I have learned in whatever circumstance to be content....

What a trying 6 weeks it has been. February 27th brought about news that could have been devastating if it weren't for my relationship with the Lord and the steadfast knowledge that He is faithful and I can trust that He has my best in store. Due to things beyond our control Jon was faced with the situation where he had to find another job by April 1st. This news brought about overwhelming fear and amazing excitement. How can one experience both these emotions simultaneously you may ask. Well I was fearful simply because of the unknown and the lack of job opportunities in this economy. I was excited because we both knew this was an opportunity from the Lord. We both knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that this was all orchestrated by Him and that He had something much better planned. So the struggle began...my human nature to worry and fear over the what if's this situation brought about and the spiritual nature to give my worries to the Lord and trust Him throught it all. I made a conscious decision to do something that didn't come naturally and that was to worship God and praise His name in the face of the storm. I clung to certain songs on the Christian radio station and sung them from my heart to God's. One in particular is a song called "Blessed by Your Name" by Tree63...here are the lyrics.

Blessed be your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where the streams of abundance flow
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

Blessed be your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's all as it should be
Blessed be your name

Blessed be your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be your name

Every blessing you pour out,
I turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say...
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, Blessed be your name

Then on March 24th I got more bad news. News I wasn't in any way prepared for. News that sent me reeling and despairing for a bit. I found out that day that doctors had found a tumor on my moms lung and it was indeed cancerous. She had been suffering with severe back and chest pain for 2 weeks when she finally went to the doctor seeking relief. During the course of these doctors visits they did a Cat Scan and found this tumor. We all saw Gods hand in this though, because they caught it at the very earliest stage and therefore it is small enough to be removed with surgery. Usually with this kind of cancer people don't know they have it until they are coughing up blood and then it's advanced and much harder to treat. I went through all the what ifs on March 24th. I think I must have cried for five or six straight hours. I cried until there wasn't anymore tears left in me. My soul felt like it was breaking. To be faced with this uncertain financial situation and then with my mom being sick was more than I thought I could bear. God apparently thinks more of me than I do myself! I summarization, this hasn't been easy, but I know the Lord is growing me through this. I can't wait to see the testimony that comes out of these situations. I pray that I can be an encouragement to others through this and because of all this. I know that God has amazing things in store for my family, all in his time, which is never late. During the course of these trials my little boy Aden accepted Jesus into his heart! Nothing could be better than that and I got to be the one who led him to the Lord. God has sent me amazing friends who have been such encouragements to me during these difficult weeks. God has already worked miracles and will continue to do so. Jon still hasn't found a permanent job but God gave him something temporary until May 1st. God knows the deadline, he knows our needs and He has unlimited ways of providing for us. Mom's surgery is on th 16th and the doctors are certain they can get it all with surgery. Praise the Lord she doesn't have cancer anywhere else in her body. Praise the Lord that he has shown her an abundance of love through so many people through this. Praise the Lord for his faithfulness and goodness in the midst of lifes storms. He never leaves or forsakes us. He does want us to grow and without difficulties we would remain immature. We have to allow Him to change us and mature us. We have to make that choice to worship and trust Him in the scary parts of life. If God can save my soul and make this world in 6 days I know he can take care of all our needs, and take care of my mom through the surgery and give her a quick and uncomplicated recovery time. So after you read this I would appreciate your prayers for my mom's surgery on the 16th and her 6 weeks of recovery to follow and for God to open up and lead Jon to the job He already has picked out just for him. I pray you have been encouraged that God is there for you too and that no matter what you are going through at this very moment He is right there working in it behind the scenes for your best. Just let go and trust Him, He'll never let you down.