One of Those Days

I've been saying that our life happens like the turning of a page. That's still so true, but yesterday that image got better.


If you've read even one blog you know that we've been living miraculously on support from churches and friends and God...probably not in that order. Jeremy has applied for at least 50 jobs and has had no response from 90% of them. He's been doing freelance writing; I've been subbing, but seriously... How have we made it this long?!


I know it's been God's timing and I know (NOW) that to plant a church you have to be rewired and shaken and your mind has to be bent and bent back and that you have to let go and surrender and get tough and become gentler, be kinder, love people, like people, trust, trust, trust... I've been angry and tired and helpless and superheroish (in my own mind at least) and it's all been for what's to come. That will tick a girl right off some days - to go through this for someone else. But then there's a day. Just one day where it all becomes a little clearer and much more confusing - but clearer and that's what makes the difference.


Yesterday was one of those days. Jeremy left in the late morning to accept an adjunct lecturer position at Norwich University in Northfield. Northfield is not Burlington. This was not in our proposal. We have not preached about this in churches as we fundraise. I don't know where Northfield is for crying out loud. BUT...


When he said this was the job, I remembered what it felt like to be at peace. The peace where everything is taken care of in your life for a minute. That's when God shared this new image for our life.


Yesterday was like opening a present. You don't know what's in the box you're holding, but you open it and it's yours. It's your life now. And it's just right. Everything's different, but somehow everything's on course. One day you thought it was going to go like this and now you have this new plan - new to you, not to the plan Creator - and it fits. It's so obviously what was coming next. Not surprising, but a total shocker! Isn't that just how God works?!


So we're going to Northfield.


This doesn't change the plan for Burlington. Doesn't change anything because God has had this moment worked out all along. 5 1/2 months of job searching was settled something like this...(check Jeremy's blog for the boy version...less emotional...) Last month, we spoke at Jeremy's parents' church and there was a lunch after. We sat with a guy who has known Jeremy for awhile. We were talking about this position at Norwich and the guy hands Jeremy a piece of paper with the University president's name on it. Turns out 20 some years ago God put a Christian man in this position and brought his good friend to Jeremy's parents' church. Jeremy's resume went from the president to the Chair of the English Department to the hiring committee. The interview wasn't an interview. Jeremy had the job before he even got there. The president said it was because of Jeremy's merit and divine intervention, not him that he got the job. The president told his secretary to be sure to put Jeremy on his calendar any time he needed to talk. She knew who he was when he got there yesterday. There's more... another possible job, a house story...check back in a few days.


We don't know what God has for us in Northfield at Norwich University. We can't see the connections to UVM. But He's had this all worked out from the beginning. Not my beginning, His. It's so fun to not be worried or anxious - probably why God said not to be either.


Philippians 4:5-7 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present you requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.


Like I said, yesterday was one of those days.
  

January 2011 Newsletter

Bedtime Stories

It seems as if God's got his finger poised and ready to turn a page in the life of the Schultz'. One of our favorite people told us that this time in our lives would be just like that - like the turning of a page. Things would happen very quickly and all of a sudden there it would be, a done deal. We have found that word to be so true. Every part of this church planting adventure has happened just as if God turned the next page and made it be so.

It feels like we're there again. But we don't operate on feelings any more - at least not like we used to. It's a little more mature now - for lack of a better way to describe it. But the amazing thing is that God made us emotional beings and I think he enjoys feeling things with us and we with him.

We had two Thanksgivings this year. One with my family who celebrated early before my aunt and uncle went off to Bangkok, their next missionary assignment. The second with Jeremy's family and my parents. Talk about spoiled children - both sets of grandparents under one roof! How blessed we are.

Now Christmas is in the air. The girls see pictures of Christmas or see Santa or a manger and say, "Christmas!"  They still have no idea what's coming, but we're going to have fun! We watched Caillou - that bald, whiney kid that makes me want to... Anyway, bald kid was experiencing all the stuff of Christmas and he went to sit on Santa's lap. I asked Soph if she would sit on Santa's lap. She watched the show very seriously and said NO at first. Then she said she would. Then she suggested Zoe do it. Those two are so funny! I love twins.

We had our first service to share about the church plant and to fund raise for Apostrophe. It was beyond words. To be talking to strangers who are praying during the service (perhaps for it to end soon... no telling lol ) and shedding tears (Jeremy was preaching so...). But they bought into the vision, the calling, this thing that is OUR lives. They gave their money. The entire church got out of their seats and stood around us to pray. They linked together with us to fight against the powers and principalities of darkness to take those students for Jesus. Dramatic retelling? I can spin a word, but that doesn't make the reality of this any different. We're in a battle and God tells us that it's not against democrats or people with "lifestyles" or recycled paper users. Those logistics are just distractions. Behind the opinions and choices are people who need my Jesus.

We shared that with this incredible little church who are called to adopt and foster kids with special needs and to run a school for them. They have teachers who volunteer! (And all the teachers gasp - I did.) They are doing what God asked them to do. We're doing what God asked us to do. We helped each other financially as we could. But we agreed to stand together and pray for what the other is fighting for in the name of Jesus.

We are seeing the power of Jesus like never before - simply the power of belonging to him and knowing what his name can do, the power of praying together, believing together, listening in his name, loving on his behalf. Life is getting simpler. I appreciate my husband more than I can express even to him. I see my daughters growing and we enjoy them so much! I'm able to let people be people and let God be God - that frees up an unreal amount of brain and emotional space. We're each on our own part of our journey with God - whether we acknowledge we are or not. I can't speak to or heal or fix anyone, but I can pray for, love and listen to ANYONE.

So here we are. Waiting to see what's on the next page. Will it be a new chapter or part of this same one? A new front door is an illustration we'll be seeing soon as our house here in St. Albans is ready to go to the next pastors coming to Church of the Rock. That's exciting for us and them! Praise God with us for our home in Burlington. All our birthdays are here - the girls are 2 years old January 21! Can you believe it, friends! God is gracious and good!

Stay tuned for the next page of bedtime stories from Vermont! : )