to God, HIS purpose for me & my artsy creativity.
I haven’t shared this w/anyone other than “A”, but I feel its important to show where my mind wanders.
Before school started, our church had a family worship time and one of the activities was to write something on a small piece of tile that you didn’t want to become an idol in your life, then break it w/a hammer, symbolizing you giving it to God and letting Him work it out. Well…I wrote my long-term sub/teaching job (at the time) was something I didn’t want to get in the way of my walk w/Him & become a problem in our family.
My #onelittleword this year is “Peace” and my verse from 9/1-9/15 was:
Isaiah 55:12
You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
Within 3 weeks, I was advised that my position would be taken over by someone already certified & I’m back to where I was during late summer…wondering what I’m supposed to be doing. I couldn’t figure out how Isaiah 55:12 applied to this situation until recently. I could totally be wrong, BUT, I think it applies in how I left my position–I hadn’t done anything wrong to warrant being let go, sincere sentiments of disappointment in having to let me go & the kids’ reaction to my leaving.
After a few days of mourning (yes, I mourned. 😦 I REALLY liked teaching & the kids, even the ones who drove me crazy.), I began to get ideas for art projects & a renewed desire to work on Bible journaling. There was even a 6hr marathon on create.tv this weekend that had some cool ideas for dying your own fabric (Hmmm….{rubbing my hands together, gleefully})
I truly believe that God answered that prayer from before school starts b/c it WAS becoming an issue, in various ways, for our family & that I’m still needed in a supporting role (wife & mom) at this time. A large part of me feels guilty for the whole situation & for enjoying the renewed creativity, but, I don’t think that’s from God at all.
I’m planning to find other sub jobs for now, help “A” (he’s a 1st year teacher too) & be here for “J” & “C”, while listening for God’s voice in what I need to do next…
Here are a few things that He’s led me to already, in no particular order:
- Get caught up on housework & my Bible journaling challenges, see about making some art & maybe take dance classes (a little part of me has always wanted to).
- Relax from the stress & refocus on my family & myself.
- Ideas for finding way to share Bible journaling w/my local community…I’d found a Bible study in the summer-we pushed it to next Spring since I was teaching this Fall.
- A Facebook friend & fellow blogger/Christian artist, Dave Weiss, posted this today…https://amokarts.wordpress.com/2016/09/26/anybody-want-to-do-a-retreat-with-me/ I’m intrigued w/setting something like this locally, but not sure how many would be interested. Anyone???
I know that’s alot to dump, but I had to get it out. 😀
I’m off to start working on that house cleaning, possibly prepping pages for Bible journaling & getting ready to sub for the next 2 weeks at various local schools.
I’ll leave this here: Lauren Daigle-Trust in You