Monday, August 15, 2011

Wherever He Leads

Wow. That is all I can say! I feel like I should start this post at the very beginning, a very good place to start (cue Julie Andrews) ha! Anyway, as I said, I'm going to start at the beginning. Everyone has a story. I truly believe that. Some of you may know my "story" or my testimony already but some of you may not. Lets go back to September of 2008. Yes, it was a while back, I know. Oh, and fair warning, this is a long post, BUT I will try my best to make this long post interesing! HA! :) So September 2008 was like any other September. Russell and I were living in Northwest Arkansas and Fall was just beginning there. On the 23rd of that month, we found out my Daddy was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Everything from that moment on was absolute emotional chaos it seemed and just a hard trying time for our family. Fast forward to February 19, 2009; Daddy passed away that day and of course it was an absolute awful time. I will not lie. The next day Russell lost his job due to a lay off. We found out 5 minutes before we left for visitation. Yeah, crazy, I know! We were in absolute and utter shock. Depression and disbelief all at the same time. Russell and I both clung to the Lord and to each other for help and comfort. God got us through 10 months of waiting for Russell to get a job. We really wanted to stay in Northwest Arkansas. We love it there and planned on being there forever. Russell got a job here in South Arkansas in December 2009. We were soooo very very grateful to God for the job. The Lord definitely provided our needs. We enjoyed spending time with family and friends a lot.
For the past few months, however, Russell and I felt the need to be back in NWA. We knew that it was God's will for us to be there after we prayed so much about His will and where He wanted us to go. We loooove being with our family and friends so much. But our hearts were still in NWA even after all this time that went by. We kept praying for the Lord to meet our needs and for Him to lead us. Again, we clung to God for strength and more. We actually started praying about this in November 2010. I will be honest, there was just a huge part of me that told close friends and family, "I know we are going to be up there I just don't know when." I know that may sound funny to some people, but that is really how we felt!

Can y'all  guess what happened?
 TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART!!! HE WILL DIRECT YOUR PATHS!!!

Russell got a job offer to work in Northwest Arkansas on Wednesday. We will be moving back next month!!!!!!!!

WOO PIG SOOIE!!!
We plan on going to a Razorback game later this year together as part of our celebration! Ha!
 We will go back to our church in Bentonville, First Baptist Church. We are ready to serve!

 We can't wait to take a stroll at the Pinnacle Hills Promenade!
 Belle is also looking forward to taking trips to the dog park, too!
Eventually we will be able to live in our house again. What a blessing.

We are most excited about the plans God has for us and also very excited about spending time with our friends and making new friends too.

I have learned so many things the past few years. But the thing I have learned the most is this: Follow God's direction in your life. You may not WANT to go where He wants you to go or do what He wants you to do, but if you give your whole self to the Lord, He will direct you. He loves YOU!

Wherever He Leads I'll Go,
Wherever He Leads I'll Go
I'll Follow my Christ
Who Loves Me So
Wherever He Leads I'll Go

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

3 comments:

Green Girl said...

Awesome news!
Last night before I fell asleep I was thanking God for all He has given me...for the desires of my heart...
The desires of your heart don't just "appear"...God places them there...
It is in HIS time when the plan is revealed...

Becky said...

Just like the Israelites were given their daily bread, mana, so we are given new mercies each day! Thanks for sharing how the Lord answered prayer in YOUR life!

petrii said...

My dear sweet friend ~~ I am SO happy for you, Russell and Belle =)

I needed to hear this post and see your faithfulness. Thank you for sharing your heart.

Love you friend ~~ have a Blessed evening ~~ Dawn