Somebody Moved My Cheese

Have you read that book "Who Moved My Cheese?". It's a little book about changes in life. Every time our cheese gets moved, either by our choice or because of other people's choices, we make the decision either to change and go with the flow or refuse to change and fight the inevitable changes.

My "cheese" has been moved so many times I can't even find it!. Well, sometimes I have moved my own cheese but lately.....God has moved it in order to "move" me. To catch some of you up - I moved to Texas last June and then moved back to Pagosa Springs in March. I think my time in Texas was truly a time of getting a perspective on where I really wanted to live - to live in Pagosa Springs or live in Texas......coming to Pagosa the first time was a time of refuge and healing. This time it was a deliberate choice to move back.

I did not realize what a new life I had made for myself until I left Pagosa and missed it terribly. So what if everything closes down at 5 pm (retail stuff) or 9 pm (restaurants). So what if we don't have the Starbuck's and shopping opportunities.....it saves you money! So what if everybody knows your business before you do.....(small town life).....So what if there aren't any single, "I love Jesus more than life itself" kind of guys here (didn't run across any in Austin either),,,,really too busy for a relationship anyway......I missed the church people in Pagosa that had become like family to me......I missed going into stores and having people know me by name......I missed my beautiful mountain town that had become home....so I packed up my "cheese" and drove back home.

I made that move on faith as I did not have a job waiting for me. Got a job within a week of arriving (pretty amazing) - actually had three job opportunities. The one that I took was not good - the "Devil Wears Prada" thing.....found another job (moved my "cheese" again) and was there exactly one month when my employer called me and said, "Jaye, since you don't have your license (insurance - he hired me knowing that and I DID have my property license and was getting ready to take the auto license test...) you really can't do anything and well, I just can't afford you.....I will pay you through this pay period..." WHAT! I was stunned - so - my cheese just got moved AGAIN and this time I didn't do it......God? What are you doing here?

I came home, cried, got in the Word to get my biblical perspective groove on and wow...... isn't it absolutely amazing the power and strength you draw in when you get in the Word? The Holy Spirit calmed me down and I began to see the losing the job thing in a whole new manner. Actually, God did me a favor......I really didn't like insurance - in fact that morning I had sat down at my desk and thought, "This is so boring." Glad you thought that Jaye because guess what?!!! .....I'm taking you out of it, sister! And God did.

But....what to do? I have a book on my shelf titled, "God Will Find A Way - What To Do When You Don't Know What To Do". Basically, the bottom line is to look up and keep looking up until God starts outlining a plan. I sort of entertained the thought....."You know God, this would be a really good time for that prince of a guy to show up and rescue me......." and God said, "I'm here." Oh. Yeah.

Well, as I spent time in prayer (looking up) I began to see that maybe this was my time to Dream Venti!

What is it that I want to do? What is my passion? Ministry. My heart's desire is to help others learn about Jesus and get to know Him better. I began to pray that whatever career or job God had for me that ministry would be the center and the rest would fall around it. In the meanwhile....

I interviewed for a position at the Hot Springs Resort as a receptionist at the Spa. Could be a pretty fun job.......Then I met with the county Human Services dept. and we discussed a foster home development program......If I wanted a job in that field I would have to find a grant, write the grant, hope we got the grant and then there would be money for the position.....ummmm....just not quite that passionate about the job.........so I kept praying......as I was laying out at the pool Saturday the thought popped into my head to start an afterschool program here. It is a need and there isn't a program in town like what I began to dream about creating. Hmmmm.....maybe this could work. I could run it out of the church and as the program got bigger maybe, just possibly, I would make enough to do it full-time and I would have ALL DAY everyday to do ministry and just work in the afternoons with afterschoolers......and I began to dream of the ministry opportunities to children and families.........is that an awesome possibility or WHAT!!!!

First step was to get an approval from the deacon body to use the church and start this ministry......Sunday there just happened to be a deacon meeting and the idea for the ministry was very well received......first green light!!! Now I am working on getting licensed. But what to do about that m-o-n-e-y thing until school starts (Sept. 2 here)?

Not being sure when I could actually get the program opened due to licensing regs., I took the job at the Hot Springs. The schedule is flexible enough that I could probably work there even after school starts if I need to supplement my income. So once again I am stepping out in faith, hoping I am hearing my Father's voice correctly, and doing this faith thing.

As for money and missing a paycheck or two......well God is faithful just like he promises and all bills are paid. I have picked up an extra job here and there and have made it to the end of the month. And..... I landed a job exactly when I needed to. God is so amazing and incredible!!!!!

I am dreaming VENTI and walking forward in faith that God has a plan for me. I cannot even begin to tell you how the peace of God has enveloped me as I have walked forward everyday not being able to see the ground.....

Life is so incredibly good - even when the cheese gets moved! All because of God, His Son that paid the price for my salvation and the Holy Spirit that lives within me.

God's grace and peace be on all of you today,

Jaye