His Way is Tops!

I just marvel.  Walking with the Lord is definitely the way to go!  There's no predicting what is next with God.

It may be trials to stretch you, to grow you, and to draw you closer to Him.  Or, it might be going places you never thought you would go.  Or, it might be investing in people you never thought you'd care about.  Or, it might be incredible blessing you never dreamed possible.

But, in all cases, it is the best way to live.

As I type these words, my husband Mark is in the process of moving offices.

(Just for the fun of it, I am going to interject photos of the kids invading Mark at his office throughout this post.  These were taken in June when we went in to meet his co-workers.  We were waiting to meet his boss who was finishing up a meeting with someone else.)

When Mark arrived at Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU), he was given an office with a door.  Now,  considering he was a cubical man in his professional life prior to moving to France, and considering our office in France was in our living room, this was a pretty sweet surprise!  An office!  Wow!

But, they quickly apologized.

They felt bad that it this was only a temporary office.  They were planning to reshuffle a few people in the department so that they could move Mark down to the other end of the HR department, closer to the people who report to him.  But, it would take a few months before the move would happen.

Today is the day.  Mark is moving from his temporary office (a really nice office, mind you!), to a corner office with two windows.

How do you like that? 

(Sadly, Todd is not visible in these photos.  He's on the opposite side of the desk from Mark.  But, look at this Lena girl!  She has her hot little hands on a red IWU folder that she is determined to take home with her.)

Mark has repeatedly quoted Psalm 113:7-8 to me throughout this transition.  Here's what it says:

He raises the poor from the dust

and lifts the needy from the ash heap,

to make them sit with princes,

with the princes of his people.

(Psalm 113:7-8 ESV)

So much about our time in France was fabulous, but at the same time it is also true that so much about our time in France was very difficult.  Yet, it is like God has taken us from an ash heap and put us with princes.  It's just amazing.  

How else do you explain Mark getting a job that started the day after our last day of work with Avant?  

How else do you explain the fabulous work environment and co-workers that God has given to Mark?

How else do you explain the heaps of money that have seemed to come out of thin air that has helped us to buy such a nice house and re-purchase so much stuff that we had given away?

How else do you explain the neighborhood full of kids the same ages as our kids?

How else do you explain the fabulous school district we've found for our kids where the vast majority of teachers and staff are believers?

How else do you explain the fact that we are still sane after all the transition we have been through in the last 4 months?

Yet, we have learned so very much from the ash heap, and we are learning the vastness of the Father's love in this place that feels like the place of princes.

We know that the ride is far from over.  There are most certainly surprises yet to come - good surprises, difficult surprises, things we might not choose to go through,  and who knows what else.  But, we know the ride will not be boring and it will be totally worth it - whatever it is that He has in store for us.

So, one day, I will post a photo of my husband in his new office as a testimony to the greatness of our God.  It's another blessing we don't deserve!

With that, I will end.  But before I do, I'll let you know that Lena DID take that folder home with her.  Mission accomplished!