Patience

People have been asking us a lot recently if we've heard anything new, if there are any changes on the horizon, have we gotten any phone calls from corporate, etc. etc. Rumors are all we've heard so far, so there's no need to post anything. My mom asked me something the other day along these lines (I can't remember now what she said) but I finally just said something like, "I can't talk about that anymore because the more I talk about it the more impatient I get and the Lord is trying to teach me to be patient and wait on Him right now!" She understood and we changed the subject. :)

I don't know what's going on with me! I don't know why I feel such a strong need for change again! I feel like once we start nearing the 6 month mark, I need something different. The store Ian is at currently is great. The team is doing awesome. Our house is still perfect for us. The area is nice, not my favorite, but still very nice. I've had a hard time putting my finger on what is actually bugging me so bad. But I think the constant gnawing factor is the unknown. I just want to know so much about our future! And in this situation you know NOTHING. I want to know where we'll live. I want to know when we'll be able to get our stuff out of storage. I want to know how often we'll get to see our family and friends. I want to know if I'll be able to ever help Ian at the store. I want to know if we'll make enough money to afford to buy a house. I want to know what that house will look like! I want to know if our future includes more children. I want to know... I want to know... I could go on and on!

Ian doesn't feel the same way I do, which almost makes it harder on me! What's wrong with me that I can't just be happy wherever we are. I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm happy. But I don't feel content. I always want more or different. Why can't I just sit back and enjoy the fun times with my family? Why can't I just enjoy the financial stability we're developing for ourselves? Why can't I be content with living in a gorgeous family-friendly Florida community?

Then. He speaks.

The Lord, through numerous ways, spoke to me this past weekend to be patient...to wait on His perfect plan...to be content...to glorify Him in everything...that I can't do it alone.

I started reading Radical by David Platt, and I've realized that I have been relying far too heavily on Ian's ability to get a store. "If Ian does ____, then maybe he'll get a store. If Ian calls ____, then maybe they can talk to someone who can help him get a store. Maybe when his numbers get to ______, they'll see he needs a store." I've been looking at our situation completely wrong!

"God confronts us with our utter inability to accomplish anything of value apart from him. 'I am the vine. You are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.'" Ian is not going to get a store based on anything he does. He will get a store in God's timing, based on God's plan for our life. "God intentionally puts his people in situations where they come face to face with their need for him. In the process he powerfully demonstrates his ability to provide everything his people need in ways they could never have mustered up or imagined. And in the end, he makes much of his own name."

So now. With this new tidbit of information, I will now attempt to view our situation differently. Yes, our future will probably include owning our own Chick-fil-A restaurant. But since I have no idea when that will take place, I will live for the moment. I will take captive my thoughts so that I don't get carried away longing for the future. I will be content wherever we are and look for ways to make God's name great. I'm sure this thought transition won't take place over night. But hopefully, the Lord will change me a little more day by day so that I will remain patient as we wait for His next step.

And because I know you come to this blog looking for super cute pictures..........

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