Prayers for the Next Stage

Howdy from Jaclyn in Aggieland!

The reality of Hubba's graduation is starting to sink in. In the last couple of weeks, he has started applying for many positions around the country. We are 3 months away from graduation. That sounds so much nearer this side of summer vacation than at the beginning of summer vacation.

I am feeling nervous about the future. I am a planner all the way. I like to know where we will be, what we will be doing, how we will be doing it as far in advance as possible. I think that I have done very well in dealing with our murky future up to this point. Pray that I can continue to handle the stress of the unknown for as long as that might be.

I have started day dreaming of our next location. Of the home I hope we can make there. Of the community I hope we find there. Of the jobs that we will find. I have a wish list (that will probably grow as time goes on) of what I hope will be waiting for us. Please pray for these things, but above all, please pray that we will hear and heed God's will for the next stage of our life.

• I pray that we will be able to find a home that we can comfortably afford that will be safe, have two toilets, and more storage space than our current home.
• I pray for a good local library. I wish I hadn't of wasted the last 5 years not using the BCS Library System.
• I pray that we will have good neighbors that we can count on for dinners together, watching over each others homes while we are away, and be a part of our family.
• I pray for jobs that are satisfying and that we feel are in accordance with our life purpose. In particular, as the "following" spouse, I pray that I will be able to find a job that I love. I pray for my future colleagues, that they will accept me, mentor me, and be friendly.
• I pray for a church home. One that is centered on loving God, loving people, building community, fostering shared responsibilities, and taking some part in sharing the gospel. One that doesn't scare the pants off of me.
• I pray for experienced and wizened members to be in the church so that we can look to their example.
• I pray for families that have gone through similar situations as ourselves that we can learn from and use as resources.
• I pray that our family will grow. That we will be able to find the resources and experts we need to help us on our way.

Thanks and Gig 'Em!

Where do you start?

Howdy from Jaclyn in Aggieland.

Recently in the news, there have been many stories that have tugged at my heart. The situation in Iraq seems so overwhelming, that my brain almost ignores it, scrolls past the stories without giving my heart the chance to feel. But my heart does feel.

I just picked up a book (Called to Adoption: A Christian's Guide to Answering the Call) that seems to have nothing to do with Iraq, or IS, or really anything close to the events that may be (are) occuring. But the book starts with some Adoption Wisdom, which included the following scripture from Isaiah:

Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. Isaiah 1:17

This is a beautiful verse, but I will be honest - the first two words leave me feeling helpless. Seek justice. How do you seek justice for the Christians, Yazidis, and other Muslims that are not just oppressed and not just threatened, but are literally losing their homes and lives. Women are being given to IS soldiers. Other horrible acts have reportedly been committed, although no one seems to be sure exactly what is going on. And here, I sit, quite comfortably in my home half a world away, feeling sorry for myself for reasons that sound so small and insignificant. What can I do from here?

Thanks and gig em..