexpected. We were both in shock. I was sitting there thinking..."How can this be, he is the only one working, I don't work, what are we going to do, what is going to happen" all in about ten seconds.

The next thing I did was say to Trey one of my Dad's favorite scriptures "God is the blessed controller of all things" (1 Timothy 6:15). We both believe this wholeheartedly. I am so glad that God IS in control and not me, because obviously my plans haven't worked out yet, so why now would I want to plan our lives? One of my favorite verses is "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

I sent out about 12 resumes Monday afternoon. He received calls from two different companies on Thursday and had an interview on Friday. My Bible verse for Friday was "Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." (Philippians 4:6) I probably prayed for Trey 50 or 60 times while he was in his interview.

One of the companies was 10 days of traveling, 10 days off. Well, 10 days of him traveling, away from me and Ella just did not sound good to me. He wasn't thrilled at the idea either, but Trey has always put his family first and if it came to that, he would do it. "Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest." (Luke 12:25-26) "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6)I prayed God would provide Trey with an amazing opportunity, maybe this was it? Again, my plans aren't that great, maybe that was God's plan. I also prayed if it wasn't God's plan that he wouldn't hear back from them...well, he hasn't.

The other company is 12 minutes from our house. They are a larger company and Trey left his interview on Friday with a great feeling. He had a trial-run yesterday and also enjoyed his day. He received a call today and went back for a third interview and received the great news that he was HIRED!!! "Your father knows what you need before you ask him. So do not worry, saying 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today's trouble is enough for today." (Matthew 6:8b, 31-34)

With this job, Ella and I can be covered under Trey's insurance, which is such a blessing! There are so many more great things that go along with this job, but I am not going to get into that. My point for this post was to tell you that while I have plans, God's plans are so much bigger and better. Trey wasn't looking for a job. He was content where he was, not happy, but content. God didn't want that for him! We were both terrified for about an hour, then we gathered ourselves, prayed, handed it over to God and look what he did!!

"The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them." (Psalm 145: 18-19)