Sing Like Never Before

As of this past Friday, I officially no longer have a job.  This was intentional.  Tim and I prayed long and hard about this one, for sure, and both felt like the Lord was giving us the ok for me to stay home from work for now.  I'm so excited!

For the last four years I have taught elementary music to Pre-K through 5th grade students at a socioeconomically disadvantaged school.  It has been hard work!  I am convinced that I had the best coworkers in education.  I have heard horror stories about principals that make your life miserable, or people who cause tons of drama and just aren't fun to be around.  But this has certainly not been my experience.  The hardest part about leaving my job was knowing that I would not be around all those wonderful people on a daily basis.  I was truly blessed to be at my school.

Of course, the logical question to follow my declaration of job quitting is, "So what are you going to do?"  I feel like this is a loaded question.  What most people really mean when they ask this is, "So how are you going to make money?"  Well, simply put, I'm not.  Not much at least.  I have an amazing husband who wants very much for me to explore my passions and do what is on my heart.  I will be working part-time (and I mean very part-time) for Music Together.  It is a wonderful family music program that I love and will write more about at a later date.  Other than that, all my endeavors will be volunteer based.  I love people, and specifically love spending time with women... usually of the single persuasion.  Tim and I already teach the college class at our church, but now I will have more time to meet with the girls and work around their schedule.  One of my joys is taking a girl to lunch or coffee and finding out how the Lord is working in her life.  I love it because I get to witness the glory of God and I am able to follow through with the charge to "encourage one another daily" from Hebrews 3.  And the cherry on top is that our new Singles Minister at our church has asked me to do this with all the young single girls!  I cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store.

As I am entering into this new phase of life there is much excitement.  There's also some curiosity about what all might happen.  Plus, with us working on and trying to move into this house, there is a lot of being overwhelmed.  My prayer has been that God will use this time... my time... for His glory to do something big.  Yesterday during worship I was reminded of just how great He is and the hope He is able to offer me.  These three songs right in a row drew my heart to my God and allowed me to rest in His presence.  I hope they are as encouraging to you as they were to me- just a few short excerpts.

10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman
Bless the lord oh my soul
Oh my soul
Worship his holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I worship you holy name
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jYLTn4fKYQ

Hosanna by Hillsong
Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like You have loved me
Break my heart for what breaks Yours
Everything I am for Your Kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoM0AT8fBvs

Jesus Paid it All- hymn
I hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

Lord, now indeed I find
Thy power and Thine alone,
Can change the leper’s spots
And melt the heart of stone.

And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete,
"Jesus died my soul to save,"
My lips shall still repeat.  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_jAbHkGJRE

Glad you were curious enough to read.