Winds of change.....I chose the title because of what it speaks to me. Wind is invisible, yet we can see it's affect in so many ways.

It can be wild and bring great destruction or it can be calm and gentle, in the form of a breeze that may bring sweet relief from the heat. It can toss the waves on the water

 and blow the sails on a boat to guide it from one side of a shore to another. It can be something to be feared in its ferocity or it can be something that brings great joy, like in times of kite flying. 

 How diverse!

God, to me, is like the wind. Invisible, yet seen in what He's created. Diverse in the scope of His character! We are to fear Him, yet He is a God who brings us great joy. Amazing! So like the wind, that I cannot see, God is changing my life; this invisible God Whom I cannot see, yet I know He's there!

Since the end of the year, the LORD has opened the door, as I shared previously, for me to move from working with the Real Life Mission Teams to working with our accounting department. I made that decision on January 4th. Even in making that decision, I asked the LORD to confirm it for me. He took me to
Ps. 37: 23-24 - "The Lord makes firm the steps of those who delight in Him; though they stumble, they will not fall, for the Lord upholds them in His hand. " (NIV)

Joyce Meyer wrote this about verse 23:
" God will tell us the way to go, but we have to do the walking. A walk with God develops by taking one step of obedience at a time. Some people want the blueprint for their lives before they will make one decision. God does not usually operate that way; He will lead us one step at a time.

By faith, we take the step God has shown us, and then He gives us the next one. At times we may fall down and must get back up; we may stumble but He always helps us. We continue on by His strength and grace, knowing that every time we face a fork in the road (a place of decision), God will guide us."

Even so, I did have some doubts. Was God really directing me this way, was I really hearing from Him? I asked Him to make it clear for me.

I went to dinner and a movie with two friends of mine, Bonnie and Kristina, the evening of January 5th. Both gals were on staff with AIM at one time and are great friends. And they will also tell it like it is! Good friends to have!

The movie we went to see was
"Facing the Giants".

 Here's a brief description of the movie:

FACING THE GIANTS is the heart-warming story of a downtrodden Christian high school football coach who turns to God when everything seems to be going against him. Trusting God to do the impossible, Coach Grant Taylor and his Shiloh Christian Eagles soon discover how faith plays out on the field … and off.

The people who put this movie together started with an idea of telling a story about the giants that everyone faces. Those giants might be fear, failure, addictions, or loss. We all try to defeat them on our own, but we can’t.

For instance: When David went to fight Goliath, he felt inferior and he had to face his fear – first he had to step onto the battlefield. So the film makers tried to imagine what could happen in the lives of ordinary people facing their giants and stepping onto the field.

There's a character is seen early in the movie walking through the halls of the school, laying hands on lockers, praying for the students. I related to him in a way, as I had worked for a school district for 21 years prior to coming to AIM as a custodian (or as I've also called it, as a senior elementary learning facilities restoration consultant). One of the things I would do as I cleaned the student's desks was to pray for the children who sat in those seats. It was my way of being able to minister in a secular setting. So to see this character doing this, praying for the students, took me back in time!

There's a scene in the movie where this gentleman walks into the coach's office and starts to read from Scripture to him. No "Hi, how are you?" but straight from the Word. The verse he reads to the coach is
Rev. 3:7 - "I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept My Word and not denied My Name."

As the character spoke those words, God quickened my spirit and I knew He was also talking to me. No doubt about it! I leaned over to Bonnie and whispered to her that this was enough to make me cry, God being so personal.

When I got home and journaled about all of this, the LORD also spoke to my heart this:
"Sue, don't let the enemy distract you wiht his lies. You've heard from me clearly and have done what was shown you. I used even the movie tonight to remind you that I have you in mind. Remember that I am the One who opens and closes doors and I've opened this one wide for you to go through!"

My response back to Him was this:
How grateful I am to You that You care so much about me, that You give me messages even in films! You show Your love for me, one who doesn't deserve Your grace, Your mercy, Your love; yet You give it freely, willingly. I am in awe of You! Indeed,
"O LORD, You have searched me and You know me...You are familiar with all my ways. (Ps 139: 1,3)

Since then, He has also been speaking to me that He has more for me and, in His time, will reveal and open other doors as I allow Him to shape and mold me. What a great journey we are on! I look forward to sharing with you in future blogs what else He reveals!