FRESH START

As many of you know...I have a new job. I started working for First Baptist, Benton on Tuesday. I am the Preschool/Children's Ministry Assistant. I am sooooo excited about this new opportunity in my life. I really feel like the Lord has prepared and molded me for this for many years. I have been praying that God would give me a place to serve him in ministry. I have been doing things around the church that I feel God has gifted me in: children's choir, adult choir, and young adult ministry. But, I still felt like there was something else (something bigger) God had for me.

When I was in 11th grade, I surrendered to the ministry (at Super Summer). I had NO idea what or where God wanted me, but I knew that He had a plan for me....if I was obedient to His plan. Well....I went off to college (Ouachita) and got completly caught up in myself and serving ME. I lost focus. I took a detour. I never took God off my priority list completly...I just put him very low on that list. I have since then had a change. My heart has been broken. I have a new understanding of who God is in MY life.

A little over 2 years ago Luke and I got married and one of the first things we wanted to do was find a church home. It was very imporant to us that we find a place where we can fellowship with other believers our age. When we moved to Benton we visited First Baptist...and fell in love. First Baptist has provided both of us a place to worship, serve, be fed, and meet some incredible people. We joined last fall. While at FBC I have met some truly amazing people who have mentored me and helped me grow in my walk with God. I am so thankful for those people...God used them to help me remember what it's like to truly seek God in ALL things. I want that! I want to please God in ALL that I do everyday. I want to love and serve others. I have found that I have pure joy in serving others.

With all that said....
I had a job here in Benton that just wasn't where I needed to be. I tried to make it work, but it was just not going to get better. I prayed and talked to friends about what I should do. One of those friends was Frances R. She is sooooooo amazing. She mentored me through that job until the day I resigned. While all of this was going on (not to my knowledge)...Laurie (the preschool/children's minister) was in dire need of an assistant. God works in AMAZING ways! I was told that there might be something I would be interested in at the church....but I was given hardly any information and I couldn't talk to anyone about it. That was reeeally hard for me b/c I tend to be very social! :-) Finally, Laurie, Ashley and I had a visit and we discussed what the "job" was. When I heard what the job actually was...I was soooooo excited. They asked me to pray and talk to Luke about it. Of course, I was interested. It took about 2 weeks after that to work out all the details....but GOD IS GOOD....and I now am on staff at the church!!! I am the preschool/children's ministry assistant. I help Laurie with anything she needs and I will also do some graphic design jobs here and there for the church. YAY! God has answered so many of my prayers. I feel so blessed and unworthy. This is a VERY condensed version of the story. I hope it makes sense. :-)

I pray that God will give me the desire and strength to serve Him with all my heart everyday. I pray that He will guide me as I take on this new responsibility. I pray that I will never again forget God's desire for my life and the gifts that he has given me.