We went skiing on January 2 at Afton Alps in Minnesota. We had a great time, and we were fortunate to go on a beautiful day with great skiing conditions! The slopes weren’t too crowded either, which was a bonus. The trip definitely made us wish that we could ski more often. It was my (Eliza’s) first experience to ski while it was snowing, and I had the chance to see snowflakes up close. We loved that!  The views at the top of the runs were beautiful!

It is strange, because the last entry I wrote was on the day of Dan’s first interview with Ron Blue. And today is the date of his second interview with them. We have returned home after a few hours in Charlotte, and I am happy to report that Dan says he feels “at peace.”

I was nervous today, and feeling such a strong desire for Dan to get the job at Ron Blue. The visit today only  made us want Dan to get the job with Ron Blue even more, and provided confirmation that to be hired would be an extreme blessing! It would be wonderful to work for a company that is more focused on God’s purposes than the world’s. And to work among others that share the same beliefs and vision.

We should have an answer by next week, and so we will continue to wait and pray. I found comfort in reading Proverbs 3 today. We will trust in the Lord with all our heart, and not lean on our own understanding.

What an exciting time this is, so much anticipation!

I got happy when I realized that today is 12/12/12.

I also enjoyed reading a passage this morning in 1 Thessalonians that is jam-packed with wisdom and encouragement.

“Be patient with all…. Always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.  Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:14-18

Wow. So few words, but so much meaning.

I wait for Yahweh; I wait and put my hope in His word.

I wait for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning.

Israel, put your hope in the Lord. For there is faithful love with the Lord, and with Him is redemption in abundance. And He will redeem Israel from all its sins.

-Psalm 130:6-8

We wait, Lord, for your plan to be revealed. We trust You, and we are excited to see what You will do.

6 Financial Fundamentals according to Ron Blue

1. Spend less than you earn.

2. Avoid debt.

3. Build margin or flexibility into your financial situation.

4. Set long-term goals so you prioritize your spending.

5. God owns it all.

6. Give generously.

“Turn my heart to Your decrees and not to material gain.  Turn my eyes from looking at what is worthless, give me life in Your ways.” -Psalm 119:36-37

“How can I repay the Lord for all the good He has done for me?
I will take the cup of salvation and call on the name of Yahweh.
I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people.”

Freshly squeezed orange juice
Itty-bitty pine cones
Sparkling water
Clean sheets
Coupons

This past weekend, Dan and I had the priveledge of spending our second weekend at the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove. It was beautiful to visit when the leaves were a variety of colors.

On Saturday, we hiked a trail up to an overlook where we could see such a beautiful view of Asheville and the Blue Ridge Mountains. And on Sunday, we ate lunch at the Moose Cafe, which featured some country cooking, using local produce.

We had a really good weekend, but the highlight was definitely the messages we heard from Pastor Bob Coy. We left feeling inspired and encouraged from his messages, and from the quiet time spent with God and each other.

The key verse for the weekend was Isaiah 41:10. We usually have two options: to follow God’s will or man’s wants. Wishing won’t make you obey the Lord. We have to commit to God’s will. God’s grace is really great, but we have to try. When we follow God’s will, it will profit for all eternity.

Here are a few verses he mentioned for success:
Deuteronomy 8:18
2 Samuel 2:6-7
Psalm 75:6-7

In the second session, Pastor Bob encouraged everyone to “be who you are.” Start with your identity, and then be great at that. (examples: husband, father, musician) Don’t compare yourself to others. Success will be slowed when you compare yourself to other’s success. You’ll never succeed if you’re preoccupied. That will keep you from doing and focusing on what God called you to do.

Also, you won’t succeed when, like Moses, you weaken your faith by the carnality of others.

If God is in control and has power… when is a Christian really in danger? If you think you’re in control, it’s a myth. You only have a sense of control.

Goliath said to David:
“You conquer me, and I’ll serve you. I conquer you, and you’ll serve me.” Are you serving your fears?

Continuing to preach on God’s will vs. man’s wants, he noted that it’s easy to be what people want you to be and not what God wills you to be.
You wouldn’t be so concerned about what others thought of you if you realized how little they did.

We all strive in our hearts to be accepted by other men. But this attitude is caring more about yourself than the salvation of others. We’re called to make disciples, not friends. And we cannot receive approval from everyone. Try to view rejection as an opportunity for your own growth.

Some other inspiring points that he made were:

Seize the now. Make the most of today.

Do life with God. Pray first. Apart from God, you can do nothing.

If you spare your children of difficulty, you’ll create an idiot. Challenges are good, and God works that way.

Last night, we went to see “Argo” in the theater, and we both really liked it. It was a nail-biter, because the already scary story had some Hollywood-added suspense. We read about it here.  Viewing the film will definitely leave you feeling grateful to be an American.

I was inspired by Psalm 96 this morning: “Declare His glory among the nations, His wonderful works among all people. For the Lord is great and is highly praised; He is feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.” (vs. 3-6)

When I met Dan, he had completed about half of his contracted service in the Air Force. His plan was not to make it his career, but to seek a civilian job after finishing his four year enlistment. About one year ago, we really talked about what would be best for us, and what we wanted for our future. And we prayed about this decision consistently. I can remember that Dan would go back and forth about whether or not to stay in the Air Force, because of job security and health insurance for us, among other nice benefits. I did not keep a record of when we finally decided that he would separate from the Air Force, but it was not an immediate decision.

Once the decision was made, we began praying that God would guide Dan and light his path, step-by-step to the career that is best for him. Here is a list of some of the good things that have happened so far:
-Dan was asked to take a position as the assistant Resource Advisor in his section at work. This was confirmation that he enjoys working with budgets, and he prefers this over Electronic Intelligence, which was his original job.
-His dad has been in sales for the past 30 years. He has been able to encourage Dan since there will lots of sales experience involved in a finance career.
-About 2 weeks ago, we had lunch with a couple from our church. The husband owns an insurance business. They told us about the company that manages their family’s and his business’ finances, and it is a Christian company. They also loaned us 2 books, written by the CEO of that company. We have finished one of the books, and feel that God taught us so many lessons. It is now Dan’s hope that he could work for that company! We both feel in agreement, that a job like that would be a perfect fit for Dan.
-For his birthday, Dan asked for money to go toward buying a suit. He knows his wardrobe will change completely when he changes careers. Last week, we went to Men’s Warehouse and found a suit he likes a lot. It was Buy One, Get One free, so now he will look great at his interviews.
-He completed his Masters degree in Finance from Webster University last week.
-A class is being offered this week on base for airman who are preparing to apply for jobs outside of the military. Dan said that the class has been really helpful with improving his resumé, and helping him to prepare for interviews.

I enjoy recounting the things that have taken place over the past months. It seems like things are beginning to fall into place. I love going back and seeing God’s faithfulness in our lives, and the people God has used to help us while Dan searches for a different career. We will keep praying for Dan’s job search. And we will keep praying for God’s will to be done, that God would place us in the right community and right company for Dan and our family. God has taught us a lot. We are grateful for each of these answered prayers, and for God’s guidance that has come gradually over the past year.

“Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth.” (vs. 9)